A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[Randy Red Sox]

46 minutes ago, notin said:

$180/7 for Alonso is not happening.  No team has ever offered 7 years to a 31yo 1b.  Freddie Freeman only got 6 years, granted at 32. But Freeman is a future Hall of Famer whereas Alonso probably falls off the ballot after his first vote…

we will probably just re-sign Lowe on a 1 year deal

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

we will probably just re-sign Lowe on a 1 year deal

Hoskins and Bell are in the running.

Don't be shocked if it's Casas & Romy.

[Hitch]

18 hours ago, notin said:

MLBTR predicted 5 years $90mill for Naylor and 4 yrs $110mill for Alonso…

Yeah, I was hoping his market would be drawn downwards due the fat the Mets seem nonplussed about brining him back, and there are few other suitors, seemingly. But that Naylor deal makes me think it will be closer to the above you've mentioned. 

[Hitch]

17 hours ago, notin said:

Probably would have if he accepted playing 1b…

Yes, the people still complaining about the Devers trade, often miss this part out. 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Hitch said:

Yes, the people still complaining about the Devers trade, often miss this part out. 

Apparently, nobody dared to tell him to play 1B.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Apparently, nobody dared to tell him to play 1B.

Having face to face conversations is scary. 🫣

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Having face to face conversations is scary. 🫣

With the babyface Devers????

[Hitch]

42 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Apparently, nobody dared to tell him to play 1B.

Until they did and he just said no. 

Then went and played the for the Giants. 

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Until they did and he just said no. 

Then went and played the for the Giants. 

I could be wrong, but I do not think Cora ever asked him to play 1B, and Brez merely said we need you there.

Even the concept of "asking" is off base. You should just have to say, "The team needs you at 1B, so start practicing to play there, soon." I doubt that was said.

[Hitch]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I could be wrong, but I do not think Cora ever asked him to play 1B, and Brez merely said we need you there.

Even the concept of "asking" is off base. You should just have to say, "The team needs you at 1B, so start practicing to play there, soon." I doubt that was said.

 

 

Quote

 

BOSTON -- Rafael Devers has put his foot down and his glove away, too.

He's not going to play first base.

Speaking to the media for the first time since Triston Casas was lost for the season after rupturing the patellar tendon in his left knee and undergoing surgery, Devers said he met with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who asked him if he'd switch to first base, and the DH said no.

"They had the conversation with me," Devers said through team interpreter Daveson Perez. "I don't think, for me personally, it's the best decision after they asked me to play a different position. And I only had two months playing this position to all of a sudden have me try to play another position. So, from my end, it doesn't seem like a good decision."

After the Red Sox beat the Rangers 5-0 on Thursday, Devers said the club came to him.

"It was after the Casas [injury]. ... They came to me and talked to me about it," Devers said. "I know I'm a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there.

"In Spring Training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove and I wasn't going to play any other position but DH."

Asked if there's a chance he might change his mind, Devers immediately said "no."

Whether they demanded or asked, teammate of the year flat out refused to play there. f*** him.

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, Hitch said:

 

 

Whether they demanded or asked, teammate of the year flat out refused to play there. f*** him.

Just keep in mind that things were not handled as well as they should have been from the RS side either, based on their own admissions.  WE have a GM who holds grudges and doesnt communicate well, and that played a part.  I do agree most of the blame goes to Devers because he just wasnt living in the current landscape which is positions are fluid and versatility gets used.

[drewski6]

16 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I could be wrong, but I do not think Cora ever asked him to play 1B, and Brez merely said we need you there.

Even the concept of "asking" is off base. You should just have to say, "The team needs you at 1B, so start practicing to play there, soon." I doubt that was said.

They eventually had a sit down meeting with Cora present (as well as Breslow) but heels were dug in and a lot of damage had been done by then.

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Hitch said:

 

 

Whether they demanded or asked, teammate of the year flat out refused to play there. f*** him.

I hated the trade and still do, but I do feel it needed to be done.

[moonslav59]

Just now, drewski6 said:

They eventually had a sit down meeting with Cora present (as well as Breslow) but heels were dug in and a lot of damage had been done by then.

But from what I heard they never came out and told him to play 1B.

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Apparently, nobody dared to tell him to play 1B.

He certainly commented about it.  In the whiniest way possible. “Are they going to ask me to play every position?”

 

No, you selfish SOB.  They just want you to pitch in and fill for an injured teammate.  Stop whining because you lost the job you wanted for no other reason than the fact that you couldn’t play it…

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

With the babyface Devers????

A 6’4” 260lb man with a baby face is still 6’4” and 260lbs…

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I hated the trade and still do, but I do feel it needed to be done.

Keep in mind things were pretty smoothed over at the time of the trade and we were on a winning streak, and Devers was red hot.

It had to be done, maybe because of grudges.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, notin said:

A 6’4” 260lb man with a baby face is still 6’4” and 260lbs…

Are you suggesting they fear he'd pummel them?

[notin]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Hoskins and Bell are in the running.

Don't be shocked if it's Casas & Romy.

If Casas is healthy, it’s not a horrible solution.  Although Casas has shown he doesn’t need to be platooned.  If the Sox are going to platoon Romy with anyone, there are going to be less capable LHH vs LHP that might make more sense.  Yoshida leaps to mind if he is still with the Sox…

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Keep in mind things were pretty smoothed over at the time of the trade and we were on a winning streak, and Devers was red hot.

It had to be done, maybe because of grudges.

Indeed, among other things.

Many people could have handled it better, including Devers.

I wanted Devers forevers, but that became too difficult among the mega egos involved.

[drewski6]

Just now, notin said:

A 6’4” 260lb man with a baby face is still 6’4” and 260lbs…

No way Devers is 6'4

 

[notin]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Are you suggesting they fear he'd pummel them?

We’re you suggesting timid childlike innocence with the baby face commentary?

[notin]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

No way Devers is 6'4

 

Did I say Devers was? Just commenting that larger folks can have baby faces.

I doubt hes 260lbs either…

[Hitch]

9 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Just keep in mind that things were not handled as well as they should have been from the RS side either, based on their own admissions.  WE have a GM who holds grudges and doesnt communicate well, and that played a part.  I do agree most of the blame goes to Devers because he just wasnt living in the current landscape which is positions are fluid and versatility gets used.

Yeah I won't let off the FO either. It was a mess. But to let down your teammates tells me everything I need to know. I'm glad he's gone.

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

If Casas is healthy, it’s not a horrible solution.  Although Casas has shown he doesn’t need to be platooned.  If the Sox are going to platoon Romy with anyone, there are going to be less capable LHH vs LHP that might make more sense.  Yoshida leaps to mind if he is still with the Sox…

No, it's not.

I have said I'd be fine having one position like that, as long as we upgrade 3 others (1B, 2B/3B, SP, maybe DH or 3B/2B)

I'm okay with Casas/Romy at 1B, with Bregman/Suarez and 3B and KMarte/Polanco/Bichette at 2B, 

I'm okay with Mayer/Romy at 2B or 3B, with Alonso/Schwarber at 1B and another infielder listed above.

I'm okay with Masa/Ref or Masa/Romy at DH, if we fill at least 2 of the 3 slots in a big way.

Bregman or Bichette are sideways moves not upgrades. I'm not even sure Polanco or Suarez are updates, except maybe on O, only.

We really need Alonso or Schwarber. If The Mets sign Bregman, as some reports are hinting at, maybe Alonso can be had. If DD signs Tucker, maybe Schwarber is doable. Maybe we can outbid DD, anyway.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

We’re you suggesting timid childlike innocence with the baby face commentary?

It was a play on the "having a face-to-face conversation" being "scary" comment.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Yeah I won't let off the FO either. It was a mess. But to let down your teammates tells me everything I need to know. I'm glad he's gone.

If we don't replace his bat, being angry at Devers doesn't change the fact that the trade hut us, too. (Not that you are saying otherwise.)

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, notin said:

He certainly commented about it.  In the whiniest way possible. “Are they going to ask me to play every position?”

 

No, you selfish SOB.  They just want you to pitch in and fill for an injured teammate.  Stop whining because you lost the job you wanted for no other reason than the fact that you couldn’t play it…

Who are we to ask someone to stop whining? Like, be real. Everyone on here is a pro at whining. 

[Hitch]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If we don't replace his bat, being angry at Devers doesn't change the fact that the trade hut us, too. (Not that you are saying otherwise.)

Absolutely, I have no issues with that. We have to get it right this winter. 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who are we to ask someone to stop whining? Like, be real. Everyone on here is a pro at whining. 

Some even whine about whining!