Turn the Page: Offseason Plans

Though the postseason continues for some, for Red Sox fans, it’s time to turn our attention to the 2017 campaign.

You can count on RSNStats.com throughout the winter for news and notes with links to the most interesting stories for Boston fans.

Word came on Thursday that second baseman Dustin Pedroia underwent a partial medial meniscectomy and chondroplasty (i.e., knee surgery) a day earlier. The procedure was handled by the team’s top orthopedist at Mass General. Pedroia, who may have been injured September 11 when twisting to make a defensive play, should be good to go for Spring Training, the club said. Wrapping up the season with a ding or two is hardly something new for Pedroia, who had finger, thumb, and wrist injuries following the 2012-14 seasons.

David Ortiz posted a poignant goodbye message to Red Sox Nation, reminding fans that “the future is bright with all these young studs!”
For those who still can’t get enough of Papi Palooza, the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier has a nice tick-tock of Ortiz’ final moments in uniform.
John Farrell will be the Sox manager for 2017, baseball president Dave Dombrowski said this week. Around the Nation there are vehement arguments for and against retaining Farrell, though it’s difficult for me to find him accountable for the club’s ALDS collapse while, at the same time, saying he had nothing to do with the team’s 93 wins in what’s obviously baseball’s toughest division.
Comments on the RSNStats Twitter feed notwithstanding, it is, as Jen McCaffrey writes, pretty hard to imagine a 2017 season without Clay Buchholz in the Red Sox mix. The club can and will likely retain him for another season by exercising its $13.5 million option. Over his final six starts, including ALDS Game 3, Buchholz posted a 3.31 ERA over 32.2 IP, striking out 25 and walking 11.