Article: Who Could the Red Sox Look To Trade Away To Fortify the Roster?

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, Alex Mayes said:

If Duran could play passable center field defense, I'd disagree with you and would never bring up trading him again. It looks like he can't though, so it makes the most sense to sell high and get as much value back as possible. 

Are you remembering the old Duran from years ago?

Someone may argue 810 innings in CF is not a large enough sample size, but consider these numbers ...

2024:

810 innings in CF Duran: 17 DRS & 6 OAA

630 innings in CF Rafaela: 12 DRS & 5 OAA

If you widen the sample size to 23-25, he's still at +11 DRS and +6 OAA in CF.

My "eye test" says Rafaela is better, but Duran looks pretty good in CF, to me.

We could see this, if we want to take some CF innings away from Duran:

LF: Anthony v R/Duran v L

CF: Duran v R/ Rafaela v L

RF: Abreu v R/Anthony v L

...but some hate shuffles, especially musical chairs like this.

 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

Red Sox Might Trade $140M All-Star To Make Room For No. 3 Prospect, Per Insider

[mvp 78]

Pete Abraham isn't an "insider." Even from the article: "not to nitpick, but wouldn't the Red Sox rather have Story around in the case that Bregman opts out?"

There's enough room to get Mayer on the roster at some point and rotate him in. Call him up June 1, or whenever the Super Two date is, and option Hamilton.  

[Larry Cook]

12 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Pete Abraham isn't an "insider." Even from the article: "not to nitpick, but wouldn't the Red Sox rather have Story around in the case that Bregman opts out?"

There's enough room to get Mayer on the roster at some point and rotate him in. Call him up June 1, or whenever the Super Two date is, and option Hamilton.  

Doesn’t story have an opt out this year as well???? 

[mvp 78]

11 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Doesn’t story have an opt out this year as well???? 

Far less likely he opts out. If he does, Sox would be happy about it. 

[Bellhorn04]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Far less likely he opts out. If he does, Sox would be happy about it. 

Teams should have the option of being able to give a guy a bonus payment to opt out.  😛

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Teams should have the option of being able to give a guy a bonus payment to opt out.  😛

Only the NFL Union would be dumb enough to agree to that. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There may be an irony to make room for Anthony and Mayer.

For Anthony to play regularly in Boston, the Red Sox might trade an outfielder, but it's more likely they bench Rafaela or platoon him with Abreu.

To make room for Mayer, however, the only real hope -- barring injuries -- is that they have to trade an outfielder, so they can shift Campbell to CF and open up 2B.

Story can strike out 20 times in a row, but he'll never be benched for a prospect during the season. He is a veteran leader on and off the field, and any perceived disrespect by the front office would be too disruptive in the clubhouse...

... especially if Casas gets in front of a microphone or two, and pontificates.

[mvp 78]

Plop Kristian at 1B. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

Red Sox Injury Concerns Surrounding Masataka Yoshida - Heavy Sports

[Bellhorn04]

"Concern trolling" is a thing.

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

9 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

"Concern trolling" is a thing.

That's rich considering you troll my posts all the time.

Here's a suggestion, if you don't like my posts then block me.

Pretty simple.

[Bellhorn04]

42 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

That's rich considering you troll my posts all the time.

Here's a suggestion, if you don't like my posts then block me.

Pretty simple.

Thanks, but as a moderator I'd rather keep an eye on things.

[jad]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Only the NFL Union would be dumb enough to agree to that. 

Isn't the buy-out provision effectively the same thing?

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Thanks, but as a moderator I'd rather keep an eye on things.

Well, as a moderator you should know better than to troll my posts.

Try sticking to baseball related posts when responding to me, thanks.

[notin]

On 4/30/2025 at 7:48 AM, mvp 78 said:

Pete Abraham isn't an "insider." Even from the article: "not to nitpick, but wouldn't the Red Sox rather have Story around in the case that Bregman opts out?"

There's enough room to get Mayer on the roster at some point and rotate him in. Call him up June 1, or whenever the Super Two date is, and option Hamilton.  

I’ve seen articles suggesting demoting Casas and moving Story to 1b.  Seems odd to me.

If Bregman opts out, the Sox can always return Devers to 3b and Yoshida (who remains both alive and under contract) to DH.  Certainly not the optimal defensive arrangement, but it is possible.  But I don’t think Bregman will opt after this year.  Maybe after 2026; $40mill is a lot to walk away from and it will be easier to recoup (most of?) the final year at $40mill over the $80mill, even at one year older…

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Plop Kristian at 1B. 

 1b Campbell,  2b Story, SS Mayer, 3b Bregman?  I could get used to that alignment quickly.

 

It might even be the best possible defensive arrangement…

[notin]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

There may be an irony to make room for Anthony and Mayer.

For Anthony to play regularly in Boston, the Red Sox might trade an outfielder, but it's more likely they bench Rafaela or platoon him with Abreu.

To make room for Mayer, however, the only real hope -- barring injuries -- is that they have to trade an outfielder, so they can shift Campbell to CF and open up 2B.

Story can strike out 20 times in a row, but he'll never be benched for a prospect during the season. He is a veteran leader on and off the field, and any perceived disrespect by the front office would be too disruptive in the clubhouse...

... especially if Casas gets in front of a microphone or two, and pontificates.

Or demote Casas.  Right now he can’t hit anything.  If he tripped and fell, he wouldn’t hit the ground…

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

I’ve seen articles suggesting demoting Casas and moving Story to 1b.  Seems odd to me.

If Bregman opts out, the Sox can always return Devers to 3b and Yoshida (who remains both alive and under contract) to DH.  Certainly not the optimal defensive arrangement, but it is possible.  But I don’t think Bregman will opt after this year.  Maybe after 2026; $40mill is a lot to walk away from and it will be easier to recoup (most of?) the final year at $40mill over the $80mill, even at one year older…

Story seems like a waste at 1b, but what do I know.

I think Breggie opts out. I think Story stays. Sox would much prefer it was the opposite. 

Considering Muncy and Ramirez's defensive woes this year, maybe Devers going back to 3b wouldn't be the end of the world? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

 1b Campbell,  2b Story, SS Mayer, 3b Bregman?  I could get used to that alignment quickly.

 

It might even be the best possible defensive arrangement…

If I had a magic wand and could get everyone baseball ready for it, that's what I'd go with. Story was so great at 2b in '22. Not sure why they are set on keeping him at SS.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If I had a magic wand and could get everyone baseball ready for it, that's what I'd go with. Story was so great at 2b in '22. Not sure why they are set on keeping him at SS.

Because Bloom signed Story to be the longterm shortstop (Raffy told me)!

Remember the quote: "I can play second base for one year..."

... not sure if Trevor actually said it in '22 (maybe a poster said it, in a claim 2B was easy, like 1B) -- but it implied he'd be taking over at short as soon as Bogey left (which was intentionally expedited with a lowball offer... until they kinda sorta changed their minds the next winter).

[moonslav59]

On 4/30/2025 at 7:48 AM, mvp 78 said:

Pete Abraham isn't an "insider." Even from the article: "not to nitpick, but wouldn't the Red Sox rather have Story around in the case that Bregman opts out?"

There's enough room to get Mayer on the roster at some point and rotate him in. Call him up June 1, or whenever the Super Two date is, and option Hamilton.  

If Anthony is also called up, it makes Campbell in CF less of an option, and now "rotating" Mayer around the infield is very problematic.

Someone would have to go (via trade or IL) to make room for both top prospects, and that's not even bringing up Yoshida.

13 Everyday players

C: Narvaez/Wong

1B: Casas (Romy)

2B: Campbell, Mayer (DHam)

SS: Story, Mayer

3B: Bregman, Mayer

LF: Anthony, Duran

CF: Duran, Rafaela,

RF: Abreu, Refsnyder, Anthony

DH: Devers

Without Romy and DHam, there is room for 13, but how do the top 3 prospects play 75-80% or more of the time, and if so, at whose expense?

The obvious players losing playing time would be Rafaela & Refsnyder (UGH!) but what infielder? None of these guys can play 1B, except Casas.

[moonslav59]

A pouting Story would be too funny to contemplate.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Or demote Casas.  Right now he can’t hit anything.  If he tripped and fell, he wouldn’t hit the ground…

You mean demote the guy with a 1.069 OPS over the last six games?

(See: I can use tny sample size, too.)

[notin]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Only the NFL Union would be dumb enough to agree to that. 

MLB does allow it.  Justin Turner with Boston, for example…

[moonslav59]

What would be the main issue with Campbell at 3B. other than Bregman plays there?

1B: Bregma

2B: Story

SS: Mayer

3B: Campbell

We should have traded Casas for Castillo & Cash or Woo.

[notin]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

What would be the main issue with Campbell at 3B. other than Bregman plays there?

1B: Bregma

2B: Story

SS: Mayer

3B: Campbell

We should have traded Casas for Castillo & Cash or Woo.

Why move Gold Glover Bregman to downgrade to Campbell? 

[notin]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You mean demote the guy with a 1.069 OPS over the last six games?

(See: I can use tny sample size, too.)

As Casas enters the AL Comeback Player of the Week argument…

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

As Casas enters the AL Comeback Player of the Week argument…

I've never heard of the AL Comeback Player of the Week, do they have an award for that?

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, notin said:

Why move Gold Glover Bregman to downgrade to Campbell? 

I'm not sure Campbell can even play 1B. 

Can you answer my Q about the downside(s) of Campbell at 3B? I honestly do not know. (Arm?)