Red Sox 2025 Starting Rotation

[Nick]

59 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

My order (you didn't ask)

Slaten

Whitlock

Chapman

Wilson (overly hated)

Weissert

Bernardino

Winckowski

Hendriks

I can usually get a response out of Moon.....lol

[Nick]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

My order (you didn't ask)

Slaten

Whitlock

Chapman

Wilson (overly hated)

Weissert

Bernardino

Winckowski

Hendriks

I didn't realize Bernardino had picked up a change up that he throws exclusively to right handed batters. It's good to see guys working on a new pitch instead of complaining about demotion.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, Nick said:

I didn't realize Bernardino had picked up a change up that he throws exclusively to right handed batters. It's good to see guys working on a new pitch instead of complaining about demotion.

I'm not trying to slight Bernardino with my ranking either. I like Weissert and Wilson. The only bullpen pieces I'd adjust are Winckowski (Burdi) and Hendriks (Mills). 

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, Nick said:

I can usually get a response out of Moon.....lol

Typically more than one! 

[Nick]

7 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

My order (you didn't ask)

Slaten

Whitlock

Chapman

Wilson (overly hated)

Weissert

Bernardino

Winckowski

Hendriks

I didn't realize Bernardino has picked up a change up that he throws exclusively to right handed batters. It's good to see guys working on a new pitch instead of complaining about demotion.

[Nick]

I predict that when Giolito returns next week, Justin Wilson will be sent down and Newcomb will be the long reliever. (lefty for lefty exchange). 

Chapman, Slaten, Whitlock, Hendriks, Bernardino, Winckowski

Why not add Fitts and Dobbins........

That's our best 13 pitchers right now. (when Fitts returns)

[moonslav59]

8 hours ago, Nick said:

I can usually get a response out of Moon.....lol

I answered:

"I'd put Chapman 2nd and Weissert ahead of Wink."

(The rest is about right.)

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Nick said:

I predict that when Giolito returns next week, Justin Wilson will be sent down and Newcomb will be the long reliever. (lefty for lefty exchange). 

Chapman, Slaten, Whitlock, Hendriks, Bernardino, Winckowski

Why not add Fitts and Dobbins........

That's our best 13 pitchers right now. (when Fitts returns)

Wilson is long out of options.

I think we send down Wink or Weissert, or keep Newcomb stretched out by having him in Woo's rotation.

I do think others are better than Wilson, but I doubt we expose him to waivers. We like to keep decent options around, but I guess if they see he is no longer decent, maybe we cut ties early.

[Nick]

Walker Buehler has mutual option in 2026 for $25M. Would either side accept?

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

Walker Buehler has mutual option in 2026 for $25M. Would either side accept?

If he turns it down, the Sox can then stick him with the dreaded QO. 

[moonslav59]

I'm thinking we'll give him the offer, unless he gets hurt or looks bad, and another comp pick is a good get.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't really understand how a mutual option works. 

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand how a mutual option works. 

Player says Yes AND says Yes: Player returns

If Player says No and/or Club says No: Player leaves

 

[Nick]

51 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand how a mutual option works. 

What I usually hear is that 'mutual option' does not work. Very seldom do both sides agree.

If he is has a good year, I'd think he'd look for multiple year deal. If mediocre or bad season, Sox probably wouldn't want him back.

It does seem like one must thread the needle.

[Nick]

Looking back at the Priester deal with Milwaukee.

I see that we receive a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

That's pretty good. Who would've thought Sox was pitching rich to trade away one of its starters?

Looks like we get the 33rd pick. Milwaukee was willing to part with THAT pick because they gained the 32nd pick from the Giants for losing free agent Willy Adames.

We also received 75th pick (after round 2) for losing Nick Pivetta.

[Bellhorn04]

4 minutes ago, Nick said:

Looking back at the Priester deal with Milwaukee.

I see that we receive a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

That's pretty good. Who would've thought Sox was pitching rich to trade away one of its starters?

Breslow really shows some stones making a trade like that.   

[Nick]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Breslow really shows some stones making a trade like that.   

He correctly thinks accumulating plethora of young talent will give him more options with the roster.  Easier said than done but he's doing it.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I don't really understand how a mutual option works. 

There is a $3M buyout if Buehler takes it, and we don't want to pay him $25M.

If he takes it and we accept, he gets $25M.

If he refuses, we could offer him a QO and not owe him the buyut.

 

[Bellhorn04]

2 hours ago, Nick said:

He correctly thinks accumulating plethora of young talent will give him more options with the roster.  Easier said than done but he's doing it.

To me the really bold part was trading away a young starting pitcher. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

To me the really bold part was trading away a young starting pitcher. 

He had traded for him less than a year earlier.

Overall, he's trade for young pitching more than trading away. He's drafted more than recent GMs have, and he's given a higher percentage if IFA bonus pool money to pitching than others have.

That's before mentioning the Crochet trade and Buehler and Sandoval signings.

Trades for pitchers:

Luis Garcia for 4 prospects & Paxton for Bolivar

Jovani Moran for Gasper and Joe Vogatsky for E Valdez

I Campbell for Urias

Priester for Yorke

Fitts, Weissert & Judice for Verdugo

Teel, Montgomery, Meidroth & Wikelman for Crochet

Pitching for young pitching, except Lucas Sims for Portes:

Fajardo for Booser

Slaten for Ammons

Sandlin for Schreiber

Trading away pitchers:

Priester for Y Rod & Comp pick

Sale for Grissom

O'Neill for V Santos and N Robertson

(I probably missed a few.)

 

 

[Hitch]

14 hours ago, Nick said:

Looking back at the Priester deal with Milwaukee.

I see that we receive a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

That's pretty good. Who would've thought Sox was pitching rich to trade away one of its starters?

Looks like we get the 33rd pick. Milwaukee was willing to part with THAT pick because they gained the 32nd pick from the Giants for losing free agent Willy Adames.

We also received 75th pick (after round 2) for losing Nick Pivetta.

It's better than just that - The Red Sox received a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, which comes with a slot value of $2,766,100

That extra, nearly $3m, is hugely valuable. 

Feels like a very impressive trade at this point. 

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

It's better than just that - The Red Sox received a Competitive Balance Round A selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, which comes with a slot value of $2,766,100

That extra, nearly $3m, is hugely valuable. 

Feels like a very impressive trade at this point. 

I think they liked Priester, but weren't as impressed with his development as they were with Dobbins and Fitts. Combine that with the offer they received from the Brewers and it seems like kind of a slam dunk to make that trade. 

[Hugh2]

22 hours ago, Nick said:

Walker Buehler has mutual option in 2026 for $25M. Would either side accept?

mutual options are never executed by both sides.  I'm sure there may be an occurrence out there somewhere I'm missing, but they aren't. 

[Bellhorn04]

5 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

mutual options are never executed by both sides.  I'm sure there may be an occurrence out there somewhere I'm missing, but they aren't. 

Mutual option is such a strange concept. It would be hilarious if not one of them has ever been accepted by both sides.

[Hugh2]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Mutual option is such a strange concept. It would be hilarious if not one of them has ever been accepted by both sides.

I'm kind of curious now, I can't think of ONE.  Not saying it hasn't happened. 

[Hugh2]

If a player is going to earn more than the option, he's going to sign somewhere else.  If a player is not worth anywhere NEAR the option the team is not going to exercise it. 

If both team and player are interested in each other, then it likely makes sense to just sign a new contract. 

I'm sure the money from the buyout is taking into consideration when players sign these deals. 

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think they liked Priester, but weren't as impressed with his development as they were with Dobbins and Fitts. Combine that with the offer they received from the Brewers and it seems like kind of a slam dunk to make that trade. 

Agreed, and they also knew Bello and Gio would be returning, soon with Crawford and Sandoval's returns more nebulous. We also have Criswell, who at worst could be a 3-4 IP "opener."

[Hitch]

44 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think they liked Priester, but weren't as impressed with his development as they were with Dobbins and Fitts. Combine that with the offer they received from the Brewers and it seems like kind of a slam dunk to make that trade. 

Agreed. I really like Dobbins, I hope he can go on to be a solid pitcher. 

[Bellhorn04]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, and they also knew Bello and Gio would be returning, soon with Crawford and Sandoval's returns more nebulous. We also have Criswell, who at worst could be a 3-4 IP "opener."

Criswell did OK last year but I wouldn't count on him for much more.  He's just not very good (by MLB standards).

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Criswell did OK last year but I wouldn't count on him for much more.  He's just not very good.

I wouldn't hate Criswell in the swing man/long man get us 2 innings a few times a few role.  I think the Sox are back to putting Whitlock in that role and having two guys who could be shut down there would be awesome.  I think he could be better in shorter bursts.