A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[mvp 78]

 

[Soxlover]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Harrison was supposed to be the prize of the Devers trade. Let’s hope it’s not a booby prize!

[Larry Cook]

I would not mind trading for the twins closer!!!

[mvp 78]

“It’s a weird one because I don’t really expect much more opportunity here just because decisions that were made were made, and it kind of didn’t involve me,” Grissom said on Tuesday at Polar Park. “So there’s not much that I can do. I mean, all those decisions and stuff, they make sense in a way, but I guess it sucks a little bit. But, I mean, it is what it is.”

- Vaughn Grissom

That’s a yikes comment from me.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

I would not mind trading for the twins closer!!!

That would be great. Then the Sox would have Duran Duran and the Sox would be hungry like the wolf.

[dgalehouse]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

That would be great. Then the Sox would have Duran Duran and the Sox would be hungry like the wolf.

Twins traded Duran to the Phillies.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, dgalehouse said:

Twins traded Duran to the Phillies.

A day late and a Duran short.

[moonslav59]

16 hours ago, Hitch said:

This was always going to happen. Every year a player plays above his career average and people get fooled into thinking it'll last. I'd like Jordan to get a chance to show what he can do but there's more chance of me getting called up. 

I think we'll probably ride with the 1B situation. 

Pitching is where we will look I think. Apparently we're pestering the Twins at an annoying level. I don't see Duran going anywhere now, though, so I'm not sure what we're trading. The Rule 5 guys are not going to get it done. 

The focus should be on pitching, but a platoon 1B rental should not cost much at all. 

I think we'll trade for a SP (likely Keller, but I'm hoping for Ryan) and a LHB first baseman (rental,) plus a RP'er.

[moonslav59]

Helsley to Mets.

At least both RPers went to NL teams.

[moonslav59]

To BOS: Joe Ryan & D Coulombe

To PHI: Abreu. Refsnyder & Early

To MIN: Painter, Arias & Sandlin

___________________

To BOS: Mitch Keller, David Bednar & Spencer Horwitz

To PIT: K Campbell, Clarke, Casas, Bleis & DHam

[Maxbialystock]

11 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Interesting.  That's been done by many clubs in the past.  

[moonslav59]

Dobbins to 60 Day IL to make room for Matz.

Gotta wonder what is next.

[moonslav59]

So, the 26 might be...

Crochet, Giolito, Bello, Buehler, May

Chapman, Whitlock, Wilson, Matz, Weissert, Hicks, Bernardino, Alcala or Murphy

Narvaez & Wong

Toro & Romy

Mayer (if healthy) & Romy (DHam)

Story

Bregman

Duran

Rafaela

Abreu & Anthony

Anthony & Yoshida/Refsnyder

The rest of the 40:

Murphy, Harrison, Fitts, Criswell, Kelly, I Campbell (IL: Houck & Guerrero)

K Campbell, (DHam) Grissom, Eaton, Sogard (IL: Mayer)

 

[moonslav59]

I had visions of starting the Part III thread, tonight. There will be no part 3, this year.

Now, I want to start the "Realistic View of the 2026 Red Sox Part I" thread.

[vegasbob]

With all the focus on the dead drop TDL, the upcoming schedule gauntlet will either silence some Breslow/JH critics or bring out the best worst in all of us critiquers.

Starting tomorrow, the Sox play  6 of those vs Astros ( home/home)(62-47)  AL Central leaders, 3 vs SD Padres ( 60-49 ) on the west coast, and 3 vs the KC Royals who are 1 game under .500 today.

52 games to go and these 12 will further define if our guys can continue competing at  over a .500 clip.

[illinoisredsox]

On 7/30/2025 at 6:10 PM, mvp 78 said:

“It’s a weird one because I don’t really expect much more opportunity here just because decisions that were made were made, and it kind of didn’t involve me,” Grissom said on Tuesday at Polar Park. “So there’s not much that I can do. I mean, all those decisions and stuff, they make sense in a way, but I guess it sucks a little bit. But, I mean, it is what it is.”

- Vaughn Grissom

That’s a yikes comment from me.

Sounds like a guy trying to get released; who can blame him.

[Soxlover]

16 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Sounds like a guy trying to get released; who can blame him.

We probably tried to trade him, but nobody offered more than his value to a team with a question mark at 2B, if Mayer and Story can’t stay healthy for 140+ games each,

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

Matz activated

[Larry Cook]

34 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Matz activated

I feel bad for Bernardino! I do not know how his arm still works given all the games Cora has used him in !!!!!

[Kimmi]

On 7/29/2025 at 11:05 PM, moonslav59 said:

Texas and SEA are both losing, and the Sox are now just 5 GB the Jays and 1 behind NYY.

Texas and Seattle are playing each other this weekend.  That will help us one way or another.  The Sox have to find a way to win the series against Houston.

[vegasbob]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Matz activated

Bernardino may just be needing a rest.  But I would rather have him available than junk ball Murphy . Murphy's total reliance on breaking balls will confuse most umpires.  Bernie is no strikeout arm but he is better than Murphy.

[Hitch]

8 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

 

If we can get top dollar for him (doubtful I know) in the off season we have to do it 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Bernardino may just be needing a rest.  But I would rather have him available than junk ball Murphy . Murphy's total reliance on breaking balls will confuse most umpires.  Bernie is no strikeout arm but he is better than Murphy.

Bernardino has had some long stretches of good pitching, but he's been inconsistent. 

Murphy seems about the same as Bernie, to me. I'm still not sure why a LH RP'er was so high on our deadline wish list.

[moonslav59]

Here is a comp between the 2025 and 2021 Red Sox:

Rotation: (BWAR) listed by IP EDGE 2025 3 to 2

Crochet 4.6> Nate 4.3

Bello 1.7> ERod 1.7

Pivetta 2.5> Buehler -1.2

Giolito 0.6> M Perez 0.4> Sale 0.9

Richards 0.2> Houck 1.5> Newcomb -0.2>Dobbins 0.3> Fitts -0.3

Pen: EDGE 2021 (3 to 1 with 4 equal), but it doesn't seem right, to me

Chapman 2.3> Barnes 1.1

'21 Whitlock 2.8> '25 Whitlock 1.1

Weissert 0.5 = Ottavino 0.8

Josh Taylor 1.2> Bernardino 0.2

Sawamura 0.8= Wilson 0.4

DHern 0.9> Slaten 0.0>Kelly -0.6

Valdez -0.2> Robles 0.5= Guerrero 0.0>Murphy 0.3

Andries -0.6> Rios 0.4= -0.1 Criswell & 0.0 Alacla

___________________

Everyday Players: 2025 +5, 2021 +3, Equal 1

C: Narvaez 2.9> Vaz 1.2/ Plawecki 0.2

1B: Toro 0.4+ Romy 1.3> Dalbec 0.3

2B: Marwin -0.3> Arroyo 1.5> KC -0.8>Mayer 0.2+ DHam 0.3

SS: Bogey 5.2> Story 2.3

3B: Bregman 3.3> Devers 3.6

LF: Duran 3.3> Verdugo 2.2

CF: Kike 4.9= Rafaela 3.7

RF: Abreu 2.6 + Ref 1.2> Renfroe 2.4

DH: JD 3.2> Devers 2.3>Yoshida -0.1

Gotta give the edge to 2025.

[moonslav59]

Rookie fWAR

3.1 Kurtz 293 PAs

2.6 Narvaez 325

2.4 J Wilson 396

2.2 I Collins 279

2.0 D Baldwin 262

1.7 C Durbin 316

1.5 ANTHONY in just 182 PAs

Pitchers:

2.0 Patrick 95 IP

1.8 Warren 111

1.4 Cameron 81 & Dreyer 53

10th: Dobbins at 0.9 in 61 IP

 

 

[dgalehouse]

With a win today, the Sox pass the Yankees in the standings. Two teams going in opposite directions.. 

[moonslav59]

Check out these team OPS w Men on Base (before today.)

1.131 Romy

.947 Anthony

.923 Bregman

.875 Duran

.846 Ref (a hit today with man on)

.814 Story (HR and 2B w man on, today)

.798 Rafaela

.771 Abreu

.739 Narvaez (BB w man on)

 

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, dgalehouse said:

With a win today, the Sox pass the Yankees in the standings. Two teams going in opposite directions.. 

Not counting today: records since June 7th:

30-16 BOS

30-18 TOR

28-19 TEX

27-20 HOU

27-22 SEA

25-23 BAL

24-24 LAA

24-23 ATH

22-24 DET & KCR

22-25 CLE

21-27 NYY

20-26 CWS

20-28 TBR

17-29 MIN

 

[Larry Cook]

37 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Check out these team OPS w Men on Base (before today.)

1.131 Romy

.947 Anthony

.923 Bregman

.875 Duran

.846 Ref (a hit today with man on)

.814 Story (HR and 2B w man on, today)

.798 Rafaela

.771 Abreu

.739 Narvaez (BB w man on)

 

Anthony has ice water flowing through his views!!!  Pure assassin !!!