Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Yeah, I think Kluber was the worst one-year contract in Red Sox history.  But a lot of that was Bloom having no Plan B for Kluber flaming out like he did.  Just bad work by Bloom all around.  Of course he probably had a tight budget so some of it is on Henry too!      

Kluber had done better the previous season than Richards did. Both cost $10M/1.

[Larry Cook]

2026 post season. 
 

game 1 Cole for Yankees versus crochet! Sox go up 1 game to nil!! 
game 2 fried versus gray, ouch!!  Series tied up 
game 3 schlitter versus bello??  Ouch! The Yankees advance. 
 

the hole is at number 2 in our rotation!!! 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

2026 post season. 
 

game 1 Cole for Yankees versus crochet! Sox go up 1 game to nil!! 
game 2 fried versus gray, ouch!!  Series tied up 
game 3 schlitter versus bello??  Ouch! The Yankees advance. 
 

the hole is at number 2 in our rotation!!! 

...and number 3, too, apparently.

[Nick]

22 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

2026 post season. 
 

game 1 Cole for Yankees versus crochet! Sox go up 1 game to nil!! 
game 2 fried versus gray, ouch!!  Series tied up 
game 3 schlitter versus bello??  Ouch! The Yankees advance. 
 

the hole is at number 2 in our rotation!!! 

Most of us are in agreement about needing two ace types to get to the World Series and win. Starting pitching along with a closer becomes essential in a short series. Crochet and Skubal would start 4 games. 

I would hate for 2026 to be another 'throw-away' year. But if I have money to buy this team after 2026, I would give a blank check to Boras to sign Skubal.

That would be my starting point. I'd roll the dice with Skubal's contract.

Our window of opportunity is now 6 years, the length of Crochet's contract.

 

[Larry Cook]

13 minutes ago, Nick said:

I would give a blank check to Boras to sign Skubal.

 

And you realize cohen is a Bugatti Centodieci

And Henry is a Mercedes S class!!!! 
 

 

[Nick]

10 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

And you realize cohen is a Bugatti Centodieci

And Henry is a Mercedes S class!!!! 
 

 

I did say if I'm the new owner!

[Randy Red Sox]

On 12/27/2025 at 6:48 AM, Hitch said:

And offer who? They want pitching. We have trade quite a lot of pitching away, I cant see them sending more.

they are going to deal 1,2, or 3 of Bello, Early, or Tolle probably Bello because his contract is the highest.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Nick said:

Most of us are in agreement about needing two ace types to get to the World Series and win. Starting pitching along with a closer becomes essential in a short series. Crochet and Skubal would start 4 games. 

I would hate for 2026 to be another 'throw-away' year. But if I have money to buy this team after 2026, I would give a blank check to Boras to sign Skubal.

That would be my starting point. I'd roll the dice with Skubal's contract.

Our window of opportunity is now 6 years, the length of Crochet's contract.

 

I do think Gray rates to do better than Buehler (at the same point as last winter.)

I'm not sure Gray will do better than Giolito, but recent fWAR says he will.

Anyone (Oviedo/Crawford/Harrison/Sandoval) should do better than Beuhler/Houck/Fitts/Newcomb.

Would signing Suarez and trading Duran or Rafaela for Lodolo be just enough?

 

[moonslav59]

52 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

they are going to deal 1,2, or 3 of Bello, Early, or Tolle probably Bello because his contract is the highest.

The only reason we should trade Bello is because we think we can do better with someone else. He is not overpaid, especially in  light of today's market,

He makes $6.2M in '26 and $8.7M in 2027.

It jumps to $16.2 and $19.2M in '28 and .29, but even that might not be an overpay.

$21M option for 20230 w just $1M buyout.

Trading Bello opens another hole and knocks everyone on the rotation depth chart up a slot, when we should be knocking 'em down a slot.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

The only reason we should trade Bello is because we think we can do better with someone else.

You don't necessarily need to do better.  If you think the rotation is Crochet/Bello/Gray/Oviedo/Sandoval, then it becomes a matter of how much you lose by replacing Bello with Tolle or Early, and then comparing that to how much we gain by whatever we add in a Bello trade.  Bello alone would get you a pretty decent infielder.

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

You don't necessarily need to do better.  If you think the rotation is Crochet/Bello/Gray/Oviedo/Sandoval, then it becomes a matter of how much you lose by replacing Bello with Tolle or Early, and then comparing that to how much we gain by whatever we add in a Bello trade.  Bello alone would get you a pretty decent infielder.

I can see them thinking that, but we've already traded a lot of rotation depth, and I doubt they have that much faith in Oviedo and Sandoval/Early/Tolle/Harrison.

Right now, I think Bello is the surest bet, but I don't know everything, so you may be right.

I thought Bello looked real good, until the end. I think he can step it up more.

He's not a big guy with a ton of K's, and that's what Brez likes so....

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, Nick said:

Most of us are in agreement about needing two ace types to get to the World Series and win. Starting pitching along with a closer becomes essential in a short series. Crochet and Skubal would start 4 games. 

I would hate for 2026 to be another 'throw-away' year. But if I have money to buy this team after 2026, I would give a blank check to Boras to sign Skubal.

That would be my starting point. I'd roll the dice with Skubal's contract.

Our window of opportunity is now 6 years, the length of Crochet's contract.

 

JH won't give Skubal a blank check. 

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

JH won't give Skubal a blank check. 

The only way JH gives Skubal any blank check is if there was no money left in the account.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

JH won't give Skubal a blank check. 

Skubal ain't taking Crochet-like money, either.

[Hitch]

17 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

they are going to deal 1,2, or 3 of Bello, Early, or Tolle probably Bello because his contract is the highest.

Yeah, we're not getting Marte for Bello. Not even close. 

[Randy Red Sox]

18 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Yeah, we're not getting Marte for Bello. Not even close. 

i am afraid trader Breslow will add either Tolle or Early to sweeten the deal.  NO WAY !!!

[Hitch]

31 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i am afraid trader Breslow will add either Tolle or Early to sweeten the deal.  NO WAY !!!

I don't think you'll have to worry about that. I don't think Tolle or Early are going anywhere. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

Yeah, we're not getting Marte for Bello. Not even close. 

According to BTV, it might take Bello & Rafaela.

[Hitch]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

According to BTV, it might take Bello & Rafaela.

I doubt we're sending Rafaela anywhere either. 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I doubt we're sending Rafaela anywhere either. 

Other than Anthony, he's the last OF'er we trade. Agreed.

I can't access BTV, for some reason. I doubt K Campbell & Bello would be accepted.

IMO, if we don't add a big bat to 2B or 3B, we can't afford to trade Duran or Abreu, due to their better offense than Rafaela.

[Hitch]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Other than Anthony, he's the last OF'er we trade. Agreed.

I can't access BTV, for some reason. I doubt K Campbell & Bello would be accepted.

IMO, if we don't add a big bat to 2B or 3B, we can't afford to trade Duran or Abreu, due to their better offense than Rafaela.

I have always felt the Campbell contract makes it very difficult to value him trade wise. But even so, I would be surprised if Bello and Campbell gets it done, just because of what Arizona is apparently asking for. And I'm not sure we should do it even if they did say yes.

I think we'll get that other bat at 2nd/3rd. But I wouldn't be surprised (disappointed, but not surprised) if Raf moves to 2nd and Anthony, Duran Abreu is our outfield with Campbell as the platoon/cover when needed.

[Randy Red Sox]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

I have always felt the Campbell contract makes it very difficult to value him trade wise. But even so, I would be surprised if Bello and Campbell gets it done, just because of what Arizona is apparently asking for. And I'm not sure we should do it even if they did say yes.

I think we'll get that other bat at 2nd/3rd. But I wouldn't be surprised (disappointed, but not surprised) if Raf moves to 2nd and Anthony, Duran Abreu is our outfield with Campbell as the platoon/cover when needed.

that fits the budget JH is looking at.  Should keep them under the first cap

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I have always felt the Campbell contract makes it very difficult to value him trade wise. But even so, I would be surprised if Bello and Campbell gets it done, just because of what Arizona is apparently asking for. And I'm not sure we should do it even if they did say yes.

I think we'll get that other bat at 2nd/3rd. But I wouldn't be surprised (disappointed, but not surprised) if Raf moves to 2nd and Anthony, Duran Abreu is our outfield with Campbell as the platoon/cover when needed.

Wouldn't Rafaela's value in CF to another team far outweigh his value to us at 2B?

(Now, if we don't add a 2Bman, the answer would be close to a yes, but trading him for an equal player, who defends 2B better and hits better makes more sense.)

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Wouldn't Rafaela's value in CF to another team far outweigh his value to us at 2B?

(Now, if we don't add a 2Bman, the answer would be close to a yes, but trading him for an equal player, who defends 2B better and hits better makes more sense.)

No idea, but I think there is next to chance that we trade Rafaela. So I'm not concerning myself with potential trades involving him. Only potential implications within our roster. 

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

that fits the budget JH is looking at.  Should keep them under the first cap

That's why I keep coming back to KMarte. With the deferrals, his AAV/Tax line is near $15M,

Including one or two from this group would bring the net gain into JH range:

$9.2M Bello

$7.8M Duran

$7.5M Campbell

$6.3M Rafaela

$2.7M Crawford

Then, there are highly unlikely add-ons:

$18M Yoshida, $10.3 Hicks, $9.1 Sandoval

 

[notin]

7 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

JH won't give Skubal a blank check. 

I don’t think he is unique among owners that way, either …

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hitch said:

No idea, but I think there is next to chance that we trade Rafaela. So I'm not concerning myself with potential trades involving him. Only potential implications within our roster. 

The implication to the roster would be:

No logjam in the OF

2B position filled

Mayer/Romt/Eaton/Sogard at 3B

One less player (OF) in the DH mix.

I'm not for trading Rafaela, either, but I do think we get better and more balanced by trading an OF'er and upgrading 2B/3B, our #2 SP slot and or the pen (LHP preferred.)

 

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

I don’t think he is unique among owners that way, either …

I doubt we make a trade for Skubal, unless we have a sense of what he'd take for an extension and are willing to pay it.

If this is true, I seriously doubt the trade happens, because JH will not pay what it takes. He turns 30 next NOV.

[Hitch]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's why I keep coming back to KMarte. With the deferrals, his AAV/Tax line is near $15M,

Including one or two from this group would bring the net gain into JH range:

$9.2M Bello

$7.8M Duran

$7.5M Campbell

$6.3M Rafaela

$2.7M Crawford

Then, there are highly unlikely add-ons:

$18M Yoshida, $10.3 Hicks, $9.1 Sandoval

 

They've been linked to two things when it comes to us - controlled starting pitching. Mayer.

It doesn't matter what we'd like to send to make our financial life easier, trades don't work like that. It's what Arizona wants, and it isn't many of the above if reports are true. 

[Hitch]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The implication to the roster would be:

No logjam in the OF

2B position filled

Mayer/Romt/Eaton/Sogard at 3B

One less player (OF) in the DH mix.

I'm not for trading Rafaela, either, but I do think we get better and more balanced by trading an OF'er and upgrading 2B/3B, our #2 SP slot and or the pen (LHP preferred.)

 

The only real logjam is Yoshida. I think both Bres and Cora would love to have Duran, Raf, Anthony and Abreu rotating around the positions, getting people off their feet for a day or two a week while still having their bats/speed on the base paths. 

If they could drop Yoshida somehow, they'll keep the four of them.