Three years ago today, the Boston Red Sox were dwelling in the cellar of the American League East. It was not about to get better. The Red Sox would stay in the cellar, finishing last in the AL East for the second straight season and third time in four years.
The two most expensive players on the team, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, played far below replacement level. Their major league roster had star power but had more holes than swiss cheese. Boston’s farm system was much better, but almost all of the blue-chip prospects – Yoan Moncada, Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi, Michael Kopech, and Anderson Espinoza – had yet to play a game in Double-A.