A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[Larry Cook]

3 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Red Sox had 574 million revenue the year before with over $120 in net income.  They were the most profitable organization in the league. 

If they are saying they lost money I'm saying they're effing lying. 

I'll take this as posturing from the owners heading into negotiations in 2027.  

Not doubting you, but can you tell me where you got your numbers?? 

[notin]

10 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

.

Are you happy with the "improvements" the Flops have made to the team this offseason? I mean getting Sonny Gray will certainly put us in contention for a ring now, right?

I didn’t know they bumped up the World Series to mid-December this season…

[UtahSox]

Your entitlement argument verse the Yankees has way too many variables. Not acknowledging these variables is essentially acknowledging bias.
1. Yankees still are a top 2-3 spender in baseball and haven’t changed or deviated from that. Sox have since 2018.

2. Yankees went to the World Series 14 months ago, and played in the ALDS this year. Sox it’s been a lot longer.

3. Bellinger hasn’t signed anywhere, and neither has Tucker so the two main objective for their team are still in play.
There are probably many other variables, but those are the main three I could think of immediately. If you can all acknowledge those, and want to still argue by all means have at it. But I am under no illusions that the expectations of Yankees fans are any different than those of Boston Red Sox fans. And speaking for myself I’m proud to be in the same conversation with them. As our incredible brand, town, and history deserve.

[Hugh2]

4 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Not doubting you, but can you tell me where you got your numbers?? 

https://www.forbes.com/teams/boston-red-sox/#:~:text=Historical,$208M

[FredLynn]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

The sportswriters aren’t?!! Well, That’s an accurate gage.  I mean, it’s not like they’re above writing clickbait articles that are infinitely more successful when they write bad news.

One year ago, we were still roughly 10 weeks away from signing Bregman.  And before they, it was these same posts all over again.  We’ve all seen this before but some of us are not pretending we haven’t.  Offseasons are slow, and they used to be much worse, and not that long ago.    We’ve all seen this, but we still have people complaining for SIX WEEKS RUNNING about the lack of activity, which really means the lack of activities they want.  Can I safely assume you’re also angry at Santa because your stocking is STILL EMPTY?

Schwarber is a very good hitter with no defensive skills whatsoever  Alonso is a one-trick pony.  There are other options for the Sox, especially if folks focus solely on the 35-40 home runs a player might bring while conveniently forgetting about his other 500-530 at bats…

We missed out on the two premier sluggers available on the FA market because our owner is too cheap to sign them. Its crystal clear that we needed a player or two of Schwarber or Alonso's caliber. Who is left out there of similar caliber for us to sign? If we have to make a trade for a player like that we surrender some of our guys. We also needed a solid #2 SP and we got.........Gray, a #4 at best. Squeaking into the playoffs followed by a rapid exit might be OK for some, but its not OK for me, not year after year, especially after the abyssmal results over most of the last five years.

[FredLynn]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

I didn’t know they bumped up the World Series to mid-December this season…

In other words you are not happy with the progress in improving the team either, at least so far. Not many are. Given the way Henry operates I am not expecting more than a bunch of sorry excuses from here on out, just like last year and the year before. The TD excuses were truly rich.

[moonslav59]

Is it me or does there seem to be about ten times the trade and signing rumors than last year?

Most are from newly formed clickbait sites I never heard of but still!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Is it me or does there seem to be about ten times the trade and signing rumors than last year?

Most are from newly formed clickbait sites I never heard of but still!

It's not you -- you still post the same amount of trade proposals as you always did.

The worst culprit is NESN.com -- they post a dozen new "stories" a day on the Interest Kings. I say stories in quotes because they're barely ever actual articles but more like blurbs with a single shred of something said by someone (an "insider" or supah fan or player's agent's in-law's dogwalker).

Most nauseating is the headline writer, who has the word "Prediction" permanently stored in his Control-V and automatically pastes it every time his AI spots a word that starts with P: predicament, predeceased, prednisone, pickyournose.

There is never anything new that we don't already know about.

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

https://www.forbes.com/teams/boston-red-sox/#:~:text=Historical,$208M

Interesting:
According to Forbes, the Red Sox generated roughly $574 million in revenue in 2024 but only spent about $237 million on player expenses (payroll taxes are not included) but it looks like it’s factored somehow into the net profit #’s Forbes produced. Based on looking at their net profit #’s for other teams as well. In other words, Boston the most profitable franchise in MLB. 

One of my college roommates (1st hand account) manages a professional sports owners investment portfolio. Based on my conversations with him, I learned there’s an IRS code that allows you to put an intangible asset valuation on players and rosters they are amortized over 15 years. For a franchise like the Red Sox, taking wild ass guess at the starting tax basis, I think that still creates roughly $25–30M per year in tax shields — enough to materially offset most income taxes. But crucially, that shield is already locked in. Additional payroll spending no longer improves tax efficiency. 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It's not you -- you still post the same amount of trade proposals as you always did.

The worst culprit is NESN.com -- they post a dozen new "stories" a day on the Interest Kings. I say stories in quotes because they're barely ever actual articles but more like blurbs with a single shred of something said by someone (an "insider" or supah fan or player's agent's in-law's dogwalker).

Most nauseating is the headline writer, who has the word "Prediction" permanently stored in his Control-V and automatically pastes it every time his AI spots a word that starts with P: predicament, predeceased, prednisone, pickyournose.

There is never anything new that we don't already know about.

Some of the headlines say the trade was made

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

but the abuse they lay on Cashman and Boone is pretty spectacular. 

TBH, Cashman has done a decent job ever since he took my advice and started keeping the prospects.  Boone is difficult to defend by anyone.

[harmony]

2 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Not doubting you, but can you tell me where you got your numbers?? 

Perhaps:

https://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations/list/#tab:overall

https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinteitelbaum/2025/03/26/baseballs-most-valuable-teams-2025/

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, FredLynn said:

Are you happy with the "improvements" the Flops have made to the team this offseason?

That only matters if you still think there is a deadline that has already passed.  And that's really the difference.  You like players with high HR totals.  Since two of those guys have already signed, you look at the glass as half-empty.

I prefer more well-rounded players, and pitching.  Since those guys are still available, I see the glass as half-full.

[FredLynn]

14 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

That only matters if you still think there is a deadline that has already passed.  And that's really the difference.  You like players with high HR totals.  Since two of those guys have already signed, you look at the glass as half-empty.

I prefer more well-rounded players, and pitching.  Since those guys are still available, I see the glass as half-full.

I like pitching too. So glad we got Sonny Gray as our #4. Where’s our #2?
Last year we were below league average for HRs. And at the end of the year we struggled to score. While it’s nice to have well rounded players it’s even nicer to get guys who can hit it out of the park.

I’d be shocked if we signed anyone but mediocre players like Sonny Gray.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Is it me or does there seem to be about ten times the trade and signing rumors than last year?

Most are from newly formed clickbait sites I never heard of but still!

What I see is that writers and websites are referencing more obscure trade proposals and signings.  Just look at the ones posted on Talksox:

• Arraez
• Devin Williams
• The Brewer trade
• Seager

Those are fantasy baseball level ideas, but they find their way into print.

[harmony]

15 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I like pitching too. So glad we got Sonny Gray as our #4. Where’s our #2?
Last year we were below league average for HRs. And at the end of the year we struggled to score. While it’s nice to have well rounded players it’s even nicer to get guys who can hit it out of the park.

I’d be shocked if we signed anyone but mediocre players like Sonny Gray.

Does Michael King move the needle?

https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/2000253715501158632

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/14/sports/red-sox-michael-king-free-agent/?s_campaign=bostonglobesports%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter&utm_social_post_id=622793588&utm_social_handle_id=19780938

[Randy Red Sox]

18 hours ago, notin said:

If only we had signed Akil Baddoo and stayed off that list!!

Ok so far the Padres have signed Kyle Hart, Daison Acosta, and Tyler Adcock.

Now in free agency they have lost Dylan Cease, Michael King, Luis Arraez, Nestor Cortes, Elias Díaz, and Jose Iglesias.

 

But hey!! They spent money!! That’s all fans want!!

that isn't all most of us want and you know it !! MOST of us simply want the team too get BETTER and to date the Sox HAVE NOT.

[JoeBrady]

18 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Where’s our #2?
Last year we were below league average for HRs. And at the end of the year we struggled to score.

In regard to the #2, some of that relies on other teams to trade us a #2.  My guess right now is we are talking to several teams about Duran+ in exchange for a #2.  And that those teams are likewise talking to other teams.

IRT to late scoring, we were #10 in OPS in the final 28 days per BR.  And that was without Mayer & Casas, and largely without Abreu.

And your comments still largely revolve around the fact that the RS didn't sign the two guys that YOU prefer.

[FredLynn]

9 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

In regard to the #2, some of that relies on other teams to trade us a #2.  My guess right now is we are talking to several teams about Duran+ in exchange for a #2.  And that those teams are likewise talking to other teams.

IRT to late scoring, we were #10 in OPS in the final 28 days per BR.  And that was without Mayer & Casas, and largely without Abreu.

And your comments still largely revolve around the fact that the RS didn't sign the two guys that YOU prefer.

You misunderstand me. The two guys we didn’t sign are just a SYMPTOM of Henry being a cheapskate. It’s why we won’t be  getting any top notch players. 
Again.

[FredLynn]

21 minutes ago, harmony said:

Does Michael King move the needle?

https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/2000253715501158632

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/14/sports/red-sox-michael-king-free-agent/?s_campaign=bostonglobesports%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter&utm_social_post_id=622793588&utm_social_handle_id=19780938

Pay wall

Did we sign King while I wasn’t looking?

[moonslav59]

Chances are we will have some injuries next year, so we can’t be counting on returning players as our saviors or to replace departing players.

[notin]

3 hours ago, FredLynn said:

In other words you are not happy with the progress in improving the team either, at least so far. Not many are. Given the way Henry operates I am not expecting more than a bunch of sorry excuses from here on out, just like last year and the year before. The TD excuses were truly rich.

I’m not thrilled with it, but I’m not as unrealistic as you are. 
 

But it’s December.  Not even late December.  Plenty of time left and just because two names you liked are off the board doesn’t mean it is over already.  Especially since the Sox might have felt differently about them.  

[moonslav59]

Chances are we will have some injuries next year, so we can’t be counting on returning players as our saviors or to replace departing players.

Yes, it’s just mid December but with reports about budget limits and no long term deals, it sure feels like another sham winter, to me.

It can change but my hopes are low

[FredLynn]

18 minutes ago, notin said:

I’m not thrilled with it, but I’m not as unrealistic as you are. 
 

But it’s December.  Not even late December.  Plenty of time left and just because two names you liked are off the board doesn’t mean it is over already.  Especially since the Sox might have felt differently about them.  

Nope

It’s over because Henry won’t spend the money for any top talent, just like the last several years when the opportunity to make the team real contenders presented itself. But hey-the Henry’s gotta eat, don’t they?

Crap franchise. Crap owner.

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Nope

It’s over because Henry won’t spend the money for any top talent, just like the last several years when the opportunity to make the team real contenders presented itself. But hey-the Henry’s gotta eat, don’t they?

Crap franchise. Crap owner.

I'm pissed at JH & Co, too, but we did sign Bregman to a record AAV, last winter, while increasing spending by near $25M.

We undid much of that with the Devers trade, and now Bregman and Gio are off the books (among others.)

I'm not expecting big spending this winter, but the spending did uptick, last winter. (This is in no way intended to be a support JH post.)

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

The two guys we didn’t sign are just a SYMPTOM of Henry being a cheapskate.

Or, just like the Mets, we thought Alonso was overrated.  And like the other 28 teams, thought Philly overpaid.

[vjcsmoke]

2 hours ago, harmony said:

Does Michael King move the needle?

https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/2000253715501158632

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/14/sports/red-sox-michael-king-free-agent/?s_campaign=bostonglobesports%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter&utm_social_post_id=622793588&utm_social_handle_id=19780938

Injury prone player. Our offer will probably be a shorter term deal with an opt out clause. Seems to be right in the Red Sox wheelhouse. Spend a little bit now, then let the player walk for bigger money elsewhere if he proves to be good and worthy of a better contract.

[moonslav59]

How many posters think signing just one from Bregman or Bichette is "enough" to make us top competitors for 2026?

To me, even Bregman/Bichette plus Suarez/M King is barely getting us to even or slightly plus.

Maybe Marte and Bregman, but then Duran DHs, unless we trade him for a solid #2, and that's two major trades that would open new holes.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, vjcsmoke said:

Injury prone player. Our offer will probably be a shorter term deal with an opt out clause. Seems to be right in the Red Sox wheelhouse. Spend a little bit now, then let the player walk for bigger money elsewhere if he proves to be good and worthy of a better contract.

It's the idea that a shorter term deal is possible that moves the Sox up on the list of final runner ups to who he eventually will sign with.

I thought we might go after Merrill Kelly and his 2 year deal, but he doesn't check enough boxes for them.

Polanco's deal was just 2 years, but Jorge's question marks were likely too worrisome for Brez & Co.

[FredLynn]

49 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Or, just like the Mets, we thought Alonso was overrated.  And like the other 28 teams, thought Philly overpaid.

You have no idea whether the other 28 teams thought Philly overpaid. They just didn’t want to offer more. The fact is that he and Alonso were the top two HR hitters available on the FA market and Henry was too cheap to outbid the competition for either of them. In fact he’s too cheap to get anyone of significance this offseason. 
I don’t see that changing. They are wasting our window.
Crap owner; crap franchise.