Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Hugh2]

19 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree on hope that he becomes an impactful everyday player, but he’s still a suspect who might have been set back a year by rushing him last year, and bouncing all around the field trying to find a position for him. He’s still a work in progress and needs more time in Woo.

I'm actually probably higher on him than most and I'm encouraged that his swinging a faster bat now.  I believe with consistency that will translate to in game production.  But I think he's going to need at least a 1/2 a year in the minors before he breaks thru if he breaks thru. 

He might end up being fine and worth every penny in the long run, but the Sox certainly jumped the gun in giving him that extension.  They should of waited. 

[Old Red]

8 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I'm actually probably higher on him than most and I'm encouraged that his swinging a faster bat now.  I believe with consistency that will translate to in game production.  But I think he's going to need at least a 1/2 a year in the minors before he breaks thru if he breaks thru. 

He might end up being fine and worth every penny in the long run, but the Sox certainly jumped the gun in giving him that extension.  They should have waited. 

 I agree. Hopefully that extension will be worth it.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

 I agree. Hopefully that extension will be worth it.

The Braves started their extension signings in 2019. They have made it to the playoffs in 6 out of 7 years.

Acuna: 8/100 worth it

Albies: 8/38 worth it

Riley: 10/212 TBD (started in '23)

Olson: 8/168 most likely worth it (started in '22)

Harris: 8/72 worth it

Strider: 6/75 TBD health

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Sure, but Yoshida is more competing with Eaton and Ward than Campbell

For an opening day roster slot and probably most or all of 2026, too, yes. (Add Casas, once and if he's healthy.)

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, Old Red said:

It wasn’t just the 150 PA poor stretch, but the fact also that he didn’t work his way back up to Boston, which also was telling. He’s got a long way to go to be a very good hitter let alone a great one. Still suspect, and still a work in progress.

That was an issue for me.  I am nowhere near giving up on him, but I expected more from him after the demotion.  Even in ST, he has a 6/0 K/W.

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

That was an issue for me.  I am nowhere near giving up on him, but I expected more from him after the demotion.  Even in ST, he has a 6/0 K/W.

He just walked. 

[Donnie Sadler was short]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He just walked. 

CALL HIM UP!!

[Kimmi]

On 3/4/2026 at 3:41 PM, Old Red said:

I don’t think at the time there was a good reason not to sign Betts in most people’s eyes. You know I’m like you when it comes to huge, and long contracts, but I think most Red Sox fans wanted hm signed. He was a great player in the prime of his career. One poster on here would have given him 14 years. The Red Sox were trying to sign Mookie before he became a FA, and there was nothing wrong with that. It didn’t work out. It doesn’t look as bad now as he’s nearing 34.

Like you said, the Red Sox tried to sign him and it didn't work out.  Knowing it wasn't going to work, you have to trade him, IMO.

[Kimmi]

On 3/5/2026 at 11:08 AM, FredLynn said:

The "good reason" was that the Flops have a policy, apparently, of not signing prime talent at market cost. Instead they tend to make insulting offers (eg: John Lester) and as a result struggle to even MAKE the playoffs let alone be serious competitors for a ring.

This year will be no different. It will not be any different as long as cheapskate John Henry owns the team.

According to reports, the Red Sox gave Mookie a respectable offer.  He countered with something ridiculous and unreasonable.  IMO, Red Sox are not at fault on those negotiations.

OTOH, the Red Sox butchered the Jon Lester negotiations.  I still haven't forgiven Cherington for that one, and I'm a Cherington fan, unlike so many others here.

[Kimmi]

On 3/5/2026 at 1:45 PM, FredLynn said:

Well it’s pretty clear that their policy is to avoid paying market value for top end talent. Suarez is good but he came at a cost that was less than top of the line talent this offseason -and he was an exception. Both Schwarber and Alonso got more. Henry just doesn’t pay up the way he can afford to. Too many examples exist to deny that fact. 

I honestly do not have any problems with the Red Sox not wanting to pay market value for top end talent.  Market value is not on-field value.  In other words, market value is an overpay, often a gross overpay.

Hence, the importance of locking up players before they reach free agency.

[jad]

23 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

According to reports, the Red Sox gave Mookie a respectable offer.  He countered with something ridiculous and unreasonable.  IMO, Red Sox are not at fault on those negotiations.

OTOH, the Red Sox butchered the Jon Lester negotiations.  I still haven't forgiven Cherington for that one, and I'm a Cherington fan, unlike so many others here.

What ridiculous counter?   You're talking standard negotiations.  Are you talking about what LAD paid him?  The WS champion Dodgers?  which was worth every nickel.

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, jad said:

What ridiculous counter?   You're talking standard negotiations.  Are you talking about what LAD paid him?  The WS champion Dodgers?  which was worth every nickel.

I could be wrong, but I think Betts ended up signing with the LAD for just a little more than the reported Sox final offer.

(The Covid affect might have affected the contract he signed.)

[moonslav59]

Have a look at the big spending Yankees' off season...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/offseason-in-review-new-york-yankees-17.html

[FredLynn]

3 hours ago, Kimmi said:

According to reports, the Red Sox gave Mookie a respectable offer.  He countered with something ridiculous and unreasonable.  IMO, Red Sox are not at fault on those negotiations.

OTOH, the Red Sox butchered the Jon Lester negotiations.  I still haven't forgiven Cherington for that one, and I'm a Cherington fan, unlike so many others here.

From what I read their offer to Alonso was not competitive. They didn't even try to get Schwarber. I think you cannot make a team comprised solely of top end talent like Betts, Alonso, Schwarber etc. You need a mix of excellent players and players who don't suck but are more average to slightly below average. What frosts me is that this year we had a chance to be really relevant and have a shot at a ring. I don't think many people believe that is the case anymore.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

From what I read their offer to Alonso was not competitive. They didn't even try to get Schwarber. I think you cannot make a team comprised solely of top end talent like Betts, Alonso, Schwarber etc. You need a mix of excellent players and players who don't suck but are more average to slightly below average. What frosts me is that this year we had a chance to be really relevant and have a shot at a ring. I don't think many people believe that is the case anymore.

It may work out in the end this year, but as I’ve said more than once is that the Red Sox did a lot of settling this offseason.

[moonslav59]

So, what happens if Contreras outhits Alonso and or Schwarber?

What if he outhits Bregman? Hell, what if Durbins does?

One could ask me, what if Mayer outhits KMarte and Durbin outhits Paredes, too.

What if Suarez turns out to be the steal of the winter signings? Better than Cease?

What if Gray, at $21M outperforms guys like Framber at $115M/3 and King at $75M/3?

Some may say these are long shots or near impossible, but what if a couple turn out to be true?

[UtahSox]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

So, what happens if Contreras outhits Alonso and or Schwarber?

What if he outhits Bregman? Hell, what if Durbins does?

One could ask me, what if Mayer outhits KMarte and Durbin outhits Paredes, too.

What if Suarez turns out to be the steal of the winter signings? Better than Cease?

What if Gray, at $21M outperforms guys like Framber at $115M/3 and King at $75M/3?

Some may say these are long shots or near impossible, but what if a couple turn out to be true?

I like the Bregman vs Contreras comparison. And begrudgingly add it would be really nice to have both. Bregman and Durbin comps while they play the same position just feel very strange. Maybe it’s the AAV, maybe it’s the time in the big leagues thing? As we are halfway through ST, and I now have the privilege of a minuscule amount of hindsight. I think Contreras vs Alonso was the right move. I was devastated when news broke, but now I get it. indulge me… I like his vibes, passion, and production.

looking at it today: my ideal revisionist history to offseason would still have been:

1. Bregman over Ranger. (Don’t hate the Ranger signing at all, but AB brings so much to development of our young core Abreu, Anthony, Ceddane, Mayer I think it’s a small risk.) Having AB+ WC-40+ Story would have been amazing. 

2. Maybe use Perales and Harrison trades differently something like a SP2:

Luis Perales + Kyle Harrison+ Kristian Campbell( some AAV relief) for Sandy Alcantara + something small.

3. Small thing but resign Refsnyder or Goldschmidt as a back up plan in case of injury or JD hits LHP like last year. 

My proposed roster would look like:

SP-

1. Crochet,

2. Alcantara,

3. Gray,

4. Bello,

5. Oviedo/ Early

lineup- RHP/LHP

1. Anthony/ Anthony- LF

2. Bregman- 3B/  Romy-2B

3. Duran- DH/ Bregman-3B

4. Contreras/ Contreras-1B

5. Abreu- RF/ Duran- DH ( Refsnyder/ Andujar if Duran still sucks vs LHP after big sample size)

6. Story/ Story- SS

7.  Mayer- 2B/Abreu- RF

8. Narvaez/ Narvaez- C

9. Rafaela/ Rafaela- CF

** sidenote on Ranger Suarez I like the way a left-handed Pitcher puts pressure on Yankees lineup. Substantially more than a right handed pitcher. Yankees LHH Bellinger, Grisham, chisholm, wells, rice it forces them into bad matchups or someone sitting out. + Post season Suarez >>> Alcantara. 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

I like the Bregman vs Contreras comparison. And begrudgingly add it would be really nice to have both. Bregman and Durbin comps while they play the same position just feel very strange. Maybe it’s the AAV, maybe it’s the time in the big leagues thing? As we are halfway through ST, and I now have the privilege of a minuscule amount of hindsight. I think Contreras vs Alonso was the right move. I was devastated when news broke, but now I get it. indulge me… I like his vibes, passion, and production.

looking at it today: my ideal revisionist history to offseason would still have been:

1. Bregman over Ranger. (Don’t hate the Ranger signing at all, but AB brings so much to development of our young core Abreu, Anthony, Ceddane, Mayer I think it’s a small risk.) Having AB+ WC-40+ Story would have been amazing. 

2. Maybe use Perales and Harrison trades differently something like a SP2:

Luis Perales + Kyle Harrison+ Kristian Campbell( some AAV relief) for Sandy Alcantara + something small.

3. Small thing but resign Refsnyder or Goldschmidt as a back up plan in case of injury or JD hits LHP like last year. 

My proposed roster would look like:

SP-

1. Crochet,

2. Alcantara,

3. Gray,

4. Bello,

5. Oviedo/ Early

lineup- RHP/LHP

1. Anthony/ Anthony- LF

2. Bregman- 3B/  Romy-2B

3. Duran- DH/ Bregman-3B

4. Contreras/ Contreras-1B

5. Abreu- RF/ Duran- DH ( Refsnyder/ Andujar if Duran still sucks vs LHP after big sample size)

6. Story/ Story- SS

7.  Mayer- 2B/Abreu- RF

8. Narvaez/ Narvaez- C

9. Rafaela/ Rafaela- CF

** sidenote on Ranger Suarez I like the way a left-handed Pitcher puts pressure on Yankees lineup. Substantially more than a right handed pitcher. Yankees LHH Bellinger, Grisham, chisholm, wells, rice it forces them into bad matchups or someone sitting out. + Post season Suarez >>> Alcantara. 

You make some good points and suggestions. I don't agree with them all. Here is a summary of some of my opinion.

I do not think Breggie was worth even our final offer, so I'm glad we didn't go higher. I love the Suarez signing (instead,) but it makes me revisit the Sonny Gray move. Although we ended up trading so much SP'er depth, the need for Gray has been "vindicated" on paper, to me.

I really like the Durbin trade and think it might end up being one of MLB's best winter trades, but he really did not fill the big bat need, at all. That is one reason I like to use the Contreras offense vs Bregman offense comp over Durbin vs Breggie. I think that's how Brez viewed the moves. Offense: Contreras = Bregman and Durbin = the 2025 Nate Lowe, Casas, Toro and others 1B mix. On defense: Breggie is slightly better than Durbin at 3B, but Contreras is way better at 1B than the 2025 mix. Once could call the corner IF moves a push with possible upside.

The choice of using Mayer at 2B makes sense, since the Romy platoon becomes possible, when he comes back- if needed. It also allows Mayer to play SS, if needed, since Romy can play 2B.

I like the IKF signing, and it's nice having a real defensive utility guy, for once. $6M seems high, but by what? $1-2M? No big deal.

I really wanted K Marte, then pivoted to Paredes, but apparently those two players demanded more in return than Brez was prepared to give up. (Neto, too.) I'd rather have Paredes & Durbin or KMarte & Durbin than Mayer, but Mayer has some serious upside and might shut me up quickly. The problem was than HOU did not want Mayer. Apparently AZ wanted Mayer & Tolle for KMarte, and I can see why we said no. I think I'd have said yes, as KMarte is not paid much and is that big bat we needed. Being a switch-hitter is nice, too. Maybe getting KMarte and Durbin while losing Mayer & Tolle might have meant we don't get IKF and maybe even Gray, but I'd have tried to make the dollar work to keep 'em all. (Easy for me to say.)

We still he 4 OF'ers plus KC & Masa as depth.

We still have Duran at DH and several players that look like their best slots are or may be DH: Masa, Casas, KC & Romy.

I'd have tried to trade Duran for Paredes, King and Jarek. (Maybe we have to add someone like Holobetz, Mullins or even Eyanson.) With Durbin not IKF.

My choice roster might have looked like this:

1. L Anthony LF

2. S KMarte 2B

3. R Paredes 3B

4. R Contreras 1B

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Story SS

7.  L Masa DH (L Casas/ R Romy or KC DH)

8. R Narvaez C

9. R Rafaela CF

Bench: R Durbin, R Wong, R Romy, R Monasterio/L Casas/R KC

SP: Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Oviedo

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, King, Weissert, Sandoval, Crawford, Watson or Moran

[UtahSox]

43 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You make some good points and suggestions. I don't agree with them all. Here is a summary of some of my opinion.

I do not think Breggie was worth even our final offer, so I'm glad we didn't go higher. I love the Suarez signing (instead,) but it makes me revisit the Sonny Gray move. Although we ended up trading so much SP'er depth, the need for Gray has been "vindicated" on paper, to me.

I really like the Durbin trade and think it might end up being one of MLB's best winter trades, but he really did not fill the big bat need, at all. That is one reason I like to use the Contreras offense vs Bregman offense comp over Durbin vs Breggie. I think that's how Brez viewed the moves. Offense: Contreras = Bregman and Durbin = the 2025 Nate Lowe, Casas, Toro and others 1B mix. On defense: Breggie is slightly better than Durbin at 3B, but Contreras is way better at 1B than the 2025 mix. Once could call the corner IF moves a push with possible upside.

The choice of using Mayer at 2B makes sense, since the Romy platoon becomes possible, when he comes back- if needed. It also allows Mayer to play SS, if needed, since Romy can play 2B.

I like the IKF signing, and it's nice having a real defensive utility guy, for once. $6M seems high, but by what? $1-2M? No big deal.

I really wanted K Marte, then pivoted to Paredes, but apparently those two players demanded more in return than Brez was prepared to give up. (Neto, too.) I'd rather have Paredes & Durbin or KMarte & Durbin than Mayer, but Mayer has some serious upside and might shut me up quickly. The problem was than HOU did not want Mayer. Apparently AZ wanted Mayer & Tolle for KMarte, and I can see why we said no. I think I'd have said yes, as KMarte is not paid much and is that big bat we needed. Being a switch-hitter is nice, too. Maybe getting KMarte and Durbin while losing Mayer & Tolle might have meant we don't get IKF and maybe even Gray, but I'd have tried to make the dollar work to keep 'em all. (Easy for me to say.)

We still he 4 OF'ers plus KC & Masa as depth.

We still have Duran at DH and several players that look like their best slots are or may be DH: Masa, Casas, KC & Romy.

I'd have tried to trade Duran for Paredes, King and Jarek. (Maybe we have to add someone like Holobetz, Mullins or even Eyanson.) With Durbin not IKF.

My choice roster might have looked like this:

1. L Anthony LF

2. S KMarte 2B

3. R Paredes 3B

4. R Contreras 1B

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Story SS

7.  L Masa DH (L Casas/ R Romy or KC DH)

8. R Narvaez C

9. R Rafaela CF

Bench: R Durbin, R Wong, R Romy, R Monasterio/L Casas/R KC

SP: Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Oviedo

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, King, Weissert, Sandoval, Crawford, Watson or Moran

That is well thought out, I obviously like Duran+ Durbin more than Paredes+ Masa. But I can logically see how you got to your lineup. That would be my only tweak, I also would have traded MM and PT for Marte. 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, UtahSox said:

That is well thought out, I obviously like Duran+ Durbin more than Paredes+ Masa. But I can logically see how you got to your lineup. That would be my only tweak, I also would have traded MM and PT for Marte. 

I almost added this thought at the end of my post. 

This does look like a better line-up:

L Anthony

S KMarte

L Duran

R Contreras

L Abreu

R Story

R Durbin

R Narvaez

R Rafaela.

Paredes over Durbin would have been great, but we could not get him without losing Duran or Abreu- both LHB.

 

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

23 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Zack Littell signs with Nats.

 

[jdc69]

On 3/6/2026 at 2:41 PM, Kimmi said:

According to reports, the Red Sox gave Mookie a respectable offer.  He countered with something ridiculous and unreasonable.  IMO, Red Sox are not at fault on those negotiations.

OTOH, the Red Sox butchered the Jon Lester negotiations.  I still haven't forgiven Cherington for that one, and I'm a Cherington fan, unlike so many others here.

If you are right, I agree. Not thinking about money, not resigning Lester was as stupid a non resigning as Mookie, though Mookie was younger. Its as stupid as any off-season decision of any team in any sport anytime. If you say Mookie came back with a ridiculous offer, that's to be considered, though Red Sox could afford it if anybody could. I specifically remembered Lester saying to the camera he was willing to take a home team discount. They both went on to win World Series with the team they signed to prove how stupid it was.

[mvp 78]

On 3/6/2026 at 3:41 PM, Kimmi said:

According to reports, the Red Sox gave Mookie a respectable offer.  He countered with something ridiculous and unreasonable.  IMO, Red Sox are not at fault on those negotiations.

OTOH, the Red Sox butchered the Jon Lester negotiations.  I still haven't forgiven Cherington for that one, and I'm a Cherington fan, unlike so many others here.

Dodgers extended him for an amount that was closer to the "ridiculous and unreasonable" number than what the Sox offered. 

[mvp 78]

On 3/6/2026 at 5:55 PM, moonslav59 said:

(The Covid affect might have affected the contract he signed.)

Massive cope.

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Dodgers extended him for an amount that was closer to the "ridiculous and unreasonable" number than what the Sox offered. 

This is the part many gloss over, ignore or are unaware of.

[JoeBrady]

7 hours ago, jdc69 said:

I specifically remembered Lester saying to the camera he was willing to take a home team discount.

IMO, Lester was far worse.  I think Betts always intended on leaving, but Lester said 'you're going to have to rip this jersey off my back'.

[Old Red]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Dodgers extended him for an amount that was closer to the "ridiculous and unreasonable" number than what the Sox offered. 

Do we actually know what the Red Sox actually did offer Mookie?🤔

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Do we actually know what the Red Sox actually did offer Mookie?🤔

Sox said 300M, Mookie said it was less and for the reporters to go talk to Bloom. If we're charitable, we can go with 300M because it doesn't really matter. 

[Old Red]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sox said 300M, Mookie said it was less and for the reporters to go talk to Bloom. If we're charitable, we can go with 300M because it doesn't really matter. 

I’d still like to see him in RF for the Red Sox, but not for the length, and amount he got as he turns 34 this season.

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I’d still like to see him in RF for the Red Sox, but not for the length, and amount he got as he turns 34 this season.

He's been good at 2b and SS too? He's put up 28 fWAR since going to LA (worth $225M) and 152 HRs. Even if he stinks in a few years, he will have already earned his full contract. He's basically the cost of Masa and Sandoval this year. I'd take Mookie over those two.