Red Sox 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Hitch]

2 hours ago, notin said:

The Sox could and should move an OF to fill a void in the INF if possible.  But spending heavily on the OF is very unlikely.  Some pundits have posed Tucker getting $500mill.  I consider that debatable.  But $350mill minimum is a guarantee.  I don’t see the Sox spending that much at a position in which they are fairly well set…

I agree, I see next to zero likelihood we even look at Tucker never mind bid for him.

But it's still too simplistic to say they wouldnt add in the outfield because of our infield. You never know just how other teams see Duran and Abreu. If a couple are willing to way overpay and solve our #2 and infield/potential 3B problem you trade them and make another move for your outfield. 

I think we'll end up packaging one of them with pitching and trading for our #2.

Infield will be an uninspiring move i fear.

[Hitch]

2 hours ago, notin said:

I have said multiple times they will move one of Duran or Abreu. And I reserve the right to flip-flop all off-season for on the better one to deal.

But even if they moved both, they don’t need another OF.  Despite that many have probably given up on Kristian Campbell, he isn’t dead.  In fact, that he only has 260 career plate appearances and a $60mill contract absolutely keeps him in the picture.  (His return to AAA was certainly statistically unsuccessful, but was he making adjustments and working on something?  If so, it can definitely make his stats look worse in multiple ways.)  Also Password is still on the team, but as he is a top 100 prospect, on the 40 man roster, and possibly 6th on the OF depth chart, it is quite possible he gets traded.  Imagine if Campbell’s does take over LF. Password would be a top 100 prospect behind 3 players all signed thru 2032 at a minimum…

 

You cannot go into next season with Kristian Campbell as your starting outfielder. Or the Password. But most definitely not Campbell. 

[notin]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

You cannot go into next season with Kristian Campbell as your starting outfielder. Or the Password. But most definitely not Campbell. 

Why not?

If they still have Password, that is Plan B.  And I hope if both Duran and Abreu get moved, it leads to filling some other gaping hole elsewhere.

I wouldn’t worry about it beyond that it is a possibility.  It is a very unlikely one.  I think they only deal one of Duran or Abreu,  and Campbell becomes depth.

I think giving up on Campbell after 263 career PAs is a mistake.  Especially since his slump was only half of that stretch…

[Hitch]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Why not?

If they still have Password, that is Plan B.  And I hope if both Duran and Abreu get moved, it leads to filling some other gaping hole elsewhere.

I wouldn’t worry about it beyond that it is a possibility.  It is a very unlikely one.  I think they only deal one of Duran or Abreu,  and Campbell becomes depth.

I think giving up on Campbell after 263 career PAs is a mistake.  Especially since his slump was only half of that stretch…

It's not about giving up on him. He's not proven he's worthy of a spot. His offence isn't good enough and he's proven a bad defender at every position. It would be ridiculous to start the season with him in left. He's got a long road ahead of him before he proves himself worthy of anything yet.

The Password would be risk enough - he should be the back up at best to start.

[notin]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

It's not about giving up on him. He's not proven he's worthy of a spot. His offence isn't good enough and he's proven a bad defender at every position. It would be ridiculous to start the season with him in left. He's got a long road ahead of him before he proves himself worthy of anything yet.

The Password would be risk enough - he should be the back up at best to start.

Password starts in Worcester. The Sox (or any team) are not putting a 22yo BA Top 100 prospect on the bench.  The only ways he makes an opening day roster is if there are lots of injuries or if he is traded elsewhere.

I doubt Campbell’s road back to MLB is as long as many think.   For some players, all it takes is being the best option available. (Matt Shaw, for example, didn’t learn to hit MLB pitching by facing AAA pitching for two months.  But he did “earn” his way back by letting the Cubs learn what life was like with Vidal Brujan and Jon Berti in the starting lineup)…

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, vegasbob said:

Regarding FA signings and JH in general,  remember Bres signed Bregman to a $120MM deal while Devers was still on the team.  You cannot say they expected to trade him away in February.

I don't believe this. That's Max.

My point is that the money we spent on Breg was offset (and then some) by the Devers dump, so we are back at square one in needing to see JH commit to long term spending bigly.

If Bregman bolts, he'll have two contracts to "make up" for.

As always, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not predicting he won't spend, but I'll wait it out.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

You cannot go into next season with Kristian Campbell as your starting outfielder. Or the Password. But most definitely not Campbell. 

i could see the team risking going into the 2026 season with the idea that Jh Garcia RHB, Campbell RHB, Yoshida LHB and maybe Ref RHB could combine to fill the LF position well. Rafaela in CF and Anthony in RF. (Duran & Abreu traded for pitching and infield help.)

I'm not saying I'm for this, but it is a viable option.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

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

[Old Red]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

i could see the team risking going into the 2026 season with the idea that Jh Garcia RHB, Campbell RHB, Yoshida LHB and maybe Ref RHB could combine to fill the LF position well. Rafaela in CF and Anthony in RF. (Duran & Abreu traded for pitching and infield help.)

I'm not saying I'm for this, but it is a viable option.

I can’t see that at all. If Masa is on the team in 2026 he’ll be the DH. I don’t see both Dran, and Abreu being traded, and I don’t see outside of injuries Campbell, and the Password being in the OF at the same time.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I can’t see that at all. If Masa is on the team in 2026 he’ll be the DH. I don’t see both Dran, and Abreu being traded, and I don’t see outside of injuries Campbell, and the Password being in the OF at the same time.

It's highly unlikely but possible, IMO. It's not as complicated as it looks.

[Old Red]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It's highly unlikely but possible, IMO. It's not as complicated as it looks.

I don’t know what Brez is thinking, but I just don’t see him making many moves. of course he traded Sale two off-seasons ago, and traded for Crochet last offseason so something big might happen.

[notin]

9 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

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

Where did I say he wouldn’t?

It gets easier if he can move Nick “Deadweight” Castellanos…

[notin]

53 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I can’t see that at all. If Masa is on the team in 2026 he’ll be the DH. I don’t see both Dran, and Abreu being traded, and I don’t see outside of injuries Campbell, and the Password being in the OF at the same time.

I don’t see Password being in MLB, unless it’s on another team or Boston has too many injuries.  Why would any team put a 22yo BA Top 100 outfielder in a part time role?

His most likely position is in the Polar Park outfield…

[Old Red]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

I don’t see Password being in MLB, unless it’s on another team or Boston has too many injuries.  Why would any team put a 22yo BA Top 100 outfielder in a part time role?

His most likely position is in the Polar Park outfield…

When the Red Sox signed Masa after the 2022 season they were hurting for OF. Now they have more than they need.

[moonslav59]

58 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I don’t know what Brez is thinking, but I just don’t see him making many moves. of course he traded Sale two off-seasons ago, and traded for Crochet last offseason so something big might happen.

Nobody knows, and that's why anything anyone suggests is "highly unlikely."

IMO, Brez will make a major trade or two, because we have some logjams and high need areas. 

I also think he makes a major signing or two, but it could be like the Bregman, Buehler, Chapman and Sandoval deals like last winter, but thatw as a big chunk of change... on short deals.

Whether he comes close to what we lose with Devers and Bregman remains to be seen, and I'm not projecting he does it.

[notin]

44 minutes ago, Old Red said:

When the Red Sox signed Masa after the 2022 season they were hurting for OF. Now they have more than they need.

… which doesn’t have much to do with Jhostnyxon “the Password” Garcia.

Yoshida’s fate is about as up in the air as it gets.  He could be anything from opening day DH to DFA waiver wire fodder…

[notin]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

I don’t know what Brez is thinking, but I just don’t see him making many moves. of course he traded Sale two off-seasons ago, and traded for Crochet last offseason so something big might happen.

Many moves? No, I agree.  The team won 89 games.  They have some vacated holes to re-fill and some fairly obvious places to upgrade, but they are not going to get a 1b, 2b, 3b, DH, OF, #2 SP, C and a half of a new bullpen.  The 2026 Red Sox will probably have a good amount in common with the 2025 Red Sox, as they won 89 games and made the postseason…

[moonslav59]

One of the last things I want to see is Masa in the OF, but it did seem strange that Sox management kept Masa down all year while he "bult up his throwing arm strength."

I guess when you have a team with 4-5 guys who suck on D, you look for ways to let them DH instead of a low-powered batter like Yoshida.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Many moves? No, I agree.  The team won 89 games.  They have some vacated holes to re-fill and some fairly obvious places to upgrade, but they are not going to get a 1b, 2b, 3b, DH, OF, #2 SP, C and a half of a new bullpen.  The 2026 Red Sox will probably have a good amount in common with the 2025 Red Sox, as they won 89 games and made the postseason…

We could likely get by with 3, maybe even two major additions, but I mean major. 

3B or 2B (Mayer or Story plays the other.)

SP2

1B (Not DH)

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

We could likely get by with 3, maybe even two major additions, but I mean major. 

3B or 2B (Mayer or Story plays the other.)

SP2

1B (Not DH)

I think the most likely omission from that is the SP2…

[moonslav59]

31 minutes ago, notin said:

I think the most likely omission from that is the SP2…

Maybe a Merrill Kelly type 1-2 year deal.

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, notin said:

I think the most likely omission from that is the SP2…

Do you think the talk of getting Joe Ryan at the deadline was sincere?

[notin]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Do you think the talk of getting Joe Ryan at the deadline was sincere?

Sure, but by next year they get back Sandoval, Fitts, Perales, and Crawford, on top of Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, Early, Tolle, Dobbins, and Houck already set up for the 40 man.

They might add a SP.  But I have my doubts anyone here would call said pitcher a #2..,

[Hitch]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

i could see the team risking going into the 2026 season with the idea that Jh Garcia RHB, Campbell RHB, Yoshida LHB and maybe Ref RHB could combine to fill the LF position well. Rafaela in CF and Anthony in RF. (Duran & Abreu traded for pitching and infield help.)

I'm not saying I'm for this, but it is a viable option.

I could not see this at all. If we go onto the season with those 4 players combining for LF, Bres has got something very, very wrong. 

Not to mention Masa will hardly ever see the field. 

[Hitch]

11 hours ago, notin said:

Password starts in Worcester. The Sox (or any team) are not putting a 22yo BA Top 100 prospect on the bench.  The only ways he makes an opening day roster is if there are lots of injuries or if he is traded elsewhere.

I doubt Campbell’s road back to MLB is as long as many think.   For some players, all it takes is being the best option available. (Matt Shaw, for example, didn’t learn to hit MLB pitching by facing AAA pitching for two months.  But he did “earn” his way back by letting the Cubs learn what life was like with Vidal Brujan and Jon Berti in the starting lineup)…

The way teams view prospects has changed. They have no compunction in easing prospects in now and having them mostly platoon to start. As we saw virtually the entirety of Mayer's time when healthy. But regardless you mention Password being up in the scenario of Abreu and Duran being traded. We better have a fantastic pitcher and infielder back in those deals because we will have just weakened our outfield significantly if the Password is starting LFer. I think there's no chance of that happening, bar injuries.  I'm not convinced one outfielder gets traded, never mind two. 

I think it's a lot longer than you think. When we badly needed offence in the last month he couldn't even earn a September call up. the kid has a long journey to prove he is MLB worthy.  I hope he does, he seems like a super kid. My odds are against at the moment. 

[mvp 78]

15 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?  

I don't remember that at all because most people weren't all that sold on Grissom's defense or power potential. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

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. 

[moonslav59]

9 hours ago, notin said:

Sure, but by next year they get back Sandoval, Fitts, Perales, and Crawford, on top of Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, Early, Tolle, Dobbins, and Houck already set up for the 40 man.

They might add a SP.  But I have my doubts anyone here would call said pitcher a #2..,

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.

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, Hitch said:

I could not see this at all. If we go onto the season with those 4 players combining for LF, Bres has got something very, very wrong. 

Not to mention Masa will hardly ever see the field. 

Again, I'm not for the idea, but I'm not handing Duran and Abreu away. The theory is their trade returns significantly boost 2 of our weakest areas by exploiting our OF depth.

[moonslav59]

15 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?  

No.