2026 MLB post-Red Sox postseason thread

[JoeBrady]

On 10/27/2026 at 12:30 PM, notin said:

He’s basically been the same hitter in Milwaukee (OPS+ 80) as he was in Boston(OPS+ of 79).  
 

But the grass is always greener…

IMHO, fans in general don't have an appreciation for role players.  If they aren't a star, they aren't anything.

[JoeBrady]

On 10/27/2026 at 7:18 PM, notin said:

I would put him in the short list of interesting free agents, especially since early reports have NY not offering a QO…

I'd be pretty surprised if the NYY "didn't" offer Jazz a QO.  He's a 3-WAR+ player at a relatively young age.  Unlike RS fans, I think GMs judge players on more than their previous year stats, or previous game stats in some cases.  And while I wouldn't sign him, he has one of the great names in baseball.

Jasrado Hermis Arrington Chisholm

[JoeBrady]

On 10/27/2026 at 11:48 PM, moonslav59 said:

You sure seem to care for someone that doesn't care.

OPS is the easy measure, but in no way was I saying his close to .800 OPS made me right or was okay. Roman came up way short.

I don't understand people's reluctance to a) use new stats, b) understand that almost every stat needs to be used in context.

OPS basically tells you how many runs a team will score.  The top-6 teams in OPS were all in the top-7 in runs scored.

[JoeBrady]

On 10/28/2026 at 8:08 AM, mvp 78 said:

Any guesses on '27? It's someone new every season!

Arias? Mead? Sogard? 

I'd say Mead is almost automatic.

[Hugh2]

20 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd be pretty surprised if the NYY offer Jazz a QO.  He's a 3-WAR+ player at a relatively young age.  Unlike RS fans, I think GMs judge players on more than their previous year stats, or previous game stats in some cases.  And while I wouldn't sign him, he has one of the great names in baseball.

Jasrado Hermis Arrington Chisholm

I think he gets a Q.O. if NY is perfectly comfortable with him accepting it.  Free agency is thin so he doesn't have a ton of competition on the market and a 3 WAR player is roughly worth a Q.O. salary. 

[JoeBrady]

On 10/28/2026 at 8:46 AM, notin said:

But if the Sox are going to sign a position player, what are the better options?  Especially if QO is a factor, which 

Except for maybe trading Arias for DLC, our position players are set (unless one considers DH a 'position').  I've mentioned this several times, but all our players, except SS, project to an OPS+ of > 100.  Our sOPS+ by position:

Split	sOPS+
as C	82
as 1B	119
as 2B	93
as 3B	100
as SS	89
as LF	83
as CF	104
as RF	110
as DH	106

We've address catcher (AR), 2B (Mead), and LF (RA).  Without a trade for DLC, then Story will start, and get cut if he doesn't play well.  Even the mess we have at DH is still better than league-average.

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd be pretty surprised if the NYY offer Jazz a QO.  He's a 3-WAR+ player at a relatively young age.  Unlike RS fans, I think GMs judge players on more than their previous year stats, or previous game stats in some cases.  And while I wouldn't sign him, he has one of the great names in baseball.

Jasrado Hermis Arrington Chisholm

The best fit for him is to stay in NY, but COL should call him up and give him a big contract. 

[Hugh2]

If using FWar, last year a free agent on average cost $8.1 million per WAR. 

The qualifying offer last year was $23.15

That means to a team, a player that projects to be a 2.85 War player or above, is worth the Q.O.

Obviously age and health factor in as well, and I suppose we can't rule out the 2027 cba effect as well

[JoeBrady]

On 10/28/2026 at 8:48 AM, mvp 78 said:

Dewey only had a 110 OPS+ (759 OPS) through 1947 PA! Should have released him probably. 

Mo had a 96 OPS+ (719 OPS) through 659 PA! Not sure why he even was called up as a 25 year old the next season! Suspect!!!

Xander had a 100 OPS+ (748 OPS) through 2652 PA! Should have traded the bum! Not good enough for what should be a WS contender!

In fantasy BB, I will almost never devote a even a top-10 pick to a hitting prospect.  It's just too difficult.  And RS fans would've been irate had we gotten a .672 in his first season, for this current 91.7 bWAR player.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I think he gets a Q.O. if NY is perfectly comfortable with him accepting it.  Free agency is thin so he doesn't have a ton of competition on the market and a 3 WAR player is roughly worth a Q.O. salary. 

He'd turn down the QO for sure. 

[JoeBrady]

On 10/28/2026 at 9:04 AM, moonslav59 said:

Story is probably our best back-up SS for Arias and can maybe play a decent defensive 2B (Mead to DH?)

If Story goes to 2nd, and Mead to DH, then you effectively replacing Yoshida's bat in the lineup, with Story's.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If Story goes to 2nd, and Mead to DH, then you effectively replacing Yoshida's bat in the lineup, with Story's.

Since '23:

689 OPS Story

759 OPS Masa

Downgrading the offense, but upgrading the defense from Mead to Story. Think I'd rather just go with Sogard at 697 OPS and better swing and miss. 

[JoeBrady]

15 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I think he gets a Q.O. if NY is perfectly comfortable with him accepting it.  Free agency is thin so he doesn't have a ton of competition on the market and a 3 WAR player is roughly worth a Q.O. salary. 

That's what my post was supposed to say, but I wasn't in my caffeine mode yet.  I think he is an automatic QO.  I think it was on Sherman's idea that the NYY wouldn't offer him a QO.  I could see a $60M/4 contract.

[notin]

7 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Except for maybe trading Arias for DLC, our position players are set (unless one considers DH a 'position').  I've mentioned this several times, but all our players, except SS, project to an OPS+ of > 100.  Our sOPS+ by position:

Split	sOPS+
as C	82
as 1B	119
as 2B	93
as 3B	100
as SS	89
as LF	83
as CF	104
as RF	110
as DH	106

We've address catcher (AR), 2B (Mead), and LF (RA).  Without a trade for DLC, then Story will start, and get cut if he doesn't play well.  Even the mess we have at DH is still better than league-average.

DH absolutely is a position.  It’s also the easiest spot to add a bat.

Right now, with both Duran and Anthony still on the roster, you could argue they have a DH.  I think it’s time to push Anthony to LF full time, move on from Duran, and add a DH.  Last year, with Duran and Anthony both coming off much (especially Duran) better years, it’s not hard to argue that role was filled.  But this year, hopefully they clear a path for a better bat…

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

DH absolutely is a position.  It’s also the easiest spot to add a bat.

Right now, with both Duran and Anthony still on the roster, you could argue they have a DH.  I think it’s time to push Anthony to LF full time, move on from Duran, and add a DH.  Ladt year, with Duran and Anthony botj coming off much (especially Duran) better years, it’s not hard to argue that role was filled.  But this year, hopefully they clear a path for a better bat…

DFA Masa, trade Duran and make room for Casas at DH! Hard agree!!!

[NHNative]

It seems nearly all members think we are done with Duran...gonna be interesting....dollars and all.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, NHNative said:

It seems nearly all members think we are done with Duran...gonna be interesting....dollars and all.

I think TalkSox is done with Duran, I don't think the front office is 100% done with him. He makes a lot of money and still has a fairly high ceiling (one he probably never reaches again). He'd be a hard guy to trade for many reasons.

[NHNative]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

I think TalkSox is done with Duran, I don't think the front office is 100% done with him. He makes a lot of money and still has a fairly high ceiling (one he probably never reaches again). He'd be a hard guy to trade for many reasons.

ANd he just might have a better 27...the potential is there both O and D.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, NHNative said:

ANd he just might have a better 27...the potential is there both O and D.

I'd rather bet on the potential of:

Roman LF

Mead DH

[NHNative]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd rather bet on the potential of:

Roman LF

Mead DH

Understandable.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd rather bet on the potential of:

Roman LF

Mead DH

Right now, I'd say Mead is a better bet. He didn't injure himself three times in past 12 months swinging a bat... a pitcher did.

And I wouldn't count on Eli White coming back good as new next season, either. He's looking at a tough recovery.

As for Duran, even if the Sox don't move on from him, he's too unreliable and they still need to add a legitimate bat that can play LF and/or DH. 

Signing Arozarena makes too much sense -- but I won't say he's earned his cents (now obsolete).

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd be pretty surprised if the NYY "didn't" offer Jazz a QO.  He's a 3-WAR+ player at a relatively young age.  Unlike RS fans, I think GMs judge players on more than their previous year stats, or previous game stats in some cases.  And while I wouldn't sign him, he has one of the great names in baseball.

Jasrado Hermis Arrington Chisholm

He kind of makes brain farts and seems to not be truly embraced as one of the guys in the clubhouse.  I see him jawing or doing his own thing often.  Hes a solid player, but one who strikes me as one of those mercenary jump around, will fill a spot on your team for a couple years, solid 3 yr band-aid type guys.  Its a good living.  3-4 yr contracts in the 15-20m range , jumping around, always starting and being an above average starter.

[NHNative]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

He kind of makes brain farts and seems to not be truly embraced as one of the guys in the clubhouse.  I see him jawing or doing his own thing often.  Hes a solid player, but one who strikes me as one of those mercenary jump around, will fill a spot on your team for a couple years, solid 3 yr band-aid type guys.  Its a good living.  3-4 yr contracts in the 15-20m range , jumping around, always starting and being an above average starter.

Yup---Boston NEEDS a friendly clubhouse.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Right now, I'd say Mead is a better bet. He didn't injure himself three times in past 12 months swinging a bat... a pitcher did.

And I wouldn't count on Eli White coming back good as new next season, either. He's looking at a tough recovery.

As for Duran, even if the Sox don't move on from him, he's too unreliable and they still need to add a legitimate bat that can play LF and/or DH. 

Signing Arozarena makes too much sense -- but I won't say he's earned his cents (now obsolete).

Roman wasn't healthy when he came back. It was malfeasance that the FO had him come back at all after saying they wouldn't let him swing if he still felt pain. They lied. 

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

He kind of makes brain farts and seems to not be truly embraced as one of the guys in the clubhouse.  I see him jawing or doing his own thing often.  Hes a solid player, but one who strikes me as one of those mercenary jump around, will fill a spot on your team for a couple years, solid 3 yr band-aid type guys.  Its a good living.  3-4 yr contracts in the 15-20m range , jumping around, always starting and being an above average starter.

The reason I think he'd be a good fit for COL is because he's marketable, will launch HRs, steal bags, has been healthy and the more laid back environment would suit him better. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Roman wasn't healthy when he came back. It was malfeasance that the FO had him come back at all after saying they wouldn't let him swing if he still felt pain. They lied. 

Every time the president opens his mouth it's a lie.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

Except for maybe trading Arias for DLC, our position players are set (unless one considers DH a 'position').  I've mentioned this several times, but all our players, except SS, project to an OPS+ of > 100.  Our sOPS+ by position:

Split	sOPS+
as C	82
as 1B	119
as 2B	93
as 3B	100
as SS	89
as LF	83
as CF	104
as RF	110
as DH	106

We've address catcher (AR), 2B (Mead), and LF (RA).  Without a trade for DLC, then Story will start, and get cut if he doesn't play well.  Even the mess we have at DH is still better than league-average.

See this line of thinking is why we are hitting our ceiling.  Its not about checking off each position on a checklist and being satisfied if you have an average player or better there.  Some of us are, and hear me out, trying to beat the best teams in the mlb.

And that is going to require us to get a little uncomfortable vs complacent.  Consider upgrades to elite players where we have average players, and have some players that are good enough to start as our backups.  Most elite teams have depth guys that would start on most teams.

We need to add talent becaus we are stuck in third place.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

If Story goes to 2nd, and Mead to DH, then you effectively replacing Yoshida's bat in the lineup, with Story's.

And then when both get hurt, youll be excusing yet another third place finish and easy out from the playoffs.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

We need to add talent becaus we are stuck in third place.

The guys they have just all need to get better and become elite. Easy peasy. 

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

The guys they have just all need to get better and become elite. Easy peasy. 

I am honestly not ruling out that the offense, as currently constructed,  finishes top 3 in runs scored next year (which is my goal and no I dont think thats asking too much).  If RA stays healthy, one of Duran /Story gets their groove back, Mead is .850+, ditto Contreras.....Cedanne and Durbin are around 110 OPS+.

But its thin, and it requires a lot to go right.  And my biggest beef is that if we have even one injury, it allows Joe Brady to blame our darn luck for yet another season with no playoff series wins (7 years running)....And then he will happily suggest that the architects who built this perennially mediocre squad should get enshrined in history because they make the rest of us frustrated.  And that I am greedy for wanting to go futher than the yankees one out of every 3 years.