A Realistic View at the 2027 Red Sox Part I

[a700hitter]

On 11/10/2026 at 2:11 PM, mvp 78 said:

Mikey Romero a AAA bounceback candidate!

Kristian Campbell a AAA bounceback candidate! 

Up and down relievers! 

SP's that may or may not be developed into relievers! 

If @Dojji still posted, he'd be selling you on the Tyler McDonough experience! 

 

He was all over Daniel Nava to replace Big Papi.

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Jury is still out on Mead.

It was time to turn the page on Marcelo. 

Agreed, but I think Mead will hit over .825 and might do over .875.

[moonslav59]

Romy has been a .762 Batter with the Sox, including .826 in 2025, the year he actually hit .718 v RHPs and had more PAs vs them than LHPs.

He's been one of baseball's best batters vs lefties since 2024. He's hit .892 v L, which is 13th in MLB among players with 300+ PAs in this time frame.

It seems many feel he should not make the 26, but he has an option left, so he could be stashed in AAA to start the season.

Depending on who we add and who is healthy/unhealthy, I'd say he's pretty close to winning a slot on the 26.

[mvp 78]

29 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Romy has been a .762 Batter with the Sox, including .826 in 2025, the year he actually hit .718 v RHPs and had more PAs vs them than LHPs.

He's been one of baseball's best batters vs lefties since 2024. He's hit .892 v L, which is 13th in MLB among players with 300+ PAs in this time frame.

It seems many feel he should not make the 26, but he has an option left, so he could be stashed in AAA to start the season.

Depending on who we add and who is healthy/unhealthy, I'd say he's pretty close to winning a slot on the 26.

The problem with Romy is that he's a below average fielder everywhere and he's only had one very good year hitting RHP. There isn't a big reason to keep a guy on the 26 man roster who can only hit LHP and not much else. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

33 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with Romy is that he's a below average fielder everywhere and he's only had one very good year hitting RHP. There isn't a big reason to keep a guy on the 26 man roster who can only hit LHP and not much else. 

At least Romy is athletic enough to be a fast runner. Jahmai Jones looked immobile in the outfield.

Dunno why I'm posting about guys Brez signed who were cut by other teams.

Oh, maybe it's because guys who were cut by other teams batted clean-up and leadoff for Boston in the playoffs vs. the New York Yankees the past two years!

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

At least Romy is athletic enough to be a fast runner. Jahmai Jones looked immobile in the outfield.

Jones's sprint speed '26: 28.5 (81st percentile)

Romy's sprint speed '25: 28.3 (75th percentile)

Romy used to be a bit of a burner, but he put on some muscle and it has slowed him down. I didn't use his '26 numbers as they were too small of a sample and very low. 

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with Romy is that he's a below average fielder everywhere and he's only had one very good year hitting RHP. There isn't a big reason to keep a guy on the 26 man roster who can only hit LHP and not much else. 

He does have an option, which might be his saving grace.  But with Sogard, Monasterio, and Seigler also already on board, the utility infielder room is looking pretty crowded..

[notin]

57 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

At least Romy is athletic enough to be a fast runner. Jahmai Jones looked immobile in the outfield.

Dunno why I'm posting about guys Brez signed who were cut by other teams.

Oh, maybe it's because guys who were cut by other teams batted clean-up and leadoff for Boston in the playoffs vs. the New York Yankees the past two years!

Adolis Garcia was DFAd by two teams prior to winning the 2023 WS MVP Award…

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The problem with Romy is that he's a below average fielder everywhere and he's only had one very good year hitting RHP. There isn't a big reason to keep a guy on the 26 man roster who can only hit LHP and not much else. 

When you are top 15 in MLB vs LHPs, he will be on someone's 26. If we have Jones on the 26, I can see trading Romy, as Jones is a very good platoon bat, too.

I'm not sure Romy can ever hit .718 v RHPs again, and that's not all that great, but it's not all that bad.

Yes, he sucks on D, even at 1B. I won't be upset, if we trade him. We have too many players like him, Casas, Jones, Monasterio and then the usual suspects: Yoshida, Duran & Story.

To me, we need a RHB more than a LHB, so I like Romy & Jones (not both.)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

11 minutes ago, notin said:

Adolis Garcia was DFAd by two teams prior to winning the 2023 WS MVP Award…

Romy and Jahmai were DFAed by two teams prior to going 1-for-13 with 5 Ks in the Red Sox playoffs...

[mvp 78]

37 minutes ago, notin said:

He does have an option, which might be his saving grace.  But with Sogard, Monasterio, and Seigler also already on board, the utility infielder room is looking pretty crowded..

WOO is going to be stacked this season!

[Behindenemylines]

We are 19 days to the lockout and there has been zero movement on anything (trades or free agents). 

[mvp 78]

37 minutes ago, notin said:

Adolis Garcia was DFAd by two teams prior to winning the 2023 WS MVP Award…

Da heck? Garcia only got a hit in one game in that WS and had 2 total RBI. 

[mvp 78]

It was the ALCS MVP apparently. This has been your Texas Rangers minute!!!

 

[notin]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Da heck? Garcia only got a hit in one game in that WS and had 2 total RBI. 

My mistake. ALCS MVP

[notin]

29 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

We are 19 days to the lockout and there has been zero movement on anything (trades or free agents). 

Just Emilio Pagán signing with Detroit…

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Romy and Jahmai were DFAed by two teams prior to going 1-for-13 with 5 Ks in the Red Sox playoffs...

This whole what they did in the playoffs is near meaningless to me, when it comes to what we can expect/project.

[moonslav59]

46 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

WOO is going to be stacked this season!

It would be more stacked if certain players still had options.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

This whole what they did in the playoffs is near meaningless to me, when it comes to what we can expect/project.

In '03 and '04 Playoffs, Pedro had a 4.39 ERA and gave up HRs like Kutter Crawford. DFA? 

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It would be more stacked if certain players still had options.

You're talking about Contreras, right? Roman does have options!

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You're talking about Contreras, right? Roman does have options!

Moran, Jones, White, and of course Story. What a AAA team!

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Moran, Jones, White, and of course Story. What a AAA team!

Once the lockout ends it may already be: 

C Johanfran

1b Gasper

2b Monasterio

SS Arias

3b Romero

RF Campbell

CF Ward

LF Seigler

DH Casas

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Once the lockout ends it may already be: 

C Johanfran

1b Gasper

2b Monasterio

SS Arias

3b Romero

RF Campbell

CF Ward

LF Seigler

DH Casas

and Romy.

Like I said, why should we target better bench or utility guys?

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

and Romy.

Like I said, why should we target better bench or utility guys?

The better UTIL guys push these guys to AAA. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

The better UTIL guys push these guys to AAA. 

It's about limited resources. We should not have spent $6M on IKF this year not should we spend double that on the better utility guy, Dubon.

Instead of paying $18M for a good bat + $12M for Dubon, just spend $30M on an elite bat.

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The better UTIL guys push these guys to AAA. 

I like Sogard, Seigler and Romy. We don't need all 3 on the 26 nor should we ever have all 3 on the 26, unless 2 infielders are hurt, but to be the upgrade from these 3 to Dubon is not worth that money.

I know- I know, you will claim I'm defending JH's wallet. Joke or not, the restricted budget for real.

[moonslav59]

A lot of focus has been on the batting, but with the loss of Gray, the banter seems to center around the grand return by Crochet and lesser returns by 2024 ace Houck, 2024 IP leader Crawford and long time Mr. Promise Johan Oviedo.

I tend to be on the optimistic side of Sox fandom, and I like the chances that some of these returning pitchers can not only do well enough to replace Gray (and Sandoval, too we should remember) but to also add value to what Sonny gave us, this year. It's no sure bet, and chances are someone gets hurt, or a few do, so even if a few do very well, it may not be enough.

For all we know, a couple of these guys not named Crochet may be used from the pen, leaving us with rotation depth of guys like Paez, Holobetz, Wehunt and Ziehl. I'm not gonna lie: this is not something anyone can be optimistic about. Unless we add someone, we will have to rely on stunningly good health or the confluence of a bunch of decent pitchers all having big years at the same time... maybe both.

That being said, IMO, the need for an elite bat outweighs the need for a major pitching add. Unless JH does something we haven't see in many year, we can't do both. I'm not going to plan on it or expect it.

Knowing Brez, he goes light on trying to add a bat and an arm. Maybe he adds just one (too) light a bat. Ultimately, it's on JH, and I hate counting on that factor. IMO, Brez can trade Duran (save $11M) and maybe save $5-7M by trading Story & Yoshida. Add that to the measly winter budget JH hands Brez and maybe there is enough for one big buy.

Maybe.

[Randy Red Sox]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

A lot of focus has been on the batting, but with the loss of Gray, the banter seems to center around the grand return by Crochet and lesser returns by 2024 ace Houck, 2024 IP leader Crawford and long time Mr. Promise Johan Oviedo.

I tend to be on the optimistic side of Sox fandom, and I like the chances that some of these returning pitchers can not only do well enough to replace Gray (and Sandoval, too we should remember) but to also add value to what Sonny gave us, this year. It's no sure bet, and chances are someone gets hurt, or a few do, so even if a few do very well, it may not be enough.

For all we know, a couple of these guys not named Crochet may be used from the pen, leaving us with rotation depth of guys like Paez, Holobetz, Wehunt and Ziehl. I'm not gonna lie: this is not something anyone can be optimistic about. Unless we add someone, we will have to rely on stunningly good health or the confluence of a bunch of decent pitchers all having big years at the same time... maybe both.

That being said, IMO, the need for an elite bat outweighs the need for a major pitching add. Unless JH does something we haven't see in many year, we can't do both. I'm not going to plan on it or expect it.

Knowing Brez, he goes light on trying to add a bat and an arm. Maybe he adds just one (too) light a bat. Ultimately, it's on JH, and I hate counting on that factor. IMO, Brez can trade Duran (save $11M) and maybe save $5-7M by trading Story & Yoshida. Add that to the measly winter budget JH hands Brez and maybe there is enough for one big buy.

Maybe.

i don't expect either

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

i don't expect either

My suggestions are not predictions, but I don't think the money needed to make it happen is not all that unreasonable.