Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree with you. He's not going to be a 40 HR guy because of the GB rate, but he's the franchise. 

Crochet is the franchise. And we just wasted one of his prime years by having a team full of noodlebates in the playoffs.

RA is nice to have.  But hes not scoring from first with his legs. So we need power behind him. Or we risk wasting more of Crochets prime.

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, Cameron Tran said:

I think everyone here is way to low on Roman. From the start of July until September 2nd (when he got hurt) Roman was 10th in MLB in OPS, 5th in OBP, 11th in WRC+, 4th in hard hit%, 3rd in EV. Also graded out well in RF with 6 OAA and 3 FRV. This kid is a stud. Going to be a perineneal all star. Will be an MVP candidate year in year out. Clearly our best player. This kids incredible and if we build a team lets build it around him. 

I would agree that hes our best position player right now.

[mvp 78]

29 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Crochet is the franchise. And we just wasted one of his prime years by having a team full of noodlebates in the playoffs.

RA is nice to have.  But hes not scoring from first with his legs. So we need power behind him. Or we risk wasting more of Crochets prime.

Wasting one of his years would be fielding a noncompetitive team. They made the playoffs. It wasn't successful. They aren't going to win the WS every year. Did they waste Pedro's prime from 98-03?

[drewski6]

21 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Wasting one of his years would be fielding a noncompetitive team. They made the playoffs. It wasn't successful. They aren't going to win the WS every year. Did they waste Pedro's prime from 98-03?

Fair enough.  My point is that we need to try to win a world series next year. Not buy and sell. Not half try. 

[drewski6]

My peeve is complacency. Dont be complacent and I am happy. I do not expect WS every year.  IM not even really a results guy. Im an input > output guy. I am not a believer in win or fail or do or do not there is no such thing as try.

But I do not want to start plugging holes with dudes just because they are here because they are cheap or we are lazy or we overrate our own guys.

Need to get busy, cuz this team has work in front of them. Its a crucial offseason. And we need bats to hit behind our excellent lead off hitter (roman)

[drewski6]

I got so sick of seeing this team just roll over Verdugo every year.

[drewski6]

ANd i got even sicker of people telling me verdugo was good.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Fair enough.  My point is that we need to try to win a world series next year. Not buy and sell. Not half try. 

I agree. I said prior to 2025 that it was a transitional season and almost a "punt" year because they were really testing their waters with the young guys. Well, now they know what Anthony is. They have 4 OFers, Story, a starting catcher and that's it right now. They have an opportunity to add via trade and FA to get them to be a WS contender. I'm just not sure if Breslow has the capacity to get them there in one offseason. This is his third season as CBO and the training wheels should be off by now. 

[drewski6]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I agree. I said prior to 2025 that it was a transitional season and almost a "punt" year because they were really testing their waters with the young guys. Well, now they know what Anthony is. They have 4 OFers, Story, a starting catcher and that's it right now. They have an opportunity to add via trade and FA to get them to be a WS contender. I'm just not sure if Breslow has the capacity to get them there in one offseason. This is his third season as CBO and the training wheels should be off by now. 

Are you going out of your way to avoid crediting Crochet? Are you trolling me?

[drewski6]

What we have is the best ace in the AL. The list of assets starts there. I would agree that RA is second, even above Chapman. And that has nothing to do with age. I think that for 2026, RA is the second most important player that is on the team today.

[moonslav59]

I'm pretty sure MVP and everyone else is firmly in the camp against complacency.

We need Crochet and Anthony plus more. Much more, but not at 7 other positions.

We need 3, maybe 4 high quality players. That seems like a lot, but really, it doesn't have to be. We are losing Bregman, Gio and Buehler's contracts. We have an extra high-quality OF'er to headline a trade package.

Sure, we have some big extensions kicking in a few small arb raises to add on, but there should be $40-50M to spend plus one major trade. That should be enough for 3 major additions.

If we don't add 2-3, we'll know JH is fine with complacency.

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

My peeve is complacency. Dont be complacent and I am happy. I do not expect WS every year.  IM not even really a results guy. Im an input > output guy. I am not a believer in win or fail or do or do not there is no such thing as try.

But I do not want to start plugging holes with dudes just because they are here because they are cheap or we are lazy or we overrate our own guys.

Need to get busy, cuz this team has work in front of them. Its a crucial offseason. And we need bats to hit behind our excellent lead off hitter (roman)

What would you view as complacency?

I would suspect the Sox add about 4 players, some of whom might be returning faces.   For all of the talk about Ryan and Greene, would anyone be surprised if Giolito was the only major SP addition (assuming he opts out). 
 

Or Bregman returning? I don’t think anyone would be shocked.  But I would be shocked if they signed Bregman and then went Alonso. 
 

Would Bregman and Giolito be considered complacency?

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

What we have is the best ace in the AL. The list of assets starts there. I would agree that RA is second, even above Chapman. And that has nothing to do with age. I think that for 2026, RA is the second most important player that is on the team today.

If we agree on the idea that we will not likely turnover more than 3-4 positions with 3B, 1B and SP being just about automatic turn-overs due to Bregman & Gio opting out and Lowe's arb cost being too high, but how do you rank out highest need areas? I'm pretty sure you have Rafaela higher on the list than I do, but here is mine:

1. 3B (Mayer can play 2B with Romy/DHam/Sogard as capable depth)

T2. SP2 (Preferably a borderline #1)

T2. 1B (Casas would be great depth and had options remaining. Romy/Campbell is better extended depth than we knew we had going into 2025.)

4. 2B (With Mayer and Story's health in question, we could use a solid middle IF'er type.)

If we miss out on a big bat at 3B or 1B, maybe a trade for someone like K Marte of a J polanco signing could make up for the non plus.

I really do not see the other positions as high need, but I'd rank them like this:

5. Back-up Catcher

6. LH'd RP'er

7. Infield depth

With RHBs Garcia & Campbell as OF depth and Duran & garcia capable of playing CF well enough, I don't see CF as a need area at all. I know you disagree, but I think you'd be fine with our OF, if we fixed the first 3-4 slots on my priority list.

[drewski6]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

What would you view as complacency?

I would suspect the Sox add about 4 players, some of whom might be returning faces.   For all of the talk about Ryan and Greene, would anyone be surprised if Giolito was the only major SP addition (assuming he opts out). 
 

Or Bregman returning? I don’t think anyone would be shocked.  But I would be shocked if they signed Bregman and then went Alonso. 
 

Would Bregman and Giolito be considered complacency?

Alone? Yes but not terribly complacent.  Add another bat and Im good.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

Would Bregman and Giolito be considered complacency?

If that it, or even adding a Hoskins over Lowe addition plus bringing Matz back, I'd still say a resounding YES!

We will likely not win a ring in 2026 running back the same team. We'd be putting all our hopes in less injuries and major steps up by the younger players. While that is not an outlandish plan, teams that fail to improve over the winter are not usually viewed  as major contenders.

We were about the 10th best team in MLB. One could argue 8th best due to a tougher schedule, and maybe higher, if you averaged out all the teams' injuries, but several teams above us had major injuries, too. The Yanks were missing their ace all year, and teams like the Astros, who we barely topped were missing a large chunk of their rotation all year long.

We need to improve- maybe not by as much as I'm advocating, but I can't see how anyone would see us as a top 4-5 contender running back the same team minus Buehler & Lowe plus just Hoskins.

Is adding Hoskins enough, assuming Bregman, Gio, Matz and Ref return? I'd call that complacent, too.

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If we agree on the idea that we will not likely turnover more than 3-4 positions with 3B, 1B and SP being just about automatic turn-overs due to Bregman & Gio opting out and Lowe's arb cost being too high, but how do you rank out highest need areas? I'm pretty sure you have Rafaela higher on the list than I do, but here is mine:

1. 3B (Mayer can play 2B with Romy/DHam/Sogard as capable depth)

T2. SP2 (Preferably a borderline #1)

T2. 1B (Casas would be great depth and had options remaining. Romy/Campbell is better extended depth than we knew we had going into 2025.)

4. 2B (With Mayer and Story's health in question, we could use a solid middle IF'er type.)

If we miss out on a big bat at 3B or 1B, maybe a trade for someone like K Marte of a J polanco signing could make up for the non plus.

I really do not see the other positions as high need, but I'd rank them like this:

5. Back-up Catcher

6. LH'd RP'er

7. Infield depth

With RHBs Garcia & Campbell as OF depth and Duran & garcia capable of playing CF well enough, I don't see CF as a need area at all. I know you disagree, but I think you'd be fine with our OF, if we fixed the first 3-4 slots on my priority list.

I dont view players through the lens of what position they play.

I would say our number 1 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

I would say our number 2 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

So now you have 2 quality table setters (Duran, RA) - maybe Duran gets traded. Im okay with it at this point becasue you have RA and the 2 acquisitions above  You have Story/Abreu who are good hitters for like your 5,6,7, so now the order is starting to come together

After that I would say a pitcher of Gio's caliber or better.

After that I think I would be greedy to ask for that again, so we'll say another solid starter

After that Im going back for another hitter if we can

Then maybe pen depth. Lefty preferred.

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I dont view players through the lens of what position they play.

I would say our number 1 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

I would say our number 2 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

So now you have 2 quality table setters (Duran, RA) - maybe Duran gets traded. Im okay with it at this point becasue you have RA and the 2 acquisitions above  You have Story/Abreu who are good hitters for like your 5,6,7, so now the order is starting to come together

After that I would say a pitcher of Gio's caliber or better.

After that I think I would be greedy to ask for that again, so we'll say another solid starter

After that Im going back for another hitter if we can

Then maybe pen depth. Lefty preferred.

Bregman, Gio, trade Duran for Greene, Alonso and Im celebrating.

[drewski6]

Bregman, Gio, trade Cedanne for Lodolo, and Schwarber and Im celebrating.

[drewski6]

Bregman, Gio trade Roman Anthony for Lodolo AND Hunter Greene, Alonso and Im celebrating.

[drewski6]

When I see Lodolos BTV score, hes a worthy target.  Thats a hitters park and then some. Lodolo is better than y'all think.  That slurve is nasty. He was 7 overall pick. Hes a 6'6 lefty. Could be a swipe. Greene is a boss too. Wouldnt be surprised to see the reds right back in the playoffs next year.

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I dont view players through the lens of what position they play.

I would say our number 1 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

I would say our number 2 need is a good middle of the order bat (hits 2,3, or 4 in your lineup). I care not where he plays. Wouldnt even care if hes an outfielder and we have to trade or even play somebody in a weird position.

So now you have 2 quality table setters (Duran, RA) - maybe Duran gets traded. Im okay with it at this point becasue you have RA and the 2 acquisitions above  You have Story/Abreu who are good hitters for like your 5,6,7, so now the order is starting to come together

After that I would say a pitcher of Gio's caliber or better.

After that I think I would be greedy to ask for that again, so we'll say another solid starter

After that Im going back for another hitter if we can

Then maybe pen depth. Lefty preferred.

I don't see Duran's OBP as being high enough to lead off. I'd start with Anthony at #1. I share you view that we really don't have any currently controlled players that jump out as a solid #2, 3 or 4 batter. Duarn or Story are is okay as a #3. Abreu vs RHPs is fine as a #3 or #4. Ref, if he returns or Romy could be okay as a #3 or 4 vs LHPs, but in general, I agree we need a 2, 3 and 4 batter. 

That's not going to happen, but we can add two and flip Story/Abreu in the 3 slot, depending on who is the opposing pitcher.

1. L Anthony

2. R ______ 

3. L Abreu/ R Story

4. R ______

5. L Duarn/R Story

6. R Romy or Ref/ L Duran

7. L Mayer/ R Campbell

8. R Narvaez

9. R Rafaela

[Donnie Sadler was short]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Wasting one of his years would be fielding a noncompetitive team. They made the playoffs. It wasn't successful. They aren't going to win the WS every year. Did they waste Pedro's prime from 98-03?

I agree...plus the kids got a taste of playoff baseball....that can only help them going forward

 

[moonslav59]

The window is now. 

We need to stop dicking around!

[moonslav59]

Big Ms win! Homer happy!

[Duran Is The Man]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The window is now. 

We need to stop dicking around!

Brez will probably sign some has been pitcher on rehab for a couple years and call it a day.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Duran Is The Man said:

Brez will probably sign some has been pitcher on rehab for a couple years and call it a day.

Only if JH sets a low winter budget.

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Only if JH sets a low winter budget.

they do it year after year after year after year. and it never works out. and i don't expect this winter to be any different. needless to say, i have very low expectations.

[moonslav59]

25 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

they do it year after year after year after year. and it never works out. and i don't expect this winter to be any different. needless to say, i have very low expectations.

Come on. Your memory doesnt even go back 10 months.

Does Bregman, Buehler, Chapman, Wilson and a mega extension to Crochet ring a bell?

[Duran Is The Man]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Come on. Your memory doesnt even go back 10 months.

Does Bregman, Buehler, Chapman, Wilson and a mega extension to Crochet ring a bell?

i was saying the rehab pitchers never work out. Chapman was great. and i've said so many times. Bregman was great but he opted out and his signing basically caused us to lose Devers. so....maybe not such a great signing after all.  Buehler was a the yearly John Henry Rehab Special and a horrible waste of money.

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i was saying the rehab pitchers never work out. Chapman was great. and i've said so many times. Bregman was great but he opted out and his signing basically caused us to lose Devers. so....maybe not such a great signing after all.  Buehler was a the yearly John Henry Rehab Special and a horrible waste of money.

OK, my bad. I agree on that.

Buehler was the same thing as all along but at twice the wasted cost. 

I forgot Sandoval, too.

Henry did allow a lot of spending, though, especially in light of the Devers extension kicking in in 2024.