Article: Free Agents the Red Sox Should Reunite with...and Some They Shouldn’t

[Adam Morgan]

Which former Red Sox should come home again? And who should stay away?

The holiday season is a time when many people come home, wherever that home may be. For former Red Sox, I wanted to look at who might be a good fit to come home to Boston.

Infielders

Enrique Hernández

Kiké was basically Ceddanne Rafaela before Ceddanne Rafaela. He played a great centerfield for the Red Sox in 2022 with four defensive runs saved above average. That season he also played shortstop with two defensive runs saved above average. Since leaving the Red Sox in mid-2023, he put up 1.8 WAR with the Dodgers. With the Red Sox having the lowest projected WAR from the shortstop position in all of baseball, Hernandez could potentially be an upgrade with the positional flexibility that the Red Sox love.

Jose Iglesias

Speaking of former Red Sox shortstops…OMG, could you imagine having Jose Iglesias back? The last time Iglesias was with the Red Sox, he had been released by the Angels, for whom he put up -1.1 WAR. Since that time Iglesias put up 1.2 WAR with the Rockies and had a surprising star-turn with the Mets last season, notching a whopping 3.1 WAR. He is going to be 35 next season and he mostly played second and third last season but still seems like a player the Red Sox could use.

Outfielders

Alex Verdugo

Verdugo’s post-Red Sox career has been just as tumultuous as his time in Boston. Although there was a bizarre story about his longtime batting gloves making his hands blister and bleed, changing that up did not seem to help Verdugo’s offense any. He had a 0.1 offensive WAR in the Bronx and by season's end, Yankees faithful were clamoring for Jasson Domínguez. The Red Sox already have an abundance of left-handed hitters and a crowded outfield so a reunion with Verdugo seems very unlikely.

Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham played a mediocre 53 games for the Red Sox in 2022, so I’m not sure that signing him would constitute a homecoming. Considering that he will be 37 this season, it most likely is not going to happen. The only reason it would even be considered is that he will probably be cheap and he hits from the right side.

Kevin Pillar
If you do not mind reliving past trauma, you may recall that Kevin Pillar played 30 games for Boston in 2020. I don’t want to go back to 2020 and I doubt the Red Sox do either. Pillar is no longer an elite center fielder and instead played a below-average right field last season. He is right-handed, but it might be a stretch to call him a right-handed hitter.

Adam Duvall 
I look back at Adam Duvall’s 2023 in Boston with some fondness. Before an injury robbed him of nearly half the season, he was looking like the kind of right handed world beater the Red Sox needed. He hit 21 homers in 92 games that season so over 162, you would expect over 30. The issue is getting anywhere near 162 games. His 104 games for Atlanta last season was the first time he played over 100 games since 2021. Add that to the fact that he was worth -1.4 WAR last season and a reunion with the Red Sox seems unlikely. He could be a suitable Tyler O'Neill replacement, but not an upgrade. Still, he and Fenway Park were made for each other.

Designated Hitters

Justin Turner
By all reports, Justin Turner was a great clubhouse presence during his one-year stint with the Red Sox in 2023. In addition, he racked up 2.1 WAR while hitting 23 homers from the right side. If he were 10 years younger, the Red Sox might consider a reunion but considering he will be turning 40 this season and he has almost no defensive value, I can’t see the Red Sox making the move.

J.D. Martinez

Take everything I wrote about Justin Turner and apply it to J.D. Martinez, except he will only be 38 this season. Martinez made less of an impact on the Mets last season than Turner did with the Mariners and Blue Jays, so even though he is younger, he's still not a fit on the Red Sox.

Starting Pitchers

Wade Miley
I’ll admit I was surprised to find that Wade Miley was worth 2.3 WAR during his one season with the Red Sox back in 2015. It was Miley’s third-best season, with his second-best season coming in 2023 with the Brewers. Considering that he missed almost all of last year with Tommy John surgery and he has stated that if he continues his career he’d like it to be with the Brewers, the chances of him returning to Boston seem slim.

Martín Pérez
Martín Pérez spent two years in Boston before heading to the Texas Rangers in 2022. In 2022, he earned his first and only All-Star selection while racking up 5.1 WAR. The 2024 season saw Pérez start on the Pirates before making the leap to the Padres. He was worth 1.0 WAR over his final 10 starts with San Diego. While it might not be any Red Sox fan’s dream, the team could do worse than signing a 34-year-old Pérez as starting pitching depth.

Nick Pivetta

The Red Sox extended Nick Pivetta a qualifying offer, which he turned down, as expected. With draft pick compensation tied to him, the market hasn’t seemed to heat up for the Canadian righty. While signing Walker Buehler was seen as an upgrade, Pivetta’s ability to pitch from the rotation or bullpen means that a reunion with the Red Sox is unlikely but not out of the question.

Relief Pitchers

Kenley Jansen
Right now, the two main closer options for the Red Sox are Liam Hendriks, who is returning from missing an entire season due to injury, or Aroldis Chapman, who has amassed 29 saves over the last three seasons while playing for four teams. It would seem that the Red Sox could really use someone like Kenley Jansen to anchor their bullpen. Unfortunately, Kenley skipping town on the end of his final season in Boston rubbed enough of his teammates the wrong way that a reunion seems completely out of the question.

Daniel Bard
There was a time when you thought you’d hear “Daniel Bard throws wicked hard” in a Boston accent for years and years to come, but a case of the yips derailed Bard’s career, giving him seven seasons between major league appearances. Having played the last four seasons for the Rockies with varying degrees of effectiveness, he has become a symbol of overcoming adversity, but would he want to be back on the mound at Fenway? Would the Red Sox want him back in a Red Sox uniform? Both seem unlikely.

Joe Kelly

Should Joe Kelly’s fight club re-establish their Boston chapter? Why not? Kelly has the kind of fastball that pitching coach Andrew Bailey can dream on, while a tweak in repertoire could be just what the doctor ordered. Red Sox beat writers keep in touch with Kelly like he still pitches in Boston, so the team might as well bring him back.

Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel had 42 saves in his final season in Boston in 2018. That's a big number, but by the end of his tenure, he was no longer the untouchable closer he'd been with the Braves. The cracks that began to show in 2018 have since become chasms. Kimbrel had his worst major league season to date in 2024; he was worth -1.1 WAR with the Orioles. Ultimately they released him in September. Someone will still take a gamble on Kimbrel but I doubt it will be the Red Sox.

Chris Martin
Perhaps no reunion makes more sense than bringing back Chris Martin. Martin was a stabilizing force in the Red Sox bullpen and had his best career year with Boston in 2023. The 2024 season was a bit more adventurous, but still excellent. The Red Sox do not currently have a reliever who is as dependable as Martin has been over the last two seasons. Few teams do. Unfortunately, Martin has indicated that 2025 will be his last season, and there are rumors that he'd like to spend it closer to his home in Texas.

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[mvp 78]

Martin or Kelly would be great.

I'm not sure Kiké would be an upgrade at SS. He has positional versatility, but he was a nightmare in 2023. Iglesias can't play SS anymore. They've had several opportunities to bring him back and don't really seem inclined to even when they've had a huge MIF need. 

[moonslav59]

Jansen, at $6-8M/1. Martin would be okay, but I worry about his emotional issues, last year. No to the others.

[notin]

If the Sox prefer a better outfielder than Refsnyder to platoon with Abreu, Duvall isn’t the worst choice.  He’s a better fielder than Grichuk.  I think Laureano makes the most sense of the three, but he’s likely to command more money than Duvall.  Although he’s hardly a bank breaker…

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, notin said:

If the Sox prefer a better outfielder than Refsnyder to platoon with Abreu, Duvall isn’t the worst choice.  He’s a better fielder than Grichuk.  I think Laureano makes the most sense of the three, but he’s likely to command more money than Duvall.  Although he’s hardly a bank breaker…

Not many players hit LHPs better than Ref. I'm fine with platooning Ref w Yoshida at DH, instead of OF w Abreu (Ref in LF v L, move Duran to CF and Rafaela in RF and shift everybody leftwards v RHPs.)

I think Yoshida is a better all around hitter, so the OF platoon might make more sense. The problem is, we can't use 2 of the 13 everyday roster slots for DH only players. While the DH on the bench can be the 4th or 5th OF'er, adding Grichuk makes that near useless.

If we add Grichuk, we probably trade Ref.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Jansen, at $6-8M/1. Martin would be okay, but I worry about his emotional issues, last year. No to the others.

Jansen will sign for more and I don't think the current clubhouse wants him back. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, notin said:

If the Sox prefer a better outfielder than Refsnyder to platoon with Abreu, Duvall isn’t the worst choice.  He’s a better fielder than Grichuk.  I think Laureano makes the most sense of the three, but he’s likely to command more money than Duvall.  Although he’s hardly a bank breaker…

Are these guys really that much of a step up from Refsnyder? 

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Jansen will sign for more and I don't think the current clubhouse wants him back. 

Agreed on both, but I'd prefer him as our closer than Chapman/Hendriks/Slaten.

I might go $8-9M/1, but he'll probably get $12M.

[Old Red]

27 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Jansen will sign for more and I don't think the current clubhouse wants him back. 

Jansen beat feet before the season had ended last year, so bye, bye Felicia,

[Bellhorn04]

Jansen was being commended during the season for calling Cora to bring him in the game in the 8th.

Another trip from the penthouse to the outhouse.  
 

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Not many players hit LHPs better than Ref. I'm fine with platooning Ref w Yoshida at DH, instead of OF w Abreu (Ref in LF v L, move Duran to CF and Rafaela in RF and shift everybody leftwards v RHPs.)

I think Yoshida is a better all around hitter, so the OF platoon might make more sense. The problem is, we can't use 2 of the 13 everyday roster slots for DH only players. While the DH on the bench can be the 4th or 5th OF'er, adding Grichuk makes that near useless.

If we add Grichuk, we probably trade Ref.

I don’t see why they can’t.

Having an actual 4th outfielder means Rafaela’s versatility is utilized.  If Story comes out, Grichuk/Duvall moves to LF, Duran to CF, Rafaela to SS.   Probably better than putting Hamilton or Romy at SS.

A fourth OF means likely Romy gets optioned to Worcester.  Right now, his role is probably platooning with Yoshida at DH anyway, since he does hit LHP fairly  well.

The current Sox bench is probably Narvaez (catcher), Hamilton and Romy (utility infielders) and Refsnyder (knows where the OF is).  They really don’t have a fourth OF.  I don’t see the benefit of carrying two utility infielders and a very weak/borderline questionable OF on the bench.  Better off having a catcher, an infielder, an actual outfielder, and whatever you want to call Refsnyder.

Especially on a team managed by Alex Cora.  Better off starting Duvall or Grichuk on Duran’s or Rafaela’s days off than Refsnyder…

 

 

[notin]

44 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Are these guys really that much of a step up from Refsnyder? 

At hitting LHP? Probably not.

At defending RF at Fenway Park? Most definitely…

[notin]

I’m not as urgent on the closer role as many out here. Hendriks was a very solid closer before his injury.  He hasn’t pitched in awhile, but he’s not trying to comeback from anything a few dozen pitchers haven’t come back from.

But another bullpen arm is always good.  The days of needing just 3 shutdown relievers are long gone.  And the Sox will probably go through 20 relief pitchers over the course of a season. There are still a few intriguing arms available, even beyond Tanner Scott, whom I’ve heard nothing about all off-season, beyond his hefty contract demand ($80mill over 4 years).

The bullpen nowadays pitches 500-700 IP per season.  Sox relievers threw 613 IP last year.  Not all innnings are critical, but having more arms capable of high leverage innings makes it easier on everyone.

Beyond Scott, Kyle Finnegan, Andrew Kittredge, Chris Martin, John Brebbia, Kendall Graveman, Matt Moore, Lou Trivino, Ryne Stanek, Joe Kelly, and a few others could represent upgrades in the bullpen…

[Bellhorn04]

I did see a rumor that the Sox are the front runners on Scott.  Once upon a time I would have taken it seriously.

[moonslav59]

Sox Best OPS vs LHPs since 2022 (that are still on the roster)

.910 Refsnyder (363 PAs)

.879 Romy (130 PAs)

.772 Casas (183) Don't trade Casas to help "balance" the L-R issue.

.746 Devers (574)

.743 Story (155)

.694 Wong (278) Has reverse splits by 25 points

.669 Yoshida (252) Hits LHPs better than Duran, Rafaela and way better than Abreu. Maybe a DH platoon is not the best idea, unless we sign Grichuk.

.650 Duran (321)

.610 Rafaela (179) Has reverse splits by 74 points

These two should never start a game vs a LHP, unless they start showing better results:

.539 DHam and .514 Abreu

I seriously doubt we get anyone better vs LHPs than Refsnyder. Only 12 batter in all of MLB have a higher OPS vs LHPs and more PAs than Ref. ONLY Twelve!

Let that sink in.

Grichuk is actually #11 at .941, so technically he'd be an upgrade over Ref and is a better defender but with Anthony close to the Bigs and Campbell able to play the OF, I'm not sure it's spending all that wisely.

I don't like Rafaela at SS. I like this better:

LF: Duran v R, Ref v L

CF: Rafaela v R, Duran v L

RF: Abreu v R, Rafaela v L

If Anthony wins a FT job, swap him for the Rafaela roles and make Rafaela the 4th OF and back up or platoon 2Bman w DHam, or even FT, if DHam, Grissom and Romy fizzle out, and we don't want to hand the job to Campbell (or Story, if Mayer gets the call, first.)

Other notable LH'er killers above Ref and Grichuk are ...

1.002 Wm Contreras

.974 O'Neill

.971 Y Diaz

.948 Soler

 

 

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, notin said:

At hitting LHP? Probably not.

At defending RF at Fenway Park? Most definitely…

Why do they need a RHB in RF aside from Rafaela? Just throw Refsnyder in LF IMO.

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I did see a rumor that the Sox are the front runners on Scott.  Once upon a time I would have taken it seriously.

They take their rankings on the Interest Tracker very seriously!

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Why do they need a RHB in RF aside from Rafaela? Just throw Refsnyder in LF IMO.

Exactly. We played Ref in LF and Duran in CF  vs LHPs, many times in 2024. We used O'Neill in RF and Rafaela at SS in many of those games, but a flip is easy enough.

We also have Anthony and Campbell beating down the door, at any minute.

I get a one year deal not being such a biggie, but let's spend what we have left on a closer or someone that is a major upgrade over what we have, now.

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Why do they need a RHB in RF aside from Rafaela? Just throw Refsnyder in LF IMO.

So… last year’s lineup vs LHP but without O’Neill’s 1.200 OPS? Not sure why Rafaela’s .610 OPS vs LHP is considered part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Also, Cora won’t re-arrange the OF vs LHP just to get Ref out of RF.  Just like he didn’t last year. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Exactly. We played Ref in LF and Duran in CF  vs LHPs, many times in 2024. We used O'Neill in RF and Rafaela at SS in many of those games, but a flip is easy enough.

We also have Anthony and Campbell beating down the door, at any minute.

I get a one year deal not being such a biggie, but let's spend what we have left on a closer or someone that is a major upgrade over what we have, now.

I would bet the Sox think they’ve already spent on a closer.

To me, if it comes down to keeping Romy Gonzalez or one of the RHH corner OFs, what does Romy bring? 
 

I’d rather see a better 4th OF than another utility infielder.  Especially if there is an injury in the OF.

None of this blocks Anthony.  They’ll find a way to get him involved…

[moonslav59]

58 minutes ago, notin said:

I would bet the Sox think they’ve already spent on a closer.

To me, if it comes down to keeping Romy Gonzalez or one of the RHH corner OFs, what does Romy bring? 
 

I’d rather see a better 4th OF than another utility infielder.  Especially if there is an injury in the OF.

None of this blocks Anthony.  They’ll find a way to get him involved…

I agree.  I doubt we are even talking to Scott's agent. To me, Chapman (LHP) and Hendriks/Slaten (RHPs) would make ideal set-up men, and turnour pen from a minus to a plus with just a Scott signing.

Since we are dead set against playing Devers at 1B, Romy is the only other guy who can play there, unless you want your catcher playing 1B (Wong.)

I've not given up on Grissom, but I kinda like a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B, while the other is the IF utility guy for that game, better than Grissom-DHam.

I know you want DHam starting the year at AAA, but I think his speed, 2B defense and ability to hold his own vs RHPs makes him worthy of a slot on the 26.

As for a better 4th OF''er. I like Anthony getting a long look in 2025. If he fails, go OF hunting at the deadline.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I've not given up on Grissom, but I kinda like a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B, while the other is the IF utility guy for that game, better than Grissom-DHam.

A hunch there will no longer be a platoon at second base in Boston: one MLB exec said Kristian Campbell is the best prospect he's ever seen. 

Which bench-warmer stays on the roster: Grissom, Hamilton, or Romy? Maybe the latter, as a back-up at first base for Raffy (if a big trade is made).

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

A hunch there will no longer be a platoon at second base in Boston: one MLB exec said Kristian Campbell is the best prospect he's ever seen. 

Which bench-warmer stays on the roster: Grissom, Hamilton, or Romy? Maybe the latter, as a back-up at first base for Raffy (if a big trade is made).

I think JH will hold off adding Campbell, as well as Anthony and Mayer, until they add a year of service time. (I think that will be early May.) He saves money, this way- nuff said.

In this light, we should start the season with DHam and Grissom or Romy as a 2B platoon. Who knows: maybe one does great and increases his trade value or allows us to play Campbell somewhere else.

To me, Anthony and Campbell seem ML Ready enough to start on opening day. They are not sure bet, instant stars, so we keep a significant back-up(s) around, for a while, but everyone has options, so that is easy.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think JH will hold off adding Campbell, as well as Anthony and Mayer, until they add a year of service time. (I think that will be early May.) He saves money, this way- nuff said.

In this light, we should start the season with DHam and Grissom or Romy as a 2B platoon. Who knows: maybe one does great and increases his trade value or allows us to play Campbell somewhere else.

To me, Anthony and Campbell seem ML Ready enough to start on opening day. They are not sure bet, instant stars, so we keep a significant back-up(s) around, for a while, but everyone has options, so that is easy.

Your last paragraph may also be the key reason they open in Boston. Roman and KC may not be instant stars, but are almost certain big leaguers -- and both will make minimum wage... which could be tens of dollars less than the trio listed from last year!

[moonslav59]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Your last paragraph may also be the key reason they open in Boston. Roman and KC may not be instant stars, but are almost certain big leaguers -- and both will make minimum wage... which could be tens of dollars less than the trio listed from last year!

I don't think JH is planning on selling the team in the next 5-6 years, so he will want the extra year of control at a lower cost.

He will not spend anymore if we just play DHam, Romy or Grissom to play 1B for 5-6 weeks to start the season. If the choice is Grichuk va starting Anthony opening day, JH might still save more by giving Anthony an extra year 5 years from now, or at least it will be close. He would have to pay to replace Anthony a year earlier.

I'd love to see RA and KC starting on opening day. Anthony seems to hit LHPs, well, and Campbell is a RHB.

1. L Duran LF

2. R Campbell 2B

3. L Casas 1B

4. L Devers 3B

5. L Anthony (CF v RHP and RF v LHPs)

6. L Abreu RF v RHPs/ R Story SS v LHPs

7. L Yoshida v RHPs DH/ Refsnyder DH v LHPs

8. R Story SS v RHPs/ R Rafaela CF v LHPs

9. R Wong-Narvaez C

That looks pretty awesome, to me.

[notin]

57 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree.  I doubt we are even talking to Scott's agent. To me, Chapman (LHP) and Hendriks/Slaten (RHPs) would make ideal set-up men, and turnour pen from a minus to a plus with just a Scott signing.

Since we are dead set against playing Devers at 1B, Romy is the only other guy who can play there, unless you want your catcher playing 1B (Wong.)

I've not given up on Grissom, but I kinda like a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B, while the other is the IF utility guy for that game, better than Grissom-DHam.

I know you want DHam starting the year at AAA, but I think his speed, 2B defense and ability to hold his own vs RHPs makes him worthy of a slot on the 26.

As for a better 4th OF''er. I like Anthony getting a long look in 2025. If he fails, go OF hunting at the deadline.

Romy didn’t come to Boston with much 1b experience at all, probably about the same amount as Refsnyder has.  Refsnyder is a former infielder, coming up as a 2b in the Yankee system.  Not sure if he moved around due to weak fielding or just to get on the field more or both.  But as an emergency option at 1b, he could handle it.

The Sox have been linked to Grichuk already this offseason, for what thats worth.  But it’s more likely they keep Romy around, possibly even letting him DH vs LHP.

I do think Bregman will be the Sox 2b this year, against my wishes.  But if he isn’t, they probably start the year there with either Grissom or Campbell.  I think Grissom has the slight edge by already being on the 40 man roster and finishing fairly strongly last season. But if he cannot handle the role, he still has an option left and Campbell has made enough noise to get the chance.

Hamilton, if he isn’t traded, is probably limited to a bench role and his speed will come in handy as a pinch runner for ghosts…

[Bellhorn04]

2 hours ago, notin said:

I would bet the Sox think they’ve already spent on a closer.

Offering Martin more than he actually got does suggest, however, that they're looking to add at least one more "late inning guy". 

Doing some stockpiling of our own on late inning relievers might not be the worst play.  

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Romy didn’t come to Boston with much 1b experience at all, probably about the same amount as Refsnyder has.  Refsnyder is a former infielder, coming up as a 2b in the Yankee system.  Not sure if he moved around due to weak fielding or just to get on the field more or both.  But as an emergency option at 1b, he could handle it.

The Sox have been linked to Grichuk already this offseason, for what thats worth.  But it’s more likely they keep Romy around, possibly even letting him DH vs LHP.

I do think Bregman will be the Sox 2b this year, against my wishes.  But if he isn’t, they probably start the year there with either Grissom or Campbell.  I think Grissom has the slight edge by already being on the 40 man roster and finishing fairly strongly last season. But if he cannot handle the role, he still has an option left and Campbell has made enough noise to get the chance.

Hamilton, if he isn’t traded, is probably limited to a bench role and his speed will come in handy as a pinch runner for ghosts…

Romy has 93 innings at 1B in MLB and 142 in the minors (+ 9 gms in college.)

Ref has 227 at 1B in MLB, but you wonder why we never let him play at 1B, despite it getting pretty bad, last season. He has 99 in the minors. I think the last time he played 1B in MLB was 2020 (2 GS and 4 gms total.) He played 175 innings at 1B for the Yanks in 2016.

I don't have the faith in Grissom you do, especially vs RHPs and on defense.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

12 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I don't think JH is planning on selling the team in the next 5-6 years, so he will want the extra year of control at a lower cost.

He will not spend anymore if we just play DHam, Romy or Grissom to play 1B for 5-6 weeks to start the season. If the choice is Grichuk va starting Anthony opening day, JH might still save more by giving Anthony an extra year 5 years from now, or at least it will be close. He would have to pay to replace Anthony a year earlier.

I'd love to see RA and KC starting on opening day. Anthony seems to hit LHPs, well, and Campbell is a RHB.

1. L Duran LF

2. R Campbell 2B

3. L Casas 1B

4. L Devers 3B

5. L Anthony (CF v RHP and RF v LHPs)

6. L Abreu RF v RHPs/ R Story SS v LHPs

7. L Yoshida v RHPs DH/ Refsnyder DH v LHPs

8. R Story SS v RHPs/ R Rafaela CF v LHPs

9. R Wong-Narvaez C

That looks pretty awesome, to me.

Agree on the line-up, if they all just deliver at competent levels (not necessarily superstar expectations).

We may like Campbell at clean-up to protect Devers, and maybe Casas can wear out pitchers with obstinate selectivity so they make more mistakes when they get to Raffy (thinking Soto-Judge last year)... 

I'd also bat Yoshida in front of Abreu, since Masa makes more consistent contact to keep the line moving.

As for that "extra year" of service time -- I've said this before -- I wonder how many players nowadays are even still on the same team that originally promoted them to the majors, five years later? An even better point: how much more money are we even talking about -- if a player is that good, on a MAJOR MARKET CLUB THAT CAN AFFORD HIM, wouldn't he 1. be well worth the extra year's salary, or hopefully 2. be already extended as a keeper, well beyond that pivotal year?

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Romy has 93 innings at 1B in MLB and 142 in the minors (+ 9 gms in college.)

Ref has 227 at 1B in MLB, but you wonder why we never let him play at 1B, despite it getting pretty bad, last season. He has 99 in the minors. I think the last time he played 1B in MLB was 2020 (2 GS and 4 gms total.) He played 175 innings at 1B for the Yanks in 2016.

I don't have the faith in Grissom you do, especially vs RHPs and on defense.

They had him try out 1B in ST last year and moved him off it very quick. Must have been a good reason.