A Fan's Christmas Wish List for the Boston Red Sox in 2015

Ahhh, the holidays. Eggnog, carols, the fresh smell of sap and distracting oneself from thy family with NBA action. But with the 10-16 Boston Celtics having just traded away Rajon Rondo and the New England Patriots already clinching the AFC's No. 1 seed, the conversation for many New Englanders may quickly transition to the Boston Red Sox this Christmas. 

Writing "A Fan's Christmas Wish List" could very easily venture to the absurd: "David Ortiz Breaks the Single-Season HR Record" or "The Red Sox Go a Perfect 173-0 (Including Postseason) to Win Their 4th World Series in 12 Years."

Just to be clear, we won't be going that route. Get your mind in a more realistic place. Think more along the lines of what you actually asked your parents for this Christmas. I'm guessing it wasn't a Maserati. It was probably more like an Xbox One. 

The list could go on forever, so I'll limit it to the five things I covet most for Boston in 2015 to put it in the best position to contend. 

Mookie Betts Is the Real Deal

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Mookie was simply electrifying in his 52-game MLB stint last season. I'm such a Betts believer I can recite his rookie stat line off the top of my head these days: .291 average, .368 on-base percentage, 18 extra-base hits (five home runs) and seven stolen bases.

As long as Red Sox fans are making Christmas wishes, if you extrapolate that out for 156 games over a full season: .291 AVG, .368 OBP, 54 XBH (15 HR) and 21 SB. That's also known as 2012 Dustin Pedroia (.290 AVG, .347 OBP, 57 XBH—15 HR, and 20 SB). 

Betts is still just 22 years old and is under team control for the foreseeable future. His youth offers hope that he has even greater power upside once he hits his prime. If he develops a little more pop over the next few seasons, by the time he's 24 you could be looking at a 20-25 home run center fielder with stolen base potential of 30 (his minor league stolen base pedigree proves I'm not delusional).

And what Mookie would cost the Red Sox would either A) let Boston retain him in the immediate future as a ridiculous steal, or B) allow general manager Ben Cherington to use that bargaining position to lock up Betts long term at a reduced price—think an Evan Longoria-type contract where the player gets a payday before his current, crappy deal runs out but not to the level that said player could command if he were on the open market.

The ceiling of Betts' value is so great when you combine his on-field potential with his financial situation that I don't think he's even a remote trade possibility. When Boston dealt Hanley Ramirez to the Miami Marlins as part of a package ahead of the 2006 season, it got back 26-year-old World Series Yankee-killer Josh Beckett and three-time All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell.

None of the aging, available aces out there offers that kind of return. With a GM wired the way Cherington is, it takes such compensation to pry a potential gem like Betts away. 

Now, I'm not blind to the fact that there's a chance I'm overreacting to Mookie Mania. I admittedly got a little too sucked into the Jackie Bradley Jr. hype.

But remember, when you think I'm being hyperbolic on Betts, that I'm not the one who compared him to four-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen. That was Shane Victorino (h/t Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald). Though after getting lost in Mookie's MLB.com highlights and then toggling to the 2013 NL MVP's video page, I can totally see it. The stance, the super quick hands, the line-drive swing... 

Wish-List Request: For Betts to successfully transition into a strong defensive outfielder who hits .285 with 14 HR and 27 SB as the Red Sox's leadoff man. 

Rick Porcello Builds off His Career Year

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The right-handed pitcher, who'll turn 26 years old on December 27, is joining the Red Sox on the heels of a career-best season. Porcello's repertoire is built around his sinker and four-seam fastball, but as Fangraphs' PITCHf/x shows, he also mixes in a cutter, changeup and slider.

Because he attacks hitters with those two main pitches down in the zone, he's been a great ground-ball inducer during his six MLB seasons. Porcello has a career ground-ball percentage of 52 percent to go along with a tidy 1.16 career ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio. Those are certainly encouraging numbers as the righty moves into the bandbox that is Fenway Park. 

Another thing to like about Porcello is that while he's still relatively young he isn't lacking in big league experience. He already has 1,073.1 MLB innings under his belt. Though the more traditional statistics he's posted leave something to be desired (career 4.30 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), his 3.70 fielding independent pitching (FIP) over the past three seasons suggests some bad luck is to blame.

Slick-fielding Pablo Sandoval and sure-handed Mike Napoli provide defensive upgrades at the corners from what Porcello had in Detroit (offense intended, Miguel Cabrera).

The 2007 first-round pick also lowered his walk rate in each of his last four campaigns, so he's hurting himself less. In 2014 he whittled his walks per nine innings (BB/9) down to a minuscule 1.80. To put that into perspective, Felix Hernandez clocked in at 1.75 BB/9 last year, and Madison Bumgarner finished at 1.78 BB/9. 

Boston fans can hold out hope that the Red Sox bought in on the New Jersey product at the perfect time. A sinker-baller with a strong defense behind him and a growing command of the strike zone has the makings of a solid No. 2 starter.

Wish-List Request: For last year's output (3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 204.2 innings pitched) to be a baseline for 2015 and for Boston to sign Porcello long term before he hits free agency. 

The Red Sox Land Johnny Cueto

Alan Diaz/Associated Press

Does trading for reliable backstop Ryan Hanigan signal the Red Sox are about to flip prized catching prospect Blake Swihart? It could just be that Boston doesn't want to rush the young dynamo. Acquiring a veteran backup for Christian Vazquez allows the club to take it slow with Swihart.

But after raking throughout the minors, the soon-to-be 23-year-old seemed like a midseason call-up candidate. That makes me think this move could be a precursor to GM Ben Cherington cashing in his Swihart chip for the No. 1 starter he's been looking for.

Swihart would be a better fit in a deal for Cole Hamels or Jordan Zimmermann given the Philadelphia Phillies' and Washington Nationals' greater need for a catcher. However, I'm going to be a little ambitious with this request and hope Santa brings Johnny Cueto to Boston.

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that the right-handed pitcher's agent told the Reds they have until Opening Day to negotiate an extension with him. Heyman continued to say that the 2014 NL Cy Young runner-up is seeking somewhere between Jon Lester's $155 million deal and Max Scherzer's $200 million demands.

The Red Sox's best offer to Lester topped out at $135 million, according to ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes, making it questionable they'd meet Cueto's asking price. But the reigning MLB strikeout king is two years younger than Lester, creating the possibility that Boston's brass is willing to spend more for those extra prime seasons.

A six-year deal would run out during Cueto's age-35 season, which means it's more likely he'll maintain close to peak performance for the length of the contract. 

I went into what makes Cueto so appealing last week, and the power move by his agent puts pressure on Cincinnati to make something happen. Even if Swihart isn't the best fit for the Reds' roster, he's a controllable piece with strong value as Boston's No. 1 prospect, according to Baseball America. As fellow Bleacher Report writer Zachary D. Rymer pointed out, it's just not feasible for Cincinnati to match the dollars Cueto wants.

So with the clock ticking, acquiring the best assets possible trumps all else for the Reds. Cincinnati could look to flip Swihart soon after in a subsequent trade to get prospects who fit their needs more. The Dodgers sent touted left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney to the Los Angeles Angels just hours after they traded for him, so it wouldn't be unprecedented.

I'd throw out a deal that also includes Aroldis Chapman, given rumors tied to his name, but I think that would cost the Red Sox too much of their farm system to consider. 

Wish-List Request: For Boston to sign Cueto long term after acquiring him for a prospect package built around Swihart.

Dustin Pedroia Stays Healthy

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After tying a career high by slugging .493 in 2010, Pedroia's slugging percentage has taken a significant dive in each of the past four seasons. Last year the second baseman managed just 40 extra-base hits in 135 games (.376 slugging), while his OBP also dropped to a meager .337.

A string of hand injuries is largely credited for draining Pedroia's power, with the latest maladies being a damaged thumb and wrist that required surgery. 

Once he had gone under the knife, Pedroia told WEEI back in November that he was already "back to a hundred percent" and that he had "a lot of IOU’s to hand out to people" after his recent downward trend. 

Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that one line of thinking is that the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year will regain some of his power just by not having his weight-lifting regimen interrupted this offseason. The advanced statistics from Fangraphs lend credence to the notion that the drop-off was injury-related.

The 31-year-old's contact percentage was right on par with his his career averages, as were his swings at balls outside the strike zone. If the decline was due to a hole in Pedroia's swing or an issue with his batter's eye, a decreased rate of contact and/or an expansion of the strike zone would be expected.

Instead, it appears the fan favorite had the same plate coverage and discipline but simply lacked the ability to drive the ball with authority because of his hand issues. 

The ever-confident Pedroia didn't shy away from creating 2015 expectations in his aforementioned WEEI interview: 

"

I feel great. ... My rehab’s going good. I’m full strength and I’m pretty excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve been myself. It’s going to be a lot of fun next year.

"

In early December, John Farrell provided the most recent health update on the second baseman to Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com. The manager confirmed Pedrioa's continued improvement with his range of motion and that he had progressed to swinging a bat.

With still a few months to spare before Red Sox players flock to Fort Myers for spring training, the skipper's words couldn't have sounded any better. However, the Fenway faithful will have to wait all season to see if this is indeed gifted to them.  

Wish-List Request: For no injuries and for the "Laser Show" to return to a .300-plus hitter and to slug over .450.

Xander Bogaerts Rebounds

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The final wish-list item could easily have gone a couple different ways. Ensuring that aging stars Koji Uehara and David Ortiz have gas left in the tank for 2015 was pondered. Getting assurance Craig Breslow would rediscover his 2013 form as he takes over the prominent left-handed pitcher reliever duties also garnered consideration.

However, neither of those has the long-term effect that Bogaerts rebounding this season would carry.

If Xander goes in the tank again the way he did in 2014 (.161 AVG during a three-month span from June to August), it could really damage the young player's psyche long term—particularly if Betts' ascension continues.

Both players are the same age, with Bogaerts coming up shouldering greater expectations as the more ballyhooed prospect. Struggling is bad enough, but to slump as a direct peer becomes everything you were supposed to be could be crushing. 

The Rookie of the Year anticipation has faded, and now getting a solid MLB campaign under his belt is all fans are looking for in 2015. You don't want this to trend the Will Middlebrooks route, where the wheels come off a once promising player.

Last year too much was put on the 22-year-old amid a rather quiet Red Sox offseason. Jacoby Ellsbury left in free agency, and Stephen Drew's departure opened the door for the heralded Bogaerts to step in. A full season of Xander was the World Series champions' biggest move.

Things started well (.304 average, .397 on-base percentage through May) before the disastrous middle of the season occurred. This year, with a slew of additions highlighted by the Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval signings, the spotlight should veer away from Bogaerts.

He did manage to belt 12 home runs, which tied him for eighth in the majors among shortstops last season. He also closed the year on a tear with a .317 average in September. Bogaerts should slot lower in the order to begin this year and can ease himself into his second full season.

Batting seventh through ninth allows a player to just hit and not concern himself with trying to work counts or take pitches. Young players can put extra pressure on themselves in that respect when batting leadoff or in the two-hole, as they feel a duty to do so to allow their teammates to get a live look at the pitcher's offerings. 

While Boston's deep stable of hitters makes it seem like a pitching wish would be better suited here, the ability for Bogaerts to fulfill his promise is too great to pass up. Don't look for All-Star-caliber play right away, but instead hope for positive signs that Xander can one day be the franchise cornerstone he was advertised as.

Wish List Request: For Bogaerts to play a full season in the majors with a .275 AVG, .340 OBP and 15 HR.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com or Fangraphs.com unless otherwise noted/linked.