Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

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?

 

 

Just now, Hugh2 said:

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?

 

I'm not sure a single posters has advocated no SP'er additions.

Has anybody said all we need is a #4? Maybe someone is okay with a solid #3, but I'm not sure I heard those words, either.

[Tedballgame]

5 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

 

I'm not sure a single posters has advocated no SP'er additions.

Has anybody said all we need is a #4? Maybe someone is okay with a solid #3, but I'm not sure I heard those words, either.

A solid #3 starter, one more good bullpen guy, a power hitting first baseman (preferably right handed bat), a second baseman, and if Bregman doesn't return, a power hitting, good fielding third baseman. Easy list for Breslow.

[moonslav59]

42 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

A solid #3 starter, one more good bullpen guy, a power hitting first baseman (preferably right handed bat), a second baseman, and if Bregman doesn't return, a power hitting, good fielding third baseman. Easy list for Breslow.

It's damn near impossible for Brez to accept Mayer not having a slot.

[Tedballgame]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

It's damn near impossible for Brez to accept Mayer not having a slot.

I agree. Mayer, if healthy, will be the third baseman or second baseman. They do have to have power at two of the three positions of 3B, 2B and 1B. Alonso at first and Schwarber at DH would solve everything:)

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

I agree. Mayer, if healthy, will be the third baseman or second baseman. They do have to have power at two of the three positions of 3B, 2B and 1B. Alonso at first and Schwarber at DH would solve everything:)

That would be a dream come true.

I'm thinking Alonso and Polanco 2b or Suarez 3B with Mayer playing 2B or 3B.

[Larry Cook]

There are only two free agent pitchers that make sense for us. King and inia (short guy from Japan) 

King has amazing stuff, but is always injured. 
 

inia has amazing stuff, but is unproven. 

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

There are only two free agent pitchers that make sense for us. King and inia (short guy from Japan) 

King has amazing stuff, but is always injured. 
 

inia has amazing stuff, but is unproven. 

Trade for pitching.

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, Tedballgame said:

I agree. Mayer, if healthy, will be the third baseman or second baseman. They do have to have power at two of the three positions of 3B, 2B and 1B. Alonso at first and Schwarber at DH would solve everything:)

unlikely we sign either

[moonslav59]

25 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

unlikely we sign either

I doubt we sign even Suarez & Polanco.

[Larry Cook]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Trade for pitching.

We have more than enough talent we can trade for a quality number 2 rotation piece!!! 
 

crochet was a expensive acquisition. Well worth it though. 
 

but doing another trade like that for a young superstar starting pitcher is going to be difficult! Not to mention the cost of an extension!! 
 

I believe we should trade for a veteran starter on an expiring contract and use them to give Tolle, dobbins, Fitts, drohan, uberstine, Mullins, and especially Witherspoon time to improve command and control while tightening up the secondary pitches!! 
 

part 2 is to continue to trade excess pieces for young prospect pitching and waiting to see if it develops, farharko, Jose bello and Holobetz are excellent examples of this strategy!!!
 

[notin]

19 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

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

Based on what?

Gausman/Bassett/Berrios/Lauer/Scherzer/Francis - 8.8 bWAR

Crochet/Bello/Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford - 9.2 bWAR.   And that includes the 0 bWAR from Sandoval and Crawford’s, neither of whom even pitched…

[notin]

11 hours ago, Tedballgame said:

I agree. Mayer, if healthy, will be the third baseman or second baseman. They do have to have power at two of the three positions of 3B, 2B and 1B. Alonso at first and Schwarber at DH would solve everything:)

I doubt they go all in and spend the $350-400mill to get Alonso and Schwarber.   Henry didn’t spend that much on contracts back when he could have gotten Manny and A-Rod for that money.  Doubtful it happens now.

The Sox most likely focus is one SP and two infielders.  And it’s far more likely to be Alonso OR Bregman than Alonso AND Bregman…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

33 minutes ago, notin said:

I doubt they go all in and spend the $350-400mill to get Alonso and Schwarber.   Henry didn’t spend that much on contracts back when he could have gotten Manny and A-Rod for that money.  Doubtful it happens now.

The Sox most likely focus is one SP and two infielders.  And it’s far more likely to be Alonso OR Bregman than Alonso AND Bregman…

Yep. That's why they're more likely to trade for more pop. 

And that focus on improved defense may just be to get another power pitcher who whiffs a lot of batters and keeps the ball away from mediocre defenders (except for throwing it around the horn after Ks).

[notin]

18 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Yep. That's why they're more likely to trade for more pop. 

And that focus on improved defense may just be to get another power pitcher who whiffs a lot of batters and keeps the ball away from mediocre defenders (except for throwing it around the horn after Ks).

Their focus on improved defense is situational.

Mayer will not play SS and move Story to 2b or 3b.  But not for defensive reasons.  Story will play SS so that Mayer can be platooned with Romy and Romy is not much for SS…

[harmony]

The Red Sox and Seattle Mariners have similar infield needs with a veteran returning shortstop surrounded by questions marks at the other positions.

Tampa Bay could offer solutions with Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe, especially if the Rays don't think they can compete in the stacked AL East next season. The issue might be what team could offer the Rays the best prospect package (and whether the Rays would trade within the division).

In his offseason plan, an astute 😀 Seattle fan proposed that the Mariners trade from their deep farm system for Diaz, Lowe, Ryan Pepiot (sub Drew Rasmussen) and Erwin Uceta.

https://www.marinertalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10519

Should the Red Sox pursue a similar package?

[notin]

9 minutes ago, harmony said:

The Red Sox and Seattle Mariners have similar infield needs with a veteran returning shortstop surrounded by questions marks at the other positions.

Tampa Bay could offer solutions with Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe, especially if the Rays don't think they can compete in the stacked AL East next season. The issue might be what team could offer the Rays the best prospect package (and whether the Rays would trade within the division).

In his offseason plan, an astute 😀 Seattle fan proposed that the Mariners trade from their deep farm system for Diaz, Lowe, Ryan Pepiot (sub Drew Rasmussen) and Erwin Uceta.

https://www.marinertalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10519

Should the Red Sox pursue a similar package?

If the Sox aren’t going to spend, Yandy Diaz is a great plan.

The Sox and Rays have made numerous trades over the years.  The Rays clearly realize that trading within the division has benefits that trading outside of it doesn’t have.  I think for most teams, the philosophy of putting limitations on trading within the division is limited to elite star players, and it’s far from a universal practice that appears on forums…

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, notin said:

If the Sox aren’t going to spend, Yandy Diaz is a great plan.

We could trade for Yandy and a #2 SP'er AND spend a lot on 3B and 2B....maybe DH.

[Tedballgame]

3 hours ago, notin said:

I doubt they go all in and spend the $350-400mill to get Alonso and Schwarber.   Henry didn’t spend that much on contracts back when he could have gotten Manny and A-Rod for that money.  Doubtful it happens now.

The Sox most likely focus is one SP and two infielders.  And it’s far more likely to be Alonso OR Bregman than Alonso AND Bregman…

I was kidding. I know they won't sign those guys.

[Randy Red Sox]

3 hours ago, notin said:

Based on what?

Gausman/Bassett/Berrios/Lauer/Scherzer/Francis - 8.8 bWAR

Crochet/Bello/Sandoval/Dobbins/Crawford - 9.2 bWAR.   And that includes the 0 bWAR from Sandoval and Crawford’s, neither of whom even pitched…

i think you forgot Yeasavage and Bieber.

[Randy Red Sox]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Their focus on improved defense is situational.

Mayer will not play SS and move Story to 2b or 3b.  But not for defensive reasons.  Story will play SS so that Mayer can be platooned with Romy and Romy is not much for SS…

Mayer providing he can stay healthy needs to play everyday.

[Randy Red Sox]

14 hours ago, Tedballgame said:

I agree. Mayer, if healthy, will be the third baseman or second baseman. They do have to have power at two of the three positions of 3B, 2B and 1B. Alonso at first and Schwarber at DH would solve everything:)

except for JH's pocketbook. Ain't happening with likely EITHER of Alonso or Schwarber.

[moonslav59]

We've been conditioned to expect no large and long deals, but maybe this is the winter we pounce. I seriously doubt we go L & L on two highly-skilled players, but I do hold out some hopes we do one L & L and one large and short deal, plus a major trade.

We need 3 major additions to improve the team, IMO. Minimum. That's still relying on in-house solutions to a few problem areas, either by seeing better health (Casas, Mayer, several pitchers and more games from Anthony, Abreu, Narvaez +++) or some of the younger players making major progressions.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i think you forgot Yeasavage and Bieber.

Fangraph's team fWAR SP leaders in the AL

1. TEX 15.0

2. KCR & DET 13.8

4. NYY13.5

5. HOU 13.0

6. BOS 11.6

7. SEA 11.0

8. TBR & MIN 10.8 

10. CLE 9.8

11. TOR 8.5

12. BAL 8.1

13. CWS 7.5

14. LAA 6.1

15. ATH 5.9

Pitchers:

**5.8 Crochet (205 IP)

4.1 Gausman (193 IP)

2.4 Bassitt (169 IP)

**2.0 Bello (162 IP)

**2.0 Giolito (145 IP)

1.5 Berrios (164 IP)

**1.1 Early (19 IP)

**1.0 Dobbins (53 IP)

0.8 Lauer (74 IP)

**0.7 Newcomb (22 IP)

0.4 Yesavage (14 IP) & Scherzer (85 IP)

**0,3 Harrison (9 IP)

0.3 Bieber (40 IP)

 

[moonslav59]

bWAR

6.3 Crochet

3.8 Gausman

2.5 Bello

2,2 Lauer (some as RP)

2.1 Giolito

2.1 Bassitt

1.3 Berrios

0.7 Beiber

0.4 Dobbins

0.3 Harrison

0.2 Scherzer

-0.8 Frances (14 GS)

-0.9 Buehler (22 GS)

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i think you forgot Yeasavage and Bieber.

Yesage pitched 14 IP in the regular season.  Think he really influences it by much?

Bieber was not that t opening day; the rotation you trashed was an opening day rotation.  So that also applies to Yesavage, too.  You didn’t acknowledge Early and Tolle would be starting for Boston at some point either…

[notin]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Mayer providing he can stay healthy needs to play everyday.

I agree.  But the Sox are managed by a guy who thinks it’s illegal in many states to let a left-handed hitter face a left-handed pitcher…

[harmony]

4 hours ago, notin said:

Their focus on improved defense is situational.

Mayer will not play SS and move Story to 2b or 3b.  But not for defensive reasons.  Story will play SS so that Mayer can be platooned with Romy and Romy is not much for SS…

The Red Sox and Seattle Mariners likely have backup plans at third base in Marcelo Mayer and Ben Williamson.

FanGraphs projects Mayer with 1.8 WAR in 128 games next year and Williamson with 1.8 WAR in 130 games. Their MLB debuts this year, Mayer posted 0.4 fWAR (0.2 bWAR) in 44 games and Williamson 0.4 fWAR (1.3 bWAR) in 85 games. Mayer is two years younger than Williamson.

[Duran Is The Man]

2 hours ago, harmony said:

The Red Sox and Seattle Mariners likely have backup plans at third base in Marcelo Mayer and Ben Williamson.

FanGraphs projects Mayer with 1.8 WAR in 128 games next year and Williamson with 1.8 WAR in 130 games. Their MLB debuts this year, Mayer posted 0.4 fWAR (0.2 bWAR) in 44 games and Williamson 0.4 fWAR (1.3 bWAR) in 85 games. Mayer is two years younger than Williamson.

i love watching Williamson play 3B. he is one of the best fielding third basemen i've ever seen.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, notin said:

Yesage pitched 14 IP in the regular season.  Think he really influences it by much?

Early added 1.1 fWAR in 19 IP, but to answer your question, no he did not,

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, harmony said:

The Red Sox and Seattle Mariners likely have backup plans at third base in Marcelo Mayer and Ben Williamson.

FanGraphs projects Mayer with 1.8 WAR in 128 games next year and Williamson with 1.8 WAR in 130 games. Their MLB debuts this year, Mayer posted 0.4 fWAR (0.2 bWAR) in 44 games and Williamson 0.4 fWAR (1.3 bWAR) in 85 games. Mayer is two years younger than Williamson.

Mayer is our plan A at 3B, unless we add one, and he plays 2B.