Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

On the contrary -- after seeing what transpired when the team broke camp last Spring -- would it be that surprising, if either Abreu or Duran is traded, that Garcia makes the 2026 big league roster?

Possible reason #1: Cora loves platooning. In yesterday's presser, when asked if he could handle having four starting outfielders for an entire season, he pointed to the 2018 champs: "Greatest Red Sox team ever, and we platooned at 1B, 2B, 3B and C... with three studs in the outfield" (and Bogey at SS, JD at DH).

Possible reason #2: Kristian Campbell, 2025. The org handed him a starting position coming out of Florida, even though Mayer and Anthony outplayed him in the Grapefruit League. Hopefully, the front office liked the balance his right-handed pop could provide, after he tore up the minors in '24... and not because he was more apt to sign a team-friendly contract than Mayer or Anthony, whose clocks they held back.

If Garcia, by most accounts at least as good an outfielder as Duran and Anthony, continues to show promising RHH power next Spring, why couldn't he be the next Campbell? Unless, Campbell becomes the next Campbell...

Breslow admitted more home runs was something the team needs, and The Password led the system in HRs the past two years... and will make minimum wage, and not hundreds of millions like free agent sluggers Brez would have to pay instead. 

From what I've heard, Jh Garcia is already a better defender than Duran and might be better than Anthony (no knock on Roman.) JG's bat is unproven and likely starts as a platoon, but with so many lefties and Rafaela having reverse splits, we can cover him. (I'm assuming Ref does not return. If he does, then this becomes questionable.)

I am also very far from giving up on KC. Someone said he has a "long road back." If he's not back, soon, he likely never will be. The guy can hit. IMO, he will at the major level and soon. His issue is defense.

[notin]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Houck is out until 2027, and we lost Gio & Buehler. Fitts proved nothing. Perales has a long way to go to prove he's for real. Dobbins and Crawford showed promise at the MLB level, but should be viewed as #5s. If Sandoval is healthy, he's maye a #4. 

We went into 2025 with 11-12 SP'ers with MLB promise, and that wasn't even counting Early & Tolle, and we still ended up looking around for a SP at the deadline and for game 3 of the playoffs.

#1 Crochet

#3 Bello

#4 Sandoval, if healthy

#5 Crawford, Dobbins, Early

#6 Harrison, Fitts, Tolle (pen?) Criswell, Perales

Love the depth: hate the lack of top quality SP'ers, other than Crochet.

I'm not saying Brez will add a #2, but I hope to hell he does.

Houck and Dobbins will both likely start the season on the 60 day IL, but they can’t be put on it until March. Until then, they are 2 of 11 SPs on the 40 man roster.

I keep suggesting Fitts to the pen, just like I did with Whitlock.  It took them 3 years to put Whitlock in the pen.  I’ve been posting about Fitts for two.  If history here means anything (it doesn’t), Fitts won’t go to the pen for another year.

Tolle is going to Worcester.

The Sox could start the season with Crochet-Bello-Sandoval-Crawford-Early in the rotation, which will appease 0 fans. But right now, that’s the most likely rotation.  I suppose Harrison might be trade bait.

 

[notin]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

From what I've heard, Jh Garcia is already a better defender than Duran and might be better than Anthony (no knock on Roman.) JG's bat is unproven and likely starts as a platoon, but with so many lefties and Rafaela having reverse splits, we can cover him. (I'm assuming Ref does not return. If he does, then this becomes questionable.)

I am also very far from giving up on KC. Someone said he has a "long road back." If he's not back, soon, he likely never will be. The guy can hit. IMO, he will at the major level and soon. His issue is defense.

If Refsnyder retires, Eaton might be the RHH fourth OF, rather than putting Garcis in a role that maxes out around 40 games.  Eaton will very likely be that guy that flops and returns to being the player he was pre-Boston, earning the disdain of many.  But he certainly did earn the right to be that guy and flop for Boston.

Heres the thing.  If you think Campbell has to earn his way back as if he never destroyed MiLB pitching and wasn’t the Offensive Rookie of the Month for April and think he’s no different than Corey Rosier at this point, and if you’ve gone to the extent of thinking Password is more likely or more worthy of making the roster than Campbell is, then you have given up on him.  He’s not back at Square One; thr Sox extended him for a reason, and they knew at the time there was a good chance he struggled at some point (I mean, he was struggling when they extended him.), but they did it because they had enough faith in him to overcome whatever obstacles he faced…

[Bellhorn04]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Houck is out until 2027, and we lost Gio & Buehler. Fitts proved nothing. Perales has a long way to go to prove he's for real. Dobbins and Crawford showed promise at the MLB level, but should be viewed as #5s. If Sandoval is healthy, he's maye a #4. 

We went into 2025 with 11-12 SP'ers with MLB promise, and that wasn't even counting Early & Tolle, and we still ended up looking around for a SP at the deadline and for game 3 of the playoffs.

#1 Crochet

#3 Bello

#4 Sandoval, if healthy

#5 Crawford, Dobbins, Early

#6 Harrison, Fitts, Tolle (pen?) Criswell, Perales

Love the depth: hate the lack of top quality SP'ers, other than Crochet.

I'm not saying Brez will add a #2, but I hope to hell he does.

I'd even settle for a #3 with #2 upside. 😊

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, notin said:

If Refsnyder retires, Eaton might be the RHH fourth OF, rather than putting Garcis in a role that maxes out around 40 games.  Eaton will very likely be that guy that flops and returns to being the player he was pre-Boston, earning the disdain of many.  But he certainly did earn the right to be that guy and flop for Boston…

Refsnyder ain't retiring.  This is gonna be like the Who's 1982 "farewell concert".  Pete and Roger are still playing live in 2025.

[notin]

13 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Refsnyder ain't retiring.  This is gonna be like the Who's 1982 "farewell concert".  Pete and Roger are still playing live in 2025.

He can always come out of retirement, like Rush…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Nobody is giving up on Campbell's bat. But it is still mystifying that professional baseball evaluators in the Boston Red Sox system thought or still think he can play major league defense somewhere in the infield.

Maybe KC becomes the new platoon corner outfielder if one of the LHH is traded this winter.

Otherwise, unless Campbell suddenly cranks 30 home runs (he's never hit more than 20 in the minors), an MLB contender can't live with his current shaky D, even at 1B.

[moonslav59]

28 minutes ago, notin said:

Houck and Dobbins will both likely start the season on the 60 day IL, but they can’t be put on it until March. Until then, they are 2 of 11 SPs on the 40 man roster.

I keep suggesting Fitts to the pen, just like I did with Whitlock.  It took them 3 years to put Whitlock in the pen.  I’ve been posting about Fitts for two.  If history here means anything (it doesn’t), Fitts won’t go to the pen for another year.

Tolle is going to Worcester.

The Sox could start the season with Crochet-Bello-Sandoval-Crawford-Early in the rotation, which will appease 0 fans. But right now, that’s the most likely rotation.  I suppose Harrison might be trade bait.

 

Maybe Harrison would be the 2026 Priester. I'm reading Dobbins will be 100% on opening day of ST'ing.

W4e started the 2025 season (after day one, as 60 Day players start on the 40)with Sandoval, Penrod & Murphy on the 60 Day IL. Crawford, Bello, Gio & Perales started on the shorter IL. That was 7 pitchers (5 SP/ 2 RP) on the opening day 40 man roster starting the season on the IL.

Our starting 5 was Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Fitts & Newcomb. We had these SP'ers on the 40 but not 26: Priester, Dobbins, Criswell & Wink (pen?)

5 OD rotation, 5 IL, 3-4 in minors and on the 40. That's 13-14, and it wasn't enough. We traded Newcomb & Priester but acquired Harrison & May. We added Early, Tolle & de Leon and still used Bernardino as an opener 3 times.

We have room to add one major SP'er and still ha ve the same or less SP'ers on the 40 as 2025.

Crochet, ____, Bello, Sandoval, Crawford

To 60 Day IL day 1: Houck 

AAA: Early, Harrison, Dobbins, Fitts, Perales, (Pen? Tolle & Criswell)

That's 13, but going to 12 once Houck goes on the 60.

Again, I'm not sure Brez will do it, but I'd add a #2.

[Nick]

“I learned a lot about the value of building relationships and having clear communication and spending time with the coaching staff and spending time with the players and certainly with (manager) Alex (Cora),” Breslow added. “And having honest conversations, uncomfortable as they may be at times. So I think the short answer there is, I’ve learned a ton.”

So we had a trainee running our ball club? I can't imagine DD every saying what Breslow admitted here. 

 

[Nick]

“Sometimes those work out, sometimes they don’t,” Breslow added. “But I think we had a good process, we had good information. And our hope is we’re going to find ourselves eight months from now or whatever it is in late July with a really good team that we believe in that we’re looking to bolster all over again.”

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Just get the damn job done.

[Duran Is The Man]

16 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Remember that time when we traded Chris Sale and got a young 2nd baseman and people were surprised we got that much in return?  

not me. i thought it was stupid as hell.

[Duran Is The Man]

13 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Nobody is giving up on Campbell's bat. But it is still mystifying that professional baseball evaluators in the Boston Red Sox system thought or still think he can play major league defense somewhere in the infield.

Maybe KC becomes the new platoon corner outfielder if one of the LHH is traded this winter.

Otherwise, unless Campbell suddenly cranks 30 home runs (he's never hit more than 20 in the minors), an MLB contender can't live with his current shaky D, even at 1B.

i still can't believe they gave him a big contract. just insane for guy that literally proved nothing.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Houck is out until 2027, and we lost Gio & Buehler. Fitts proved nothing. Perales has a long way to go to prove he's for real. Dobbins and Crawford showed promise at the MLB level, but should be viewed as #5s. If Sandoval is healthy, he's maye a #4. 

We went into 2025 with 11-12 SP'ers with MLB promise, and that wasn't even counting Early & Tolle, and we still ended up looking around for a SP at the deadline and for game 3 of the playoffs.

#1 Crochet

#3 Bello

#4 Sandoval, if healthy

#5 Crawford, Dobbins, Early

#6 Harrison, Fitts, Tolle (pen?) Criswell, Perales

Love the depth: hate the lack of top quality SP'ers, other than Crochet.

I'm not saying Brez will add a #2, but I hope to hell he does.

I think Perales ends up in the pen TBH. Not necessarily a bad thing either. 

Dobbins looked like a #4 to me. Harrison pitched terribly in AAA, but showed promise at the end of the year. If he's the #5, it's not the end of the world. 

Crochet

Bello

Sandoval (yuck)

Early

Harrison

Depth: Dobbins (when healthy), Criswell (long guy in the pen), Tolle, Fitts (trade bait IMO), Crawford, Uberstine

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i still can't believe they gave him a big contract. just insane for guy that literally proved nothing.

When it was signed, everyone was saying it was a huge steal for the Sox.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Nick said:

“I learned a lot about the value of building relationships and having clear communication and spending time with the coaching staff and spending time with the players and certainly with (manager) Alex (Cora),” Breslow added. “And having honest conversations, uncomfortable as they may be at times. So I think the short answer there is, I’ve learned a ton.”

So we had a trainee running our ball club? I can't imagine DD every saying what Breslow admitted here. 

 

It's the only guy that was willing to take the job. All the qualified candidates said no. That's what happens when you keep letting people go. Henry fired Theo, Ben and DD. All three had won WS. All three were highly valued everywhere else. DD and Theo are HOF type guys. 

[notin]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Perales ends up in the pen TBH. Not necessarily a bad thing either. 

Dobbins looked like a #4 to me. Harrison pitched terribly in AAA, but showed promise at the end of the year. If he's the #5, it's not the end of the world. 

Crochet

Bello

Sandoval (yuck)

Early

Harrison

Depth: Dobbins (when healthy), Criswell (long guy in the pen), Tolle, Fitts (trade bait IMO), Crawford, Uberstine

Uberstine is not even on my radar.  I think he doesn’t get protected and Maybe gets taken in the Rule 5 draft.  And within 3 years, we have all forgotten he existed.

Harrison’s questionable numbers in AAA could be related to reports that he was working on a new pitch and a new grip for one of his old pitches.  If that’s true, there should have been a learning curve…

[mvp 78]

53 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Refsnyder ain't retiring.  This is gonna be like the Who's 1982 "farewell concert".  Pete and Roger are still playing live in 2025.

Pete shouldn't be TBH. 

[notin]

8 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i still can't believe they gave him a big contract. just insane for guy that literally proved nothing.

This kind of thing is happening a lot.  If you wait until they prove something, the contract gets much, much larger.  Anthony’s deal, for example, was more than double. Campbell’s…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Uberstine is not even on my radar.  I think he doesn’t get protected and Maybe gets taken in the Rule 5 draft.  And within 3 years, we have all forgotten he existed.

Harrison’s questionable numbers in AAA could be related to reports that he was working on a new pitch and a new grip for one of his old pitches.  If that’s true, there should have been a learning curve…

I mean, Uberstine was listed 11th in my depth chart! 

[Duran Is The Man]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

When it was signed, everyone was saying it was a huge steal for the Sox.

just those fluffing for Breslow.

[mvp 78]

 

[notin]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I mean, Uberstine was listed 11th in my depth chart! 

But does that mean you think he gets protected? 

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

But dies that mean you think he gets protected? 

Not sure he'd get picked in the draft. I think Sandlin would though. 

[moonslav59]

24 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Perales ends up in the pen TBH. Not necessarily a bad thing either. 

Dobbins looked like a #4 to me. Harrison pitched terribly in AAA, but showed promise at the end of the year. If he's the #5, it's not the end of the world. 

Crochet

Bello

Sandoval (yuck)

Early

Harrison

Depth: Dobbins (when healthy), Criswell (long guy in the pen), Tolle, Fitts (trade bait IMO), Crawford, Uberstine

I liked the preseason look of 2025 more than this, and that was with serious doubts about Gio, Bello and concerns about Houck's second half of '24, Crawford's repeating 2024 and Crochet's ability to go over 150 IP.

[moonslav59]

I think we protect Sandlin.

Mullins & Paez are on the bubble but IMO a no.

Monegro is a no due to the injury. Bubble, otherwise.

Uberstine is a no.

Other no's: Hickey, Castro, Drohan and all others, 

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I liked the preseason look of 2025 more than this, and that was with serious doubts about Gio, Bello and concerns about Houck's second half of '24, Crawford's repeating 2024 and Crochet's ability to go over 150 IP.

You may have liked how it looked, but the execution of it left something to be desired. The 2026 version may be better than the 2025 version. It depends on health and Bello TBH.

[notin]

1. C

   11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

   I think we protect Sandlin.

   Mullins & Paez are on the bubble but IMO a no.

   Monegro is a no due to the injury. Bubble, otherwise.

   Uberstine is a no.

   Other no's: Hickey, Castro, Drohan and all others, 

   No one is taking Paez.  You don’t see many A ball pitchers go in the Rule 5 draft…

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think we protect Sandlin.

Mullins & Paez are on the bubble but IMO a no.

Monegro is a no due to the injury. Bubble, otherwise.

Uberstine is a no.

Other no's: Hickey, Castro, Drohan and all others, 

Paez is too far away IMO. Hasn't thrown above High A and didn't pitch 20 innings last season. Good pitcher, but hard to stash on a MLB roster. 

Mullins is a bubble guy, but do the Sox really need another LH reliever on the 40 man? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

1. C

   No one is taking Paez.  You don’t see many A ball pitchers go in the Rule 5 draft…

Last year:

McDaniels picked with only 3 IP of AA ball - returned during the season

Nunez picked with 0 IP of AA ball - returned during the season

9 of the 15 selected players were returned to their original teams (5 before the end of ST).