Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

To ensure Kennedy can't ever lie to the public, Henry actually does give his CBOs the combo to the safe.

But then the next day he changes the combination. He uses an algorithm of password generators, morse codes, thumb prints and eyeball recognition refracted through reading glasses at +2.50 power. Then he reverses the birthday of his cigars and plays it backwards until it says, "I buried Paul."

It's not Planck's Constant anymore? 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

It's not Planck's Constant anymore? 

6.62607015 × 10^-34 m² kg / s 

... rounded off: 6.6 x 10^-34 m² kg / s...

... translated: 6.6 k(e)gs x 10 sand dune breaks - mom's

... excuses: I was at that all-weekend party at the beach in the 80s, and made it home safely, but a wide turn into the driveway took out mom's mailbox.

[notin]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

It's not Planck's Constant anymore? 

He changed it to Avogadro’s number back in ‘19…

[moonslav59]

14 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Hypothetically, if some team calls us asking for Duran, is bres-slow going to trade Duran for 2 mediocre prospects? 

Of course not, but I would give two of the best pitching prospects for Duran (or Ryan) either.

(Not two in our system but two of the very best MLB ready in all of the minors.)

[FredLynn]

4 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

You're more than welcome to put your money where you mouth is and vote on my LT poll page. 

Or not....don't bet actually money. I think we sign a big name and trade for a big name and then a bunch of ancilliary moves. 

I think we will get the usual: "we were REALLY INTERESTED in star player 1 or 2 or 3 but just couldn't make it work". SSDD.

 

[Hugh2]

25 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I think we will get the usual: "we were REALLY INTERESTED in star player 1 or 2 or 3 but just couldn't make it work". SSDD.

 

Do you think we will go above the luxury tax threshold?

[mvp 78]

3 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

6.62607015 × 10^-34 m² kg / s 

... rounded off: 6.6 x 10^-34 m² kg / s...

... translated: 6.6 k(e)gs x 10 sand dune breaks - mom's

... excuses: I was at that all-weekend party at the beach in the 80s, and made it home safely, but a wide turn into the driveway took out mom's mailbox.

[drewski6]

43 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Do you think we will go above the luxury tax threshold?

I think the bigger risk is that we dont because nobody wants to talk to breslow, not because of the $$

I think Henry gets too much blame and more should go to Bloom and Breslow.  I dont think Henry has suddenly turned into Scrooge when he never was.  I think he wanted to cut some cuts, so he replaced DD with Bloom, but I honestly dont think hes micro managing.

I think Bloom thinks its funsies to get it done without spending money and I think Breslow cant get people to talk to him cuz hes an arrogant ass. I wouldnt say hi to him.

[drewski6]

Make Cora President and coach, and yes, we go right by the lux tax threshold and we'd be better for it.

[Larry Cook]

6 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

They have the budget to resign Bregman AND sign Alonso or Bichette AND a #2 OR trade for a #2 AND extend him.

But we'll all believe it when we see it. 

More likely, they'll sign just one of those big names and tout improvements from the youth movement to sell tickets all winter.

I would hope a guy as smart as bres-slow would have a strategic vision for improving the team and specifically the rotation and defense 

[mvp 78]

44 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Make Cora President and coach, and yes, we go right by the lux tax threshold and we'd be better for it.

The reason Cora has stuck around so long is that he doesn't mess around with JH's money. 

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The reason Cora has stuck around so long is that he doesn't mess around with JH's money. 

"Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions"

- Big worm in the movie "Friday"

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The reason Cora has stuck around so long is that he doesn't mess around with JH's money. 

It bothers me that Breslow is Coras boss.  Id be much more cool with it if it was the inverse.  But I guess just because Breslow is technically Coras boss , that doesnt mean he can just fire him.

[Hitch]

All these signs are very encouraging, but I hope they mean a masher that can slot in the middle of the line up AS WELL AS a Bregman type. Otherwise we're just treading water.

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

I think the bigger risk is that we dont because nobody wants to talk to breslow, not because of the $$

I think Henry gets too much blame and more should go to Bloom and Breslow.  I dont think Henry has suddenly turned into Scrooge when he never was.  I think he wanted to cut some cuts, so he replaced DD with Bloom, but I honestly dont think hes micro managing.

I think Bloom thinks its funsies to get it done without spending money and I think Breslow cant get people to talk to him cuz hes an arrogant ass. I wouldnt say hi to him.

Weren't you wanting to slap Henry two days ago because he hadn't been spending enough on the team?

[Larry Cook]

Does Henry try for a reset this year before the labor nonsense kicks into high gear? 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

4 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Does Henry try for a reset this year before the labor nonsense kicks into high gear? 

Isn't he one of the nonsense leaders preparing to kick the laborers?

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

Weren't you wanting to slap Henry two days ago because he hadn't been spending enough on the team?

First of all, I dont slap - when I swing, I do it with a closed fist.  

I would happily swing on any billionaire given the chance, but especially the one who owns the Pittsburgh Penguins, the organization who employed Matt Cooke, who ruined Marc Savards career with a cheap-shot elbow.

But my point here is that Im not sure that even if Henry opened the checkbook, that would be enough for Breslow to close deals. Breslow has come up short quite a bit, and it hasnt always been just about money (for example the deadline).  Ive also heard him talk and interact, and I honestly think at least part of the problem is hes a pompous jerk.  You have to talk to people to sign people, and I think people genuinely do not want to talk to him.

That being said, obviously the agents have their price, and wont let Breslows awful personality and puchable face stop them from getting their clients paid. I do hope we splash some money around this offseason.  I like your comment that one bat or one middle infielder is just getting back to where we were with Bregman so we need multiple.

My dream is Bregman, Schwarber, and trade for a pitcher.  I can live without Bregman, as long as we get a solid (or better) infielder + Schwarber. Im fine with like Polanco or Peredes. Marte would be even better than Bregman.  But in any of those cases, still need Schwarber and a solid (or better) starter

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

All these signs are very encouraging, but I hope they mean a masher that can slot in the middle of the line up AS WELL AS a Bregman type. Otherwise we're just treading water.

Better than saying the opposite, but this dude yaps too much (Breslow, not Hitch). Hes just yapping. Like he yapped about how we'd be buyers at the deadline.

[Larry Cook]

3 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Isn't he one of the nonsense leaders preparing to kick the laborers?

How is Henry the leader in anything labor related 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, drewski6 said:

My dream is Bregman, Schwarber, and trade for a pitcher.  I can live without Bregman, as long as we get a solid (or better) infielder + Schwarber. Im fine with like Polanco or Peredes. Marte would be even better than Bregman.  But in any of those cases, still need Schwarber and a solid (or better) starter

It's a nice dream, and until JH proves himself, it will remain a dream.

The thing is we can do Bregman, Polanco and a pitcher via trade and not go over the tax line.

We might be able to do Schwarber, Bregman and a pitcher and stay near the second tax line.

JH?????

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

How is Henry the leader in anything labor related 

He's having a baby????

[Hitch]

7 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Does Henry try for a reset this year before the labor nonsense kicks into high gear? 

I believe everything resets with every collective bargain. So next year it will be a natural reset regardless of where we are now. At least that's my understanding of it.

[notin]

17 hours ago, drewski6 said:

It bothers me that Breslow is Coras boss.  Id be much more cool with it if it was the inverse.  But I guess just because Breslow is technically Coras boss , that doesnt mean he can just fire him.

On most teams, that is what happens…

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Better than saying the opposite, but this dude yaps too much (Breslow, not Hitch). Hes just yapping. Like he yapped about how we'd be buyers at the deadline.

He'll have some good excuses lined up if the plans don't come to fruition. 

[moonslav59]

9 hours ago, Hitch said:

I believe everything resets with every collective bargain. So next year it will be a natural reset regardless of where we are now. At least that's my understanding of it.

I would think, if there will be an auto reset after 2026, it would incentivize going over in '26.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If the Sox really want to improve, they have to spend large on two guys.

Resign Bregman, sign Alonso, trade for Ryan.

Resign Bregman, sign Bichette, trade for Ryan.

Resign Bregman, sign Cease, trade for Diaz.

Sign Bichette and Alonso, trade for Ryan.

 

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

If the Sox really want to improve, they have to spend large on two guys.

Resign Bregman, sign Alonso, trade for Ryan.

Resign Bregman, sign Bichette, trade for Ryan.

Resign Bregman, sign Cease, trade for Diaz.

Sign Bichette and Alonso, trade for Ryan.

 

I am certain that Mayer will be viewed as the FT 3Bman or 2Bman, so I doubt we sign 3B (Bregman) and 2B (Bichette.)

Bregman & Alonso works.

Bichette & Alonso works.

Bregman and Suarez (1B) works.

Bregman and Schwarber (1B/DH) might work.

Alosno & Suarez/Polanco works, for me.

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I am certain that Mayer will be viewed as the FT 3Bman or 2Bman, so I doubt we sign 3B (Bregman) and 2B (Bichette.)

Bregman & Alonso works.

Bichette & Alonso works.

Bregman and Suarez (1B) works.

Bregman and Schwarber (1B/DH) might work.

Alosno & Suarez/Polanco works, for me.

 

Good point about Mayer, even though we still have no idea if this guy can ever play a full season.

The issue with "making" Suarez or Schwarber or Campbell or Franchy a first baseman is that it doesn't upgrade an already-crappy defense. It does not improve the Red Sox as a serious contender. We have enough bad fits with Yoshida and his contract.

I know you value defense as much as I do, and that's why we need new guys who have shown they are at least competent. Bichette looked good at 2B in the World Series. I don't like him at SS. He's the best all-around hitter in free agency.

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Good point about Mayer, even though we still have no idea if this guy can ever play a full season.

The issue with "making" Suarez or Schwarber or Campbell or Franchy a first baseman is that it doesn't upgrade an already-crappy defense. It does not improve the Red Sox as a serious contender. We have enough bad fits with Yoshida and his contract.

I know you value defense as much as I do, and that's why we need new guys who have shown they are at least competent. Bichette looked good at 2B in the World Series. I don't like him at SS. He's the best all-around hitter in free agency.

I do care about defense. I'd like to get Bregman (3B) or Bichette (2B) but I think a big bat is most important. I'm willing to settle on poor defense at 1B to get it. (Alonso, Schwarber or Casas at 1B and Schwarber at DH.)

I think Suarez would be better on D at 1B than Alosno, Schwarber or Casas.

Polanco is not great at 2B, but his bat looks like a big plus.