Regrading the Boston Red Sox's Offseason Acquisitions

With roughly 30 percent of the 2015 MLB season completed, it's time to re-evaluate the Boston Red Sox's offseason acquisitions.

In assessing each of Boston's new players, a number of factors may be taken into account.  Both their performances so far, as well as how those performances compare to expectations, come into play.  Also important is the cost—either the money spent on a free agent or the value of what was lost in a trade.

Below are grades for each of the Red Sox's significant offseason moves.

Robbie Ross Jr.—Acquired in a Trade for Anthony Ranaudo

Robbie Ross Jr. is not currently on Boston's 25-man active roster.  The left-handed reliever has thrown 14 innings this year, yielding a 5.14 ERA, a 1.64 WHIP and a .309 batting average against.

Now a member of the Texas Rangers organization, Anthony Ranaudo made one start this season and got shelled for six earned runs in just 1.2 innings.  He's in Triple-A for the time being.

Neither player is of much value to his club at the moment.

Grade: C+

Anthony Varvaro—Acquired in a Trade for Aaron Kurcz

Anthony Varvaro pitched 11 innings with Boston in April, posting a 4.09 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP.  His saga since then is quite bizarre.  WEEI.com's Ryan Hannable writes:

"

After being designated for assignment by the team on April 29, and then claimed by the Cubs, it was found out the right-hander has a right flexor strain. The severity of the injury was unknown to the Red Sox at the time of the assignment, so both clubs agreed it would be appropriate to return Varvaro to the Red Sox for placement on the disabled list in accordance with major league rules.

"

Varvaro was reportedly scheduled for surgery this week and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Aaron Kurcz has a 2.55 ERA in 17.2 innings for the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate.

Grade: C-

Ryan Hanigan—Acquired in a Trade for Will Middlebrooks

When starting catcher Christian Vazquez was lost for the year to Tommy John surgery, Ryan Hanigan stepped into the role of Boston's No. 1 backstop.  Hanigan hit .222 with one home run and five RBI in 19 games before a broken finger landed him on the 60-day disabled list.

"

Hanigan will start throwing by next week. Fully expects to be ready to come off DL when time is up in early July

— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) May 26, 2015"

With the San Diego Padres, Will Middlebrooks is batting .228 with six home runs and 17 RBI through 45 games.  Once the Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval, Middlebrooks' future in Boston was basically nonexistent.  Getting a solid veteran catcher in return is not a bad haul.

Grade: B-

Sandy Leon—Acquired in a Trade for Cash Considerations

The Red Sox brought in Sandy Leon at the end of spring training after Vazquez's injury.  Now that Hanigan is out as well, Leon is filling in admirably as a backup to Blake Swihart.  His .205 average is on par with what's to be expected for a reserve catcher traded for nothing but cash.

A pleasant surprise of note, Leon has thrown out three of four baserunners attempting to steal.

Grade: B+

Alexi Ogando—Signed as a Free Agent for 1 Year, $1.5 Million

To this point in 2015, Alexi Ogando owns some of the best stats of any pitcher on Boston's staff.  His 0.98 WHIP is the third lowest on the club, and his .194 batting average against is second only to closer Koji Uehara's.  Ogando has 15 strikeouts in 18.1 innings, with an ERA of 2.95.

At the bargain price of $1.5 million, the 31-year-old looks like the Sox's steal of the offseason.

Grade: A-

Justin Masterson—Signed as a Free Agent for 1 Year, $9.5 Million

Through seven starts, Justin Masterson was 2-2 with a 6.37 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 35.1 innings, an average of just over five innings per outing.  On May 14, Boston placed Masterson on the DL with shoulder inflammation, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell.  However, that may only be because "general ineffectiveness" is not a viable reason.

Last season, Masterson posted a 5.88 ERA to go along with a 1.63 WHIP.  Shouldn't Boston have seen this coming?

Grade: D-

Wade Miley—Acquired in a Trade for Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Raymel Flores

Wade Miley is 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 50.1 innings spanning nine starts.  Miley has looked quite good lately, winning his last three starts while allowing only three earned runs over 21.2 innings. 

Allen Webster hasn't appeared in the majors this year, but Rubby De La Rosa is pitching fairly well for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  In nine starts, De La Rosa is 4-2 with a 4.27 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 55 strikeouts over 59 innings.  Even with Miley's improved play, it's hard to view this trade as a success given De La Rosa's superior numbers.

Grade: C

Rick Porcello—Acquired in a Trade for Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Wilson and Gabe Speier

In April, the Red Sox inked Rick Porcello to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension.  The 26-year-old's 2015 campaign is less than stellar to this point.  Porcello is 4-4 with a 5.37 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

During Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins, Dustin Pedroia gave Boston an early 2-0 advantage with a third-inning home run.  Porcello immediately relinquished the lead by surrendering three runs in the bottom of the frame.  

Via the Boston Herald's Michael Silverman, afterward, Porcello said: "Obviously it's extremely disappointing. That's one of the key parts about keeping momentum in the game and getting our offense back in the dugout, and I haven't done that well recently. I need to do a better job."

In a rotation that appeared shaky from the start, Porcello was expected to be the rock—something that is clearly not the case at the moment.

Yoenis Cespedes is batting .291 with six homers and 27 RBI for the Detroit Tigers in the final year of his contract.  Alex Wilson is also key component of Detroit's bullpen.  In 22.2 innings spanning 13 appearances, Wilson owns a 1.99 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP.

Given Porcello's long-term contract and Cespedes' impending free agency, this trade is still likely to pan out for the Red Sox.

Grade: C+

Pablo Sandoval—Signed as a Free Agent for 5 years, $95 Million

In 42 games played, Sandoval is batting .265 with five home runs and 17 RBI.  His .331 on-base percentage is slightly below his career number of .345.  Oddly enough, his homer and RBI totals very closely resemble Middlebrooks' in San Diego.  Sandoval is obviously the better player of the two, but he's also not living up to his big contract.

Like Porcello, Sandoval has plenty of time left to earn his money.

Grade B-

Hanley Ramirez—Signed as a Free Agent for 4 Years, $88 Million

Hanley Ramirez tied a team record by hitting 10 home runs in April.  He also drove in 22 runs during the month while batting .293.  However, in May, Ramirez turned into a completely different hitter.  His power disappeared, and he's still sitting on 10 homers for the season.  Ramirez got his first and only RBI of the month on May 25, and his average has slumped to .252.

From WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, Ramirez said the following after an 0-for-3 showing Wednesday:

"

Just work to June. That's it. … I mean, I keep hitting line drive outs to people. I can't control that. And I've been doing that for, I mean, the whole month. Just right at people. …

I mean, what I learned through the years, man, that's the season, that's how it goes, up and down, up and down. One day you're hot, one day you go in a slump. You've got to try to stay there, fighting every day til you get hot again.

"

Ramirez is in the same boat as Porcello and Sandoval in that it's hard to judge his long and expensive contract so early on.  But like those two, he's also underachieving.

Grade: B-

Mark Vandeusen is a Featured Columnist covering the Boston Red Sox for Bleacher Report.  Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan. Unless otherwise noted, all statistics via RedSox.com and contract information via Spotrac.com.