Red Sox's Craig Breslow Era Is Set to End With A Whimper

[notin]

14 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

So many people wanted Cora fired.  Looking at the record and the team's performance it's obvious to me that Cora was not the problem.  I don't believe for a second that the team had bailed on the season after 27 games and winning no longer mattered on April 25th.

No they fired Cora because they felt he was a major reason the team was 10-17.  They promoted Tracy because they thought he could turn around the season.

And they were wrong.  This is and always was a personnel problem, not a manager problem IMO. 

I actually wondered about Tracy’s promotion.  I mean, if the goal was to turn around the MLB team, is a manager with no MLB experience really the guy?  Can we count on another round of Morgan Magic?

I suspected Tracy’s job was to help the younger struggling ones, since he’d worked with several of them before.  Otherwise, Tracy seems like an odd choice…

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

I actually wondered about Tracy’s promotion.  I mean, if the goal was to turn around the MLB team, is a manager with no MLB experience really the guy?  Can we count on another round of Morgan Magic?

I suspected Tracy’s job was to help the younger struggling ones, since he’d worked with several of them before.  Otherwise, Tracy seems like an odd choice…

Not sure a month into the season is the best time to go outside to find a manager, a legit big time manager. Hiring from within made sense at the time.  But Earl Weaver was not saving this team this season.

 

 

[moonslav59]

On 7/2/2026 at 11:00 PM, notin said:

It seems like many just wanted Henry to spend more money.  Heck I mentioned Miguel Vargas (currently 3.0 bWAR, 19 HRs, .842 OPS) and was told to stop proposing cheap solutions.  And then they tell me free agency isn’t just PR.
 
Their lineup of C - Narvaez, 1b -Contreras, 2b - Mayer 3b -Durbin LF- Duran CF - Rafaela RF -Abreu DH - Anthony.  Thats better than the lineup the fielded last year (post Devers) and much better than the team of benchwarmers they used in the playoffs.  But multiple bad seasons from too many players killed them this year, and one more bat wasn’t going to save this lineup from itself.  Two veterans having career worst seasons coupled with a handful of sophomore slumps, another rookie struggling because he was pressed into duty last year, and another who might be a notoriously slow starter.  Thats an awful lot for any one hitter to overcome when 6 or 7 other players just aren’t hitting.  Bringing in Schwarber and sending out Breslow isn’t going to change this…

Some felt the money spent on Suarez should have been spent on a bat, so not all wanted or expected more money spent.

I do think the Suarez signing was not in the top plans, and we would not have traded for Oviedo, had we known we would be adding Gray & Suarez. That trade capital could have been used on a bat upgrade.

One more major trade could have been made that did not mean more money spent.

Yes, many did want or demand more money be spent, but not all thought is was needed to better balance the roster.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/1/2026 at 7:06 PM, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

The ones that lead to 37-48 and last place, again.  I kind of need you to defend your "impeccable" comment regarding Breslow's offseason.  

It wasn't a complicated question.  Breslow made 5 major moves (Gray, Suarez, Bennett, Contreras, Durbin).  Explain which ones you don't like.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/2/2026 at 12:38 PM, notin said:

Are we sure Breslow isn’t listening to other people?  Maybe his biggest flaw is he can’t discern good advice from bad advice..,

Everyone in here has access to the RS FO  except you and me.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/2/2026 at 6:36 PM, Old Red said:

 

The only thing that would have helped as things have played out is a Schwarber type bat.

And since Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies, as everyone expected, there was precious little he could've done.

[notin]

On 7/4/2026 at 4:14 PM, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Not sure a month into the season is the best time to go outside to find a manager, a legit big time manager. Hiring from within made sense at the time.  But Earl Weaver was not saving this team this season.

 

 

Especially since he died in 2013….

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Everyone in here has access to the RS FO  except you and me.

And that’s a Good thing.👏

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

And since Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies, as everyone expected, there was precious little he could've done.

Signing Alonso instead of Ranger, which was suggested before the offseason even started.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/2/2026 at 8:40 PM, notin said:

Also Breslow completely neglected the bullpen.  Although Tyron Guerrero seems to be bailing him out there somewhat…

This is the only criticism I agree with, and quite frankly, I think everyone agreed with.  Maybe some of this is 20/20 hindsight, but it really looked like a BP of Chapman & Whitlock, which is great, and a bunch of 5/6/7th inning guys, but no strong hold guys.

OTOH, the fact that we are 3rd in ERA and 6th in OPSa suggests he might have been right.  But I still want another RP.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/3/2026 at 11:04 AM, Bellhorn04 said:

No, but you can question whether counting on Story and Yoshida for anything was a mistake.

Depending on Story's health is a legit concern, but that's why we acquired IKF.  But Story with a .547 is very difficult to project.  Yoshi's .696 is weak, but not a major concern.

[JoeBrady]

10 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Signing Alonso instead of Ranger, which was suggested before the offseason even started.

Okay, so we'd have had a minor downgrade at both SP and 1B?

[JoeBrady]

On 7/3/2026 at 3:22 PM, Behindenemylines said:

Breslow's failure to bring in right-handed power last winter remains the major problem

Contreras.

[JoeBrady]

On 7/3/2026 at 3:22 PM, Behindenemylines said:

Breslow's failure to bring in right-handed power last winter remains the major problem

Contreras.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Okay, so we'd have had a minor downgrade at both SP and 1B?

 

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Contreras.

Con Man was fine, but the original plan was adding him with Bregman. Con Man, and Alonso would have been more than fine.

[notin]

29 minutes ago, Old Red said:

 

Con Man was fine, but the original plan was adding him with Bregman. Con Man, and Alonso would have been more than fine.

Alonso meant no Contreras.  
 

they signed Alonso for 1b, they already had Anthony, Duran, Rafaela and Abreu in OF/DH roles.  Who would you sit?

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

Alonso meant no Contreras.  
 

they signed Alonso for 1b, they already had Anthony, Duran, Rafaela and Abreu in OF/DH roles.  Who would you sit?

The problem was that Bregman was plan A all along, and money was set aside for him. I know Schwaber was probably not going to leave Philly, but the Red Sox never made an offer. They still could have made the Con Man deal, and also signed Alonso, and then made the DUBin deal if they couldn’t have worked something out for a 2B/3B with a Duran part of the deal. Alonso, and Con Man would have been a better option than Bregman, and Con Man.

[notin]

56 minutes ago, Old Red said:

The problem was that Bregman was plan A all along, and money was set aside for him. I know Schwaber was probably not going to leave Philly, but the Red Sox never made an offer. They still could have made the Con Man deal, and also signed Alonso, and then made the DUBin deal if they couldn’t have worked something out for a 2B/3B with a Duran part of the deal. Alonso, and Con Man would have been a better option than Bregman, and Con Man.

Except who are you benching?

Bregman at least plays 3b.  Alonso and Contreras both play 1b.  Both certainly work as a DH, but that role was filled by Anthony or Duran with the other in LF. 
 

Not signing Bregman did leave money for Alonso, but not a role…

[notin]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Except who are you benching?

Bregman at least plays 3b.  Alonso and Contreras both play 1b.  Both certainly work as a DH, but that role was filled by Anthony or Duran with the other in LF. 
 

Not signing Bregman did leave money for Alonso, but not a role…

Of course once you have Bregman as Plan A, then Alonso is out of the picture anyway, since he signed on December 10, 2025 and Bregman was in play until 1/14/2026…

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

Except who are you benching?

Bregman at least plays 3b.  Alonso and Contreras both play 1b.  Both certainly work as a DH, but that role was filled by Anthony or Duran with the other in LF. 
 

Not signing Bregman did leave money for Alonso, but not a role…

Duran would have had to been traded, and Alonso the DH.

[Old Red]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Of course once you have Bregman as Plan A, then Alonso is out of the picture anyway, since he signed on December 10, 2025 and Bregman was in play until 1/14/2026…

I agree, and that’s why I said Bregman being Plan A was the problem all along, and money was set aside for him that ended up going to Ranger instead of getting the needed another big bat.

[notin]

Just now, Old Red said:

Duran would have had to been traded, and Alonso the DH.

It would have had to be something like that.

But Duran was also the Sox best hitter last  year, and wasn’t exactly a popular target around the league.  Reportedly Craig wanted a high asking price, but that seems like an odd thing to complain about given the reactions to all Breslow’s previous trades.

Dealing Duran for a 2b, 3b or C would have been ideal, but it would have had to be done by December 10…

[notin]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree, and that’s why I said Bregman being Plan A was the problem all along, and money was set aside for him that ended up going to Ranger instead of getting the needed another big bat.

Alonso signing quickly didn’t help.  Possible fallout from no one wanting him the year before?

I have no problem with Breslow (or any Sox CBO) having preferred targets in FA.  In fact, it’s how it should be.  But that does mean the backup plans might come off the board sooner than you like…

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, notin said:

It would have had to be something like that.

But Duran was also the Sox best hitter last  year, and wasn’t exactly a popular target around the league.  Reportedly Craig wanted a high asking price, but that seems like an odd thing to complain about given the reactions to all Breslow’s previous trades.

Dealing Duran for a 2b, 3b or C would have been ideal, but it would have had to be done by December 10…

We agree, but that’s why the Red SOX only offered a half ass offer to Alonso, because of Bregman.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Alonso signing quickly didn’t help.  Possible fallout from no one wanting him the year before?

I have no problem with Breslow (or any Sox CBO) having preferred targets in FA.  In fact, it’s how it should be.  But that does mean the backup plans might come off the board sooner than you like…

Most likely the Red Sox would have made a better offer to Alonso if Bregman wasn’t in the picture, and I think he could have been had, but even though they could I doubt Con Man would have still been in the picture. It would have made a good middle of the order though.

[notin]

6 minutes ago, Old Red said:

We agree, but that’s why the Red SOX only offered a half ass offer to Alonso, because of Bregman.

Reportedly Breslow wasn’t wild about Alonso, at least not to the point of giving him the years he wanted.  

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, notin said:

Reportedly Breslow wasn’t wild about Alonso, at least not to the point of giving him the years he wanted.  

But was that because of a allotted Bregman Contract?

[notin]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Most likely the Red Sox would have made a better offer to Alonso if Bregman wasn’t in the picture, and I think he could have been had, but even though they could I doubt Con Man would have still been in the picture. It would have made a good middle of the order though.

But even if the Sox signed Alonso, then Baltimore swoops in and trades for Contreras…

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, notin said:

But even if the Sox signed Alonso, then Baltimore swoops in and trades for Contreras…

Possible, but I don’t know if Con Man was being shopped to everyone. Could have been a Brez/Bloom thing like even with Sonny Gray.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

It would have had to be something like that.

But Duran was also the Sox best hitter last  year, and wasn’t exactly a popular target around the league.  Reportedly Craig wanted a high asking price, but that seems like an odd thing to complain about given the reactions to all Breslow’s previous trades.

Dealing Duran for a 2b, 3b or C would have been ideal, but it would have had to be done by December 10…

Not sure what you're basing that on, but there were many Red Sox with higher batting averages and OPSsssss.

Duran was definitely Boston's best tripler (led AL) and doubler, though.