Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Larry Cook]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We've been conditioned to expect no large and long deals, but maybe this is the winter we pounce. 

No labor deal after 2026! 

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

No labor deal after 2026! 

I doubt that stops many teams from offering the world to the best FAs, in fact they may see this as their last shot at it. (JH won't.)

[Larry Cook]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I doubt that stops many teams from offering the world to the best FAs, in fact they may see this as their last shot at it. (JH won't.)

The smart owners should be cautious. Steve cohen however, will not care 1 way or the other!!! 
 

smart owners will put more resources into their farm system and less on free agents!! Steve cohen will put more resources into his farm system and spend like crazy on free agents 

[mvp 78]

8 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

The smart owners should be cautious. Steve cohen however, will not care 1 way or the other!!! 
 

smart owners will put more resources into their farm system and less on free agents!! Steve cohen will put more resources into his farm system and spend like crazy on free agents 

Is that why the Sox are taking a chainsaw to their scouting department budget? 

[Hugh2]

21 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Is that why the Sox are taking a chainsaw to their scouting department budget? 

I'm not saying I like it, but I think a lot of this is their philosophy in advanced metrics and using data to analyze players.  Personally, I would really like them to do both, maybe they feel that would be a conflict of interest. 

[moonslav59]

9 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

The smart owners should be cautious. Steve cohen however, will not care 1 way or the other!!! 
 

smart owners will put more resources into their farm system and less on free agents!! Steve cohen will put more resources into his farm system and spend like crazy on free agents 

There is a good chance that if some sort of salary cap is agreed on after 2006, there will be grandfather clauses, so I doubt that worries big spending teams.

[moonslav59]

48 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I'm not saying I like it, but I think a lot of this is their philosophy in advanced metrics and using data to analyze players.  Personally, I would really like them to do both, maybe they feel that would be a conflict of interest. 

Maybe they'll hire scouts back after the new CBA.

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Maybe they'll hire scouts back after the new CBA.

That makes no sense. 

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

That makes no sense. 

1. They don't have to pay them during a work stoppage.

2. They may realize the mistake they made by cutting them.

[mvp 78]

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

1. They don't have to pay them during a work stoppage.

2. They may realize the mistake they made by cutting them.

Preemptively cutting your scouting program in '25 to save costs in '27 in case of a short term work stoppage is a lot of hoop jumping to me. 

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Preemptively cutting your scouting program in '25 to save costs in '27 in case of a short term work stoppage is a lot of hoop jumping to me. 

I'm not saying that's the reason they cut them. It may be one reason they wait to 2027 to add some back.

[Nick]

"Mayer’s injury history should be another concern if he replaces Bregman or Story. It’s fair to question whether the Sox can rely on him to be available for the majority of a 162-game season."

What the hell is wrong with him? Does he have some type of physical disability? What? No toughness?

Why do we keep talking about his injuries? Are they abnormal? Why would you think he won't be able to play 162 games? If that's the true belief, then get rid of him. I have never seen so much whining over a 24 year old prime in his life.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

54 minutes ago, Nick said:

Why do we keep talking about his injuries? Are they abnormal? Why would you think he won't be able to play 162 games? If that's the true belief, then get rid of him. I have never seen so much whining over a 24 year old prime in his life.

What about when Elvis was 24 and stopped playing the field for a 14-year old named Priscilla.

[Nick]

36 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

What about when Elvis was 24 and stopped playing the field for a 14-year old named Priscilla.

Ok, you got a point there.....

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

"Mayer’s injury history should be another concern if he replaces Bregman or Story. It’s fair to question whether the Sox can rely on him to be available for the majority of a 162-game season."

What the hell is wrong with him? Does he have some type of physical disability? What? No toughness?

Why do we keep talking about his injuries? Are they abnormal? Why would you think he won't be able to play 162 games? If that's the true belief, then get rid of him. I have never seen so much whining over a 24 year old prime in his life.

 

Games played by year (notes from SoxProspects):

22 - 91 (Missed most of a period of about a month in April/May 2022 due to a wrist sprain.)

23 - 78 (Suffered a shoulder injury on a slide on May 7, 2023, and while he only missed a week, the injury bothered him until he was placed on the injured list in early August, missing the rest of the season.)

24 - 77 (After a strong start to the season, missed a few games near the end of July and had a short IL stint with what was originally understood to be a hip injury. He was promoted to Worcester with Anthony and Teel on August 13, but did not play again the rest of the season, as the injury was eventually diagnosed as a lumbar strain.)

25 - 87 (Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in August 2025, ending his season.)

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Games played by year (notes from SoxProspects):

22 - 91 (Missed most of a period of about a month in April/May 2022 due to a wrist sprain.)

23 - 78 (Suffered a shoulder injury on a slide on May 7, 2023, and while he only missed a week, the injury bothered him until he was placed on the injured list in early August, missing the rest of the season.)

24 - 77 (After a strong start to the season, missed a few games near the end of July and had a short IL stint with what was originally understood to be a hip injury. He was promoted to Worcester with Anthony and Teel on August 13, but did not play again the rest of the season, as the injury was eventually diagnosed as a lumbar strain.)

25 - 87 (Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in August 2025, ending his season.)

Looks Abby Normal, to me.

[UtahSox]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Games played by year (notes from SoxProspects):

22 - 91 (Missed most of a period of about a month in April/May 2022 due to a wrist sprain.)

23 - 78 (Suffered a shoulder injury on a slide on May 7, 2023, and while he only missed a week, the injury bothered him until he was placed on the injured list in early August, missing the rest of the season.)

24 - 77 (After a strong start to the season, missed a few games near the end of July and had a short IL stint with what was originally understood to be a hip injury. He was promoted to Worcester with Anthony and Teel on August 13, but did not play again the rest of the season, as the injury was eventually diagnosed as a lumbar strain.)

25 - 87 (Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in August 2025, ending his season.)

I just saw a Hogdale tweet about AZ Dbacks are going to be actively shopping Ketel Marte. 
I think many of us agree Ketel would be a perfect fit into our lineup, + defender, switch hitter hits for power from right side of plate. 
but this tweet made me think about 2 questions.

1. Would the Dbacks take Abreu for Marte straight up? I believe they have a pretty good young middle infielder they want to bring up. Abreu is a Gold glove OFer youngish controllable. If yes this allows us to hold onto Marcelo and improve our position in negotiating with Bregman. I have a sneaky suspicion AB wants to be in Boston. But during negotiations if Boras knows we are actually comfortable with letting Bregman walk, and play Mayer at 3b it would definitely help us. Not only getting Marte, but getting him here in November, would change the dynamic for off season.

Assuming you can get Marte, AND eventually Bregman resigns it frees up everything else. You could:

a. let it ride with Casas at 1b, KC or Jhosty as 4 OFer. And still trade MM + young arms for SP2.

b.Or you could add a 1b and rotate Casas at DH. And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2

c. or you could add a 4th OFer again, or And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2

d. just get a straight DH. And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2
 

2. The timing of getting pieces moving/ in place might be just as important as whom we end up with. Are there any other positions that a trade in November would help us/ hurt us in negotiations?

[moonslav59]

BTV finds a Duran + Perales deal equal to K Marte. They might prefer Duran + Harrison.

I think Abreu + Early comes close on BTV. (Add Sandlin and yes.)

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

BTV finds a Duran + Perales deal equal to K Marte. They might prefer Duran + Harrison.

I think Abreu + Early comes close on BTV. (Add Sandlin and yes.)

Sounds like a lot for only one year of Marte? 

[moonslav59]

35 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sounds like a lot for only one year of Marte? 

Marte has 5 years of control with an AAV at $19.4M. If Duran is part of the trade, the AAV net for 2026 would be about $12.7 for a big bat.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

45 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

BTV finds a Duran + Perales deal equal to K Marte. They might prefer Duran + Harrison.

I think Abreu + Early comes close on BTV. (Add Sandlin and yes.)

Yes to a trade of a good position player for a good position player.

Absolute no to Abreu plus any MLB-ready starting pitcher, especially Early. 

That kind of deal reminds me of when the Mets were coming off a World Series win and acquired a 23-year old starter from the Royals for basically a back-up catcher named Ed Hearn -- who wound up playing 13 total games in KC and was out of baseball by age 27.

Meanwhile, the Mets players couldn't believe they got David Cone, who by the time he was 25 went 20-3, was an NL All-Star and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting.

 

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Marte has 5 years of control with an AAV at $19.4M. If Duran is part of the trade, the AAV net for 2026 would be about $12.7 for a big bat.

Ok. 

[Randy Red Sox]

On 11/9/2025 at 12:29 PM, notin said:

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…

the rotation I was trashing as you call it was how it was TODAY and then YOU brought in the Jays.  Obvious miscommunication.

[Duran Is The Man]

7 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Is that why the Sox are taking a chainsaw to their scouting department budget? 

whoever scouted Yoshida should be fired.

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Ok. 

Would you do it?

[Larry Cook]

8 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Is that why the Sox are taking a chainsaw to their scouting department budget? 

I do not know about that per se. but computer number scouting seems to be all the rage now!

I think we just hired a bunch of hitting and fielding coaches for 2026! 

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Yes to a trade of a good position player for a good position player.

Absolute no to Abreu plus any MLB-ready starting pitcher, especially Early. 

That kind of deal reminds me of when the Mets were coming off a World Series win and acquired a 23-year old starter from the Royals for basically a back-up catcher named Ed Hearn -- who wound up playing 13 total games in KC and was out of baseball by age 27.

Meanwhile, the Mets players couldn't believe they got David Cone, who by the time he was 25 went 20-3, was an NL All-Star and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting.

 

Early doesn’t have TOTR stuff, is projected at best as a #3 SP. I’d do that deal in a second……. I do think RS in win now mode, are better off keeping JD vs WA. Where the Dbacks would be more interested in WA. 

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Early doesn’t have TOTR stuff, is projected at best as a #3 SP. I’d do that deal in a second……. I do think RS in win now mode, are better off keeping JD vs WA. Where the Dbacks would be more interested in WA. 

Early has a good mix of pitches and seems to have the confidence and mentality needed to be a damn good pitcher. I get your point, but I don't really want to include him in a package.

Nobody is untouchable, to me, but I'd look for ways to keep Tolle and Early. (I also like Fajardo and Valera. Witherspoon is hard to value.) I think many teams would like Harrison, Crawford, Dobbins or Clarke. I realize they don't have the trade value as Tolle and Early, but when the package is headlined by Duran or Abreu, we shouldn't have to give up our best pitching prospects, too.

[Randy Red Sox]

4 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

whoever scouted Yoshida should be fired.

Why-he was one of the few who actually hit in the postseason.

[moonslav59]

36 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Why-he was one of the few who actually hit in the postseason.

A 3 game series ( 4 for 7) squares him up?