Red Sox Roundup, Oct 12: Offseason Questions, Injury Concerns, Non-Tender Risks

[drewski6]

If the lockout is quick and we enter next year with the same overall lux tax/penalty/two threshold structure - I am not super confident they wont go above the second threshold.

[drewski6]

Maybe Im just an optimist, but I dont see JH as this major tight wad.  I think most of our issues are Bloom and Breslow.  

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Maybe Im just an optimist, but I dont see JH as this major tight wad.  I think most of our issues are Bloom and Breslow.  

Look at this guy carrying water for our tightwad owner! 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

If the lockout is quick and we enter next year with the same overall lux tax/penalty/two threshold structure - I am not super confident they wont go above the second threshold.

I'd bet a jar of marinara they won't go over it. 

[moonslav59]

6 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Its the complacency / acceptance that bothers me , not that we dont win every year.  I just want to try to get more offense without Brez's ego/mouth getting in his own way.  But Moon would point out that we are seeing that with Mead and AR, and I was happy with those moves.

I'm curious as to who is "complacent."

Breslow? I've never seen a Sox GM make so many significant moves is such a short time, and the vast majority exceeded expectations, especially if you cherry-pick the start date as right after the Sale trade. Success or not, nobody can say he's been complacent.

Are you talking about posters who think we don't need to do much this winter? I'm seeing a lot of disagreement over what is needed, but it seems like everyone is asking for something significant.

[notin]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

I

And teh complacency contingent is back, yet again, to tell us, dont expect improvement.  Am I getting trolled?

Dude, according to my dictionary and dictionary.com, the definition of “complacency” isn’t “does not agree with drewski”…

[notin]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd bet a jar of marinara they won't go over it. 

Newman’s Marinara?

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, notin said:

Dude, according to my dictionary and dictionary.com, the definition of “complacency” isn’t “does not agree with drewski”…

If he means a few fans are for keeping status quo, I get it. (Is status quo bringing back Gray and replacing $6M IKF and $9M Sandoval with a $15M addition?)

I'm not seeing anyone showing complacency.

[notin]

13 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

If he means a few fans are for keeping status quo, I get it. (Is status quo bringing back Gray and replacing $6M IKF and $9M Sandoval with a $15M addition?)

I'm not seeing anyone showing complacency.

The thing - know where the flaws are.

If you rank the Sox hitters by plate appearance, numbers 6 thru 8 are, in order, Monasterio, Yoshida, and Sogard.  Two utility infielders in your top 8 is really bad.  Heck, THREE non-starters in the lineup overall is not a good thing, even if the trio combines for only 15% of your team’s total plate appearances.

So back to 2b/DH, where these 3 got their PAs.  I figure Mead to fill one of these roles, most likely 2b.  (He played all 4 innings at 2b for Boston.). He also might DH full time, or to maybe be a platoon DH.

So I could see adding a big bat at DH, a leadoff hitter for 2b, or a combination of an offensive 2b and a LHH DH…

[Larry Cook]

The current 2 deep offensive depth chart clearly shows holes that need to be addressed. 
 

I think bres-slow approaches it the same way he did with pitching! Stash guys in Worcester and the DL. 

[mvp 78]

18 hours ago, notin said:

Newman’s Marinara?

Not a fan TBH.

[notin]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Not a fan TBH.

You know the proceeds all go to summer camps that take in underprivileged children and teach them how to mass produce pasta sauces and salad dressings and salsas…

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, notin said:

The thing - know where the flaws are.

If you rank the Sox hitters by plate appearance, numbers 6 thru 8 are, in order, Monasterio, Yoshida, and Sogard.  Two utility infielders in your top 8 is really bad.  Heck, THREE non-starters in the lineup overall is not a good thing, even if the trio combines for only 15% of your team’s total plate appearances.

So back to 2b/DH, where these 3 got their PAs.  I figure Mead to fill one of these roles, most likely 2b.  (He played all 4 innings at 2b for Boston.). He also might DH full time, or to maybe be a platoon DH.

So I could see adding a big bat at DH, a leadoff hitter for 2b, or a combination of an offensive 2b and a LHH DH…

We need to plan on injuries, but if you go by PA numbers in 2026 and count players with PAs elsewhere, AR would be #6 with 410 and Mead would be #8 at 329. They'd knock Sogard (277) and Story (266) out of the top 9. However, we need to play a SS, despite what Fred and the positions don't matter crowd might think.

I think Mead (2B/DH) or Anthony (LF/DH) can fill the DH, either FT or as some sore of rotation at DH with platoons at LF and 2B, when that players is at DH. (Jones v LHPs in LF and maybe Seigler at 2B v RHPs?) However, I'd rather we just add a LF'er (Suzuki) or 2Bman (BLowe?) and keep those platoon guys as bench pieces.

The easiest way to greatly improve the offense is to make a major upgrade at SS. Maybe some posters don't think we need a major upgrade. Maybe some posters think Arias is the real deal, and even if it takes him a year or two to be a plus on offense, it's worth it. Maybe some see Arias as a way to create budget space for a big add at another slot. Maybe a combo of all. While I can see this reasoning as being logical, I think our other slots look so much better than SS on offense, that any major add we make will not be as large an upgrade over one at SS.

Maybe the offer for a top all-around SS would have to be....

Arias

Gonzales of Primera

Valera or Delzine

Maybe add Duran or Romy, Sogard, Monasterio or Seigler, or maybe 3 of those 4 add on prospects I listed. (I think we'd keep Godbout.)

The risk is high, but I don't think a few minor tweaks will do it this winter.

[notin]

46 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

We need to plan on injuries, but if you go by PA numbers in 2026 and count players with PAs elsewhere, AR would be #6 with 410 and Mead would be #8 at 329. They'd knock Sogard (277) and Story (266) out of the top 9. However, we need to play a SS, despite what Fred and the positions don't matter crowd might think.

I think Mead (2B/DH) or Anthony (LF/DH) can fill the DH, either FT or as some sore of rotation at DH with platoons at LF and 2B, when that players is at DH. (Jones v LHPs in LF and maybe Seigler at 2B v RHPs?) However, I'd rather we just add a LF'er (Suzuki) or 2Bman (BLowe?) and keep those platoon guys as bench pieces.

The easiest way to greatly improve the offense is to make a major upgrade at SS. Maybe some posters don't think we need a major upgrade. Maybe some posters think Arias is the real deal, and even if it takes him a year or two to be a plus on offense, it's worth it. Maybe some see Arias as a way to create budget space for a big add at another slot. Maybe a combo of all. While I can see this reasoning as being logical, I think our other slots look so much better than SS on offense, that any major add we make will not be as large an upgrade over one at SS.

Maybe the offer for a top all-around SS would have to be....

Arias

Gonzales of Primera

Valera or Delzine

Maybe add Duran or Romy, Sogard, Monasterio or Seigler, or maybe 3 of those 4 add on prospects I listed. (I think we'd keep Godbout.)

The risk is high, but I don't think a few minor tweaks will do it this winter.

Wasn’t looking at what Rutschman or Mead did elsewhere.  Just who batted and how often amongst the 6,112 plate appearances from the Boston Red Sox last year.

Not sure how you concluded SS is the easiest upgrade on a team that had no real second baseman (again!) and really , had a DH that can hit but no real pop and also only played half the year.  I mean, to upgrade SS, you need to find a player that can play SS and can hit. That’s not a tiny list, but definitely a limited one. 

For DH, just get a hitter.  Who cares if he can field? Just need him to hit.  I am more in favor of DH platoons than any other position.  But Jahmai Jones can be granted free agency.   A left-handed hitting DH to platoon with Mead (not a Yoshida abd DEFINITELY not Gasper) and a 2b to hit atop the lineup makes sense here.

I think this might be the year to pry Ketel Marte out of AZ.  Marte’s salary is $12mill this year and $66mill over the following 3 years.  They hold him one more year, they risk a pricey decline.  I could see them selling a tad more eagerly this year.  I could also see then being steadfastly loyal to him as a player.  Tough call…

 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Not sure how you concluded SS is the easiest upgrade on a team that had no real second baseman (again!) and really...

Don't know how?

We added Mead. We should have Romy returning (6th in PAs in 2025.) Sogard/Seigler are decent depth.

You may not trust Mead will do well, but he was a major addition. 

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

Wasn’t looking at what Rutschman or Mead did elsewhere.  Just who batted and how often amongst the 6,112 plate appearances from the Boston Red Sox last year.

Yes, I know what you presented, but the Sox 6-8 players listed have other players that did and should again surpass them in PAs for 2027.

[and we] ...had a DH that can hit but no real pop and also only played half the year.  

I don't see Yoshida as out DH next year, but even if he is, he'll hit better than our SS slot. Also, I have named LF/DH or 2B/DH as second on the positional slots needing an upgrade. I have also said I'd be fine with Arias at SS, if we added an elite bat at LF/DH or 2B/DH. (Suzuki or Sato.)

[moonslav59]

16 minutes ago, notin said:

I think this might be the year to pry Ketel Marte out of AZ.  Marte’s salary is $12mill this year and $66mill over the following 3 years.  They hold him one more year, they risk a pricey decline.  I could see them selling a tad more eagerly this year.  I could also see then being steadfastly loyal to him as a player.  Tough call…

I doubt it. He's one year closer to further decline, but hey, I thought Arrenado was going to hit .600 this year.

Marte at 2B, Mead at SS and Anthony in LF would be an improvement, and if AZ would take Duran and maybe Godbout and no major others I'd think about it, but I doubt they do.

[notin]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I doubt it. He's one year closer to further decline, but hey, I thought Arrenado was going to hit .600 this year.

Marte at 2B, Mead at SS and Anthony in LF would be an improvement, and if AZ would take Duran and maybe Godbout and no major others I'd think about it, but I doubt they do.

Mead at SS? 
 

Unless they trade Arias, we know how SS plays out. Story until he gets hurt (real or convenient), followed by Arias.

Mead probably just takes over 2b, but if not an upgrade at leadoff from Marte could be significant…

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I doubt it. He's one year closer to further decline, but hey, I thought Arrenado was going to hit .600 this year.

Marte at 2B, Mead at DH and Anthony in LF would be an improvement, and if AZ would take Duran and maybe Godbout and no major others I'd think about it, but I doubt they do.

 

[moonslav59]

Just now, notin said:

Mead at SS? 
 

Unless they trade Arias, we know how SS plays out. Story until he gets hurt (real or convenient), followed by Arias.

Mead probably just takes over 2b, but if not an upgrade at leadoff from Marte could be significant…

Fixed it: DH

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

Unless they trade Arias, we know how SS plays out. Story until he gets hurt (real or convenient), followed by Arias.

Mead probably just takes over 2b, but if not an upgrade at leadoff from Marte could be significant…

I'm like 99.5% sure Story/Arias are the Sox SSs for 2027.

That doesn't stop me from voicing my opinion that SS is the most bang for the buck slot to improve for 2027.

Arias may be a great player, especially from 2028 or 2029 onwards. I'm just not prepared to wait that long, and our window of quality & in-prime core players will be dwindling by 2029.

[moonslav59]

To max out our chances for 2027 without giving up on the 2-4 year window, I'd not only get a great SS, I'd try to add a secondary bat or bring back Gray (or add N Martinez on a short deal or Morejon.)

1. L Anthony LF

2. S de la Cruz SS (or L Abrams)

3. R Contreras 1B

4. R Sato DH

5. L Abreu RF

6. R Mead 2B

7. S AR C

8. R Durbin 3B

9. R Rafaela CF

[notin]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Fixed it: DH

Mead at full time DH is certainly possible.  It’s not like the market has any other options.  Josh Bell might be pretty underrated, but at the end of the day he still isn’t very good.  Not sure who is available via trade.  Shea Langeliers makes sense as trade bait for Vegas, but at what cost? 

[moonslav59]

48 minutes ago, notin said:

Mead at full time DH is certainly possible.  It’s not like the market has any other options.  Josh Bell might be pretty underrated, but at the end of the day he still isn’t very good.  Not sure who is available via trade.  Shea Langeliers makes sense as trade bait for Vegas, but at what cost? 

I could see Mead at DH most of the time with maybe Anthony for most of the other times. (Gasper, Romy or Casas could win some time by proving they are healthy and as good as they were or once were.)

Ideally, Mead would DH vs RHPs (about 70%) and Anthony or Romy/Jones v LHPs (30%) but we'd need someone who hits RHPs well at 2B for 110 games or so (Story or Seigler???) More likely, we'd play Mead at 2B vs RHPs and Sogard v LHPs and DH Gapser or Yoshida v R.

We could also try to limit Anthony's exposure to injury situations by DH him FT or most of the time. He could DH v RHPs (70%) with Romy/Casas/Jones v LHPs, but I don't want Duran in LF vs RHPs, and I doubt we keep White & or Jones. anyway.

There is an advantage to having some flex at DH/LF/2B. It allows us to seek players at 3 slots not one, and if you agree we need a SS, we can say it's 4 slots. (Technically, we could say CF and RF, and add one but move him to LF, so maybe we could just say add someone who doesn't play C, 1B or 3B.

[Old Red]

16 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I could see Mead at DH most of the time with maybe Anthony for most of the other times. (Gasper, Romy or Casas could win some time by proving they are healthy and as good as they were or once were.)

Ideally, Mead would DH vs RHPs (about 70%) and Anthony or Romy/Jones v LHPs (30%) but we'd need someone who hits RHPs well at 2B for 110 games or so (Story or Seigler???) More likely, we'd play Mead at 2B vs RHPs and Sogard v LHPs and DH Gapser or Yoshida v R.

We could also try to limit Anthony's exposure to injury situations by DH him FT or most of the time. He could DH v RHPs (70%) with Romy/Casas/Jones v LHPs, but I don't want Duran in LF vs RHPs, and I doubt we keep White & or Jones. anyway.

There is an advantage to having some flex at DH/LF/2B. It allows us to seek players at 3 slots not one, and if you agree we need a SS, we can say it's 4 slots. (Technically, we could say CF and RF, and add one but move him to LF, so maybe we could just say add someone who doesn't play C, 1B or 3B.

Limit little A exposure to injury by DH him? He gets hurt swinging, or check swinging the bat. If you have to limit exposure to injury for a 22 year old he must be a real candy a**.🙈🤭

[mvp 78]

On 10/24/2026 at 1:00 PM, notin said:

You know the proceeds all go to summer camps that take in underprivileged children and teach them how to mass produce pasta sauces and salad dressings and salsas…

Definitely tastes like kids make it. 

[mvp 78]

On 10/24/2026 at 3:14 PM, moonslav59 said:

We need to plan on injuries

And plan on players having off years too. 

[mvp 78]

On 10/24/2026 at 4:38 PM, notin said:

Mead at SS? 

Rafaela to SS

Mead to CF

[mvp 78]

On 10/24/2026 at 6:20 PM, notin said:

Josh Bell might be pretty underrated, but at the end of the day he still isn’t very good.  

The only real difference between Bell and Masa is that Bell is healthy. 

[drewski6]

well arent you all having a nice conversation on a topic i brought up without me.

What? I meant that sincerely.  Sorry if it SOUNDED sarcastic