A Realistic View at the 2027 Red Sox Part I

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Power bat? Not in Fenway we don’t. 

Yes, we shoulda traded Papi.

[southpaw777]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Cost less than Wong's $2.75M est arb? 

I haven’t looked around at all the available options out there yet. Like all the names I listed, He’s on the chopping block if there is someone available that makes sense. If not he stays.

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Power bat? Not in Fenway we don’t. 

2026 Sox

.408 SLG v L (47 HRs in 1686 PAs) I HR every 36 PAs

.394 SLG v R (116 HRs in 4426 PAs) 1 HR every 38 PAs

 

[southpaw777]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

These aren't 3 Sandovals, who we knew was starting the season on the 60 Day IL (in 2025.) They all are expected to be ready for the first day on ST'ing.

Anybody we pick up in a minor league deal will have a worse history or an equal injury history or both.

We paid big money for Richards, Kluber, Paxton, Buehler, and Sandoval, and you expect us to do better with minor league signings?

I wish you were right. 

I don’t want retreads. We got rid of a lot of cheap depth in trades. We can do the same except this time trade for them. 
we don’t need anything special. It’s depth. If there’s something that makes sense other than the names I listed then we need to make that move. If not, well I guess they get another shot

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I haven’t looked around at all the available options out there yet. Like all the names I listed, He’s on the chopping block if there is someone available that makes sense. If not he stays.

Had we signed Carson Kelly for $7.5M, last winter, maybe we don't overpay for AR.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, southpaw777 said:

I don’t want retreads. We got rid of a lot of cheap depth in trades. We can do the same except this time trade for them. 
we don’t need anything special. It’s depth. If there’s something that makes sense other than the names I listed then we need to make that move. If not, well I guess they get another shot

Are minor league signings better than retreads?

[southpaw777]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Yes, we shoulda traded Papi.

If there was another papi available our owner would pass on him because he’d cost too much nowadays. 

[southpaw777]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Are minor league signings better than retreads?

They seems to be less expensive and not falling apart with injuries

[southpaw777]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

2026 Sox

.408 SLG v L (47 HRs in 1686 PAs) I HR every 36 PAs

.394 SLG v R (116 HRs in 4426 PAs) 1 HR every 38 PAs

 

We need power wherever we can get it…if our owner will pay for it. Not sure what LHB are available

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

They seems to be less expensive and not falling apart with injuries

I think they sign minor league deals because they have been falling apart with injuries or without.

Any pitcher with valid hopes gets a MLB deal.

Hey Rasmussen signed for $8.5M/1, last winter.

The cheapest MLB signings last winter?

$870K Luis Ortiz & Cade Cavelli

$1M P Corbin

$1.2 C Quantrill & J Montgomery

$1.5 Buehler

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

We need power wherever we can get it…if our owner will pay for it. Not sure what LHB are available

B Lowe, but he sucks v LHPs.

Abrams via trade?

DLC is a switch hitter.

The major consideration is that we face RHPs about 70% of the time, so LHBs outweigh RHBs 7-3 off the top, and since we hit RHPs worse, it's compounded.

[mvp 78]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think they need to clear 4 spots right away from what Cotillo said.

Burgos DFA

Cheng DFA

Moran trade

Eaton trade

McAdam floated the idea of DFA'ing Campbell so that you take him off the 40 man, since nobody wants that contract. I think that's more likely to happen next offseason when his options expire. 

I'm 1 for 4 so far.

[moonslav59]

I googled best SP'ers signing minor league deals last winter, and were any of these guys better looking last winter than Houck, Crawford and Oviedo look now?

Carlos Carrasco

Wade Miley

Brad Keller

Jose Urena

Luis Patino

A Kloffenstein

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm 1 for 4 so far.

I heard it's Kurtz 1 for 1.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I heard it's Kurtz 1 for 1.

A DSL pitcher, so not even a scratch off. 

[southpaw777]

17 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think they sign minor league deals because they have been falling apart with injuries or without.

Any pitcher with valid hopes gets a MLB deal.

Hey Rasmussen signed for $8.5M/1, last winter.

The cheapest MLB signings last winter?

$870K Luis Ortiz & Cade Cavelli

$1M P Corbin

$1.2 C Quantrill & J Montgomery

$1.5 Buehler

It’s depth so as long as it doesn’t cost a lot. We already have Bello for a number 6 and then three after him. I’m not ready to pay three oft injured guys 9m when I have at least 4 depth guys already with one already having MLB rotation experience. 

id rather let those guys walk, trade a couple others and use that money to resign Gray or another veteran RH starter on his level and sign a bat with some hr power.

[southpaw777]

26 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

B Lowe, but he sucks v LHPs.

Abrams via trade?

DLC is a switch hitter.

The major consideration is that we face RHPs about 70% of the time, so LHBs outweigh RHBs 7-3 off the top, and since we hit RHPs worse, it's compounded.

Or just get a RHB that can hit both. I mean really, as long as they can hit both arm sides and can hit close to or above 280 with 25 hr I’m good with either side. if they’re pull LH, they’ll need plenty of power.

[southpaw777]

42 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

B Lowe, but he sucks v LHPs.

Abrams via trade?

DLC is a switch hitter.

The major consideration is that we face RHPs about 70% of the time, so LHBs outweigh RHBs 7-3 off the top, and since we hit RHPs worse, it's compounded.

Bauers? OF/1b/DH

guy puts it all together in his age  29 and 30 seasons. He could be someone they don’t have to spend a ton on and get the power numbers. He only made 2.7m in. 2026.

[moonslav59]

54 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

It’s depth so as long as it doesn’t cost a lot. We already have Bello for a number 6 and then three after him. I’m not ready to pay three oft injured guys 9m when I have at least 4 depth guys already with one already having MLB rotation experience. 

id rather let those guys walk, trade a couple others and use that money to resign Gray or another veteran RH starter on his level and sign a bat with some hr power.

If Bello is the 6, I'm missing the 5.

1. Tolle

2. Crochet

3. Suarez

4. Bennett

5._________

6. Bello

7. If no Houck, Crawford & Oviedo is Paez until we add.

8. Wehunt, if added to the 40.

9. Holobetz

10. Ziehl

I'd rather have the 3- Houck, Crawford & Oviedo than 6 Carrascos at $1.5M each.

[moonslav59]

I think Brez thinks he erred by signing Suarez over a big bat, and he views Crochet as Gray's replacement. He's not spending bigly on a SP'er this winter.

Gray is walking.

[mvp 78]

I'd make Houck a late inning reliever. I think I stick Oviedo in the pen too. 

Crochet/Tolle/Suarez/Bennett/Bello/Crawford/Paez/Wehunt/Holobetz

[southpaw777]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

If Bello is the 6, I'm missing the 5.

1. Tolle

2. Crochet

3. Suarez

4. Bennett

5._________

6. Bello

7. If no Houck, Crawford & Oviedo is Paez until we add.

8. Wehunt, if added to the 40.

9. Holobetz

10. Ziehl

I'd rather have the 3- Houck, Crawford & Oviedo than 6 Carrascos at $1.5M each.

I told you I want Gray or another RHP on his level.preferably Gray.

[southpaw777]

30 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Brez thinks he erred by signing Suarez over a big bat, and he views Crochet as Gray's replacement. He's not spending bigly on a SP'er this winter.

Gray is walking.

Dumb move. They need a good RHP and his vet experience is needed.

[moonslav59]

30 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd make Houck a late inning reliever. I think I stick Oviedo in the pen too. 

Crochet/Tolle/Suarez/Bennett/Bello/Crawford/Paez/Wehunt/Holobetz

I agree on Houck taking the Slaten>Miller slot.

I think Oviedo would be better in the pen, but we need SP'er depth. I'd keep him stretched out through ST'ing.

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

Dumb move. They need a good RHP and his vet experience is needed.

I don't think Brez has the luxury to purchase every player he wants.

I would not disagree with Brez thinking a big bat is more important than another SP'er. If he's only got enough for one good player, I wouldn't split the money and get two meh guys.

[Randy Red Sox]

On 10/25/2026 at 1:01 PM, Bellhorn04 said:

Dumping Yoshida and getting a good DH seems like one of the few no-brainers.  

been trying to do that for 2 yrs now--dump Yoshida i mean.  JH won't spend for a real DH

[moonslav59]

33 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

been trying to do that for 2 yrs now--dump Yoshida i mean.  JH won't spend for a real DH

I would say, he's spent a lot on positions of greater need than DH, but here we are: DH is now a top 2-3 high need area.

Top Sox OPS 2025-2026 (on current roster)

200+ PAs

.901 Contreras

.823 Gasper

.803 Anthony

.782 Romy

.778 Abreu

.736 Rafaela

.727 Seigler

.725 Yoshida

.710 Durbin

.708 Sogard

.706 Story

.688 Rutschman

.665 Monasterio

.664 KC

.586 Wong

.580 Casas

 

Look at the shift from 2024-2025:

.859 Anthony (Gotta wonder why we had any hope on this clown)

.805 Duran (Already showing decline)

.786 Romy (Who?)

.784 Abreu (Ready for a career year? NOPE)

.742 Yoshida (Did not look like a one of our weaker need areas, last winter.)

.740 Story (Word is out, many Sox posters projected a repeat of '25)

.730 Casas (I mean, why sign Willson?)

.726 Narvaez (Yup, I fell for the hype.)

.688 Wong (Mr. Consistent)

.686 Rafaela (Talk to Fred.)

.664 KC

.656 Sogard

 

This is interesting: 2023-2024:

.838 Casas

.832 Duran (These top two are laughed at, now.)

.794 Abreu

.775 Yoshida

.723 Romy (always in the top 5)

.720 Wong (our Catcher of the future!)

.664 Rafaela

.630 Story

 

[southpaw777]

33 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I don't think Brez has the luxury to purchase every player he wants.

I would not disagree with Brez thinking a big bat is more important than another SP'er. If he's only got enough for one good player, I wouldn't split the money and get two meh guys.

I agree. if it comes down to it a bat is more of an issue right now. In that case Bello or another reasonable deal would be the number 5.

[moonslav59]

Just now, southpaw777 said:

I agree. if it comes down to it a bat is more of an issue right now. In that case Bello or another reasonable deal would be the number 5.

My wish list is 3 long...

DLC or Abram

Sato or  Suzuki, 

Gray,  Nick Martinez or Morejon

It's a long shot we add 2 of these 7: 

Sato, Suzuki, BLowe or Arozena 

Gray,  Nick Martinez or Maybe Morejon

[NHNative]

I do like Jake Bauer.