Boston Red Sox 2026 Win Total

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

As CBO, I'm Alex's boss and can tell him what he needs to believe. I'm selling in '22 so that the Sox can build the next great Red Sox team instead of halfassing it the way Bloom/Breslow did on Earth 1. 

I agree if you are halfassing it, but as I said at the time you didn’t have to, and shouldn’t have.

[moonslav59]

Playing it halfway or no way was worse than doing the opposite of whatever.

I wanted to sell, but I'd have been happier if we bought than doing nothing.

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Bregman aged early. There is no gymnastics to it. He's been basically a half season hitter for a while. In 2024, he started very slowly. In 2025, he ended very slowly.

He had a little up blip in 2022 at age 28, but then went right back into a downward trend until the half season in 2025. Sure, he has the chance to have a couple more good and better seasons, but I don't see why we should project anything better than his 121 three year OPS+.

Yes, Contreras is already old. However, his age 33 season saw him hit 123 and his 3 year number is 127. I think he has a very good chance at out-OPS+'ing Bregman in 2026. I think not catching should help him out, a lot.

There is no way anyone can look at the recent trends of Bregman, Contreras and Bregman and say Willson is showing more decline.

Use the age angle- fine.

I said signs of aging I believe.  

This is great news that Contreras isnt aging at the rate of Bregman.  Do you think we'll trade Narvaez or use him off the bench?

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree if you are halfassing it, but as I said at the time you didn’t have to, and shouldn’t have.

The budget is the budget apparently. 

 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I said signs of aging I believe.  

This is great news that Contreras isnt aging at the rate of Bregman.  Do you think we'll trade Narvaez or use him off the bench?

Narvaez will be our FT catcher.

Contreras will be our FT 1Bman. 

I have no idea if Contreras will suddenly show signs of decline. It could happen at any time and to various degrees. He turns 34 in May. That is post-prime. He has done very well from age 30 to 33. That may mean something or not, but I took issue with someone saying he has shown signs of decline more than Bregman and Alonso.

I'm glad he's no longer crouching in a catcher's stance half the game.

[drewski6]

13 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Narvaez will be our FT catcher.

Contreras will be our FT 1Bman. 

I have no idea if Contreras will suddenly show signs of decline. It could happen at any time and to various degrees. He turns 34 in May. That is post-prime. He has done very well from age 30 to 33. That may mean something or not, but I took issue with someone saying he has shown signs of decline more than Bregman and Alonso.

I'm glad he's no longer crouching in a catcher's stance half the game.

YOu keep saying decline, im saying aging.  Im saying that Contreras is aging and aging hard.  Why is he no longer catching?

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Narvaez will be our FT catcher.

Contreras will be our FT 1Bman. 

I have no idea if Contreras will suddenly show signs of decline. It could happen at any time and to various degrees. He turns 34 in May. That is post-prime. He has done very well from age 30 to 33. That may mean something or not, but I took issue with someone saying he has shown signs of decline more than Bregman and Alonso.

I'm glad he's no longer crouching in a catcher's stance half the game.

Bregman is still playing third base and Contreras can no longer catch.  Contreras is also 2 years older.  Bregman had his best OPS last year of the last four years.  Contreras had his worst OPS last year of the last four years.

My point is that I said that Contreras is further along in the aging process than Bregman. You gave me an all caps "OMG" and a sea exclamation points.  Are you sure what I said was so wild?

Other people are saying yeah but I like the positional fit better or I like the contract better.  Which are valid points.  And you may say that Contreras may not be as washed up as one might think considering his age. You may say that Bregman is more washed than one might think considering his age.  And you wouldnt get an "OMG!!!!!!" from me for saying or thinking those things.

But I dont think that saying the 34 yr old who can no longer play his position is more aged than the 32 yr old who can still play his position is some kind of wild statement.

[notin]

10 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

YOu keep saying decline, im saying aging.  Im saying that Contreras is aging and aging hard.  Why is he no longer catching?

Because: 

1.  He sucks at catching and his tendency to set up too close to hitters proved dangerous.  He broke his left arm when it was struck by JD Martínez mid-swing.

2. St. Louis had multiple catching options and no first baseman.  Last year they carried 3 catchers not counting Contreras.  Ivan Herrera’s arm surgery limited him to DH duties, but they still had Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo doing the catching.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

YOu keep saying decline, im saying aging.  Im saying that Contreras is aging and aging hard.  Why is he no longer catching?

STL had some very nice young catchers.

Yes, everyone is aging.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

My point is that I said that Contreras is further along in the aging process than Bregman. You gave me an all caps "OMG" and a sea exclamation points.  Are you sure what I said was so wild?

Wild to the extreme, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drewski6]

Just now, notin said:

Because

1.  He sucks at catching and his tendency to set up too close to hitters proved dangerous.

2. St. Louis had multiple catching options and no first baseman.  Last year they carried 3 catchers not counting Contreras.  Ivan Herrera’s arm surgery limited him to DH duties, but they still had Pedro Pages and Pozo doing the catching.

#1 is correctable and #2 doesnt apply to the 2026 Red Sox.

Why is he not catching (even part time) for the 2026 Red Sox?  

You can be a 1b/C, see Ben Rice.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

That's not quite right.

• In 2021, we added Schwarber

-- acknowledged, but like I posted, he wasn't a need for that roster at the deadline... ... not like quality bullpen help.

As much as the Astro pitchers shut down Boston at the end of '21, the main reason the Sox didn't advance was their closer -- who was no one (and why Pivetta and Eovaldi had to come out of the bullpen and burned out).

Someone posted that offense would've needed more homers to win -- sure, why not: in 11 postseason games the '21 Red Sox only poleaxed 22 HRs, when Enrique Hernandez was Big Kike.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

#1 is correctable and #2 doesnt apply to the 2026 Red Sox.

Why is he not catching (even part time) for the 2026 Red Sox?  

You can be a 1b/C, see Ben Rice.

#2 applies to the Sox. They don't have a 1B aside from Contreras. 

[notin]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

#1 is correctable and #2 doesnt apply to the 2026 Red Sox.

Why is he not catching (even part time) for the 2026 Red Sox?  

You can be a 1b/C, see Ben Rice.

Do we know he isn’t catching part time yet?  If Casas comes back and Narvaez struggles or gets hurt, maybe we see Willson play catcher.  But it’s hard to say he aged out of the position in St. Louis when they had plenty of depth at catcher and none at 1b…

[notin]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

#2 applies to the Sox. They don't have a 1B aside from Contreras. 

They might eventually.  Triston Casas isnt dead…

[mvp 78]

Rice started 26 G at C as a 26 year old. I doubt he'll be doing that in his 30's. He is also terrible at catching (2.07 poptime is 2nd worst in MLB).

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Do we know he isn’t catching part time yet?  If Casas comes back and Narvaez struggles or gets hurt, maybe we see Willson play catcher.  But it’s hard to say he aged out of the position in St. Louis when they had plenty of depth at catcher and none at 1b…

They said Contreras isn't catching. 

[notin]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

-- acknowledged, but like I posted, he wasn't a need for that roster at the deadline... ... not like quality bullpen help.

As much as the Astro pitchers shut down Boston at the end of '21, the main reason the Sox didn't advance was their closer -- who was no one (and why Pivetta and Eovaldi had to come out of the bullpen and burned out).

Someone posted that offense would've needed more homers to win -- sure, why not: in 11 postseason games the '21 Red Sox only poleaxed 22 HRs, when Enrique Hernandez was Big Kike.

Poleaxed? 

[notin]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

They said Contreras isn't catching. 

They say lots of things.  But they might find themselves reacting differently as situations change…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

They might eventually.  Triston Casas isnt dead…

He should have been a DH in '25. After his injury, he's definitely a DH going forward. Probably worse than Alonso over there now. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Pokeaxed? 

 Poleaxe

Oxford def: verb

 

1. hit, kill, or knock down with or as if with a poleaxe.

[notin]

Just now, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

 

Oxford def: verb

 

1. hit, kill, or knock down with or as if with a poleaxe.

I’ve just never heard that word used in a baseball context before.    Can you also do one with “trebucheted”?

[notin]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He should have been a DH in '25. After his injury, he's definitely a DH going forward. Probably worse than Alonso over there now. 

He did also just turn 26.  His injuries might not linger like they can on a 35 year old..

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, notin said:

I’ve just never heard that word used in a baseball context before.    Can you also do one with “trebucheted”?

I'd hesitate to use it for a batter because it seems more apt for a pitcher hurling a projectile. 

I'd also hesitate to use it because I'd rather grind down on my syllables than end them with a "Shea" sound (nothing against the French, but everything against the Mets).

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

#2 applies to the Sox. They don't have a 1B aside from Contreras. 

Fair point.  But the point Im trying to make is the reason why when we acquired Contreras , we considered him a first baseman.  Why he didnt catch last year.  My only point is this is a lot because of Contreras age.  There are other reasons too.  But a 28 yr old Contreras is catching somewhere in MLB, and doing it at an all start level.  This started with people calling me crazy for saying Contreras has aged significantly.  You didnt disagree, you implied that sure Contreras is further aged than people 3 yrs younger that never had to catch, sure - but his positional fit and ST contract make you thankful we got him over 5 yrs of Alonoso. A comment I didnt see an issue with.

Look, if everyone is telling me (and I dont mean to group all of your positions together) but if people are telling me that Im wrong that Contreras has aged too much to catch.....This is great news.  If we're in a game 7, I can see Narvaez being the odd man out.  Not saying its likely or will happen because I dont know who will be healthy at that point in time, but I think versatility and depth are good and if Contreras can still catch thats great news. 

I do believe that if he can catch, he should (at least sometimes)

[Michigan Adam2]

On 2/15/2026 at 8:46 PM, FredLynn said:

Again-you tried to unilaterally set the parameters of the wager you proposed without my consent. Of course I didn’t buy that scam. Instead I made a counteroffer without your consent. Fairies fair, right?

Who is the “top 10 3rd baseman “ we signed and by what measure is he “top 10”? I don’t see such a player on the roster-and the truth is, we didn’t sign what we needed to sign to compete for a ring. 
Do you think the team as currently constructed is a serious competitor for a ring this year?

Yes because we still have more than enough ammunition to go get someone when we define what/where we need them, and other teams are more ready to give up or fill their glaring hole.  In season pick ups and/ or the ammunition to get them is part of our current status. 

[drewski6]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Do we know he isn’t catching part time yet?  If Casas comes back and Narvaez struggles or gets hurt, maybe we see Willson play catcher.  But it’s hard to say he aged out of the position in St. Louis when they had plenty of depth at catcher and none at 1b…

I thought I had read it isnt in the plans at all right now, but that doesnt mean it wont be in the plans should Narvaez get hurt or struggle.   

[Michigan Adam2]

14 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They said Contreras isn't catching. 

They also said Devers was their third basement. Situations change. Versatility is a positive team friendly trait. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, notin said:

He did also just turn 26.  His injuries might not linger like they can on a 35 year old..

It's worse on a 26 year old (Gen Z). If he was a Millenial, he'd already be downtrodden enough to suck it up and push through. Now, if he was 46, he would have still been old enough to drink water from the garden hose, have his parents pump leaded gas and get his brain scrambled by a metal merry-go-round. At that point, you should just treat him the way Papi treats a dugout phone. 

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'd hesitate to use it for a batter because it seems more apt for a pitcher hurling a projectile. 

I'd also hesitate to use it because I'd rather grind down on my syllables than end them with a "Shea" sound (nothing against the French, but everything against the Mets).

I trust you realize that our 2025 MVP's name ends with a "shea" sound?