Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Sure, move Story to 2b.  And then when the new 3b gets hurt, Story will be complaining thru his English-to-English translator that he can’t be expected to play EVERYWHERE and next thing you now, we’ve traded him to San Diego…

Good one. Story doesn’t have the standing with the club that Raffy had. Story might not like it, but Rico, Hoffman, and Johnny V moved to 3B, and the Rooster moved to 2B.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Good one. Story doesn’t have the standing with the club that Raffy had. Story might not like it, but Rico, Hoffman, and Johnny V moved to 3B, and the Rooster moved to 2B.

If Bregman re-signs, maybe you can talk Story into moving to 2b to make way for Mayer at SS. 

Story 2025:

3rd in SS errors

58th in SS DRS (of 62)

59th in SS OAA

It's time for him to move to 2b. He doesn't have it anymore. 

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Bregman re-signs, maybe you can talk Story into moving to 2b to make way for Mayer at SS. 

Story 2025:

3rd in SS errors

58th in SS DRS (of 62)

59th in SS OAA

It's time for him to move to 2b. He doesn't have it anymore. 

Agree 100%, and that’s why i don’t want to see Mayer moved to 3B if Bregman leaves.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Even if, I can't see a guy with Duran's energy ever being satisfied sitting on the bench in any game just to get four at bats. And as long as he can still run, some team will play Duran in the outfield.

Jarren is smack-dab in his prime and never misses a game -- he's got that ultimate availability, which is a big WAR factor.

I know he's a fan favorite in Boston, but if the org decides he's not going to be one of the best three defenders in the pasture, he's gotta go.

...and this is why many of my trades center on Duran. He'd be worth more to other teams than us.

Our replacement for him is light years better than who he replaces on his new team. That is actually the most significant factor in the choice to trade him.

Nobody else is looking at DH'ing a guy Like Duran or benching Rafaela, Abreu or gasp... Anthony. Nore do they have Jh Garcia and Campbell types in reserve, as well.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Bregman re-signs, maybe you can talk Story into moving to 2b to make way for Mayer at SS. 

Story 2025:

3rd in SS errors

58th in SS DRS (of 62)

59th in SS OAA

It's time for him to move to 2b. He doesn't have it anymore. 

Agreed. Do you think Story could play 3B well enough?

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. Do you think Story could play 3B well enough?

No! He can’t throw well enough at SS as it is. 2B would be the best fit.

[mvp 78]

"Sorry, prices were too high. LOL" - Brezzz

[moonslav59]

I was surprised at how quickly Story's defense declined. I doubt it was just rustiness. That being said, we did not see our worst D at SS this year:

DRS at SS

-13 2018

-13 2017

-7 2024 & 2019

-6 2020 (projects to -16)

-6 2025

-3 2021

+4 2023

+5 2022

2025 tied with 2024 with the worst OAA at -10 with 2019 at -9

 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

No! He can’t throw well enough at SS as it is. 2B would be the best fit.

I certainly agree, he'd be better at 2B than 3B, but that wasn't my question.

If Mayer plays SS, Story 2B and Breggie bolts, who plays 3B?

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

"Sorry, prices were too high. LOL" - Brezzz

Where have we heard the Red Sox need SP, and better D before?🤔

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I certainly agree, he'd be better at 2B than 3B, but that wasn't my question.

If Mayer plays SS, Story 2B and Breggie bolts, who plays 3B?

TBD. No was my answer.

[drewski6]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

...and this is why many of my trades center on Duran. He'd be worth more to other teams than us.

Our replacement for him is light years better than who he replaces on his new team. That is actually the most significant factor in the choice to trade him.

Nobody else is looking at DH'ing a guy Like Duran or benching Rafaela, Abreu or gasp... Anthony. Nore do they have Jh Garcia and Campbell types in reserve, as well.

Plenty of teams have a Jh Garcia and Campbell types.  Other than that, you absolutely need to stop looking at players through the lens of their position.  Duran is a leadoff hitter.  Right now, you have 2 top of the order hitters in Duran and RA.  ANd thats all you have thats a significant plus offensively.  Abreu, sure but not as a top hitter in the lineup.  As a #5/6 hitter, hes a plus.

Story and Abreu are not #2/3 hitters. IF they are than Fed is right and we need to focus on 2032

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I certainly agree, he'd be better at 2B than 3B, but that wasn't my question.

If Mayer plays SS, Story 2B and Breggie bolts, who plays 3B?

Who plays 3B? TBD. Who plays SS? TBD. Who plays 2B? TBD. Who plays 1B? TBD. Who is the DH? TBD. Seems like there is lots of TBD as it stands right now for 2026.

[drewski6]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Who plays 3B? TBD. Who plays SS? TBD. Who plays 2B? TBD. Who plays 1B? TBD. Who is the DH? TBD. Seems like there is lots of TBD as it stands right now for 2026.

Heres my answer:

Dont care, dont care, dont care, dont care, dont care

Now-a-days you cross-train and you have positional redundancy and versatility. You figure out how to get your 9 best bats in the lineup while having a defense thats "good enough"

You do not pigeon hole every player into a position, and then prioritize optimal positional lineup, while seeking to have an offense that is just "good enough"

Offense (50%) = pitching (40%) + defense (10%)

That 10% can sink you, but you dont revolve your roster construction around maximizing it.

 

[drewski6]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. Do you think Story could play 3B well enough?

yes

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

yes

If the bar is Devers, DHam, Romy or Eaton, I'd agree.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If the bar is Devers, DHam, Romy or Eaton, I'd agree.

That’s a pretty low bar.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

That’s a pretty low bar.

Yah, I dont know why you would play Story at 3b. I guess if like Dham and Story are the last 2 standing maybe and one has to, but can he ? Yes.  Its sub-optimal but its not an avoid at all cost.

More SS can play 3b than cant. More SS can play 2b than cant. Most CF can play of. Most players on your roster can play 1b. Most starting pitchers can relief pitch.

Most catchers can play 1b (if they can hit). Most 3b can play 1b (if they arent going to have a hissy fit).

Its just a way the game has changed.  Most guys arent at one position their whole careers.

[norbit]

I don't see why Story couldn't play 3b, his arm strength is the same as Bregman and he's 10x's the athlete.

[Old Red]

14 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Yah, I dont know why you would play Story at 3b. I guess if like Dham and Story are the last 2 standing maybe and one has to, but can he ? Yes.  Its sub-optimal but its not an avoid at all cost.

More SS can play 3b than cant. More SS can play 2b than cant. Most CF can play of. Most players on your roster can play 1b. Most starting pitchers can relief pitch.

Most catchers can play 1b (if they can hit). Most 3b can play 1b (if they arent going to have a hissy fit).

Its just a way the game has changed.  Most guys arent at one position their whole careers.

Story had trouble throwing from SS, so i wouldn’t even contemplate moving Story to 3B, nor to I think the Red Sox will either. 2B to me is where he would be more suited for. I also hope DHam isn’t even being considered for a backup.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

"Sorry, prices were too high. LOL" - Brezzz

the Interest Kings will sit on the sidelines and watch the Dodgers, Yankees, etc improve their teams and then, at the last minute, swoop in and sign some useless rehab pitcher that will never help the team.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

That’s a pretty low bar.

It was meant to be, but yes, my question was would he be okay at 3B.

I think his glove would be a plus- his arm a minus. I think he might be barely acceptable, but that would be much better than the Devers years at 3B and any other option we might have in the system, right now, which could really be all that matters.

If you had to choose?

SS Mayer & 3B Story

SS Story & 3B Mayer

[Kimmi]

8 hours ago, Hitch said:

This is true. But at least we'll have a little more clarity shortly after the WS. I'm still not convinced he's opting out. I would imagine Boras and Bres are in constant dialogue about the possibility of a restructured deal at the moment.

I can't imagine that he's opting out.  He had a terrific first half but not so much with the second half.  And Fenway is tailor made for him.  I'm sure he's looking for more guaranteed years, but $40M/year for 2 more years is a lot of money.  How much can he realistically get as a free agent?

I hope that if his contract is restructured, the Red Sox don't go beyond one additional year.

[Kimmi]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

"Sorry, prices were too high. LOL" - Brezzz

Sounds like a good checklist to me.  Even though we have a lot of starting pitching depth, and a lot of potential, starting pitching is still my priority. 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I can't imagine that he's opting out.  He had a terrific first half but not so much with the second half.  And Fenway is tailor made for him.  I'm sure he's looking for more guaranteed years, but $40M/year for 2 more years is a lot of money.  How much can he realistically get as a free agent?

I hope that if his contract is restructured, the Red Sox don't go beyond one additional year.

The differed money is something that Bregman may want changed. There is a reason his $40M/yr only counts as $31.7 AAV. it's not voodoo economics. If he banked $40M now, he'd likely have more money than  what he'll get with all the differals.

He's been paid $26M out of the $120M total. That means he's still owed $94M with 2 opt out seasons. it's hard to know what sort of "fair" alternate offer would be and whether he'd take it. He could just play the next 2 years w BOS, still get all the differals plus another big contract in 2 years. He could just opt out sand hope to get $150M/6 or $130/5. Maybe he gets that from us.

I doubt we go 5 with him, and maybe nobody does. If nobody does, he may come back to us for...

$100M/3 paid in the 3 years with no differals. That is more than I'd pay, despite his leadership value. I might offer $94M/3 with no differals, which is what he owed for 2 years of control, now. I doubt he'd take that, so I'd probably just say good bye or offer a take or leave it $70M/2 with no differals. Even that seems high, if we can get Alosno for $100M/3 or $120M/4.

[Randy Red Sox]

16 hours ago, Hitch said:

Agreed, all the guesses and summations are not worth a lot right now, not until we know what Bregman is doing and where we stand financially. But in terms of the pitching, I wonder if/wouldn't mind if we package some of our younger highly rated pitchers into one ready pitcher now. Ryan is the obvious choice after the Twins sell off. Maybe we can give them a few of our pitchers with high ceilings but a year or two away for Ryan. Not sure if that would interest the Twins mind,.

We have got A LOT of pitchers in the organisation. We're going to need to find ways to make them work for us at some point. 

to be honest Breman decision really should affect things that much as we still have the Devers $$ to spend one would think. We had Bregman at 40 million this season and saved about half the year of the Devers contract.  That adds up to about 50-55 million.

[Larry Cook]

2025 was a huge step in the right direction. Plus we are set up to have more success in 2026. 
 

Duran seemed to play better offensively when Anthony was leading off. If Duran stays next season, he needs to stay out of the lead off spot. 
 

the first month of the 2025 season was really hard, a lot of guys were struggling and the Devers stories were nonstop. Hopefully we start 2026 with no drama 

2025 was the year of the rookie and hopefully 2026 sees those rookies stay healthy and take the next step toward greatness. I still think Mayer can be a beast offensively 

[Old Red]

7 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Heres my answer:

Dont care, dont care, dont care, dont care, dont care

Now-a-days you cross-train and you have positional redundancy and versatility. You figure out how to get your 9 best bats in the lineup while having a defense thats "good enough"

You do not pigeon hole every player into a position, and then prioritize optimal positional lineup, while seeking to have an offense that is just "good enough"

Offense (50%) = pitching (40%) + defense (10%)

That 10% can sink you, but you dont revolve your roster construction around maximizing it.

 

I don’t think the Red Sox have done it the way they have the past few years of not having more of a set lineup, because they wanted to, but they have needed to due to injuries, and No reliable backups. Story was mostly out for a couple of years, because of injuries, Casas has been out mostly out for a couple years, because of injuries, so there was revolving doors at those two positions, because of it. If Story, and Casas isn’t injured those two positions would be set full time. 2B has also been a revolving door, because no one has won the job full time. I also think Mayer would have a full time position right now if he hadn’t of lost so much development time, because of injury.

[moonslav59]

YANKS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

YANKS LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!

Was beating the Red Sox enough for Boone to keep his job, or is he gonzo?