Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

but neither filled the big middle order bat we needed. Contreras is okay, but he's not "that bat."

It's overrated.  Here are the #3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 scoring teams.

• Mil  29
• Tor  32
• Cubs 34
• Bos  25
• DBacks 36

These teams aren't depending on a 40-HR guy to score.

[moonslav59]

34 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

This is like the 'full throttle' statement.  If I was part of the press corp, my first question would've been "what does that even mean?  What's the number?  I assume you have a budget, so what's the number?  Of if you don't have an exact number, what is the worst-case number?  What's the range?"  I'd have pounded him until he admitted that they had no spending plan, which they didn't.

Nobody ever presses these guys.

[mvp 78]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Nobody ever presses these guys.

What's the point? They'd never admit to anything. 

[Old Red]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

What's the point? They'd never admit to anything. 

Sam’s comments got a lot of play on the talk shows yesterday. Not to favorably to Sam, but what’s new? As one said after hearing Sam’s comments from last Sept that Alex wanted to stay in Boston, and the Red Sox wanted the same, and now after that didn’t happen the Red Sox are trying to convince the fans that what the Red Sox ended up with was the plan all along.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

What's the point? They'd never admit to anything. 

Werner said yesterday, "We actually have the powder to execute some more moves during the season."

Coming from a rich and powerful man, those should be ominous words to both rivals and subordinates. 

What's in the powder that makes it so lethal it can be used for executions? Has to be stronger than baking soda...

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

What's in the powder that makes it so lethal it can be used for executions? Has to be stronger than baking soda...

[mvp 78]

 

[Hitch]

I know this is a no-go from the off, but with Bryce dropping a hand grenade on Dombrowski this week, I wonder if they will want to trade him if they can. 

And whether we can make something work involving Masa along with Duran/Casas to counter the Masa inclusion while taking on all the money. 

Hugely unlikely I know, but Bryce at DH with Contreras at 1B would bring some pop to the line up without hurting us too much. 

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I know this is a no-go from the off, but with Bryce dropping a hand grenade on Dombrowski this week, I wonder if they will want to trade him if they can. 

And whether we can make something work involving Masa along with Duran/Casas to counter the Masa inclusion while taking on all the money. 

Hugely unlikely I know, but Bryce at DH with Contreras at 1B would bring some pop to the line up without hurting us too much. 

Trading the best LF in baseball would absolutely hurt us.

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Trading the best LF in baseball would absolutely hurt us.

He's going to be mostly DH. As you know. We'd miss his cover, but I'd rather Bryce at DH.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Hitch said:

I know this is a no-go from the off, but with Bryce dropping a hand grenade on Dombrowski this week, I wonder if they will want to trade him if they can. 

And whether we can make something work involving Masa along with Duran/Casas to counter the Masa inclusion while taking on all the money. 

Hugely unlikely I know, but Bryce at DH with Contreras at 1B would bring some pop to the line up without hurting us too much. 

Harper is still owed 6/144. That's a lot for a guy who is 33 and hasn't always been healthy. His EV's are waning. His speed is decreasing every year. He was plus plus arm strength and now is a net negative. 

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

He's going to be mostly DH. As you know. We'd miss his cover, but I'd rather Bryce at DH.

I dont know that or even think that.  I think it will be rare that we have full health and most nights who is playing where will depend on who is healthy, available and not slumping and handedness of pitcher.

[drewski6]

Romys down and the WBC hasnt even started yet.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Trading the best LF in baseball would absolutely hurt us.

Cody Bellinger? 

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Harper is still owed 6/144. That's a lot for a guy who is 33 and hasn't always been healthy. His EV's are waning. His speed is decreasing every year. He was plus plus arm strength and now is a net negative. 

Played 132 games last year. 145 the year before. And he'd be DH only in this scenario. Comes with risks for sure. 

[Hitch]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I dont know that or even think that.  I think it will be rare that we have full health and most nights who is playing where will depend on who is healthy, available and not slumping and handedness of pitcher.

If there are injuries he will play the field, obviously. And he will be used to rest players every now and then. Otherwise he's at DH. Where he should be in that alignment of 4 players.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

If there are injuries he will play the field, obviously. And he will be used to rest players every now and then. Otherwise he's at DH. Where he should be in that alignment of 4 players.

This is more penciling in than I am comfortable doing at this point in time.  I think we need to expect injuries and slumps and breakouts. Every season has twists and turns.  As of this very moment, Im not looking to hand away Duran because "4 OF'ers", Duran has been durable and has hit a lot of doubles and right now is probably our #3 hitter.

Im not against Harper, but at this point in time, Im not willing to swap Duran for Harper.

[mvp 78]

If I had to redo the Red Sox offseason while spending the same money I would:

MOVES TO KEEP

Contreras trade

Durbin trade

Oviedo trade

Suarez signing

FA ADDS

Ozuna

REPORTED TRADES TO ADD

Marte (Mayer plus Early plus another top 20 prospect)

THEORETICAL TRADES TO ADD

Duran for prospects

Masa plus cash for anything

ROSTER

Narvaez, Contreras, Marte, Story, Durbin, Abreu, Rafaela, Anthony, Ozuna, Wong, Monasterio, Romy, Eaton

Crochet, Suarez, Bello, Oviedo, Sandoval, Chapman, Slaten, Whitlock, Weissert, Fitts, Tolle, Crawford, Watson

Same payroll, plus the addition of RH power bats at the expense of Sonny Gray and Mayer. 

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

What's the point? They'd never admit to anything. 

They wouldn't, but what's the point of being a 'journalist' if you don't ask tough questions.  Do we even know if the NTC is a hard and fast rule, or just a preference?

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

If I had to redo the Red Sox offseason while spending the same money I would:

MOVES TO KEEP

Contreras trade

Durbin trade

Oviedo trade

Suarez signing

FA ADDS

Ozuna

REPORTED TRADES TO ADD

Marte (Mayer plus Early plus another top 20 prospect)

THEORETICAL TRADES TO ADD

Duran for prospects

Masa plus cash for anything

ROSTER

Narvaez, Contreras, Marte, Story, Durbin, Abreu, Rafaela, Anthony, Ozuna, Wong, Monasterio, Romy, Eaton

Crochet, Suarez, Bello, Oviedo, Sandoval, Chapman, Slaten, Whitlock, Weissert, Fitts, Tolle, Crawford, Watson

Same payroll, plus the addition of RH power bats at the expense of Sonny Gray and Mayer. 

Heard an interview with TC this morning from the Fort. He said Mayer’s can go anywhere from being the starting 2B to being sent to Woo, and trying to work his way back up to Boston. TC said this is a big ST for Mayer’s, because he hasn’t proven anything yet, and especially being able to stay on the field.

[Old Red]

14 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

They wouldn't, but what's the point of being a 'journalist' if you don't ask tough questions.  Do we even know if the NTC is a hard and fast rule, or just a preference?

As Sam said it’s hypothetically. Seeing Sam’s facial expression during the recent interview said it all. 

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

What's the point? They'd never admit to anything. 

Oh, I know, but make em squirm and divert and whatever.

These guys are pansies.

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Heard an interview with TC this morning from the Fort. He said Mayer’s can go anywhere from being the starting 2B to being sent to Woo, and trying to work his way back up to Boston. TC said this is a big ST for Mayer’s, because he hasn’t proven anything yet, and especially being able to stay on the field.

He's just a "suspect."

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

He's just a "suspect."

That’s the point TC was getting at. Injuries have held him back big time, and at the very least he’s still a platoon player.

[mvp 78]

54 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

They wouldn't, but what's the point of being a 'journalist' if you don't ask tough questions.  Do we even know if the NTC is a hard and fast rule, or just a preference?

Beat writers aren't journalists. 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

If I had to redo the Red Sox offseason while spending the same money I would:

MOVES TO KEEP

Contreras trade

Durbin trade

Oviedo trade

Suarez signing

FA ADDS

Ozuna

REPORTED TRADES TO ADD

Marte (Mayer plus Early plus another top 20 prospect)

THEORETICAL TRADES TO ADD

Duran for prospects

Masa plus cash for anything

ROSTER

Narvaez, Contreras, Marte, Story, Durbin, Abreu, Rafaela, Anthony, Ozuna, Wong, Monasterio, Romy, Eaton

Crochet, Suarez, Bello, Oviedo, Sandoval, Chapman, Slaten, Whitlock, Weissert, Fitts, Tolle, Crawford, Watson

Same payroll, plus the addition of RH power bats at the expense of Sonny Gray and Mayer. 

Just dont understand the Duran disrespect.

[drewski6]

59 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Oh, I know, but make em squirm and divert and whatever.

These guys are pansies.

You would not make Sam Kennedy squirm by asking him a bunch of questions that are better suited for Breslow.  I mean, maybe he would squirm, but the answer to all these questions is the same.  We hired Breslow, Breslow does NOT have a strict "stay under" budget. Breslow made up the NTC thing on the spot. Not sure why he double dog dared Bregman to take the Cubs offer.  

Really the questions for SK is just one.  Is this a make/break year for Breslow?

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Just dont understand the Duran disrespect.

Can only start 9 guys. He's the worst of the 4 OFers and can go. 

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Can only start 9 guys. He's the worst of the 4 OFers and can go. 

Okay mr present your opinions as fact.  Meanwhile Cedanne has less trade value with 2x the control.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

That’s the point TC was getting at. Injuries have held him back big time, and at the very least he’s still a platoon player.

He is perhaps one of the toughest upcoming prospects to project. I'd go so far as to say it's not outlandish to think he could make the alls tar team or spend the whole season in AAA, assuming we stay infield injury free.