Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Hugh2]

16 hours ago, norbit said:

I don't see why Story couldn't play 3b, his arm strength is the same as Bregman and he's 10x's the athlete.

Story probably could play 3B, in which case the team needs to go out and get a 2nd baseman.  Still, In a perfect world we would have a stronger arm on the corner.  Bregman didn't have great arm strength so saying Story has just as much zip on his throws is not saying much. 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Story probably could play 3B, in which case the team needs to go out and get a 2nd baseman.  Still, In a perfect world we would have a stronger arm on the corner.  Bregman didn't have great arm strength so saying Story has just as much zip on his throws is not saying much. 

We've already seen Story play a great 2b though. Just put him there.

[Tedballgame]

On 10/5/2025 at 7:22 PM, Hugh2 said:

I don't think Schwarber would hit 50 home runs here. I think he'd hit around 38 with 50+ doubles.  I'm also very weary about a guy who is entering his age 33 season and only contribution comes one side of the ball.  

I'm not against it, I'd just rather add someone like Alonso, or resign Bregman.  

Schwarber will do more for the team than either one of those guys.

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, Old Red said:

Was beating the Red Sox enough for Boone to keep his job, or is he gonzo?

I hope they keep him and Cashman forever.

Boone Forevers!

[moonslav59]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

We've already seen Story play a great 2b though. Just put him there.

That seems like the best choice in a vacuum, but if Breggie bolts Mayer cannot play SS and 3B. As you have said, he may not be able to even play 150 games if the season was 300 games long. 

I guess trading for a SS or 3Bman is a possibility, but I doubt we do that. Even if Breggie returns: 

3B Breggie

SS ______ (Mayer?)

2B Story

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

Schwarber will do more for the team than either one of those guys.

I'm with Hugh on this. I'd love Schwarber on our team, but he'll be 33 and is pretty much a SH only guy. It looks like Alonso should DH, too, but he's a RHB and turns 31, soon.

It is hard to ignore these numbers per 162 games from '22-'25:

48 HRS 112 RBI .350 OBP & .500+ SLG (134 OPS+) Schwarber

vs

40 HRs 118 RBI .335 OBP & .500+ SLG (134 OPS+) Alonso

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

13 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

Schwarber will do more for the team than either one of those guys.

Realistically, the Sox need all three of Bregman, Alonso and Schwarber, if they want to stack up against the elite batting orders of true contenders. They're not going to the playoffs because of their gloves, like the NL's top four teams in defensive efficiency did: Cubs, Padres, Red, Brewers. 

The other two NL favorites, LA and Philly, are so loaded they can compensate for other weaknesses. When one stud has a bad game or slumps, there are always other stars due up who can change the game with one swing.

Having a deep line-up with several longball threats is vital in the postseason, so foes can't always pitch around danger. Boston lost Anthony, but the Blue Jays also played without their best hitter in Bichette -- and still blasted 9 home runs in 4 games vs. NY.

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

Schwarber will do more for the team than either one of those guys.

Schwarber is a patient hitter and it could catch on with other players. I think his HR total would suffer at Fenway. Think it's 90% likely he re-signs with PHI. 

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I hope they keep him and Cashman forever.

Boone Forevers!

Cashman has only missed the playoffs 5 times in 28 years. They'd be absolutely braindead to let him go. 

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That seems like the best choice in a vacuum, but if Breggie bolts Mayer cannot play SS and 3B. As you have said, he may not be able to even play 150 games if the season was 300 games long. 

I guess trading for a SS or 3Bman is a possibility, but I doubt we do that. Even if Breggie returns: 

3B Breggie

SS ______ (Mayer?)

2B Story

If Bregman leaves, the Sox will keep Story at SS, move Mayer to 3b and roster share at 2b. 

[notin]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Story probably could play 3B, in which case the team needs to go out and get a 2nd baseman.  Still, In a perfect world we would have a stronger arm on the corner.  Bregman didn't have great arm strength so saying Story has just as much zip on his throws is not saying much. 

Per StatCast, both Bregman and Story average 82.3 mph…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Bregman leaves, the Sox will keep Story at SS, move Mayer to 3b and roster share at 2b. 

Roster share?  Like more Hamilton/Romy?

Not even bring in someone like Luis Rengifo?

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Per StatCast, both Bregman and Story average 82.3 mph…

Story: 11 throwing errors

Breggie: 6 throwing errors

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

Roster share?  Like more Hamilton/Romy?

Not even bring in someone like Luis Rengifo?

Yeah, they go with the Hamilton/Romy/Campbell gimmick again. 😍

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cashman has only missed the playoffs 5 times in 28 years. They'd be absolutely braindead to let him go. 

I'm thrilled they keep him.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Bregman leaves, the Sox will keep Story at SS, move Mayer to 3b and roster share at 2b. 

Yup, but I might go Story at 3B or 2B and Mayer at SS. (Sign Suarez- yuck on 3B D, or Polanco/Torres for 2B)

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Story: 11 throwing errors

Breggie: 6 throwing errors

Assists:

397 Story

206 Bregman

Almost identical throwing errors per throw.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Assists:

397 Story

206 Bregman

Almost identical throwing errors per throw.

Story has a lot more underhanded gimmies to 2b. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup, but I might go Story at 3B or 2B and Mayer at SS. (Sign Suarez- yuck on 3B D, or Polanco/Torres for 2B)

Suarez, Polanco, Torres -- or Geno-Jorge-Gleyyyyybar -- starring in "The Three Stunads go to Negative dWAR"

[notin]

34 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, they go with the Hamilton/Romy/Campbell gimmick again. 😍

If they do, I am holding you personally responsible.  I hope you will be able to explain yourself when you’re called to testify before The Committee…

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Story has a lot more underhanded gimmies to 2b. 

True. I think Story would be okay at 3B but much better at 2B.

I share your immense concern with Mayer's ability to play a full season, so counting on him to play 3B 150 games scares me. We have no real depth at 3B, either.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

If they do, I am holding you personally responsible.  I hope you will be able to explain yourself when you’re called to testify before The Committee…

You're talking about the Nobel Prize Committee of course? 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

True. I think Story would be okay at 3B but much better at 2B.

I share your immense concern with Mayer's ability to play a full season, so counting on him to play 3B 150 games scares me. We have no real depth at 3B, either.

It's a good thing our farm is 80/20 pitching/hitting now. The IF backups are Romero/Sogard/Arias. A lot of the DSL guys that have climbed the ranks to AA just can't hit a lick unfortunately (Alcantara, Liendo, De Leon). The Sox's best bet is Godbout, but there's a 50/50 chance Brezzz deals him away before he makes it to BOS. 

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, notin said:

If they do, I am holding you personally responsible.  I hope you will be able to explain yourself when you’re called to testify before The Committee…

The've played musical chairs at 3B since the day Pedey got hurt.

In the last 9 years (about 12000 innings at 2B) here are the Sox innings leaders:

2017-2025: Not one player has 1/9 of the innings.

1248 Arroyo (less than 1/10th of all innings.) Most innings in '22 & '23

1103 Holt (most in 2019)

1046 Nunez (most in 2018)

890 Pedey (most in 2017)

845 Valdez (most in '24)

814 Story

679 DHam

556 Chavis

472 Campbell (most innings in 2025)

418 Romy

357 Kike (most in '21)

332 Marco H

298 Kinsler

200-260: Marwin, Grissom, Reyes, Rafaela, urias, Arauz, Peraza (most in '20)

100-199: Sogard, Lin, Iggy, Y Sanchez, Westbrook, Rutledge

13 players 10-99 innings

7 players 1-9 innings

Predicting another merry-go-round at 2B seems like a safe bet.

 

 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It's a good thing our farm is 80/20 pitching/hitting now. The IF backups are Romero/Sogard/Arias. A lot of the DSL guys that have climbed the ranks to AA just can't hit a lick unfortunately (Alcantara, Liendo, De Leon). The Sox's best bet is Godbout, but there's a 50/50 chance Brezzz deals him away before he makes it to BOS. 

It seems obvious Brez needs to trade from the OF and... gasp... pitching depth to upgrade thew quality in the IF (including a big power bat) and TOTR.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, they go with the Hamilton/Romy/Campbell gimmick again. 😍

Why?

[drewski6]

12 hours ago, Old Red said:

I don’t think the Red Sox have done it the way they have the past few years of not having more of a set lineup, because they wanted to, but they have needed to due to injuries, and No reliable backups. Story was mostly out for a couple of years, because of injuries, Casas has been out mostly out for a couple years, because of injuries, so there was revolving doors at those two positions, because of it. If Story, and Casas isn’t injured those two positions would be set full time. 2B has also been a revolving door, because no one has won the job full time. I also think Mayer would have a full time position right now if he hadn’t of lost so much development time, because of injury.

Injuries yes, but also slumps and handedness.  All of which will continue to happen. You only get so many spots on your 26 man roster, and on your 40 man roster.  If you have two second baseman who are both starter quality, but one is riding the pine more than they should (just odd man out in a numbers game) and your 3b gets hurt, you dont sub in a guy who is strictly a thirdbaseman, you find a way to work in the MLB caliber 2b who previously  couldnt get in there.

You also take into account handedness, current streak.  Plenty of guys play position x against righties and position x against lefties, because they need to move over for a dude who only plays against one or the other.  ANd prolonged slumps can also be a reason why you shake things up.

But its about having options and versatility, so you can play your best players.

[notin]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You're talking about the Nobel Prize Committee of course? 

Ummm…. Of course.  Yes, they look forward to hearing from you.  
 

Just remember, when the time comes, those are …. ummm … party shackles.  Theyre for fun!  Lots of fun!

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Why?

They already have Romy, Hamilton and Campbell under contract. The lack of viable FA 2b's. They have bigger decisions to make with the roster this offseason: Abreu/Duran potential move, Casas injury replacement, Masa potential move, Breggie re-sign or replacement, Giolito re-sign or replacement, bullpen addition. Brezzz isn't a guy who completely overhauls the team, but adds here and there. 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Ummm…. Of course.  Yes, they look forward to hearing from you.  
 

Just remember, when the time comes, those are …. ummm … party shackles.  Theyre for fun!  Lots of fun!

Is that what the mysterious plane ticket to Geneva is for? Exciting!!! 🥳