Red Sox Pre-Offseason Mega Thread

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

If JH can get Breslow to find a way to shred the Story $$ it will be done whether Arias is ready or not.

With the $5M buyout, he's owed like $30M. At best, Brez might get someone to pay $5-7M.

With Yoshida's $18M, maybe someone pays $4-6M of it.

Trading KC would shed $7.5M from the tax budget.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Roster will likely be similar to this yr save the departure of Sonny Gray and adding a rehabbing SP and a few more depth guys like IKF, Chang, etc.

We may not add a SP. We have 4 coming off the IL.

[Randy Red Sox]

39 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

With the $5M buyout, he's owed like $30M. At best, Brez might get someone to pay $5-7M.

With Yoshida's $18M, maybe someone pays $4-6M of it.

Trading KC would shed $7.5M from the tax budget.

who in god's green earth is paying 7.5 for KC??

[Randy Red Sox]

On 10/9/2026 at 4:22 PM, notin said:

Arias likely isn’t starting the season in Boston without an injury.

Most likely we get Mead (2b), Story (SS), Durbin (3b) and a Mystery Guest (Sato?) at DH. 
 
Mead did display quite a bit of power last year, hitting 17 HRs in 285 ABs.   However he started the year as a weak side platoon before taking over full time.  So, as he does murder LHP, his .852 OPS might have benefited from facing a disproportionate number of southpaws…

JH to CB- who's the best bat you can get on a 1 yr deal and which rehabbing SP that won't pitch till some time in 2028 can you sign to a 2 yr deal so we can pay for his rehab in 2027.  Based on the last several off seasons who can tell me I'm wrong??

[moonslav59]

57 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

who in god's green earth is paying 7.5 for KC??

Like nobody will pay all of Story and Yoshida's deals. I'm talking partial paydowns.

[Randy Red Sox]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Like nobody will pay all of Story and Yoshida's deals. I'm talking partial paydowns.

all 3 of them will almost certainly be back 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

22 hours ago, notin said:

Didn’t you want Boston to start him in their postseason games in New York this season?

I wanted Arias brought up in September. He earned a promotion, just like most top-rated prospects every year who star in their final minor league season.

Boston needs more flash in the field -- the last time they had any of that coming up was four years ago with Rafaela... when was the last time in the infield: Jose Iglesias, 13 years ago?

But the main reason the Dead Sox owed it to their cause and their fans is for Arias' potential to help the offense (which can use serious help, like the average MLB batting order). 

I don't assume Franklin Arias will step in and become an instant threat to win a batting crown, circa Lynn, Boggs or Garciaparra. But he will get challenged by egotistical veteran pitchers -- and maybe he'll barrel for awhile... until they write the book on him.

It happens a lot in the majors, and gives teams a spark, which the Sox can use after mediocre Big Threes and invisible playoff line-ups the last couple years. If he came up for a cup of coffee and raked, why wouldn't they play him in the postseason -- especially when the rest of the line-up was basically the worst in the majors the last month.

I know -- pitiful that I'm just looking for any hope at the plate. But which Sox look more invigorated right now: the one blown out in the Bronx last week or the young whiffers on the south side of Chicago who almost made the ALCS?

 

[JimEd]

35 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I wanted Arias brought up in September. He earned a promotion, just like most top-rated prospects every year who star in their final minor league season.

Boston needs more flash in the field -- the last time they had any of that coming up was four years ago with Rafaela... when was the last time in the infield: Jose Iglesias, 13 years ago?

But the main reason the Dead Sox owed it to their cause and their fans is for Arias' potential to help the offense (which can use serious help, like the average MLB batting order). 

I don't assume Franklin Arias will step in and become an instant threat to win a batting crown, circa Lynn, Boggs or Garciaparra. But he will get challenged by egotistical veteran pitchers -- and maybe he'll barrel for awhile... until they write the book on him.

It happens a lot in the majors, and gives teams a spark, which the Sox can use after mediocre Big Threes and invisible playoff line-ups the last couple years. If he came up for a cup of coffee and raked, why wouldn't they play him in the postseason -- especially when the rest of the line-up was basically the worst in the majors the last month.

I know -- pitiful that I'm just looking for any hope at the plate. But which Sox look more invigorated right now: the one blown out in the Bronx last week or the young whiffers on the south side of Chicago who almost made the ALCS?

 

he didn't get called up because you don't find "spark", or "heart", or "hustle", or "instinct", or "competitiveness" in anal itics.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, JimEd said:

he didn't get called up because you don't find "spark", or "heart", or "hustle", or "instinct", or "competitiveness" in anal itics.

He didn't get called up because there is going to be a lockout and anyone on the 40 man can't workout at team facilities after 12/1. They'd rather keep him off the 40 man for now. 

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

all 3 of them will almost certainly be back 

I think Duran will be gone. JH is too tight with the money, and we have needs elsewhere.

[NHNative]

13 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Duran will be gone. JH is too tight with the money, and we have needs elsewhere.

Seems like the wind is a blowin' this way.

[notin]

12 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

JH to CB- who's the best bat you can get on a 1 yr deal and which rehabbing SP that won't pitch till some time in 2028 can you sign to a 2 yr deal so we can pay for his rehab in 2027.  Based on the last several off seasons who can tell me I'm wrong??

Didn’t the Sox sign Bregman and Suarez in the last two offseasons? Plus deal for Gray and Contreras and Durbin?

They made more moves than just Patrick Sandoval…

[Randy Red Sox]

50 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Duran will be gone. JH is too tight with the money, and we have needs elsewhere.

quite possible

[Randy Red Sox]

22 minutes ago, notin said:

Didn’t the Sox sign Bregman and Suarez in the last two offseasons? Plus deal for Gray and Contreras and Durbin?

They made more moves than just Patrick Sandoval…

Bregman for one year and same with Gray.  Contreras for 2 after missing out on the real big bats. Durbin is a decent player but nothing that great. Only traded for him after Bregman walked.  PS- I didn't want Bregman signed long term so I'/m ok with Durbin.

[Randy Red Sox]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Like nobody will pay all of Story and Yoshida's deals. I'm talking partial paydowns.

partial paydowwn for KC?? 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

In regards to salary cap three of the four remaining teams are ranked 17, 19 and 26 in payroll. 

[NHNative]

I gotta be honest fellas. At this point I am totally lost as to what may or may not happen with our team this winter/spring.

[Randy Red Sox]

1 hour ago, NHNative said:

I gotta be honest fellas. At this point I am totally lost as to what may or may not happen with our team this winter/spring.

just look at what has happened the previous 3-4 offseason and you'll get a pretty good idea

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

just look at what has happened the previous 3-4 offseason and you'll get a pretty good idea

I have no clue what Breslow will do. If the previous two offseasons are an indicator: trades will make the biggest impact and Duran/Story/Masa will still be in Boston next Summer. 

[NHNative]

21 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I have no clue what Breslow will do. If the previous two offseasons are an indicator: trades will make the biggest impact and Duran/Story/Masa will still be in Boston next Summer. 

But....................................

 

 

Everyone knows we need a more affective offense. Can a trade get us a 'crusher'?

[NHNative]

How about this: does the owner and Brez want us to win more games?

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, NHNative said:

But....................................

Everyone knows we need a more affective offense. Can a trade get us a 'crusher'?

A trade sure can. Do the Sox have the assets to swing that trade? IDK.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, NHNative said:

How about this: does the owner and Brez want us to win more games?

Of course. They also believe the 2026 Sox should have won more games than they did. There's a good chance they run the same playbook and hope for 90 wins. 

[NHNative]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

A trade sure can. Do the Sox have the assets to swing that trade? IDK.

Not encouraging

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Of course. They also believe the 2026 Sox should have won more games than they did. There's a good chance they run the same playbook and hope for 90 wins. 

Very not encouraging.

Hey--an idea.

Shed some weight to gain some weight.

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, Randy Red Sox said:

partial paydowwn for KC?? 

Or take back a contract in return, yes.

Every $5M can make a difference.

Plus, I'm not so sure no GM likes KC.

[JimEd]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I have no clue what Breslow will do. If the previous two offseasons are an indicator: trades will make the biggest impact and Duran/Story/Masa will still be in Boston next Summer. 

Bresloverpay has already squandered all of our trade capital. other than Arias, there isn't much to deal.

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, JimEd said:

Bresloverpay has already squandered all of our trade capital. other than Arias, there isn't much to deal.

Squandered is Crochet, Contreras, Mead, Gray, Bennett, AR and Durbin?

[NHNative]

Seeing that the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Blue Jays have expressed interest in T. Sato when he is posted, what are the chance of us getting him?

[moonslav59]

Some BTV numbers:

76 Arias

27 Gonzales

20 Primera

13 Valera

11 Soto, Slaten & Delzine

10 Sogard

5 Cespedes

4 Duran

3 Holobetz

___________________

SS Targets: (control years)

220 Whitt (4)

93 de la Cruz (3)

54 Montgomery (5 yrs)

53 Sanoja (5 yrs) or 44 Otto Lopes (3)

51 Neto ( 3yrs)

47 Henderson (2 yrs)

40 Genao (5 yrs)

33 Masyn Winn (3)

31 Culpepper (5)

31 Cole Young (5)

30 Pena (1 yr)

29 Abrams (2)

-29 Lindor (5)

-42 Seager (5)

-49 Willy Adames (5) How about Story, Yoshida, KC + Duran?

___________

64 Wood (4 yrs)

51 Kurtz (4) & 26 Langeliers (2)

36 Y Alvarez (2)

23 Goodman (3)

9 Wm Contreras (1)

 

[Old Red]

39 minutes ago, NHNative said:

Seeing that the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Blue Jays have expressed interest in T. Sato when he is posted, what are the chance of us getting him?

Bloom shut the bidding down in record time when he went after Masa, but it’s unlikely the Red Sox win out in a situation like this.