“With those deals, Boston emerged as one of the winners from the winter meetings …”

Who said that?

I did.

Problem was, I wrote that last December, while commentating on General Manager Ben Cherington’s contingency plan – obtaining pitchers Rick Porcello, Justin Masterson and Wade Miley in the wake of Jon Lester going to the Cubs.

So how did that work out? Of the three pitchers and one general manager, only Porcello is left.

With that in mind – and we’re not even going to talk about the 2010-11 “winning” offseason – I cautiously announce again that the Red Sox are having a solid offseason. And it’s not just me talking. Jayson Stark of ESPN recently wrote:

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“What team has improved more than (Boston) this winter? The correct answer would be: None.”

New Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski has added five players, one of whom may begin the season in Pawtucket. That may be just enough if – capital I, capital F – other players come through.

The added five may also be enough for Boston to take on the American League East. Boston has done more than its division rivals – of course, the Red Sox had to, considering their back-to-back last-place finishes.

After obtaining ace David Price, closer Craig Kimbrel and reserve outfielder Chris Young before the meetings, Dombrowski began last week with a deal for one and possibly two bullpen arms – Carson Smith and Roenis Elias – from Seattle for starter Wade Miley and Triple-A reliever Jonathan Aro.

Many (like me) like Miley’s durability, leading the team with 193 innings. But the team desperately needed to deepen its bullpen.

And while it seems like Boston’s starters did not go deep into games last season, the Red Sox ranked sixth in the American League in innings pitched by starters.

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Want to know who was last in that category? The world champion Kansas City Royals.

So Boston gets Price (who threw 27 more innings than Miley), and can back him and the rest of the rotation with a better bullpen.

That pen has a solid foursome of incumbents Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa, plus Kimbrel (87 strikeouts in 59 innings last year) and Smith (92 strikeouts in 70 innings).

Elias, a lefty, is an interesting addition. He has started the past two years for Seattle (with occasional time in the minors). He was 5-8 with a 4.14 last season, with 97 strikeouts in 115 innings. While Elias gives Boston starting depth, he could be a reliever/spot starter.

Elias faced left-handed batters 107 times last year and struck out 34. Lefties batted .227 against him with only one home run.

For now, Boston’s only other left-handed relievers are Robbie Ross and Tommy Layne.

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Elias could become a nice surprise. Price and Kimbrel are expected to do well, as is Smith after an impressive rookie year. And Young gives Boston a veteran outfielder who could put dents in the Green Monster.

Yeah, Boston is winning the offseason.

But you’ve heard that before.

THE YANKEES are doing some un-Yankee-like maneuvering. New York traded two members of its vaunted bullpen for a young infielder and two minor league pitchers. Granted, second baseman Starlin Castro is a potential standout despite a down 2015 (.265/.671), but the Yankees have weakened their pen, which last year bailed out New York’s shaky starters (ranked 10th in the AL with a 4.25 ERA).

THE BLUE JAYS are the defending division champions and they are looking for pitching. Toronto already lost Price to the Red Sox, and likely will say goodbye to Mark Buehrle, who may retire. And the Blue Jays gutted their farm system, trading away 11 minor league pitchers (some top prospects) to fortify the team last year.

Toronto will have Marcus Stroman back, among others, as well as its vaunted offense.

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THE ORIOLES dropped to .500 last year (81-81) and there’s nothing to suspect they will get better, except that Manager Buck Showalter’s teams often over-achieve. On Saturday, Baltimore withdrew its offer to free-agent first baseman Chris Davis, reportedly for seven years and $150-million. The Orioles also may lose free-agent pitcher Wei-Yin Chen. They re-signed right-handed reliever Darren O’Day.

THE RAYS made some minor moves before the meetings and little during them. It will be another year of Tampa Bay relying on its starters (a league-best 3.63 ERA last year) to carry the team.

NOTES: San Diego traded one-time Red Sox first-round pick and Sea Dogs starter Casey Kelly to the Braves. Kelly, 26, pitched mostly in Double-A last year with three major league appearances. Kelly pitched for Portland in 2010 and, after the season, was sent to San Diego, with first baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder prospect Rey Fuentes to obtain Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez, of course, now plays for the Dodgers and Rizzo for the Cubs. Fuentes is in Triple-A with the Royals.

 


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