A Realistic Look at the 2026 Red Sox: Part I

[moonslav59]

Just now, Old Red said:

Seems like Masa has been here longer than he really has.

It does, right?

He was added a month after Rafaela, DHam & Abreu were added to the 40  back in NOV '22. Right now, those 3 are tied for 10th on 40 Man Roster seniority!

Mada is 13th!

[drewski6]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

MLBTR projected $21M x 3.

They were $3M off on Cease, but got 7 years right. They got Schwarber's years right at 5, but missed by $3M/yr. Does that mean Suarez gets $24M x 3?

Adding $3M/yr to other MLBTR projections:

$33M x 5 Valdez

$30M x 6 Bregman

$30M x 4 Alonso

$29M x 8 Bichette

$28M x 5 Imai

$26M x 5 R Suarez

$25M x 8 Murakami

$21M x 2 M Kelly

$19M x 4 Okamoto

$18M/2 H-S Kim and Realmuto

$17M x 3 Polanco

I wonder why they predicted 5 yrs for Schwarber and 4 for Alonso.

If they are right on years, but 3m shy on AAV - 33 x 4 for Alonso ALL FREAKING DAY

[drewski6]

Just now, drewski6 said:

I wonder why they predicted 5 yrs for Schwarber and 4 for Alonso.

If they are right on years, but 3m shy on AAV - 33 x 4 for Alonso ALL FREAKING DAY

But witch Schwarber now off the board - Im not sure 33x4 gets it done.

Im honestly thinking 33 x 6

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Sign Suarez

Trade Mayer, Valera & Tolle for Greene

Trade Duran, Harrison & Perales for K Marte

1. L Anthony LF

2. S K Marte 2B

3. L Abreu RF/ R Refsnyder RF

4. R Suarez 3B

5. L Yoshida/R Refsnyder

6. R Story SS

7. L Casas 1B/ R Romy 1B

8. R Narvaez C

9. R Rafaela CF

SP: Crochet, Greene. Gray, Bello, ____

 

Sure

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Sure

Not even close to happening.

If we only get one bat, especially if Suarez not Alonso, then we should not trade Duran but look to trade Rafaela and or Campbell, instead.

Even then, our offense would still be worse than 2025.

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Not even close to happening.

If we only get one bat, especially if Suarez not Alonso, then we should not trade Duran but look to trade Rafaela and or Campbell, instead.

Even then, our offense would still be worse than 2025.

If we're honestly talking about only adding Suarez, then we should get started on the selling and eye 2032.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

If we're honestly talking about only adding Suarez, then we should get started on the selling and eye 2032.

I'd be sick to my stomach with just Suarez, Gray and Oviedo.

(This from someone probably higher on Suarez than most.)

[Larry Cook]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Sign Suarez

Trade Mayer, Valera & Tolle for Greene

 

 No thank you! Valera has a magical arm!!! You should substitute McNeil 

[Larry Cook]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

 

Trade Duran, Harrison & Perales for K Marte

 

I would do this trade any time any day any week!!!!  

[Larry Cook]

If the Phillies sign imia from Japan, would they be willing to move painter and brohm for Duran???

[Hugh2]

Multiple reports are out that the Red Sox are in on _________. Insert any name there

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Larry Cook said:

If the Phillies sign imia from Japan, would they be willing to move painter and brohm for Duran???

If they sign Imai, instead of re-signing Realmuto & promoting Painter, then the message I see is that Painter has issues,  I always want to see the motivation.  If Cincy or Pitt want to trade pitching for Duran, it makes perfect sense.  But DD trading Painter would make alarm bells go off.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Multiple reports are out that the Red Sox are in on _________. Insert any name there

It's supposed to be that way.  You're facing off against some smart agents and lawyers.  Even when they think you're really interested in their client, you have to plant some seed of doubt that you have a Plan B.

[Larry Cook]

44 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If they sign Imai, instead of re-signing Realmuto & promoting Painter, then the message I see is that Painter has issues,  I always want to see the motivation.  If Cincy or Pitt want to trade pitching for Duran, it makes perfect sense.  But DD trading Painter would make alarm bells go off.

Desperate Dave has to know, he cannot beat the dodgers or Milwaukee with what he has. 
 

More speed at the top of the lineup in a better hitter than realmuto will help get him over the top 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Multiple reports are out that the Red Sox are in on _________. Insert any name there

Seager if the latest name.

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Seager if the latest name.

Teoscar is being mentioned.

Duran, Harrison and Masa for Teoscar & Glasnow.

[Randy Red Sox]

On 12/7/2025 at 11:05 AM, moonslav59 said:

I get the argument on Sandoval, but Crawford missed the whole '25 season and pitched worse in '24 than '23, so I don't see him as ahead of Sandoval.

Harrison was supposed to be the gem in the Devers trade and was healthy all of 2025, but I have to ask why Brez kept selecting others, everytime we needed a spot start or everyday starter. Brez traded for DMay, gave Criswell a start and ended up adding Tolle & Early to the 40, so they could start over Harrison. Maybe I'm reading too much into that, but I don't see Harrison as above Sandoval and maybe not even above Dobbins, Tolle & Early, as well.

Oviedo just came off a major injury and a lot of missed time and got 9 starts. His 11% BB rate is frightening, but I do think he has a good shot at the #4 or 5 slot, and I'm ok him 4 or 5, but that still leaves Sandoval in the starting 5.

This is all conjecture, and so much can change by the time opening day arrives. I think we all know that, and trying to order them, now may seem pointless or skeptical to some or many. I realize I may be way overboard on just how good Sandoval can be or was a couple years ago. Some look back at his record and are far from impressed, and to those I ask, "What's so impressive about Crawford or Harrison? How much can we value small sample sizes by Dobbins, Early and I guess Tolle, who did not look all the good in his short stint.

Everything can be shuffled, especially with injuries or surprises before or during ST'ing.

 

First off we all know Devers trade was simply a salary dump that they tried to sell us Harrison as the jewel coming back. I watched Hicks throw for the Jays so knew he stunk. as for Sandoval I'm not saying any of the guys you mention should be ahead but simply that he has to EARN a rotation spot and can't just be handed it. Currently I see the Sox with a #1 SP and a 3 and 4 with Bello and Gray in whatever order and bunch of candidates for #5.

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

It's supposed to be that way.  You're facing off against some smart agents and lawyers.  Even when they think you're really interested in their client, you have to plant some seed of doubt that you have a Plan B.

Sox normally settle for plan E or F

[moonslav59]

55 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

First off we all know Devers trade was simply a salary dump that they tried to sell us Harrison as the jewel coming back. I watched Hicks throw for the Jays so knew he stunk. as for Sandoval I'm not saying any of the guys you mention should be ahead but simply that he has to EARN a rotation spot and can't just be handed it. Currently I see the Sox with a #1 SP and a 3 and 4 with Bello and Gray in whatever order and bunch of candidates for #5.

I've never said Sandoval should be handed anything.

I see him as ahead of all those who have to earn the 4 and 5 slots, including newly acquired Oviedo.

If Sandoval looks equally as good as all the others in ST'ing. I think he'll get a slot. "I think" not know, not handed to him, not undeserved or unearned.

If someone else earns it, I'd be happy for them (an us.)

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

 No thank you! Valera has a magical arm!!! You should substitute McNeil 

Who is McNeil? 

[moonslav59]

56 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Who is McNeil? 

That's two or three times he's mentioned this mystery great arm we have.

If it's not Valera, it will be Fajardo or Phillips. (Witherspoon?)

[JoeBrady]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Seager if the latest name.

Not a chance, imo.  Excellent player, usually injured, and owed $189M/6 until he's retired.

[JoeBrady]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Teoscar is being mentioned.

Duran, Harrison and Masa for Teoscar & Glasnow.

Glasnow is always interesting, but he has 754 IPs in 10 years.  Even in his healthy period over the past three years, he still only averaged 114.

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Glasnow is always interesting, but he has 754 IPs in 10 years.  Even in his healthy period over the past three years, he still only averaged 114.

I would not make the trade I mentioned.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

That's two or three times he's mentioned this mystery great arm we have.

If it's not Valera, it will be Fajardo or Phillips. (Witherspoon?)

I wonder if he means McShane, but he's barely even a top 40 prospect. Can't just sub him in for Valera. 

[Larry Cook]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Who is McNeil? 

I meant Phillips 

[FredLynn]

Well Alonso is no longer available. He just signed with the Orioles. Let’s face it: Henry is too cheap to get anyone of significance. My guess is that they’ll resign Bregman and call it a day. 
What a disgusting franchise the Flops have become.

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

I meant Phillips 

Oh, just a couple letters off.  LOL.

(Just jivin' yah!)

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Well Alonso is no longer available. He just signed with the Orioles. Let’s face it: Henry is too cheap to get anyone of significance. My guess is that they’ll resign Bregman and call it a day. 
What a disgusting franchise the Flops have become.

Bregman will cost close to what Alonso got, so I'm not so sure your first sentence lines up with the Breggie call.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Bregman will cost close to what Alonso got, so I'm not so sure your first sentence lines up with the Breggie call.

I think he thinks bregmans market wont warrant a comparable contract to alonso (his opinion , not mine)

I thought alonso was getting 6 and was wrong, but I do think bregman is getting at least 140.  He didnt opt out to get a worse deal.