Sox needs for 2026 step forward

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

From a realistic standpoint, maybe trading Bello would have surprised me a couple days ago.  Now I’m thinking it feels very likely (based on nothing)…

... which is what he had in Game Two in New York.

So count me in, too.

[mvp 78]

47 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You are actually counting on this?

My guess is they count on Mayer to be a FT 3B/2B, or SS if Story bolts, and if he does bolt, they count on Romy-DHam to fill 2B. They probably won't bring Lowe back for 1B, but it would not shock me, especially if it's not at the projected arb rate. Hell, they may even count on Casas (Romy/Campbell) to fill 1B. They won't be adding 3 quality infielders. Book it.

Wanting vs Counting On are two completely different things moon. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

What would be the most surprising yet realistic move the Sox might make this off-season?  Obviously signing Tucker would be the most surprising, but I am calling it unrealistic.

From a realistic standpoint, maybe trading Bello would have surprised me a couple days ago.  Now I’m thinking it feels very likely (based on nothing)…

Surprising but maybe realistic (long shot) we sign Alonso.

I don't think we trade Bello. I think we might trade Crawford with Duran or by himself, but it might make more sense to wait until he proves he's healthy, but waiting might end proving he's not all that valuable.

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

... which is what he had in Game Two in New York.

So count me in, too.

He threw 28 pitches.

Wow do we really like to overanalyze those postseason small samples…

[notin]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Surprising but maybe realistic (long shot) we sign Alonso.

I don't think we trade Bello. I think we might trade Crawford with Duran or by himself, but it might make more sense to wait until he proves he's healthy, but waiting might end proving he's not all that valuable.

I think Bello is worth more in a trade, since he didn’t miss a season and also has a pretty favorable contract.  

But for Boston, he’s easily replaced.  His 1.9 fWAR in 166 IP seems bearable for Early, who was worth 1.1 fWAR in only 19 IP. 
 

Trading Bello opens a spot in the rotation for the sought-after #2 starter, whatever that is.  And with Tolle, Dobbins, Harrison, Perales and Fitts the Sox still have decent SP depth even before the season starts…

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Surprising but maybe realistic (long shot) we sign Alonso.

I don't think we trade Bello. I think we might trade Crawford with Duran or by himself, but it might make more sense to wait until he proves he's healthy, but waiting might end proving he's not all that valuable.

1b

Longshot: Alonso

Realistic: Hoskins

3b

Longshot: Bregman

Realistic: Mayer

SP

Longshot: Young Controllable Arm (Reds, Marlins, Pirates, whoever)

Realistic: Zac Gallen

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, notin said:

I think Bello is worth more in a trade, since he didn’t miss a season and also has a pretty favorable contract.  

But for Boston, he’s easily replaced.  His 1.9 fWAR in 166 IP seems bearable for Early, who was worth 1.1 fWAR in only 19 IP. 
 

Trading Bello opens a spot in the rotation for the sought-after #2 starter, whatever that is.  And with Tolle, Dobbins, Harrison, Perales and Fitts the Sox still have decent SP depth even before the season starts…

With the amount of injuries that every rotation is expected to have each season, I don't think it's very realistic for BOS to trade a young starter like Bello. Sox don't need to add a spot for a #2, they already lost a rotational piece in Giolito. 

[notin]

35 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1b

Longshot: Alonso

Realistic: Hoskins

3b

Longshot: Bregman

Realistic: Mayer

SP

Longshot: Young Controllable Arm (Reds, Marlins, Pirates, whoever)

Realistic: Zac Gallen

I think there’s a good argument for Bell over Hoskins.

And if he’s looking for a one year prove-it deal, a good argument for Cease over Gallen…

[notin]

34 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

With the amount of injuries that every rotation is expected to have each season, I don't think it's very realistic for BOS to trade a young starter like Bello. Sox don't need to add a spot for a #2, they already lost a rotational piece in Giolito. 

But there’s also a legitimate question of whether or not Bello (and his contract) is worth more in a trade than he is as a SP…

[mvp 78]

36 minutes ago, notin said:

I think there’s a good argument for Bell over Hoskins.

And if he’s looking for a one year prove-it deal, a good argument for Cease over Gallen…

Cease had a 3.56 xFIP. Not sure he needs a prove it deal. 

[notin]

38 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cease had a 3.56 xFIP. Not sure he needs a prove it deal. 

 Also coming off a 1.1 bWAR season.  So we will see if offers meet his requirements or not…

[Nick]

On 10/27/2025 at 9:11 AM, mvp 78 said:

Story will be going into his 33 season and played an awful SS this year. If he opts out, it's a blessing for the Sox. 

Good observation....

[Nick]

Interesting that we've not heard much about Sandoval. Earlier there was talk about him coming back in September to pitch. Silence.

If he's unable to pitch until say, July, then I have serious problem with our evaluation of pitchers. Sometime it's better to spend little more money and get a sure thing. Someone who can pitch actual INNINGS.

Sure the faithfuls will dismiss it saying well, it's ONLY $18.5M. Somehow Chapman's 2 year $24M looks like a bargain compared to Sandovals if things don't work out.

This organization has pissed away more money on 'marginal' players than our government.

 

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cease had a 3.56 xFIP. Not sure he needs a prove it deal. 

So, is xFIP your go to stat? Sometimes, I'm not so sure. (No disrespect intended)

[moonslav59]

No FA pitchers really jump out at me as must have or love-to-have. Some would certainly be upgrades, and a few would even be slotted #2, but those will be very costly.

I've mentioned Merrill Kelly, due to his age and shorter term contract outlook. It's not that I want us to continue with the trend of no FA pitcher contracts longer than 2 years, but this time, I'm thinking the trade route looks better.

Use all the winter spending budget on bats.

[Duran Is The Man]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

You are actually counting on this?

My guess is they count on Mayer to be a FT 3B/2B, or SS if Story bolts, and if he does bolt, they count on Romy-DHam to fill 2B. They probably won't bring Lowe back for 1B, but it would not shock me, especially if it's not at the projected arb rate. Hell, they may even count on Casas (Romy/Campbell) to fill 1B. They won't be adding 3 quality infielders. Book it.

if that happens, then you can count on watching the playoffs without the Red Sox. book it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, notin said:

He threw 28 pitches.

Wow do we really like to overanalyze those postseason small samples…

I don't know if you're overanalyzing something you think is overanalyzing, but I'm just going by what I observed:

Bello's manager -- who really needed his only available veteran starter besides Crochet to go at least 5 innings in the playoffs, but then deemed for whatever reasons he was only good for 7 outs....

[Duran Is The Man]

36 minutes ago, Nick said:

Interesting that we've not heard much about Sandoval. Earlier there was talk about him coming back in September to pitch. Silence.

If he's unable to pitch until say, July, then I have serious problem with our evaluation of pitchers. Sometime it's better to spend little more money and get a sure thing. Someone who can pitch actual INNINGS.

Sure the faithfuls will dismiss it saying well, it's ONLY $18.5M. Somehow Chapman's 2 year $24M looks like a bargain compared to Sandovals if things don't work out.

This organization has pissed away more money on 'marginal' players than our government.

 

IMHO, this has been a problem for a very long time.

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

if that happens, then you can count on watching the playoffs without the Red Sox. book it.

If Story bolts, we almost certainly will not add 3 significant infielders. If he doesn't, I doubt we add two, but maybe one major one and an okay one.

Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so.

[drewski6]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Wanting vs Counting On are two completely different things moon. 

unless you are sesame streets the count because than all you want is to count on stuff.

[drewski6]

6 hours ago, notin said:

What would be the most surprising yet realistic move the Sox might make this off-season?  Obviously signing Tucker would be the most surprising, but I am calling it unrealistic.

From a realistic standpoint, maybe trading Bello would have surprised me a couple days ago.  Now I’m thinking it feels very likely (based on nothing)…

good question, the most surprising yet realistic the sox can make is no further acquisitions, just roll over the same team with mayer in for bregman and early in for gio

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

good question, the most surprising yet realistic the sox can make is no further acquisitions, just roll over the same team with mayer in for bregman and early in for gio

And Anthony for Devers?

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

unless you are sesame streets the count because than all you want is to count on stuff.

Teams "count" on certain players, even if the "want" better.

I'm pretty sure the Sox are counting on a FT Anthony, Rafaela, Narvaez, and if not traded, Duran and Abreu. Perhaps, they still plan to platoon Abreu and possibly Duran might begin one. They probably count on Story at SS or maybe longshot thinking- 2B. They might also "count on" Mayer to fill 2B or 3B with the idea that Romy & DHam are capable back-ups, if he gets hurt again. That's 6 of 9 slots before any OF'er is traded. (One could DH.)

That leaves 2 slots uncounted on. (Brez & Co may see just 1- see my Romy-DHam comment.)

1B and 2B/3B. If we trade an OF'er, we can count DH as the third need.

I'd like (want) three, but I'd be happy with 2 major high quality batters.

Who Brez and Co is "counting on" is anybody's guess. He may think we can just roll it back or maybe replace Lowe with Hoskins and call it a day on the offense. God, I hope not.

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

good question, the most surprising yet realistic the sox can make is no further acquisitions, just roll over the same team with mayer in for bregman and early in for gio

I think bringing back Gio and Bregman would be the LEAST surprising offseason.  Most disappointing? Maybe.  But certainly not surprising.  

Heck I’ve been predicting it for 3 weeks now…

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

I think bringing back Gio and Bregman would be the LEAST surprising offseason.  Most disappointing? Maybe.  But certainly not surprising.  

Heck I’ve been predicting it for 3 weeks now…

I'm not expecting anything more than disappointment, and yes bringing back Breggie and Gio, even add on Matz and Ref would be a bummer, to me.

1. It's doubtful they give us equal value in 2026 as 2025.

2. We still have not made up for losing Devers, and no, Anthony is not his replacement.

3. We ended up with an offense that came up way short, when it counted and were grasping at rookies to try and find a #2 SP'er we thought we might have had with Gio & Bello until September rolled around.

This is the time to go bold. They made motions of grandeur, last winter with all the Soto and other overtures, and then actually shocked some of us by going $40M on Breggie, at the last minute. 

Months later they dumped Devers and made more promises. Now, Breggie has opted out, Gio too, and we await Story's choice. Ref & Matz are FAs. The much brighter outlook of last March is now no better than the outlook at March 2024.

We still have a winter for moves and shakes. We need to get bold, but it's doubtful JH & Co. see it that way, or at least to the extent many of us feel they need to be.

Only time will tell, but it's going to take a lot to satisfy me, yet I say that with very low expectations on what they will end up doing. I want a lot but am counting on next to nothing more than status quo.

[mvp 78]

21 hours ago, Nick said:

Interesting that we've not heard much about Sandoval. Earlier there was talk about him coming back in September to pitch. Silence.

If he's unable to pitch until say, July, then I have serious problem with our evaluation of pitchers. Sometime it's better to spend little more money and get a sure thing. Someone who can pitch actual INNINGS.

Sure the faithfuls will dismiss it saying well, it's ONLY $18.5M. Somehow Chapman's 2 year $24M looks like a bargain compared to Sandovals if things don't work out.

This organization has pissed away more money on 'marginal' players than our government.

It's the risk you take when trying to sign injured pitchers. I don't think it was reasonable to expect any innings out of him in '25. He should be ready in '26, but a lot of TJS pitchers are a rollercoaster when first coming back. 

[mvp 78]

17 hours ago, notin said:

I think bringing back Gio and Bregman would be the LEAST surprising offseason.  Most disappointing? Maybe.  But certainly not surprising.  

Heck I’ve been predicting it for 3 weeks now…

It's a lateral move, but they still need to do that AND add elsewhere TBH. 

[drewski6]

19 hours ago, notin said:

I think bringing back Gio and Bregman would be the LEAST surprising offseason.  Most disappointing? Maybe.  But certainly not surprising.  

Heck I’ve been predicting it for 3 weeks now…

i dont disagree, my entry was no gio/bregman/anybody

I would personally be surprised, but i think its within realm of possibility they go full internal.

[drewski6]

20 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

And Anthony for Devers?

yeah, i meant no free-agents or trades as my most suprising offseason that could happen.  In this circumstance Anthony is on the team and devers isnt 

*im not pulling for no adds, lol

[drewski6]

20 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Teams "count" on certain players, even if the "want" better.

I'm pretty sure the Sox are counting on a FT Anthony, Rafaela, Narvaez, and if not traded, Duran and Abreu. Perhaps, they still plan to platoon Abreu and possibly Duran might begin one. They probably count on Story at SS or maybe longshot thinking- 2B. They might also "count on" Mayer to fill 2B or 3B with the idea that Romy & DHam are capable back-ups, if he gets hurt again. That's 6 of 9 slots before any OF'er is traded. (One could DH.)

That leaves 2 slots uncounted on. (Brez & Co may see just 1- see my Romy-DHam comment.)

1B and 2B/3B. If we trade an OF'er, we can count DH as the third need.

I'd like (want) three, but I'd be happy with 2 major high quality batters.

Who Brez and Co is "counting on" is anybody's guess. He may think we can just roll it back or maybe replace Lowe with Hoskins and call it a day on the offense. God, I hope not.

 

at this point, i think they are all pretty far removed and its up to breslow, and that would explain why hes looking to hire a gm and build out his team

problem is - who the heck would want to work for that stiff?