Sox Trade For Milwaukee 3B Caleb Durbin

[Kimmi]

5 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I like everything about this trade. The guys we gave up were expendable, and Durbin is going to be a fan favorite: a short, scrappy guy who hustles is great, but here's the refreshing part for this line-up: he doesn't strike out and is a good bunter.

The batting order may be in shock... and that must be why the headline writer for Brandon's scoop called this "shocking."

I most definitely am refreshed by the idea of a batter who can bunt and doesn't strike out.  The strike outs over the past two seasons have frustrated me greatly.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Harrison was the PRIZE we got back when FLEECED in the Devers trade.

The gift that just keeps giving!

Durbin (for Harrison plus)

Tibbs for D May

Hick plus Ziehl

Jose Bello- future Cy Young winner.

[Kimmi]

4 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Seems like a good trade.

Also seems like we're really trying to field a complete baseball team - it's been a while.

Nice work Craig.

 

I am pleased with Breslow's work this offseason.

[Randy Red Sox]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

And financial flexibility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for JH likely THE most important factor. Anyone know what Durbin makes?

 

[Old Red]

43 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Also EVERYONE thought the KC deal was great at the time. 

Seems like the past few years they’ve been trying to lock up all the young guys even Casas.

[Randy Red Sox]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

This MIL-BOS trade works for me. No complaints. 

should have been made before IKF took us for 6 million.

[Randy Red Sox]

5 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I like everything about this trade. The guys we gave up were expendable, and Durbin is going to be a fan favorite: a short, scrappy guy who hustles is great, but here's the refreshing part for this line-up: he doesn't strike out and is a good bunter.

The batting order may be in shock... and that must be why the headline writer for Brandon's scoop called this "shocking."

at 5'7 i hope they dont hit too many line drives over his head.

[Randy Red Sox]

2 hours ago, Deja Doh said:

This guy makes Dustin Pedroia look like a giant (listed at 5'7").  Maybe 2nd base?  Hopefully he keeps hitting.

He hit .258 last season.  not exactly monster numbers--just saying

[Kimmi]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Contreras can play catcher a few times a year, but should be viewed as emergency only, until the call-up can arrive.

Gasper is not great on defense, but he's on the 40. We added decent minor league depth in Thaiss, so I think we are done adding catchers.

We also added Anthony Seigler to the 40. He can catch.

While it's no help for 2026, Brez did address beefing up the lowe rminor league catching group by adding:

31. Adonys Guzman A+ (part of Oviedo trade)

32. Luke Heyman A- (Alex Hoppe trade)

33. Franklin Primera FCL & Jorge Rodriguez (IFA signed 2024)

IKF can also catch in a pinch.  I'm good with what we have at catcher.

If anything, I'd look for BP help.

[Kimmi]

13 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

exactly-hopefully he is not Vaughan Grissom pt 2

In assessing the Devers trade, it's not nearly as simple as looking at it as a Devers for Durbin swap.  I think we all know that.

But yes, please do not become Grissom, Part 2.

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I am pleased with Breslow's work this offseason.

There was a tremendous amount of roster turnover- beyond the filling of vacated FA roster slots. Not many major players were traded, but a ton of pitchers were swapped out and a ton of infielders were added.

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

for JH likely THE most important factor. Anyone know what Durbin makes?

 

He's pre-arb, so probably the minimum, which is like $820K.

[Nick]

20 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Cost controlled and under team control through 2031.  What's not to like?

He sounds like a solid player offensively, defensively, and on the basepaths.  Not a superstar in any regard, but solid.

I never disagree with Kimmi. Yeah, what she said. (nothing like giving him 164 days of service time. Thank you, Milwaukee)

 

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

should have been made before IKF took us for 6 million.

I think I K-F offers us a fine utility player that is a big plus on defense at 3B, SS and 2B. Is that worth $6M? Maybe not, but we have to say it or else JH is not a cheapster.

[Nick]

25 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Cost controlled and under team control through 2031.  What's not to like?

He sounds like a solid player offensively, defensively, and on the basepaths.  Not a superstar in any regard, but solid.

I never disagree with Kimmi. Yeah, what she said.

[Nick]

What are the chances that Boston Red Sox shrewdly had 2 Rookie of the Year candidates finish 3rd in the balloting, thus avoiding having to 'surrender' extra year of service? Obviously it didn't make any difference for Anthony who received an eight year deal starting in 2026.

John Henry loves this trade.

[JoeBrady]

8 hours ago, Hitch said:

It just feels nice to have a complete roster at last. And I now really like the IKF signing as well. Great depth at 3 positions,

And I love the competitive draft pick. Really like this trade, even if I worry about our guaranteed power outage we're going forward with. 

I posted the same thing on MLB-R.  This trade makes me >like< the IKF trade a lot more.  Now it's a good IF with IKF picking up 15 starts at 3 positions.

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

should have been made before IKF took us for 6 million.

Thats actually a cheap contract for the value he produces. 
 

How much is a good utility player worth? $6 million isn’t even 1 war

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

The why is that if they first prove they are great, their extension will be at a much higher cost, or they will see dollar signs in their eyes and "want to see what the FA market has to offer." Sound familiar?

This is done to help prevent the next Betts & Bogey situation from happening. We will likely miss on some.

Last winter, we heard some wondering on why we extended Rafaela & Bello so early. I'm not hearing that anymore.

Yeah I love this approach.  It's always a gamble and you will miss, but I for one am pretty pumped that we have RA locked up at a reasonable cost. 

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, Nick said:

We can continue to focus on building a kick ass pitching staff.

We largely have a similar forecast on the pitching side.  Crochet, Bello, Tolle, Early & Witherspoon thru 2030, and beyond.

[harmony]

Caleb Durbin played collegiately in St. Louis at Washington University of the University Athletic Association, an NCAA Division III conference of top academic schools. This West Coast poster toured Wash U with his daughter her senior year in high school.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, UtahSox said:

WHY did Breslow extend KC so early? Makes zero sense. Virtually went from a top 100 player to a liability in 90 days. Dumbest thing ever. 

A little early to be giving up on KC.  Hitting ML pitching takes time.  Certainly more than the 70 AAA AB's we gave him prior to his promotion.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, UtahSox said:

A’s waited til season was over before extending Kurtz. I’d argue we extended Roman too quickly as well.

Kurtz has not been extended so far as I know.  So do you think the A's were correct in waiting?  Or do you think they should've extended when he first came up?

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Harrison was the PRIZE we got back when FLEECED in the Devers trade.

It's amazing when you add up the pieces.  We had to give up a minor piece when dumped Hicks, but this is basically a trade of a $32M Devers for a minimum wage Durbin.  It's early, but the projection aren't particularly far apart.

[Larry Cook]

Excellent trade and I like the draft pick as well!!!  
 

bres-slow’s infield looks better defensively at least! (If everybody stays healthy) 

[Hugh2]

16 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

It's amazing when you add up the pieces.  We had to give up a minor piece when dumped Hicks, but this is basically a trade of a $32M Devers for a minimum wage Durbin.  It's early, but the projection aren't particularly far apart.

What if Devers performs 3X better than Durbin for the next several years but Durbin averages 2 WAR and Harrison never makes another MLB start/appearance.   Is that a good trade?

[Hugh2]

7 minutes ago, Larry Cook said:

Excellent trade and I like the draft pick as well!!!  
 

bres-slow’s infield looks better defensively at least! (If everybody stays healthy) 

Yeah, I was very surprised to get that draft pick back on top of everything else. 

The Brewers are very good at taking guys like Harrison and getting them right E.G. Quinn Priester.  So we will see, it might not look as good later this year but at the end of the day I'm glad they made this trade.  No regrets, it really sets the team for 2026. 

I obviously would have preferred someone with a little bit more upside than Durbin, but given the other moves they've made on top of this one it sets my mind at ease and has me excited for the season. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

What if Devers performs 3X better than Durbin for the next several years but Durbin averages 2 WAR and Harrison never makes another MLB start/appearance.   Is that a good trade?

It will always be a good trade for fans to say good riddance to a selfish prima donna. 

It will always be a good trade for the owners and front office to say good riddance to a albatross contract.

It will never be a good trade for anyone who follows Boston until the Red Sox find another consistent 30-homer middle of the order bat.... if they ever do... and sign him through his prime... and don't dump him before his time.

[moonslav59]

52 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Yeah I love this approach.  It's always a gamble and you will miss, but I for one am pretty pumped that we have RA locked up at a reasonable cost. 

9 years at $16.25M.

Not all "suspects" are created equal.

[Hugh2]

11 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

It will always be a good trade for fans to say good riddance to a selfish prima donna. 

It will always be a good trade for the owners and front office to say good riddance to a albatross contract.

It will never be a good trade for anyone who follows Boston until the Red Sox find another consistent 30-homer middle of the order bat.... if they ever do... and sign him through his prime... and don't dump him before his time.

So, if Kyle Harrison gets 0 WAR and Durbin gets 12 WAR it's a bad trade if they never replace Devers?

So they trade Harrison for Durbin, and it can't be a good trade even if Durbin drastically outperforms Harrison?

Make it make sense.