A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[Hugh2]

17 hours ago, notin said:

At over $177 mill?

I mean, he's been outperforming that contract.  I believe me and Moon really really wanted him a few years back.  But the no spenders had all their dreams come true with a Kike Hernandez & Christian Arroyo infield. 

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sending him to WOO. Not allowing Chad to pencil him into the lineup anymore.

👏

[Bellhorn04]

The weather has heated up but the Sox bats remain cool.

3.89 runs a game - absolutely pitiful.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

The weather has heated up but the Sox bats remain cool.

3.89 runs a game - absolutely pitiful.

Are you suggesting Sam Kennedy actually lied to us?

The royal rooters of inanity I mean loyal looters of sanity?!?! 

[Bellhorn04]

12 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Are you suggesting Sam Kennedy actually lied to us?

The royal rooters of inanity I mean loyal looters of sanity?!?! 

I will give Sam one tiny merit point for at least admitting that this season is embarrassing.  That was a few weeks ago.  It keeps getting more embarrassing.  If the Sox drop the next 5 they'll be on pace for 100 losses.   

[Bellhorn04]

If the Sox do sell off hard at the deadline, the 100 loss season is definitely in reach. 

[notin]

9 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

If the Sox do sell off hard at the deadline, the 100 loss season is definitely in reach. 

Within reach? It might be unavoidable…

[notin]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

He won't get fired.  The biggest problems we have, by far, is with the players that were on the team in 2025 (Narvaez, Story, Anthony, Crochet & Bello).

Duran?

[Old Red]

8 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I will give Sam one tiny merit point for at least admitting that this season is embarrassing.  That was a few weeks ago.  It keeps getting more embarrassing.  If the Sox drop the next 5 they'll be on pace for 100 losses.   

Ah the picture of Sam, and JH holding up the wall in the Red SOX clubhouse in Baltimore as Brez addresses the ball club after the Cora firing comes more into focus everyday. The Three Stooges at work. If only this mess was only a movie.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

It would have required trading Duran and DFA'ing Masa. 

Something many have been suggesting for over 2 years.

[moonslav59]

With Crochet on the IL, not to mention Houck, Crawford, Sandoval & Oviedo, our 5 starters are all under 3.71. What a waste of a pretty awesome rotation.

OPS Against

.607 Suarez 2.93 ERA

.624 Tolle 3.08

.629 Bennett 3.71

.709 Gray 3.12

.732 Early 3.64

Assuming Crochet replaces Gray, next year, we have aal 5 locked up for 5 years or more.

[a700hitter]

19 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

He stayed much more healthy with PHI.

His pre-PHI numbers were very good: ,836.

Per 650: .237  38  90

w PHI: .869 but... er 650:

 229 45  100

 

Schwarber raked at every level of professional ball, His hitting ability was pretty evident by the time he was with the Red Sox. And he was just approaching his prime.   Not keeping him was an inexcusable swing and a miss.  Overpaying Masa compounded the stupidity.

[Old Red]

14 minutes ago, a700hitter said:

Schwarber raked at every level of professional ball, His hitting ability was pretty evident by the time he was with the Red Sox. And he was just approaching his prime.   Not keeping him was an inexcusable swing and a miss.  Overpaying Masa compounded the stupidity.

The Red Sox for the past few years always seem

to have a roster construction problem. JD was still here,so there wasn’t really a spot for Schwaber the first time, and this year the Red SOX were trying to cram 5 players into 4 spots, which didn’t work out well for some, so there wouldn’t have really been a spot for Schwaber this time either especially since Brez couldn’t have figured out how to provide one.

[Bellhorn04]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Duran?

And Yoshida does not get enough credit for how much he sucks.

[Bellhorn04]

14 minutes ago, Old Red said:

The Red Sox for the past few years always seem

to have a roster construction problem. JD was still here,so there wasn’t really a spot for Schwaber the first time, and this year the Red SOX were trying to cram 5 players into 4 spots, which didn’t work out well for some, so there wouldn’t have really been a spot for Schwaber this time either especially since Brez couldn’t have figured out how to provide one.

Roster construction has been a major problem for both of Henry's Newbie Hires, Chaim and Craig.   

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Duran?

Durbin's first 2 months

Mayer

Having the squad be 50% AAAA guys

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Something many have been suggesting for over 2 years.

We live in reality. They live in a land of make believe called Red Sox Nation. 

[mvp 78]

34 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And Yoshida does not get enough credit for how much he sucks.

I forget about how terrible he's been because of how little he plays! 

[drewski6]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Unable to trade Duran because he's still valuing Duran based on two years ago rather than at his present value. 🤓

this is an idea i can get behind more so than "nobody wanted or wants duran."

[Bellhorn04]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I forget about how terrible he's been because of how little he plays! 

8th on the team in PA's.

bWAR -0.2

fWAR -0.3

Should be jettisoned, honestly.  Close the books on Chaim's Folly.  

They should actually release Story and Yoshida simultaneously, just for the poetry of it.

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

We live in reality. They live in a land of make believe called Red Sox Nation. 

If only the make believe became reality.

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Durbin's first 2 months

Mayer

Having the squad be 50% AAAA guys

Isn’t having so many AAAA guys how last season ended?

[Bellhorn04]

Just now, Old Red said:

Isn’t having so many AAAA guys how last season ended?

Wait till you see the end of this season. 😝

[notin]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

And Yoshida does not get enough credit for how much he sucks.

Yoshida, barring a crazy turnaround, is a very likely DFA candidate sometime in August when the team needs a 40 man roster spot, possibly for a deadline acquisition….

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

8th on the team in PA's.

bWAR -0.2

fWAR -0.3

Should be jettisoned, honestly.  Close the books on Chaim's Folly.  

They should actually release Story and Yoshida simultaneously, just for the poetry of it.

1 HR in 169 PA for a DH. 

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1 HR in 169 PA for a DH. 

 

 

Yep, a DH making 18 million.   

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, a700hitter said:

Schwarber raked at every level of professional ball, His hitting ability was pretty evident by the time he was with the Red Sox. And he was just approaching his prime.   Not keeping him was an inexcusable swing and a miss.  Overpaying Masa compounded the stupidity.

The Cubs and Sox both had their chances to lock him up at a better rate than he ended up earning afterwards.

He is a perfect batter for Fenway (and everywhere else.)

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Wait till you see the end of this season. 😝

Assuming we trade IKF and Wong. We trade Duran or cut Yoshida loose. Story does not play the rest of '26 and Anthony & Romy return. Barring new injuries, the roster might end like this:

C Gasper & Narvaez

1B Contreras

2B Romy

SS Mayer

3B Durbin

LF Duran or Anthony/Yoshida

CF Rafaela

RF Abreu

DH Anthony or Yoshida

UT Seigler, Eaton, Monasterio/Sogard

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Assuming we trade IKF and Wong. We trade Duran or cut Yoshida loose. Story does not play the rest of '26 and Anthony & Romy return. Barring new injuries, the roster might end like this:

C Gasper & Narvaez

1B Contreras

2B Romy

SS Mayer

3B Durbin

LF Duran or Anthony/Yoshida

CF Rafaela

RF Abreu

DH Anthony or Yoshida

UT Seigler, Eaton, Monasterio/Sogard

Anthony is going to need surgery at some point.

[moonslav59]

The last few major SS Free Agents signings have probably done worse than any other position.

$M

365/12 Betts (not signed as SS & doing poorly in 2026)

341/10 Lindor (.796 w NYM and .669 in 2026)

325/10 Seager (.854 w TEX is great, but only over 125 gms once i 4+ yrs)

300/11 T Turner (.769 w PHI & .608 in 2026)

275/11 Bogaerts (OPS+ from 117 to 102 w SDP & .695 since '24)