How will the Red Sox fill the void of David Ortiz in 2017?

BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell likened his team’s three-game sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Indians to face-planting into a brick wall. Tuesday, Farrell found out he’ll be around for the recovery, as club President Dave Dombrowski said Farrell would return in 2017.

“He is all set, and his whole staff will be invited back, and we’re anticipating that they will be back, short of something else happening,” Dombrowski said. “They did a very fine job for us.”

That includes taking a team that had two consecutive last-place finishes in the American League East and converting it into a division champion. The Red Sox boasted a potent offense that powered its way to leading the majors in average, runs, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, plus two MVP candidates in David Ortiz and Mookie Betts and a Cy Young candidate in Rick Porcello.

But that team also had a payroll of almost $198 million on opening day; signed left-hander David Price to a seven-year, $217 million deal in December specifically to get it back to the postseason; lost five of its last six regular-season games and was swept out of the playoffs.

Porcello, Price and Clay Buchholz, who earned a combined $63 million in 2016, posted a combined 9.25 ERA in the American League Division Series.

“The expectation is always to play deep into October,” Farrell said. “There was vast improvement over the past two seasons, a lot to be proud of. But there’s going to be some change to the roster, inevitably, as there is every year.”

The most significant hole Dombrowski must fill is the titanic void in his lineup and his clubhouse created with Ortiz’s retirement.

“I don’t think you ever replace David Ortiz with what he brings to an organization or to a community,” Dombrowski said. “He is an icon. He is one of a kind. But we’ll do our best job to replace the offensive aspect, however we can.

“It won’t come from one person hitting 38 home runs and knocking in 140.”

Whether that’s a dedicated designated hitter or a group of players who will rotate positions is undecided.

Perhaps it will be Hanley Ramirez, who will be in the third year of his four-year, $88 million deal. Ramirez played admirably in his first season at first base. Perhaps it will be Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays players who can become free agents. Perhaps Pablo Sandoval, whose first two seasons in his five-year, $95 million deal with the Red Sox have been disastrous, will be in the mix somehow.

With Porcello, Price, Buchholz, who was twice demoted to the bullpen before injuries necessitated a return to the rotation; knuckleballer Steven Wright, who was a first-time All-Star before his season ended with an injury; and left-handers Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz, their rotation is set for now. And with left-handers Henry Owens, Brian Johnson and Roenis Elias in the minors, they have depth.

The Red Sox hold a $13.5 million option on Buchholz, who struggled this season before going 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA in five September starts to finish 8-10 with a 4.78 ERA in 37 games, 21 starts.

“We’re still in this position where we haven’t made a lot of decisions yet,” Dombrowski said of Buchholz.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/10/11/how-red-sox-fill-void-david-ortiz-2017/91927526/