Watch CBS News

Shaughnessy With Hardy: Hopefully The Old Red Sox Are Back

BOSTON (CBS) - The Red Sox landed top Cuban prospect Rusney Castillo Friday morning and Hardy and Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe were on the air reacting to the breaking news while filling in for Gresh & Zo.

It's a seven-year deal worth $72.5 million, and helps to fill a desperate need of outfield help in Boston. While the signing is no slam dunk, it certainly seems like a worthwhile gamble if you're general manager Ben Cherington.

Shaughnessy cautions that we here in Red Sox Nation tend to over-hype our young guys, (see Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, Jose Iglesias, Jackie Bradley Jr.) -- which makes Castillo a risk -- but the fact that they're spending money again is a good sign.

"Well here's the thing," said Shaughnessy. "I'm encouraged by this, because it tell me that they are willing to spend money. And I've been concerned about that increasingly. Going back to just the things that have been done, and it has bothered me that they got the free pass this year, which you always do when you win the World Series. I think that has been abused a little bit."

This season has long been over, so it's nice to see the team already preparing for the future. However, it is important not to over-hype these players.

"Nobody overrates these people like we do," said Shaughnessy. "In this market. And we have seen this come home in a fast and furious manner this year with Bradley and Xander Bogaerts, who was such a good player when he came up last year. That's the root of their problems this year, is that the young people didn't come through."

With the addition of Castillo, the Red Sox will now have a plethora of outfielders heading into next season. With all of those players, and only so many spots to place them, the Red Sox now have the pieces to swing a trade in the offseason.

"Maybe they are going to trade and use some bodies to get a veteran pitcher," said Shaughnessy. "That rotation, sorry, it went from their biggest strength to their biggest weakness. And we know they can't hit. They got one hit in 28 at-bats last night. This is what they've become."

Listen below for the full conversation with Hardy:

Hopefully The Old Red Sox Are Back

MORE RED SOX COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.