A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[notin]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The AAA rosters looks okay, but nobody jumps out as being a possible big boost, except for SP'ers.

 

All the more reason to DFA Yoshida!

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

It’s not funny at all. Is KC owed $18M this year? Next year? Matter of fact unless the Red Sox pick up an option way down the line KC won’t make $18M in any year. What a bad, bad, bad comparison.🤭

Bad, cause you say so?

I know what Yoshida gets paid, this year and next. I know what KC gets paid, too.

Neither one has a clear position that can give them a lot of PAs at the MLB level. True, or not?

Neither is good on defense, anywhere. True or not?

Both are owed a lot of money- one over 2 years- the other over many more years. True or not?

Just because the two AAVs are wildly different does not mean you get to choose that as the criteria for making a comp/contrast point.

There is enough similar to compare, in my book, although the AAV is vastly different. The ages are different, and Yoshida can opt out of a AAA assignment- KC can't.

Compare and contrast, if you wish, of move on.

[moonslav59]

59 minutes ago, notin said:

All the more reason to DFA Yoshida!

That's just not a good idea, when we have no better bat to replace him with, and nobody in AAA that would help us much more.

[notin]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

That's just not a good idea, when we have no better bat to replace him with, and nobody in AAA that would help us much more.

I thought my saying so implied sarcasm. Outside of 5Gold(or maybe not), I rank at or near the top of the Pro-Shida list…

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

I thought my saying so implied sarcasm. Outside of 5Gold(or maybe not), I rank at or near the top of the Pro-Shida list…

You are certainly top threeshida.

While I have suggested dozens of Shida trades, I'm not for DFA'ing him. He's a better batter than 2-3 players in our starting line-up, and our batting has been mentioned as a weaker ara.

[Old Red]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Bad, cause you say so?

I know what Yoshida gets paid, this year and next. I know what KC gets paid, too.

Neither one has a clear position that can give them a lot of PAs at the MLB level. True, or not?

Neither is good on defense, anywhere. True or not?

Both are owed a lot of money- one over 2 years- the other over many more years. True or not?

Just because the two AAVs are wildly different does not mean you get to choose that as the criteria for making a comp/contrast point.

There is enough similar to compare, in my book, although the AAV is vastly different. The ages are different, and Yoshida can opt out of a AAA assignment- KC can't.

Compare and contrast, if you wish, of move on.

You look worse trying to explain it than you did posting the first time. Money most likely has something to do why Masa is on the club, and has nothing to do with why KC isn’t. Every case is different, and there is about a $16M difference for this year. If Masa only had one year left on his contract it may be a different story altogether. KC making a little over $2M this year is not even a consideration especially for a suspect, which KC is, and Masa isn’t to make the team. Two ENTIRELY different situations with 2 ENTIRELY different outcomes that shouldn’t even be compared IMO.🙈

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

You look worse trying to explain it than you did posting the first time. Money most likely has something to do why Masa is on the club, and has nothing to do with why KC isn’t. Every case is different, and there is about a $16M difference for this year. If Masa only had one year left on his contract it may be a different story altogether. KC making a little over $2M this year is not even a consideration especially for a suspect, which KC is, and Masa isn’t to make the team. Two ENTIRELY different situations with 2 ENTIRELY different outcomes that shouldn’t even be compared IMO.🙈

You keep comparing the two while saying I should not.

Talk about getting worse, some more.

[Old Red]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You keep comparing the two while saying I should not.

Talk about getting worse, some more.

I’m not the one who said KC is owed almost twice as much as Masa like that had something to do with the Masa situation in the first place. It didn’t then, and it don’t now.👋

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

I’m not the one who said KC is owed almost twice as much as Masa like that had something to do with the Masa situation in the first place. It didn’t then, and it don’t now.👋

What makes you think me saying KC is owed twice as much as Masa has something to do with Masa's situation, except that they are both owed a lot of money?

There are many difference between the two, but I'm sure you don't know what the word "contrast" means, so I won't bother.

You talk about me reading things into what you say, and it's basically all you do on my posts.

They both are owed a lot of money.

They both have no clear shot at a meaningful position without an injury.

They both still need to prove they can win a slot, if one arises.

They both suck on D.

Yoshida can not be demoted without his ability to opt out and off the team. KC has no such clause.

Answer this, if KC had to be on the 26 or released, where would he be right now?

(My answer is I'm not sure, but I would guess on the 26 like Yoshida. I don't expect an answer from you- just more projection, deflections and clownish emojis.)

[moonslav59]

I read somewhere there was still a choice on who be the 5th starter: Oviedo, Early or Tolle.

I thought I heard Oviedo got the job.

[Old Red]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I read somewhere there was still a choice on who be the 5th starter: Oviedo, Early or Tolle.

I thought I heard Oviedo got the job.

According to Cotillo both Oviedo, and Early will both be on the opening day roster due to Ranger, and Bello being a little behind, because of their WBC participation. Tolle already sent down to Woo. Right now the Sunday game In Cincinnati is listed as undecided with Ranger, and Bello going the first two games in Houston.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

According to Cotillo both Oviedo, and Early will both be on the opening day roster due to Ranger, and Bello being a little behind, because of their WBC participation. Tolle already sent down to Woo. Right now the Sunday game In Cincinnati is listed as undecided with Ranger, and Bello going the first two games in Houston.

Good to know. I missed that.

[mvp 78]

17 hours ago, notin said:

All the more reason to DFA Yoshida!

See if he'll accept an option to AAA and then there'll be better guys for the taxi squad.

[JoeBrady]

For all the talk about Oviedo, Bello and Early, and who's ready, part of me says (based on SSS ST and 2025), that Early has earned a starting gig, and it is up to the others prove themselves.

[Deja Doh]

We have 3 players who have more career hits than strikeouts (Yoshida, IKF, and Durbin).  We will be average again at best.

[drewski6]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I read somewhere there was still a choice on who be the 5th starter: Oviedo, Early or Tolle.

I thought I heard Oviedo got the job.

I think its going to be a piggyback situation, so Oviedo then Early.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

See if he'll accept an option to AAA and then there'll be better guys for the taxi squad.

Maybe not.  Someone like Yoshida who is a vet and can keep himself ready despite having to go up and down I-95 east and west on I-90 (old habits of to and fro pawtucket) and can be used despite being willing to be jerked around a bit.  I agree that we need to talk to him.  Like listen, youve made money here and we need to ask something of you and thats a willingness to be up and down so we can essentially expand our 26 man roster and we need you to just focus on hitting and playing and if you do, you will likely get an opportunity at some point to re-establish yourself as a major leaguer instead of a cusp major leaguer with no-position DH without speed or power.  

And he might say "no" and thats within his right.  My concern is that in recent history when weve tried to "communicate" that has kind of backfired.

[drewski6]

taxi squad to me means up and down all year. So thats where Im coming from. I do agree there are better options for a day to day bench role, like Eaton, who can spell multiple positions, pinch run, and bat righty.

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

taxi squad to me means up and down all year. So thats where Im coming from. I do agree there are better options for a day to day bench role, like Eaton, who can spell multiple positions, pinch run, and bat righty.

The thing is, we won't need to "spell" two starters, at the same time, so there really is no need to have Eaton and Monasterio on the 26. We already have IKF and 4 OF'ers.

Our biggest bench need other than back up Catcher is filled by IKF. The next need is for a decent PH'er, and who looks like the highest need PH players?

1. Wong

2. Mayer

3. Rafaela (?)

4. Durbin (?)

Masa can PH for any of these guys, even the LH'd Mayer. I'd rather have Masa as the #13 than duplicated value. Now, if someone gets hurt, then all this could change, depending on who it is. If it's an OF'er, Masa's role expands to fill the DH slot, nearly FT. If it's an infielder, then maybe we look to make a chance, but we can also just fill the infield IL'd player with Sogard, Gasper, Romero or Eaton.

 

[mvp 78]

59 minutes ago, Deja Doh said:

We have 3 players who have more career hits than strikeouts (Yoshida, IKF, and Durbin).  We will be average again at best.

DFA Roman Anthony

[mvp 78]

54 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I think its going to be a piggyback situation, so Oviedo then Early.

Early is helping out because Suarez isn't ready to go because of the WBC. Bello is a little bit behind schedule too.

[mvp 78]

24 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The thing is, we won't need to "spell" two starters, at the same time, so there really is no need to have Eaton and Monasterio on the 26. We already have IKF and 4 OF'ers.

Our biggest bench need other than back up Catcher is filled by IKF. The next need is for a decent PH'er, and who looks like the highest need PH players?

1. Wong

2. Mayer

3. Rafaela (?)

4. Durbin (?)

Masa can PH for any of these guys, even the LH'd Mayer. I'd rather have Masa as the #13 than duplicated value. Now, if someone gets hurt, then all this could change, depending on who it is. If it's an OF'er, Masa's role expands to fill the DH slot, nearly FT. If it's an infielder, then maybe we look to make a chance, but we can also just fill the infield IL'd player with Sogard, Gasper, Romero or Eaton.

 

If you pinch hit Masa for Mayer/Rafaela/Durbin it probably necessitates using IKF or additional positional movements as Masa can't field those positions. 

[moonslav59]

28 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If you pinch hit Masa for Mayer/Rafaela/Durbin it probably necessitates using IKF or additional positional movements as Masa can't field those positions. 

Yes, and even if one player is getting "spelled," we have a replacement for Masa (IKF or Monasterio.)

If Masa PH's for Rafaela, he could even play LF.

[moonslav59]

The Opening Day 26

SP: Crochet, Gray, Suarez, Bello, Oviedo/Early

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Moran, Watson, Coulombe

1. Anthony LF

2. Story SS

3. Duran DH

4. Contreras 1B

5. Abreu RF

6. Durbin 3B

7. Mayer 2B

8. Rafaela CF

9. Narvaez C

Bench: Wong C, IKF Utility, Monasterio Utility, Masa DH/OF

[moonslav59]

40 Man Roster Players on the farm:

Crawford, Sandoval, Tolle, Uberstine, Kelly, Samaniego, Bennett (AA)

Sogard, Eaton, Gasper, Campbell, Cheng, Casas (IL), Siegler (IL)

60 Day IL: Houck, Romy

[mvp 78]

 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Good for Early!

The guy just keeps getting the job done.

He seems to always know what he's doing and with extreme condifence.

[mvp 78]

With all the IFers they brought in, Sogard can be DFA'd whenever. 

Look, if you watch him for a game or two, he doesn't jump off the page. But if you watch him day in and day out, you'll eventually see him do some baseball stuff. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

52 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

With all the IFers they brought in, Sogard can be DFA'd whenever. 

Look, if you watch him for a game or two, he doesn't jump off the page. But if you watch him day in and day out, you'll eventually see him do some baseball stuff. 

Good thing Spring stats are meaningless or I'd be worried.

[moonslav59]

From soxprospects.com...

The Sox signed Tommy Kahnle to a minor league deal. Kahnle has pitched in 436 2/3 innings over 11 seasons in the big leagues, including six with the Yankees. He notched a 4.43 ERA in 63 innings with the Tigers last season, and he threw two shutout frames for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. His contract includes an assignment clause on May 1, and an opt-out on June 1. Danny Coulombe was signed two weeks ago, but his deal was renegotiated last week after an issue arose in his medical reviews. Some of his guarantees were turned into incentives, so he can still make the same amount if he remains healthy and on the roster.