The Boston Red Sox won 6-3 on Wednesday night in the regular season finale, sweeping a three game meaningless series over the playoff bound Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Boston finished 78-84, and in last place in the American League East, 21 games behind the division winner New York Yankees. The Red Sox completed a dismal head to head against division opponents for the year at 26-50. More importantly is the list of free agents and possible free agents that could leave the club in the offseason. The biggest is shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is expected to opt-out of his remaining contract (three years, $60 million) which he’ll need to decide within five days after the end of the World Series. Third baseman Rafael Devers is under team control, but will be looking for an extension. Pitchers Nick Pivetta, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and Matt Strahm, along with DH/outfielder JD Martinez are all free agents. Bogaerts (.307, 15 homers, 73 RBI) and Devers (.295/27/88) both has solid 2022 seasons. Martinez struggled for most of the season at the plate ending up at .274 with 16 homers and 62 RBI, but did finish with two homeruns in the season finale. Starting pitchers Pivetta (10-12, 4.56 ERA), Eovaldi (6-3, 3.87), and Hill (8-7, 4.27) hope to return to Boston as well. Strahm was a solid piece out of the bullpen appearing in 50 games with a 4-4 record and an ERA of 3.83.
Boston also honored Dennis Eckersley during the game on Wednesday. Eck has decided to retire from broadcasting, something he’s done with the Red Sox since 2002. Eckersley is a former starting pitcher and closer in the big leagues and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is one of only two pitchers all-time to have 20 wins as a starter and 50 saves as a closer in his career.
