Should the Boston Red Sox Shift Their Sights from the Lineup to the Rotation?

To me, we've needed a #2 all long, even after the Gray signing.

The big bat is still #1 in my mind.

46 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Yes! Filling the Grand Canyon size hole at the number 2 spot in the rotation should be our first priority!! 
the sox were willing to go up to 165 million for Bregman, we have budget for gallen or framber!  If bres-slow deems them good enough for the number 2 spot in the rotation! 

in addition: 

Moving Sandoval (provider he is healthy) to the bullpen solves our need yo acquire another lefty reliever!!  Keeping Harrison in the bullpen also eliminates the need for us to keep Jovani on the 40 man! 

Sonny Gray >>> Gallen

Best fWAR seasons since 2023:

5.4 Gray '23

5.2 Gallen '23

4.4 Valdez '23

4.0 Valdez '25

3.8 Gray '24

3.7 Valdez '24

3.6 Gray '25

2.8 Gallen '24

1.1 Gallen '25

I'm not sure why people think the 30.5 year old Gallen is going to age well.

Now, Valdez> Gray, but he's had "issues" with the Astros and he might be the anti-Breg type guy for the clubhouse.

I'd rather have Ranger or trade for a Lodolo type.

Breslow is already singing if you can't be with the bat you love, then love your arms and D.

If you're down and confused, and you can't remember who you're talking to; Concentration slips away, because your Breggie is so far away

... better load up on power arms, since the Sox will need to win lots of 1-0 games.

Teams based around pitching better have tight defense, especially in the infield. 

The Red Sox just lost their best infielder.

Maybe Mayer can play an entire season for the first time in his career. 

Contreras is supposed to be ok at 1B, though last year he had a negative dWAR for the first time -- even after leading the NL in errors at catcher in four different seasons.

42 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Teams based around pitching better have tight defense, especially in the infield. 

The Red Sox just lost their best infielder.

Maybe Mayer can play an entire season for the first time in his career. 

Contreras is supposed to be ok at 1B, though last year he had a negative dWAR for the first time -- even after leading the NL in errors at catcher in four different seasons.

Contreras looked okay at 1B. He's way better than Casas, on D.

2025 DRS at 1B:

-2 Contreras

-9 Red Sox

We got better at 1B and likely WAY WORSE at 3B.

If Mayer/Romy play 2B they should be better than the -9 DRS the Sox had at 2B in 2025 (mostly due to Campbell's awful D.)

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think DRS and OAA tell us more about the defense than dWAR does.

Another way to shore up the D: Breslow and Bailey are collecting tall pitchers with big arm extensions for pitch-to-NO-contact.

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think DRS and OAA tell us more about the defense than dWAR does.

Agreed, and it's also nice to have an emergency Catcher on the 26 man roster, too.

Our D still needs addressing, especially at 3B.

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

If Mayer is the 3b, the defense is fine, but they need to acquire a 2b.

Agreed, but if we end up platooning Mayer with Romy, having Mayer at 2B works better.

I don't like this idea:

3B Platoon: Mayer & Eaton

2B Platoon: DHam & Romy

This looks way better:

3B: Paredes (or even Vientos)

2B: Mayer & Romy platoon

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's an if. 

I think Romy is taking the Refsnyder role, acting as a platoon DH and sometimes playing OF. Mayer is the fulltime 3b. They acquire Donovan via trade for 2b. 

If the Sox are focusing on run prevention, then get a better SS.  Push Story back to 2b.  Mayer is fine at 3b…

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's an if. 

I think Romy is taking the Refsnyder role, acting as a platoon DH and sometimes playing OF. Mayer is the fulltime 3b. They acquire Donovan via trade for 2b. 

I think Romy as the FT 2Bman is a smaller if than trading for Donovan.

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd be fine with them just moving Story to 2b and putting Mayer to SS. That would be a huge step in the right direction IMO. 

That’s another option.  
 

Theres not much available for good shortstops on both sides of the ball right now.

My prediction right now thr Sox will wind up with Alec Bohm at 3b.  I have mixed emotions there. Most of them are not good…

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Your if is no more moves. That seems unlikely TBH. 

I am just talking 2B.

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

That's an if. 

I think Romy is taking the Refsnyder role, acting as a platoon DH and sometimes playing OF. Mayer is the fulltime 3b. They acquire Donovan via trade for 2b. 

Mayer’s glove will work no matter where he plays, but his bat is the biggest question. I think he needs more work down at Woo on that, but that most likely won’t happen.

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd be fine with them just moving Story to 2b and putting Mayer to SS. That would be a huge step in the right direction IMO. 

And just a few small steps away for both.

But the Red Sox don't need another Bohm at 3B.

Duran for Paredes -- All-Star outfielder for All-Star infielder -- solves two issues.

50 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If the Phillies sign Bichette, then I assume either Bohm or Stott have to go.  Either one would solve our problems.  Just like Arenado, Suarez, etc., they won't be elegant solutions, but not every problem needs a diamond star halo solution.

I think we're a better team with just a decent addition at 3B (or 2B) but I was hoping for significantly more.

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He better be cheap. 

Bleis and Romero?

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

If the Phillies sign Bichette, then I assume either Bohm or Stott have to go.  Either one would solve our problems.  Just like Arenado, Suarez, etc., they won't be elegant solutions, but not every problem needs a diamond star halo solution.

It won’t be Stott…