How to fix 2026 Red Sox?

[Duran Is The Man]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Not when he had Durbin batting 2nd for 5 straight games?

i agree, Cora is a f***ing idiot.

[bkzwhitestrican]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yes, have you seen the NESN broadcast this year? 

Fortunately I don't get that station in NYC.

Watching these two games, I assume your lack of offense has been the biggest issue this year. Looking at your lineup, you don't have any star hitter but I see four players who will probably end up above average [comfortably above 100 wrc] (Anthony, Duran, Abreu, Contreras), three who should be around average (Story, Yoshida, Rafaela), and three youngsters who are a bit of an unknown at this point (Narvaez, Mayer, Durbin). I'm certainly grateful for your early hitting struggles but I don't foresee this group hitting this poorly forever. My guess is that the Sox finish somewhere between 10-15th offensively by end of the year. 

[drewski6]

12 hours ago, notin said:

Surprised no one mentioned it, but maybe the Sox should try to kick start this offense by calling up their very own Spring Training Hero, your friend and mine, the one and only Braiden Ward!

(mild applause break)

I mean you joke, but...

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Duran leads the team in base runners scored % and productive outs %. It doesn't look great, but he'll come around if they just play him everyday.

At least everyday vs righties.

[moonslav59]

27 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's only hit 5th once. He did bat 2nd in 5 straight games. 

I edited it.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

No matter how you slice it, and dice it little Anthony has been a major disappointment so far from what posters on here, and fans expected both with the bat, and in the field. 

I expected a sophmore slump but didnt know it would come this early in the season and be this bad.  I didnt mind Anthony in the lineup , he did earn his spot....BUt I hated how much he was expected to carry.  You work in your "suspects", you dont live/die by them.  Like in basketball how rookies and sophmores typically come off the bench or in hockey when they play on third lines. Id even be fine with RA at leadoff but we needed more proven good hitters so when the young kids show growing pains or the vet streaky hitters get streaky (story, cedanne) - you have at least 1 or 2 consistently very talented hitters.

This team is not built top down, and thats a problem. Top down = get your stars in place then build around them.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I mean you joke, but...

What would a 778 OPS (10 singles, 0 XBH, 278 SLG) LHB OFer do for this team? 

[UtahSox]

56 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Trevor Story

Sox Ahead - 1154 OPS, 11 RBI

Sox Behind - 456 OPS, 3 RBI

Sox Tied - 225 OPS, 3 RBI

Game within 1 Run - 286 OPS, 8 RBI

Late and Close - 296 OPS, 1 RBI

High Leverage - 321 OPS, 5 RBI

Med Leverage - 231 OPS, 5 RBI

Low Leverage - 834 OPS, 7 RBI

Great post I’ve been saying that from the gut, no data to back it up. 

[FredLynn]

23 hours ago, UtahSox said:

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.

There is no fix for these bums, not this year anyway. I thought we would finish fourth in the ALE. Now I think that is overly optimistic. We are in last place and I think there is a good chance we will end up there. The only solution to this is to clean house from the owner on down. Henry has to sell the team and everyone now in management has to be fired.

[Sthpaw777]

I would have had Yoshida leading off with a 400 obp over a week ago. Same with Contreras and abreu before they started cooling off. Cora stuck with cold bats too long. If I’m Breslow? I quit because I’m in over my head. Stick with pitching and lead that dept. ..Realistically though, we NEED a legit big bat, but the boss is a cheap ass.  Bres put together a bunch of guys with 240-270 BAs, which can get you a lot of streaky hitters. Nobody to really fear with all the free swinging going on too. Defense hasn’t been much better and what was supposed to be a dominant starting staff has been mediocre. It’s still early but this team now has to go about 600 the rest of the way to make last years record. I don’t see that with this group and Cora leading this team. I’m not optimistic.

 

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Great post I’ve been saying that from the gut, no data to back it up. 

Trevor Story is the ultimate stat padder. 

But why would you say this 17 RBI guy is bad? 

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

There is no fix for these bums, not this year anyway. I thought we would finish fourth in the ALE. Now I think that is overly optimistic. We are in last place and I think there is a good chance we will end up there. The only solution to this is to clean house from the owner on down. Henry has to sell the team and everyone now in management has to be fired.

This team doesn't do wholesale rebuilds or firings. FSG won't sell. 

[Jean-Sébastien Blouin]

He has six possibilities to revive this team; which one seems the most realistic to you? Fire Cora, fire Breslow, a trade involving a big player for something equally big, bring in a minor league player who can change the offense, fire the hitting coach, or fire the pitching coach. Which situation do you think could happen and which could revive this team?

[mvp 78]

They have to get rid of somebody in the OF rotation. It just doesn't work to have 5 starters unless you move Rafaela to 2b. Rotating these guys has impacted how they've played on the field. It's not as simple as what was posted in the offseason "Cora will figure it out" because we've all seen how it's looked so far. It's also not "they have too many great players." They don't have the right roster to do this mix and match nonsense. Duran isn't a guy that will do well if he's sitting. Mayer needs to learn on the job and won't learn by sitting. 

If they don't trade anyone, they need to move Rafaela to 2b and bench Story/Durbin. 

[UtahSox]

Update we are now dead F***ing last in HR’s… 13 in 24 games….

RS are pacing to hit 87.5HR’s that would be the lowest since 2001…… historically bad. 
 2014-2025 no team has hit less than 109 in a season. 
 

 Many on here were concerned about lack of home run power. Durbin has been a disaster, we need to trade for power….  James wood and Isaac Paredes? 

[notin]

37 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

What would a 778 OPS (10 singles, 0 XBH, 278 SLG) LHB OFer do for this team? 

Get on base (.500 OBP), and steal bases, which is how teams without power score runs?

Also he has INF experience…

[FredLynn]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

This team doesn't do wholesale rebuilds or firings. FSG won't sell. 

And that is why we suck and have not been competitive for many years now and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. We will not win another ring until Henry sells the team.

 

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

. 

 

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They have to get rid of somebody in the OF rotation. It just doesn't work to have 5 starters unless you move Rafaela to 2b. Rotating these guys has impacted how they've played on the field. It's not as simple as what was posted in the offseason "Cora will figure it out" because we've all seen how it's looked so far. It's also not "they have too many great players." They don't have the right roster to do this mix and match nonsense. Duran isn't a guy that will do well if he's sitting. Mayer needs to learn on the job and won't learn by sitting. 

If they don't trade anyone, they need to move Rafaela to 2b and bench Story/Durbin. 

I agree 100%. RAF Man to 2B might be a solution, but not an ideal one. Of the 3 between Story, Mayer, and Durbin none have established himself with the bat, but I don’t see Cora benching Story. At least now.

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

People that legitimately thought he'd start getting MVP votes in year 2 need to relax with their fandom. The GB issues have been going on since he was at Salem. I don't really care about his k rate since he also has a high bb rate. 

If you’re saying all the hype, and expectations that was thrown Anthony’s way was to soon before he established himself, which many did here, there, and everywhere then I agree.

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Update we are now dead F***ing last in HR’s… 13 in 24 games….

RS are pacing to hit 87.5HR’s that would be the lowest since 2001…… historically bad. 
 2014-2025 no team has hit less than 109 in a season. 
 

 Many on here were concerned about lack of home run power. Durbin has been a disaster, we need to trade for power….  James wood and Isaac Paredes? 

Roman and what for James Wood? 

[notin]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

This team doesn't do wholesale rebuilds or firings. FSG won't sell. 

Anyone who says “blow it all up and start over” would be the first person complaining if that actually happened…

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree 100%. RAF Man to 2B might be a solution, but not an ideal one. Of the 3 between Story, Mayer, and Durbin none have established himself with the bat, but I don’t see Cora benching Story. At least now.

There isn't an ideal inhouse solution.

[UtahSox]

41 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

There is no fix for these bums, not this year anyway. I thought we would finish fourth in the ALE. Now I think that is overly optimistic. We are in last place and I think there is a good chance we will end up there. The only solution to this is to clean house from the owner on down. Henry has to sell the team and everyone now in management has to be fired.

I have to give you credit….. you were not overly optimistic about this team in January/ February. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If you’re saying all the hype, and expectations that was thrown Anthony’s way was to soon before he established himself, which many did here, there, and everywhere then I agree.

Making a 22 year old the face of the franchise (many people did this before he reached MLB) wasn't fair to him. This goes back to the FO/Ownership running with the Big Three and buying on the highest outcomes for them years ago.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

Anyone who says “blow it all up and start over” would be the first person complaining if that actually happened…

I think what STL is doing right now is the right move. Will it work out? IDK. You need to acquire the right prospects and supplement them with good FA additions. 

[UtahSox]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Roman and what for James Wood? 

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

[notin]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If you’re saying all the hype, and expectations that was thrown Anthony’s way was to soon before he established himself, which many did here, there, and everywhere then I agree.

He is actually hitting the ball well.  While he has 25 strikeouts, he also has 16 walks.  
 

He actually is showing every sign of living up to the hype except from people who measure leadoff hitters with RBI…

[UtahSox]

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

[notin]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

There isn't an ideal inhouse solution.

Braiden “the Kraken” Ward! 

It’s time to unleash …. The Kraken.

 

 

And send Durbin to a Worcester for a bit…

[FredLynn]

10 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

I have to give you credit….. you were not overly optimistic about this team in January/ February. 

We failed to sign significant talent to improve the team offensively. I knew we would have trouble scoring runs. We had trouble scoring at the end of last year so this was extremely predictable. The talent was out there and available for the right price, but Henry prioritized profit over winning despite his lies to the contrary. Pretty sad that its not even May and the season is effectively over.