Red Sox: Off Season 2024-2025

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

It’s hard to predict with all the injuries of the past few years. What would the team been like last year if Story, Casas, and Whit would have been healthy last year? Raffy’s shoulder was bothering him on the first road trip last year.

There are always injuries.  The thing with the Red Sox is they have no depth to cover them.  If Raffy goes down it's basically a lost season.  The offense flatlined from mid-August on when Raffy was injured and flailing. 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

It’s hard to predict with all the injuries of the past few years. What would the team been like last year if Story, Casas, and Whit would have been healthy last year? Raffy’s shoulder was bothering him on the first road trip last year.

Those three injuries hurt, and maybe Gio's, too, but I don't think we had way more injuries than other teams, and we had less than the Dodgers.

It looks like our hopes for 2025 rest on health, once again.

It was all about Sale for 3-4 years, Story for 2-3 years and ongoing, and now Devers, Casas, Whit and others.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

There are always injuries.  The thing with the Red Sox is they have no depth to cover them.  If Raffy goes down it's basically a lost season.  The offense flatlined from mid-August on when Raffy was injured and flailing. 

Our 3B depth sucked, but I think our depth was fine, last year. Houck was slated to be our 6th starter, before Gio went down. Criswell did very well as our 7th SP. DHam and Romy did way better than E Vadlez /Grissom/Reyes, who started the season at 2B. Rafaela helped stabilize the SS position in a way Kike never could. Abreu emerged as a solid platoon player with plus D. We had to go outside the system to get Dom Smith, so we did suck at 1B depth (Dalbec), too. Our pen depth struggled, especially down the stretch, but overall, I do not think our depth was worse than most teams: we just needed it, a lot.

It's hard for any team to replace a Devers.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Our 3B depth sucked, but I think our depth was fine, last year. Houck was slated to be our 6th starter, before Gio went down. Criswell did very well as our 7th SP. DHam and Romy did way better than E Vadlez /Grissom/Reyes, who started the season at 2B. Rafaela helped stabilize the SS position in a way Kike never could. Abreu emerged as a solid platoon player with plus D. We had to go outside the system to get Dom Smith, so we did suck at 1B depth (Dalbec), too. Our pen depth struggled, especially down the stretch, but overall, I do not think our depth was worse than most teams: we just needed it, a lot.

It's hard for any team to replace a Devers.

When the Yankees lost Judge to an injury, they became a .500 team in 2023. 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

When the Yankees lost Judge to an injury, they became a .500 team in 2023. 

Let's see if losing Soto to free agency has the same outcome.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Let's see if losing Soto to free agency has the same outcome.

I think they'll take a little step back, but still win the division. It really depends on when Fried's arm gives out.

[moonslav59]

37 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think they'll take a little step back, but still win the division. It really depends on when Fried's arm gives out.

I think they still win, but they also lost Holmes, Cortes, Torres & Verdugo.

(They added Fried, Bellinger, D Williams and Goldschmidt to replace Rizzo.)

[notin]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Let's see if losing Soto to free agency has the same outcome.

No.  They still have Judge…

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, notin said:

No.  They still have Judge…

Until he gets hurt... again.

[moonslav59]

Cubs talking trade w HOU for Pressley. Word was that if DET pays for a RP'er they may be out of the Bregman bidding.

This makes me wonder, if HOU saves some money on a Pressley trade, would they up their "standing offer" on Bregman?

TOR may end up signing Alonso, not Bregman.

This could come down to HOU vs BOS, and since HOU is looking to cut salary, maybe this is a bidding war we can win.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reported that the Sox do not want to offer more than 4 years for Bregman, which would end at age 34. This makes sense but might ensure we miss out on yet another "target of interest," because we refuse to meet or surpass other teams' offers (in $ and or years.)

I can understand the sentiment, and I'd understand Bregman thinking he won't make mush money as a FA going into his age 35 season. I'd like to know what money we suggested. If it is $124M/4 vs HOU's $156M/6, maybe he takes the 4 years. Maybe we give him a nice buyout on a year 5 team option that could bring his guarantee to $128M/4. That is probably much higher than BOS will go. We probably will offer him $116-120M/4. ($29-30M per)

Again, I'm not keen on the idea of Bregman being the second biggest FA signing since Price, but I see a window opening in 2025 with a key addition, like him. All FAs are overpays, and he's the last high impact man standing.

[Larry Cook]

With yoshida probably starting the year in the 60 day DL.  Do we have any interest in signing Justin turner to a 1 year fairly cheap deal????

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

With yoshida probably starting the year in the 60 day DL.  Do we have any interest in signing Justin turner to a 1 year fairly cheap deal????

Reports say Yoshida will be ready March 1st. He may start the year on the 10 Day with some added rehab time, but not the 60.

ESPN has Giolito ready Feb 1st and Whitlock APR 18th.

The 3 players who will be placed on the 60 Day opening day are: Sandoval, Chris Murphy and Perales. The big question will be who do we add?

One or two of the top prospects should only be added, if they start the year on the 26.

Nate Eaton?  (since we need more everyday players on the 40.)

Philip Sykes?

Fulmer? (If we add him, we may lose him, if we have to DFA him, later.)

I Campbell? Mata, if healthy?

 

[notin]

54 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

With yoshida probably starting the year in the 60 day DL.  Do we have any interest in signing Justin turner to a 1 year fairly cheap deal????

Is Yoshida starting on the 60 day IL? I’ve heard he supposedly will be ready for opening day.  

[notin]

44 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Reports say Yoshida will be ready March 1st. He may start the year on the 10 Day with some added rehab time, but not the 60.

ESPN has Giolito ready Feb 1st and Whitlock APR 18th.

The 3 players who will be placed on the 60 Day opening day are: Sandoval, Chris Murphy and Perales. The big question will be who do we add?

One or two of the top prospects should only be added, if they start the year on the 26.

Nate Eaton?  (since we need more everyday players on the 40.)

Philip Sykes?

Fulmer? (If we add him, we may lose him, if we have to DFA him, later.)

I Campbell? Mata, if healthy?

 

Or Kristian Campbell, especially if he has a good spring…

[notin]

17 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Cubs talking trade w HOU for Pressley. Word was that if DET pays for a RP'er they may be out of the Bregman bidding.

This makes me wonder, if HOU saves some money on a Pressley trade, would they up their "standing offer" on Bregman?

TOR may end up signing Alonso, not Bregman.

This could come down to HOU vs BOS, and since HOU is looking to cut salary, maybe this is a bidding war we can win.

I think it was MLBTR that speculated if the Astros can move Pressly, they might up their offer to Bregman, and then move Paredes to 2b and Altuve to LF.

While possible, that feels overly complicated.  Seems like they could just get someone for LF, possibly in any Pressly trade. (Owen Caissie?)

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Is Yoshida starting on the 60 day IL? I’ve heard he supposedly will be ready for opening day.  

ESPN says Mar 1.

[Larry Cook]

Who on our 2025 roster suffers the season ending injury early in the season???? 
abreau 

Duran 

Houck 

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

With yoshida probably starting the year in the 60 day DL.  Do we have any interest in signing Justin turner to a 1 year fairly cheap deal????

probably but why bother?

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

I think it was MLBTR that speculated if the Astros can move Pressly, they might up their offer to Bregman, and then move Paredes to 2b and Altuve to LF.

While possible, that feels overly complicated.  Seems like they could just get someone for LF, possibly in any Pressly trade. (Owen Caissie?)

Altuve sucks on D at 2B, so it makes some sense.

[Randy Red Sox]

what I don't understand is how the LAD can have the #3 ranked prospect group given both their spending and standings results the previous SEVERAL years??  They must be doing something right besides just spending $$

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

MLBTR reported that the Sox do not want to offer more than 4 years for Bregman, which would end at age 34. This makes sense but might ensure we miss out on yet another "target of interest," because we refuse to meet or surpass other teams' offers (in $ and or years.)

I can understand the sentiment, and I'd understand Bregman thinking he won't make mush money as a FA going into his age 35 season. I'd like to know what money we suggested. If it is $124M/4 vs HOU's $156M/6, maybe he takes the 4 years. Maybe we give him a nice buyout on a year 5 team option that could bring his guarantee to $128M/4. That is probably much higher than BOS will go. We probably will offer him $116-120M/4. ($29-30M per)

Again, I'm not keen on the idea of Bregman being the second biggest FA signing since Price, but I see a window opening in 2025 with a key addition, like him. All FAs are overpays, and he's the last high impact man standing.

Sox are not signing Bregman. I am betting he ends up back with the Astros or possibly Detroit.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Who on our 2025 roster suffers the season ending injury early in the season???? 
abreau 

Duran 

Houck 

Why ask something like this and suggest 2 of our best players?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Or Kristian Campbell, especially if he has a good spring…

MLB Channel guys discussing their new Top 100 Prospects List last night quoted some evaluators saying Campbell is the best prospect in baseball by far and it's not even close.

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

MLB Channel guys discussing their new Top 100 Prospects List last night quoted some evaluators saying Campbell is the best prospect in baseball by far and it's not even close.

Based on what we saw in 2024, I can see that position. 

I hope we see him sooner, rather that later.

[Bellhorn04]

Weirdly enough, after our jabbering about the Ohtani gambling thing a few days ago, we find out they have a recording of the interpreter talking to a bank rep, impersonating Ohtani, saying the money is a loan to a friend for a car etc.  The recording came from the bank so it appears to be pretty solid evidence against the interpreter.   

[notin]

37 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Weirdly enough, after our jabbering about the Ohtani gambling thing a few days ago, we find out they have a recording of the interpreter talking to a bank rep, impersonating Ohtani, saying the money is a loan to a friend for a car etc.  The recording came from the bank so it appears to be pretty solid evidence against the interpreter.   

I learned the interpreter was looking at up to 33 years in jail.  That really killed any notion he was just taking the fall.

I could him taking the rap if it was ONE year in jail for which he would be compensated generously, like $10,000,000 of Ohtani’s newly committed $700,000,000.  But THIRTY-THREE years?  No money makes that bid worth it, and no actual friend would ask him to do it…

 

[Hitch]

Seen a few mentions of trading Casas for Vientos of the Mets.

Vientos is a right handed 3rd baseman who's just come off a breakout season. Has decent defence with room to grow. Seen as possibly a 1st basement long term. One more year of control than Casas..

Intriguing, but I think it would somehow annoy both fan bases.

Would also take out the Mets from the Vlad bidding you'd imagine 

[Bellhorn04]

They should really sign David Robertson.  If he signs elsewhere for a 1 year reasonable deal, it'll be more proof that they're still just being cheap.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

They should really sign David Robertson.  If he signs elsewhere for a 1 year reasonable deal, it'll be more proof that they're still just being cheap.

They're uncomfortable being honest. The truth hurts. The president embarrasses himself every time he opens his mouth.

NESN.com is full of more BS than TV blab shows that zombify the ignorami with purported "news."

No change in climate; even with the new administration, it's still arid. Desolate days, frigid nights.