Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

45 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If the Sox can only spend about 45M this offseason:

(Per the FanGraphs tracker)

Okamoto 3/48 16M

Hoskins 1/8 8M

Woodruff 3/55 22M

No bad. My no trade plan might be:

$20M E Suarez 3B

$16M M Kelly SP

$8M Hoskins 1B

With Duran for Lodolo (saves $3M):

$28M Schwarber DH

$14M Polanco 2B

$8M Hoskins 1B

Or

$27M Alonso 1B

$14M Polanco 2B

$8M Fairbanks RP

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

No bad. My no trade plan might be:

$20M E Suarez 3B

$16M M Kelly SP

$8M Hoskins 1B

With Duran for Lodolo (saves $3M):

$28M Schwarber DH

$14M Polanco 2B

$8M Hoskins 1B

Or

$27M Alonso 1B

$14M Polanco 2B

$8M Fairbanks RP

I just think Woodruff provides so much more value at only 6M more AAV. If he pitches like he did in '25, he's a #2. Kelly is not that. 

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I just think Woodruff provides so much more value at only 6M more AAV. If he pitches like he did in '25, he's a #2. Kelly is not that. 

I get that, and Okamoto might provide as much or more than Suarez, but I'm basically tired of hoping on players to regain what they had or end up with another Masa. I'm looking at players that are doing well and have been for the last 1-3 years.

I like your plan. I'd rather trade for a pitcher and spend the $45M on bats.

How would you spend $45M after a Duran for Lodolo trade?

[notin]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I get that, and Okamoto might provide as much or more than Suarez, but I'm basically tired of hoping on players to regain what they had or end up with another Masa. I'm looking at players that are doing well and have been for the last 1-3 years.

I like your plan. I'd rather trade for a pitcher and spend the $45M on bats.

How would you spend $45M after a Duran for Lodolo trade?

But you seemingly focus primarily players who excelled in Arizona and nowhere else recently…

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

But you seemingly focus primarily players who excelled in Arizona and nowhere else recently…

I'm not that high on Merrill Kelly. I only mention him because of I know JH does not like long contracts.

E Suarez has been almost everywhere, including AZ,

My top choices:

Schwarber or Alonso

Suarez & Polanco

Trade for Ryan or Lodolo

One guy played for AZ for a while.

Next tier: Bregman or Bichette.

[notin]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not that high on Merrill Kelly. I only mention him because of I know JH does not like long contracts.

E Suarez has been almost everywhere, including AZ,

My top choices:

Schwarber or Alonso

Suarez & Polanco

Trade for Ryan or Lodolo

One guy played for AZ for a while.

Next tier: Bregman or Bichette.

I like the idea of Bregman/Bichette because cheap 1b production is easier than other positions.  But someone like Alonso will get a cheaper contract than Bregman/Bichette, so maybe he’s more likely? We shall see.  I also figure 4-5 years from now, I will be happier with Alonso than with Bregman…

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

I like the idea of Bregman/Bichette because cheap 1b production is easier than other positions.  But someone like Alonso will get a cheaper contract than Bregman/Bichette, so maybe he’s more likely? We shall see.  I also figure 4-5 years from now, I will be happier with Alonso than with Bregman…

If the difference in AAV is just $1-2M between Schwarber and Alonso, I'd go with Schwarber. The shorter years might appeal to JH, too.

I like Bregman, but we need power and I'm afraid he is in a noticeable decline. His D is a plus, but I'm with Drew on the major need being a mega power bat. If we can somehow do both, then yes.

I like Bichette, but he's not a great defender, nor is he a big power bat, let alone a mega one. Pass.

If we go "light" my guys are Suarez and Polanco, fully realizing there are risks involved.

Trade for a #2, sign Suarez & Polanco, and maybe there's enough money to get that cheaper 1B bat (Hoskins, Bell or ___.) If there's enough money, add Matz.

One interesting option might be to sign Schwarber to DH, trade Duran + for K Marte, Abreu for Ryan or Lodolo and play Masa in LF. He could maybe platoon with Garcia/Campbell or bring Ref back for another go.

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I get that, and Okamoto might provide as much or more than Suarez, but I'm basically tired of hoping on players to regain what they had or end up with another Masa. I'm looking at players that are doing well and have been for the last 1-3 years.

I like your plan. I'd rather trade for a pitcher and spend the $45M on bats.

How would you spend $45M after a Duran for Lodolo trade?

Okamoto isn't very similar to Masa. He has a lot more power and is a very good fielder. 

If they traded for Lodolo? 

I'd still go for Woodruff because he's a big value play to me a 22 AAV. Maybe pass on Hoskins and bring back Matz? 

C Narvaez/Wong

1B Okamoto

2B Romy/Hamilton

SS Story

3B Mayer/Sogard

OF Abreu/Rafaela/Anthony/Refsnyder/Masa

Crochet/Woodruff/Lodolo/Bello/Sandoval

Chapman/Whitlock/Slaten/Matz/Weissert/Bernardino/Criswell/Hicks

I'd still rather be able to spend more than $45M.

 

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd still rather be able to spend more than $45M.

 

I would, too, and I think we might, but I'm going with under $45M, until I see it.

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

If the Sox can only spend about 45M this offseason:

(Per the FanGraphs tracker)

Okamoto 3/48 16M

Hoskins 1/8 8M

Woodruff 3/55 22M

I want no part in Okamoto or Murakami.  We already have enough questionable 1B/DH types on this roster, I'm not sure it makes sense to add one more on top of Hoskins when the rest of the infield and the rotation has huge holes in it. 

[notin]

12 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I want no part in Okamoto or Murakami.  We already have enough questionable 1B/DH types on this roster, I'm not sure it makes sense to add one more on top of Hoskins when the rest of the infield and the rotation has huge holes in it. 

The rotation has one hole in it.  The Sox have 11 SPs on the 40 man roster already, and reportedly want to add one more.  Assuming everyone is healthy, they would add one SP to Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, and Crawford.  Meanwhile Early, Dobbins, Harrison, Tolle, Fitts, Perales, and Houck sit on the 40 man roster.  (Houck cannot be moved to the 60 Day IL until March.)

They might bump a couple (Fitts? Perales?) to the bullpen, and maybe make a trade involving one or more.  But until that happens, 12 SPs on the 40 man is a lot…

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

The rotation has one hole in it.  The Sox have 11 SPs on the 40 man roster already, and reportedly want to add one more.  Assuming everyone is healthy, they would add one SP to Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, and Crawford.  Meanwhile Early, Dobbins, Harrison, Tolle, Fitts, Perales, and Houck sit on the 40 man roster.  (Houck cannot be moved to the 60 Day IL until March.)

They might bump a couple (Fitts? Perales?) to the bullpen, and maybe make a trade involving one or more.  But until that happens, 12 SPs on the 40 man is a lot…

If we trade for a solid #2 SP'er, and I think we might, we may end up needing to include someone like Early or Tolle (Perales?)- maybe Harrison, Dobbins, Fitts, Criswell or Crawford.

It's really nice to have this depth, but with a tight budget likely and a team philosophy of holding onto to top prospects, I'm not sure we part with the younger SP'ers. I'm also not sure of what trade value returning from injury pitchers have, like Crawford, Dobbins & Perales. We will also be carrying Houck on the 40, until the start of the season, when we'll move him to the 60 Day IL.

I'd like to see us add Lodolo, Ryan or Lopez plus someone like M Keller. MVP likes FA Woodruff. Others like Cease and Gallen, but I think we'll need the cash for big batters. I doubt we trade for 2 SP'er.

Maybe...

1. Crochet

2. Ryan/Lodolo/Lopez/Keller

3. Bello

4. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford

5. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison (assuming none are part of the trade.)

Fitts, Criswell, Tolle, Early, Perales (assuming none are part of the trade.)

[notin]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

If we trade for a solid #2 SP'er, and I think we might, we may end up needing to include someone like Early or Tolle (Perales?)- maybe Harrison, Dobbins, Fitts, Criswell or Crawford.

It's really nice to have this depth, but with a tight budget likely and a team philosophy of holding onto to top prospects, I'm not sure we part with the younger SP'ers. I'm also not sure of what trade value returning from injury pitchers have, like Crawford, Dobbins & Perales. We will also be carrying Houck on the 40, until the start of the season, when we'll move him to the 60 Day IL.

I'd like to see us add Lodolo, Ryan or Lopez plus someone like M Keller. MVP likes FA Woodruff. Others like Cease and Gallen, but I think we'll need the cash for big batters. I doubt we trade for 2 SP'er.

Maybe...

1. Crochet

2. Ryan/Lodolo/Lopez/Keller

3. Bello

4. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford

5. Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison (assuming none are part of the trade.)

Fitts, Criswell, Tolle, Early, Perales (assuming none are part of the trade.)

I’m assuming Duran nets a prospect (or two) in a trade, so that prospect (or two) is flipped far the “#2 starter” or replaces a prospect pitcher that dealt.

My inner child is contemplating referring to #2 starting pitchers as Laxative Pitchers.  Maybe I need to grow up a little…

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, notin said:

I’m assuming Duran nets a prospect (or two) in a trade, so that prospect (or two) is flipped far the “#2 starter” or replaces a prospect pitcher that dealt.

My inner child is contemplating referring to #2 starting pitchers as Laxative Pitchers.  Maybe I need to grow up a little…

That is most likely, or a three way trade.

The Duran for Lodolo type trade is the longshot.

[moonslav59]

I've been pumping up spending big on batters and trading for a solid #2 SP'er, but what if we decide to give up some more of the future and go bold. Trade for two pitchers and spend up to the second tax line?

Maybe something like this: 

Duran & Sandlin for Lodolo (saves about $3M AAV)

Campbell, Arias & Early for Ryan (saves about $2M AAV)

$70M to spend to second line:

$27M Alonso

$20M Suarez

$14M Polanco

$8M Josh Bell

There is a reason I posted this here and not the realistic thread:

1. L Anthony LH

2. R Alonso DH

3. S Polanco 2B

4. R Suarez 3B

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Story SS

7. S J Bell 1B

8. R Narvaez C

9. R Rafaela CF

Bench: Mayer, Wong, Garcia, DHam/Sogard/Eaton

SP: Crochet, Ryan, Lodolo, Bello, Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford/Harrison/Tolle/Perales

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Fitts, Bernardino, Murphy/Criswell/Winckowski/Moran/Kelly/Mullins

 

 

[Hitch]

12 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I want no part in Okamoto or Murakami.  We already have enough questionable 1B/DH types on this roster, I'm not sure it makes sense to add one more on top of Hoskins when the rest of the infield and the rotation has huge holes in it. 

Somebody is going to get absolutely burned by signing Murakami and I really hope it isn't us. 

In his 2025 NPB season he hit .093 against fastballs of 93 mph or higher. And his career average against 93+ mph fastballs is only .188.

Stay the F away from that! 

 

Rotation wise - I only see one hole? A #2.

[Hugh2]

14 hours ago, notin said:

The rotation has one hole in it.  The Sox have 11 SPs on the 40 man roster already, and reportedly want to add one more.  Assuming everyone is healthy, they would add one SP to Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, and Crawford.  Meanwhile Early, Dobbins, Harrison, Tolle, Fitts, Perales, and Houck sit on the 40 man roster.  (Houck cannot be moved to the 60 Day IL until March.)

They might bump a couple (Fitts? Perales?) to the bullpen, and maybe make a trade involving one or more.  But until that happens, 12 SPs on the 40 man is a lot…

Yeah, my take is pretty much get a legit ace-esq guy at the top behind crochet, and everyone else can work out 3-5.  Probably Bello at 3 and whoever next.  It will work itself out on spring training.

[notin]

38 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Yeah, my take is pretty much get a legit ace-esq guy at the top behind crochet, and everyone else can work out 3-5.  Probably Bello at 3 and whoever next.  It will work itself out on spring training.

Reportedly Joe Ryan is still on the Real Life Radar.  Whereas Hunter Greene exists only in clickbait articles…

[moonslav59]

I think the Joe Ryan situation will come down to what other teams offer. MIN wants top prospects, and we have some, but all we need to do is outbid the next best offer.

They probably prefer Abreu over Duran, and maybe even Campbell and Garcia, so maybe a third team needs to get involved. 

Two trades could really help our 2026 chances, but I doubt they want to dampen the 2027 and beyond chances for a hear and now solution. My idea is to trade some of the future, but only for players with 3+ years of control 2 like Ryan- with a hopeful extension to follow.

Duran + for Paredes?

Campbell, Arias and Early for Ryan?

Sign Alonso & Polanco/Suarez and Matz and we'd look pretty golden.

[Randy Red Sox]

On 11/7/2025 at 8:00 AM, mvp 78 said:

Even so, I wouldn't position him 3rd.

Crochet

Bello

Dobbins

Sandoval

Crawford

that is certainly not a WS contender rotation.  Not even close.

[Randy Red Sox]

5 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Yeah, my take is pretty much get a legit ace-esq guy at the top behind crochet, and everyone else can work out 3-5.  Probably Bello at 3 and whoever next.  It will work itself out on spring training.

All I am saying is that Sandoval is far from pencilling in as a #3 next year . He has yet to even pitch for the team. Not to mention he is 19-45 with an era just north of 4. I know a W/L record for a SP is not a tell all but are we really excited about our #3 SP having such a record??  I know I'm not.

[Randy Red Sox]

On 11/7/2025 at 7:25 AM, Hugh2 said:

Well......who the heck else are you going to put there?

You have Crochet, Bello, and then who else?

I like a lot the guys they have as starting pitchers but none I'd definitively call a #3 right now.  

We don't have anyone else as a #3 at this point which is what i'm saying. We have lots of candidates for 4-5 slots but HAVE to add AT LEAST 1 HIGH QUALITY non rehabbing SP. 

[Hugh2]

16 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

All I am saying is that Sandoval is far from pencilling in as a #3 next year . He has yet to even pitch for the team. Not to mention he is 19-45 with an era just north of 4. I know a W/L record for a SP is not a tell all but are we really excited about our #3 SP having such a record??  I know I'm not.

I don’t really care, it’s all really meaningless after Crochet/Bello.  Who after him as had any sustained MLB success and been better than a #4? 
 

Disagree all you want, but at least tell us who you want #3 right now?

me slotting him in at #3 doesn’t mean I think he’s going to be a three.  Or that he is even going to be the #3 this is a very weird argument.  It’s not a huge deal and the fact that people are revolted at the ideal of him as the #3 kind of proves my original point of needing to add to the rotation

[Hugh2]

15 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

We don't have anyone else as a #3 at this point which is what i'm saying. We have lots of candidates for 4-5 slots but HAVE to add AT LEAST 1 HIGH QUALITY non rehabbing SP. 

that was exactly my point, you don’t have a three and in the absence of not adding anyone SOMEONE HAS to pitch the third game of the season.  My rotation wasn’t the one I predict, it’s the one we have right now with no moves.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

All I am saying is that Sandoval is far from pencilling in as a #3 next year . He has yet to even pitch for the team. Not to mention he is 19-45 with an era just north of 4. I know a W/L record for a SP is not a tell all but are we really excited about our #3 SP having such a record??  I know I'm not.

Sandoval is the epitome of the Sox front office strategy. throw some money at some loser to rehab and then HOPE he does something.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Sandoval is the epitome of the Sox front office strategy. throw some money at some loser to rehab and then HOPE he does something.

Ah the Red Sox special. Sign an injured pitcher to a two year contract, and hope you get something good out of him for 1 year. The old 2 for 1 deal. What a deal. Especially for a loser.🙈

[notin]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

that is certainly not a WS contender rotation.  Not even close.

Did you see the rotation that got to the World Series from the American League?

 

[Randy Red Sox]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Did you see the rotation that got to the World Series from the American League?

 

a heck of a lot better than the one i commented on that we currently have

[Hugh2]

let’s try something different.

lets all agree that the rotation as is, is subpar, and not worthy of a deep playoff run. 
don’t shoot the messenger for laying out who those guys are.

can we all agree that the Sox should go out and get a good TOTRS if they’re serious about competing next year?

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

We don't have anyone else as a #3 at this point which is what i'm saying. We have lots of candidates for 4-5 slots but HAVE to add AT LEAST 1 HIGH QUALITY non rehabbing SP. 

While I agree, I do think we have enough talent & potential/promise among the 8-10 SP'ers who look like 4-6 starters, that we can expect one will jump up and grab the 3 slot in a capable manner.

Although Bello and Gio slumped at the end, both pitched like more than capable 3's in 2025. In fact, their numbers would have made them #2's on half the teams.

I'd be happy with a 1/2 slot addition and then letting the depth fight it out for the 3-5 slots. Another plus might be that even if none pitch like a solid #3, if our 3-4-5-6 starters all pitch like solid #4s, that could be enough, if our 1-2's pitch like 1-2's.