Red Sox 2025 Trade Deadline Thread

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

You'd probably DFA Rafaela.

Nah. He’d make an excellent late inning defensive replacement. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, FredLynn said:

I don’t think they’re selling out every game anymore. That’s a start. 
The good news is that the Patriots start their season tomorrow. First preseason game. They made a lot of improvements and have the weakest schedule in the league. I think they’ll be much better than past years.

So, you are optimistic an the worst major sports team in New England, but are this down on the Sox?

Very puzzling.

The Pats suck and will suck in 2025, despite the easy schedule.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

Nah. He’d make an excellent late inning defensive replacement. 

Well informed? You really  believe that Moon?

[FredLynn]

22 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, you are optimistic an the worst major sports team in New England, but are this down on the Sox?

Very puzzling.

The Pats suck and will suck in 2025, despite the easy schedule.

I believe that as of now they are favored in 11 of the 17 games. That could put them in the playoffs. They obviously aren’t Superbowl contenders yet but it’s a huge improvement. Not sure how closely you follow the team but they had a good draft, signed Stephan Diggs, a premier receiver, Joe Milton who is an excellent defensive lineman to a huge contract and a lot more. They will likely be very entertaining this year.

I am not totally down on the Sox’ future. This year, yes. I don’t think they will make the playoffs. But if they get rid of Breslow and Cora and do well this offseason and next they could be very tough to beat. That said there’s no excuse for their performance the past 4-5 years.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, you are optimistic an the worst major sports team in New England, but are this down on the Sox?

Very puzzling.

The Pats suck and will suck in 2025, despite the easy schedule.

The Bruins may give the Pats a run at being the worst.

[FredLynn]

9 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The Bruins may give the Pats a run at being the worst.

The Bs are in full rebuilding mode. They will likely suck this year. The Celtics will probably be very mediocre because they had to trade Porzingis and Holliday and Tatum is out for the year. They had a great run and brought home banner #18. 
I think the Patriots will actually be competitive this year and at the very least entertaining. At least they’re doing the right things, unlike the Flops.

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Well informed? You really  believe that Moon?

Yes. I have to. He's been right more than I am, and I ain't admitting I'm a dummy.

[oldtimer]

Bres said he tried to make trades. Other teams actually did make trades and got some very good additions. Bres didn't try hard enough.

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

I’d do it. I couldn’t do any worse than Breslow.

this is NOT on Breslow. It is on the skin flint owner who could care less now and hasn't cared since firing DD.

[Randy Red Sox]

57 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I believe that as of now they are favored in 11 of the 17 games. That could put them in the playoffs. They obviously aren’t Superbowl contenders yet but it’s a huge improvement. Not sure how closely you follow the team but they had a good draft, signed Stephan Diggs, a premier receiver, Joe Milton who is an excellent defensive lineman to a huge contract and a lot more. They will likely be very entertaining this year.

I am not totally down on the Sox’ future. This year, yes. I don’t think they will make the playoffs. But if they get rid of Breslow and Cora and do well this offseason and next they could be very tough to beat. That said there’s no excuse for their performance the past 4-5 years.

The excuse is the miser John Henry

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

This, after having to trade for Garrett Cooper and Dom Smith, last year.

Sorry, everyone, but I've been fine with Toro/Gonzalez all along.  I'd prefer Mayer at 2d base, but am not unhappy with Gonzalez/Hamilton.  

[FredLynn]

32 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

this is NOT on Breslow. It is on the skin flint owner who could care less now and hasn't cared since firing DD.

I agree. I think Breslow did exactly what he was told to do. But if he had any integrity and really wanted to make a contender out of these bums in a couple of years he would have resigned. 

[FredLynn]

1 minute ago, Maxbialystock said:

Sorry, everyone, but I've been fine with Toro/Gonzalez all along.  I'd prefer Mayer at 2d base, but am not unhappy with Gonzalez/Hamilton.  

That bonnet is getting a little worn Max, wouldn't you say?

[Maxbialystock]

36 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

The excuse is the miser John Henry

Not a miser, but also not the big spender he was, 2002-2018/19.  

In case you've forgotten, Breslow was allowed to spend big bucks on Crochet, Bregman, and Chapman.  How did that work out?  The Sale thing was awful, but Giolito has actually been decent this year even though the Sox are paying $40M for one semi-good season.  

Plus don't forget that John Henry is still overpaying for Yoshida and Story--although I do think Story has been invaluable this year.  

And right now letting Devers go to the Giants looks like genius.  They've gotten worse with him.  And the Sox hitting has improved without Devers.  

Meanwhile the Sox are using a lot of less seasoned, inexpensive players:  Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony, Narvaez, Gonzalez, Mayer.  The first five have all been excellent.  Campbell still might be.  Ditto Mayer.  Plus I really like that Bregman, Crochet, and Chapman are all earning their big salaries.  

I think, like you, I would prefer that the Sox spend freely, but right now I kind of like the product they are putting on the field.   Did you know they are 5 games back of the Jays, who have the best W-L record in MLB?  

 

[FredLynn]

57 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

Bres said he tried to make trades. Other teams actually did make trades and got some very good additions. Bres didn't try hard enough.

We don’t know the conditions that were placed on Breslow by ownership so we’re just guessing. Mine is that Henry told him to reduce or at least not increase costs given the talent level on the team-or lack thereof-and plan for the future. Unfortunately Breslow seems to have forgotten the second part and did try to sell players of value. Two years in a row of this crap. At least we didn’t have to put up with the “full throttle” blatant lie again this year.

[Maxbialystock]

15 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

That bonnet is getting a little worn Max, wouldn't you say?

No doubt.  I'm pretty worn myself.  But right now I trust Breslow's judgment, no doubt supported by Cora's--a lot more than yours.   

[FredLynn]

5 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Not a miser, but also not the big spender he was, 2002-2018/19.  

In case you've forgotten, Breslow was allowed to spend big bucks on Crochet, Bregman, and Chapman.  How did that work out?  The Sale thing was awful, but Giolito has actually been decent this year even though the Sox are paying $40M for one semi-good season.  

Plus don't forget that John Henry is still overpaying for Yoshida and Story--although I do think Story has been invaluable this year.  

And right now letting Devers go to the Giants looks like genius.  They've gotten worse with him.  And the Sox hitting has improved without Devers.  

Meanwhile the Sox are using a lot of less seasoned, inexpensive players:  Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony, Narvaez, Gonzalez, Mayer.  The first five have all been excellent.  Campbell still might be.  Ditto Mayer.  Plus I really like that Bregman, Crochet, and Chapman are all earning their big salaries.  

I think, like you, I would prefer that the Sox spend freely, but right now I kind of like the product they are putting on the field.   Did you know they are 5 games back of the Jays, who have the best W-L record in MLB?  

 

Did you know that every one of the contenders for the AL pennant significantly improved their roster except us? Notice that. We got two mediocre pitchers in exchange for two minor league second tier players who were never going to see Fenway. They either should have gone all in or, preferably, been sellers. They did neither. 
And btw, they are middle third in overall payroll this year. In case you forgot this is a BIG MARKET team. Henry forgot that.

[FredLynn]

3 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

No doubt.  I'm pretty worn myself.  But right now I trust Breslow's judgment, no doubt supported by Cora's--a lot more than yours.   

I was right about this. And when we don’t make the playoffs AGAIN this year you will believe.

And get a new bonnet. Yours is very very worn.

[moonslav59]

25 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Sorry, everyone, but I've been fine with Toro/Gonzalez all along.  I'd prefer Mayer at 2d base, but am not unhappy with Gonzalez/Hamilton.  

Toro is .591 in last 97 PAs.

He was at .638 career in 1300 PAs, before 2025.

He had one brief hot streak, when we needed it, but he is who he is- not very good.

[Maxbialystock]

26 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I agree. I think Breslow did exactly what he was told to do. But if he had any integrity and really wanted to make a contender out of these bums in a couple of years he would have resigned. 

I emphatically disagree with "these bums."   The pitching has come around and is the best since 2018.  The hitting is ranked 4th in MLB in runs scored and 5th in team OPS. 

The fielding is actually better than all previous Sox teams back through at least 2018.  That terrific team overall had these DWAR's:  Moreland -0.5, Benintendi -0.6, Bogaerts -1.0, and Nunez -1.5.    JBJ's was 0.4, not even within shouting difference of Rafaela's 2.0 this year.  Leon .9 and Vazquez .2 not even close to Narvaez 1.9 and Wong .3.  Betts 1.8 in RF definitely better than Abreu .8,  but not overwhelmingly so.  

[FredLynn]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I emphatically disagree with "these bums."   The pitching has come around and is the best since 2018.  The hitting is ranked 4th in MLB in runs scored and 5th in team OPS. 

The fielding is actually better than all previous Sox teams back through at least 2018.  That terrific team overall had these DWAR's:  Moreland -0.5, Benintendi -0.6, Bogaerts -1.0, and Nunez -1.5.    JBJ's was 0.4, not even within shouting difference of Rafaela's 2.0 this year.  Leon .9 and Vazquez .2 not even close to Narvaez 1.9 and Wong .3.  Betts 1.8 in RF definitely better than Abreu .8,  but not overwhelmingly so.  

Oh-so you “emphatically” disagree!! Well that settles it! I guess you’re happy with the last few years of last place or .500 finishes. You’d be better off listening to me than the cheapskate owners and incompetent GM. 
While our competition all improved we did basically nothing. The FLOPS will again be at home watching playoff games this year with you and me!

Read the ESPN analysis of the winners and losers of these trades. How do you think they rate the FLOPS moves?

[moonslav59]

We had enough farm assets to offer more without hurting the future.

We had enough OF depth to capitalize on teams overpaying for good ML talent and then flip for a better pitcher than Matz or May.

We chose not to do it.

[Duran Is The Man]

4 hours ago, notin said:

I find it interesting they really need a 1b, but instead of acquiring one, they dealt away their top two in the minors…

between that and the Priester trade and the Sale trade and the Devers trade, it's complete incompetence by Brezlow.

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

Did you know that every one of the contenders for the AL pennant significantly improved their roster except us? Notice that. We got two mediocre pitchers in exchange for two minor league second tier players who were never going to see Fenway. They either should have gone all in or, preferably, been sellers. They did neither. 
And btw, they are middle third in overall payroll this year. In case you forgot this is a BIG MARKET team. Henry forgot that.

I'm sure you're right about the other contenders improving more than the Sox and that the reliever and starter coming to the Sox will make a small difference, if any. 

I completely disagree that going "all out" would have accomplished much.  Thus do I cite San Diego's insistence that the Sox needed to cough up Duran to get Cease.  

You are also the one who calls game outcomes early to underscore how hopeless this current Sox team is.  That's of course your right, but mine is to say  this team is already competitive.  Their first 3 starters are the best since the 2018 Sox.  And Buehler was pretty decent in July.  The incoming guy might be an adequate 5th starter and the lefty might help in the bullpen.  

The lineup looks pretty darn good to me--scoring and defending.  The Sox are 4th in MLB in scoring and 5th in OPS.  The 2021 Sox were 5th in runs scored and 3d in team OPS.  And the Sox defense this year is way better than the 2018 defense in terms of DWAR's of individual players. Rafaela>>JBJ; Duran> Benintendi; Narvaez>>Vazquez; Bregman/Mayer>Holt/??: Story>>Bogaerts; Gonzalez/Rafaela/Hamilton>Nunez.  However,  Betts>Abreu; and Moreland>Toro/Gonzalez. 

The above is why the Sox have won 10 of their last 16 games against the Rays, @ Cubs, @ Phillies, Dodgers, and @ Twins.  Of those 5 teams, 3 (Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers) have 63, 61, and 64 wins, the Rays are 3.5 games out of the AL wild card, and the Twins have a winning record, 30-24, at home.  

I cannot at all predict how this season will turn out, but I like how the Sox are playing right now.  

 

[Maxbialystock]

55 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Oh-so you “emphatically” disagree!! Well that settles it! I guess you’re happy with the last few years of last place or .500 finishes. You’d be better off listening to me than the cheapskate owners and incompetent GM. 
While our competition all improved we did basically nothing. The FLOPS will again be at home watching playoff games this year with you and me!

Read the ESPN analysis of the winners and losers of these trades. How do you think they rate the FLOPS moves?

The past is the past.  Breslow has reshaped this Sox team to make it better even after sending Devers to the Giants.  

ESPN is the same outfit that said Devers to SF was great for SF and a disaster for the Sox.  They and all other so-called analysts never, ever like any form of standing pat because it isn't news. 

[Maxbialystock]

46 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We had enough farm assets to offer more without hurting the future.

We had enough OF depth to capitalize on teams overpaying for good ML talent and then flip for a better pitcher than Matz or May.

We chose not to do it.

You could be right about farm assets. 

I'm less sure that dumping Duran would have brought back anyone better than Cease.  As you have pointed out, no one wants Abreu and the Sox wisely won't cough up Rafaela or Anthony.  And Cora has been able to play all 4 outfielders almost any time he wants to because Rafaela can go to 2b or Anthony to DH.  

Aren't you the one who has said the best deals are in the offseason and not in July?  

[Maxbialystock]

3 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Nah. He’d make an excellent late inning defensive replacement. 

He currently has the highest WAR (wins over replacement), 3.8, among the 13 Sox lineup players.  He is 3d in total bases, 2d in runs scored, 3d in SB's, 4th in dingers, 5th in rbi's, and tied with Bregman for fewest K's per AB's (which is 1 every 5 at bats).   

[Soxlover]

32 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

You could be right about farm assets. 

I'm less sure that dumping Duran would have brought back anyone better than Cease.  As you have pointed out, no one wants Abreu and the Sox wisely won't cough up Rafaela or Anthony.  And Cora has been able to play all 4 outfielders almost any time he wants to because Rafaela can go to 2b or Anthony to DH.  

Aren't you the one who has said the best deals are in the offseason and not in July?  

No. We trade Duran for a gross overpay of prospects, then grossly overpay to get Keller or Ryan or even M Kelly.

[Hitch]

7 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes. I have to. He's been right more than I am, and I ain't admitting I'm a dummy.

I like Fred but he makes 50 predictions a night and often talks utter drivel in his need to hate the team. Everyone supports the team in their own, funny little way.

Quite a few people thought they should have at least sold and bought. It's become even more apparent we should have after that deadline. But alternatively, if we'd got Ryan, the atmosphere would have been different.

I've always felt we were a year away from any real chance at challenging, and we could have tooled up very nicely for next year and beyond, but it is what it is. I think I like Bres more than most here, but he s*** the bed after thumping his chest. Not a good look.

They might still surprise us, and we have the off season to make more moves (though with the reality we missed out on moving highly sort after pieces - again.) 

[Hitch]

4 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

You could be right about farm assets. 

I'm less sure that dumping Duran would have brought back anyone better than Cease.  As you have pointed out, no one wants Abreu and the Sox wisely won't cough up Rafaela or Anthony.  And Cora has been able to play all 4 outfielders almost any time he wants to because Rafaela can go to 2b or Anthony to DH.  

Aren't you the one who has said the best deals are in the offseason and not in July?  

Rumour is that the Twins were asking for one of outfielders for Ryan, but we wouldn't do it. That suggests Duran or Abreu. I'm of the opinion one of them should have been sent for him.