Red Sox 2026 Spring Training

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

The Rockies have developed stars recently? 

Our best hitter by a mile in last years playoffs, Trevor Story, ever heard of him?

What do the sox (and Rox) look like last year if we didnt big market Story away from Rox?

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The Rockies have developed stars recently? 

Are you defending the ship em out before you gotta pay em, revolving door strategy?

Historically, it hasnt worked.  Even the goats of it, The Rays......have ......checks notes.....0 championships.  

Marlins do have 2 though, so it can work.  

[Kimmi]

7 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

A strategy that works incredibly well for the A's, Pirates, Rockies.....

The Red Sox payroll is roughly $250M, and barring them shedding some salary later, they will be over the luxury tax limit for the 2nd consecutive year.  They are hardly the As, Pirates, or Rockies.

[moonslav59]

32 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I liked the Padres/Bogey contract because it made me feel better that we didnt land him because we were never going to compete with that offer.  

The argument many made was that he could have been signed for less or much less earlier, and I wonder why they think that.

Maybe DD could have offered more and not given the opt out, but once it got closer to free agency, I'm not so sure the numbers $160M/5 and later $200M/6 were even possible.

I made the point, once he left that we may look back, someday and think even $200M/6 would have been an overpay. The weird thing is, his defense has not been bottom 5-10 with the Padres, but his offense sure took a tumble.

OPS+ 

117 BOS (123 last 7 yrs w BOS)

104 SDP (96 last 2 seasons combined)

He's 33, now.

[drewski6]

Did you hear what Story said? Never crossed his mind to opt out. That hes going to try to pick up as much as Bregman left behind from helping youngsters POV/leadership.

I, and I may be in minority here, but I am VERY glad Story didnt opt out and Im crossing my fingers he stays healthy next year.  I think hes a key player.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, Kimmi said:

The Red Sox payroll is roughly $250M, and barring them shedding some salary later, they will be over the luxury tax limit for the 2nd consecutive year.  They are hardly the As, Pirates, or Rockies.

I just meant the carousel of up and comers.  Boys dont win championships.  Even Michael Jordan couldnt dominate the league pre-prime.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

The Red Sox payroll is roughly $250M, and barring them shedding some salary later, they will be over the luxury tax limit for the 2nd consecutive year.  They are hardly the As, Pirates, or Rockies.

They are currently projected to be over the 2nd CBT threshold. 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

The Red Sox payroll is roughly $250M, and barring them shedding some salary later, they will be over the luxury tax limit for the 2nd consecutive year.  They are hardly the As, Pirates, or Rockies.

I try to think this is all just hyperbole, but I wonder.

Spotrac has us 7th at $256M Lux Tax Dollars

in 2025, we were 7th at $249M.

In 2024, we were 12th at $226M- about the exact same as 2023.

Cots has the opening day player budget only (not AAV) at...

$171M 2024

$195M 2025

$191M 2026

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The argument many made was that he could have been signed for less or much less earlier, and I wonder why they think that.

Maybe DD could have offered more and not given the opt out, but once it got closer to free agency, I'm not so sure the numbers $160M/5 and later $200M/6 were even possible.

I made the point, once he left that we may look back, someday and think even $200M/6 would have been an overpay. The weird thing is, his defense has not been bottom 5-10 with the Padres, but his offense sure took a tumble.

OPS+ 

117 BOS (123 last 7 yrs w BOS)

104 SDP (96 last 2 seasons combined)

He's 33, now.

Agree with you on Bogey (and Betts).  Im willing to pay superstars superstar money. Bogey was already showing a little decline though and that contract was absurd.  Betts was unforgiveable.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I try to think this is all just hyperbole, but I wonder.

Spotrac has us 7th at $256M Lux Tax Dollars

in 2025, we were 7th at $249M.

In 2024, we were 12th at $226M- about the exact same as 2023.

Whats hyperbolic?  She said that she wants a carousel of youngsters coming up at all times and to trade out before they become expensive.  Thats not apples to apples to what the sox do.  Our payroll is Story, Masa, Crochet, Contreras, Gray, Suarez.....

Spending money, right now, is not the problem.  The problem is Breslow's ability to land his top choices (I believe that its .00001% likely that the Red Sox have a no trade policy that is coming from above Breslows head).

[drewski6]

I dont think JH is the problem or financial "misers" at FSG.  I think, more likely, JH is an old man in a rocking chair. 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Agree with you on Bogey (and Betts).  Im willing to pay superstars superstar money. Bogey was already showing a little decline though and that contract was absurd.  Betts was unforgiveable.

The Betts loss was totally unforgivable. You just have to make it happen. Period.

The long history of Sox and stars reaching free agency under JH has actually not been all that bad, beyond Betts (and maybe Beltre & D Lowe.) We have done well to very well on many departure, especially Jake, Pedro, JD and even getting rid of Manny, AGon, Crawford, Beckett, Price, Beni and others via trade before their times were up. Although Damon did well with the Yanks, I think we did fine without him.

[Kimmi]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Did you hear what Story said? Never crossed his mind to opt out. That hes going to try to pick up as much as Bregman left behind from helping youngsters POV/leadership.

I, and I may be in minority here, but I am VERY glad Story didnt opt out and Im crossing my fingers he stays healthy next year.  I think hes a key player.

I'm with you on this Drewski.  I like hearing this.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Whats hyperbolic?  She said that she wants a carousel of youngsters coming up at all times and to trade out before they become expensive.  Thats not apples to apples to what the sox do.  Our payroll is Story, Masa, Crochet, Contreras, Gray, Suarez.....

Spending money, right now, is not the problem.  The problem is Breslow's ability to land his top choices (I believe that its .00001% likely that the Red Sox have a no trade policy that is coming from above Breslows head).

Okay. I mistook your point.

I do think Suarez was a top choice, unless you count only one top choice. (I think he preferred him to Alonso, Bichette & Schwarber.)

I think he really liked and wanted Gray and Contreras and jumped on them early on. Both are no slouches and would have gotten big money as FAs. (Hell, we even got someone else to pay us some salary, for once.)

[drewski6]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

The Betts loss was totally unforgivable. You just have to make it happen. Period.

The long history of Sox and stars reaching free agency under JH has actually not been all that bad, beyond Betts (and maybe Beltre & D Lowe.) We have done well to very well on many departure, especially Jake, Pedro, JD and even getting rid of Manny, AGon, Crawford, Beckett, Price, Beni and others via trade before their times were up. Although Damon did well with the Yanks, I think we did fine without him.

I agree, Betts and Schwarber and DEFINITELY Dlowe (my boy).  OVerall not bad.  But Betts is the giant black eye.

Beltre sure, but thats hindisght.  Youk was so established so it was Beltre or AGON and we chose wrong but it wasnt quite like the others because at least the letting him walk was defendable

[Kimmi]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They are currently projected to be over the 2nd CBT threshold. 

I am never sure who to trust on payroll numbers.  If they are over the 2nd CBT, that's even more to the point that the Red Sox are spending plenty.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Okay. I mistook your point.

I do think Suarez was a top choice, unless you count only one top choice. (I think he preferred him to Alonso, Bichette & Schwarber.)

I think he really liked and wanted Gray and Contreras and jumped on them early on. Both are no slouches and would have gotten big money as FAs. (Hell, we even got someone else to pay us some salary, for once.)

I think he revolved his whole plan around Bregman while he double dog dared Bregman to take the cubs offer because his temper/ego get in his way.

I do agree that we may be better off, but I completely disagree that it was ever a designed "walk point". I believe the account that they all thought they had Bregman back until Bregman walked. I believe that they didnt believe the cubs offer existed.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Spending money, right now, is not the problem.  The problem is Breslow's ability to land his top choices (I believe that its .00001% likely that the Red Sox have a no trade policy that is coming from above Breslows head).

We got a pretty wishy-washy answer from the higher ups on this.

If it was all Brez, than he made what I consider a good mistake by not offering it. I think he knew the risk on how Bregman might age, and didn't want to give it, if he was in fact allowed to give it.

I thought our Breggie offer was too much.

I'd rather have Suarez.

I'd rather have Contreras.

had we not gotten Suarez, I'd rather have Gray, too.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Kimmi said:

I am never sure who to trust on payroll numbers.  If they are over the 2nd CBT, that's even more to the point that the Red Sox are spending plenty.

I read the Sox are looking to trade someone like Sandoval to get under the second line, but they may go over it, mid season, if needed.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

I think he revolved his whole plan around Bregman while he double dog dared Bregman to take the cubs offer because his temper/ego get in his way.

I do agree that we may be better off, but I completely disagree that it was ever a designed "walk point". I believe the account that they all thought they had Bregman back until Bregman walked. I believe that they didnt believe the cubs offer existed.

That very well could be true, but I think Brez was fine with Suarez as plan 1B. He was a top choice.

I do think he felt Breggie was coming back. I don't think that makes Suarez a non top choice kind of signing.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

We got a pretty wishy-washy answer from the higher ups on this.

If it was all Brez, than he made what I consider a good mistake by not offering it. I think he knew the risk on how Bregman might age, and didn't want to give it, if he was in fact allowed to give it.

I thought our Breggie offer was too much.

I'd rather have Suarez.

I'd rather have Contreras.

had we not gotten Suarez, I'd rather have Gray, too.

I think Tolle is better than both Suarez and Gray but I think both Suarez and Gray are better than Bello, Early, Harrison, Oviedo.  Kutter - Im not sure who we are going to get and how healthy he will stay.

Tolle is already looking like a boss this year.  If Suarez or Gray bump Tolle, I think they will have made this team worse.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That very well could be true, but I think Brez was fine with Suarez as plan 1B. He was a top choice.

I do think he felt Breggie was coming back. I don't think that makes Suarez a non top choice kind of signing.

I think Contreras was preferred over Alonso because he couldnt fit Bregman with Alonso.  I think they were non competitive on Alonso/Bichette because they had the money earmarked for Bregman.

I dont think they had a plan B. I think they liked Ranger and kicked the tires on him.  I think it was pure reactionary, "oh crap".  And I think Tolle is better (right now).

[Kimmi]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I read the Sox are looking to trade someone like Sandoval to get under the second line, but they may go over it, mid season, if needed.

I'm guessing it all depends on where the Red Sox are in the standings.  If we're in it, then they should be willing to go over (or stay over) the 2nd line if needed.  If we're not in it, then shed unneeded payroll to get under.

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

I liked the Padres/Bogey contract because it made me feel better that we didnt land him because we were never going to compete with that offer.  

Like when you ask out the cute blonde who smiles at you in math class, and she says no, and youre surprised, then you see her walk down the hallway holding hands with captain of football team. You feel better about your miss.

But the big difference is you couldn’t get that girl from him in a trade for Yoshida…

[moonslav59]

I went into this winter hoping we focused all or nearly all our resources (money and trade pieces) on just 2 super stars or 3 big additions. I figured 2 signings and one trade was the best way to do it. I called it (high) quality over quantity.

We did add 3 major pieces (Suarez, Contreras & Gray) plus Durbin, Oviedo & IKF, but I think only Suarez counts as "high quality." I didn't expect 2 pitchers, when they mentioned how a big bat was a top need. I doubt that was their top plan.

Normally, I'm more than fine with adding 2 pitchers to the top of our rotation, and I am with this, but it seems it was at the expense of a big bat. I'm not so sure how big a bat we could have gotten by combining all the pieces and dollars spent on Durbin+ IKF+Oviedo, and it doesn't work out that simply, anyway, but I'd like to have seen Neto, Breggie or KMarte, instead of those three. I might even add Gray to Durbin & IKF to switch our additions.

That being said, I think Brez did okay to well, but not great.

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I think Tolle is better than both Suarez and Gray but I think both Suarez and Gray are better than Bello, Early, Harrison, Oviedo.  Kutter - Im not sure who we are going to get and how healthy he will stay.

Tolle is already looking like a boss this year.  If Suarez or Gray bump Tolle, I think they will have made this team worse.

I hope you are right, and I'll gladly eat crow on the Mayer & Tolle offer for KMarte. We have all three, now plus Early & Bello. Then, there's that guy named Crochet.

Suarez and Gray are not "bumping" Tolle. That would be Oviedo, Crawford or Sandoval.

[JoeBrady]

38 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Did you hear what Story said? Never crossed his mind to opt out. That hes going to try to pick up as much as Bregman left behind from helping youngsters POV/leadership.

I, and I may be in minority here, but I am VERY glad Story didnt opt out and Im crossing my fingers he stays healthy next year.  I think hes a key player.

Story at $23.5M AAV is by no means a problem.

[Kimmi]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I went into this winter hoping we focused all or nearly all our resources (money and trade pieces) on just 2 super stars or 3 big additions. I figured 2 signings and one trade was the best way to do it. I called it (high) quality over quantity.

We did add 3 major pieces (Suarez, Contreras & Gray) plus Durbin, Oviedo & IKF, but I think only Suarez counts as "high quality." I didn't expect 2 pitchers, when they mentioned how a big bat was a top need. I doubt that was their top plan.

Normally, I'm more than fine with adding 2 pitchers to the top of our rotation, and I am with this, but it seems it was at the expense of a big bat. I'm not so sure how big a bat we could have gotten by combining all the pieces and dollars spent on Durbin+ IKF+Oviedo, and it doesn't work out that simply, anyway, but I'd like to have seen Neto, Breggie or KMarte, instead of those three. I might even add Gray to Durbin & IKF to switch our additions.

That being said, I think Brez did okay to well, but not great.

I am okay without the addition of a big bat.

But I fully admit that the first time we lose a well-pitched game because we couldn't score any runs, I will be (silently) cursing somebody or something.

[JoeBrady]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

but I think only Suarez counts as "high quality."

Why is the FG projected 3.3 Suarez "high quality", but the 3.4+ Gray not?

[drewski6]

Just now, JoeBrady said:

Why is the FG projected 3.3 Suarez "high quality", but the 3.4+ Gray not?

1 yr vs more?

I like Suarez and I think what saves it for me is that Gray is only going to be here  1 yr.  If Gray was 27 and signed to 5 yrs , Id be like that Ranger deal was super unnecessary.