The Boston Red Sox made multiple attempts to get the elusive right-handed power hitter before trading for Tyler O’Neill.
With Jimmie Foxx being the first in a transaction heavily influenced by owner Tom Yawkey’s finances, O’Neil might serve as a franchise bookend.
Was there another Wily Mo Peña swap in this deal?
After striking an agreement with the Reds, the Red Sox sent Bronson Arroyo, a reliable right-hander, to replace Peña, who was known for his tape-measured blasts. With Boston, the other half of the Peña equation came into play: a pitiful defense, an excessive number of whiffs, a dearth of walks, and dissatisfaction among fans and management. Wily Mo, good bye! Theo Epstein might not have done better on this trade.
Like Peña, O’Neill appeared to never skip a day at the gym, but Gabe Kapler also didn’t appear to either. Baseball muscles do not always translate from the gym. O’Neill has a history of injuries and inconsistent play, despite having one memorable season in which he hit 34 home runs and earned a Gold Glove. O’Neill has a lot going for him in that comparison, as Willy Mo would undoubtedly be a contender for the Iron Glove. We yawned loudly at this deal because we thought O’Neill would be a one-and-done.
However, Boston had discovered something in O’Neill at the midway point. Home runs started to come in as his defense tightened up on the outfield. O’Neill has visited the IL a few times; a prior assessment of
The prospect of re-signing O’Neill as a free agent in May was discussed by BSI. O’Neill would not require Rafael Devers’ money to return at the age of 29, which is peak baseball time, but given the Red Sox’s newfound financial discipline, they might decide against it. It’s time to look back at a comparable error from the past.
Manny Ramírez was a major factor in the 2008 Red Sox’s midseason collapse, as he was growing sick of the bat, becoming irritable, and heading close to free agency. Being Manny, he was as stale as a crueler month. Greetings from Pittsburgh! As part of the three-way trade, Pittsburgh sent Manny to the Dodgers in exchange for a right-handed bat.
Like O’Neill, Jason Bay was a native Canadian, but his credentials were more substantial. He was a two-time All-Star and had a lengthy career that included several campaigns with 30 or more home runs. In his lone Boston season, Bay finished with 36/119/.267. Along with a 25.4K%, Bay “delivered” a 14.7 BB%.
The inside scoop (allegedly) may be found here. The Red Sox did not re-sign Bay. For whatever reason, Bay landed a contract with the Mets, and his career took off. Will O’Neill experience the same thing? Although we don’t think so, a trade dispute might still arise, and with the Red Sox as they are right now, anything can happen.