A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[UtahSox]

42 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd keep Eyanson. We lose Gray and Crochet is a Q mark, We just started Rivera after having rotational depth 10-11 deep. (He was #12-13?) Eyanson might be ready mid '27 and into '28.

Mayer and Witherspoon (add Phillips not Valera, if we can help it) can get us something useful, but it cannot be a rental.

I agree 100% no rentals. Any move made I’d like to see a minimum of 2027 control. 

For pitching we have all seen injuries play a major part and projecting into 2027 in 2028 is really hard for a pitcher. Eyanson and Valera might be really good, but they also might have to get Tommy John surgery in April of next year??? Which would mean we wouldn’t see them until 2030. Obviously they are very highly valued, but we also know to get good players. You have to give up good players. Red Sox could absorb losing a couple highly touted arms for a big bat now. 

Next year as slated, we have Garrett crochet, Ranger Suarez, Peyton Tolle, Connolly early, Jake Bennett, Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, and Tanner Houck plus if they can figure something out with Bryan Bello.

That’s a lot of starters. Now I realize I can’t speak out both sides of my mouth, and injuries do happen quite frequently, but it does seem like free agent pitchers that are high impact/rentals are much more easily obtained than hitters. Thats my argument don’t fire sale elite pitcher prospects……but if it gets you CJ Abrams, we probably need to make that move happen.

[moonslav59]

23 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

I agree 100% no rentals. Any move made I’d like to see a minimum of 2027 control. 

For pitching we have all seen injuries play a major part and projecting into 2027 in 2028 is really hard for a pitcher. Eyanson and Valera might be really good, but they also might have to get Tommy John surgery in April of next year??? Which would mean we wouldn’t see them until 2030. Obviously they are very highly valued, but we also know to get good players. You have to give up good players. Red Sox could absorb losing a couple highly touted arms for a big bat now. 

Next year as slated, we have Garrett crochet, Ranger Suarez, Peyton Tolle, Connolly early, Jake Bennett, Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, and Tanner Houck plus if they can figure something out with Bryan Bello.

That’s a lot of starters. Now I realize I can’t speak out both sides of my mouth, and injuries do happen quite frequently, but it does seem like free agent pitchers that are high impact/rentals are much more easily obtained than hitters. Thats my argument don’t fire sale elite pitcher prospects……but if it gets you CJ Abrams, we probably need to make that move happen.

I'm okay with a rental, if all we give up is Cespedes & Castro types, but not prospects like Eyanson or Witherspoon.

IMO, these are the types of deals we will see, if we are buyers:

2023: Bradley Blalock for Luis Urias

2024: M Lugo, Kavadas, Zeferjahn & Vargas for Luis Garcia

2024: Paulino, C Coffey & Batista for Danny Jansen

2024: Ovis Portes for Lucas Sims

2025: Blaze Jordan for Steven Matz

2025: Tibbs & Ehrhard for D May

I'd love to see these type:

2024: Nick Yorke for Priester

2022: Vazquez for Abreu & EValdez & Diekman for McGuire

2021: Aldo Ramirez for Schwarber, Alex Scherff for Robles & Chavis for Austin Davis

[moonslav59]

The ASB is here. I hat no baseball for 5 days, and that includes not counting the ASG as a game.

Last year TOR won the ALE and the AL crown- now they are in last place.

The Rays finished 2 games from last place in the ALE and now have the best record in the AL.

CLE won the ALC with DET second, while the CWS finished last in the ALC and worst in all of the AL. This year we see the CWS in first place CLE barely ahead on MIN and DET in 4th place.

SEA won the ALW in 2025, but this year TEX leads the division. HOU and SEA are close behind.

The NL is closer to their 2025 standing than the AL but in the NLE, 4th place ATL is now in first.

In the NLC, STL went from 6 under .500 to 5 over, after dumping Gray & Contreras onto the Sox.

In the ALW, AZ went from 4th to 2nd, but all in all, nothing too major in the NL.

 

[moonslav59]

TOR lost. How far they have sunk.

I guess we aren't the only first to last team around.

[moonslav59]

Our draft pick rankings:

 

1-20: Jake Schaffner, SS (BA: 98; MLB: 75; ESPN: 51)

CP-67: Owen Hull, OF (BA: 60; MLB: 67; ESPN: 62

3-96: Jace Mataczynski, SS (BA: 102; MLB: 131; ESPN: 77)

6-185: Brett Lanman, LHP (BA: 307)

7-214: Kide Adetuyi, LHP (BA: 442)

9-274: Martin Shelar, OF (BA: 125; MLB: 175; ESPN: 80)

10-304: Kaleb LaFavor, RHP (BA: 461; ESPN: 171)

18-544: Ethan Offing, OF (BA: 377)

 

If you go by the highest, we had...

 

51, 60, 77, 80, 171, 307, 377, 442

 

4 in the top 80 is not bad, when you have such a late pick and forfeited 2nd and 4th rounders.

 

Here is a link to soxprospects.com on the signing period, which ends July 27th:

 

https://news.soxprospects.com/2026/07/welcome-to-2025-draft-signing-period.html

[moonslav59]

So, it's the ASB and we are nearing the big choice on August 3rd:

1. Sell: trade Gray, IKF, Sandoval and maybe Chapman. (Duran or Oviedo and maybe Whitlock?)

2. Buy: trade mid level prospects for a better bat and a RP'er.

3. Buy more: maybe go as high as Witherspoon, Valera, Gonzales and or Godbout/Phillips plus mid level. Get a real bat and a higher quality RPer or another bat.

4. Do barely nothing. Maybe trade a Rule 5 prospect, Sandoval and Cespedes for one improvement.

5. Do nothing at all.

(I don't see a milder version of selling as a choice. If we sell, sell.)

[UtahSox]

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, it's the ASB and we are nearing the big choice on August 3rd:

1. Sell: trade Gray, IKF, Sandoval and maybe Chapman. (Duran or Oviedo and maybe Whitlock?)

2. Buy: trade mid level prospects for a better bat and a RP'er.

3. Buy more: maybe go as high as Witherspoon, Valera, Gonzales and or Godbout/Phillips plus mid level. Get a real bat and a higher quality RPer or another bat.

4. Do barely nothing. Maybe trade a Rule 5 prospect, Sandoval and Cespedes for one improvement.

5. Do nothing at all.

(I don't see a milder version of selling as a choice. If we sell, sell.)

1. No can’t sell of Gray, Whitlock, or Chapman unless you get blown away. Newsflash you won’t be.

2. No unless its for Jo Adell or Taylor Ward

3. Yes… Get an impact bat in this lineup… maybe go as high as Arias, Eyanson, Azocar, Gonzalez, Primera, Witherspoon, Valera. IDC go get an impact bat or 2 . Langeliers, Wood, Abrams, Neto, Goodman, Alvarez, Buxton, Paredes, Jordan Walker types. 

4. NO

5. NO

[southpaw777]

On 7/3/2026 at 1:47 PM, Old Red said:

Huh? Stop? You may think Devers was selfish, but NOT everyone did.

After being given $300 million over 10 years and the label of face of the franchise I think he deserved at least enough respect to talk to him before all this happened. Breslow‘s answer was “I didn’t sign him”

while I don’t agree with Devers behavior and he should’ve handled it better, I truly understand him feeling the way he did after being  lied to and disrespected.

[southpaw777]

19 hours ago, UtahSox said:

I agree 100% no rentals. Any move made I’d like to see a minimum of 2027 control. 

For pitching we have all seen injuries play a major part and projecting into 2027 in 2028 is really hard for a pitcher. Eyanson and Valera might be really good, but they also might have to get Tommy John surgery in April of next year??? Which would mean we wouldn’t see them until 2030. Obviously they are very highly valued, but we also know to get good players. You have to give up good players. Red Sox could absorb losing a couple highly touted arms for a big bat now. 

Next year as slated, we have Garrett crochet, Ranger Suarez, Peyton Tolle, Connolly early, Jake Bennett, Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, and Tanner Houck plus if they can figure something out with Bryan Bello.

That’s a lot of starters. Now I realize I can’t speak out both sides of my mouth, and injuries do happen quite frequently, but it does seem like free agent pitchers that are high impact/rentals are much more easily obtained than hitters. Thats my argument don’t fire sale elite pitcher prospects……but if it gets you CJ Abrams, we probably need to make that move happen.

Valera is recovering from TJS he had this year. Don’t look to him until 29 or beyond.i won’t count on Houck Crawford Oviedo. Bres did this year and traded a lot of depth. The first 5 you listed, when healthy, are probably the starting 5 next year. 
I'm all about tons of depth for the rotation. 
im not moving Eyanson or Arias this deadline. In fact I'm still a seller at this point if Im the Sox.
 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, southpaw777 said:

After being given $300 million over 10 years and the label of face of the franchise I think he deserved at least enough respect to talk to him before all this happened. Breslow‘s answer was “I didn’t sign him”

while I don’t agree with Devers behavior and he should’ve handled it better, I truly understand him feeling the way he did after being  lied to and disrespected.

Yes, it wasn't all on Devers the way some people make it out to be. There's enough ways to spread the blame out among Devers, Cora, Breslow and JH. If the only negatives that people can find were "he wore headphones in the locker room and he was hesitant to play a new position in the middle of the season" it says a lot about how much of a "diva" he truly was. 

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Valera is recovering from TJS he had this year. Don’t look to him until 29 or beyond.i won’t count on Houck Crawford Oviedo. Bres did this year and traded a lot of depth. The first 5 you listed, when healthy, are probably the starting 5 next year. 
I'm all about tons of depth for the rotation. 
im not moving Eyanson or Arias this deadline. In fact I'm still a seller at this point if Im the Sox.

Maybe Oviedo can come back as reliever? Maybe? 

I agree on not wanting to trade Eyanson or Arias. It's not that they are untouchable, but I don't think they are going to swing a trade where it's worth their while to move them. 

They could probably trade anyone outside the top 10 and it wouldn't be the end of the world considering where the farm system is. Though I do like Rivas a lot and Winnay has really been swinging it. 

[southpaw777]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe Oviedo can come back as reliever? Maybe? 

I agree on not wanting to trade Eyanson or Arias. It's not that they are untouchable, but I don't think they are going to swing a trade where it's worth their while to move them. 

They could probably trade anyone outside the top 10 and it wouldn't be the end of the world considering where the farm system is. Though I do like Rivas a lot and Winnay has really been swinging it. 

In the 21-30 prorspects and Mason white as well. All of them have some pop in there bat. 

 

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe Oviedo can come back as reliever? Maybe? 

I agree on not wanting to trade Eyanson or Arias. It's not that they are untouchable, but I don't think they are going to swing a trade where it's worth their while to move them. 

They could probably trade anyone outside the top 10 and it wouldn't be the end of the world considering where the farm system is. Though I do like Rivas a lot and Winnay has really been swinging it. 

like Heyman and Mason White are guys to keep an eye on as well..

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

In the 21-30 prorspects and Mason white as well. All of them have some pop in there bat. 

 

like Heyman and Mason White are guys to keep an eye on as well..

I'm taking the GRE numbers with a huge grain of salt because that league's offense is greatly inflated this year the combination of bad pitching and tiny ballparks. Heyman and White combined for 12 HR against GBO and ASH, the two worst pitching staffs for HR in that league. It's the same for guys like Yophery who has 7 of his 12 HR against ASH and GBO as well. 

Sox must be high on Heyman as they have him hit 3rd when he starts. 

[southpaw777]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm taking the GRE numbers with a huge grain of salt because that league's offense is greatly inflated this year the combination of bad pitching and tiny ballparks. Heyman and White combined for 12 HR against GBO and ASH, the two worst pitching staffs for HR in that league. It's the same for guys like Yophery who has 7 of his 12 HR against ASH and GBO as well. 

Sox must be high on Heyman as they have him hit 3rd when he starts. 

Heyman is probably going to be at 1b at some point too.

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Heyman is probably going to be at 1b at some point too.

I haven't seen any of his starts this year so I can't comment. Is he better or worse than Brannon? 

[JoeBrady]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

TOR lost. How far they have sunk.

I guess we aren't the only first to last team around.

They had a big luck factor last year, and Springer became 36.  And Vlad seems to save up all his hitting for the playoffs.

[JoeBrady]

9 hours ago, UtahSox said:

1. No can’t sell of Gray, Whitlock, or Chapman unless you get blown away. Newsflash you won’t be.

2. No unless its for Jo Adell or Taylor Ward

3. Yes… Get an impact bat in this lineup… maybe go as high as Arias, Eyanson, Azocar, Gonzalez, Primera, Witherspoon, Valera. IDC go get an impact bat or 2 . Langeliers, Wood, Abrams, Neto, Goodman, Alvarez, Buxton, Paredes, Jordan Walker types. 

4. NO

5. NO

I mostly agree.  I'd like to see some more visibility on #3, before I commit big resources.  I like the idea of Ward.  He's a pure rental, but that will be reflected in his price.  And I'm guessing that BA would be easier to deal with than LAA.

The negative is that Ward is a really good fit for Philly.  Maybe make BA a solid offer before DD gets committed.

[notin]

3 hours ago, southpaw777 said:

After being given $300 million over 10 years and the label of face of the franchise I think he deserved at least enough respect to talk to him before all this happened. Breslow‘s answer was “I didn’t sign him”

while I don’t agree with Devers behavior and he should’ve handled it better, I truly understand him feeling the way he did after being  lied to and disrespected.

How exactly did the FO handle it badly?  Casas got hurt and they needed a new 1b for the next game.  Not exactly a lot of prep time for that speech.   It shouldn’t have taken more than “Triston is hurt bad and we don’t know when he’ll be back.  You make the most sense to take his place.”  
 

And Devers was justified with “do they want me to play every position?”  And “it’s [Breslow’s] job to go get someone”?

 

What am I missing here?

 

[Old Red]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

How exactly did the FO handle it badly?  Casas got hurt and they needed a new 1b for the next game.  Not exactly a lot of prep time for that speech.   It shouldn’t have taken more than “Triston is hurt bad and we don’t know when he’ll be back.  You make the most sense to take his place.”  
 

And Devers was justified with “do they want me to play every position?”  And “it’s [Breslow’s] job to go get someone”?

 

What am I missing here?

 

Huh? Huh? What are you missing? You’ve regurgitated the same things over, and over, and over again after it’s been spelled out for you time and time again just like it was this time. YES Raffy was justified in all he said, and did as was Cora, which has always been the deciding factor to me, so keep regurgitating away.🙈🤭🤮

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

43 minutes ago, notin said:

How exactly did the FO handle it badly?  Casas got hurt and they needed a new 1b for the next game.  Not exactly a lot of prep time for that speech.   It shouldn’t have taken more than “Triston is hurt bad and we don’t know when he’ll be back.  You make the most sense to take his place.”  
 

And Devers was justified with “do they want me to play every position?”  And “it’s [Breslow’s] job to go get someone”?

 

What am I missing here?

 

I don't think you're missing anything. And I'm definitely not missing Devers.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

They had a big luck factor last year, and Springer became 36.  And Vlad seems to save up all his hitting for the playoffs.

Vlad Jr has had a very roller coaster career when you look at the numbers. I wasn't as all in on a long term deal for him as many others. He'll have more good seasons ahead of him, but TOR moved the walls in for him and he's still having a season like this! 

[southpaw777]

1 hour ago, notin said:

How exactly did the FO handle it badly?  Casas got hurt and they needed a new 1b for the next game.  Not exactly a lot of prep time for that speech.   It shouldn’t have taken more than “Triston is hurt bad and we don’t know when he’ll be back.  You make the most sense to take his place.”  
 

And Devers was justified with “do they want me to play every position?”  And “it’s [Breslow’s] job to go get someone”?

 

What am I missing here?

 

It started prior to that in the offseason. 

 

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I haven't seen any of his starts this year so I can't comment. Is he better or worse than Brannon? 

He’s a catcher now, so they’re predicting a switch.

[moonslav59]

11 hours ago, UtahSox said:

1. No can’t sell of Gray, Whitlock, or Chapman unless you get blown away. Newsflash you won’t be.

2. No unless its for Jo Adell or Taylor Ward

3. Yes… Get an impact bat in this lineup… maybe go as high as Arias, Eyanson, Azocar, Gonzalez, Primera, Witherspoon, Valera. IDC go get an impact bat or 2 . Langeliers, Wood, Abrams, Neto, Goodman, Alvarez, Buxton, Paredes, Jordan Walker types. 

4. NO

5. NO

We will get "blown away" offers and no, you don't get Adell or Ward for 2 month rentals.

Newsflash: we suck at middle infield, and you want to trade Arias. A big NO on that idea. Gray is a FA and Crochet, Houck, Crawford remain big question marks, so a BIG NO on trading Eyanson, too. Anyone else, maybe.

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, southpaw777 said:

im not moving Eyanson or Arias this deadline. In fact I'm still a seller at this point if Im the Sox.
 

Yup.

If we do buy Witherspoon or Phillips and Gonzalez, at most. (Add mid levels, if needed.)

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe Oviedo can come back as reliever? Maybe? 

I agree on not wanting to trade Eyanson or Arias. It's not that they are untouchable, but I don't think they are going to swing a trade where it's worth their while to move them. 

They could probably trade anyone outside the top 10 and it wouldn't be the end of the world considering where the farm system is. Though I do like Rivas a lot and Winnay has really been swinging it. 

Spot on.

I will say that far-away prospects like Rivas, Delzine, Primera and Soto do not have as much trade value as in the "old days." Teams want more proven prospects or ones that are ML ready or nearly there.

 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

52 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I don't think you're missing anything. And I'm definitely not missing Devers.

One of Devers problems is that he actually believed he was a good defensive 3rd baseman.

Very difficult to deal with delusional people.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

They had a big luck factor last year, and Springer became 36.  And Vlad seems to save up all his hitting for the playoffs.

I never had much faith in TOR playing nearly that well again, this year. I also thought the Yanks would be worse or the same, depending on injuries. The Rays are a big surprise, and maybe they have a come-down-to-earth stretch coming up, soon. (Maybe when we play them.)

SEA, CLE, TEX, MIN? I don't see them as being better than we are.

To me the AL is wide open, unless the Rays never let up.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

How exactly did the FO handle it badly?  Casas got hurt and they needed a new 1b for the next game.  Not exactly a lot of prep time for that speech.   It shouldn’t have taken more than “Triston is hurt bad and we don’t know when he’ll be back.  You make the most sense to take his place.”  
 

And Devers was justified with “do they want me to play every position?”  And “it’s [Breslow’s] job to go get someone”?

 

What am I missing here?

 

That sums it up.

It doesn't say the Sox made no mistakes, but this is the crux of it.

[notin]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Huh? Huh? What are you missing? You’ve regurgitated the same things over, and over, and over again after it’s been spelled out for you time and time again just like it was this time. YES Raffy was justified in all he said, and did as was Cora, which has always been the deciding factor to me, so keep regurgitating away.🙈🤭🤮

What exactly did Cora say that lead you to this conclusion?

[notin]

6 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

One of Devers problems is that he actually believed he was a good defensive 3rd baseman.

Very difficult to deal with delusional people.

I think that started the downfall. 
 

No one disputes he was among the best 20 hitters in the league regardless of your metric of choice, and the only dispute was where he ranked.

But defensively he was the bottom of the barrel and all the other third basemen ranked near or below him were all moved to other positions (and went quietly).

Devers had plenty of chances to prove himself.  He just can’t play third basemen well.  And he refused to accept/believe that…