A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[mvp 78]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

No one in here knows.  Probably 90% of the RS employees don't know.

But as your medical accountant, I feel safe in saying that, if the doctor said he had to have surgery, one of two things could happen:

• They go for a second opinion.
• They have the surgery.

Once upon a time, I had a torn meniscus.  It wasn't a huge issue, and the doctor explained the pros and cons.  I declined, and 15 years later, I did have the surgery.  In both cases, I feel I made the right decision.

The point being is that not all medical decisions are B&W.  The doctor might have given the RS a wide range of options and outcomes.

We know the Red Sox made a mistake because they tried to rehab it and the problem got worse! They had him do dry swings and he aggravated his injury even more and felt more pain. 

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Was surgery an option for Anthony? I always thought it was a sprain and we just needed to wait it out.  But this is beyond frustrating.  Looks to be a total lost season for him.  As I said earlier imagine if he was in the lineup giving what we all expected, imagine this win streak then.  

Another problem is that the Sox sent out a bunch of different conflicting explanations when they should have just STFU about it. 

[Bellhorn04]

8 hours ago, MADSTORK said:

Epstein magic

Not bad STORK.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

They will need a SP because of IP limits and a RH LF/DH (Jahmai Jones replacement). I think people expecting a RH SS are asking for too much with Story coming back. 

On the block: Early, Mayer, Valera, Rule 5 Guys (Bleis/Brannon/Johanfran/,Mullins/Romero/Wehunt), every prospect not named Arias/Eyanson/Primera

I don't see them dealing Duran or Masa right now TBH.

Agree, and the big value tickets might be Early, Witherspoon and Mayer. 

I think  Valera, Phillips and Gonzales might have some moderate value, but are 2+ years away from the bigs. I could see someone asking for Brannon, Jo Garcia and Cespedes as add-ons.

[mvp 78]

If someone asks for Cespedes, I'm handing him over. 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If someone asks for Cespedes, I'm handing him over. 

I gotta say, I kinda cringed when I typed his name.

BTW, soxprospects still has Cespedes ranked above Romero and way above Brannon & Garcia.

[moonslav59]

Keep Arias and Eyanson.

Offer Early, Witherspoon, Gonzales, Azocar, Godbout, Valera, Phillips & Holobetz.

Add-ons: Brannon, Jo Garcia, Cespedes, Romero, Wehunt, Uberstine, Mullins and anyone lower ranked.

[notin]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

They will need a SP because of IP limits and a RH LF/DH (Jahmai Jones replacement). I think people expecting a RH SS are asking for too much with Story coming back. 

On the block: Early, Mayer, Valera, Rule 5 Guys (Bleis/Brannon/Johanfran/,Mullins/Romero/Wehunt), every prospect not named Arias/Eyanson/Primera

I don't see them dealing Duran or Masa right now TBH.

So Early is available but Eyanson is not?  I go the other way there.

Other than that, I’m fine with it.  Run it by Craig…

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

So Early is available but Eyanson is not?  I go the other way there.

Other than that, I’m fine with it.  Run it by Craig…

Eyanson has the higher ceiling IMO. I think Early may have the higher return in a trade. I deal Early. 

Rotation in 27: Crochet?, Gray, Suarez, Tolle, Bennett

Rotation in 28: Crochet, Suarez, Tolle, Bennett, Eyanson

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

So Early is available but Eyanson is not?  I go the other way there.

Other than that, I’m fine with it.  Run it by Craig…

I'd say Early, since he's not likely to give us much more for 2026. Yes, Eyanson will give nothing, this year, but I think Early has higher trade value than Eyanson.

I also think other teams started figuring Early out. He may be able to adjust to their adjustment, but there are concerns.

[moonslav59]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Eyanson has the higher ceiling IMO. I think Early may have the higher return in a trade. I deal Early. 

Rotation in 27: Crochet?, Gray, Suarez, Tolle, Bennett

Rotation in 28: Crochet, Suarez, Tolle, Bennett, Eyanson

Gray is back in 2027?

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure about anyone else, here, but I'd prefer the Cheng-Monasterio SS platoon than handing the job to Story.

I could see Story winning the 2B job from Siegler, and maybe even IKF forcing a demotion for R/LHB Siegler or RHB Monasterio, but please- no Story at SS ever again. 

[mvp 78]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Gray is back in 2027?

I have a hunch he plays one more year and then retires. IDK. 

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, here, but I'd prefer the Cheng-Monasterio SS platoon than handing the job to Story.

I could see Story winning the 2B job from Siegler, and maybe even IKF forcing a demotion for R/LHB Siegler or RHB Monasterio, but please- no Story at SS ever again. 

Story is coming back and he's going to play SS. It's just the way it is. He's going to k a lot and kill a few rallies. 😂

[moonslav59]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

I have a hunch he plays one more year and then retires. IDK. 

I think he plays 1-2 years more, but we don't control his contract for 2027.

You think we extend or re-sign him?

[moonslav59]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Story is coming back and he's going to play SS. It's just the way it is. He's going to k a lot and kill a few rallies. 😂

I'd say that's 100% true if Cora was still here. Maybe it's 99.9% true, now.

I just hope not. I know hoping for a 0.1% chance might seem lame, I'm still going to state my opinion- knowing it won't ever come true.

[notin]

13 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, here, but I'd prefer the Cheng-Monasterio SS platoon than handing the job to Story.

I could see Story winning the 2B job from Siegler, and maybe even IKF forcing a demotion for R/LHB Siegler or RHB Monasterio, but please- no Story at SS ever again. 

Cheng at SS, Story at 2b.  f*** platoons. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

Cheng at SS, Story at 2b.  f*** platoons. 

LOL.

SS: Cheng-Monsterio

2B: Story-Siegler/Monasterio

[moonslav59]

For argument's sake, let's say Crochet, Anthony, Crawford, Houck & Oviedo never return from the IL, but Suarez, Early, Story and IKF do, could this be the 26?

SP: Suarez, Gray, Bennett, Tolle & Early

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Moran, Weissert, Guerrero, Sandoval and one from Watson (no options) Bello or Rivera.

C: Wong & Narvaez

1B: Contreras

2B: IKF and one from Cheng/Monasterio/Siegler (maybe 2 w no Jones?)

SS: Story

3B: Durbin

LF: Duran & Jones

CF: Rafaela

RF: Abreu

DH: Yoshida & Romy

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

42 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, here, but I'd prefer the Cheng-Monasterio SS platoon than handing the job to Story.

I could see Story winning the 2B job from Siegler, and maybe even IKF forcing a demotion for R/LHB Siegler or RHB Monasterio, but please- no Story at SS ever again. 

I'm not so sure. Tracy and his masters have gone with the hot hands until they cool off.

Remember how they used Gasper, who became the psuedo starting catcher hitting in the top four of the batting order for a spell, but when he fell was immediately demoted.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'm not so sure. Tracy and his masters have gone with the hot hands until they cool off.

Remember how they used Gasper, who became the psuedo starting catcher hitting in the top four of the batting order for a spell, but when he fell was immediately demoted.

Yes, but I'm talking out of the gate, and until recently Yoshida was not the "hot hand" and Romy was on the IL.

[moonslav59]

Maybe these are the realistic targets or types of targets:

Steer, Schmidt and Jeffers

Not too costly, but helpful.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, notin said:

So Early is available but Eyanson is not?  I go the other way there.

Other than that, I’m fine with it.  Run it by Craig…

Do we want to upset the apple cart by trading a current member of the team?

[moonslav59]

Just now, JoeBrady said:

Do we want to upset the apple cart by trading a current member of the team?

He's not on the 26, right now, and may not comeback this year. If he does, his innings will be limited, anyway.

[notin]

11 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Do we want to upset the apple cart by trading a current member of the team?

Mayer?  Yes.  Early?  No.  And Early’s injury status makes him less desirable…

[JoeBrady]

51 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure about anyone else, here, but I'd prefer the Cheng-Monasterio SS platoon than handing the job to Story.

I could see Story winning the 2B job from Siegler, and maybe even IKF forcing a demotion for R/LHB Siegler or RHB Monasterio, but please- no Story at SS ever again. 

He annoyed me so much during the manager switch that I don't care if he returns.  The kids are supplying energy and excitement.  And some degree of production.

Slightly off target, but for all the talk about how Durbin compares to the other guys folks were interested in. Monasterio/Seigler have combined for 7 HRs.  Nothing special, but the HR rate is higher than Bregman, Paredes, and Bichette. 

[JoeBrady]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Mayer?  Yes.  Early?  No.  And Early’s injury status makes him less desirable…

Not bagging on Mayer, but he can go ion the right trade.  But on a team that might be IP-challenged, I'd be hesitant in trading an SP.  If Early's cap is maybe 150 IPs, he has ~ 60 IPs remaining.  If he returns in mid-August, he has enough IPs to get thru the y/e with 10 starts of 6 innings each.

[moonslav59]

Here is a list of current & ex-Sox players with their current numbers (listed in order of most PAs and IP)

.695 Bregman (4th in MLB in PAs)

.923 Schwarber (19th)

.784 Devers (29th)

.800 Abreu (33rd)

.723 Meidroth (57th)

.594 Duran (70th is just plain sick)

.731 Dubon (75th)

.758 Rafaela (81st)

.638 Bogey (86th)

.941 Willson (87th)

.699 Durbin (122nd & higher OPS than Breggie)

.736 Benintendi (157)

.730 Betts (179)

.651 DHam (226)

.807 N Lowe (234)

.594 Mayer (239)

.721 Grissom (241)

.739 Yoshida (253)

.611 Vazquez (264)

.657 O'Neill (278)

.604 T Gray (279)

.559 Narvaez (282)

.731 Monasterio (284)

.547 Story (287)

.744 Wong (326)

.586 Jansen (328)

.725 B Monty (347)

.705 IKF (348)

.605 Moncada (350)

.675 Anthony (351)

.422 Refsnyder (367)

.613 Gasper (368)

.464 Heineman (375)

.706 Siegler (391)

_________________

xERA (IP Rank)

4.17 Wacha (3rd)

5.12 ERod (12th)

4.02 Nate (15th)

3.31 Sale (46th)

4.77 Springs (52)

3.63 Gray (55)

3.89 DMay (66- was Brez really that dumb or just a year off?)

4.32 Early (83)

3.32 Suarez (84)

2.93 Tolle (89)

4.61 Perez (106)

3.30 Drohan (117)

6.06 Bello (132)

3.85 Newcomb (156)

2.99 Bennett (162)

5.85 Matz (164)

5.95 Watson (176)

 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I think he plays 1-2 years more, but we don't control his contract for 2027.

You think we extend or re-sign him?

Mutual option that he picks up.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Cheng at SS, Story at 2b.  f*** platoons. 

That k rate in the MIF is unsustainable.