A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[UtahSox]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

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.

What is “blown Away”? A 2029 fringe top10 organization prospect? Or like a top 25 prospect in baseball with a 2027 ETA? Cuz if it’s a fringe top 10 prospect w/ 2029 ETA im hella out.
 

Adell has a this year and next btw. 
 

newsflash: 1000% I would rather have CJ Abrams or Zach Neto now, than Arias matching their current production by 2030. I’d love to go back to trade deadline 2 years ago and see who you wouldn’t trade Kristian Campbell for. 

So ABSOLUTELY we need a big bat now and there are no sacred cows.

[southpaw777]

12 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yup.

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

If I’m trading whitherspoon and his 5m signing bonus, it’ll be for something worthwhile. He has a little more stock to me than the other two. 
phillips looks more and more like a back end bullpen guy. Gonzales looks good, but still a ways away. Agree, I’d move all of them.

[notin]

34 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

It started prior to that in the offseason

Yes he reluctantly went to DH and even took a bit to adjust to the role (or so I assume).

But that doesn’t exclude him from helping out when players get hurt…

[Maxbialystock]

5 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

What is “blown Away”? A 2029 fringe top10 organization prospect? Or like a top 25 prospect in baseball with a 2027 ETA? Cuz if it’s a fringe top 10 prospect w/ 2029 ETA im hella out.
 

Adell has a this year and next btw. 
 

newsflash: 1000% I would rather have CJ Abrams or Zach Neto now, than Arias matching their current production by 2030. I’d love to go back to trade deadline 2 years ago and see who you wouldn’t trade Kristian Campbell for. 

So ABSOLUTELY we need a big bat now and there are no sacred cows.

I would love a big bat now, but think the Sox woud have to trade more than one good starter.   The big bat is Anthony, who could return in August, almost as if the Sox traded for him.  last season the Sox hitting suffered when Anthony went on the IL on Sep 3.  

 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, southpaw777 said:

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

We seem to specialize in Catchers who move to 1B/DH or never make the bigs, despite hitting pretty well for a catcher. If just one from this list can stick at catcher, maybe we strike gold:

1.067 Primera FCL>SAL

1.002 Ronny Hernandez GRE

.991 Gasper WOO

.953 Brannon POR (1B/DH for sure)

.935 Jorge Rodriguez FCL

.850 Andruw Mussett SAL

.844 Jo Garcia POR

.839 Adonys Guzman SAL>GRE

.817 Luke Heyman SAL>GRE

.786 Ronald Rosario POR

.762 A Knizner WOO

.723 Nathan Hickey WOO

.723 Hudson White

.658 Gerardo Rodriguez GRE

______________________

Ranked (not all that highly):

7 Primera

22 Gerardo Rodriguez

23 Luke Heyman

34 Jo Garcia

54 Jorge Rodriguez

 

 

 

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

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

Huh? OMG NNN! We’ve already gone all over this many times over.🤭🙈

[moonslav59]

9 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

If I’m trading whitherspoon and his 5m signing bonus, it’ll be for something worthwhile. He has a little more stock to me than the other two. 
phillips looks more and more like a back end bullpen guy. Gonzales looks good, but still a ways away. Agree, I’d move all of them.

Yes, I did not include Witherspoon on my mild  buy plan.

He's on the moderate buy plan.

Arias & Eyanson would be part of an all-in buy plan that I am against, as of now.

[southpaw777]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Yes he reluctantly went to DH and even took a bit to adjust to the role (or so I assume).

But that doesn’t exclude him from helping out when players get hurt…

I’m in the camp of right from the word go Breslow handling it poorly and with zero respect for the player and the prior deal that was made…and Devers should have done what was asked of him regardless... Breslow had zero care for the guy that just was given a Huge deal. Maybe inform him of your plans beforehand, since they involve him and he was told otherwise a year prior. Breslow said dumb s*** like “I didn’t sign him”, which is more proof his poor communication skills .. Devers got an attitude, which I understand, but he still should have gone along with the program and not acted like a spoiled brat and become a cancer. after all, he’s an employee when all is said and done. Not like my job, but still…

overall Breslow gets an F for how he handled it and Devers gets a fail for how he did. I’m not mad he’s gone. He wasn’t a favorite of mine, but there’s more than one guy in the wrong here.

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

If I’m trading whitherspoon and his 5m signing bonus, it’ll be for something worthwhile. He has a little more stock to me than the other two. 
phillips looks more and more like a back end bullpen guy. Gonzales looks good, but still a ways away. Agree, I’d move all of them.

Witherspoon has shown some recent flashes. He has a solid floor and should definitely start in MLB someday. He didn't pop the way Eyanson did this season, but I don't think his future is really in question.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, Maxbialystock said:

I would love a big bat now, but think the Sox woud have to trade more than one good starter.   The big bat is Anthony, who could return in August, almost as if the Sox traded for him.  last season the Sox hitting suffered when Anthony went on the IL on Sep 3.  

 

You’re counting on little pinky Anthony like everyone was counting on him to start the season.🤔

[southpaw777]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We seem to specialize in Catchers who move to 1B/DH or never make the bigs, despite hitting pretty well for a catcher. If just one from this list can stick at catcher, maybe we strike gold:

1.067 Primera FCL>SAL

1.002 Ronny Hernandez GRE

.991 Gasper WOO

.953 Brannon POR (1B/DH for sure)

.935 Jorge Rodriguez FCL

.850 Andruw Mussett SAL

.844 Jo Garcia POR

.839 Adonys Guzman SAL>GRE

.817 Luke Heyman SAL>GRE

.786 Ronald Rosario POR

.762 A Knizner WOO

.723 Nathan Hickey WOO

.723 Hudson White

.658 Gerardo Rodriguez GRE

______________________

Ranked (not all that highly):

7 Primera

22 Gerardo Rodriguez

23 Luke Heyman

34 Jo Garcia

54 Jorge Rodriguez

 

 

 

I think Primera is the real deal. A ways away, but I like what I see at an early age.couple more names in Greenville I’m just keeping an eye on too. 
we got all SS OF and Starting pitching in the draft. I. Good with that.

[southpaw777]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Witherspoon has shown some recent flashes. He has a solid floor and should definitely start in MLB someday. He didn't pop the way Eyanson did this season, but I don't think his future is really in question.

I have way more confidence in him than the other two mentioned with him. Gonzales and Phillips

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, southpaw777 said:

I have way more confidence in him than the other two mentioned with him. Gonzales and Phillips

Justin Gonzales has crazy tools, but rocks that super high GB rate that kind of limits Roman Anthony. If Gonzales can keep his exit velo, but add some loft, he'd be better off. 

[southpaw777]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

You’re counting on little pinky Anthony like everyone was counting on him to start the season.🤔

 Exactly. People talking about Crochet, who hasn’t thrown a baseball yet. And Anthony who won’t listen to doctors that tell him to get to FtMeyers and rehab because his widdle finger hurts.

its a bad idea to sign guys who arnent mike trout to long term deals before they have proved anything in MLB. You wait until the league makes their adjustments and see how he adjusts back. See Kristian Campbell. 16.25 for a kid that’s done nothing and has proved nothing in MLB. All it was was a big hype machine.

now, I’m not saying he’s not talented and one day wont earn that money when he’s actually making money on the backend of that deal. But he could also turn out to be soft like Casas And Mayer.

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

What is “blown Away”?

For Gray: a top 2-3 organizational prospect or two top 10's.

For Chapman: top 3-4 prospect or two top 12's.

For Sandoval: a mid

For IKF: not much

For Whitlock and 2 more years of control: a top 2-3 prospect.

For Contreras and another year of control: top 2-3 prospect.

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I’m in the camp of right from the word go Breslow handling it poorly and with zero respect for the player and the prior deal that was made…and Devers should have done what was asked of him regardless... Breslow had zero care for the guy that just was given a Huge deal. Maybe inform him of your plans beforehand, since they involve him and he was told otherwise a year prior. Breslow said dumb s*** like “I didn’t sign him”, which is more proof his poor communication skills .. Devers got an attitude, which I understand, but he still should have gone along with the program and not acted like a spoiled brat and become a cancer. after all, he’s an employee when all is said and done. Not like my job, but still…

overall Breslow gets an F for how he handled it and Devers gets a fail for how he did. I’m not mad he’s gone. He wasn’t a favorite of mine, but there’s more than one guy in the wrong here.

And what for the manager who was too chicken to even talk to his player about what was best for the team?

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I think Primera is the real deal. A ways away, but I like what I see at an early age.couple more names in Greenville I’m just keeping an eye on too. 
we got all SS OF and Starting pitching in the draft. I. Good with that.

Agreed, and I'm glad Brez put focus on building up minor league catcher depth and promise.

He seemed to put focus on hitting in this latest draft, so I think he is showing he can change focus to where it is needed.

Some of these guys are far away, and not all promise turns into the real deal. It's nice that we have so much, that some are bound to make an impact.

We saw it with Tolle, Early & Bennett.

Last year, we saw some from Anthony & Narvaez, but both are in question, now.

[southpaw777]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Agreed, and I'm glad Brez put focus on building up minor league catcher depth and promise.

He seemed to put focus on hitting in this latest draft, so I think he is showing he can change focus to where it is needed.

Some of these guys are far away, and not all promise turns into the real deal. It's nice that we have so much, that some are bound to make an impact.

We saw it with Tolle, Early & Bennett.

Last year, we saw some from Anthony & Narvaez, but both are in question, now.

Stock up on pitching always. And yeah, seemed like he got some good athletic contact guys in the draft for position players

[southpaw777]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

And what for the manager who was too chicken to even talk to his player about what was best for the team?

Yes! Cora doesn’t NOT get a pass. He was NOT a fan of Breslow and the new direction of the ownership.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

And what for the manager who was too chicken to even talk to his player about what was best for the team?

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

 Exactly. People talking about Crochet, who hasn’t thrown a baseball yet. And Anthony who won’t listen to doctors that tell him to get to FtMeyers and rehab because his widdle finger hurts.

its a bad idea to sign guys who arnent mike trout to long term deals before they have proved anything in MLB. You wait until the league makes their adjustments and see how he adjusts back. See Kristian Campbell. 16.25 for a kid that’s done nothing and has proved nothing in MLB. All it was was a big hype machine.

now, I’m not saying he’s not talented and one day wont earn that money when he’s actually making money on the backend of that deal. But he could also turn out to be soft like Casas And Mayer.

Agree, and well said.👏

[Old Red]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

And what for the manager who was too chicken to even talk to his player about what was best for the team?

From the Man Behind The Curtain. Too chicken? Disagreeing with a decision is chicken? Agreeing with the decision would have been chicken.🤭

[notin]

34 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I’m in the camp of right from the word go Breslow handling it poorly and with zero respect for the player and the prior deal that was made…and Devers should have done what was asked of him regardless... Breslow had zero care for the guy that just was given a Huge deal. Maybe inform him of your plans beforehand, since they involve him and he was told otherwise a year prior. Breslow said dumb s*** like “I didn’t sign him”, which is more proof his poor communication skills .. Devers got an attitude, which I understand, but he still should have gone along with the program and not acted like a spoiled brat and become a cancer. after all, he’s an employee when all is said and done. Not like my job, but still…

overall Breslow gets an F for how he handled it and Devers gets a fail for how he did. I’m not mad he’s gone. He wasn’t a favorite of mine, but there’s more than one guy in the wrong here.

 

 

 

Acceptable.  Also Cora with an F for just staying on the sidelines.

[notin]

37 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

 

its a bad idea to sign guys who arnent mike trout to long term deals before they have proved anything in MLB. You wait until the league makes their adjustments and see how he adjusts back. See Kristian Campbell. 16.25 for a kid that’s done nothing and has proved nothing in MLB. All it was was a big hype machine.

 

There are pros and cons to this approach.  Some early extensions will be busts, as has happened to numerous other teams.   But overall if one or two become successful, it probably winds up being cheaper overall than waiting.  For example, if Anthony becomes a star and the Sox wait for that to sign him, that extension is likely more money than the current deals for Anthony, Bello and Campbell combined.  
 

Just like the Brewers, who have extended Chourio, Lara and Pratt, all before any of them made their MLB debut.  Had they waited, Chourio alone would be looking at more money than those three got combined.  And despite this success, right now, that organization is thinking “we f***ed up by not extending Misiorowski”.

And sometimes the players take a bit.  Colt Keith was extended before his debut in 2024.  He spent the last two seasons as a platoon player wuth no real position.  But this year he appears to have made strides and is becoming the hitter Detroit expected.  Ceddanne Rafaela is also turning into a star a couple years post-extension…

[Old Red]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Acceptable.  Also Cora with an F for just staying on the sidelines.

And ANOTHER N for you.🤫

[JoeBrady]

https://talksox.com/forums/topic/90850-red-sox-front-office-did-something-right-they-got-rid-of-devers/?do=getNewComment

Just in case someone wants to discuss the Devers issue in the Devers thread.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 hours ago, Old Red said:

You’re counting on little pinky Anthony like everyone was counting on him to start the season.🤔

Tolle and Early helped make up for the disappointment of Anthony and Mayer.

[southpaw777]

2 hours ago, notin said:

There are pros and cons to this approach.  Some early extensions will be busts, as has happened to numerous other teams.   But overall if one or two become successful, it probably winds up being cheaper overall than waiting.  For example, if Anthony becomes a star and the Sox wait for that to sign him, that extension is likely more money than the current deals for Anthony, Bello and Campbell combined.  
 

Just like the Brewers, who have extended Chourio, Lara and Pratt, all before any of them made their MLB debut.  Had they waited, Chourio alone would be looking at more money than those three got combined.  And despite this success, right now, that organization is thinking “we f***ed up by not extending Misiorowski”.

And sometimes the players take a bit.  Colt Keith was extended before his debut in 2024.  He spent the last two seasons as a platoon player wuth no real position.  But this year he appears to have made strides and is becoming the hitter Detroit expected.  Ceddanne Rafaela is also turning into a star a couple years post-extension…

Yeah, I get the pros and cons for sure. Just my personal philosophy is to wait at least  a full played year of 600 ABs.  Unless it’s Trout or Judge type I stick to it usually. If I’m the Sox I don’t count Pennie’s.

[southpaw777]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Acceptable.  Also Cora with an F for just staying on the sidelines.

Agree. I was just sticking to the main culprits