Red Sox 2026 Spring Training

[JoeBrady]

28 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.

Read enough stories, and you'll hear Anthony and Crochet's names being mentioned.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

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

I was a big defender of Gray as a #2 SP'er not a #3, but I don't see him as a #1, like Suarez is.

I'm not sure why fangraphs is so high on the older Gray. probably the IP factor.

I'm big in ERA- and have moved towards FIP more.

2025 ERA- (150+ IP)

61 Crochet (6th)

75 Suarez (13th)

104 Gray (50th)

FIP

2.89 Crochet (5th)

3.21 Suarez (10th)

3.39 Gray (12th)

___________________

2024-2025 (250+ IP)

ERA-: 16th Suarez 79/ 50th Gray 100

FIP: 11th Gray 3.26/ 12th Suarez 3.29

 

[JoeBrady]

13 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

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.

But both are high quality players.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

But both are high quality players.

undoubtedly

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

But both are high quality players.

I'm okay calling Gray "high quality," but I was looking at...

Big bat: KMarte, Alonso or Schwarber.

Pitcher: Joe Ryan, Lodolo or Suarez.

2B/3B: KMarte (never thought of Neto.) or Paredes.

I'd have to say Gray = paredes if not better, so you talked me into it. I was locked into the two bat-one pitcher mentality, and that does not decide who is higher quality than others.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I was locked into the two bat-one pitcher mentality, and that does not decide who is higher quality than others.

I'd say that was the crux of the disagreements in here.  Some in argued for more offense, several argued in favor of a #2 SP, and a few of argued in favor of two SPs.  IMHO, the regular season is won by having 5 good SPs.  But I have NP with someone wanting to upgrade the lineup at the expense of the 2nd SP I wanted.

[moonslav59]

43 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd say that was the crux of the disagreements in here.  Some in argued for more offense, several argued in favor of a #2 SP, and a few of argued in favor of two SPs.  IMHO, the regular season is won by having 5 good SPs.  But I have NP with someone wanting to upgrade the lineup at the expense of the 2nd SP I wanted.

I really am okay with adding 2 pitchers and Oviedo just basically replaced the depth we traded away.

I still feel like we could have done better than Durbin + IKF, somehow- someway, especially when we have a clear surplus area to deal from. 

There's always a "what if..." I think we improved the team by more than most here seem to think we did. I'm also not so sure why so many posters seem to think other teams got better. Hell, the Yankee winter stated motto was "Run it back." They did nothing at all. Somehow, the hopes of a returning injured pitcher only works for other teams. The Jays added a couple nice players but lost a couple. The O's were horrible, but suddenly they are going to jump 20 games, because they got Alonso, and we didn't.

The Tigers? The Astros? LOL.

The M's look good, but their once vaunted rotation is full of questions, now. Did they do anything to get significantly better, this winter?

I can sympathize with those who had higher winter expectations, because I am one, too. I had my own idea on what was best, and it included two very good bats minimum, but there are others ways to improve a team. We improved the pitching and defense and look like we got a bit worse on offense, but when you look closely, position by position our offense looks close to the same as 2025's.

[mvp 78]

11 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd say that was the crux of the disagreements in here.  Some in argued for more offense, several argued in favor of a #2 SP, and a few of argued in favor of two SPs.  IMHO, the regular season is won by having 5 good SPs.  But I have NP with someone wanting to upgrade the lineup at the expense of the 2nd SP I wanted.

I don't think people argued going for 2 #2's because the Sox have never gone out and done that kind of thing before. If it was a realistic option in November, you may have some people buy in at that time. 

[mvp 78]

So many offseasons, we've argued for just one #2 and haven't even gotten there. To get two seemed beyond the pale TBH. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We improved the pitching and defense and look like we got a bit worse on offense, but when you look closely, position by position our offense looks close to the same as 2025's.

Contreras at 1B should hit better than any Red Sox did there in '25. If Mayer has just two good months at 2B, it doubles how many Campbell gave us. Durbin at 3B doesn't strike out, but he's not an All-Star hitter like Bregman. Assuming Story will duplicate last year's output is a huge risk, considering his tenure in Boston.

Outfielders can't regress, including whoever DHs. Raffy hit 7 homers last May alone, which I don't think any other surpassed in the DH slot for the season. But this year's Sox also can't afford to tolerate any designated hitter whiffing 15 of 19 times to start, either.

 

[mvp 78]

 

[harmony]

Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle was listed on "MLB rookies to watch this spring: 20 players poised make an impact in 2026" at The Athletic:

Quote

At quick glance, Tolle, 23, elicits memories of David Wells. Tolle has a huge frame (6-4, 254) and gets special extension down the mound that helps his high-90s fastball with excellent spin rate generate a lot of swings and misses. He releases the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot and also features a power slider and solid cutter. For me, Tolle profiles as a mid-rotation starter. He appears to be major-league ready but the Red Sox might start him in Triple A given the additions they’ve made to their rotation this offseason.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7052989/2026/02/19/mlb-rookies-to-watch-2026-jim-bowden/?campaign=16965663&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=1096049

Subscription required.

[notin]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd say that was the crux of the disagreements in here.  Some in argued for more offense, several argued in favor of a #2 SP, and a few of argued in favor of two SPs.  IMHO, the regular season is won by having 5 good SPs.  But I have NP with someone wanting to upgrade the lineup at the expense of the 2nd SP I wanted.

Especially since the minors are bereft of power and loaded with pitching.  10 of the top 15 prospects on soxprospects are pitchers and the best power hitter above A-ball might be Mikey Romero…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Especially since the minors are bereft of power and loaded with pitching.  10 of the top 15 prospects on soxprospects are pitchers and the best power hitter above A-ball might be Mikey Romero…

Might be? Brannon has more raw power, but Romero has shown much more in game power than anyone else in the system. The only other guys in the org with plus power are Justin Gonzales, Mason White, Luke Heyman and DSL guys who all haven't shown it professionally yet. Not a lot of big bats coming this way.

[Old Red]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

 

The Red Sox should have known the second Durbin was a Red Sox where he would be playing EITHER 2B, or 3B. This shouldn’t be that hard.🤭

[moonslav59]

14 minutes ago, Old Red said:

The Red Sox should have known the second Durbin was a Red Sox where he would be playing EITHER 2B, or 3B. This shouldn’t be that hard.🤭

They probably do know, but Cora loves to have "flexibility." If someone gets hurt, positions may shift.

[Behindenemylines]

On 2/4/2026 at 11:43 AM, mvp 78 said:

 

I'm hoping that he has figured it out. Campbell's right-handed bat would look good in the Sox lineup.

[mvp 78]

 

[drewski6]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Great case for shortening the season right there. Whats even the point?

[moonslav59]

Let the games begin!

Wow, Masa in LF!

[mvp 78]

 

[drewski6]

15 hours ago, Behindenemylines said:

I'm hoping that he has figured it out. Campbell's right-handed bat would look good in the Sox lineup.

Are minor league splits available? Does anybody know if Campbell hit lefties better than righties in AAA last year?

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Are minor league splits available? Does anybody know if Campbell hit lefties better than righties in AAA last year?

I know.

[drewski6]

33 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I know.

Did he? Because if so, we should prob keep him around at least until Romy gets back , right?  Contreras could use some lineup help against lefties!

[drewski6]

Or that other guy Brendan Rogers (who I keep almost calling Brandon Philllips)

[mvp 78]

This guy might make a little noise in ST because he can hit. He'll start off in SAL, but could end the season in AA if he's really swinging it.

[mvp 78]

For everyone on Caleb Durbin watch:

 

[mvp 78]

Umps are in midseason form with that called ball. 

[mvp 78]

I hope that statcast is just off today...

 

[mvp 78]

Red Sox: 4 batters, 4 pitches