HOUSTON — Here’s hoping Ben Cherington sent a bouquet of flowers to Will Middlebrooks’ home yesterday. Or maybe a candygram? At least a condolence card, or whatever it is you send a guy who has just been sent back to the minors.
Because if not for Middlebrooks’ uninspiring play in San Diego, Cherington’s offseason would’ve been a complete bust.
As it is, the Red Sox general manager met his team here Tuesday having put together the worst roster nearly $200 million of owner John Henry’s fortune could buy. Entering last night, the Sox had the worst record in the American League, 42-52 and fading fast enough that there’s really no reason to make any moves before the trade deadline in eight days that don’t have the long-term interests of the team in mind.