Red Sox sign Ranger Suarez. 5 years $130 Million

[mvp 78]

35 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

That's odd, because I keep telling fans not to pay any attention to what they say.  I never do.

"Don't listen to ownership, listen to me!!!" 

[moonslav59]

Gotta think the trade for a 3B/2Bman, and hopefully a big bat with the same get, will involve an OF'er and/or SP'er. We might regret trading someone, especially if we suffer major injuries in those areas, but the hole is too wide to have the luxury of depth and extended depth.

OF: Anthony, Duran. Rafaela, Abreu, Campbell and maybe Masa or Romy in a pinch (Eaton)

SP: Crochet, Suarez & Gray are here for the year plus, then: Bello, Oviedo, Crawford, Sandoval, Harrison, Tolle/Early

We actually have enough depth to trade for two quality players, but I seriously doubt we do that, unless we upgrade on Mayer, Wong or Masa (assuming an OF'er is traded, too.)

The other option is to keep the depth and fill the pen from the starter depth (Crawford/Harrison/Oviedo or Sandoval) and use Duran at DH. Trade salary like Hicks, Masa or Sandoval and sign E Suarez.

Let's say, we somehow trade Masa, Hicks and Sandoval to save just enough to sign E Suarez to stay under the 3rd line (deferrals, if needed.) This could be the layout:

1. L Anthony LF

2. R Contreras 1B

3. L Duran DH/ R Romy 2B

4. R Suarez 3B

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Story SS

7. L Mayer 2B/L Duran DH

8. R Narvaez C

9. R Rafaela CF

Bench: Wong, Romy, DHam, Campbell

SP: Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Sandoval/Oviedo

RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Weissert, Crawford, Harrison, Oviedo/Sandoval, Watson/Moran/Kelly

[drewski6]

34 minutes ago, notin said:

He’s a lock.

I trade him because he’s good enough to fetch a decent player back but his talent is really no better than many of the other pitchers fighting for a rotation spot.  And unlike Crawford and Sandoval, he pitched last year…

When I wrote that Bello may not make the rotation, I had been recently reminded how much I love Kutter Crawfish and I was thinking:

If Tolle is dominating and Kutter comes back strong, way may need to bump two.

But after I submitted reply, I thought that Kutter prob if he was to join rotation wouldnt be out of camp, so Im willing to fall back to Bello may get bumped from the rotation at some point, but I agree near lock to start year in rotation.

[drewski6]

35 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

"Don't listen to ownership, listen to me!!!" 

"Look, we'll never know what happened and fans shouldnt pretend. But heres what I think happened, and anything that doesnt take this as fact, I will disagree with."

 

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

"Look, we'll never know what happened and fans shouldnt pretend. But heres what I think happened, and anything that doesnt take this as fact, I will disagree with."

 

"Those are the facts and the facts are undisputed. Or not."

[Kimmi]

5 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Im not sure Bello makes the rotation.

Unless he sustains an injury in spring training, I am pretty confident that Bello will be part of our starting rotation, despite the fact that he has options remaining.  IMO, the Red Sox are committed to him.  

[Old Red]

According to Buster O the Red Sox gave more money to Ranger in PDV than what they offered Bregman.🤔

[Randy Red Sox]

On 1/14/2026 at 11:45 PM, Hitch said:

Do let us know what the Bastards of Boston Baseball are telling us we should be angry at next, won't you? 

i will be sure to listen and let you know. FTR i am lukewarm to this signing. While he looks to be a good addition I would have preferred to add Bichette instead as I felt our SP was pretty decent prior to this signing. I will withhold judgement till I see the final roster .

[JoeBrady]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:11 PM, Kimmi said:

Unless he sustains an injury in spring training, I am pretty confident that Bello will be part of our starting rotation, despite the fact that he has options remaining.  IMO, the Red Sox are committed to him.  

100%.  There is almost no chance that two SPs are that good in ST that they can both claim a rotation role.  He'll start or be traded.

[moonslav59]

According to soxprospects.com, here are the options remaining for our pitchers:

Rule 5: Watson

0 Chapman, Moran, Hicks

1 Sandoval, Oviedo, Weissert, Kelly

2 Bello, Crawford, Harrison

3 Crochet, Whitlock, Slaten, Tolle, Early, Sandlin, Drohan, Uberstine, Bennett, Samaniego

[mvp 78]

I'd think Moran would be DFA'd due to lack of options, but he's one of the few LHP's remaining in the pen. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd think Moran would be DFA'd due to lack of options, but he's one of the few LHP's remaining in the pen. 

So cutting him would be an option. Actually, I just saw a Fanfest interview where AC tells TC that Moran is an option.

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

So cutting him would be an option. Actually, I just saw a Fanfest interview where AC tells TC that Moran is an option.

All of them are options. If you ignore the "options" Kelly would be the most likely to be DFA'd. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

All of them are options. If you ignore the "options" Kelly would be the most likely to be DFA'd. 

Or Uberstine/Drohan, but I still think we will trade for an infielder, perhaps two 40 man players, and if not, we'll DFA Eaton. We have 6-7 guys who can play OF, and Mayer can play 3B.

We could also send Watson home early.

I'm not sure why I'm so high on Moran, but he's not #1 or #2 on my list.

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Or Uberstine/Drohan, but I still think we will trade for an infielder, perhaps two 40 man players, and if not, we'll DFA Eaton. We have 6-7 guys who can play OF, and Mayer can play 3B.

We could also send Watson home early.

I'm not sure why I'm so high on Moran, but he's not #1 or #2 on my list.

I think the easiest answer is that Craig is going to wheel and deal guys off the 40 man rather than DFA. 

[drewski6]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd think Moran would be DFA'd due to lack of options, but he's one of the few LHP's remaining in the pen. 

well there will prob be some lefty starter overflow into the pen right?

[drewski6]

22 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Or Uberstine/Drohan, but I still think we will trade for an infielder, perhaps two 40 man players, and if not, we'll DFA Eaton. We have 6-7 guys who can play OF, and Mayer can play 3B.

We could also send Watson home early.

I'm not sure why I'm so high on Moran, but he's not #1 or #2 on my list.

Not Drohan because he went to florida state, and my friend is a seminole and i like that friend and he likes drohan.

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I think the easiest answer is that Craig is going to wheel and deal guys off the 40 man rather than DFA. 

I agree, and as much as I won't cry if any of our bottom 5 guys get DFA'd, I think all have value enough to be able to trade for a not 40 man prospect.

Then, there are Hicks and Masa.

I keep thinking of ideas like Duran + Hicks for Baty, but I know those ideas are pipedreams.

[Old Red]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

I agree, and as much as I won't cry if any of our bottom 5 guys get DFA'd, I think all have value enough to be able to trade for a not 40 man prospect.

Then, there are Hicks and Masa.

I keep thinking of ideas like Duran + Hicks for Baty, but I know those ideas are pipedreams.

I thought you had given up on trying to get rid of Hicks, and Masa? Pipe dreams. I know you don’t make suggestions to try to get them right, but GGMM.🤭

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree, and as much as I won't cry if any of our bottom 5 guys get DFA'd, I think all have value enough to be able to trade for a not 40 man prospect.

Then, there are Hicks and Masa.

I keep thinking of ideas like Duran + Hicks for Baty, but I know those ideas are pipedreams.

Why is that a pipedream? Baty sucks.

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

well there will prob be some lefty starter overflow into the pen right?

I can see Harrison and Crawford both starting the season in the pen, and that would put a serious crunch on the non-option RP'ers like Moran & Hicks and Rule 5 guy Watson.

1, Chapman

2. Whitlock

3. Slaten

4. Weissert

5. Crawford

6. Harrison

7-8. Moran, Watson & Hicks (one has to go or someone to the IL on opening day.)

Sandoval has to start on the IL, too, or else he or Oviedo becomes a pen piece. Both have an option, according to sp.com, but I'm not sure we demote one, unless they look bad in ST'ing.

AAA: Kelly, Sandoval or Oviedo, Sandlin (SPer?) & Samaniego (all on the 40)

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I can see Harrison and Crawford both starting the season in the pen, and that would put a serious crunch on the non-option RP'ers like Moran & Hicks and Rule 5 guy Watson.

1, Chapman

2. Whitlock

3. Slaten

4. Weissert

5. Crawford

6. Harrison

7-8. Moran, Watson & Hicks (one has to go or someone to the IL on opening day.)

Sandoval has to start on the IL, too, or else he or Oviedo becomes a pen piece. Both have an option, according to sp.com, but I'm not sure we demote one, unless they look bad in ST'ing.

AAA: Kelly, Sandoval or Oviedo, Sandlin (SPer?) & Samaniego (all on the 40)

Is Craw healthy?

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Why is that a pipedream? Baty sucks.

He Ks way too much, but Ks dont bother me, if they guy produces. At age 26, Baty projected to 26 HRs per 650. While a .748 OPS is not great, it's better than average and way better than DHam, Sogard and Eaton.

I know- I know, trading Duran for someone better than those 3 should never be a goal. LMAO

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Is Craw healthy?

I think he will be. If he starts the season on the IL, then there is room for all 3 non option RP'ers.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Why is that a pipedream? Baty sucks.

111 wRC+, 4 DRS in '25

If he can approximate that going forward, he'll have a spot somewhere. 

[Kimmi]

On 1/18/2026 at 1:33 PM, moonslav59 said:

According to soxprospects.com, here are the options remaining for our pitchers:

Rule 5: Watson

0 Chapman, Moran, Hicks

1 Sandoval, Oviedo, Weissert, Kelly

2 Bello, Crawford, Harrison

3 Crochet, Whitlock, Slaten, Tolle, Early, Sandlin, Drohan, Uberstine, Bennett, Samaniego

Thank you for posting this.  I was too lazy to look it up.  

I am a firm believer in keeping as much depth as possible, and therefore, sending guys down who have options remaining as opposed to having to DFA someone who doesn't have options.  But that's only to a certain extent, and I think it pertains more to relief pitchers than to starters.  For instance, I don't think anyone would consider sending Crochet down because he has options.  I feel the same with Bello.

Fortunately, it looks like most of our pitchers have at least one option remaining.

[notin]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Why is that a pipedream? Baty sucks.

It’s a pipe dream for the Mets…

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, notin said:

It’s a pipe dream for the Mets…

The Mets are one big wet dream.

[vjcsmoke]

On 1/14/2026 at 2:25 PM, Jasonbay44 said:

 

Well Suarez looks like our #2 pitcher signing. His WHIP is a bit high for my tastes at over 1.2 and he only had 150 IP as a starter. But his FIP at 3.21 looks pretty good. Should be good enough to slot in as a solid #2.

The rotation should be fine now.

I'm reading rumors we are going for Paredes next to patch that last hole at 3B on the roster. Could be a decent add as long as we don't pay too much.

[Hugh2]

Steamer projections now have the Sox with the #1 pitching staff in baseball, hitting not as good but they're still 7th overall. 

If Steamer projections came to fruition with 100% accuracy the Sox would be the 7th best team in all of baseball next year. 

The bad news is, there are 2 teams in the A.L. East still in front of them.  If they make an honest move for an IF they will probably jump above the Yankees and slide in at 3 behind Toronto & LA