Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Hugh2]

Depth is nice, but when David Hamilton is your 2nd baseman and a guy who was maybe you’re 15th pitcher at the beginning of the season becomes your 3rd starter then you’re hurting the team by hoarding depth at one position.  
 

 

[Bellhorn04]

9 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

You’re missing my point.  What team out there has a guy capable of being a starter and making an all star team riding the bench?  Sure that would be nice but when you have other holes to fill that’s just a massive mismanagement of resources.

injuries happen, to everyone, some years worse than others, but if we follow your extreme logic we should just never trade anyone ever.  The backups can go down to, and the guys behind those guys. 

next year it could be all our relief pitchers going down.  

personally I’d rather trade one of the outfielders for a stud pitcher/infielder and sign Tucker.  With Roman back you got a legit middle order 

You're not trading Abreu for a stud pitcher, so there's that.

[Bellhorn04]

7 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Depth is nice, but when David Hamilton is your 2nd baseman and a guy who was maybe you’re 15th pitcher at the beginning of the season becomes your 3rd starter then you’re hurting the team by hoarding depth at one position.  
 

 

There's never enough depth at starting pitcher.  We saw it this year for ourselves.

[Hugh2]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

You're not trading Abreu for a stud pitcher, so there's that.

You’re taking my general statement and turning it into something it’s not.  
 

I never said you specifically had to trade Abreu, only an outfielder, that could be someone else.

I also never said Abreu would net you a stud pitcher, only that he’d be part of a package.  Abreu for player x is one deal Abreu/Tolle for player x is an entirely different deal.

Disclosure: not advocating to trade Tolle

[Hugh2]

Let’s also keep in mind this difference of opinion stems out of the concept of signing someone like Kyle Tucker.  Lets take a look at what that looks like with zero other moves.

Kyle Tucker/Ceddane Rafaela/Roman Anthony

Bench: Jaren Durran, Wilyer Abreu, 

that looks nice on paper, but I’d rather trade one of those guys to improve the roster in other areas as well. 
 

yes, that could hurt the outfield if a lot of guys go down…….just like the infield suffered this year when guys went down.  It doesn’t make sense to hoard depth in one area while you have AAAA guys starting at other positions.  Zero sense.

[jad]

12 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

There's never enough depth at starting pitcher.  We saw it this year for ourselves.

Yet we also saw during the playoffs that we need more hitting. 6 runs won't win many three-game series, no matter who is on the mound.

[Bellhorn04]

5 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Let’s also keep in mind this difference of opinion stems out of the concept of signing someone like Kyle Tucker.  Lets take a look at what that looks like with zero other moves.

Kyle Tucker/Ceddane Rafaela/Roman Anthony

Bench: Jaren Durran, Wilyer Abreu, 

that looks nice on paper, but I’d rather trade one of those guys to improve the roster in other areas as well. 
 

yes, that could hurt the outfield if a lot of guys go down…….just like the infield suffered this year when guys went down.  It doesn’t make sense to hoard depth in one area while you have AAAA guys starting at other positions.  Zero sense.

Signing Tucker changes the picture for sure.  My comments are based more on where we are right now.  It's hard for me to assume much in the way of big signings.  They have to deal with Bregman first, if they lose him, we're down another very good player.

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, jad said:

Yet we also saw during the playoffs that we need more hitting. 6 runs won't win many three-game series, no matter who is on the mound.

You're preaching to the choir about the offense.  That's exactly why I'm not as excited about trading Duran and Abreu as some folks are.

[Hugh2]

5 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Signing Tucker changes the picture for sure.  My comments are based more on where we are right now.  It's hard for me to assume much in the way of big signings.  They have to deal with Bregman first, if they lose him, we're down another very good player.

Exactly, if you lose Bregman, the best and most impactful bat you can out there is either Bregman or Tucker.  

[Hugh2]

I suppose you can throw Alonso to the big bat list too but I’m pretty convinced he stays with Steve Cohens Mets

[Bellhorn04]

19 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I suppose you can throw Alonso to the big bat list too but I’m pretty convinced he stays with Steve Cohens Mets

Yes, if Cohen wants Alonso back, we're wasting time even thinking about him.

 

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Wouldn’t an all star caliber player be better than a platoon player anyways? Abreu saw an improvement vs LHP and some teams out there probably view him as an all star caliber starter. 
 

why not package him up with a top prospect or two for an elite #2 starting pitcher type? 
 

your outfield is still Duran/Rafaela/Anthony.   Cambell/Password

I'm not sure anyone considers Abreu a potential all star caliber starter.  

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's Yandy.

The Rays will trade Diaz. He's 34, and Tampa is always willing to deal good players in their 30s they'll never sign for prospects. 

It's how they stay consistently competitive, and why every year some guy beats us we never heard of before.

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I'm not sure anyone considers Abreu a potential all star caliber starter.  

Riiiight, but Duran legit made an all star team.

but for the sake of argument Abreu, if played full time would probably be a 4.0- 4.5 WAR player the last few seasons.  If he even gets marginally better against LHP he is an all star caliber player.

do other teams think that? Idk, but certainly guys putting up 3-4 WAR are not typical bench players. Also, again, Abreu isn’t the guy I’m saying is or isn’t a starter.  He’s part of a list of guys you could trade if you signed Kyle Tucker

 

5 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

I'm not sure anyone considers Abreu a potential all star caliber starter.  

 

[Bellhorn04]

30 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Riiiight, but Duran legit made an all star team.

but for the sake of argument Abreu, if played full time would probably be a 4.0- 4.5 WAR player the last few seasons.  If he even gets marginally better against LHP he is an all star caliber player.

do other teams think that? Idk, but certainly guys putting up 3-4 WAR are not typical bench players. Also, again, Abreu isn’t the guy I’m saying is or isn’t a starter.  He’s part of a list of guys you could trade if you signed Kyle Tucker

 

 

Sign Tucker first and then we can talk. 😀

[Maxbialystock]

Enough caterwauling about the wild card series at Yankees Stadium.  This was a terrific season with plenty of ups and downs and the Sox finally returning to the postseason by beating the Tigers, who just made it to the ALDS and are 1-0 vs the Mariners.  

When the Sox began that wild card series, we already knew the lineup was suspect. We also knew or suspected we had 1 good starter left, Crochet.  The Yankees meanwhile have the best lineup in MLB and three good starters.  Nevertheless, the Sox won game 1 with a great start by Crochet and a clutch single by Yoshida and almost won game 2 despite a rotten start by Bello and Duran not catching that liner by Judge which yet again popped out of his glove.  

I am not panicky about next year because Crochet, Bello, Dobbins, Early, Crawford, Fitts, and Harrison are all returning in addition Chapman, Whitlock, et al in the bullpen.  Another good starter this winter would be dandy.

When the lineup is healthy, I see a pretty good array of hitters and fielders in Bregman, Story, Gonzalez/Mayer, Yoshida, Abreu, Anthony, Casas, Narvaez, Rafaela, Duran, et al.  If Breslow thinks as I do that Casas will again be injury prone, a good hitting first baseman would be a good acquisition.   Lurking in the background are Campbell and Garcia.  Plus Wong is a good backup catcher.  

[Hugh2]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sign Tucker first and then we can talk. 😀

Well maybe not, maybe Bregman opts in and is resigned and you slide Story over the 2nd.  Then your outfield is Duran/Rafaela/Anthony.  
 

you still could trade Abreu, but the case to keep him Is much stronger here.

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Well maybe not, maybe Bregman opts in and is resigned and you slide Story over the 2nd.  Then your outfield is Duran/Rafaela/Anthony.  
 

you still could trade Abreu, but the case to keep him Is much stronger here.

Bregman opting in , and Mayer at SS with Story at 2B to me would be the best scenario providing Mayer can stay on the field. Imagine to have a FT 2B again. What’s the plan with Casas, and Masa have to be decided too.

[Old Red]

42 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sign Tucker first and then we can talk. 😀

Signing Tucker sounds good, but I don’t see any big, and long FA signings especially in the OF, or a starting pitcher. The Red Sox have 4 OF now, and the Password is waiting in the wings. I’ve said for 3 years now I didn’t see any long term FA pitcher signed, and the trade routes would be the way to go like with Crochet. I don’t know what’s out there again with someone young like Crochet, but that to me would be the way to go even if it hurt some to give up some suspects, or a Duran, or Abreu. I wasn’t advocating trading Duran just for the sake of trading him. I know some of you are you are enamored with his speed, and yes he had 80+ RBI this year, but he also dwarfed back somewhat into the Butterfly Man in the OF. I don’t see the Red Sox signing him long term either. To me a top of the rotation starter is the biggest need, and with another bat if Bregman leaves, and something has to be given up in any trades.

[notin]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

You're not trading Abreu for a stud pitcher, so there's that.

You’re not trading Duran for a stud pitcher either.  Any team acquiring Duran is probably trying to win and teams trying to win don’t trade stud pitchers.

Abreu might be easier to trade for a stud pitcher if said pitcher is expensive and/or has short year(s) left…

[notin]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Sign Tucker first and then we can talk. 😀

Tucker will be a Dodger.  Book it…

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Bregman opting in , and Mayer at SS with Story at 2B to me would be the best scenario providing Mayer can stay on the field. Imagine to have a FT 2B again. What’s the plan with Casas, and Masa have to be decided too.

And planning with Casas is no easy matter.  Back to back seasons wiped out by injury at his age casts doubt on his whole career. 

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, notin said:

Tucker will be a Dodger.  Book it…

It's pretty easy betting on the house! 😉

[notin]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

It's pretty easy betting on the house! 😉

Especially when the house gambled on Mike Conforto last off-season and really only has one outfielder (until the move Mookie back)…

[notin]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And planning with Casas is no easy matter.  Back to back seasons wiped out by injury at his age casts doubt on his whole career. 

Casas turns 26 in January.  Losing two consecutive seasons to injury is rough, but he’s not exactly as aging vet.  Hes younger than Narvaez…

[Nick]

We need a proven power bat. Someone that can hit 40HR. I don't see anyone on this team with that power. Not even if reup Bregman. 

What one player signing would that be? Schwarber. Give the man his money.

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Bregman opting in , and Mayer at SS with Story at 2B to me would be the best scenario providing Mayer can stay on the field. Imagine to have a FT 2B again. What’s the plan with Casas, and Masa have to be decided too.

That is certainly the best case scenario, me thinks.  Casas is a weird case, because you want him to be healthy and be the guy he looked like he was turning into in 2023, he never really got a chance to get going and then got hurt last year....which is turning into a concern with him.  But I'd be more willing to bank on him making a comeback and having a good season if the team has less question marks over the rest of the roster. 

[Bellhorn04]

18 minutes ago, notin said:

Casas turns 26 in January.  Losing two consecutive seasons to injury is rough, but he’s not exactly as aging vet.  Hes younger than Narvaez…

True but Casas has that big body and these were very nasty and very different injuries.  I'm not writing him off, but he is a big question mark at this stage.  The fact his defense has been so bad is another mark against him.

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, Nick said:

We need a proven power bat. Someone that can hit 40HR. I don't see anyone on this team with that power. Not even if reup Bregman. 

What one player signing would that be? Schwarber. Give the man his money.

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.  

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

True but Casas has that big body and these were very nasty and very different injuries.  I'm not writing him off, but he is a big question mark at this stage.  The fact his defense has been so bad is another mark against him.

Casas is someone I really really want to come back and mash, but at some point you just have to wonder if it's ever going to happen. 

You never know how a guy can turn things around when he can stay on the field.  Look what Story has done this year.  I think if the Sox were even able to sign a guy like Alonso you're selling low on Casas, which is fine if the team is a lot better now.  I suppose you could DH Casas, but then you really have to make moves to get Yoshida off the roster.