2026 MLB post-Red Sox postseason thread

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Guys, no way Reds accept ARias and Durbin for Elly.  Wed have to throw in a ton more.  BUt we need superstars, cuz we have 0 on teh offensive side of the ball.

Arias, Durbin and Monasterio!

[drewski6]

I dont care about the batting order, I just want to not roll forward the #26 ranked offense.  Durbin was the #9 hitter on one of the worst offenses in MLB.  Im not saying hes terrible, but you dont let that stop you from getting the best player in MLB under 26.

[moonslav59]

While no players are ever locks on next year's production levels and everyone has some kind of question, we seem to have more than our fair share of giant questionable players. Many have very high upside potential or even proven big years in recent history, but still, way too many huge questions.

Anthony's health.

Willson's age.

Mead's numbers before his last half season.

Story's health and ability come close to 2025 production.

Casas might not even be mentioned by many, as he's been written off by most.

AR's future, including a possible extension.

Rafaela- when will the continued improvement end or reverse?

Romy, Gasper, Sogard and others have obvious questions. Some are about them even being any good anymore.

Crochet might be #1 on this list.

Bello is close to #2 or 3.

Houck, Crawford, Oviedo.

Chapman's age.

Bennett a fluke?

The rest of the pen.

Farm pitching depth.

KC

No big questions:

Durbin & Abreu seem predictable.

Suarez & Whitlock.

I gotta think we'd feel better with someone like de la Cruz joining the no big question group.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Thats not microscopic. What is swing rate overall?

47.4% overall for MLB. 

Rafaela 57.7% Sox High

Gasper 38.5% Sox Low

 

 

[NHNative]

I agree we need at least one elite bat, as I have said a ton, but I don't wanna give up the core guys who were most instrumental in the streak and Durbin is one of them.

What would Sato or Suzuki cost us?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

On 10/8/2026 at 8:44 AM, Old Red said:

Yankees are now out, and Boonie is now 27-30 in his postseason managerial career. Fire him. Sign Cora, and trade for Raffy. 🤫

Fire 'gut punch' and hire 'we just have to play better.'

[NHNative]

My must haves...

Rut

Rafa

Abreu

Durbin

Contreras (for now)

Sogard

Tolle

Mead

Anthony (a chance)

-------

Gasper

Suarez

 

[drewski6]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

47.4% overall for MLB. 

Rafaela 57.7% Sox High

Gasper 38.5% Sox Low

 

 

Im surprised the overall swing % is that much higher than the first pitch swing %.  I always loved swinging at the first pitch.  Nobody is expecting it and its often a fastball in the zone.  

[NHNative]

BTW---I want Bauers and Mitchell

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

3 minutes ago, NHNative said:

My must haves...

Rut

Rafa

Abreu

Durbin

Contreras (for now)

Sogard

Tolle

Mead

Anthony (a chance)

-------

Gasper

Suarez

 

Isn't Crochet a 'must have?'

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, NHNative said:

My must haves...

Rut

Rafa

Abreu

Durbin

Contreras (for now)

Sogard

Tolle

Mead

Anthony (a chance)

-------

Gasper

Suarez

 

You just named nine hitters and none of which were Adley who is going to start at C.  If you are keeping all these names, there is no room for a bat.  YOu have to be okay with upgrading guys you like (my opinion) or you will forever be a third place team.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

The modern is that batting order doesnt matter very much, and you arent trying to arrange pieces strategically. Modern is nine good hitters.  

I only used the term modern in response to the "folklore" comment.

If nine good hitters is modern, then you should be praising Brez for eliminating the blackholes recent Sox teams often had 2-3 of.

We had nine batters with a 100 OPS+ or better, not counting Jones and Rogers, of course. Also, not counting Mead's 135 and AR who had a 2026 OPS+ of 109, since he was 92 w BOS.

2026 Sox

153 Contreras

135 Mead

132 Gasper

117 Abreu

113 Rafaela

111 Yoshida

109 AR

108 Anthony

106 Sogard + 105 Seigler (450 PAs)

101 Durbin

Oh my, that's 11 or 12!

The Dodgers had 9 players over 100 OPS+ with 8 at 108+ (same as Sox counting Gasper, but LAD is counting Rushing & Smith with 253 & 276 PAs)

MIL had 8. Only 7 at 108+

The Rays had 7. Only 6 at 108+

ATL had 4 (all between 118 and 124)

We have the balance. We need the stud. Stick to one lane.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, NHNative said:

BTW---I want Bauers and Mitchell

I seriously doubt Milwaukee is gonna let Bauers go. I seriously doubt he actually wants to leave.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

You just named nine hitters and none of which were Adley who is going to start at C.  If you are keeping all these names, there is no room for a bat.  YOu have to be okay with upgrading guys you like (my opinion) or you will forever be a third place team.

Rut is Adley 

[drewski6]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

I only used the term modern in response to the "folklore" comment.

If nine good hitters is modern, then you should be praising Brez for eliminating the blackholes recent Sox teams often had 2-3 of.

We had nine batters with a 100 OPS+ or better, not counting Jones and Rogers, of course. Also, not counting Mead's 135 and AR who had a 2026 OPS+ of 109, since he was 92 w BOS.

2026 Sox

153 Contreras

135 Mead

132 Gasper

117 Abreu

113 Rafaela

111 Yoshida

109 AR

108 Anthony

106 Sogard + 105 Seigler (450 PAs)

101 Durbin

Oh my, that's 11 or 12!

The Dodgers had 9 players over 100 OPS+ with 8 at 108+ (same as Sox counting Gasper, but LAD is counting Rushing & Smith with 253 & 276 PAs)

MIL had 8. Only 7 at 108+

The Rays had 7. Only 6 at 108+

ATL had 4 (all between 118 and 124)

We have the balance. We need the stud. Stick to one lane.

I dont praise 0 playoff series wins in 4 years.  I dont praise seeing the team noodlebat right out of the playoffs in 2025, know we need to get much better hitting, and then have like the 25th best offense this last year and noodlebat out right again.  I dont praise firing Cora to keep his job and going with Tracy who was yes, VERY OVERMATCHED in playoffs, the yankees went into the series with like 10 pitchers.  Thats modern!  

Durbin was the nine hitter on a bottom 5 offesne, that to me is a hole.  I dont care what his OP+ is.  Although, GG and .700 isnt bad, so I dont need him gone.  But like you said before, we need some real guys who can carry us.  I hope Brez does more than he does....Because hes finished 5th, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd and has 0 playoff series wins.  I thought results mattered?

[NHNative]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Ad is Adley 

Rut

[drewski6]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I only used the term modern in response to the "folklore" comment.

If nine good hitters is modern, then you should be praising Brez for eliminating the blackholes recent Sox teams often had 2-3 of.

We had nine batters with a 100 OPS+ or better, not counting Jones and Rogers, of course. Also, not counting Mead's 135 and AR who had a 2026 OPS+ of 109, since he was 92 w BOS.

2026 Sox

153 Contreras

135 Mead

132 Gasper

117 Abreu

113 Rafaela

111 Yoshida

109 AR

108 Anthony

106 Sogard + 105 Seigler (450 PAs)

101 Durbin

Oh my, that's 11 or 12!

The Dodgers had 9 players over 100 OPS+ with 8 at 108+ (same as Sox counting Gasper, but LAD is counting Rushing & Smith with 253 & 276 PAs)

MIL had 8. Only 7 at 108+

The Rays had 7. Only 6 at 108+

ATL had 4 (all between 118 and 124)

We have the balance. We need the stud. Stick to one lane.

Weird how this averaged out to a third place team that got made easy work of in the playoffs by a team that turned around and got swept..

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, NHNative said:

Rut

Yeah, I corrected that.

[NHNative]

7 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

You just named nine hitters and none of which were Adley who is going to start at C.  If you are keeping all these names, there is no room for a bat.  YOu have to be okay with upgrading guys you like (my opinion) or you will forever be a third place team.

Rut=Adley

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Weird how this averaged out to a third place team that got made easy work of in the playoffs by a team that turned around and got swept..

Geez, I wonder what Tampa would have done to us?

[drewski6]

If Elly is up for grabs, theres nobody I hold back. I use to think Tolle, but pitchers these days, just get pulled in the fourth inning.  Id prefer to keep him, no doubt.  But Elly is 6'6 lightning fast, good defensive SS, great hitter, contact AND power. Hes better than Soto, hes better than Devers. Hes 25.  Hes prob the best RS player we've had since Betts.

[NHNative]

9 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Isn't Crochet a 'must have?'

Sorry--I hiccupped.

[moonslav59]

Granted, Cora and Tracy kept playing Duran despite being a blackhole, but we didn't need to do it.

The 2023 team only 7 batters with 100+ OPS+ and 150+ PAs. Of our 9 batters with 320+ PAs, Kike was at 62 and Wong was at 78. Verdugo as at 98. The whole bench (5 players with 150-250 PAs) none were over 99.  Brez was handed a team with 3 blackholes and the leading OPS+ guy was Casas at 130. Turner was 3rd and Duvall 4th.

The 2022 team had 2 guys under 84. (Kike & Dalbec) The next 4 were all between 54 and 89. The leader was Devers at 143 and second was Bogey at 131, JD was 117 and Vaz was 108. Story was 102 & Verdugo 101.

 

[NHNative]

Just now, drewski6 said:

If Elly is up for grabs, theres nobody I hold back. I use to think Tolle, but pitchers these days, just get pulled in the fourth inning.  Id prefer to keep him, no doubt.  But Elly is 6'6 lightning fast, good defensive SS, great hitter, contact AND power. Hes better than Soto, hes better than Devers. Hes 25.  Hes prob the best RS player we've had since Betts.

I like what you are saying. We need a bat, but I think Tolle may develop into one of the best and I'd hate to have to say---"man that was a mistake".

[drewski6]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Granted, Cora and Tracy kept playing Duran despite being a blackhole, but we didn't need to do it.

The 2023 team only 7 batters with 100+ OPS+ and 150+ PAs. Of our 9 batters with 320+ PAs, Kike was at 62 and Wong was at 78. Verdugo as at 98. The whole bench (5 players with 150-250 PAs) none were over 99.  Brez was handed a team with 3 blackholes and the leading OPS+ guy was Casas at 130. Turner was 3rd and Duvall 4th.

The 2022 team had 2 guys under 84. (Kike & Dalbec) The next 4 were all between 54 and 89. The leader was Devers at 143 and second was Bogey at 131, JD was 117 and Vaz was 108. Story was 102 & Verdugo 101.

 

Yup and he should have gotten Bregman and Alonso, and we wouldnt have been third place and a snack for a team that was a snack for the rays.

[JoeBrady]

42 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

You'll pencil in for Story at 621 again, but are going to assume 725 for Arias in his first season???

There's a lot of variance in both numbers.  FG predicted a .673 in 2027 for Arias, and that was before his breakout season last year.  .725 could be high, but I'd minor wager on > .700.

[drewski6]

Just now, NHNative said:

I like what you are saying. We need a bat, but I think Tolle may develop into one of the best and I'd hate to have to say---"man that was a mistake".

An elite hitter is worth more than an elite SP.  But I would prefer to not give up Tolle also. I dont think they do Elly for an all prospect trade.  Generally the rule of thumb for an absolute superstar (which elly is) is: a young major league player, a top prospect, and either another top 5 prospect or 2 more 5-10 range prospects.

And Elly is 6'6 , one of the fastest , most athletic, freakish, strongest players in baseball.  And you cant develop that.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, NHNative said:

Sorry--I hiccupped.

Don't worry, I hiccup a lot.

[JoeBrady]

34 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

The modern is that batting order doesnt matter very much, and you arent trying to arrange pieces strategically. Modern is nine good hitters.  

It took me a lot longer than I anticipated to get you here, but we finally agree.  Nine good hitters is the way to go.  Hopefully that concludes our discussion.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, NHNative said:

I like what you are saying. We need a bat, but I think Tolle may develop into one of the best and I'd hate to have to say---"man that was a mistake".

I would tend to believe that Tolle is untouchable as far as a trade.