Red Sox 2025 Trade Deadline Thread

[moonslav59]

Unlike Bloom, Brez has already shown he's willing to trade prospects- high ones, as well as several ones.

The Crochet trade saw more top prospects go in one trade than all of Blooms plus DD's last year, combined.

Last summer's deadline saw a lot of Rule 5 eligible players traded, but several were in no danger of being selected, and Brez also traded several non Rule 5 guys, too.

Brez is not a "hoarder." Bloom may have been forced to hoard, but we may never know about that.

No way would I trade top prospects (from a good farm) for a rental. The Schwarber & Nate trades are about as high as I go with prospects for rentals.

I don't know what was out there, what was offered and what Brez turned down, but my theory is, he could have gotten better than M & M by offering more than he did... maybe not a top 10-12 prospect, but more.

If he was to offer a top 12 for a rental, it better be a real good one (like Schwarber or Nate were.) If you go by sp.com, Sandlin is #9 and Bleis #12. I would not have beenu pset, if he dealt one or both of them for a better SP'er than May.

I get the argument about not trading for a controllable pitcher at the deadline. Normally, the price is lower in winters. The Duran or Abreu plus a prospect or two for Ryan deal is not an easy call. My reasons for leaning towards a yes, was based on the idea that we'd have a top 4 OF'er on the bench way more than should be, and that trading one for a #1/2 type pitcher would help more than it hurt. With Mayer's return in doubt, and Rafaela needed at 2B, that part of the equation greatly changed. I'd say waiting until winter makes sense. (Trading an OF'er did, too.)

I'm not pissed at Brez. I'm driving his bandwagon, as I see it, but I wish he'd done more. Without knowing what "more" would have taken, I can speak with any certainty.

[Kimmi]

On 8/4/2025 at 7:22 PM, moonslav59 said:

Duran was not the only player we could have traded.

Abreu was high on some lists. Campbell went from almost everyone's darling to some wanting to trade him. (My guess is that some GM would really want him.)

Mid level prospects could have been dealt or packaged.

No Grissom dump. No DHam trade.

I didn't want Abreu or Campbell traded either.

As far as trading mid level prospects or guys like Hamilton, I don't know why nothing was done.  I can only guess that Breslow didn't like what other teams were asking.

[Kimmi]

On 8/5/2025 at 9:42 AM, Maxbialystock said:

I suspect they are not heartbroken with Devers' departure.  

It certainly doesn't look like it.  As far as I know, none of the players even hinted at being disappointed at any lack of further moves at the deadline.

[FredLynn]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Who even focuses on "the pennant" anymore?  Do we care about World Series losers?  Im not an all or nothing guy but the championships count for a lot.  Winning the AL, who really cares?  It just means you made the WS. Very weird to be all like "I only care about accomplishments!" So you better win the AL.  Winning the AL and losing in the series, isnt all that different from losing a round or 2 earlier, right?

Obviously the goal is to win a ring. But it’s difficult to rise from bad or mediocre to the top of the mountain. I’d be satisfied if the win the AL pennant this year with an eye towards better things soon. 
Breslows failure at the deadline impedes all that. And all the hoopla about how well they are playing now is fun-but they still haven’t accomplished anything yet.

[FredLynn]

4 hours ago, Hitch said:

But where's your limit? What if they wanted Anthony? Because I'm not doing that trade.

There are a few players that should be off limits. Anthony is one them. 

[FredLynn]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

If M & M do well, Brez won't have failed, so it's still TBD, but I do feel like he should have done more.

He did more, last summer, and we had less of a chance to win, then.

If the M&Ms outperform expectations I’ll admit I was wrong about Breslows failure.

[FredLynn]

5 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I've been a fan over 50 years too, as I'm sure a lot of people here have.

You keep talking about the collapses and you say nothing about the 4 titles and all the other playoff appearances.  Your negative bias appears to be a neurosis of some sort.

There have been a lot more failures than rings, and among them some epic collapses. I’ll wait and see how the season unfolds before I pin a medal on Breslow. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

6 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

There have been a lot more failures than rings, and among them some epic collapses. I’ll wait and see how the season unfolds before I pin a medal on Breslow. 

When a team doesn't win the WS, that's considered a failure. With that in mind the Sox have had the fewest failures of any team in MLB so far in this century.

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

When a team doesn't win the WS, that's considered a failure. With that in mind the Sox have had the fewest failures of any team in MLB so far in this century.

That’s YOUR definition of failure. You’re entitled to hold that opinion but I don’t agree with it. I’ll tell you what failure is in my mind: finishing in last place three of the past six years and third twice. This isn’t a small market team. We should be competing for a playoff spot nearly every year. Do that and you are successful. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

That’s YOUR definition of failure. You’re entitled to hold that opinion but I don’t agree with it. I’ll tell you what failure is in my mind: finishing in last place three of the past six years and third twice. This isn’t a small market team. We should be competing for a playoff spot nearly every year. Do that and you are successful. 

You don't agree with it? Damn, my day is ruined.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I didn't want Abreu or Campbell traded either.

I didn't either.

I just wanted a solid SP'er by more than I did not want to trade someone good.

BTW, you mentioned Campbell: his best position might be OF, where we already have 4 deserving OF'ers w 3+ years of control, plus Jh Garcia, Refsnyder and even Yoshida in a pinch.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

When a team doesn't win the WS, that's considered a failure. With that in mind the Sox have had the fewest failures of any team in MLB so far in this century.

Tell that to Fred... oh wait, you just did!

LOL!

[Hitch]

10 hours ago, FredLynn said:

There are a few players that should be off limits. Anthony is one them. 

Right. So maybe the 2nd starter wasn't available unless we wanted to do something crazy? And seeing as everyone was after pitching and nobody got a 2, maybe we can let logic dictate this one? 

While still being a little annoyed that May was the one we got in. 

[Hitch]

9 hours ago, FredLynn said:

That’s YOUR definition of failure. You’re entitled to hold that opinion but I don’t agree with it. I’ll tell you what failure is in my mind: finishing in last place three of the past six years and third twice. This isn’t a small market team. We should be competing for a playoff spot nearly every year. Do that and you are successful. 

Well, as things stand, so far this year is looking pretty successful. 

But it's the next 5 years I'm looking forward to more. We're set up pretty sweet with only a few annoying situations (hello Yoshi!)

[mvp 78]

16 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I didn't want Abreu or Campbell traded either.

As far as trading mid level prospects or guys like Hamilton, I don't know why nothing was done.  I can only guess that Breslow didn't like what other teams were asking.

The rumor is Luis Castillo for Hamilton. Several teams asked about David Hamilton and Breslow turned them down. Big miss. 

[mvp 78]

4 hours ago, Hitch said:

Well, as things stand, so far this year is looking pretty successful. 

But it's the next 5 years I'm looking forward to more. We're set up pretty sweet with only a few annoying situations (hello Yoshi!)

Sox have enough money to overlook a bad contract or two. 

[moonslav59]

Finding a taker for Yoshida would be nice, even if we may 75-80% of his deal.

[notin]

15 hours ago, FredLynn said:

There have been a lot more failures than rings, and among them some epic collapses. I’ll wait and see how the season unfolds before I pin a medal on Breslow. 

Of course there have been more failures than rings.  To what team does that not apply?

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Finding a taker for Yoshida would be nice, even if we may 75-80% of his deal.

More likely that you can deal Hicks and his big contract. Neither are a hot commodity. 

[notin]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Finding a taker for Yoshida would be nice, even if we may 75-80% of his deal.

Why?  He has options.  You can get the same benefit for a lot less money by DFAing Nate Eaton.

And if injuries become an issue, Yoshida is much better depth to have…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Of course there have been more failures than rings.  To what team does that not apply?

The Patriots had more failures than rings during the Brady years and I don't think anyone is coming away saying "6 rings don't make up for the 13 years they didn't win the SB." Crazy take. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The rumor is Luis Castillo for Hamilton. Several teams asked about David Hamilton and Breslow turned them down. Big miss. 

The Mariners were never going to trade Luis Castillo for any package centered around Hamilton.

I could see te being interested in Hamilton after last year.  But not to the point of unloading Castillo.  His contract wasn’t that bad and most important, hes been  remarkably durable throughout his career…

[notin]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The Patriots had more failures than rings during the Brady years and I don't think anyone is coming away saying "6 rings don't make up for the 13 years they didn't win the SB." Crazy take. 

It’s a universal take for all athletes, save the rare 20-something dominating his Pop Warner league…

[FredLynn]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

Of course there have been more failures than rings.  To what team does that not apply?

Failures as in starting off well then crashing into the dust and missing the playoffs as they choked the season away. I’m not talking about sucking all year. 
As I wrote, this team has accomplished nothing so far. I’m not pinning a medal on Breslows chest until I see how the season ends. So far all I’m seeing from Flops fans is “irrational exuberance”.

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

The Mariners were never going to trade Luis Castillo for any package centered around Hamilton.

I could see te being interested in Hamilton after last year.  But not to the point of unloading Castillo.  His contract wasn’t that bad and most important, hes been  remarkably durable throughout his career…

That's not what the rumors say. I'm sure you know better though! 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Failures as in starting off well then crashing into the dust and missing the playoffs as they choked the season away. I’m not talking about sucking all year. 
As I wrote, this team has accomplished nothing so far. I’m not pinning a medal on Breslows chest until I see how the season ends. So far all I’m seeing from Flops fans is “irrational exuberance”.

"It's nice that they are playing good, watchable baseball for the first time since 2021." <--- Irrational exuberance! 

[Maxbialystock]

15 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Obviously the goal is to win a ring. But it’s difficult to rise from bad or mediocre to the top of the mountain. I’d be satisfied if the win the AL pennant this year with an eye towards better things soon. 
Breslows failure at the deadline impedes all that. And all the hoopla about how well they are playing now is fun-but they still haven’t accomplished anything yet.

You are both a victim and a provocateur of what I call "perceived deprivation."  This is the John Henry era, the  best in Sox history including 4 WS wins, more than any other MLB team.  The Yankees with 27 WS wins overall have 1 in the JH era.   Before the 3 bad seasons of 2022-24, the Sox made it to the ALCS.  But you make it sound as though the Sox have been in complete, unredeemable collapse. 

And by the way it's called the John Henry era not only because he's the owner, but also because he has shown no hesitation in firing managers and CBO's  He also gives guidance on how much he's willing to spend.  For roughly his first 20 years of ownership, he was pretty much willing to pay top dollar.  This culminated in the 2018 best Sox season ever and the highest payroll in MLB.  The next season, 2019, the Sox still had the highest payroll and didn't make it to the postseason.  Plus DD was telling JH he would need a bunch more bucks to fix the rotation.  

Chaim Bloom was hired because he came from the Rays and JH obviously was hoping for a competitive Sox team that didn't have to pay top dollar.   Didn't work because Chaim Bloom didn't have the time or the knowledge to install the Rays system.  There was, however, still enough talent and a terrific manager to get the Sox to the ALCS in 2021.  Then came a seemingly endless series of seasons--3 in all--when the Sox were neither fish nor fowl.   As a result, word was that, after letting CB go, John Henry was going to have a tough time getting a good CBO.

Now we are in the 2d season of Breslow's tenure, and I have to say I think you are dead wrong about how we got here--largely because of JH--and how surprisingly effective Breslow has been in building a solid future that looks like it can be competitive while avoiding the biggest payroll in MLB.   Current Sox payroll is 12th in MLB.  

Of course nothing is guaranteed about August and September--and absolutely no one on talksox has made that claim.  But what most of us have said is that recently the Sox have played some tough opponents--four of the six MLB division leaders--and acquitted themselves well.  And I claim that this team right now has the best Sox pitching staff since 2018, is in the top 5 in MLB in runs scored, and has at least 6 good defenders--Bregman, Story, Narvaez, Rafaela, Abreu, and Duran/Anthony.  Hamilton's excellent at 2b, but can't hit.  Gonzalez definitely can hit, but is so-so on defense.  

I think one of the reasons Breslow has been successful is that he makes most of his key trades and hires in the offseason, not in July.   

 

[Maxbialystock]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Finding a taker for Yoshida would be nice, even if we may 75-80% of his deal.

Agree it will take 75-80% and maybe has already been tried.  I think Cora should use Ref and Anthony for his two DH's and keep Rafaela in CF.  Gonzalez with the highest OPS on the team should play everyday at 2b or 1b.  

[notin]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That's not what the rumors say. I'm sure you know better though! 

Enlighten me on this rumor…

[mvp 78]

Just now, notin said:

Enlighten me on this rumor…

Hamilton for Luis Castillo last offseason. Breslow declined. End of story. This comes from people who talk to FO guys.