Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

this argument on Bello is the least of the Red Sox issues

Exactly, and even if the Yanks have a slight edge in their #3 SP'er, it's not the end of the hypothetical series.

I see Bello as better than 15 or maybe 20 other team's #3 SP. He's not a weak area on the team.

Big RHB is.

3B is.

Maybe another solid SP'er is (but not to replace Bello)

The pen could use help.

[Randy Red Sox]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Exactly, and even if the Yanks have a slight edge in their #3 SP'er, it's not the end of the hypothetical series.

I see Bello as better than 15 or maybe 20 other team's #3 SP. He's not a weak area on the team.

Big RHB is.

3B is.

Maybe another solid SP'er is (but not to replace Bello)

The pen could use help.

so we need to shed more payroll just to be able to afford to sign Suarez??

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Randy Red Sox said:

so we need to shed more payroll just to be able to afford to sign Suarez??

How the hell do I know?

My guess is no, if we offered Breggie $165M/5 and Suarez might get $50M/2 or $70M/3.

I think dumping a salary might help get JH to spend more, later. Emphasis on might.

We do have some other needs, too, and might need to add salary at the deadline. One never knows with JH.

I'm not pretending to know.

[Larry Cook]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

this argument on Bello is the least of the Red Sox issues

Agreed. The biggest problem is the Grand Canyon sized hole at the number 2 spot in our rotation! 
 

and we should consider signing another lefty reliever. Although Harrison could be a lefty swing man 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Exactly, and even if the Yanks have a slight edge in their #3 SP'er, it's not the end of the hypothetical series.

I see Bello as better than 15 or maybe 20 other team's #3 SP. He's not a weak area on the team.

Big RHB is.

3B is.

Maybe another solid SP'er is (but not to replace Bello)

The pen could use help.

I agree. I think the rotation is very strong and people are underselling Gray. The bullpen is decent, but could use another arm. This is really different from the lineups we've seen the previous 60 years as it's pitcher heavy and the offense feels light. The top of the lineup just seems really weak and incomplete to me. For a team that is supposedly trying to be in the playoff picture, I think they need to figure it out really quick. 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

How the hell do I know?

My guess is no, if we offered Breggie $165M/5 and Suarez might get $50M/2 or $70M/3.

I think dumping a salary might help get JH to spend more, later. Emphasis on might.

We do have some other needs, too, and might need to add salary at the deadline. One never knows with JH.

I'm not pretending to know.

There's no way the Sox should give Suarez 3 years. No. I'd rather they go any other route than that. 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

so we need to shed more payroll just to be able to afford to sign Suarez??

No.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

There's no way the Sox should give Suarez 3 years. No. I'd rather they go any other route than that. 

I'd prefer 1 year, but options are low.

We have budget space, apparently, so not losing player to trade for someone makes more sense.

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd prefer 1 year, but options are low.

We have budget space, apparently, so not losing player to trade for someone makes more sense.

I'd rather a FA too, but Suarez is a stepdown from Bregman. 

They are too cheap to get Bo so that's not going to happen. 

Maybe they just call the Cardinals about Arenado don't give up any top 30 prospects. 

[Hitch]

22 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd rather a FA too, but Suarez is a stepdown from Bregman. 

They are too cheap to get Bo so that's not going to happen. 

Maybe they just call the Cardinals about Arenado don't give up any top 30 prospects. 

I'd say Rafaela to 2nd and Duran the CF happens before we go back for Arenado. 

[drewski6]

58 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree. I think the rotation is very strong and people are underselling Gray. The bullpen is decent, but could use another arm. This is really different from the lineups we've seen the previous 60 years as it's pitcher heavy and the offense feels light. The top of the lineup just seems really weak and incomplete to me. For a team that is supposedly trying to be in the playoff picture, I think they need to figure it out really quick. 

Thats where Im at.

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree. I think the rotation is very strong and people are underselling Gray. The bullpen is decent, but could use another arm. This is really different from the lineups we've seen the previous 60 years as it's pitcher heavy and the offense feels light. The top of the lineup just seems really weak and incomplete to me. For a team that is supposedly trying to be in the playoff picture, I think they need to figure it out really quick. 

I think the rotation could be strong, but as we’ve seen the past few years depth could be a key if injuries start to pile up. I think it will be interesting to see how Crochet does after his first heavy workload last year, and then can Chapman be somewhere as good as last year. I hope the lineup isn’t a finished product yet.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I'd say Rafaela to 2nd and Duran the CF happens before we go back for Arenado. 

Rafaela is a below average bat and an average 2b. His entire value is locked into playing CF.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I think the rotation could be strong, but as we’ve seen the past few years depth could be a key if injuries start to pile up. I think it will be interesting to see how Crochet does after his first heavy workload last year, and then can Chapman be somewhere as good as last year. I hope the lineup isn’t a finished product yet.

After the first four, the rotation has Early, Tolle, Harrison, Sandoval, Crawford... It's good depth until some of them get traded. 

I think Chapman takes a step back for sure, but could still be decent. 

No clue what the plan is for the lineup. Big hole at the top. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Rafaela is a below average bat and an average 2b. His entire value is locked into playing CF.

I agree, but what if no OF, and or Masa is traded, or unloaded?

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, but what if no OF, and or Masa is traded, or unloaded?

Harrison

for

Bogaerts + 85M

[Hugh2]

Why is everyone so upset? 
 

the Sox are coming in second place for literally every good free agent? How many teams can say that?

[Hitch]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Rafaela is a below average bat and an average 2b. His entire value is locked into playing CF.

And still preferable to gong after Arenado. 

He's played 34 games there in two seasons. It's ridiculous to take anything from that small a data sample.  

I've no doubt he will be able to play stellar defence at 2nd, and if he hits like last year, I'm fine with that production there, too. Not that I want this move to happen particularly. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

And still preferable to gong after Arenado. 

He's played 34 games there in two seasons. It's ridiculous to take anything from that small a data sample.  

I've no doubt he will be able to play stellar defence at 2nd, and if he hits like last year, I'm fine with that production there, too. Not that I want this move to happen particularly. 

I'd rather have Arenado at 3b than Rafaela at 2b. Rafaela is an average IF glove. It's been noted going back to his MiLB days. He's not going to be a gold glover there. You are rearranging the deck chairs, but making the team worse. 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd rather have Arenado at 3b than Rafaela at 2b. Rafaela is an average IF glove. It's been noted going back to his MiLB days. He's not going to be a gold glover there. You are rearranging the deck chairs, but making the team worse. 

There were lots of Arenado rumors last offseason before Bregman was finally landed, but I totally agree RAF Man needs to stay in CF.

[Hitch]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd rather have Arenado at 3b than Rafaela at 2b. Rafaela is an average IF glove. It's been noted going back to his MiLB days. He's not going to be a gold glover there. You are rearranging the deck chairs, but making the team worse. 

I don't want either, but I certainly don't want Arenado at the Sox unless they're just handing us Donavan with him. Stellar is pushing it too far, but I have no worries about Rafaela at 2nd. He'd be fine there. And Duran gets to move back to CF where he thrived. 

Again, worst outcome no matter what, but I have a clear favourite between the two.

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Harrison

for

Bogaerts + 85M

That would be a big WOW.

[mvp 78]

Let's move this guy to 2b, a position that doesn't require much range! 

 

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I don't want either, but I certainly don't want Arenado at the Sox unless they're just handing us Donavan with him. Stellar is pushing it too far, but I have no worries about Rafaela at 2nd. He'd be fine there. And Duran gets to move back to CF where he thrived. 

Again, worst outcome no matter what, but I have a clear favourite between the two.

In a vacuum, Rafaela would be "fine" at 2b. It just makes the team worse. His best position is CF. There is no reason to move him off that spot. I'd rather go with Romy/Hamilton at 2b TBH. 

[Hitch]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

In a vacuum, Rafaela would be "fine" at 2b. It just makes the team worse. His best position is CF. There is no reason to move him off that spot. I'd rather go with Romy/Hamilton at 2b TBH. 

Once again then -- this is in relation to Arenado coming here. 

Duran ranked in the 95th percentile or higher in fielding metrics with 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) and 23 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in CF in 2024. I'd rather he go back there and Raf to 2nd and keep the athleticism in the team than bring in a 3rd baseman that's growing older and declining before our eyes for the next two years especially with his contract.

Thankfully, the FO have no interest in Arenado, so we won't have to worry either way.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

Once again then -- this is in relation to Arenado coming here. 

Duran ranked in the 95th percentile or higher in fielding metrics with 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) and 23 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in CF in 2024. I'd rather he go back there and Raf to 2nd and keep the athleticism in the team than bring in a 3rd baseman that's growing older and declining before our eyes for the next two years especially with his contract.

Thankfully, the FO have no interest in Arenado, so we won't have to worry either way.

Arenado is still a great fielder at 3b. It would keep Rafaela in CF. It's not ideal, but it's where we're at right now I guess. Plan D. E? 

[Hitch]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Arenado is still a great fielder at 3b. It would keep Rafaela in CF. It's not ideal, but it's where we're at right now I guess. Plan D. E? 

I think Arenado is plan J, but we're heading there at a rate of knots that's for sure. 

Whatever it is they choose, (and I just don't see it being Bo) I think a lot of the fan base is going to be extremely pissed off.

[mvp 78]

Arenado:

good Pull AIR%

good defender

good bb%

good k%

Sox could do worse at 3b TBH. The Sox had him in their crosshairs last offseason so we know they had some interest. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, Hitch said:

I think Arenado is plan J, but we're heading there at a rate of knots that's for sure. 

Whatever it is they choose, (and I just don't see it being Bo) I think a lot of the fan base is going to be extremely pissed off.

Whoever they sign next, even if it's a reliever, is just going to get all crapped over. Any 3b they bring in won't be good enough as the franchise really sold fans on Bregman. 

[Hitch]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Whoever they sign next, even if it's a reliever, is just going to get all crapped over. Any 3b they bring in won't be good enough as the franchise really sold fans on Bregman. 

I can't disagree. 

I'd love to know how many different routes they have planned out. And how desperate they feel, or don't.