Red Sox front office did something right. They got rid of Devers.

[Bellhorn04]

19 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I've been saying this for years. I live in the grey and once lived in Gray, Maine!

Gray is 9 and 1 with a 2.95 ERA.

But we have to trade him. 😝

[moonslav59]

19 hours ago, drewski6 said:

was it rainy?

Foggy ("smokey.")

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Gray is 9 and 1 with a 2.95 ERA.

But we have to trade him. 😝

We should probably trade before these guys get hurt.

[Bellhorn04]

I WAS 100% convinced that the issue was all Devers, but I'm rapidly coming around to the idea that Breslow is a terrible manager and that this could have been handled much better by someone else. 

[notin]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I WAS 100% convinced that the issue was all Devers, but I'm rapidly coming around to the idea that Breslow is a terrible manager and that this could have been handled much better by someone else. 

Cora repeatedly backed out of that squabble.  Probably no coincidence that 1) Cora wanted Bregman for 2b and not 3b despite Bregman being the reigning Gold Glove at 3b, and then 2) Cora refused to be the one to tell Devers he was moving to 1b (despite that technically being Cora’s job). 
 

Breslow clearly isn’t doing much right this year, but the fact that Cora TWICE stepped out of the way when it came to changing positions of MLB’s worst defensive third baseman might say a lot about Devers himself…

[Hugh2]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Gray is 9 and 1 with a 2.95 ERA.

But we have to trade him. 😝

I mean we don't HAVE to trade him......but it makes no sense to hold onto him.  

[illinoisredsox]

14 minutes ago, notin said:

Cora repeatedly backed out of that squabble.  Probably no coincidence that 1) Cora wanted Bregman for 2b and not 3b despite Bregman being the reigning Gold Glove at 3b, and then 2) Cora refused to be the one to tell Devers he was moving to 1b (despite that technically being Cora’s job). 
 

Breslow clearly isn’t doing much right this year, but the fact that Cora TWICE stepped out of the way when it came to changing positions of MLB’s worst defensive third baseman might say a lot about Devers himself…

It says something about Devers, but it also says Cora knew the player and how he probably would take things and that Breslow had no idea about Devers other than as a pawn on his spreadsheet.  Not a lot different than what he said to Whitlock and Story after Cora was fired.

There's a lot of blame for the divorce on both sides.

[drewski6]

42 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I WAS 100% convinced that the issue was all Devers, but I'm rapidly coming around to the idea that Breslow is a terrible manager and that this could have been handled much better by someone else. 

Its clearly both of them.  Devers is stubborn and entitled, Breslow has never met a situation he cant make worse.

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

It says something about Devers, but it also says Cora knew the player and how he probably would take things and that Breslow had no idea about Devers other than as a pawn on his spreadsheet.  Not a lot different than what he said to Whitlock and Story after Cora was fired.

There's a lot of blame for the divorce on both sides.

What Breslow said to Whitlock and Story after Cora was fired should get any "leader" fired.  

[notin]

55 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I mean we don't HAVE to trade him......but it makes no sense to hold onto him.  

Gray has a $30mill team option that he can opt out of if the Sox exercise it.  We really kinda have to move him..,

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

What Breslow said to Whitlock and Story after Cora was fired should get any "leader" fired.  

What did he say?

[JoeBrady]

On 6/24/2026 at 1:55 PM, Hugh2 said:

The thing about Devers is if he IS declining, why even take him back at a reduced salary? It's not like he has other tools to carry him if the bat falls off a bit E.G. defense, speed on the bases, leadership etc. etc. 

I would have been fine with them keeping him, but at this point I believe the ship has sailed. 

I get that entirely.  But the decline would have to have been baked into the salary reduction.  If he was a FA, how much would you pay?  Maybe $125M/5?  So SF would owe us $100M plus this year's salary.  Of course, that was last week's idea, and I can no longer contemplate any additions.

But I also wouldn't lock the door.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Gray is 9 and 1 with a 2.95 ERA.

But we have to trade him. 😝

How else are we going to get the #1 pick?  This could be a great, awful season for us.

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, JoeBrady said:

How else are we going to get the #1 pick?  This could be a great, awful season for us.

Could be. But how often have the Sox made a meaningful acquisition in a fire sale?

Seems like something else the franchise is not good at.

Rick Porcello would count, I guess, they sort of got him for Lester.  But they had to pay him a bundle, too.

[notin]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Could be. But how often have the Sox made a meaningful acquisition in a fire sale?

 

Wilyer Abreu

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, notin said:

What did he say?

You will not ask questions about why we fired Cora, you will shut your mouth and do what we pay you to do.

[notin]

59 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

You will not ask questions about why we fired Cora, you will shut your mouth and do what we pay you to do.

Hmmm.  

Exactly what I said to my daughter when she asked about Cora’s firing.  Except the part about paying her…

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

But how often have the Sox made a meaningful acquisition in a fire sale?

We are rarely in sell-mode, so it won't be a lot.  ERod was pretty big.  Pivetta was good.

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I WAS 100% convinced that the issue was all Devers, but I'm rapidly coming around to the idea that Breslow is a terrible manager and that this could have been handled much better by someone else. 

It should have been Cora talking to Devers, so the GM needing to talk to him was already messed up.

Even if your boss is a buffoon, you should do what's best for the team, even if you disagree it is best. 

It's not easy to assign %s of blame, but Devers, Cora & Brez all get a share. (I'd give a small dose to Bloom for apparently promising 3B fo Devers forevers.)

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I WAS 100% convinced that the issue was all Devers, but I'm rapidly coming around to the idea that Breslow is a terrible manager and that this could have been handled much better by someone else. 

IMHO, Devers had a little reason to be irked.  He had just gotten demoted from 3B to DH, and then we asked him to go back to the field.  In addition, he was unlikely have done well initially.  That said, he should've just taken his new assignment and not said a word.  At least, that's what I'd have done.

[mvp 78]

18 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

How else are we going to get the #1 pick?  This could be a great, awful season for us.

It's a lottery. As long as they don't get into the playoffs and don't spend too much, they can get it. 

[Hugh2]

18 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I get that entirely.  But the decline would have to have been baked into the salary reduction.  If he was a FA, how much would you pay?  Maybe $125M/5?  So SF would owe us $100M plus this year's salary.  Of course, that was last week's idea, and I can no longer contemplate any additions.

But I also wouldn't lock the door.

But just why? I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if Devers bounces back a little next year but lets say his decline is real.  He has a .729 OPS.  Let's say that's is real and that is who he is.  How is a .729 OPS guy who can't run, can't field, and is a pain in the butt teammate going to help this team?  

I think there may be a sense of nostalgia surrounding a player like Devers.  But again, I think that ship has sailed.  

[mvp 78]

18 hours ago, notin said:

Wilyer Abreu

That trade went over very well at the time too. 

[Hugh2]

18 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Could be. But how often have the Sox made a meaningful acquisition in a fire sale?

Seems like something else the franchise is not good at.

Rick Porcello would count, I guess, they sort of got him for Lester.  But they had to pay him a bundle, too.

When is the last time the Sox had a legit fire sale? 

They've done this hug the line crap for years but have never really comitted to a "fire sale" It's not like they've traded away a lot of guys with value the last several years.  

They have chips this year that could really bring back players who have potential.

 

[mvp 78]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

When is the last time the Sox had a legit fire sale? 

They've done this hug the line crap for years but have never really comitted to a "fire sale" It's not like they've traded away a lot of guys with value the last several years.  

They have chips this year that could really bring back players who have potential.

I don't think Breslow will be able to pull it off. He is also in the mode of "if we can just string some wins together." Sox need to realize it's a lost season and look towards building for 2027 and beyond. 

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't think Breslow will be able to pull it off. He is also in the mode of "if we can just string some wins together." Sox need to realize it's a lost season and look towards building for 2027 and beyond. 

Honestly, if I thought Breslow was going to try and save his job by winning more games in a season that is obviously lost and trade the future away for just a few more wins now I'd fire him before the deadline. 

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Honestly, if I thought Breslow was going to try and save his job by winning more games in a season that is obviously lost and trade the future away for just a few more wins now I'd fire him before the deadline. 

All the coaches are interim, why not the GM too? 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

That trade went over very well at the time too. 

Many of us liked it a lot.

[moonslav59]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

We are rarely in sell-mode, so it won't be a lot.  ERod was pretty big.  Pivetta was good.

ERos, Pivetta and Abreu are good, but we really haven't been true sellers all that often. Some years we were kinda both. 

2020 was "firesale" but what are you gonna get for Moreland and Pillar types? The Workman for Pivetta deal worked out well.

2022 saw us trade Vazquez (for EValdez & Abreu) and Diekman (for Reese) but was that really a "fire sale?" That summer also saw us "buy" with the Groome for Hosmer & scraps trade. We also sent cash for Tommy Pham.  Kind of a mix & match deadline.

2014 was the true sell off.

Lester for Cespedes, who morphed into Porcello.

Lacket for Jose Kelly, Allen Craig & Litrell.

Andrew Miller for ERod was the best of these deals.

(Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson... LOL)

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

When is the last time the Sox had a legit fire sale? 

2014 was the only time under Henry.

2012 was the Dodger Dump trade, but it was in late August.