Boston Red Sox

Free-agent pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is receiving interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. 

The news comes after the Boston Red Sox extended an $18.4 million qualifying offer to the left-hander last week. He has until Nov. 17 to accept or decline that offer. If he declines, the Red Sox will receive draft compensation.

Morosi reported Nov. 9 that the Angels were showing interest in Rodriguez as they aim to upgrade their rotation this winter. L.A. has also reportedly been linked to Robbie Ray, Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard. 

The Angels had one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB last season, recording a 4.69 ERA, the ninth worst in MLB, and a 1.38 WHIP. 

Shohei Ohtani, Jose Suarez and Patrick Sandoval figure to be atop L.A.'s rotation in 2022. However, the Angels need replacements for Dylan Bundy and Alex Cobb, who struggled in 2021 and are now free agents. 

As for Toronto, the Blue Jays actually had one of the better pitching staffs in baseball last season, finishing with a 3.91 ERA (10th in MLB) and a 1.23 WHIP (eighth in MLB). However, with Ray now a free agent, the team could very well need to replace him this winter.

As it stands, the Jays' rotation includes Hyun Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah and Thomas Hatch. 

Like the Angels, Detroit's pitching staff was subpar in 2021, finishing with a 4.32 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. The Tigers have a relatively young rotation with Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning onboard for 2022, and they could benefit from adding a veteran like Rodriguez. 

However, Rodriguez struggled in 2021 after missing the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign due to myocarditis related to his COVID-19 diagnosis. The Venezuelan went 13-8 with a career-worst 4.74 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. 

The 28-year-old's best season came in 2019, when he finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting. He went 19-6 with a career-best 3.81 ERA, in addition to a 1.33 WHIP and 213 strikeouts in 203.1 innings across 34 starts. 

Despite his struggles, Rodriguez is a solid candidate to have a bounce-back season in 2022, and he's among one of the best free-agent pitchers available this winter.  

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom confirmed Tuesday that the team will pursue a new contract for Kyle Schwarber in free agency, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. 

The news comes after Schwarber declined his $11.5 mutual option for the 2022 season. 

Schwarber's future in Boston was put into question after slugger J.D. Martinez opted in for the 2022 season. However, Bloom said last week that the Red Sox had been engaged in contract discussions with the veteran outfielder despite Martinez's decision to opt in. 

"We've been engaged with Kyle. We're going to stay engaged," Bloom said, per MassLive's Matt Vautour. "Obviously knowing that J.D. is here changes how we look at the lineup and our position player group generally. But we played some of our best baseball with both of those guys. They certainly both fit. It just gives us more clarity going forward as to which paths we might take going forward as we reshape and put together this position player group for 2022."

Schwarber had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021 and was even better in the second half of the year after being traded from the Washington Nationals to the Red Sox.

The 28-year-old slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs and 18 RBI in 41 regular-season games with Boston. He was also effective in the postseason, slashing .205/.286/.432 with three home runs and six RBI in 11 games. 

If Schwarber returns to the Red Sox, it's unclear what position he will play, as Boston played him at first base toward the end of the 2021 campaign and into the playoffs. 

The Athletic's Jim Bowden predicted Schwarber will sign a contract somewhere in the three-year, $54 million range. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel predicted a three-year, $45 million deal. 

It's unclear which other teams are interested in Schwarber.  

J.D. Martinez is staying put.

The Boston Red Sox slugger reportedly exercised his player option Sunday with the team for the 2022 campaign that is worth $19.4 million, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. 

JD Martinez market could markedly improve next winter if there’s a universal DH and perhaps even no qualifying offer. The QO would have hampered the JD this year, which Boston would have surely given had he opted out of $19.375M. @Ken_Rosenthal has full explanation

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

"I'm right in the middle," Martinez said in September when revealing he hadn't made up his mind on the option, per Rob Bradford of WEEI. "It's a balancing line, and I'm right in the middle. I haven't made a decision. I don't worry about that stuff, but right now I'm right in the middle."

Boston signed him to a five-year deal that featured multiple opt-out clauses ahead of the 2018 season. It could not have worked out better for the American League East team.

Martinez was an All-Star in three of his first four years with the Red Sox with the only exception coming during the shortened 2020 campaign when there was no All-Star Game. The team also won a World Series in its first year with him in the lineup in part because he slashed .300/.403/.520 with three home runs and 14 RBI in those playoffs.

That 2018 campaign was also the best individual effort of his career.

He slashed .330/.402/.629 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI while taking home the Silver Slugger. Just that season alone for a team that won the championship would have been enough to make him a Red Sox legend, but he was impressive again in 2019 when he slashed .304/.383/.557 with 36 home runs and 105 RBI.

While Martinez was somewhat inconsistent during the shortened 2020 season, he bounced back in 2021 with 28 long balls and 99 RBI while helping the Red Sox reach the ALCS, where they were eliminated by the Houston Astros.

The 34-year-old also had stints with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks and has proved he can hit for both power and average at different times in his career. 

He is a three-time Silver Slugger and four-time All-Star and will look to add to his accolades with at least one more season in Boston.

Martinez may have a larger market of suitors if he becomes a free agent after the 2022 season since the universal designated hitter may be on the way. That could help him transition into the latter portion of his career as someone who can solely focus on maintaining his offensive abilities.

Kyle Schwarber's time with the Boston Red Sox may be coming to an end.

The slugger had a mutual option on his contract for the 2022 season that ESPN reported was worth $11.5 million with a $3 million buyout, but he declined his option on Thursday.

However, he could still return to the Red Sox as a free agent.

Boston acquired Schwarber via trade from the Washington Nationals in July, and he proceeded to help lead it to the American League Championship Series. He slashed .205/.286/.432 with three home runs and six RBI in 11 postseason games. 

While the option wasn't exercised, Schwarber thrived during his brief time with the American League East team in 2021.

He slashed .291/.435/.522 with seven home runs in 41 regular season games, which is a far cry from the .188 batting average he posted for the Chicago Cubs during the 2020 campaign before the team he played his first six years with non-tendered him heading into 2021.

Washington signed him to the one-year deal that featured a rather uncommon mutual option for 2022, and he also showed drastic improvement for the Nationals.

"I knew 2020 wasn't a representation of me," Schwarber said, per John Tomase of NBC Sports. "I just knew that I was better than I performed. It's no excuse. I didn't do it. It is what it is, and I got DFA'd. Going into the offseason, I was more worried about going out there and knowing that I'm better than what I did last year. It's been a good year so far, but there are still things to accomplish, playoffs and everything else. I'm a big proponent that you're never a complete player, you just keep learning and learning and learning."

Schwarber launched 25 home runs while hitting .253 in 72 games with the Nationals before they traded him to Boston.

That was much more in line with his more productive years on the Cubs when he cemented himself as a fan favorite while hitting a combined 94 home runs from 2017 through 2019 after he was already a franchise hero because of his 2016 efforts.

Despite tearing his ACL and LCL during an April game of that season, he returned in time for the Cubs' World Series appearance against Cleveland and played their four road games as the designated hitter.

All he did was hit .412 in the series and help Chicago snap a championship drought that dated back to 1908.

Schwarber is now a free agent and will surely draw interest as someone with power and a track record of postseason success.

Now that the Atlanta Braves have been crowned World Series champions, teams are gearing up to make moves on the open market, and the 2021 free-agent class is loaded.  

However, there's going to be some competition for MLB's most prominent stars. Regardless, let's take a look at the latest rumors regarding outfielder Nick Castellanos, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. 

Rockies targeting All-Star OF Nick Castellanos?

The Colorado Rockies are interested in adding to their outfield this winter, and Nick Castellanos is among the players the club is reportedly targeting, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. Michael Conforto and Starling Marte are also on their list. 

The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday that Castellanos exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and will become a free agent this offseason. He had two years and $34 million remaining on his four-year, $64 million deal.

Castellanos is coming off one of his best seasons in MLB. He hit .309/.362/.576 with a career-high 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 138 games. 

Aside from Charlie Blackmon, who has spent his entire 11-year career in Colorado, the Rockies lack star power in the outfield. During the 2021 campaign, the club relied on Raimel Tapia, Yonathan Daza, Garrett Hampson and Sam Hilliard in the outfield. 

While Blackmon played most of the 2021 season in right field, he could shift to left or center in 2022 if the Rockies were to acquire Castellanos, who is primarily a right fielder. Also, with MLB likely to implement a universal designated hitter next season, either Blackmon or Castellanos could serve that position. 

However, the Rockies will face tough competition for the 29-year-old. The Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs have also reportedly been linked to the star outfielder, which means a bidding war could be on tap. 

Yankees looking for improvements at several positions?

The New York Yankees are reportedly looking for upgrades at catcher and in center field, according to Bowden. The Bronx Bombers are also reportedly interested in adding a starting pitcher. 

The Yankees could absolutely use help at catcher after inconsistent seasons from Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka. Sanchez slashed .204/.307/.423 with 23 home runs and 54 RBI in 2021. He also remains a defensive liability. Higashioka was even worse, hitting .181/.246/.389 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. 

Sanchez has popped up in trade rumors in each of the last four seasons, and New York's desire to upgrade at the position has been known for a long time. However, it's unclear which players the Yankees might be targeting. 

Yan Gomes, Martin Maldonado, Stephen Vogt and Sandy Leon are among the catchers currently headed for free agency. Christian Vazquez, Mike Zunino and Roberto Perez could hit the open market if their club options are declined. 

As for center field, the Yankees could use an upgrade from Brett Gardner, who is far removed from his 2017 21-homer season. During the 2021 season, he hit .222/.327/.362 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. 

New York also used Aaron Judge and Tyler Wade in CF at points last season. 

Ian Desmond, Starling Marte and Kevin Pillar are among the centerfielders available on the open market. However, it's unclear if the Yankees are interested. 

The Yankees actually had one of the better pitching staffs in 2021, with a 3.74 ERA, which was sixth-best in baseball. However, they could use depth behind Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery, with Corey Kluber entering free agency and Jameson Taillon recovering from an ankle injury. It's also important to mention that Luis Severino is an injury risk, which further jeopardizes New York's depth.  

There are several talented free-agent starting pitchers available, too, including Zack Grienke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman. 

Red Sox focusing on bullpen depth, but in the market for a shortstop?

The Boston Red Sox will reportedly focus on improving their bullpen this winter, according to Bowden. However, they "also could be a sleeper in the shortstop market," Bowden adds. 

"Don't get me wrong, they love Xander Bogaerts," Bowden writes. "The thinking is they could sign a shortstop and move him to second base, or perhaps even consider moving Bogaerts there." 

The Red Sox bullpen was inconsistent throughout the 2021 season. It ranked eighth in strikeout percentage (25.6 percent) and 13th with a 3.99 ERA, according to The Boston Globe, but had the sixth-highest walk rate (10.8 percent) and seventh-worst WHIP (1.39). 

Boston could lose Garrett Richards, Adam Ottavino and Hansel Robles in free agency, while Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, Josh Taylor, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck are among the relievers set to return. 

Regardless of who walks and who returns, the Red Sox have needed bullpen help for a while. Luckily, there are many talented relievers available, including Trevor Rosenthal, Andrew Miller, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Kelly and Brad Hand. 

Boston reportedly had its eyes on Hand, Alex Colome and Joakim Soria before the 2021 season. Colome and Soria will be free agents this winter.

As for shortstop, Bogaerts signed a six-year, $120 million deal in 2019, but he has the ability to opt out after the 2022 season, and he reportedly plans to do so, according to ESPN's Joon Lee. So, it's no surprise the team is interested in adding some insurance at the position.

The Red Sox have no shortage of options, either. Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Javier Baez and Andrelton Simmons are among the players set to hit the open market. However, they'll face some tough competition for any of those players. 

Former Boston Red Sox player and broadcaster Jerry Remy died Saturday of lung cancer. 

He was 68. 

This weekend we lost our beloved Jerry Remy - a former player, broadcaster, Red Sox Hall of Famer & friend.
 
For over 40 years, the RemDawg captured the hearts of Red Sox Nation. Our thoughts & countless memories are with Jerry’s wife, Phoebe, their family & our friends at NESN. pic.twitter.com/tae6tY9c1Q

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 31, 2021

We mourn the passing of @RedSox Hall of Famer and beloved broadcaster, Jerry Remy. He was 68. pic.twitter.com/sKiwSZJtNA

— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2021

Red Sox principal owner John Henry released the following statement:

We are saddened by the loss of a beloved player, broadcaster and 13-year cancer warrior. Jerry's love and connection to baseball didn't allow anything to stand between the game and him, including for many years cancer. He devoted his entire career to baseball and whether from his seat in the clubhouse or his perch above the field in the broadcast booth, he took generations of rising Red Sox stars and a multitude of fans along for the ride with him. During his lifetime, he witnessed great triumphs and terrible tragedies handling all of it with grace, dignity, and a huge heart. He left an indelible mark on this club and on an entire nation of Red Sox fans.

I lost a great teammate and friend today. A true gamer and important part of all of Red Sox Nation. R.I.P. Remdog. ⁦@RedSox⁩ pic.twitter.com/fav5fmhH7w

— Fred Lynn (@19fredlynn) October 31, 2021

Words can’t express my feelings right now so sad to hear about the passing of my former teammate and friend Jerry Remy. Scoot you’ll be dearly missed RIP 💔#Remdog pic.twitter.com/i9d2xGNw9j

— Wade Boggs (@ChickenMan3010) October 31, 2021

Rest In Peace, Jerry Remy. What a special person you were to not only me, but to Jenny as well. I can recall nights on the road when I would be struggling at the plate and RemDog would come to my hotel room for a glass of wine and to talk ball. One of a kind. We’ll miss you. ♥️⚾️

— Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks) October 31, 2021

Remy played for the California Angels (1975) and Red Sox (1978-84) in his career, hitting .275 with seven homers, 329 RBI, 605 runs and 208 stolen bases. He was an All-Star in the 1978 season. 

"In baseball, he was a very, very hard worker. He made himself an outstanding player. He carried those same work habits over to the broadcast booth," Hall of Famer and Remy's former teammate, Carl Yastrzemski, said in a statement. "We were a couple of lockers down from each other so we would talk a lot. We became very good friends. This is a sad day."  

But Remy became a Boston legend as a broadcaster for NESN, where he spent 34 seasons calling Red Sox games. 

Thank you for 21 years of friendship. I am nowhere today without you. Showed me the right @MLB way. I know I will text you 3 times a day still. I am lost. #RIPRem @RedSox @NESN pic.twitter.com/GB9wU8TKQl

— Don Orsillo (@DonOrsillo) October 31, 2021

https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/1454845128653393932

The Jerry Remy the world knew was not that naturally outgoing. Sean McDonough tapped into something and thus the RemDawg was born and we all benefited, Jerry Remy included. And weren’t he and Eck together priceless? Proud to say I have one of his 7 career HRs in my ‘77 scorebook.

— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) October 31, 2021

What Tommy Heinsohn was to the Celtics and Boston, Jerry Remy was to the Red Sox. Rest easy, Jerry. You were a local treasure.

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) October 31, 2021

He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and had multiple relapses in the following years. He took a leave of absence in August to undergo treatment. 

He last appeared at Fenway Park on Oct. 5 to throw out the first pitch for the AL Wild Card Game versus the New York Yankees, a 6-2 Red Sox win.

New York Mets president Sandy Alderson has requested to interview Boston Red Sox executive vice president and assistant general manager Raquel Ferreira for the club's vacant GM job, per SNY's Andy Martino.

The Mets have also requested to interview Minnesota Twins assistant GM Daniel Adler and Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Jeff Kingston.

Kingston will remain with the Dodgers, Martino reported.

Ferreira first began working with the Red Sox in 1999, per a 2019 piece published by The Undefeated. She went from holding a role as an administrative assistant to becoming an executive.

In 2015, Ferreira became the third female vice president of baseball operations in MLB history. She was promoted to her current role in 2019. 

Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng became the first female GM in MLB history in 2020. Ferreira would become the second if hired by the Mets.

Adler, meanwhile, has been in the Twins organization since 2017. He was the director of baseball operations for two years before being promoted to assistant GM in 2019.

The 34-year-old has an MBA from Harvard and worked for MLB's labor relations department. He has also worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars as director of football research.

David Stearns, Matt Arnold, Michael Girsch, Billy Beane, Mark Shapiro, Brian Sabean, Scott Harris and Brandon Gomes are among the many executives linked to the Mets general manager position who won't join the club ahead of the 2022 season. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen could also make an internal hire, Martino wrote. Assistant general manager Ian Levin and vice president of amateur/international scouting Tommy Tanous have been considered for the vacant position, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. 

The Mets have been in limbo at GM since Jared Porter was fired in January after it was revealed he engaged in inappropriate conduct in 2016, which included sending "explicit, unsolicited texts and images" to a female reporter, according to ESPN's Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan.

Assistant general manager Zack Scott was elevated to acting GM and was viewed as a replacement for Porter before an August DWI charge put his status with the club in question. Scott remains on administrative leave, and his position won't be sorted out until his legal situation is resolved. 

Even though the eyes of Major League Baseball fans are trained squarely on the World Series, the end of the Fall Classic will bring about many questions for all 30 teams. 

This is certainly going to be a busy offseason, especially given the uncertainty around the labor negotiations and the likelihood of a work stoppage when the current CBA expires on Dec. 2.   

That is going to have a significant impact on when business will get done. Free agency officially starts five days after the World Series ends, but history has shown that teams don't usually make deals for marquee players until the winter meetings at the earliest. 

All of that is worth keeping in mind for the future. For now, though, there is plenty of buzz going on about some of the biggest players who could be on the move this offseason. 

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Xander Bogaerts Preparing to Hit Free Agency After 2022

After trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of the 2020 season, the long-term future of the Boston Red Sox was tied directly to Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers turning into All-Stars. 

That mission was accomplished in 2021, as both players were named to the Midsummer Classic and played key roles in the Red Sox reaching the American League Championship Series. 

Devers and Bogaerts remain under contract to the Red Sox next season, but things get murky beyond that. 

Per ESPN's Joon Lee, Bogaerts is planning on using the opt out in his contract after next season to become a free agent. 

The Red Sox signed Bogaerts to a six-year, $120 million contract before the 2019 season. The deal includes a $20 million player option for 2023, per Spotrac. 

Timing is a crucial part of free agency. Bogaerts would almost certainly attract a lot of attention if he could opt out this offseason, but he would also be competing with the likes of Corey Seager and Carlos Correa as the top shortstop. 

The top potential free-agent shortstops after next season include Tim Anderson and Trea Turner, but there's a steep drop to in talent after those two players. Dansby Swanson, who only has one full season with an OPS over .800 in his career (2020), would likely be No. 3. 

Bogaerts will be 30 years old after next season, but he's remained a quality defensive shortstop even as he's gotten older. The three-time All-Star ranked eighth among all qualified shortstops in FanGraphs defensive value (8.3) and ninth in out of zone plays (106) in 2021. 

Hitting is one thing that Bogaerts has never struggled to do. He has a .290/.353/.459 career slash line and has slugged at least .493 in each of the last four seasons. 

As long as Bogaerts has another strong season in 2022, there's no reason for him not to see what the market has to offer him. 

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Anthony Rizzo Hopeful for Yankees Reunion

A disappointing 2021 season has left the New York Yankees with a lot of things to evaluate as they look to improve next year. 

First base is one area that could have an opening, depending on what the Yankees want to do with Anthony Rizzo. 

If Rizzo has his way, he will be wearing pinstripes next season. Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger cited a family member as saying that Rizzo is "quite eager" to return to New York in 2022. 

According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 25, 2021

The Yankees will have nine free agents this offseason. Rizzo, Corey Kluber and Brett Gardner are the most prominent in that group. It seems unlikely that Gardner, whose .689 OPS in 2021 was his worst since he was a rookie (.582 in 2008), will be back. 

Kluber could go either way. The two-time American League Cy Young winner was effective when he pitched (3.83 ERA), but injuries limited him to 80 innings over 16 starts. He's only pitched 116.2 innings over the past three seasons combined and will turn 36 on April 10. 

Rizzo was a solid hitter in 2021 between his time with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs. The three-time All-Star had a .248/.344/.440 slash line in 141 games. 

The first-base market looks strong at the top, with Freddie Freeman and Brandon Belt leading the way.

Belt is a volatile player because of his injury history. He has missed at least 25 games in six of the past eight seasons, including 65 in 2021. Given that he will turn 34 on April 20, betting on him staying healthy going forward seems like a high risk. 

Freeman is one of the most durable players in MLB. The reigning NL MVP has only missed four games in the past four seasons combined. 

The Yankees could also bet on Luke Voit staying healthy. He's been a productive offensive player when he's been able to play. The 30-year-old has a .267/.357/.510 slash line in five MLB seasons, but that only covers 351 games because of injuries. 

Rizzo can't be counted to produce at the same level he did at his peak with the Cubs, but he just might end up being the safest option for the Yankees at first base because he rarely gets hurt. 

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Cubs Reportedly Shopping Willson Contreras

The Cubs are mired in the early stages of a rebuild that started last season by trading most of the remaining core from their 2016 World Series roster, including Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant. 

One of the few holdovers from that squad is Willson Contreras, though his future with the club is very much uncertain. 

Per The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer "will almost certainly shop" Contreras this offseason if the two sides can't agree to a long-term extension. 

Contreras is a difficult player to evaluate for a new contract because his career has been mired by inconsistency. He ranked 39th among all catchers last season in framing, per Baseball Savant.

It looked like Contreras made significant strides in that area during the 2020 season, when he ranked 10th overall.

The Venezuela native threw out a career-low 21 percent of basestealers in 2021, per Baseball Reference. It was his first time finishing worse than the league average in that category. 

Contreras' bat does put him among the better backstops in MLB. The two-time All-Star ranked fourth out of 15 catchers with at least 400 plate appearances in homers (21), fifth in slugging percentage (.438), sixth in on-base percentage (.340) and fifth in weighted on-base average (.337), per FanGraphs.

The 29-year-old made $6.65 million in 2021 and has one more year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent. 

Given the state of the Cubs roster coming off a 71-91 season, there's little incentive for the front office to keep Contreras. He plays a demanding position where few players can age gracefully. 

Buster Posey resurrected his career with the San Francisco Giants in part because of how he was managed. The 2012 NL MVP routinely only played two of three games in most series during the regular season. 

Contreras' up-and-down MLB career to this point does make him a risky gamble for any team. His upside is high enough to make him worth betting on, especially for a potential contender looking to upgrade its lineup. 

Boston Red Sox slugger Kyle Schwarber is headed for free agency, but it seems that he doesn't plan on going anywhere.

After being acquired from the Washington Nationals at this year's trade deadline, Schwarber said he's content in Boston and wouldn't mind staying put this offseason.

"It'd be pretty stupid not to think about [returning]," Schwarber told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. "My team here has been unbelievable. … If they feel like they would like to talk about [a new deal], I'd be all ears. I just think it would be stupid to 'X' someone off for no reason. Especially for a place like this, I'd be all ears."

Between Washington and Boston, Schwarber slashed .266/.374/.554 for the best numbers of his career. The seven-year veteran first baseman totaled 32 home runs this season.

Schwarber started out hot during the Red Sox's postseason run, hitting .281 with three home runs in the first eight games. But he went cold with an 0-for-12 stretch over Boston's final three losses to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

In his short time in Boston, Schwarber already became a fan favorite. He had a signature moment at Fenway with a solo home run early in the Red Sox's AL Wild Card win over their rival New York Yankees. Schwarber said he enjoyed playing in the atmosphere in Boston.

"It's been a great time. You can't ask for anything better," Schwarber said. "I just want to be myself. I like to have fun. I like to be loose and then obviously when it's time to cross lines, it's business time, but I still have fun doing it. I don't ever want to try to be something I'm not. I feel like maybe that's why people relate to me."

Schwarber played the 2021 season on a one-year, $10 million deal he signed with the Nationals. He's likely to decline an $11.5-million mutual option for 2022 to test the open market, but Schwarber made it clear that he wouldn't mind sticking around in Boston for the next few years.

"This is definitely a clubhouse that I could see myself wanting to stay in. These guys are amazing," he said. "This is a World Series clubhouse, and I would love to hopefully see if that opportunity comes back."     

Chris Sale certainly had one way to put it following his performance in Wednesday's Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

"I was good for five and I sucked for one," the Boston Red Sox pitcher told reporters after the 9-1 loss to the Houston Astros. "I left my nuts out there, that's for sure."

It wasn't long ago that Sale was one of the best pitchers in the league and a surefire ace his team could rely on in the postseason.

He is a seven-time All-Star and finished in the top six of the American League Cy Young voting seven years in a row from 2012 through 2018. However, that is no longer the case after he missed the entire 2020 season and made just nine starts this year.

The southpaw allowed five earned runs in one inning in his first appearance of this postseason against the Tampa Bay Rays and was better while allowing one earned run in 2.2 innings in his first showing against the Astros.

He made it much deeper in Wednesday's game and allowed four runs and three hits while striking out seven in 5.1 innings. Still, just two of the runs were of the earned variety, as Kyle Schwarber's error in the sixth inning proved costly.

Michael Brantley reached base on the error, and Yordan Alvarez's two-run double just two batters later pushed Houston's lead from 1-0 to 3-0.

Things unraveled from there for the Red Sox after they turned to their bullpen, but they can at least take solace knowing that Sale was much better than he has been throughout the postseason.

He might not be able to pitch again unless they make the World Series, which will require two straight wins after falling behind 3-2 in the series.