How to fix 2026 Red Sox?

[UtahSox]

thought it might be time for a thread specifically designed for ways to fix this 2026 roster or ideas or thoughts.

I keep coming back to the same thing with the Boston Red Sox — the roster construction. The exact concerns I had back in November, December, January… they’re all still here.

1- Too much swing-and-miss.

2- Too much inconsistency. Taking balls in hitters counts, taking first pitch, strikes right down the middle. Then chasing late in at bat.

3-And now it feels like it’s snowballing into pressing — everyone trying to do a little too much instead of just taking good at-bats.

Honestly, I’m at a loss. I don’t know what the fix is. So here’s the question: if you are Craig Breslow, what do you do at this point?

Do you just let this ride for the rest of the year?

Do you shake up the coaching staff? If so who would you fire? and who would be your replacement?

Do you start making trades? Any ideas how to make this lineup better? 

One thing I’ve really noticed — when there’s no pressure, when we are up big, or way behind, the bats suddenly come alive. It’s like guys can finally breathe and just hit. But in real moments? It feels Pressed every single at-bat.

And the numbers manifest this:

• 82 runs scored — tied for 2nd fewest in MLB

• 13 home runs — dead last We’re tied with the Giants, but they play in one of the toughest HR parks in baseball, while we play at Fenway. Dodgers have hit over 3x as many HR’s. Triple the Red Sox (42)

• Next lowest team has 17 ( big gap) 

That’s what makes it even more frustrating. So we don’t have big fly ability and the odds of stringing together hits at same time in order to drive in runs feels like a long shot at best. 

It also feels like when the pitching shows up, the offense disappears — and a lot of the runs we have scored feel like garbage-time runs that don’t impact the game. I just don’t see a clear fix right now.

[moonslav59]

I'd start by moving Mayer to SS and Story to 2B. 

I'd move Anthony to 5th or 6th and try someone else at the 1 slot (not Duran.) 

I'd play Wong more than Narvaez, which might already be happening.

Forget making a major trade, now. Those are too rare to even think about.

I doubt Gasper, Cheng or Delay, 3 guys off to nice starts with Woo, would add any spark to the line-up, but maybe try one?

I guess we need to let it ride.

I'm the closest I've ever been on the idea of replacing Cora as the manager. (Note: I did not say fire him, as I think they might promote him and add yet one more higher up to the already over-loaded mix of talking heads.)

I'd try shaking the line-up up. Call Morgan Magic for some ideas.

[Duran Is The Man]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd start by moving Mayer to SS and Story to 2B. 

I'd move Anthony to 5th or 6th and try someone else at the 1 slot (not Duran.) 

I'd play Wong more than Narvaez, which might already be happening.

Forget making a major trade, now. Those are too rare to even think about.

I doubt Gasper, Cheng or Delay, 3 guys off to nice starts with Woo, would add any spark to the line-up, but maybe try one?

I guess we need to let it ride.

I'm the closest I've ever been on the idea of replacing Cora as the manager. (Note: I did not say fire him, as I think they might promote him and add yet one more higher up to the already over-loaded mix of talking heads.)

I'd try shaking the line-up up. Call Morgan Magic for some ideas.

why would Cora get promoted? only the Red Sox would promote a guy who absolutely sucks at his job. 😂

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

why would Cora get promoted? only the Red Sox would promote a guy who absolutely sucks at his job. 😂

There has long been talk of promoting him to upper management.

Managing on the field is a different job than being in upper management,

I'm not saying I want him promoted- just that he might be.

[mvp 78]

Cheng is hitting .154 with no XBH after hitting for the cycle. His OPS is going to slowly head back towards 725. There's no help coming from him. I don't think there's anyone at AAA that can really provide an offensive spark. They are more "in case of emergency" types.

The two worst batters combining whiff and chase are Story and Duran. I don't know how you go about fixing Duran if he's not getting fulltime at bats. Story is what he is. There really isn't an inhouse replacement for him even if you move him to 2b. 

Mayer and Anthony have also started off the season slowly. Mayer is to be expected. Anthony may just need a different slot in the lineup. 

If there was one thing going wrong with the team, it'd be an easy fix. Right now: Crochet is less effective, Gray is out, Bello is his bad version, the bullpen is very weak, Narvaez can't hit fastballs, Story can't do anything, Mayer can't hit, Anthony can't hit or throw, Durbin can't get balls beyond the IF, Duran can't hit and IKF is IKF. 

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cheng is hitting .154 with no XBH after hitting for the cycle. His OPS is going to slowly head back towards 725. There's no help coming from him. I don't think there's anyone at AAA that can really provide an offensive spark. They are more "in case of emergency" types.

The two worst batters combining whiff and chase are Story and Duran. I don't know how you go about fixing Duran if he's not getting fulltime at bats. Story is what he is. There really isn't an inhouse replacement for him even if you move him to 2b. 

Mayer and Anthony have also started off the season slowly. Mayer is to be expected. Anthony may just need a different slot in the lineup. 

If there was one thing going wrong with the team, it'd be an easy fix. Right now: Crochet is less effective, Gray is out, Bello is his bad version, the bullpen is very weak, Narvaez can't hit fastballs, Story can't do anything, Mayer can't hit, Anthony can't hit or throw, Durbin can't get balls beyond the IF, Duran can't hit and IKF is IKF. 

So, let it ride? since there are no listed changes by you.

[mvp 78]

40 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, let it ride? since there are no listed changes by you.

1. Trade Duran for prospects.

2. Call up Arias to BOS. 

3. Story to split DH with Masa.

4. Trade IKF. 

5. Call up Nate Eaton.

6. DFA Watson.

7. Call up Tayron Guerrero.

8. Tolle in the rotation while Gray is on IL. 

9. Tolle to the pen when Gray comes off IL. 

10. Kelly demoted to AAA. 

Lineup:

Rafaela

Contreras

Anthony

Abreu

Story/Masa

Mayer

Durbin

Wong/Narvaez

Arias

[mvp 78]

11. Fire Pete Fatse

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1. Trade Duran for prospects.

2. Call up Arias to BOS. 

3. Story to split DH with Masa.

4. Trade IKF. 

5. Call up Nate Eaton.

6. DFA Watson.

7. Call up Tayron Guerrero.

8. Tolle in the rotation while Gray is on IL. 

9. Tolle to the pen when Gray comes off IL. 

10. Kelly demoted to AAA. 

Lineup:

Rafaela

Contreras

Anthony

Abreu

Story/Masa

Mayer

Durbin

Wong/Narvaez

Arias

I guess you just needed some prodding.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I guess you just needed some prodding.

But the Sox would never do those moves @mvp 78!

[moonslav59]

43 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

But the Sox would never do those moves .

 

I fully realize over 95% of my suggestions have zero chance or even minor Brez consideration.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I fully realize over 95% of my suggestions have zero chance or even minor Brez consideration.

But that's why it was "unrealistic." It's the same way people said over and over that trading Masa last offseason was unrealistic because Henry wouldn't eat that much salary. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

 

9. Tolle to the pen when Gray comes off IL. 

 

So this a bad idea a week ago why?

Next week you’ll be advocating for Cheng…

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

But the Sox would never do those moves @mvp 78!

Actually number 8 - calling up Tolle - has been mentioned by multiple sources, some of whom are reliable….

[notin]

30 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I fully realize over 95% of my suggestions have zero chance or even minor Brez consideration.

Oh the Sox rarely do mine.  But a shockingly high percentage reach the highest levels of the Rumor Mill ..

[Old Red]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd start by moving Mayer to SS and Story to 2B. 

I'd move Anthony to 5th or 6th and try someone else at the 1 slot (not Duran.) 

I'd play Wong more than Narvaez, which might already be happening.

Forget making a major trade, now. Those are too rare to even think about.

I doubt Gasper, Cheng or Delay, 3 guys off to nice starts with Woo, would add any spark to the line-up, but maybe try one?

I guess we need to let it ride.

I'm the closest I've ever been on the idea of replacing Cora as the manager. (Note: I did not say fire him, as I think they might promote him and add yet one more higher up to the already over-loaded mix of talking heads.)

I'd try shaking the line-up up. Call Morgan Magic for some ideas.

Mayer is still a part time player, and a SUSPECT hitter, so NO on 1.

Duran goes to leadoff, and plays every day. little Anthony gets dropped down even  lower.

[Old Red]

38 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I fully realize over 95% of my suggestions have zero chance or even minor Brez consideration.

With your track record I would say 99.9%.

[Duran Is The Man]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

11. Fire Pete Fatse

that should be #1

[moonslav59]

17 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Mayer is still a part time player, and a SUSPECT hitter, so NO on 1.

Mayer is a better defender than Story at SS and maybe even at bat, for now.

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Duran goes to leadoff, and plays every day. 

So, promote the biggest and longest slump bat to #1. Brilliant idea, as always.

OBP for season: 

.361 Anthony

.240 Duran

Last 2 weeks:

.314 Anthony

.167 Duran

The gap is widening, even as Anthony struggles.

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, Old Red said:

With your track record I would say 99.9%.

At least I present my opinions instead of wishy washy statements that you twist to claim you were right, no matter what happens.

At least I admit I'm wrong. (It was good to see you do it the other day for the first time ever.)

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Mayer is a better defender than Story at SS and maybe even at bat, for now.

That doesn’t sway Cora that Mayer may have a better arm, and glove. As for the bats Story does have 17 RBI to Mayer’s 3, you know something that actually shows up on the scoreboard, and Story is still a FT player, and Mayer still is not.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

That doesn’t sway Cora that Mayer may have a better arm, and glove. As for the bats Story does have 17 RBI to Mayer’s 3, you know something that actually shows up on the scoreboard, and Story is still a FT player, and Mayer still is not.

I'm not for benching Story, so the bat comps are pointless.

Try to keep up.

[Kimmi]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

11. Fire Pete Fatse

I'm not usually one who pushes for firing coaches/managers when a team is struggling, but when a team is performing as poorly as the Red Sox currently are, I think it's fair to call into question the coaching and managing. 

There is something inherently wrong with our hitting philosophy.  It's not poor roster construction.  We don't need to hit homeruns, necessarily, but we do need to be able to make contact and put the ball in play.

I am also finding myself questioning Cora's effectiveness in the clubhouse, which, if you know me, you know goes against my typical support and love of Cora. 

This team has me in a funk that I don't like being in.

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, promote the biggest and longest slump bat to #1. Brilliant idea, as always.

OBP for season: 

.361 Anthony

.240 Duran

Last 2 weeks:

.314 Anthony

.167 Duran

The gap is widening, even as Anthony struggles.

Anthony's OPS would go even higher by not being the first batter of the game (a skill he's horrible at). 

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, promote the biggest and longest slump bat to #1. Brilliant idea, as always.

OBP for season: 

.361 Anthony

.240 Duran

Last 2 weeks:

.314 Anthony

.167 Duran

The gap is widening, even as Anthony struggles.

As I’ve said before Duran has been in, and out of the lineup, which most likely makes it harder to get going. I’m not a big Duran fan, but he’s shown he’s better than how he looks so far.

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, Old Red said:

That doesn’t sway Cora that Mayer may have a better arm, and glove. As for the bats Story does have 17 RBI to Mayer’s 3, you know something that actually shows up on the scoreboard, and Story is still a FT player, and Mayer still is not.

Story also has the worst clutch score on the team, doing all the damage when the Sox are either ahead or the game is out of reach. 🫠

[Old Red]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Anthony's OPS would go even higher by not being the first batter of the game (a skill he's horrible at). 

He would have more HR, and RBI?

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I'm not usually one who pushes for firing coaches/managers when a team is struggling, but when a team is performing as poorly as the Red Sox currently are, I think it's fair to call into question the coaching and managing. 

There is something inherently wrong with our hitting philosophy.  It's not poor roster construction.  We don't need to hit homeruns, necessarily, but we do need to be able to make contact and put the ball in play.

I am also finding myself questioning Cora's effectiveness in the clubhouse, which, if you know me, you know goes against my typical support and love of Cora. 

This team has me in a funk that I don't like being in.

There's a funk and it's much easier to change out a few coaches than it is a few MLB players. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, Old Red said:

He would have more HR, and RBI?

He would definitely have more RBI hitting 3rd.