On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox hired former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim general manager Jerry Dipoto on Wednesday. Dipoto served as the GM of the Angels for four years before resigning in July. Boston has added Dipoto in an interim capacity as a temporary consultant, and he will likely remain with the team for a few months, though no timetable has been set.
Dipoto’s hire comes not long after Larry’ Lucchino’s resignation as team president and CEO. While Sam Kennedy will take over as president, the role of CEO has yet to be filled.
Dipoto is a veteran talent evaluator, and has served in a similar role with the Red Sox in the past. From 2003-2004, Dipoto worked as scout for the club, and so is familiar with many current members of the front office. Now, Dipoto will help general manager Ben Cherington evaluate talent within the club, as well as potential trade targets and free agents. It is in those areas in particular that his help will likely be most welcome, especially among the fans.
Boston’s failures in big name acquisitions over the past few years are no secret, and have been widely discussed. In 2012, players such as Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez proved unable to handle the pressure of playing in Fenway Park. This season, it seems like every move the club made has been an abject failure. Hanley Ramirez has struggled at the plate since the All Star Break, and has been worse than a liability in left field all season. Pablo Sandoval’s weight issues have, at times, made him the subject of ridicule with fans, and his lackluster performance with the bat hasn’t helped alleviate that.
The rotation and bullpen have been even worse issues. Rick Porcello, Justin Masterson, Joe Kelly, and Wade Miley, all signed within the last year, have all been among the worst starters in baseball this season. Kelly has been on the DL and in the minors at times, and has not once looked like a major league starter. Masterson has been designated for assignment. And Porcello, who is currently on the disabled list, owns a 5.81 ERA. Only Jeremy Guthrie sports a worse mark in the American League. The massive contract extension he signed prior to the season looks, at the moment, like one of the worst financial decisions in team history. Miley has, at least, been dominant at times, but he is inconsistent at best. As for the bullpen, only Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara have been reliable, and with Uehara now out for the season, the Sox will likely need a double digit lead to feel safe when removing the game’s starter.
Clearly, the Red Sox needed new leadership in the front office. Whether Dipoto’s appointment becomes permanent remains to be see, but at least for now, Cherington will have someone directly influencing his decisions. It is far too late to salvage the 2015 season, but perhaps Dipoto’s presence will help Boston avoid a similar fate in 2016.
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