Is this 2026 Red Sox team…CONTENDERS or PRETENDERS?

[southpaw777]

PRETENDERS

Currently there are 4 injured starters with no real time table on returns.
they have no clue who’s starting this weekend because Breslow traded away all our starting pitching depth. 
Tolle is over 80ip already and has never gone past 120ip.

our best hitter is going away for four games. 

We are in the easiest part of the schedule and the best team we played, the Yankees, had all their offense injured.

we need another big bat…so doesa LOT of teams.

we need bullpen help…so does a LOT of teams.

we obviously need some starting depth down the stretch.

we would have to empty the farm to be a real contender. 

when are all the starters coming back?

when are our young soft azz players going to start playing again?

We have a great starter and closer to trade. We also have some other pieces we could trade for a higher price.

Whitlock

Abreu

Contreras

 

i like these guys in Boston but if Breslow is overwhelmed, then you take the deal and you have all offseason until February to figure out 2027(?)…If done correctly, We could acquire the right players to either trade for the players we need this offseason, or keep and be legit contenders in 2027…or whenever we play again. 

[moonslav59]

The point about Tolle and IP also applies to Early and Bennett. BTW, Suarez has never gone more than 158 IP, and he's on pace for 175.

Gray & Chapman seem closer to 50 years old than 25. (Note: Chapman is, but Gray is not.)

Anthony & Crochet's returns seem eerily like Hendriks, Crawford and Casas.

I'm still leaning sell, and even if we go 14-7 in the next 21, we might need too much to go "all in."

I hesitate to say "pretenders," but we are not top "contenders," right now, for sure.

Can 1 or 2 big deadline moves get us there? I'd say doubtful, unless Anthony or Crochet return and do very well, too.

[UtahSox]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

The point about Tolle and IP also applies to Early and Bennett. BTW, Suarez has never gone more than 158 IP, and he's on pace for 175.

Gray & Chapman seem closer to 50 years old than 25. (Note: Chapman is, but Gray is not.)

Anthony & Crochet's returns seem eerily like Hendriks, Crawford and Casas.

I'm still leaning sell, and even if we go 14-7 in the next 21, we might need too much to go "all in."

I hesitate to say "pretenders," but we are not top "contenders," right now, for sure.

Can 1 or 2 big deadline moves get us there? I'd say doubtful, unless Anthony or Crochet return and do very well, too.

I’m adamant in not jeopardizing 2027 with any of these moves…. I agree we are a long ways away from competing for WS this year.

If we get Crochet, Suarez, and Roman all back healthy, I will say we would be a scarier team in October than last year. But even then it feels like everything has to go perfect for us to make it. 

I think we should be buyers but only players with 27 or beyond control.

Also, if the returns aren’t good enough, I’m OK standing still on additions/ selling. If nothing else this winning streak has given us that, it’s the leverage that other teams know they arent only having to outbid the other bidders. It also other orgs need to understand we are super OK trying to make the playoffs with this current roster.

[mvp 78]

25 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

Also, if the returns aren’t good enough, I’m OK standing still on additions/ selling. If nothing else this winning streak has given us that, it’s the leverage that other teams know they arent only having to outbid the other bidders. It also other orgs need to understand we are super OK trying to make the playoffs with this current roster.

It's the trade deadline and it almost always is a seller's market. Less teams than ever move quality players. Time to open up shop IMO.