Red Sox sign Ranger Suarez. 5 years $130 Million

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

You make room for an elite thumper when you have 0.

Defenses arent rigid in 2026.

The amount of "slashes" (as in multiple position players) is at an all-time high and increasing.

Elite? he had a .824 OPS last year, which is good but not great. 

.228/.298 AVG/OBP.   He literally hits some bombs here and there and nothing else. 

[notin]

So now the question - who goes?

Candidates include:

Jovani Moran

Nick Sogard

Tristan Gray

Tyler Uberstine 

Shane Drohan

Other (specify)

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Being a slash defender means you're probably a mediocre defender at multiple positions. 

With Suarez it's probably below average at every position, well below.  Except maybe 1B???

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Bichette has had some pretty bad seasons at SS. I'm not sure he necessarily becomes a good defender by transitioning to 2B. 

I'd wager Bo at 2B/3B being a much much much better defender than Suarez any day. 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

I'd wager Bo at 2B/3B being a much much much better defender than Suarez any day. 

Better defender, not worth the contract. 

[Hugh2]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Better defender, not worth the contract. 

He hasn't even signed a contract yet

[moonslav59]

43 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Giolito wasn’t “injured” but he was coming off an absolutely horrible second half of the season where he played for 3 different teams. It wasn’t shocking an injury popped up after the signing. 

Yes, and some felt his drop off was due to an underlying health issue. (Some blamed family issues.)

Injury, family issues, recent struggles, whatever, we went a long time only signing pitchers with serious concerns.

Ranger seems to break that model.

[drewski6]

57 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Elite? he had a .824 OPS last year, which is good but not great. 

.228/.298 AVG/OBP.   He literally hits some bombs here and there and nothing else. 

Understood, Geno isnt elite.  I wasnt meaning specifically him.  But more generally.

Ortiz didnt sit when we were vs NL in world series.  And if he could only play 1b, and we had a 1b we couldnt bench (Youk) we slid youk over to 3b a positoin he headnt played much recently. And if we had a 3b there who could mash, we'd move him to LF

Yordan Alvarez wouldnt get benched if they made the WS with not DH (granted thats an in the past thing now with an NL DH)

But you do not sacrifice hitting for defense.  Obviously if someone is a 10% worse hitter but 2x the fielder thats different.

I dont stress positional fit as much as some.  Granted you cant play Duran at 2b or something crazy, but Im very much okay with not having set players asigned to positions.

Football and basketball made these changes long ago.  You use to have right defensive ends, and left defensive ends, and right outside linebackers, and middle linebackers, and blah blah blah. Now you have front 7 players who you would prefer to play MLB but they move around.

In baseball, guys will play multiple positions.  Even if its not plan A there will be injuries.

This team needs hitting and will find a way to work it in.  And whomever is playing wherever right now, its all going to change as the season unfolds.  Injuries/slumps.

Its not going to stay super tidy like this is our second baseman, and this is our third baseman, and this is our DH.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

With Suarez it's probably below average at every position, well below.  Except maybe 1B???

I think Mayer/Romy/DHam at 2B is average or better. (2026>2025)

I think Contreras is average or better at 1B. (2026>>2025)

I think Story is average or better at SS, but the numbers say otherwise. (2026=2025)

Suarez would be bottom 5-10 at 3B after having a top 5-10 (2026<<<<<2025)

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, UtahSox said:

The question was met with visible indignation from JH.

I've been told my look of righteous indignation is very similar to my look of derisive scorn.

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Its not going to stay super tidy like this is our second baseman, and this is our third baseman, and this is our DH.

Well you should because that's reality. That's the way of the world. 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Elite? he had a .824 OPS last year, which is good but not great. 

.228/.298 AVG/OBP.   He literally hits some bombs here and there and nothing else. 

I'd go one step further and suggest that his 107+ in his previous 5 years is hardly elite.  Just like many other players, I consider him an option, but nowhere near an elite option.  I'd bet on Paredes having a higher bWAR over the next two years.  It's all about cost.

[notin]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Mayer/Romy/DHam at 2B is average or better. (2026>2025)

I think Contreras is average or better at 1B. (2026>>2025)

I think Story is average or better at SS, but the numbers say otherwise. (2026=2025)

Suarez would be bottom 5-10 at 3B after having a top 5-10 (2026<<<<<2025)

Story has lost a step and his post-surgery arm isn’t what it used to be.

Reportedly the Sox are looking for a 2b or 3b, but ideally it should be a SS or 3b.  But I’d be shocked if they moved Story of SS tjis season…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Story has lost a step and his post-surgery arm isn’t what it used to be.

Reportedly the Sox are looking for a 2b or 3b, but ideally it should be a SS or 3b.  But I’d be shocked if they moved Story of SS tjis season…

Cora already came out and said Story would be the SS in '26. I like Cora, but sometimes he needs to know when to shut it. 

[notin]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cora already came out and said Story would be the SS in '26. I like Cora, but sometimes he needs to know when to shut it. 

On the bright side, he hasn’t committed him there yet for 2027…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

On the bright side, he hasn’t committed him there yet for 2027…

He just hasn't said it out loud yet. Mentally, he's already there.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, notin said:

So now the question - who goes?

Watson.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Watson.

Before he's even in camp? Doubtful since they had to trade to get him.

[notin]

38 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Understood, Geno isnt elite.  I wasnt meaning specifically him.  But more generally.

Ortiz didnt sit when we were vs NL in world series.  And if he could only play 1b, and we had a 1b we couldnt bench (Youk) we slid youk over to 3b a positoin he headnt played much recently. And if we had a 3b there who could mash, we'd move him to LF

Yordan Alvarez wouldnt get benched if they made the WS with not DH (granted thats an in the past thing now with an NL DH)

But you do not sacrifice hitting for defense.  Obviously if someone is a 10% worse hitter but 2x the fielder thats different.

I dont stress positional fit as much as some.  Granted you cant play Duran at 2b or something crazy, but Im very much okay with not having set players asigned to positions.

Football and basketball made these changes long ago.  You use to have right defensive ends, and left defensive ends, and right outside linebackers, and middle linebackers, and blah blah blah. Now you have front 7 players who you would prefer to play MLB but they move around.

In baseball, guys will play multiple positions.  Even if its not plan A there will be injuries.

This team needs hitting and will find a way to work it in.  And whomever is playing wherever right now, its all going to change as the season unfolds.  Injuries/slumps.

Its not going to stay super tidy like this is our second baseman, and this is our third baseman, and this is our DH.

The Sox benched Youkilis in the 2007 WS games in Colorado.  The 2013 Sox benched Napoli in games in St. Louis.  In both cases, it was to keep Ortiz at 1b. 
 

The 2018 Sox did bench Bradley in games in LA.  But they were able to because Betts could handle CF.

 

But if there was no DH in the NL, today, would the Dodgers play Ohtani in LF?  Worth pointing out in his entire MLB career, he has played one inning in LF.  And thats his entire defensive contribution when not pitching…

[notin]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Before he's even in camp? Doubtful since they had to trade to get him.

By that logic, Tristan Gray is safe, too…

[notin]

32 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He just hasn't said it out loud yet. Mentally, he's already there.

And ready to throw Breslow under the bus if it doesn’t happen…

[moonslav59]

37 minutes ago, notin said:

Story has lost a step and his post-surgery arm isn’t what it used to be.

Reportedly the Sox are looking for a 2b or 3b, but ideally it should be a SS or 3b.  But I’d be shocked if they moved Story of SS tjis season…

Just don't ever ask Cora to even broach the subject to Story.

Maybe I'm not sensitive enough to player's egos, but Story already played 2B, so the inferior defender, Bogey would not be asked to move, so just do it, now.

Yes! Add a SS and NOT a 2Bman!

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cora already came out and said Story would be the SS in '26. I like Cora, but sometimes he needs to know when to shut it. 

Agreed. Even if you think it, just shut the "F" up!

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Before he's even in camp? Doubtful since they had to trade to get him.

I think it should be Hicks, but it won't be.

I think we trade for a 3Bman or maybe 2Bman and DFA Eaton.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

By that logic, Tristan Gray is safe, too…

I forgot all about him when I posted my top 5 DFA (trade for nothing) list.

[JoeBrady]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think it should be Hicks, but it won't be.

I wouldn't DFA someone with that arm.  We have several guys that have never been real major leaguers.

• Uberstine 27 and no ML experience
• Drohan 27 and no ML experience
• Moran 28.266 and 5.2 BB9
• Watson 28 and no ML experience

I'm not saying they are untalented, but Hicks had been really good at some point.  Even last year he had a FIP of 4.35.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I wouldn't DFA someone with that arm.  We have several guys that have never been real major leaguers.

• Uberstine 27 and no ML experience
• Drohan 27 and no ML experience
• Moran 28.266 and 5.2 BB9
• Watson 28 and no ML experience

I'm not saying they are untalented, but Hicks had been really good at some point.  Even last year he had a FIP of 4.35.

I think Hicks' best days are in the past. I think Moran and Watson have much better upside potential, despite little or no ML experience.

Of course, someone who has already done it, has to be viewed as having the ability to repeat it. Since Moran is out of options and Watson is Rule 5, both are like Hicks. They cannot be sent to AAA, but only the IL or be traded or DFAd.

Uberstine and Drohan have options. Of all these 5, I think Moran might have the best chance at having a big year or next 2 years. Just my opinion.

I'd DFA Eaton with the idea that we will be adding an infielder and eaton is our #7 OF'er and maybe #3 or #4 at 3B.

[notin]

38 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. Even if you think it, just shut the "F" up!

If he was asked about Story playing SS, the answer should have been simple “I can’t tell you until I know who all my infielders are”…

[notin]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Hicks' best days are in the past. I think Moran and Watson have much better upside potential, despite little or no ML experience.

Of course, someone who has already done it, has to be viewed as having the ability to repeat it. Since Moran is out of options and Watson is Rule 5, both are like Hicks. They cannot be sent to AAA, but only the IL or be traded or DFAd.

Uberstine and Drohan have options. Of all these 5, I think Moran might have the best chance at having a big year or next 2 years. Just my opinion.

I'd DFA Eaton with the idea that we will be adding an infielder and eaton is our #7 OF'er and maybe #3 or #4 at 3B.

I forgot anout Eaton, but it could be him.

I was thinking Sogard, because the Sox have Hamilton and Gray now…

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

If he was asked about Story playing SS, the answer should have been simple “I can’t tell you until I know who all my infielders are”…

But then the media hypes it up as Cora looking at possibly moving Story to 2B. Story pouts and throws a tantrum. Brez steps in and steps on his own two feet, and Story demands a trade.