Duran

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, NHNative said:

I like Duran in LF---dude can run em down. Not to mention stealing and a bat now and then.

LOL

His defense needs to show up this postseason. 

[vegasbob]

Speaking of Crochet as the Sox #1 or #2 SP,  I would think he will be IP managed if it becomes a full or near full season (150 games+) which implies 30 starts .   A short 2027 could be an advantage to Crochet , maybe 20 starts ( 120 IP)

Given his contract and the fact that he had to skip a year from his efforts in 2025,  I think he will be carefully handled.     Plus Garret's strength was power FB pitching with a hard slider .   Despite skipping the WBC ( Thank You)  , he broke down after 1 start in  '26.     Who knows if he can throw hard again for a full season , especially if rotator cuff irritation was any part of his issues.  

Brez really needs to sign Sonny Gray , and not put the full heat on Crochet until the Sox can see his durability and effectiveness.

[moonslav59]

40 minutes ago, NHNative said:

I like Duran in LF---dude can run em down. Not to mention stealing and a bat now and then.

LOL

We need a boost to our offense, what other position do you suggest we trade away who we have or add someone to the mix?

DH seems like the common answer, despite having Yoshida, Duran or Anthony, Mead or Story plus platoons involving Gasper, Jones, Romy and maybe Casas.

[drewski6]

44 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We need a boost to our offense, what other position do you suggest we trade away who we have or add someone to the mix?

DH seems like the common answer, despite having Yoshida, Duran or Anthony, Mead or Story plus platoons involving Gasper, Jones, Romy and maybe Casas.

What positions do we need to improve, well considering 23rd in offense = most of them.

[drewski6]

Here is the list of positions, where I feel we could use an infusion of hitting:

DH, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF

Positions where I feel the incumbent is fine and so we cannot bring someone in and should not look to upgrade:

CF, RF, C

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

What positions do we need to improve, well considering 23rd in offense = most of them.

LF - Anthony replaces Duran, or consider trading Anthony in a package for a real middle of the order bat

DH - Mead replaces Masa

2B - Arias is about the same as the '26 hodgepodge

C - Adley full year replaces Narvaez, find better backup 

SS - Story better health improves on 632 OPS for '26 hodgepodge, or trade for Elly

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Here is the list of positions, where I feel we could use an infusion of hitting:

DH, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF

Positions where I feel the incumbent is fine and so we cannot bring someone in and should not look to upgrade:

CF, RF, C

1B? You aren't going to find a better hitter than Contreras. 

[drewski6]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

1B? You aren't going to find a better hitter than Contreras. 

A 35 yr old can move to DH.  And who is his backup?  Are you confident hes not going to be in jail by December for like a bar fight?  Wouldnt some of your beef with Duran apply to Contreras?  

I doubt very much we can find a better hitter than Contreras.  The fact that our best hitter by a significant margin was a going to be 35 yr old with a terrible attitude problem - is another reason why I am rolling my eyes at people telling me pitching, pitching, pitching....lets save money on the O and go get pitching.

Same guys who fived plenty at all the bats we didnt sign. Arf. Arf. Arf.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

A 35 yr old can move to DH.  And who is his backup?  Are you confident hes not going to be in jail by December for like a bar fight?  Wouldnt some of your beef with Duran apply to Contreras?  

I doubt very much we can find a better hitter than Contreras.  The fact that our best hitter by a significant margin was a going to be 35 yr old with a terrible attitude problem - is another reason why I am rolling my eyes at people telling me pitching, pitching, pitching....lets save money on the O and go get pitching.

Same guys who fived plenty at all the bats we didnt sign. Arf. Arf. Arf.

Contreras has been a consistent performer his whole career. That's the opposite of Jarren Duran. 

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

What positions do we need to improve, well considering 23rd in offense = most of them.

Why not name the ones you think need the biggest upgrades?

I do think we lack star power on O and could use an upgrade, but some offer great defense or low cost long term control.

This guide might help you choose:

Position by position:

C: AR's .790 is 7th best. (We 100% are not upgrading here.)

1B: Best OPS and 2nd best fWAR in Contreras

2B: Mead's .851 OPS tops any 2Bman's in MLB.

3B: Durbin's OPS was 14th among 3Bmen with 350+ PAs. He placed 9th out of 10 with 500+ PAs. Is there where you'd upgrade? His defense was amazing, and if he can hit like the 2nd half, he's be top 10-15 out of 30, but this could be a spot we try to improve on offense.

SS: On paper, this was/is the slot to upgrade. Would you trade Arias for a proven SS with offense plus-plus?

LF: I think Anthony is not viewed as a slot that needs an upgrade, but he could DH, so YES, we can upgrade over Duran/Jones/White/Campbell, and knock Yoshida/Mead and others from DH, I guess. (NOT!)

CF: Rafaela's offense could be upgrades, but he's our top fWAR guy from 2025-2026. Plus his OPS was upper tier in MLB among 2Bman (9th out of 19 w 350+)

RF: Abreu was 9th out of 18 and is a GG winner in a difficult Fenway RF. He's young and still on arbs. NOPE!

DH is the obvious slot, but even if we trade Duran, we'd have Mead, Yoshida, Gasper/Jones/Romy at DH. Dumping Duran and Story would  boost the offense, even without adding from outside the system, but we could add someone, if we dumped both (plus maybe Yoshida,) but let's be real. We ain't dumping Duran, Story and Yoshida in one winter. We couldn't even dump one last winter.

Let's say we can and do: bring it on!

Sign a DH (???) and play Mead at 2B and Anthony in LF.

Sign a LF'er (Suzuki/Aroz?) and DH Anthony.

Sign a 2Bman (B Lowe?) and DH Mead.

I'm in. Then I'd wake up.

[moonslav59]

I think Mead and AR are being undersold.

We could still use a starpower bat, but at what and who's expense?

[moonslav59]

There is certainly a strong case to be made something has to change, as in a removal and replacement. These were our top 10 batters by most 2026 PAs>

OPS+ (in order of most PAs)

117 Abreu

76 Duran (I've been all for upgrading him)

101 Durbin

113 Rafaela

153 Contreras

88 Monasterio (Not projected to be top 10 in PAs in '27)

111 Yoshida

106 Sogard

75 Story

108 Anthony

(Mead 132 and AR 108 are not listed, but would have been top 7 in PAs.)

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Why not name the ones you think need the biggest upgrades?

I do think we lack star power on O and could use an upgrade, but some offer great defense or low cost long term control.

This guide might help you choose:

Position by position:

C: AR's .790 is 7th best. (We 100% are not upgrading here.)

1B: Best OPS and 2nd best fWAR in Contreras

2B: Mead's .851 OPS tops any 2Bman's in MLB.

3B: Durbin's OPS was 14th among 3Bmen with 350+ PAs. He placed 9th out of 10 with 500+ PAs. Is there where you'd upgrade? His defense was amazing, and if he can hit like the 2nd half, he's be top 10-15 out of 30, but this could be a spot we try to improve on offense.

SS: On paper, this was/is the slot to upgrade. Would you trade Arias for a proven SS with offense plus-plus?

LF: I think Anthony is not viewed as a slot that needs an upgrade, but he could DH, so YES, we can upgrade over Duran/Jones/White/Campbell, and knock Yoshida/Mead and others from DH, I guess. (NOT!)

CF: Rafaela's offense could be upgrades, but he's our top fWAR guy from 2025-2026. Plus his OPS was upper tier in MLB among 2Bman (9th out of 19 w 350+)

RF: Abreu was 9th out of 18 and is a GG winner in a difficult Fenway RF. He's young and still on arbs. NOPE!

DH is the obvious slot, but even if we trade Duran, we'd have Mead, Yoshida, Gasper/Jones/Romy at DH. Dumping Duran and Story would  boost the offense, even without adding from outside the system, but we could add someone, if we dumped both (plus maybe Yoshida,) but let's be real. We ain't dumping Duran, Story and Yoshida in one winter. We couldn't even dump one last winter.

Let's say we can and do: bring it on!

Sign a DH (???) and play Mead at 2B and Anthony in LF.

Sign a LF'er (Suzuki/Aroz?) and DH Anthony.

Sign a 2Bman (B Lowe?) and DH Mead.

I'm in. Then I'd wake up.

My point is not that we are doomed.  My point is that last year , we noodle-batted right out of the playoffs.  And everyone and their mom was like lets add some bats. Even Breslow. Then he didnt and started with the "well, i had to pivot to pitching and D".  Joe B didnt think it was enough of a pivot. He was talking aout trading for Corbin Burnes in spring training.  

Most neutral on-lookers looked at our O and said "not scary".  Then when we started cold, you and Joe B high fived not having Bregman, Alonso, and Devers.  Hooray all these thumpers we dont have.

B-b-b-b-but ranger suarez. Id be fine with Crochet + rejuvenated Bello in game 3.

We were able to weather an above average amount of pitching injuries, but on the position side, it wasnt so bad. Plus we got some good luck with Gasper, Monasterio, and Contreras giving us more than we could have imagined ....but even with that good luck , it was only good for 23rd.

And now, it feels like we are in the same position as last year. Underdogs because we dont have the bats.  And what are you and Joe B doing? Looking for reasons to not add bats, and starting your excuses early.

Where positions can the #23rd best offense improve: MOST OF THEM

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

There is certainly a strong case to be made something has to change, as in a removal and replacement. These were our top 10 batters by most 2026 PAs>

OPS+ (in order of most PAs)

117 Abreu

76 Duran (I've been all for upgrading him)

101 Durbin

113 Rafaela

153 Contreras

88 Monasterio (Not projected to be top 10 in PAs in '27)

111 Yoshida

106 Sogard

75 Story

108 Anthony

(Mead 132 and AR 108 are not listed, but would have been top 7 in PAs.)

When that 153 becomes a 113, because hes 35, where do you think the #23rd ranked offense is going to go? Up or down?

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

When that 153 becomes a 113, because hes 35, where do you think the #23rd ranked offense is going to go? Up or down?

If it happens overnight, he still won't be the reason we stay near #23.

It will be Duran, Story, the back-up Catcher and maybe DH or downturns from Durbin, Rafaela or Abreu.

Anthony will be fine. He's very young, and his "bad season" is a 108.

Safe: Contreras, Abreu, AR, Rafaela, Anthony, Mead & Arias.

I'd say we aren't touching 3B (Durbin)

That leaves DH.

There is no urgency on Contreras. I'm more concerned about the offense from Durbin, Rafaela and of course the rookie- Arias.

I'm assuming we phase out Yoshida. Story and Duran. I hope we trade 1-2.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If it happens overnight, he still won't be the reason we stay near #23.

It will be Duran, Story, the back-up Catcher and maybe DH or downturns from Durbin, Rafaela or Abreu.

Anthony will be fine. He's very young, and his "bad season" is a 108.

Safe: Contreras, Abreu, AR, Rafaela, Anthony, Mead & Arias.

I'd say we aren't touching 3B (Durbin)

That leaves DH.

There is no urgency on Contreras. I'm more concerned about the offense from Durbin, Rafaela and of course the rookie- Arias.

I'm assuming we phase out Yoshida. Story and Duran. I hope we trade 1-2.

The team that absolutely couldnt hit in the playoffs last year, and was the 23rd best hitting team in baseball this year...You are salivating about who we can phase out.

How about - who we can add?  Or hit tonight.

[drewski6]

Hit or get hitters.

[drewski6]

All im saying.  all this talk about nowhere to put anyone is managing expectations and premature excuse planting.

Here is why 1) we didnt hit in playoffs last year, 2) we fell to 23rd this year, 3) i dont expect us to hit this playoffs, and 4) why i dont think we need to add any hitters.

By Joe Brady.

[drewski6]

If we dont win the series - here are the changes we should demand: major ones.

[NHNative]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We need a boost to our offense, what other position do you suggest we trade away who we have or add someone to the mix?

DH seems like the common answer, despite having Yoshida, Duran or Anthony, Mead or Story plus platoons involving Gasper, Jones, Romy and maybe Casas.

As things stand, I say a catcher with a good bat.

Adley is great and Wong is somewhat weak. We lose one to IL, we can write of the PS and Series.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Here is the list of positions, where I feel we could use an infusion of hitting:

DH, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF

Positions where I feel the incumbent is fine and so we cannot bring someone in and should not look to upgrade:

CF, RF, C

What's wrong with Contrares at 1st?

What's wrong with Durbin at 3rd? Great on defense and average offensively with a chance of improving offensively.

Mead is a ?.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

.You are salivating about who we can phase out.

No different from you salivating on who we trade.

I'll be my left you know what Contreras out OPS's Rafaela- one of your keepers.

It's not as simple as you seem to make it out to be.

Sure, Contreras could get hurt or hit .735, and we'd be in trouble, but he's not even my 6th or 7th choice to upgrade.

Here we are entering the Yankee series worried about scoring more than 2 runs, and you salivating on upgrading our .900 batter as a possible solution.

I'm scheming on ways to shed Duran, Yoshida and Story, so we can gain a few bucks to afford a bigger or better bat or higher quality pitcher. I prefer my thought process.

Focus on upgrading your weakest slots without creating new ones.

[notin]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

What positions do we need to improve, well considering 23rd in offense = most of them.

Break up this playoff team!!!

[moonslav59]

11 hours ago, notin said:

Break up this playoff team!!!

LOL. Then we hear complaining that we never get a chance to build up teams we can identify with.

A team can finish 23rd and not need "most" of the players replaced.

Assuming Anthony in LF or DH and Mead at 2B, I see DH/LF as maybe the one easy call to upgrade.

3B and CF could see regression on offense, but Rafaela is our WAR leader the last 2 years. Durbin's D plus a .750 OPS is not a great need kinda situation, but if we really want a top 5-10 offense, I don't see many other slots.

We are not getting a big O SS with Arias ready.

Replacing Duran, Story and Yoshida might not even mean we are replacing a wire-to-wire full timer in 2027, anyway. Our internal options are just as good or better (some with platoons) in terms of offense.

[Hugh2]

I like Duran, and I hope he turns it around for this team next year.  But I really can't blame anyone for thinking it may be time to move on from him, it might even be what they should do. 

 

[mvp 78]

16 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

LF - Anthony replaces Duran, or consider trading Anthony in a package for a real middle of the order bat

DH - Mead replaces Masa

2B - Arias is about the same as the '26 hodgepodge

C - Adley full year replaces Narvaez, find better backup 

SS - Story better health improves on 632 OPS for '26 hodgepodge, or trade for Elly

Or just fixing Anthony's messed up hand. 

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, notin said:

Break up this playoff team!!!

Offense seems fine! 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Offense seems fine! 

So the Sox should go back to those power offenses from the 1980’s that crushed AL pitching non-stop right up to September 30, when their season abruptly ended?

They’ll add a bat or two.  And probably move a player most of us never though of moving, like Contreras or Abreu…

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Or just fixing Anthony's messed up hand. 

The guy has had two injuries in his career so far.  Hes not like Mayer, who got hurt every season in the minors.  

[JAG]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

I like Duran, and I hope he turns it around for this team next year.  But I really can't blame anyone for thinking it may be time to move on from him, it might even be what they should do. 

 

I like Duran and wish hi,m luck on whatever team he plays for next year as long as it isn't Boston, this offense needs professional hitters instead of a bunch of has beens injury prone utility players because they are cheap