There’s no chance the Red Sox offense can be as good as it was last year without David Ortiz.
None.
If you like fancy numbers, look at weighted runs created plus (wRC+), an attempt to objectively measure offense. Per FanGraphs, Ortiz’ 163 ranks better than every hitter in the majors last season save for the 171 posted by American League MVP Mike Trout.
Those 38 Big Papi home runs won’t magically appear.
The only player available in free agency this winter who has a shot to come close Big Papi’s production is Edwin Encarnacion. Everyone speculated the Sox would pursue him, but they stayed far away because they wanted to be under the luxury-tax threshold, and he signed with the Indians.