Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, harmony said:

Contrasting opinions are always welcome. Opinions supported by data are especially welcome.

Prospect rankings offer subjective evaluations.

A biased Seattle fan might cite the CBS Sportsline Top 100 prospect list, which ranks Jurrangelo Cijntje No. 44 and Kyson Witherspoon No. 77:

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/ranking-top-100-mlb-prospects-kevin-mcgonigle-jesus-made-konnor-griffin-sebastian-walcott-colt-emerson/

A biased Red Sox fan might cite Keith Law's prospect list, which ranks Witherspoon No. 62 and omits Cijntje from the Top 100:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6985939/2026/01/26/top-mlb-prospects-2026-keith-law-konnor-griffin/

An objective fan might cite MLB.com's Top 100 prospect list, which ranks Witherspoon No. 84 and Cijntje No. 91:

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects

I admit I'm biased. I thought it was funny you wanted to use past ranking for your guys, then talked about Mayer dropping in the rankings. You didn't see that as objectively funny?

 

[FredLynn]

Meanwhile, while the franchise burns, there’s no news about Breslow DOING HIS JOB and getting a talented offensive infielder to round out the lineup. Frankly, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Only excuses will be presented. As usual.

[mvp 78]

 

[Kimmi]

21 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Without a big upgrade he is wasting a window to compete for a ring. 

I don't think we need a big upgrade, but an upgrade would be nice.  Obviously, a big upgrade would be nicer.  If worse comes to worse and we go into the season with Mayer at 3rd base and Romy/Hamilton/Rafaela at 2nd base, it wouldn't be the end of the world for me.  We'd just have to win more games with our pitching as opposed to our offense.

That said, our infield is one injury away from being in near dire straits.  For that reason, we really need to add someone.

[Kimmi]

17 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

there are numerous options to pick up on M/L deals

I'm sure there are.  It's just a matter of the price tag, either in dollars or in players.  

Even with Spring Training drawing near, I am confident that Breslow will pick somebody up.

[Kimmi]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

 

There we go.  Our infield problems are solved, with an added bonus of improving catching depth.

But seriously, this is a good depth acquisition and possible starting utility player?

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Gasper was part of the 11 man brigade that shuffled through 2B for the Red Sox in 2024. Looks like Brez has got his man.🤫

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

There we go.  Our infield problems are solved, with an added bonus of improving catching depth.

But seriously, this is a good depth acquisition and possible starting utility player?

He has never hit at the MLB level. Not sure he can be relied on as a 26 man guy long term. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Gasper was part of the 11 man brigade that shuffled through 2B for the Red Sox in 2024. Looks like Brez has got his man.🤫

He spent more time between 1B and C in AAA that season. We'll see where they slot him this year depending on need. 

[Kimmi]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has never hit at the MLB level. Not sure he can be relied on as a 26 man guy long term. 

I won't argue with that.  He's still a good depth acquisition.

[moonslav59]

Don't be surprised if Gasper is DFA'd before the start of the season.

[moonslav59]

RIP Mickey Lolich

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, Kimmi said:

I'm sure there are.  It's just a matter of the price tag, either in dollars or in players.  

Even with Spring Training drawing near, I am confident that Breslow will pick somebody up.

He did. Mickey Gasper.. Career BA/ OPS+ of .133/26. 
Exactly the kind of DREGS I expected Breslow to sign. 

[FredLynn]

38 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Don't be surprised if Gasper is DFA'd before the start of the season.

I won’t be surprised if he is our new starting 2nd baseman. 
Guess Brady would have won the sucker bet he proposed. Breslow did sign SOMEONE. Of course, he stinks.

[JoeBrady]

58 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

There we go.  Our infield problems are solved, with an added bonus of improving catching depth.

But seriously, this is a good depth acquisition and possible starting utility player?

I hope we never need him, but he is not bad for AAA depth.  And I love the transaction tree.  We got him for free, traded him for Moran, and then got him back for free.  Both him and Moran might qualify as the next-man-up from AAA.

[FredLynn]

Just now, JoeBrady said:

I hope we never need him, but he is not bad for AAA depth.  And I love the transaction tree.  We got him for free, traded him for Moran, and then got him back for free.  Both him and Moran might qualify as the next-man-up from AAA.

And this is why your wager offer was a sucker bet.

My offer was better 

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Guess Brady would have won the sucker bet he proposed. Breslow did sign SOMEONE. Of course, he stinks.

He was claimed off waivers, so not technically "signed," but then doesn't everyone sign a contract?

[FredLynn]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

He was claimed off waivers, so not technically "signed," but then doesn't everyone sign a contract?

I doubt he would take the field-any field-without a valid contract signed by both parties. 

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I doubt he would take the field-any field-without a valid contract signed by both parties. 

Yes, but it's not like "We signed him." We claimed him, so he had to come here or nowhere.

[FredLynn]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Yes, but it's not like "We signed him." We claimed him, so he had to come here or nowhere.

Do you think he is going to sign a contract?

[JoeBrady]

37 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I won’t be surprised if he is our new starting 2nd baseman. 
Guess Brady would have won the sucker bet he proposed. Breslow did sign SOMEONE. Of course, he stinks.

No, Gasper is neither a 2b nor a 3b.  You'd still be ahead.

[moonslav59]

39 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Do you think he is going to sign a contract?

Probably. I'm not sure how it works.

It's not like he was a FA signing, though.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

No, Gasper is neither a 2b nor a 3b.  You'd still be ahead.

He has played 6 games at 2B in the majors and 36 in the minors. You would have won because you said Breslow would get “someone”. He did. He found out new starting 2B man!

[harmony]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I admit I'm biased. I thought it was funny you wanted to use past ranking for your guys, then talked about Mayer dropping in the rankings. You didn't see that as objectively funny?

 

The prior ranking was provided to show that MLB.com has consistently ranked Kyson Witherspoon and Jurrangelo Cijntje similarly.

[harmony]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

RIP Mickey Lolich

Mickey Lolich went to the same high school as Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky (as well as The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and my two daughters). Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon.

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, harmony said:

The prior ranking was provided to show that MLB.com has consistently ranked Kyson Witherspoon and Jurrangelo Cijntje similarly.

...and just don't mention previous rankings for the other two. Okay.

[harmony]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

...and just don't mention previous rankings for the other two. Okay.

Should expired prospect rankings be given more weight than production in rookie seasons?

An even more serious question: Should outdated prospect rankings be considered in 2026 projections?

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, harmony said:

Should expired prospect rankings be given more weight than production in rookie seasons?

An even more serious question: Should outdated prospect rankings be considered in 2026 projections?

I wasn't the one using previous rankings.

[harmony]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I wasn't the one using previous rankings.

Kyson Witherspoon has never thrown a professional pitch so the post included all MLB.com prospect rankings since the Red Sox drafted Witherspoon in July. For comparison, Jurrangelo Cijntje's rankings on the same lists were provided.

Witherspoon had no professional stats to compare.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, harmony said:

Kyson Witherspoon has never thrown a professional pitch so the post included all MLB.com prospect rankings since the Red Sox drafted Witherspoon in July. For comparison, Jurrangelo Cijntje's rankings on the same lists were provided.

Witherspoon had no professional stats to compare.

Okay.