Article: Three Realistic Moves the Red Sox Could Make This Offseason

[Dan Fraser]

The Sox face a lengthy offseason with a plethora of options, but they can set themselves up for success in 2025 by making these three moves.

Another Red Sox season is in the books, and the ballclub is one step closer to having a playoff-caliber roster. With roughly $85 million in salary commitments coming off the book, the team has both the impetus and the resources to make big moves during the offseason. These potential transactions would help push them over the top and into the postseason.

Yoshida Heads to Queens

New York Mets Acquire: OF Masataka Yoshida, SS Yoeilin Cespedes

Boston Red Sox Acquire: 1B Ryan Clifford

Boston sheds the huge Yoshida contract to make room for up-and-coming outfielders, picking up the Mets' fourth-ranked prospect in the process. Yes, they would be giving up Cespedes, their own seventh-ranked prospect, but adding a sweetener would be necessary in order to unload the remaining $54 million on Yoshida’s deal. The Mets aren't afraid to take on big contracts, and Clifford would add some young depth at a position the Red Sox aren’t often secure in.

Here’s my logic behind moving Cespedes. Lately, there’s been a fair bit of chatter about dealing Triston Casas and sliding Rafael Devers over to first. If that comes to pass, one of Boston’s up-and-coming middle infielders like Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer could move to third. Clifford has been shaky at times, specifically when it comes to swing-and-miss, but he’s got great opposite-field power and will likely jump from Double-A to Triple-A next year at the young age of 22 — not bad for an 11th-round draft pick. Clifford could well have a much clearer path to big-league playing time. Although some outlets rank Cespedes as the better prospect, he's only 19 and has yet to play at a higher level than the complex league, making him something of a lottery ticket.

Abreu Changes His Sox

Chicago White Sox Acquire: OF Wilyer Abreu, cash considerations

Boston Red Sox Acquire: SP Garrett Crochet

Before you break out the pitchforks, hear me out. Boston needs pitching. Badly. The team’s highest-ranked pitching prospect is Luis Perales, who is ranked a less-than-ideal ninth. Projected as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, Perales has struggled with injuries and recently underwent Tommy John surgery. This year, he recorded a 3.42 ERA over seven starts at Triple-A Greenville. Alas, Boston needs a young front-of-the-rotation guy – Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Lucas Giolito carry the rotation alone and it would be unfair to expect one of them to reveal himself as an ace. Bringing in Crochet, the 25-year-old All-Star who racked up more than 200 strikeouts this year, would be an enormous coup. Crochet is a capital-G Guy, and because he's entering arbitration next year, he's about to start costing money, which the White Sox prefer not to spend. Plenty of teams will be looking to pry him away from Chicago, but in Abreu, the Red Sox can offer something nobody else has: a cheap, young, proven big-league regular with three more years of team control than Crochet. Abreu has been excellent this season, but the outfield will go from crowded to overrun when Roman Anthony and Braeden Montgomery make their way into the major league lineup – likely in 2025. Given Jarren Duran's emergence as a superstar and Ceddanne Rafaela's long-term contract, Abreu is likely to be the odd man out. Boston could throw in some cash to tip the scales in their favor.

Frankie Comes to Fenway

Red Sox Sign: SP Frankie Montas

Inking Frankie Montas wouldn't be a blockbuster move, but he could be a valuable addition. At 31, he’s logged over 145 innings this season, sitting down 142 via the strikeout while walking 63. His experience and ability to eat innings would bolster the young Red Sox rotation. Montas posted an excellent 3.37 ERA over 32 starts in 2021. Since then, he's run a 4.43 ERA, but his 3.93 xFIP is right in line with his career mark. In other words, he might just be getting a little bit unlucky. Pitch models like Stuff+ indicate that his sinker has looked much nastier this season, and he's brought back his slider. Montas would be a reliable option who could help stabilize the pitching staff.

It’s evident that Boston isn’t far from the postseason contention. Next year, with a healthy Giolito and freshly-signed Montas, the team could have itself quite a solid rotation even before it dips into its supply of capital. That would pair nicely with the young core arriving to help push them to the next level.

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[notin]

The White Sox aren’t moving Crochet for Abreu, and probably not for anyone with an active service time clock.  The Red Sox could absolutely outbid most if not every team for Crochet if they wanted to.  But it will come down to how wise of a decision that would be…

[moonslav59]

I agree. As much as I like Abreu, we could not get Crochet for 2 of him.

I like the idea of trading Yoshi, but not for a 1Bman. Trade Yoshi, move Casas to DH, Devers to 1B and go with Mayer or Campbell at 3B and 2B. This would be a powerful line-up with a greatly improved D.

C: Wong & Teel

1B: Devers

2B: Mayer/Campbell (DHam/Grissom)

SS: Story (Mayer/Romy)

3B: Campbell/Mayer (Romy/Meidroth)

LF: Duran/Ref

CF: Anthony/Duran

RF: Abreu/Anthony (Rafaela traded)

DH: Casas

1. L Duran 

2. R Campbell

3. L Anthony

4. L Devers

5. L Casas

6. R Story

7. L Abreu/R Refsnyder platoon

8. L Mayer

9. R Wong/ L Teel

Utility: L DHam/ R Grissom

WOW! We can have this line-up with no outside additions!

 

[Bellhorn04]

I don't really understand the talk of trading Casas.  If this is how much patience we have with our prospects, it's not a great sign for the next few years. 

[Hugh2]

If the White Sox really really really really liked Abreu, he's still probably the 2nd best piece moved in a deal for Crochet.

And that's IF they really really really like him, I'm sure the like him, he's a good player, but do they really really really like him? IDTS

[Hugh2]

5 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand the talk of trading Casas.  If this is how much patience we have with our prospects, it's not a great sign for the next few years. 

This is exactly why I want to buy pitching.  Build a winner now with the young core of position players. 

Use the next wave of prospects to trade from and to and lengthen that window. 

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand the talk of trading Casas.  If this is how much patience we have with our prospects, it's not a great sign for the next few years. 

Casas will be the FT 1B, and Raffy will be the FT 3B next year IMO. How much of the predictions, opinions, or suggestions on here come to fruition? 🙈🤭

[Hugh2]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

Casas will be the FT 1B, and Raffy will be the FT 3B next year IMO. How much of the predictions, opinions, or suggestions on here come to fruition? 🙈🤭

7%

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Casas will be the FT 1B, and Raffy will be the FT 3B next year IMO. How much of the predictions, opinions, or suggestions on here come to fruition? 🙈🤭

Rare fruit indeed! 😁

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

This is exactly why I want to buy pitching.  Build a winner now with the young core of position players. 

Use the next wave of prospects to trade from and to and lengthen that window. 

This young core that everyone has been salivating about for the last three years might not ever to good enough to build around to produce a big winner. Raffy, Mookie, and Bogey wret all young in 2018, and look how things have gone down hill since, and only 1 is still here. I still don’t see any big spending sprees happening this offseason, so tra$es to me is the way to go, and no one should be untouchable, and that includes Never Devers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If you're an opposing GM looking at trading with Boston, here are some decent young guys who made around MLB minimum wage this year: Abreu, Duran, Casas, Crawford, Gonzalez, Grissom, Hamilton, Houck, Slaten, Wong.

Rafaela's extension owes him $50 million dollars. Bello's owes him $55 million.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, notin said:

The White Sox aren’t moving Crochet for Abreu, and probably not for anyone with an active service time clock.  The Red Sox could absolutely outbid most if not every team for Crochet if they wanted to.  But it will come down to how wise of a decision that would be…

Yeah, they are going to want a lot more than just Crochet. 

Breslow could have signed Montas for really cheap this offseason and didn't. I think he just doesn't like Montas' stuff. 

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree. As much as I like Abreu, we could not get Crochet for 2 of him.

I like the idea of trading Yoshi, but not for a 1Bman. Trade Yoshi, move Casas to DH, Devers to 1B and go with Mayer or Campbell at 3B and 2B. This would be a powerful line-up with a greatly improved D.

C: Wong & Teel

1B: Devers

2B: Mayer/Campbell (DHam/Grissom)

SS: Story (Mayer/Romy)

3B: Campbell/Mayer (Romy/Meidroth)

LF: Duran/Ref

CF: Anthony/Duran

RF: Abreu/Anthony (Rafaela traded)

DH: Casas

1. L Duran 

2. R Campbell

3. L Anthony

4. L Devers

5. L Casas

6. R Story

7. L Abreu/R Refsnyder platoon

8. L Mayer

9. R Wong/ L Teel

Utility: L DHam/ R Grissom

WOW! We can have this line-up with no outside additions!

 

this makes so much sense that it will never happen. great plan.

[Hugh2]

45 minutes ago, Old Red said:

This young core that everyone has been salivating about for the last three years might not ever to good enough to build around to produce a big winner. Raffy, Mookie, and Bogey wret all young in 2018, and look how things have gone down hill since, and only 1 is still here. I still don’t see any big spending sprees happening this offseason, so tra$es to me is the way to go, and no one should be untouchable, and that includes Never Devers.

And the guys you trade for might not ever be as good as they were before you traded for them. 

And the guys you sign in free agency might not ever be as good as they were before either. 

I like taking risks, and right now my preferred path would be to keep guys like Campbell and Anthony and go out and sign guys like Corbin Burnes and maybe trade for an elite closer. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

And the guys you trade for might not ever be as good as they were before you traded for them. 

And the guys you sign in free agency might not ever be as good as they were before either. 

I like taking risks, and right now my preferred path would be to keep guys like Campbell and Anthony and go out and sign guys like Corbin Burnes and maybe trade for an elite closer. 

Three years in a row of not making the postseason, and to me no one should be untouchable in a trade. I just don’t see the Red Sox going out on a big spending spree to sign a Corbin Burns at the very least not to mention an elite closer. Trades would be an lot cheaper option for JH.

[mvp 78]

Does anyone know why Burnes' k rate has dropped the past few years? He still generates a decent whiff rate. 

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Three years in a row of not making the postseason, and to me no one should be untouchable in a trade. I just don’t see the Red Sox going out on a big spending spree to sign a Corbin Burns at the very least not to mention an elite closer. Trades would be an lot cheaper option for JH.

I kind of made this point earlier, perhaps it was on another thread but I agree, depending on price, no one is untouchable.  And yes, it would be very surprising if the Sox signed Corbin Burnes, and it would be a paramount shift in FO strategy given recent off seasons, but they will sign someone big some day, perhaps it's in 10 years under a new owner, or perhaps not. 

I wouldn't bet on it, but I'd welcome it. 

[notin]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand the talk of trading Casas.  If this is how much patience we have with our prospects, it's not a great sign for the next few years. 

I’d prefer Casas over a few other LHH trade options.  The Sox attempting to extend him bodes well for him staying, but his refusal to sign (so far) might change that…

[mvp 78]

The problem with moving Casas is that there isn't really an inhouse option for 1B unless they are planning on moving Devers over. If they do that, who becomes 3B? They don't have anyone that has taken fulltime reps there. 

[notin]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, they are going to want a lot more than just Crochet. 

Breslow could have signed Montas for really cheap this offseason and didn't. I think he just doesn't like Montas' stuff. 

Does anybody? Besides opposing hitters?

 

Montas hasn’t been very good when not pitching in Oakland and it’s massive playing surface with lots of helpful foul territory…

[notin]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with moving Casas is that there isn't really an inhouse option for 1B unless they are planning on moving Devers over. If they do that, who becomes 3B? They don't have anyone that has taken fulltime reps there. 

Bloom indicated he always felt Devers’ future was at 1b when negotiating his deal and comparing him to Matt Olson.

 

But yes, the Sox would need a 3b.  Doubtful they spring for Bregman.  Maybe Eugenio Suarez is closer to their price range…

[notin]

11 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I kind of made this point earlier, perhaps it was on another thread but I agree, depending on price, no one is untouchable.  And yes, it would be very surprising if the Sox signed Corbin Burnes, and it would be a paramount shift in FO strategy given recent off seasons, but they will sign someone big some day, perhaps it's in 10 years under a new owner, or perhaps not. 

I wouldn't bet on it, but I'd welcome it. 

The Sox new mid-to-small market philosophy doesn’t lend itself to signing top tier free agent SPs.  Now, closers have always historically been better investments since the money is less and the years often shorter…

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

Bloom indicated he always felt Devers’ future was at 1b when negotiating his deal and comparing him to Matt Olson.

 

But yes, the Sox would need a 3b.  Doubtful they spring for Bregman.  Maybe Eugenio Suarez is closer to their price range…

Campbell 2B

Story SS

Mayer 3B

Meidroth/Hamilton/Romy backups? 

[Hugh2]

11 minutes ago, notin said:

The Sox new mid-to-small market philosophy doesn’t lend itself to signing top tier free agent SPs.  Now, closers have always historically been better investments since the money is less and the years often shorter…

People keep on saying that over and over again, and I don't dispute it and I don't think anyone else can at this point. 

I just don't believe they HAVE to always be a mid market team, it wasn't too long ago they were not.  For the sake of argument, I do feel it's prudent to stress other ways to improve the roster thru player development and trades but I refuse to be beaten down into acceptance.  There's more than one way to skin a cat, and John Henry certainly knows he's perfectly capable of making money without being a cheapo.  The more complacent fans become the more likely this is to ensue. 

And as I've said time and time and time again, the direction of the wind changes.  It wasn't even a decade ago we all said the same thing and then BAM!!! David Price gets signed.  

The big boy socks will return one day, and we should demand it. 

 

[Randy Red Sox]

5 hours ago, Dan Fraser said:

The Sox face a lengthy offseason with a plethora of options, but they can set themselves up for success in 2025 by making these three moves.

Another Red Sox season is in the books, and the ballclub is one step closer to having a playoff-caliber roster. With roughly $85 million in salary commitments coming off the book, the team has both the impetus and the resources to make big moves during the offseason. These potential transactions would help push them over the top and into the postseason.

Yoshida Heads to Queens

New York Mets Acquire: OF Masataka Yoshida, SS Yoeilin Cespedes

Boston Red Sox Acquire: 1B Ryan Clifford

Boston sheds the huge Yoshida contract to make room for up-and-coming outfielders, picking up the Mets' fourth-ranked prospect in the process. Yes, they would be giving up Cespedes, their own seventh-ranked prospect, but adding a sweetener would be necessary in order to unload the remaining $54 million on Yoshida’s deal. The Mets aren't afraid to take on big contracts, and Clifford would add some young depth at a position the Red Sox aren’t often secure in.

Here’s my logic behind moving Cespedes. Lately, there’s been a fair bit of chatter about dealing Triston Casas and sliding Rafael Devers over to first. If that comes to pass, one of Boston’s up-and-coming middle infielders like Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer could move to third. Clifford has been shaky at times, specifically when it comes to swing-and-miss, but he’s got great opposite-field power and will likely jump from Double-A to Triple-A next year at the young age of 22 — not bad for an 11th-round draft pick. Clifford could well have a much clearer path to big-league playing time. Although some outlets rank Cespedes as the better prospect, he's only 19 and has yet to play at a higher level than the complex league, making him something of a lottery ticket.

Abreu Changes His Sox

Chicago White Sox Acquire: OF Wilyer Abreu, cash considerations

Boston Red Sox Acquire: SP Garrett Crochet

Before you break out the pitchforks, hear me out. Boston needs pitching. Badly. The team’s highest-ranked pitching prospect is Luis Perales, who is ranked a less-than-ideal ninth. Projected as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, Perales has struggled with injuries and recently underwent Tommy John surgery. This year, he recorded a 3.42 ERA over seven starts at Triple-A Greenville. Alas, Boston needs a young front-of-the-rotation guy – Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Lucas Giolito carry the rotation alone and it would be unfair to expect one of them to reveal himself as an ace. Bringing in Crochet, the 25-year-old All-Star who racked up more than 200 strikeouts this year, would be an enormous coup. Crochet is a capital-G Guy, and because he's entering arbitration next year, he's about to start costing money, which the White Sox prefer not to spend. Plenty of teams will be looking to pry him away from Chicago, but in Abreu, the Red Sox can offer something nobody else has: a cheap, young, proven big-league regular with three more years of team control than Crochet. Abreu has been excellent this season, but the outfield will go from crowded to overrun when Roman Anthony and Braeden Montgomery make their way into the major league lineup – likely in 2025. Given Jarren Duran's emergence as a superstar and Ceddanne Rafaela's long-term contract, Abreu is likely to be the odd man out. Boston could throw in some cash to tip the scales in their favor.

Frankie Comes to Fenway

Red Sox Sign: SP Frankie Montas

Inking Frankie Montas wouldn't be a blockbuster move, but he could be a valuable addition. At 31, he’s logged over 145 innings this season, sitting down 142 via the strikeout while walking 63. His experience and ability to eat innings would bolster the young Red Sox rotation. Montas posted an excellent 3.37 ERA over 32 starts in 2021. Since then, he's run a 4.43 ERA, but his 3.93 xFIP is right in line with his career mark. In other words, he might just be getting a little bit unlucky. Pitch models like Stuff+ indicate that his sinker has looked much nastier this season, and he's brought back his slider. Montas would be a reliable option who could help stabilize the pitching staff.

It’s evident that Boston isn’t far from the postseason contention. Next year, with a healthy Giolito and freshly-signed Montas, the team could have itself quite a solid rotation even before it dips into its supply of capital. That would pair nicely with the young core arriving to help push them to the next level.

 

View full article

 

as soon as i read your Abreu for Crochet trade i stopped reading

[Maxbialystock]

4 hours ago, notin said:

The White Sox aren’t moving Crochet for Abreu, and probably not for anyone with an active service time clock.  The Red Sox could absolutely outbid most if not every team for Crochet if they wanted to.  But it will come down to how wise of a decision that would be…

Wise words.  Better than mine.  Fraser might be right about what the Sox need, but he's an idiot about how to get pitching, whatever.  

[notin]

6 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

People keep on saying that over and over again, and I don't dispute it and I don't think anyone else can at this point. 

I just don't believe they HAVE to always be a mid market team, it wasn't too long ago they were not.  For the sake of argument, I do feel it's prudent to stress other ways to improve the roster thru player development and trades but I refuse to be beaten down into acceptance.  There's more than one way to skin a cat, and John Henry certainly knows he's perfectly capable of making money without being a cheapo.  The more complacent fans become the more likely this is to ensue. 

And as I've said time and time and time again, the direction of the wind changes.  It wasn't even a decade ago we all said the same thing and then BAM!!! David Price gets signed.  

The big boy socks will return one day, and we should demand it. 

 

I am not so sure the David Price contract is a great example of the flexibility of this ownership, given that the Sox paid about $131mill for a guy who pitched like Tanner Roark (who made roughly $105mill less during those years)…

[Randy Red Sox]

7 hours ago, notin said:

Does anybody? Besides opposing hitters?

 

Montas hasn’t been very good when not pitching in Oakland and it’s massive playing surface with lots of helpful foul territory…

is Montas coming off an injury?  if so he is a prime target for the Red Sox. he will probably take a 1 yr deal too.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I just read to the bottom of the thread and noticed Member Statistics.

Total Members: 8,181.

Like the team we post about, we are the epitome of mediocrity... a .500 forum.

[Hugh2]

25 minutes ago, notin said:

I am not so sure the David Price contract is a great example of the flexibility of this ownership, given that the Sox paid about $131mill for a guy who pitched like Tanner Roark (who made roughly $105mill less during those years)…

I 100% never said the David Price contract was an example of the flexibility of ownership. 

I said it was an example of them having a philosophy and then changing it.  Which they did. They did exactly that. They've done it 3 times over the past 3 decades. 

For better or worse, whether they never do so again is irrelevant, because they have and those are the facts and the facts are indisputable.