Red Sox sign Alex Bregman

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Bregman is a huge upgrade defensively at 3B. Devers belongs at 1B/DH. Too bad if he doesn't like it.

That's how I see it.

Playing Bregman at 2B is not doing the best we can to win. It's really that simple.

It's also a waste of money.

This is a damn good line-up and a better defensive team than 2024:

1. L Duran CF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Casas DH/1B

4. L Devers 1B/DH (3B back-up)

5. R Story SS

6. L Yoshida/ R Refnsyder LF

7. R Campbell 2B

8. L Abreu/ R Rafaela RF

9. R Wong/ R Narvaez C

Utility: DHam

If Story stays healthy, our left side IF turns from bottom 5 to top 5. Our LF defense moves from top 10 to bottom 10. 2B defense could improve with Campbell/DHam over EValdez/ Grissom/ Reyes. The rest stays about the same. (Maybe RF improves with Rafaela over O'Neill.)

The rotation should be way better.

The pen might get close to 2024, which was not very good.

 

[notin]

13 hours ago, harmony said:

Perhaps Masataka Yoshida will play left field (with Triston Casas at first base and Rafael Devers at designated hitter).

1b - Casas

2b - Bregman

3b - Devers

DH - Yoshida

 

At least until the injuries kick in…

[notin]

29 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's how I see it.

Playing Bregman at 2B is not doing the best we can to win. It's really that simple.

It's also a waste of money.

This is a damn good line-up and a better defensive team than 2024:

1. L Duran CF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Casas DH/1B

4. L Devers 1B/DH (3B back-up)

5. R Story SS

6. L Yoshida/ R Refnsyder LF

7. R Campbell 2B

8. L Abreu/ R Rafaela RF

9. R Wong/ R Narvaez C

Utility: DHam

If Story stays healthy, our left side IF turns from bottom 5 to top 5. Our LF defense moves from top 10 to bottom 10. 2B defense could improve with Campbell/DHam over EValdez/ Grissom/ Reyes. The rest stays about the same. (Maybe RF improves with Rafaela over O'Neill.)

The rotation should be way better.

The pen might get close to 2024, which was not very good.

 

Playing Bregman at 2b does seem stupid in a Jim Hendry kind of way.  And it does seem like blowing a chance to upgrade the infield defense.

But…

It’s also important to remember the Champion of Moving Bregman to 2b is Cora, who knows Bregman personally, and is well aware of Bregman’s strengths and limitations. You know, unlike me…

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

Playing Bregman at 2b does seem stupid in a Jim Hendry kind of way.  And it does seem like blowing a chance to upgrade the infield defense.

But…

It’s also important to remember the Champion of Moving Bregman to 2b is Cora, who knows Bregman personally, and is well aware of Bregman’s strengths and limitations. You know, unlike me…

He's championing it because he has to manage Raffy's emotions. They need to work out this change in his career together. He wasn't going to outright say "Raffy is moving to 1B this year most likely" before they even had a replacement in house. 

[FredLynn]

56 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's how I see it.

Playing Bregman at 2B is not doing the best we can to win. It's really that simple.

It's also a waste of money.

This is a damn good line-up and a better defensive team than 2024:

1. L Duran CF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Casas DH/1B

4. L Devers 1B/DH (3B back-up)

5. R Story SS

6. L Yoshida/ R Refnsyder LF

7. R Campbell 2B

8. L Abreu/ R Rafaela RF

9. R Wong/ R Narvaez C

Utility: DHam

If Story stays healthy, our left side IF turns from bottom 5 to top 5. Our LF defense moves from top 10 to bottom 10. 2B defense could improve with Campbell/DHam over EValdez/ Grissom/ Reyes. The rest stays about the same. (Maybe RF improves with Rafaela over O'Neill.)

The rotation should be way better.

The pen might get close to 2024, which was not very good.

 

IF Bregman plays the way he played before 24 it should be a good lineup. That leaves just the bullpen needing an infusion of talent. Nice to see management finally spending some money.

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, notin said:

Playing Bregman at 2b does seem stupid in a Jim Hendry kind of way.  And it does seem like blowing a chance to upgrade the infield defense.

But…

It’s also important to remember the Champion of Moving Bregman to 2b is Cora, who knows Bregman personally, and is well aware of Bregman’s strengths and limitations. You know, unlike me…

To me, it's not about knowing or not knowing how well Bregman can play 2B.

While 2B is still a somewhat open position, and Bregman would answer the question, there, I was fine entering ST'ing with a DHam/ Romy-Grissom competition for a platoon situation there, until Campbell wins the job, outright. We could not saye knew what we had at 2B, but with 4 options, I felt pretty confident one to two could make 2B a plus in 2025 vs the bottom 5 it was in 2024 with EValdez, Grissom, Reyes and DHam.

We do know Devers sucks at 3B defense, and Bregman is top 5-10. The choice seems so obvious, to me. I know Cora knows more than all of us, and he also has to be the one to face an upset Devers, if that is the case- not us.

The other factor in the move is that Devers cannot be worse than casas at 1B defense, IMO. We could see a plus there, too.

[FredLynn]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

To me, it's not about knowing or not knowing how well Bregman can play 2B.

While 2B is still a somewhat open position, and Bregman would answer the question, there, I was fine entering ST'ing with a DHam/ Romy-Grissom competition for a platoon situation there, until Campbell wins the job, outright. We could not saye knew what we had at 2B, but with 4 options, I felt pretty confident one to two could make 2B a plus in 2025 vs the bottom 5 it was in 2024 with EValdez, Grissom, Reyes and DHam.

We do know Devers sucks at 3B defense, and Bregman is top 5-10. The choice seems so obvious, to me. I know Cora knows more than all of us, and he also has to be the one to face an upset Devers, if that is the case- not us.

The other factor in the move is that Devers cannot be worse than casas at 1B defense, IMO. We could see a plus there, too.

I think Casas is on the trading block. If Devers moves to 1B. Another LHH there is unnecessary.

[notin]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

To me, it's not about knowing or not knowing how well Bregman can play 2B.

While 2B is still a somewhat open position, and Bregman would answer the question, there, I was fine entering ST'ing with a DHam/ Romy-Grissom competition for a platoon situation there, until Campbell wins the job, outright. We could not saye knew what we had at 2B, but with 4 options, I felt pretty confident one to two could make 2B a plus in 2025 vs the bottom 5 it was in 2024 with EValdez, Grissom, Reyes and DHam.

We do know Devers sucks at 3B defense, and Bregman is top 5-10. The choice seems so obvious, to me. I know Cora knows more than all of us, and he also has to be the one to face an upset Devers, if that is the case- not us.

The other factor in the move is that Devers cannot be worse than casas at 1B defense, IMO. We could see a plus there, too.

I think we are very likely to start the year with the unpopular lineup with Bregman at 2b.  But I doubt we finish the year that way.  Between injuries, trades, the rise of certain prospects, and random Cora position movements, things will look different.  Possibly very different…

[notin]

15 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I think Casas is on the trading block. If Devers moves to 1B. Another LHH there is unnecessary.

Removing any of Devers, Casas or Bregman from the Sox lineup makes it look pretty weak…

[vegasbob]

3 thoughts:

The opt outs after '25 and '26 create an interesting situation for Bregman while still younger than 33.  If he has a great year, he can opt for  another longer deal.  If he doesn't  hit a ton, he is still earning/accruing approx $40mm per year.  And he can play that for 2 years.  This move could be a short term bridge for the Sox

The Red Sox  young studs  like Campbell get a year to work on their game at Worcester , and still be available for call ups.. I thought it was ambitious to assume Kristian could leap straight to MLB with virtually no time in AAA.    Guys like  Hamilton, Grisson, Romy G, and even Casas are now near superfluous , and can be traded . Could you get a good backup (or #1) catcher out of these guys ?     Maybe a decent BP add ? 

ST injury bug has not had a chance to work it's magic yet ( except for LAA's Rendon)  .  Give it 40 days to do its thing and see who is standing in late March.

 

[mvp 78]

35 minutes ago, notin said:

Removing any of Devers, Casas or Bregman from the Sox lineup makes it look pretty weak…

Swapping Masa out for anyone else makes it look a lot more interesting. LF/DH/2B are the hingepoints. 

[vegasbob]

My guess is that Masataka Yoshida will always be available in a trade situation , more so than Casas.  

Breslow's  next hot stove season '25/'26 will be much more interesting depending on the 2025 season outcome, Bregman's option  and the advancement of Anthony , Campbell,  Rafael's hitting skills.    

We will also see what Devers continuing contribution at bat and in field is to this bunch , or will he show some chronic  conditions that put him on the slippery slope towards his 30's. 

Casas needs to show his own durability and consistent growth or he will have reached his Peter Principle point.

[sk7326]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He's championing it because he has to manage Raffy's emotions. They need to work out this change in his career together. He wasn't going to outright say "Raffy is moving to 1B this year most likely" before they even had a replacement in house. 

This is where I am.  I suspect they want Rafael to be the one to suggest the move.  

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

I think Casas is on the trading block. If Devers moves to 1B. Another LHH there is unnecessary.

He's still one of our best hitters vs LHPs, and over the past 2 years, he's been better than Bregman, too.

We cannot afford to lose his bat.

I know Yoshida and his contract clog things up, but Casas is better than him, too.

Bregman may hit better than Casas in 2025, but Casas has hit better since 2023.

Just play Yoshi-Ref in LF, at least until Anthony gets the call.

[Hitch]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

That's how I see it.

Playing Bregman at 2B is not doing the best we can to win. It's really that simple.

It's also a waste of money.

This is a damn good line-up and a better defensive team than 2024:

1. L Duran CF

2. R Bregman 3B

3. L Casas DH/1B

4. L Devers 1B/DH (3B back-up)

5. R Story SS

6. L Yoshida/ R Refnsyder LF

7. R Campbell 2B

8. L Abreu/ R Rafaela RF

9. R Wong/ R Narvaez C

Utility: DHam

If Story stays healthy, our left side IF turns from bottom 5 to top 5. Our LF defense moves from top 10 to bottom 10. 2B defense could improve with Campbell/DHam over EValdez/ Grissom/ Reyes. The rest stays about the same. (Maybe RF improves with Rafaela over O'Neill.)

The rotation should be way better.

The pen might get close to 2024, which was not very good.

 

Rafaela is going to be paying CF. They mentioned it again to day - just the one position for him and it's that. 

They're going to live with his bat and take his elite defence. 

Duran

Rafeala

Abreu

is an elite outfield defensively. If we can get Devers over to 3rd base, we've got the chance to make the infield defence pretty tasty, too. 

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, vegasbob said:

3 thoughts:

The opt outs after '25 and '26 create an interesting situation for Bregman while still younger than 33.  If he has a great year, he can opt for  another longer deal.  If he doesn't  hit a ton, he is still earning/accruing approx $40mm per year.  And he can play that for 2 years.  This move could be a short term bridge for the Sox

The Red Sox  young studs  like Campbell get a year to work on their game at Worcester , and still be available for call ups.. I thought it was ambitious to assume Kristian could leap straight to MLB with virtually no time in AAA.    Guys like  Hamilton, Grisson, Romy G, and even Casas are now near superfluous , and can be traded . Could you get a good backup (or #1) catcher out of these guys ?     Maybe a decent BP add ? 

ST injury bug has not had a chance to work it's magic yet ( except for LAA's Rendon)  .  Give it 40 days to do its thing and see who is standing in late March.

 

He'd need to have a monster year to opt out of $40m a year. I don't think there's much of any chance we see him opt out. 

[Old Red]

No doubt Bregman is a good player, and will help the Red Sox no matter what position he plays, but if he is the RHH the Red Sox have needed for the low, low price of $40M how much more production will he give you (HR, and RBI) than if they would have just signed O’Neil back for a lot less money? 

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No doubt Bregman is a good player, and will help the Red Sox no matter what position he plays, but if he is the RHH the Red Sox have needed for the low, low price of $40M how much more production will he give you (HR, and RBI) than if they would have just signed O’Neil back for a lot less money? 

What he gives you is equal or better offense and PLUS PLUS defense, something you've been crowing about for a while now. 

[moonslav59]

35 minutes ago, Hitch said:

He'd need to have a monster year to opt out of $40m a year. I don't think there's much of any chance we see him opt out. 

He still wants a longer term deal, but he did not want $171M/6 w DET. That was $51M/3 more than our offer. It's not hard to imagine im getting a $171M/6 offer, next winter,he has a big 2025. He'd take that over $80M/2 remaining. He also will not have a offer to deal with, so maybe more teams get involved in the bidding, next winter.

Certainly, $40M x 2 remaining will not be easy to pass up.

[vegasbob]

27 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No doubt Bregman is a good player, and will help the Red Sox no matter what position he plays, but if he is the RHH the Red Sox have needed for the low, low price of $40M how much more production will he give you (HR, and RBI) than if they would have just signed O’Neil back for a lot less money? 

O'Neill wasn't a warm, fuzzy guy  or teammate  . Probably Bregman isn't either.   Will fans like him for the $40M or does he become a target when he hits .250/.799 ?

[moonslav59]

40 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Rafaela is going to be paying CF. They mentioned it again to day - just the one position for him and it's that. 

They're going to live with his bat and take his elite defence. 

Duran

Rafeala

Abreu

is an elite outfield defensively. If we can get Devers over to 3rd base, we've got the chance to make the infield defence pretty tasty, too. 

Who platoons with Abreu in RF? Ref?

There goes the "elite D."

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No doubt Bregman is a good player, and will help the Red Sox no matter what position he plays, but if he is the RHH the Red Sox have needed for the low, low price of $40M how much more production will he give you (HR, and RBI) than if they would have just signed O’Neil back for a lot less money? 

Agreed. Heo longer a lefty killer. He could regain that, but for 2 years, he's been worse than LHB Casas v LHPs.

His big asset is 3B defense, overall decent hitting with upside and maybe clubhouse leadership. he plays 2B, we lose a big chunk of his value to our team.

[dgalehouse]

If the organization is operating as it should, it will be strictly up to Cora to make out the lineup card. Who plays, where they play and where they bat.   And to be responsible for the results. In the meantime, a tip of the cap to Breslow and his moves. He has done well in identifying what needed to be done and acquiring the proven talent needed for improvement. Not to mention convincing John Henry to open his overstuffed wallet. This team right now is clearly better than the one that Craig inherited. And should be very competitive in the A.L.

[vegasbob]

It occurs to me that Casas probably ought to be the DH on this team, with AB at 3rd and RD at 1B, if he can adapt to it.    

It may simply be time for the team to take the "hit" on Yoshida's contract, send him elsewhere   .    I am sure the Angels would take him  if he was about free to them. 

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

He's still one of our best hitters vs LHPs, and over the past 2 years, he's been better than Bregman, too.

We cannot afford to lose his bat.

I know Yoshida and his contract clog things up, but Casas is better than him, too.

Bregman may hit better than Casas in 2025, but Casas has hit better since 2023.

Just play Yoshi-Ref in LF, at least until Anthony gets the call.

If we keep Casas then either he or Devers has to be our DH, the other one playing 1B, assuming Bregman is at 3rd as he should be. Then Yoshida is the odd man out. I don’t want him in the OF. Problem is, no one is going to want Masa’s contract. 

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

It occurs to me that Casas probably ought to be the DH on this team, with AB at 3rd and RD at 1B, if he can adapt to it.    

It may simply be time for the team to take the "hit" on Yoshida's contract, send him elsewhere   .    I am sure the Angels would take him  if he was about free to them. 

He'd probably get about $21M/3 as a FA, so we could eat all but that and maybe send him somewhere.

Maybe SEA takes him and $10M in '26 & '27 for Haniger ($14.2M x 1) or Garver ($12M x1). Both are RHBs with a chance for a resurgence in '25. Garver is not good on D, as a catcher, but he could act as our 3rd C, and allow for multiple PH for ur catchers in a game.  Haniger is not good on D in RF, but he can't be much worse than Ref. (Ref hits LHPs better.)

I doubt LAA wants Yoshi and cash  for Soler ($12.1M x 2)

SFG? Robbie Ray ($23M x 2) straight up?

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

If we keep Casas then either he or Devers has to be our DH, the other one playing 1B, assuming Bregman is at 3rd as he should be. Then Yoshida is the odd man out. I don’t want him in the OF. Problem is, no one is going to want Masa’s contract. 

Nobody wants Yoshida in the OF, but LF in Fenway has parked many an awful defender, although most hit way better than Yoshi has, thus far.

A Yoshi-Ref platoon in LF would be a way better hitters than Rafaela, but the D would be way, way worse.

With Anthony pounding on the OF door, adding Yoshi-Ref to the OF seems like a real bad idea, but maybe start the year like that, and see what happens. If he hits well, his trade value rises.

[harmony]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

He'd probably get about $21M/3 as a FA, so we could eat all but that and maybe send him somewhere.

Maybe SEA takes him and $10M in '26 & '27 for Haniger ($14.2M x 1) or Garver ($12M x1).

The Mariners might at least listen on the offer for Mitch Haniger despite the offer's implications for the 2026-27 payrolls when Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Cal Raleigh, Bryce Miller and others await salary increases in arbitration.

Seattle is unikely to trade Mitch Garver, whom the Mariners view as the likelier bounceback candidate.

Seattle podcasters discussed the possible fallout from the Alex Bregman signing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yhH2WcB-zo

... including whether this offseason the Red Sox were shopping Triston Casas or merely listening to offers.

[sk7326]

Yoshida is an underwater contract ... hopefully the team has the flexibility to just cut him if it comes down to it ... as Don Draper put it "That's What the Money is For"

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Who platoons with Abreu in RF? Ref?

There goes the "elite D."

I think Abreu is going to get his hits against lefties this year. A hunch anyway.