Tarik Skubal's Availability Poses An Interesting Red Sox Dilemma: Patience or Aggression?

[JoeBrady]

On 11/24/2025 at 10:37 PM, Old Red said:

But not as much if he’s only a platoon player.

Sure, but if he hit lefties as well as he does righties, he'd be a perennial AS, and there would be no question of getting traded.

[JoeBrady]

On 11/25/2025 at 8:24 AM, TedYazPapiMookie said:

No question Duran in CF and Rafaela in RF is far better on defense than Rafaela in CF and Abreu in RF.  The numbers are conclusive.

Rafaela might be the best CF I've ever seen.  He's not changing positions.

[Hugh2]

On 11/25/2025 at 8:24 AM, TedYazPapiMookie said:

No question Duran in CF and Rafaela in RF is far better on defense than Rafaela in CF and Abreu in RF.  The numbers are conclusive.

I mean this with the utmost respect but…..are you on crack? Rafaela is literally a gold glove CFer and Abreau is literally a Gold glove rightfilders and it’s without “question” a better alignment to move BOTH those guys off their position for an inferior defender in LF to move to CF?

 

I mean, we all got opinions, but I don’t think you can say something is “without question” when you’re literally living on an island with a population of 1.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

I mean this with the utmost respect but…..are you on crack? Rafaela is literally a gold glove CFer and Abreau is literally a Gold glove rightfilders and it’s without “question” a better alignment to move BOTH those guys off their position for an inferior defender in LF to move to CF?

 

I mean, we all got opinions, but I don’t think you can say something is “without question” when you’re literally living on an island with a population of 1.

He bases his whole belief system on "facts," and the only facts are errors made, and Duran's brief moment in the sun in CF, 2 years ago.

I do think Rafaela would be great in RF, too, but why boot Abreu out. It doesn't make sense.

Duran is not even a plus on D in LF, anymore.

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

He bases his whole belief system on "facts," and the only facts are errors made, and Duran's brief moment in the sun in CF, 2 years ago.

I do think Rafaela would be great in RF, too, but why boot Abreu out. It doesn't make sense.

Duran is not even a plus on D in LF, anymore.

Errors are overrated.  Just given out based on some guy’s opinion.

The argument for keeping Duran is he has most definitely proved his effectiveness as a leadoff hitter in a way Abreu cannot duplicate… 

[Larry Cook]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

The A's will not take Yoshida, unless we pay all but $3M a year of his deal. STL won't either.

Other teams might take all but $5-6M a year. I think BTV gives him a -$25M value with $36M owed, so that's about $5.5M x 2 production value.

Time for bres-slow to earn his pay!!  
someone suggested yoshida for arenado earlier!!!  

[moonslav59]

40 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Time for bres-slow to earn his pay!!  
someone suggested yoshida for arenado earlier!!!  

Two total duds.

Arenado can play D but sucks on O.

Masa can hit but sucks on D.

Arenado $30M x 2 AAV.

Masa $18M x 2 AAV.

Throw in Hicks and it evens the money up and opens a roster slot for a signing.

[Hugh2]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Two total duds.

Arenado can play D but sucks on O.

Masa can hit but sucks on D.

Arenado $30M x 2 AAV.

Masa $18M x 2 AAV.

Throw in Hicks and it evens the money up and opens a roster slot for a signing.

Why would they take on both Masa and Hicks? They’re either trying to clear out money or get guys back in return.  Not negative value pitchers and a DH no one wants.  Now they have two roster spots clogged up instead of one.  
 

I think the Cardinals want prospects for Arenado, and I don’t think you have to give up very good ones either.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

22 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Mookie played CF for most of '15 before being sent to RF for the rest of his Sox tenure. If that's what they chose to do with Rafaela, it's better than sending him back to the IF. 

I don't think any team wants Grissom in a trade as he doesn't have any options left and has to be on an MLB roster or DFA'd. He's a negative in any trade. 

Suarez is a terrible 3b. 

I like Schwarber, but it doesn't make financial sense to pay him AND Masa to be on the same roster. They would need to find a way to get rid of Masa first, which isn't going to happen. 

What's the plan for the right side of the IF with your moves? 

Agreed that Suarez can't play defense but his bat would talk loudly in Fenway.  I'd rather have Bregman but if we can''t get him back, everyone else seems like slim pickins other than Suarez.  His power will dwarf Mayer's in 2026 and Suarez isn't a lot better but he enough better than Devers that he'll do.

At some point Masa simply needs to be moved.  He's a sunk cost.  So either a back-up or gone.  Adding Schwarber and Suarez raises Ks but it raises HRs more.

I start with Casas at 1B and see if he can restart his career and we have lots of choices at 2B.  If Campbell can return to form great, if Arias gets a chance, great, if Romy fields better, great, if Eaton can handle it, great, if Sogard can handle it, great.  It's like 2018 when Holt and Duran handled things.

In the end, the OF looks great, we need a catcher and two thumpers at 3B and DH.  If Casas fails, my next choice would be Campbell.  I find it hard to believe after 2024 he could be as bad as he looked after May 1.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

13 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Rafaela might be the best CF I've ever seen.  He's not changing positions.

I believe in team defense and Boston is strongest with Duran in CF and Rafaela in RF because his arm is so much stronger than Duran's.  Duran ONLY works in CF whereas Rafaela is probably the best LF, CF, RF and 2B on the team.  So play him where he maximizes the team defense.  

[TedYazPapiMookie]

12 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I mean this with the utmost respect but…..are you on crack? Rafaela is literally a gold glove CFer and Abreau is literally a Gold glove rightfilders and it’s without “question” a better alignment to move BOTH those guys off their position for an inferior defender in LF to move to CF?

 

I mean, we all got opinions, but I don’t think you can say something is “without question” when you’re literally living on an island with a population of 1.

Let me simplify this for you since I'm not the one on crack.

Rafaela is the best LF, CF, RF and 2B on the team.

Duran is the 2nd best CFer, he sucks in LF and doesn't have a strong enough arm to play RF.

Anthony can play any of the outfield positions adequately but he's nowhere near as fast as Duran and Rafaela so the confined space in LF works for him like Ted, Yaz and Rice.

Abreu is an above league average outfielder who thanks to a quirk in the metric formula for Fenway has led the team in errors while winning gold gloves.  After 3 seasons he still can't hit lefties and batted .212 after April 30th in 2025 while making 5 errors in just 104 games for a .978 fielding percentage when league average for right field was .987 (9 points higher!!!).  Basically, he's a league average player at best since he must platoon and doesn't hit for average and his power is just slightly above league average, and his defense is inflated using metrics and is average to below average using real traditional statistics like errors.  His speed to cover right field is NOT good enough to cover the 302 to 380 distance from the Pesky pole to right center field.

So before suggesting someone is on drugs, try to detox, shoot some Visine in your eyes and try to focus on the facts.  They are clearly detailed above.  Do what's best for the team not what's best for Abreu if you want to win.  .212 after Apri 30 is almost the same as Campbell who got sent down.  Hard to argue for a guy that bad.

[Hugh2]

50 minutes ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Let me simplify this for you since I'm not the one on crack.

Rafaela is the best LF, CF, RF and 2B on the team.

Duran is the 2nd best CFer, he sucks in LF and doesn't have a strong enough arm to play RF.

Anthony can play any of the outfield positions adequately but he's nowhere near as fast as Duran and Rafaela so the confined space in LF works for him like Ted, Yaz and Rice.

Abreu is an above league average outfielder who thanks to a quirk in the metric formula for Fenway has led the team in errors while winning gold gloves.  After 3 seasons he still can't hit lefties and batted .212 after April 30th in 2025 while making 5 errors in just 104 games for a .978 fielding percentage when league average for right field was .987 (9 points higher!!!).  Basically, he's a league average player at best since he must platoon and doesn't hit for average and his power is just slightly above league average, and his defense is inflated using metrics and is average to below average using real traditional statistics like errors.  His speed to cover right field is NOT good enough to cover the 302 to 380 distance from the Pesky pole to right center field.

So before suggesting someone is on drugs, try to detox, shoot some Visine in your eyes and try to focus on the facts.  They are clearly detailed above.  Do what's best for the team not what's best for Abreu if you want to win.  .212 after Apri 30 is almost the same as Campbell who got sent down.  Hard to argue for a guy that bad.

You spit things out as fact that are in fact....not facts.  Literally no one agrees with you.  

Duran took a step back in his play this year.  You seem to think that it's because he moved out of CF and not that his level of play actually just regressed.  Your entire logic is built on that false premise. 

I see it, everyone in here sees it, the Red Sox see it, the greater baseball scouting world sees it.  You say "the numbers are conclusive" no......no they're not. 

Don't take the drug reference too personal or literal.  People in sports often say things like "what are you smoking" when you suggest something that literally no one else is. 

 

[Hitch]

People are still replying to this dude thinking they're having a legitimate conversation?

He's running a - admittedly rather amusing - character. 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Why would they take on both Masa and Hicks?

They won't. They might take Hicks and give us a little cash, but I'm not taking on any cash to get a guy I wouldn't be playing. 

At least Masa can and likely will be our starting DH.

[moonslav59]

He also thinks a weak arm is okay from the CF triangle. Where is the fact sheet on that claim?

[Larry Cook]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

They won't. They might take Hicks and give us a little cash, but I'm not taking on any cash to get a guy I wouldn't be playing. 

At least Masa can and likely will be our starting DH.

Is yoshida a DFA candidate?? 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Is yoshida a DFA candidate?? 

Not IMO. Even if we signed Schwarber.

To me, he's worth $5M x 2 years. We should be able to find a team that takes him at that cost- maybe $4M x 2. That would save us $4-5M on the budget. 

If we add 2 good hitting infielders, I'm fine with a Masa-Romy DH platoon.

If we added Schwarber and traded Duran for Lodolo or K Marte, I'd be so-so to okay with a Masa-Ref LF platoon.

[Behindenemylines]

On 11/19/2025 at 10:13 AM, JoeBrady said:

Too much.  Duran's 3 * 4.7 = 14.1.  Skubal is 1 * 6.5 is fair.  If Skubal agreed to extend, we'd be back to the Pedro/Schilling days, and I'd throw in extra.

Trade for Skubal only makes sense if the Sox can resign him.

[moonslav59]

56 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Trade for Skubal only makes sense if the Sox can resign him.

It simply has to be part of the deal or no go.

[Larry Cook]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

It simply has to be part of the deal or no go.

Boras will want several opt out years in that contract 

[Hugh2]

3 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Wow.  What an ignorant response.  Everything I wrote was true.  As a child, you probably don't understand that, so I forgive your rudeness.  It's a generational thing.  I get it.

Did somebody appoint you the spokesman for the website?  Or are you the wimp that needs a dozen to people behind him to feel important.  That's sad and pathetic.  By now, you should have figured out that I frankly don't care how many wrong opinions you line-up behind you or how big you talk.  Those are grade school tactics.

The fact that you don't recognize conclusive data shows a huge lack of maturity.  Facts are facts and your opinions don't come close to being equivalent.  Your drug reference reflects your age and immaturity.  That's why I don't hold it against you.  I'm just glad my kids were far more mature than you growing up.

You want to defy facts.  Cool.  You want to try to suggest you have an army behind you.  Cool.  Clearly you aren't receptive to learning about the game of baseball so I will leave you in the delusional world that you exist in.  FYI ... I don't spit things out as facts.  I research facts and share them.  You want to deny them, go ahead, I am familiar with people who live in bliss.  I bet you don't even understand the comment, that's how naive you are.  I take no pleasure in embarrassing you any further.  Youth is wasted on the young.

I’m truly thankful, to have such horrible takes to laugh my arse off.  
 

good luck making sense of Duran not in CF at Fenway next year.

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Boras will want several opt out years in that contract 

Fine. Just add a couple years.

[JoeBrady]

On 11/27/2025 at 8:44 AM, Hugh2 said:

You seem to think that it's because he moved out of CF and not that his level of play actually just regressed. 

While I believe that Ceddanne should never be moved out of CF, I do agree with the hypothesis that a lot of regression *for Duran* is due to playing out of position.  But the best move to address that is to simply trade him to a team that needs a CF.

[JoeBrady]

8 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Is yoshida a DFA candidate?? 

Not in the slightest.  He had a 112 OPS+ in 2023-24, got hurt, had an .837 in September, and an 1.143 in the playoffs.  Much like with Story, the issue is that he's overpaid, not that he cannot play.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

5 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I’m truly thankful, to have such horrible takes to laugh my arse off.  
 

good luck making sense of Duran not in CF at Fenway next year.

You just don't get it.  I don't care if he doesn't play CF other than how much it hurts the team.  

I present the facts so whoever is reading understands why we don't win any more. 

You think of your comments as a contest, but you are the only one playing!!

I'm just glad as you stated is that you enjoy laughing at yourself.  That's a good thing for you and all those other folks who support your behavior.  Keep telling yourself that they are laughing with you!! haha

[Hugh2]

7 hours ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

You just don't get it.  I don't care if he doesn't play CF other than how much it hurts the team.  

I present the facts so whoever is reading understands why we don't win any more. 

You think of your comments as a contest, but you are the only one playing!!

I'm just glad as you stated is that you enjoy laughing at yourself.  That's a good thing for you and all those other folks who support your behavior.  Keep telling yourself that they are laughing with you!! haha

These facts don’t happen to be….undisputed by any chance do they???

[mvp 78]

As the spokesperson for the website, let's try to get along today everybody. None of this is that important to get huffy about. 🫂

[Hugh2]

9 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Not in the slightest.  He had a 112 OPS+ in 2023-24, got hurt, had an .837 in September, and an 1.143 in the playoffs.  Much like with Story, the issue is that he's overpaid, not that he cannot play.

I’m not in the slightest was suggesting Yoshida is a DFA candidate but that’s. 1.143 OPS in 7 plate appearances

7….with 0 XBH

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

I’m not in the slightest was suggesting Yoshida is a DFA candidate but that’s. 1.143 OPS in 7 plate appearances

7….with 0 XBH

Hit it where they ain't. 667 BABIP'd. 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

These facts don’t happen to be….undisputed by any chance do they???

Give it up with that guy.

Yes, errors are facts, but he assumes flg% is everything, and he won't budge or even try to understand the nuances to this great game of baseball.