Red Sox Pre-Offseason Mega Thread

[JoeBrady]

On 10/29/2026 at 2:43 PM, mvp 78 said:

I think Jarren just believes there's a path to more $$$ in trying to hit 30 dingers. 

I don't think Duran thinks at all.  His LA went from 12.0 to 12.5.  His EV went from 91.8 down to 89.6.  I see no evidence that either he or the team tried to change anything.  I think he just ha a bad year.  No more psychoanalyzing the team, unless everyone passed Psyche101.

[JoeBrady]

On 10/29/2026 at 2:52 PM, moonslav59 said:

We should project to be better on offense before any moves, but I am firmly in the camp of adding a major bat (or two really good ones.)

I don't mind adding, but we will be a good offensive team next year.

[JoeBrady]

On 10/29/2026 at 3:00 PM, moonslav59 said:

Minor league hype is often designed to build interest and expectations in order to fill the seats.

One more urban myth.  There are major companies that earn good coin assessing and ranking minor league players and farms.  Fans want their farms to be good.  But the rankings are the numbers.  If a farm is ranked #30, the team is not going to come out and say 'we have a great farm'.  If anyone disagrees, feel free to write to BA, BP, FG, etc., and offer your professional opinion.  I'm sure it will get the consideration it deserves.

[jdc69]

7 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I don't think that's a real thing.  I doubt any team goes up to a prospect and asks them to replace a veteran's production.  I think it's more likely to be 'don't try to do too much too soon'.

They dont have to ask him. The action itself does the talking. He's their hyped future, they want to win, they get rid of established stars, they put him high up in the batting order... Just putting him high in the batting order says he's supposed to a big reason for their future success. Add to that the grumpy, viscious sports climate in New England, and you have the makings of super high pressure for a guy coming straight from the minors.

[JoeBrady]

23 hours ago, notin said:

If they had opted for the polar bear, the Red Sox would be the only team whose AAA mascot would eat their AA mascot…

If JH wasn't so cheap, you could've signed up a real polar bear.  Then have a contest.  The polar bear starts on 1st, and a (Yankee) fan starts on 2nd.  If he (Yankee) fan reaches the BP 1st, he gets $1M.  If he doesn't, then well, he doesn't.

And this conversation about sellout ends forever.

[JoeBrady]

5 hours ago, drewski6 said:

So if we have unrealistic optimism regarding injury luck, and we assume no dro offs, we may be better than 25th best offense.

This is just the same recipe as last offseason, and you may get that great luck, but most likely we will have 1-2 injuries and/or drop-offs, and we'll be here again next year after a similar season to the one we just had.

Except that:

• RA (.803) replaces Duran (.627)
• AR (.753) replaces Narvaez (.535)
• Mead (.709) replaces Mayer (.594)

Obviously we are much, much improved from the team that started 2026.

[Old Red]

19 minutes ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

What were his numbers if you take away the end of 2025?  I know he was hurt and had to do effectively 2 spring trainings but he was not good this season, at the plate or in the outfield.  Not calling him a bust but surely disappointed, especially after the World Baseball Classic.  

13-47-.271 is just not the face of the franchise numbers not to mention a MVP type candidate numbers.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

got the fanbase to be so complacent.

This is not really a real thing either.  Just because one fan would prefer to upgrade DH instead of SS, and another fan wants to add offense, but not at the expense of defense, and a 4th fan definitely wants to improve the offense, but believes we need an OBP-machine leading off, doesn't make them complacent.

You and Red seem to be stuck on the idea that only HR hitters count.  Just imho, that's not what baseball statistics say.

[JoeBrady]

18 minutes ago, jdc69 said:

they put him high up in the batting order...

Mayer batting order by PAs, was #7, #8, and #6.  Not high at all.

Campbell's order was #6, #7, and #4.  Higher, but both guys were basically #6/7 hitters.  Anthony certainly batted higher, but his hitting doesn't seem affected by where they hit him.  His issue, so far, are injuries.

[Old Red]

9 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

This is not really a real thing either.  Just because one fan would prefer to upgrade DH instead of SS, and another fan wants to add offense, but not at the expense of defense, and a 4th fan definitely wants to improve the offense, but believes we need an OBP-machine leading off, doesn't make them complacent.

You and Red seem to be stuck on the idea that only HR hitters count.  Just imho, that's not what baseball statistics say.

False narrative on me. I have NEVER said that ONLY HR hitters count, and nor do i think that. They are nice to have though. I think there is a correlation of hitting 23 less homers this year, and scoring 97 less runs. 23 homers during the 15 game winning streak played a big part too.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

What were his numbers if you take away the end of 2025?  I know he was hurt and had to do effectively 2 spring trainings but he was not good this season, at the plate or in the outfield.  Not calling him a bust but surely disappointed, especially after the World Baseball Classic.  

It's only really disappointing if you expected a rookie to hit way better than .803 in his first 545+ PAs.

The bummer was missed time on the IL.

I'm hopeful he can improve on .803 and power, but I'll take .803 while going 150+ games year as being good enough for his contract.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

One more urban myth.  There are major companies that earn good coin assessing and ranking minor league players and farms.  Fans want their farms to be good.  But the rankings are the numbers.  If a farm is ranked #30, the team is not going to come out and say 'we have a great farm'.  If anyone disagrees, feel free to write to BA, BP, FG, etc., and offer your professional opinion.  I'm sure it will get the consideration it deserves.

No, they don't brag about their team or their bad ranking, but they certainly choose a few of their best players and promote (hype) them to their fans.

If they don't, they need a new PR department head.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Old Red said:

13-47-.271 is just not the face of the franchise numbers not to mention a MVP type candidate numbers.

.271 is the number on the back of the card. Stop changing numbers.

[Old Red]

47 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It's only really disappointing if you expected a rookie to hit way better than .803 in his first 545+ PAs.

The bummer was missed time on the IL.

I'm hopeful he can improve on .803 and power, but I'll take .803 while going 150+ games year as being good enough for his contract.

.803 May sound better, but 13-47-.271 does not along with 150 K’s. Lowering his standards just calling him a Rookie. He was supposed to be the ROMan Empires. MVP candidate. He was never going to be just a rookie. Unless he hasn’t lived up to his hype, and expectations, and then you make excuses for him.