Red Sox Roundup, Sept 23: Tracy's Hire, Arias' Call-Up, Crochet's October

[Talk Sox]

Here is some of the latest Red Sox analysis from around the internet. The focus is on Chad Tracy's managerial confirmation, Franklin Arias' potential call-up delay, Craig Breslow's contract extension, and Garrett Crochet's return to form.

• Red Sox Made Obvious Choice With Chad Tracy, And It Wasn’t Close (NESN). Argues Boston Red Sox made the obvious choice to name Chad Tracy manager, citing his successful turnaround of a struggling team and proven leadership. Tracy led the Red Sox to a 74-55 record since taking over, including a 15-game winning streak, and earned long-term security with a three-year contract.
• How MLB’s potential work stoppage can impact one of the Red Sox’ top prospects (Boston Globe $$$). Projects how an MLB work stoppage could delay Franklin Arias' Red Sox call-up. Arias, a top prospect, faces a 40-man roster decision impacting his offseason development and potential early promotion, as the team weighs labor issues, his growth, and roster management.
• How Red Sox reached ‘natural conclusion’ to keep Chad Tracy as manager (Boston Herald $$$). Argues the Red Sox chose Chad Tracy as manager due to his stability and leadership, evidenced by his consistent performance, player relationships, and ability to navigate turmoil, leading to a three-year contract and extended role for Breslow.
• Garrett Crochet shaking off velocity concerns keeps Red Sox's hopes for October return intact (BoSox Injection). Argues Garrett Crochet's recent velocity return to mid-90s suggests he's ready for a bullpen role in October, but his health and effectiveness remain uncertain due to past struggles and limited live game experience.
• Red Sox might've cemented Craig Breslow’s rise off the hot seat too soon (BoSox Injection). Argues Red Sox exercised both of Breslow’s contract options prematurely despite mixed results. Key evidence: 2023-24 playoff berth, Devers drama, Bregman exit, and questionable trades like Durbin-Harrison swap. Breslow hasn’t won a playoff series, and extending to 2030 feels premature given past instability.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, Talk Sox said:

Bregman exit, and questionable trades like Durbin-Harrison swap.

WTH?

• Just imho, we only had Bregman for one year.  Too many treat him like he was a l/t player.
• But rating the Durbin/Harrison trade as questionable is beyond obtuse.  It's early, and Harrison could still be quite good.  But obtaining a 4.5 bWAR player for a 0.4 bWAR player is unbelievably good.  And that doesn't include one extra year of control plus that fact that we are deeper in SPs than in IFs.

[mvp 78]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

WTH?

• Just imho, we only had Bregman for one year.  Too many treat him like he was a l/t player.
• But rating the Durbin/Harrison trade as questionable is beyond obtuse.  It's early, and Harrison could still be quite good.  But obtaining a 4.5 bWAR player for a 0.4 bWAR player is unbelievably good.  And that doesn't include one extra year of control plus that fact that we are deeper in SPs than in IFs.

Per the article: "It was the signing of Alex Bregman that caused the Devers drama in the first place... While some of those moves were celebrated at the time they happened, others like the Durbin-Kyle Harrison swap (that also netted the Red Sox Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler) were heavily scrutinized."

Feel free to go complain to Brian Burrows at BoSoxInjection if you don't like his writing. Sometimes it's good to read things that don't align 100% with your worldview. His conclusion is that it may have been a little early in exercising an extension on Breslow since they already had him under contract for 2 more seasons. Seems fair considering the rocky nature of his time here. 

[vegasbob]

49 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Per the article: "It was the signing of Alex Bregman that caused the Devers drama in the first place... While some of those moves were celebrated at the time they happened, others like the Durbin-Kyle Harrison swap (that also netted the Red Sox Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler) were heavily scrutinized."

Feel free to go complain to Brian Burrows at BoSoxInjection if you don't like his writing. Sometimes it's good to read things that don't align 100% with your worldview. His conclusion is that it may have been a little early in exercising an extension on Breslow since they already had him under contract for 2 more seasons. Seems fair considering the rocky nature of his time here. 

Keep in mind that the extension for CB and Tracy's contract are only monetary commitments.  Employment remains at will.

If yhe Sox only score 2 or less runs and lose again tonight, Brez and Chad can be fired tonight in favor of execs who can hit

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Sometimes it's good to read things that don't align 100% with your worldview.

All I read was that the Harrison/Durbin trade was questionable.  If one thinks a trade of a 0.4 bWAR player, for a 4.5 bWAR is questionable, then every trade made by every GM this year, is questionable.

Or, from a slightly different perspective, has any trade in MLB this year been more lop-sided in our favor?  If it is the most lop-sided trade in baseball, then by definition, it cannot be questionable.