How to fix 2026 Red Sox?

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Ben - 2012-15

DD - 2016-19

Bloom - 2020-23

Breslow - 2024-? 

My guess is Breslow gets another offseason to fix his mess. Pulling the plug after 3 years would be a nasty bit of business for Henry unless he has an internal candidate. 

I think a lot depends upon how the rest of this season turns out.

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Give me a 3-5 WAR me first guy over who they have put on the field so far. That last guy received his share of unfair criticisms and still does.

Roman was a 3 bWAR guy last year.  Only 2.7 fWAR, but, hey. 71 games, right?

The last guy was more about himself than his team. 

[UtahSox]

11 minutes ago, notin said:

Roman, Arias, Witherspoon and Valera for Woods?  Or just the latter three?

Either way, one side isn’t making that trade…

No Roman…… RA19 Red Sox for life!

[notin]

3 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I think a lot depends upon how the rest of this season turns out.

As well as the next two, if that obvious pattern stays intact…

[Old Red]

21 minutes ago, iortiz said:

Most teams have at the very least an A/A+ player at offense, mostly big market teams. Who is our A/A+ player? Who?

Contreras comes to mind but he’s nothing but a solid B in my book. Who else? And I’m not talking about potential delusional BS. 

As I heard on a talk show this morning that Con Man is a good player, and would be a good complimentary piece to a power bat, but not someone who can carry a club for weeks at a time.

[notin]

6 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Way to take 1 line out of my ramblings and dissect it……… HOW HAS HIS AAA ERA  HELPED THE BOSTON REDSOX???
 

If you like a brief sysnopsis of your post, I would say it’s that you claim it’s not about spending as much money as possible, but from there on it was straight up about spending as much money as possible.  Especially the part where you ask why keep Bello, Mayer, Tolle types if you think they are not going to be All Stars.  The reason is - you need cheaper talent to be able to afford All Stars.  Look at the Mets.  They have the expensive All Star part down quite well.  And no good talent surrounding it…

[iortiz]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

As I heard on a talk show this morning that Con Man is a good player, and would be a good complimentary piece to a power bat, but not someone who can carry a club for weeks at a time.

Yeah, we are that f***ed.

[notin]

35 minutes ago, iortiz said:

Most teams have at the very least an A/A+ player at offense, mostly big market teams. Who is our A/A+ player? Who?

Contreras comes to mind but he’s nothing but a solid B in my book. Who else? And I’m not talking about potential delusional BS. 

Is Bregman an A/A+ player?  Should I say, is he still one? He certainly was one a few years ago, and he’s still good.  If he isn’t one, who is on the Cubs?

The Phillies have three in Harper, Schwarber and Turner.  They’re also the worst offense in MLB to date.

You might grade Contreras higher than I would, but he is giving you reason to right now…

 

[mvp 78]

FanGraphs has a good article on the Sox's woes today.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/crochets-struggles-are-just-the-start-of-bostons-problems/

Some highlights:

Crochet’s average four-seam fastball velocity is down 0.5 mph, and he’s reduced his use of the pitch in favor of his sinker. But even more noticeable is his change in arm angle, which was as high as 56 degrees in 2021, when he was a full-time reliever. It’s dropped from an average of 35 degrees last year to 31, and while it’s cost him less than an inch of movement in any plane with regards to any of his offerings, I wonder if it’s cost him deception as well. Our two pitch modeling systems see declines in both his stuff and command/location...

This is Gray’s fourth trip to the IL since the start of 2022 due to a right hamstring strain. Fortunately in the other three (two in 2022, one in ’24), he averaged just 17 days on the sidelines, and this sounds similar. “I threw that last 3-2 pitch, and I felt a grab in my right hamstring,” Gray said afterwards. “It’s something that I have felt before. In the moment, I kind of knew what it was. I knew I needed to at least throw a warm-up pitch before I felt comfortable continuing.”

 In games where their starter has pitched at least six innings, the Red Sox are 8-0, but in anything shorter, they’re now 1-15, with Gray’s abbreviated start the only one they’ve won. League-wide, teams are 168-79 (a .680 winning percentage) when a starter goes six, and 200-289 (.409) when falling short.

The short starts have taxed a bullpen that was supposed to be among the best... but has instead been rather shaky. Closer Aroldis Chapman and top setup man Garrett Whitlock have been fine, but their other higher-leverage righties, Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly, have scuffled. The unit’s 3.56 ERA ranks a respectable 10th in the majors, but they’re 24th in FIP (4.60) and WAR (-0.1), 25th in home run rate (1.35 per nine), and 24th in xERA (4.60). Regarding that last stat, in very small samples somehow nine of the 13 relievers they’ve used have double-digit barrel rates, with Chapman, Weissert and Whitlock all at 13.6% or above. While they strike out enough hitters to help offset that, not all of Boston’s other relievers do.

For now it will suffice to say that that the team is hitting a combined .226/.310/.333, ranking dead last in the majors in slugging percentage — how does a team playing in Fenway Park even do that? — and 28th in wRC+ (81). 

In light of those struggles, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s major roster construction decisions — trading Rafael Devers last year, letting Alex Bregman depart as a free agent and replacing him with the much less powerful Durbin, holding onto the glut of outfielders instead of using the surplus to upgrade the lineup elsewhere — don’t look any better. But starting pitching was supposed to be this team’s strength, and instead it’s just another reason the Red Sox are running last.

[mvp 78]

Just now, notin said:

Is Bregman an A/A+ player?  Should I say, is he still one? He certainly was one a few years ago, and he’s still good.  If he isn’t one, who is on the Cubs?

The Phillies have three in Harper, Schwarber and Turner.  They’re also the worst offense in MLB to date.

You might grade Contreras higher than I would, but he is giving you reason to right now…

 

DD is lamenting the lack of a cleanup hitter. 

[notin]

16 minutes ago, Old Red said:

As I heard on a talk show this morning that Con Man is a good player, and would be a good complimentary piece to a power bat, but not someone who can carry a club for weeks at a time.

I’m ok with that assessment.  If you have him batting 2-3,it’s not good.  But in the 5-6 range? Ideal.  Having him bat fourth just raises questions about your lineup. Especially given the current usage of the 4th spot around MLB…

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Way to take 1 line out of my ramblings and dissect it………
 

You're welcome. 

[notin]

18 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

DD is lamenting the lack of a cleanup hitter. 

Probably should have thought of that before he dropped $67mill on a journeyman reliever and a middle-aged catcher.  And then his thrice-released cleanup hitter flopped?

He has recently summoned a human-Kodiak Bear hybrid named Felix Reyes who might satiate his bloodlust for offense for a bit…

[notin]

25 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

FanGraphs has a good article on the Sox's woes today.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/crochets-struggles-are-just-the-start-of-bostons-problems/

Some highlights:

Crochet’s average four-seam fastball velocity is down 0.5 mph, and he’s reduced his use of the pitch in favor of his sinker. But even more noticeable is his change in arm angle, which was as high as 56 degrees in 2021, when he was a full-time reliever. It’s dropped from an average of 35 degrees last year to 31, and while it’s cost him less than an inch of movement in any plane with regards to any of his offerings, I wonder if it’s cost him deception as well. Our two pitch modeling systems see declines in both his stuff and command/location...

This is Gray’s fourth trip to the IL since the start of 2022 due to a right hamstring strain. Fortunately in the other three (two in 2022, one in ’24), he averaged just 17 days on the sidelines, and this sounds similar. “I threw that last 3-2 pitch, and I felt a grab in my right hamstring,” Gray said afterwards. “It’s something that I have felt before. In the moment, I kind of knew what it was. I knew I needed to at least throw a warm-up pitch before I felt comfortable continuing.”

 In games where their starter has pitched at least six innings, the Red Sox are 8-0, but in anything shorter, they’re now 1-15, with Gray’s abbreviated start the only one they’ve won. League-wide, teams are 168-79 (a .680 winning percentage) when a starter goes six, and 200-289 (.409) when falling short.

The short starts have taxed a bullpen that was supposed to be among the best... but has instead been rather shaky. Closer Aroldis Chapman and top setup man Garrett Whitlock have been fine, but their other higher-leverage righties, Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly, have scuffled. The unit’s 3.56 ERA ranks a respectable 10th in the majors, but they’re 24th in FIP (4.60) and WAR (-0.1), 25th in home run rate (1.35 per nine), and 24th in xERA (4.60). Regarding that last stat, in very small samples somehow nine of the 13 relievers they’ve used have double-digit barrel rates, with Chapman, Weissert and Whitlock all at 13.6% or above. While they strike out enough hitters to help offset that, not all of Boston’s other relievers do.

For now it will suffice to say that that the team is hitting a combined .226/.310/.333, ranking dead last in the majors in slugging percentage — how does a team playing in Fenway Park even do that? — and 28th in wRC+ (81). 

In light of those struggles, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s major roster construction decisions — trading Rafael Devers last year, letting Alex Bregman depart as a free agent and replacing him with the much less powerful Durbin, holding onto the glut of outfielders instead of using the surplus to upgrade the lineup elsewhere — don’t look any better. But starting pitching was supposed to be this team’s strength, and instead it’s just another reason the Red Sox are running last.

The first thing that leaps out at me is - Breslow did definitely try to cleanup his outfield glut.  Duran’s name was thrown around all off-season.  But I don’t recall any decent offers for him.  And trading Duran for the sake of trading Duran felt like a bad idea…

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

The first thing that leaps out at me is - Breslow did definitely try to cleanup his outfield glut.  Duran’s name was thrown around all off-season.  But I don’t recall any decent offers for him.  And trading Duran for the sake of trading Duran felt like a bad idea…

Throwing a name around isn't really trying. 

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

At least everyday vs righties.

I was just thinking about that.  Most teams don't have a L/L platoon, bit given the numbers, I think I can make a case for Duran taking every AB v righties and Yoshida taking every AB against lefties.  Part of the issue is that e currently have no righties but Ceddanne that have hit lefties.

The numbers are too small to bother with, but 4 of our top 5 OPS against lefties, are lefty hitters.  That makes any platoon problematic.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Arias, Witherspoon + young pitcher (Valera type). I think both teams should accept that deal. 

I love Wood's swing, but he has huge swing-and-miss issues.  He spent the last three months of 2025 hitting almost nothing.  I wouldn't buy high based on a 17-game hot streak.

[notin]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Throwing a name around isn't really trying. 

I am assuming more details were exchanged in actual conversations…

[notin]

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I love Wood's swing, but he has huge swing-and-miss issues.  He spent the last three months of 2025 hitting almost nothing.  I wouldn't buy high based on a 17-game hot streak.

Wood is basically Roman Anthony.  But with less plate discipline…

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Wood is basically Roman Anthony.  But with less plate discipline…

Wood has reached his power potential. Roman Anthony may never get there. 

[Old Red]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Throwing a name around isn't really trying. 

Lots of names were thrown around, but how many of those names were actually talked about? Some believe anything that gets thrown out there as the gospel when probably more than a few if any are not.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Bichette/ Baty/ Vientos? Anyone of those 3 I think both teams could use some changes. 

Tong + Baty for Duran.

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, notin said:

If you like a brief sysnopsis of your post, I would say it’s that you claim it’s not about spending as much money as possible, but from there on it was straight up about spending as much money as possible.  Especially the part where you ask why keep Bello, Mayer, Tolle types if you think they are not going to be All Stars.  The reason is - you need cheaper talent to be able to afford All Stars.  Look at the Mets.  They have the expensive All Star part down quite well.  And no good talent surrounding it…just spending differently:

Way off:

signing Bregman 9m more AAV than R Suarez

trading Bello, K Campbell + a young arm for Alcantara 2m more AAV payroll

saving by not signing IKF (6m) 

trading Tolle/ Mayer/ Duran for Marte 5m more AAV. 

10m more in AAV would make us look much more offensive. 

so like I said it’s the over value of homegrown guys like Mayer/ Campbell/ Tolle etc. more than payroll. 

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, UtahSox said:

Way off:

signing Bregman 9m more AAV than R Suarez

trading Bello, K Campbell + a young arm for Alcantara 2m more AAV payroll

saving by not signing IKF (6m) 

trading Tolle/ Mayer/ Duran for Marte 5m more AAV. 

10m more in AAV would make us look much more offensive. 

so like I said it’s the over value of homegrown guys like Mayer/ Campbell/ Tolle etc. more than payroll. 

 

So you think Miami goes for that deal despite turning down better offers involving minimum wage prospects?

I’m sure Campbell and especially Bello are tradable, but not so sure for Alcantara.  
 

They probably should have at least dealt Duran first and INF that could hit.  That was really all they needed to do.  Or for Dalton Rushing, which made sense except for their whole “Kyle Tucker Plan.”
 

Well, that and add a RP.  And move Story to 2b..

[Hitch]

Maybe we should bring in forum favourite, Last Place Dave to fix it.

 

[illinoisredsox]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

DD is lamenting the lack of a cleanup hitter. 

But he’ll go out and get one and it probably won’t take too long.   Breslow would sit around analyzing his spreadsheet and all of a sudden game 162 has been played.

[JoeBrady]

3 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

But he’ll go out and get one and it probably won’t take too long.   Breslow would sit around analyzing his spreadsheet and all of a sudden game 162 has been played.

The Phillies are suffering in every possible way.  But Castellanos and Walker are both gone, so maybe better times are a'coming.

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

The Phillies are suffering in every possible way.  But Castellanos and Walker are both gone, so maybe better times are a'coming.

Maybe...maybe not...

AAV

$42M x 2 Wheeler (36 years old)

$30M x 5 Nola (33)

$30M x 5 Schwarber (33)

$27M x 8 Turner (33)

$27M x 5 ('27-'31) Luzardo (29)

$25M x 6 Harper (33)

(They have 6 other players between $9 & 18M, including 35 year old Realmuto.)

 

[UtahSox]

2 hours ago, notin said:

So you think Miami goes for that deal despite turning down better offers involving minimum wage prospects?

I’m sure Campbell and especially Bello are tradable, but not so sure for Alcantara.  
 

They probably should have at least dealt Duran first and INF that could hit.  That was really all they needed to do.  Or for Dalton Rushing, which made sense except for their whole “Kyle Tucker Plan.”
 

Well, that and add a RP.  And move Story to 2b..

YES I think the RedSox had the prospects to get Alcantara without using Tolle or Early in the package. Yes 100% I believe they did.

[a700hitter]

Step 1: Get rid of Breslow and get a real GM.