Red Sox 2026 Spring Training

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

I think the Sox might want to make sure they have 5 good starters healthy and ready to go when the season starts first.  They’ve dealt away a significant amount of starter depth already…

Sure, but they already have pretty ridiculous depth.

1. Crochet

2. Suarez

3. Gray

4. Bello

5. Sandoval

6. Oviedo

7. Crawford

8. Early

9. Tolle

10. Uberstine

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Sure, but they already have pretty ridiculous depth.

1. Crochet

2. Suarez

3. Gray

4. Bello

5. Sandoval

6. Oviedo

7. Crawford

8. Early

9. Tolle

10. Uberstine

Much of our SP'ewr depth traded away were traded for pitching or were prospects that would not be ready for 2026, anyway.

Fitts and Clarke was depth for a top 5 SP'er.

Travieso (& Jh Gracia) was a far-away SP for a top 5-6 SP'er on the team.

Perales for Bennett was pretty much sideways, and maybe one could argue Perales is closer to MLB ready, but he's also closer to the IL than Bennett.

Dobbins, Fajardo & Aita was one of two trades that gave up depth for an everyday player, but only Dobbins was ML ready. He was also returning from an injury.

Harrison, Drohan (& DHam) for Durbin & infield depth was the other, but many had Harrison listed pretty far down the SP'er depth list and felt he was blocking Tolle & Early. (I thought he'd be in the pen for 2026.)

So, compare 2025 to what MVP presented:

 

Sure, but they already have pretty ridiculous depth.

1. Crochet = Crochet

2. Suarez > Houck

3. Gray> Buehler

4. Bello = Bello

5. Sandoval < Giolito

6. Oviedo => Fitts

7. Crawford = Crawford

8. Early > Newcomb

9. Tolle <?> Dobbins

10. Uberstine <?> Priester/Drohan/Fulmer

 

[moonslav59]

I went into this winter hoping we'd focus more on quality over quantity, which was the team approach for far too long. I think we may have shortened the rotation depth a little bit, but did a great job improving the quality from the 2 slot down to maybe #7, 8 or 9 from the 2025 depth chart. That '25 list was pretty nice, and we ended up using all of them plus DMay, de Leon plus Tolle & Early- at least the ones who were not on the IL all year (Kutter & Sandoval) or for much of it (Houck & Dobbins.)

On the everyday side of the roster, my wish list was for two big bats- one at 1B and one at 2B or 3B. While Contreras looks like a very good get, I don't really view him a true "big bat," so I really wanted the second one to be better than him. Durbin is not that guy. I still like the trade, but we fell short of my hopes. We didn't even really get one true big bat. (KMarte & Alonso were my top picks, but Schwarber would certainly have counted as a legit big bat. I was not all that high on Bregman, especially at that money, as a "big bat, and felt the same about Bichette.)

I also did not expect the continuation of adding so much decent starters and depth over higher quality talent. We added Contreras, Durbin Kiner Falefa, Monasterio, Seigler to replace Bregman, N lowe & DHam. It was sort of like 3 for 5. IMO, we went the wrong direction in this sense on the infield.

The total AAV for Contreras plus Kiner Falefa is almost what Bregman got. The total AAV of Sonny Gray plus Kiner Falefa is about the same as Bregman's. Granted, these are shorter term vs Breggie's longer deal with a NTC, but you get where I'm going with this. Once again, on the everyday side of the ledger, we went quantity over quality. On pitching we did the right thing. Quality over quantity.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

my wish list was for two big bats- one at 1B and one at 2B or 3B.

Similar here, but I just wanted a quality 1B and 2B.  BR ranked us as #21 and #19, respectively.  Contreras and Durbin should put put us in the top-15 in each.

On the pitching side, I wanted a #2, and argued for a #4 in addition.  Suarez and Gray cover that easily.

I also argued that we needed to trade Duran to make this happen.  By being to make the additions, without giving up Duran, means we have no loss from trading Devers.

[notin]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Sure, but they already have pretty ridiculous depth.

1. Crochet

2. Suarez

3. Gray

4. Bello

5. Sandoval

6. Oviedo

7. Crawford

8. Early

9. Tolle

10. Uberstine

How many of those arms are more likely to see bullpen duty? Likely Uberstine (and in his case, the Worcester pen)..  Any others? It’s possible since only 6 spots in the pen are locked up, assuming they keep Watson.
 

So with 1 injury, they might be down to 7 starters if they trade Sandoval. They might want to know more depth than that before starting the season.

Maybe 8 if you count Bennett.  Not sure how he fits into anything right now…

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

How many of those arms are more likely to see bullpen duty? Likely Uberstine (and in his case, the Worcester pen)..  Any others? It’s possible since only 6 spots in the pen are locked up, assuming they keep Watson.
 

So with 1 injury, they might be down to 7 starters if they trade Sandoval. They might want to know more depth than that before starting the season.

Maybe 8 if you count Bennett.  Not sure how he fits into anything right now…

How many teams have 7-8-9's like these?

#10 is maybe Bennett>Uberstine or some surprise.

Maybe we start Kutter or Oviedo in the pen. I still think that Sandoval will be the #5, if he looks okay in ST'ing, but that is one big IF.

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

How many teams have 7-8-9's like these?

#10 is maybe Bennett>Uberstine or some surprise.

Maybe we start Kutter or Oviedo in the pen. I still think that Sandoval will be the #5, if he looks okay in ST'ing, but that is one big IF.

Volume also needs to be a concern.  I’m not ready to see Mullens or Holobetz starting games in July.

 

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

Volume also needs to be a concern.  I’m not ready to see Mullens or Holobetz starting games in July.

 

True. Last February, nobody thought Tolle or Early would be added to the 40. Nobody heard of deLeon. Nobody expected we'd need to trade for D May. Nobody thought twice, when we traded Priester, until he started doing well and Newcomb flamed out as a starter.

I think we should be deep enough, but I see 9, and we often go to 10 or more, and that's not even counting opener games.

#SP'er per season (Non openers)

14 in 2025 (3  by opener Bernardino)

10 in 2024 (not counting 4 by Whitlock, 3 by Kelly & 3 by Bernardino)

9 in 2023 but 6 by Bernardino and 9 by 7 "openers"

11 in 2022 (3 by A Davis)

10 in 2021  (all but 3 starts by 7 starters)

 

[Larry Cook]

4 hours ago, notin said:

Volume also needs to be a concern.  I’m not ready to see Mullens or Holobetz starting games in July.

 

If I had to guess 1 pitcher that is not on the 40 man roster that will see time in Boston this year, I would guess Mullins. 
if his control improves, he could be another option if our pitching staff is ravaged by injuries again this year. 

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

If I had to guess 1 pitcher that is not on the 40 man roster that will see time in Boston this year, I would guess Mullins. 
if his control improves, he could be another option if our pitching staff is ravaged by injuries again this year. 

It was rather telling that Mullins is 26 and still has not reached AAA. soxprospects.com has him beginning the season in AA as a starter, but their summary hints at the pen being his best shot...

Potential up-and-down reliever. Ceiling of a seventh-inning reliever. Intriguing arm who could move quickly if moved into a pure relief role. Needs to tighten up his command and control, but fastball/slider combination has premium bat-missing ability. Fastball especially is extremely difficult to hit when he elevates it. Has pitches to get both right- and left-handed hitters out and the type of fastball teams look for. Is currently being developed as a starter, but delivery, command profile, and injury history point to him ending up in the bullpen eventually.

[notin]

49 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It was rather telling that Mullins is 26 and still has not reached AAA. soxprospects.com has him beginning the season in AA as a starter, but their summary hints at the pen being his best shot...

Potential up-and-down reliever. Ceiling of a seventh-inning reliever. Intriguing arm who could move quickly if moved into a pure relief role. Needs to tighten up his command and control, but fastball/slider combination has premium bat-missing ability. Fastball especially is extremely difficult to hit when he elevates it. Has pitches to get both right- and left-handed hitters out and the type of fastball teams look for. Is currently being developed as a starter, but delivery, command profile, and injury history point to him ending up in the bullpen eventually.

I think he’s a pen arm, too.  But then I think that of most pitching prospects…

[moonslav59]

30 minutes ago, notin said:

I think he’s a pen arm, too.  But then I think that of most pitching prospects…

I'm not sure he ever becomes a decent pen arm- maybe not even at AAA.

I think others have a better shot at making the majors before he does.

[JoeBrady]

21 hours ago, notin said:

I think he’s a pen arm, too.  But then I think that of most pitching prospects…

I barely even look at these guys.  IMHO, you're either a guy I think can break into the rotation (15-20%) of you're a 5-6-7th inning guy, maybe.

[mvp 78]

 

[notin]

On 2/14/2026 at 12:03 PM, moonslav59 said:

I'm not sure he ever becomes a decent pen arm- maybe not even at AAA.

I think others have a better shot at making the majors before he does.

That are not on the 40 man? Who?

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

That are not on the 40 man? Who?

Guys not on the 40 that could make MLB in the near future

Mullins

Song

Holobetz

Wu-Yellend

Mullins may only take longer to get to BOS if they try to have him start. 

 

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

That are not on the 40 man? Who?

My bad. I meant to say "might" have a better shot. I'm not sure any not 40 guy has a clear better shot.

It's kind of telling that soxprospects.com has him beginning and starting in AA. They seem to put a few guys ahead of him.

His non 40 competition:

AAA: Sikkema, Gamboa, Harris, Berrios, Song, Sweet, Martines, T Guerrero, Nittoli, K Keller, I Coffey & Olds.

AA: Holobetz, Wehunt, Rivera, Wu-Yelland, Webb, Rogers/Dean

 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Guys not on the 40 that could make MLB in the near future

Mullins

Song

Holobetz

Wu-Yellend

Mullins may only take longer to get to BOS if they try to have him start. 

 

Agreed. If he was beginning the season as the AAA or AA closer, yes,

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Agreed. If he was beginning the season as the AAA or AA closer, yes,

Song could get to BOS quick if his stuff ticks up. I think Wu-Yellend might get to AAA soon and push the envelope as a LH reliever (high k rate). 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Song could get to BOS quick if his stuff ticks up. I think Wu-Yellend might get to AAA soon and push the envelope as a LH reliever (high k rate). 

TBH, I thought Mullins would begin the season in AAA, and maybe after ST'ing cuts, he will.

Some sources project he starts in AAA.

[mvp 78]

Mayer is still taking most of his reps at 2b with Durbin at 3b. 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Mayer is still taking most of his reps at 2b with Durbin at 3b. 

I think they want the Romy platoon option at 2B and not juggle Mayer between 3B and 2B.

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Mayer is still taking most of his reps at 2b with Durbin at 3b. 

Fine. Just keep it that way. No need to move either around outside an injury. Cora just announce it, and move on.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

Fine. Just keep it that way. No need to move either around outside an injury. Cora just announce it, and move on.

Yes. Stay away from:

vs RHP: Mayer 3B/Durbin 2B

vs LHPs: Durbin 3B/Romy 2B

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes. Stay away from:

vs RHP: Mayer 3B/Durbin 2B

vs LHPs: Durbin 3B/Romy 2B

The only person moving around is Durbin. If he's ok with it? 

[mvp 78]

 

[Kimmi]

40 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

"Crochet looks ready, although Duran ripped a gapper off him today"

Don't know whether we should be glad that Duran was able to rip a gapper off of Crochet or upset that Crochet gave up the gapper.  LOL

It's nice to hear that Casas is moving around the field pretty well.  I still have high hopes for him.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

"Crochet looks ready, although Duran ripped a gapper off him today"

Don't know whether we should be glad that Duran was able to rip a gapper off of Crochet or upset that Crochet gave up the gapper.  LOL

It's nice to hear that Casas is moving around the field pretty well.  I still have high hopes for him.

I thought it was Durbin hat ripped the gapper from what I saw from Jen McCaffrey's feed TBH. Maybe they both got hits off him? 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The only person moving around is Durbin. If he's ok with it? 

It will come down to Cora being kay with it, or not.

I think I'd rather Durbin and Mayer stick to one position for the nest 4 years. Maybe Mayer moves to SS, when Story bolts or is moved to 2B.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

 

I don't always agree with Pete, but no one works harder and he has some understanding of the game.