Chad Tracy

[vegasbob]

13 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Yoshida is not a problem in any way.  If someone wanted to take on half his salary, maybe.  But I see no reason to just give him away for loose change.

Since Yoshi won't play the field for Red Sox, and since that leaves only DH or designated pinch hitter. and he cannot run faster than a penguin, his opportunities to display his .725 hitting skills are very limited. compared to the numerous multi position backups

[notin]

9 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Since Yoshi won't play the field for Red Sox, and since that leaves only DH or designated pinch hitter. and he cannot run faster than a penguin, his opportunities to display his .725 hitting skills are very limited. compared to the numerous multi position backups

So who is DH ahead of him in 2027?

[JoeBrady]

53 minutes ago, notin said:

Story has been good since he stopped being herniated, and it’s not like the Sox have Whitaker and Trammell in the middle infield…

Story has an 8/0 K/W, with -0- HRs, in 25 ABs.  Small sample, and I assume he is still shaking off the rust, but those are bad numbers.  But like you said, Monasterio and Seigler are quite tearing it up.

[JoeBrady]

42 minutes ago, notin said:

So who is DH ahead of him in 2027?

For me, that's the key question.  There are always better hitters available.  But if they hit better than Yoshi, they will likely cost real money.  If Yordie is available, sure.  But I wouldn't be spending real money to upgrade from a .746 to an .800.  I'd prefer the real money go to someone like Gray.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

Anything can happen, but Breslow should be the Executive of the Year, if that's a real thing.  I think it would be crazy to not extend him.

Agreed.

All Gms make mistakes, and often they are in hindsight only or partially. The Sale trade was his worst, but it had serious merit when made. To those who hated it day one- hats off to you, but there was good reason to trade a guy who was hurt for a half decade. I'll leave it at that.

Many other trades looked bad out of the gate, but are now looking better or even flipped into the looking good side.

He radically improved the whole pitching system- from top to bottom- in just a few short years. Posters used to talk about Lester being the last significant pitcher from the system. Jon joined the Sox in 2006. He built up the farm, almost by himself and wasn't afraid to use it to add competent vets. DD usd the farm well, but did not build it up. Ben and Bloom built up the farm pretty well, but rarely used it to boost up the 26 man roster. Brez has done both.

Brez has yet to add a terrible big contract. Suarez could morph into one. The Bello and KC deals could end up bad, but they are not making more than $17M AAV combined. That's less than Story and Yoshida by themselves. The Rafaela & Anthony deals look good. Sure, deals like Buehler and Sandoval look bad, but they were short deals, and Buehler is looking okay, now, so maybe the stab in the dark just missed by a few months. (Same with the D May trade.) Brez has some bad luck with the Mead trade, and some could argue the Sale remaking of himself was impossible to project, and this from the guy who coined the "Freaking Chris Sale" phrase.

To me, this isn't even the best part of his tenure here. While DD built a great team, and I have zero beefs with him, the team was set up to move towards a point where massive cash or prospect infusions would be needed to sustain beyond the 4-5 year window (2016 or 2017 to 2019 or 2020.) While DD proved right in trading away many top prospects that amounted to squat and kept many that turned out better than the ones he dealt (Houck, Duran, Crawford & Devers to name 4,) the team was aging by 2019 and 2020, with few prospects ready to fill in and an owner not willing to become the Dodgers Atlantic style. DD was handed a really nice core of young stars from Betts, Bogey, JBJ and an upcoming Devers, but he had to build the staff from near nothing. The big plus by Brez is having so many good players locked up for 2-3-4 and even more years. 

Here is a brief look at locked up players under DD and Bloom:

2016: Price 7, Pedey & Rusney, 5, Porcello & Pablo 4, HRam & Kimbrel 3 and a young core of Betts, Bogey, JBJ,  ERod, Vaz, Barnes & Workman. Shorter deals: Papi, Buch, Uehara, Young

2018: Price & JD 5, Pedey & Vaz 4- the same young core from above but 2 less years of control and shorter deals: Sale & Porcello 2, HRam, Kelly & Kimbrel 1

2020: (injuries and Covid took it's toll, but you can see the control years dwindling & Betts was traded) Sale 5-6, JD, Nate & Bogey 3. That's it! 2 yrs: Erod, Pedey, Perez, Vaz, Beni, Barnes & Moreland

2022: Story 6, Sale 3-4 and basically nobody else signed beyond 2023. We had some guys under control via arbs, but nowhere near the young core of 2016 or even 2028, except for Devers, Duran, Houck & Crawford (Casas/Dalbec...)

The team Brez took over had long term deals like Devers, Story & Yoshida with 1-2 years of Sale and a bunch of one and dones like Jansen, Martin, Verdugo & Pivetta.

7 yrs: Anthony

6-8: Campball

5 yrs: Crochet, Rafaela, Tolle, Bennett, Durbin, Sogard, Gasper, Moran, Seigler, Cheng, Gamboa

4 yrs: Suarez, Mead, Jones

3 yrs: Abreu, Miller, Bello (+1?) Monasterio, Slaten, Weissert, Kelly

2 yrs: Contreras, Whitlock, Romy, Casas, Duran, Crawford, White & Wong

1 yr: Chapman, Rutschman, Guerrero, Houck, Oviedo, Story (+1?) Yoshida

0-1 yr: Gray

FAs: Sandoval, IKF

It's rather amazing.

[Donnie Sadler was short]

21 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

that's right. every minor-leaguer not on the 40 man will still be playing.

yup...and Tracy is technically still on his "minor league manager" contract

[vegasbob]

7 hours ago, notin said:

So who is DH ahead of him in 2027?

Well, Yoshi won't be there in  2028 in any case, so I do think he will be under contract in '27 unless the Sox give him away and pay the price which they must anyway. And it may be a short season .

I would wait, like the Sox will do until the CBA is done. then sign the best available power oriented DH available by FA or trade.

A Suitable short season DH. including Yoshi. may be OK for '27 but not my first choice

 

 

[moonslav59]

8 hours ago, notin said:

So who is DH ahead of him in 2027?

Mead?

Anthony?

Gasper/Jones platoon?

Casas/Romy platoon?

[notin]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Mead?

Anthony?

Gasper/Jones platoon?

Casas/Romy platoon?

There isn’t much blocking Mead and Anthony from returning to the field, except Duran, really.  If he gets moved.

Casas is extremely likely to be non-tendered.  But if he isn’t, why is he ahead of Yoshida in your eyes? 
 

Let’s not go overboard.  While Gasper is coming off the most ridiculous 16 game stretch by any Sox player since 2010, let’s not forget who he passed to get to the top of that list.  (Hint: It’s a player that is still active, just not in North America.  Also he’s a mere 10 weeks older than Gasper.)

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

There isn’t much blocking Mead and Anthony from returning to the field, except Duran, really.  If he gets moved.

Casas is extremely likely to be non-tendered.  But if he isn’t, why is he ahead of Yoshida in your eyes? 
 

Let’s not go overboard.  While Gasper is coming off the most ridiculous 16 game stretch by any Sox player since 2010, let’s not forget who he passed to get to the top of that list.  (Hint: It’s a player that is still active, just not in North America.  Also he’s a mere 10 weeks older than Gasper.)

I'm not pencilling in Gasper to even a locked platoon role for 2027, but that was a viable option at DH. Other players could beat him out at DH platoon v RHPs (Yoshida, Duran or Seigler.) 

I've heard Mead is not the greatest defensive 2Bman, and we have a 1Bman, so DH is one option. Of course, that would also depend on having someone at 2B worth playing and adding to the team value. (Some have suggested he be moved to LF.)

Many of us believe Arias will be the wire-to-wire SS in 2027, so that leaves a slew of choices at 2B, most notably... EEEEK!..... Story, but also including platoon situations that look very promising.

I'm not a big Story fan, once his D declined. I also don't think he's as bad a hitter as some think he is. He led the team in HRs, RRBI and SBs in 2025, and he finished the season stronger than he started it. I think he's be okay to good at 2B defense. I would not just assume he's our wire-to-wire 2Bman, but he might have another good year in him.

Some 2B platoon options, if Mead is the near FT DH.

v R: Story, Seigler (Mead on occasion) I'm not sure Seigler can maintain a near .800 OPS v R.

v L: Story, Romy, Sogard & Monasterio (The last 3 have very nice numbers v L)

It's easy for us to sit back and say Story, Yoshida, Duran and Casas will be off the 2027 roster, but I could see 3 returning and would bet on 2 or more.

 

[notin]

28 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not pencilling in Gasper to even a locked platoon role for 2027, but that was a viable option at DH. Other players could beat him out at DH platoon v RHPs (Yoshida, Duran or Seigler.) 

 

 

You’re putting a 30 yo career minor leaguer on a hot streak ahead of an MLB player under contract.  Infact you’re putting that MLB player also behind another career minor leaguer, a utility infielder, and an oft-injured player that hasn’t played in two seasons…

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

You’re putting a 30 yo career minor leaguer on a hot streak ahead of an MLB player under contract…

Not at all. I suggested he might be part of a platoon option.

FYI, I have Mead pencilled in as the starting 2Bman for 2027.

You asked what other options were out there, so I provided some. I never claimed they were better options, but this 2B choice is not made in a vacuum. Mead is the better 2Bman, but he's also the better DH, so you have to look at who plays 2B, if Mead DHs and who plays DH if Mead plays 2B. I agree for offense, Yoshida/Duran/Romy/Casas and others look better than Seigler/Sogard/Monasterio at 2B, but maybe not Story. I'm not writing Trevor off just yet. (I'm also not saying he's better than Mead on O or even Yoshida: he's just an option.)

The Gasper/Romy platoon was a stretch. I admit. An Anthony/Romy DH platoon could be very nice, with Anthony playing LF when not at DH.

I didn't mention Jones as part of a LF or DHH platoon, either. he might be more deserving than Gasper. (Different splits.) I also posted Gasper's pretty bad splits before 2026, and suggested this could all be a mirage. In no way am I handing him even a solid platoon role for 2027. I'm just listing the options you asked for.

[moonslav59]

Here is what I'd like to see in 2027:

1. L Anthony LF

2. R Mead 2B/DH

3. L Abreu RF

4. R Contreras 1B

5. S Rutshcman C

6. R Rafaela CF

7. L Yoshida/ R Story 2B

8. R Durbin 3B

9. R Arias SS

Bench: Wong, Story, Jones & Soggard (Maybe White, who is out of options and no Yoshida?)

Duran is traded. 

AAA Depth:

C: Jo Garcia/Baez

1B: Casas/Brannon

2B: Seigler/Rodgers

3B: Romero/Winnay

SS: Godbout/Liendo

OF: Campbell, Gonzales, Eaton, Ward, Gutierrez

 

[notin]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Not at all. I suggested he might be part of a platoon option.

FYI, I have Mead pencilled in as the starting 2Bman for 2027.

You asked what other options were out there, so I provided some. I never claimed they were better options, but this 2B choice is not made in a vacuum. Mead is the better 2Bman, but he's also the better DH, so you have to look at who plays 2B, if Mead DHs and who plays DH if Mead plays 2B. I agree for offense, Yoshida/Duran/Romy/Casas and others look better than Seigler/Sogard/Monasterio at 2B, but maybe not Story. I'm not writing Trevor off just yet. (I'm also not saying he's better than Mead on O or even Yoshida: he's just an option.)

The Gasper/Romy platoon was a stretch. I admit. An Anthony/Romy DH platoon could be very nice, with Anthony playing LF when not at DH.

I didn't mention Jones as part of a LF or DHH platoon, either. he might be more deserving than Gasper. (Different splits.) I also posted Gasper's pretty bad splits before 2026, and suggested this could all be a mirage. In no way am I handing him even a solid platoon role for 2027. I'm just listing the options you asked for.

The exact question you were responding to is “who is AHEAD of Yoshida at DH for 2027?”  Not what other options existed… 

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

The exact question you were responding to is “who is AHEAD of Yoshida at DH for 2027?”  Not what other options existed… 

In a vacuum, I'd still prefer Mead and Anthony over Yoshida, but like I said, it's not just about DH. It also matters who plays LF, 2B or wherever you take someone away to be the DH. Is that guy better than Yoshida, and does improved defense make up for any loss on offense.

BTW, I did put question marks next to my suggested options.

The Gasper/Jones and Casas/Romy platoon solutions are long shots, although Romy and Jones have the numbers to support platooning with Yoshida at DH v LHPs.

[notin]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

I'd still prefer Mead and Anthony over Yoshida, but like I said, it's not just about DH. It also matters who plays LF, 2B or wherever you take someone away to be the DH. Is that guy better than Yoshida, and does improved defense make up for any loss on offense.

BTW, I did put question marks next to my suggested options.

The Gasper/Jones and Casas/Romy platoon solutions are long shots, although Romy and Jones have the numbers to support platooning with Yoshida at DH v LHPs.

I think if Duran goes and Mead moves to 2b, Yoshida is at a minimum a strong side DH in a platoon, and not - as was proposed earlier in this thread - a player the Sox need to jettison aside and pay to play elsewhere.  Probably in the same boat as Story, since it’s unlikely the Sox just throw him away and hand the job uncontested to Arias.  Most likely Story has the job until he gets hurt and then we see Arias…

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, notin said:

There isn’t much blocking Mead and Anthony from returning to the field, except Duran, really.  If he gets moved.

Casas is extremely likely to be non-tendered.  But if he isn’t, why is he ahead of Yoshida in your eyes? 

Let’s not go overboard.  While Gasper is coming off the most ridiculous 16 game stretch by any Sox player since 2010, let’s not forget who he passed to get to the top of that list.  (Hint: It’s a player that is still active, just not in North America.  Also he’s a mere 10 weeks older than Gasper.)

IMHO, no need to over-complicate things.  Mead should automatically play 2nd, and Anthony should automatically play LF.  The lineup is fairly clear:

• C-Rutschman
• 1B-Contreras
• 2B-Mead
• SS-Story
• 3B-Durbin
• LF-Anthony
• CF-Ceddanne
• RF-Abreu

Everything else is DH & bench.

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, notin said:

I think if Duran goes and Mead moves to 2b, Yoshida is at a minimum a strong side DH in a platoon, and not - as was proposed earlier in this thread - a player the Sox need to jettison aside and pay to play elsewhere.  Probably in the same boat as Story, since it’s unlikely the Sox just throw him away and hand the job uncontested to Arias.  Most likely Story has the job until he gets hurt and then we see Arias…

I don't disagree, but there is a force within me that is screaming "No Story at SS."

I think Arias might be in BOS now, if not for the pending work stoppage and fear he'd miss development time. That might be a stretch.

I get the argument that we should not pencil in prospects to FT positions, as the Campbell experiment highlighted. The Anthony choice was correct, but the injury ruined those plans. (We did keep Duran as insurance, though.)

I'm not a Story hater. I like him at SS, and even DH would not be horrible.

I'm not a Yoshida hater, either, despite leading the site in suggested Yoshida trade scenarios. (I also may have led the site in Duran trade suggestions starting many years ago.)

Yoshida at DH vs RHPs is probably better than paying him to play somewhere else.

Story at 2B/DH is probably better than paying him to play somewhere else.

Duran has no guaranteed contract, so trading him does not add the financial aspect the other two guys do. Offering Duran and arb would likely cost us $7-10M, so I'd say that should not occur. I'm not sure anyone wants him at his projected arb cost.

I'd be okay with Yoshida as the FT DH (without a platoon,) but with two excellent batters vs LHPs (Romy & Jones) I'd platoon Yoshida at DH.

If we could greatly improve the 2B defense, and I'm not sure Story is way better than Mead on 2B defense, then that could be a factor in making the choice on who DHs: Mead or Yoshida, or at least Mead at DH v L and Yoshida v R.

What's wrong with this reasoning?

Also, the years of proven production from Romy vs LHPs cannot be ignored. Jones may not have yet proven he's the next Refsnyder.

[JoeBrady]

20 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I don't disagree, but there is a force within me that is screaming "No Story at SS."

I'm not concerned.  Unless Story is epically awful, he won't cost us much.  And it is a perfect excuse to get Arias another 6 weeks of AAA experience, and the service time consideration (which I think they amend in the next CBA).

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'm not concerned.  Unless Story is epically awful, he won't cost us much.  And it is a perfect excuse to get Arias another 6 weeks of AAA experience, and the service time consideration (which I think they amend in the next CBA).

I'm fine with using Story at SS, now.

I'm not for 2027.

He is "especially awful" on defense at SS, but hopefully his bat will outweigh it, this year, and we won't see him at SS next year.

[Donnie Sadler was short]

On 9/5/2026 at 11:05 PM, Duran Is The Man said:

that's right. every minor-leaguer not on the 40 man will still be playing.

yup...and Tracy is technically still on his "minor league manager" contract

[Donnie Sadler was short]

I read many comments about 2B...it should be Sogard unlessMead is something special defensively. Do not under estimate Sogard.

[NHNative]

NESN just put up some stats on Tolle that are incredible!

[moonslav59]

34 minutes ago, Donnie Sadler was short said:

yup...and Tracy is technically still on his "minor league manager" contract

I have joined the Sogard bandwagon, but it's hard to ignore this:

Mead turns 26 next month and his 650 PA game avg this year is:

.253  34  96 (.851 OPS)

Sogard is one reason I've considered Mead at DH. He'd improve the 2B defense, as might Story over Mead. Romy, Seigler and Monasterio have some nice splits and could form a nice 2B platoon.

Our 2B numbers have been a boost over past years, and without Mead or Story being a part of the success. Take away Mayer's numbers at 2B, and it's been pretty damn good.

2B OPS

.888 Sogard (.764 overall at all positions)

.760 Romy (.572)

.747 Seigler (.737)

.690 Monasterio (.696)

(not on 2027 roster: Mayer .654 & IKF .554)

That's a pretty nice 4 man mix. Add Story, and maybe Mead at DH makes some sense.

 

[Hitch]

On 9/6/2026 at 3:49 PM, notin said:

Think that their most recent injury-plagued years made each one desirable?

I think if we eat a considerable portion they will be tradeable. Something we should do (if it's not too severe) to open pathways to Arias and Campbell. 

[Hitch]

On 9/6/2026 at 7:12 PM, JoeBrady said:

Anything can happen, but Breslow should be the Executive of the Year, if that's a real thing.  I think it would be crazy to not extend him.

As I mentioned, it's highly unlikely he isn't kept on, but if we'd cratered and missed the playoffs or went out meekly in round one after scraping in, he'd be under pressure. That looks extremely unlikely now.

He is also the executive that supplied a disjointed roster and needed a once in a generation run, to drag them back in after a horrendous start. And even with this, we are still 3rd in our division. He's got a lot right and a lot wrong.

I say this as one of the more stauncher defenders of Breslow on this board. 

[NHNative]

Yet--we are creeping up on the Yankees. This is exciting. We have a good team with no super heroes---everyone pulling together.

[notin]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

I think if we eat a considerable portion they will be tradeable. Something we should do (if it's not too severe) to open pathways to Arias and Campbell. 

If it were up to me, I’d let those pathways open themselves organically.  No need to just bank on the kids…

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, notin said:

If it were up to me, I’d let those pathways open themselves organically.  No need to just bank on the kids…

Kids need to be good enough to force pathway open. Arias seems to be doing that. Campbell is not, whether you want to blame Driveline or sinkers or something else. 

[notin]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

As I mentioned, it's highly unlikely he isn't kept on, but if we'd cratered and missed the playoffs or went out meekly in round one after scraping in, he'd be under pressure. That looks extremely unlikely now.

He is also the executive that supplied a disjointed roster and needed a once in a generation run, to drag them back in after a horrendous start. And even with this, we are still 3rd in our division. He's got a lot right and a lot wrong.

I say this as one of the more stauncher defenders of Breslow on this board. 

To be fair, while the W-L record during that run was unimpressive, pretty much every team stat said the team should have performed much better.  That “once in a generation” run might have just been the law of averages catching up….