Breslow: Boston Red Sox Will "Continue to Look" at Arms for the Bullpen

[moonslav59]

It's good to see more promising players added to the infield depth and mix.

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

It's good to see more promising players added to the infield depth and mix.

And I think Cheng is this year’s Hoy Park!

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

And I think Cheng is this year’s Hoy Park!

Hoy Park may have had a longer term. 

[davidrw]

That’s exactly what you want to hear, because this pen still feels like it needs at least one dependable late inning arm. If they can add a proven reliever without gutting the farm, it takes a ton of pressure off the starters and keeps leads from turning into coin flips.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, davidrw said:

That’s exactly what you want to hear, because this pen still feels like it needs at least one dependable late inning arm. If they can add a proven reliever without gutting the farm, it takes a ton of pressure off the starters and keeps leads from turning into coin flips.

They don't really need high leverage guys either. Just give me some 6th and 7th inning arms. They shouldn't really cost top 10 prospects TBH. 

[notin]

18 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Seigler hits the ball very hard. I think pitch recognition is the issue when he got to MLB. Maybe he can adjust, maybe he's just a AAAA masher. 

The issue could be as simple as only having 62 PA..

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, davidrw said:

That’s exactly what you want to hear, because this pen still feels like it needs at least one dependable late inning arm. If they can add a proven reliever without gutting the farm, it takes a ton of pressure off the starters and keeps leads from turning into coin flips.

We are one injury to a top 3 RP'er away from serious trouble- agreed, but the hope is Crawford, Sandoval or Oviedo can slide into a high leverage role. Tolle & Early should stay starting in AAA as long as we can afford to do it.

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

The issue could be as simple as only having 62 PA..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQSIr1nLncY

I watched a few videos of the ambidextrous Seigler. I now don't want him moved. They need to turn WOO into banana ball with Seigler. 

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We are one injury to a top 3 RP'er away from serious trouble- agreed, but the hope is Crawford, Sandoval or Oviedo can slide into a high leverage role. Tolle & Early should stay starting in AAA as long as we can afford to do it.

Sandoval has rarely pitched out of the pen. I don't think turning him into a high leverage reliever is a great idea, especially a guy coming off IBP. 

[moonslav59]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Sandoval has rarely pitched out of the pen. I don't think turning him into a high leverage reliever is a great idea, especially a guy coming off IBP. 

Could be true, but he's pitched so little in 2-3 years. I do think Crawford fits that role better, and who knows what role is best for Oviedo. Earlier this winter, I had Sandoval as the #5. Now, I see it as a three-way tie, but my guess is Brez & Cora have an idea of who they send to the pen first. The second choice might take ST'ing to sort out.

[notin]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Could be true, but he's pitched so little in 2-3 years. I do think Crawford fits that role better, and who knows what role is best for Oviedo. Earlier this winter, I had Sandoval as the #5. Now, I see it as a three-way tie, but my guess is Brez & Cora have an idea of who they send to the pen first. The second choice might take ST'ing to sort out.

I believe Oviedo has an option left.  And if everyone is healthy, it’s likely to be used…

[notin]

One option

Rotation:  Crockett, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Sandoval

BP:  Chapman, Whitlock, Weissert, Slaten, Watson, Moran, Crawford, Tolle

Minors depth 

SP: Oviedo, Early, Uberstine, Bennett

BP: Kelly, Samaniego

I miss anyone? (40 man roster only)

 

I say DFA Gasper, claim LHRP Anthony Banda, put him in the pen and push Tolle back to AAA…

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, notin said:

I believe Oviedo has an option left.  And if everyone is healthy, it’s likely to be used…

Perhaps, but until we add a RP'er, I think some starters will begin the year in the pen and not in AAA.

Plus, AAA does not start at  the same time as MLB.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

I say DFA Gasper, claim LHRP Anthony Banda, put him in the pen and push Tolle back to AAA…

Banda walks guys like he's Darwinzon Hernandez. Considering the pitchers Breslow had moved this offseason, I don't think he'll claim him. 

[notin]

20 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Banda walks guys like he's Darwinzon Hernandez. Considering the pitchers Breslow had moved this offseason, I don't think he'll claim him. 

Ummm… Banda’s career BB/9 is lower than Aroldis Chapman’s…

[mvp 78]

33 minutes ago, notin said:

Ummm… Banda’s career BB/9 is lower than Aroldis Chapman’s…

What was Chapman's last season compared to Banda's last season? 

You good with his 4.77 xFIP? 

[mvp 78]

6 hours ago, notin said:

Ummm… Banda’s career BB/9 is lower than Aroldis Chapman’s…

 

[notin]

On 2/12/2026 at 7:43 AM, mvp 78 said:

What was Chapman's last season compared to Banda's last season? 

You good with his 4.77 xFIP? 

Make up your mind about what you don’t like about Banda!

It doesn’t matter  anyway, as he was traded to the Twins so now he won’t be available until August.

Back to Danny Coulombe?

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Make up your mind about what you don’t like about Banda!

It doesn’t matter  anyway, as he was traded to the Twins so now he won’t be available until August.

Back to Danny Coulombe?

I don't care about Banda. I'm just making assumptions on what Breslow may or may not like. He dumped all the high bb guys this offseason (Guerrero, Hicks, Murphy, Bernardino, Winckowski, Harrison) except for Moran. 

Coulombe is too short. 

[notin]

On 2/13/2026 at 9:00 AM, mvp 78 said:

I don't care about Banda. I'm just making assumptions on what Breslow may or may not like. He dumped all the high bb guys this offseason (Guerrero, Hicks, Murphy, Bernardino, Winckowski, Harrison) except for Moran. 

Coulombe is too short. 

Cionel Perez?

He didn’t pitch much last year coming off an injury, but wasn’t it an oblique injury?

[Randy Red Sox]

On 2/10/2026 at 6:17 AM, moonslav59 said:

There is a little bit of an issue needing to keep Moran & Watson on the 26, but there is always the phantom IL stint to buy some time.

Without using any SP'ers in the pen, it has very little depth, and the depth it has is concerning. We only have 8 pitchers considered RP'ers only.

The sure 4: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten & Weissert (if healthy)

The 2 that can't be optioned to the minors: Moran & Watson

The last 2: Kelly and Samaniego (both could begin the season in AAA.)

We are heavily dependent on using SP'ers in the pen. Cora might have an idea on who fits best and may begin ST'ing with one or two in the pen, or he may decide during ST'ing who his starting 5 will be and work from there on who begins the season in the pen and AAA.

The starters:

The sure 4: Crochet, Suarez, Gray & Bello (if healthy) Houck on 60 Day IL.

The 5th slot contenders: Oviedo, Crawford & Sandoval. My guess is the other two begin in the pen as long RP'ers. (Kelly & Samaniego begin at AAA.)

Tolle and Early might get the SP first call over one of those pen arms.

 

i am just glad we didn't trade any of Tolle, Early, or Witherspoon.

[notin]

16 hours ago, notin said:

Cionel Perez?

He didn’t pitch much last year coming off an injury, but want it an oblique injury?

Nats signed him.

Still lots of mediocrity-wannabe’s left on the free agent market.

Maybe then Sox could try something crazy and sign Tony Gonsolin for the bullpen.  (Zero chance.  They might sign him, but it would be to an MiLB contract and he’d be a starter.)…