Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Bellhorn04]

20 minutes ago, 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.  

If Cohen wants Alonso back he's pretty much off the table.

[illinoisredsox]

29 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.

Schwarber is not leaving Philly.  He’s had 4 incredible years there, they are consistent contenders, he likes it there and they have a GM willing to spend money.

[Randy Red Sox]

20 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

The Red Sox need a #2 starter, but they also need offense.  The offense looked like crap without Anthony in the lineup.  And we're talking about trading Duran and/or Abreu, and possibly losing Bregman as well.  Somebody needs to figure out where the offense comes from.

we should be able to find bats that hit more than .256.  Bregman will be a loss since he basically cost us Devers for possibly only 1 season in Boston.  i agree though we certainly need offence as well as a #2 SP. I would be all over Pete Alonso in FA for starters.

[Randy Red Sox]

4 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Schwarber is not leaving Philly.  He’s had 4 incredible years there, they are consistent contenders, he likes it there and they have a GM willing to spend money.

Agreed

[Nick]

Just now, Randy Red Sox said:

Agreed

There’s also an overcrowded four-players-into-three-spots dilemma to be solved in the outfield and an undeniable need for additional power.

So you are saying our management is not serious about upgrading what's needed?

[Randy Red Sox]

11 minutes ago, Nick said:

There’s also an overcrowded four-players-into-three-spots dilemma to be solved in the outfield and an undeniable need for additional power.

So you are saying our management is not serious about upgrading what's needed?

i think you are replying to the wrong person as my post was simply agreeing that Schwarber likely was staying in Philly. To answer your question though I 100% feel that Henry has told Breslow {and the others before him since DD} their mandate is to put a competitive team on the field AND AT THE SAME TIME KEEP THE PAYROLL REASONABLE.  I am confident that Henry was thrilled with this season. Payroll decreased relative to the rest of MLB and they made the postseason.. We certainly have not spent much if ANY of the Devers $$ and if Bregman leaves that is another 40 million Henry will save. Yes of course he will allow Breslow to spend SOME { but not close to all of it} likely on 2-3 players on 1-2 yr deals.

[Randy Red Sox]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

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

Especially when you are counting on signing a number of pitchers coming off rehab and injuries. How has that worked out for us?

[Randy Red Sox]

3 hours 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.

signing Tucker won't get it done. He is a decent player but hits LH. With the current roster we need a RH power bat. I'm thinking Pete Alonso. I see Tucker as only a slight up grade over Abreu at a much higher cost. Now if Abreu is traded then maybe Tucker makes sense.

[notin]

1 hour ago, illinoisredsox said:

Schwarber is not leaving Philly.  He’s had 4 incredible years there, they are consistent contenders, he likes it there and they have a GM willing to spend money.

The only point that matters is the last one.  If Philly doesn’t make the right offer, Schwarber isn’t going to stay.  He didn’t hire an agent to get him a job that prioritizes playing on a consistent contender…

[notin]

50 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

signing Tucker won't get it done. He is a decent player but hits LH. With the current roster we need a RH power bat. I'm thinking Pete Alonso. I see Tucker as only a slight up grade over Abreu at a much higher cost. Now if Abreu is traded then maybe Tucker makes sense.

In the last 3 years, Tucker is worth 13.6 fWAR.  In the same timeframe, Duran is worth 13.3 fWAR. (Post is about Abreu, but he doesn’t even have 3 years.)

Tucker could easily get $250mill, maybe more.  Not sure I like the idea of trading Duran to replace him with an equivalent player just so I can trade Duran for some other need.  Just spend on that other need…

[Randy Red Sox]

25 minutes ago, notin said:

In the last 3 years, Tucker is worth 13.6 fWAR.  In the same timeframe, Duran is worth 13.3 fWAR. (Post is about Abreu, but he doesn’t even have 3 years.)

Tucker could easily get $250mill, maybe more.  Not sure I like the idea of trading Duran to replace him with an equivalent player just so I can trade Duran for some other need.  Just spend on that other need…

The Red Sox have not been signing long term FA deals for at least a few years now. They have focused mainly on 1-2 yr deals along with signing rehab pitchers. I don't see Tucker signing a 1-2 yr deal.

[Bellhorn04]

2 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

we should be able to find bats that hit more than .256.  Bregman will be a loss since he basically cost us Devers for possibly only 1 season in Boston.  i agree though we certainly need offence as well as a #2 SP. I would be all over Pete Alonso in FA for starters.

Batting average?  Schwarber hit .240.

[Nick]

52 minutes ago, notin said:

In the last 3 years, Tucker is worth 13.6 fWAR.  In the same timeframe, Duran is worth 13.3 fWAR. (Post is about Abreu, but he doesn’t even have 3 years.)

Tucker could easily get $250mill, maybe more.  Not sure I like the idea of trading Duran to replace him with an equivalent player just so I can trade Duran for some other need.  Just spend on that other need…

I sure wish we could get rid of Yoshida. That will give our OF a chance to DH from time to time, especially Anthony who is playing all the games. Then with a full time 1B, that may free up Gonzalez to DH vs left handed pitcher when Anthony takes outfield.

Cora has to juggle too many balls in the air. It needs to come down a bit and stabilize the roster.

[Nick]

I'm not sure why we need to extend a broken down veteran in Giolito. He is literally one throw away from season ending injury.

I thought Sandoval was his replacement? We also have Kutter coming back along with Dobbins and Fitts. We have Early, Harrison and Criswell along with Crochet and Bello. Have we given up already as a starter on Tolle? I'm guessing we still have new names in the organization such as this year's draftees. 15 of 20 draftees of 2025 were pitchers.

Save the $20M and use it to acquire another need.

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

signing Tucker won't get it done. He is a decent player but hits LH. With the current roster we need a RH power bat. I'm thinking Pete Alonso. I see Tucker as only a slight up grade over Abreu at a much higher cost. Now if Abreu is traded then maybe Tucker makes sense.

Tucker has equal splits vs LHP and RHP

[notin]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

The Red Sox have not been signing long term FA deals for at least a few years now. They have focused mainly on 1-2 yr deals along with signing rehab pitchers. I don't see Tucker signing a 1-2 yr deal.

Tucker really shouldn’t be on Boston’s radar anyway.

The infield is where the vacancies are…

[notin]

56 minutes ago, Nick said:

I'm not sure why we need to extend a broken down veteran in Giolito. He is literally one throw away from season ending injury.

I thought Sandoval was his replacement? We also have Kutter coming back along with Dobbins and Fitts. We have Early, Harrison and Criswell along with Crochet and Bello. Have we given up already as a starter on Tolle? I'm guessing we still have new names in the organization such as this year's draftees. 15 of 20 draftees of 2025 were pitchers.

Save the $20M and use it to acquire another need.

Really isnt that true about every pitcher? 
 

Giolito had some injuries in Boston, but he was actually one of the most durable starting pitchers in MLB before signing with Boston…

[Nick]

17 minutes ago, notin said:

Tucker really shouldn’t be on Boston’s radar anyway.

The infield is where the vacancies are…

I wouldn't be comfortable giving him a 3 year deal with how he started out with us and ended with us. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

28 minutes ago, notin said:

Tucker really shouldn’t be on Boston’s radar anyway.

The infield is where the vacancies are…

Tucker was the guy the media speculated in the first half of the season would be the next mega-contract, after Soto and Vlad Jr. 

"A five-tool player who could command as much as half a billion dollars," was the blab.

Does anyone really truly think the Red Sox, who in the past two years locked up two, maybe three young outfielders with team-reasonable longterm contracts, would be looking to blow $500 million on another outfielder? 

Aren't there plenty of other needs at plenty of other positions right now?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

7 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

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

Hard to be an all-star when you get platooned against LH's. Trade him for whatever Breslow can get. Plus he's another injury about to happen.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Hard to be an all-star when you get platooned against LH's. Trade him for whatever Breslow can get. Plus he's another injury about to happen.

If Refsnyder does not come back, look for Abreu to get a shot at FT play. He probably deserves it over Duran. Better D and better OPS vs LHPs: .676 to .600 in 2025.) Even if Ref does return, they may use Ref to platoon DH with Yoshida.

To me, I agree on not "selling low" on Casas, but keep him as the much needed depth at 1B (and DH.) Count on Mayer as depth at SS, 3B and 2B with the idea that he probably plays FT, if healthy, and with 3 positions to choose from, the odds are he gets to play: we just don't hand him a FT job in January.

We basically have to hand a FT OF slot to Anthony. I think with Campbell and Jh garcia as depth, we cana fford to trade one from Duran, Abreu or Rafaela. With Ref & Yoshida as corner OF depth, we could maybe even afford to trade 2 OF'ers with maybe one being Campbell or Jh Garcia. I totally agree with you: depth is nice but not at the expense of leaving some key positions weak. I don't think we'll run low on OF'ers, despite seeing Eaton play the OF at the end of 2025.

I keep saying Duran looks like the best one to trade, because I think the return would be high, and he may be close to decline years. His defense is not as good as any of the others we have, he's paid more than all except Anthony and his years of control is the shortest of all. That being said, I don't do it, if we don't add a big bat to take his place and another to take Bregman's place.

Something like Suarez/Alonso/Schwarber for Bregman

and

Alonso/Schwarber/Tucker/KMarte for Duran.

Add the return of Anthony for 600+ PAs and our offense would be top 5.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Tucker was the guy the media speculated in the first half of the season would be the next mega-contract, after Soto and Vlad Jr. 

"A five-tool player who could command as much as half a billion dollars," was the blab.

Does anyone really truly think the Red Sox, who in the past two years locked up two, maybe three young outfielders with team-reasonable longterm contracts, would be looking to blow $500 million on another outfielder? 

Aren't there plenty of other needs at plenty of other positions right now?

The thing is, we could trade 2 OF'ers to teams in great need for OF help but not $500M to spend.

Duran is due $8M in 2026, then 2 arbs.

Abreu had 3 arbs after one pre-arb season.

Rafaela gets $48M/6, which is a bargain for a 3+ WAR CF'er.

Campbell $60M/8 might be a financial gamble, but Jh Garcia has a few pre-arb years to go.

Duran & Tolle for K Marte?

Abreu, Clarke & Sandlin for Ryan

Sign Tucker & Hoskins

[moonslav59]

Yanks lost again!

[Randy Red Sox]

7 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Batting average?  Schwarber hit .240.

yeah but he hit over 2x the HR Duran and Abreu combined

[Hugh2]

9 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The thing is, we could trade 2 OF'ers to teams in great need for OF help but not $500M to spend.

Duran is due $8M in 2026, then 2 arbs.

Abreu had 3 arbs after one pre-arb season.

Rafaela gets $48M/6, which is a bargain for a 3+ WAR CF'er.

Campbell $60M/8 might be a financial gamble, but Jh Garcia has a few pre-arb years to go.

Duran & Tolle for K Marte?

Abreu, Clarke & Sandlin for Ryan

Sign Tucker & Hoskins

No way I trade away Tolle/Duran for Marte.  I’m holding onto Tolle

[mvp 78]

17 hours ago, notin said:

The only point that matters is the last one.  If Philly doesn’t make the right offer, Schwarber isn’t going to stay.  He didn’t hire an agent to get him a job that prioritizes playing on a consistent contender…

DD not making "the right offer?" What world do you live in? 

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, notin said:

Tucker really shouldn’t be on Boston’s radar anyway.

The infield is where the vacancies are…

Yeah, they don't need more OFers right now. They will have a puzzle to fill at 3b/2b/1b/DH with a combination of inside and outside options. That's where the upgrades are desperately needed. 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

No way I trade away Tolle/Duran for Marte.  I’m holding onto Tolle

I'd try to sub Clarke or Valera & Mullins/Sandlin, but I'm not sure that would be enough.

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, they don't need more OFers right now. They will have a puzzle to fill at 3b/2b/1b/DH with a combination of inside and outside options. That's where the upgrades are desperately needed. 

If we traded 2 OF'ers it could work.

[Bellhorn04]

9 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

yeah but he hit over 2x the HR Duran and Abreu combined

Agreed, but Duran led the Red Sox in extra base hits, and by a lot.  He had 70 and the next best was 54.  He was not the problem with the offense.