Red Sox Offseason Mega Thread

[FredLynn]

On 11/12/2026 at 5:28 AM, notin said:

So you’re angry Breslow won’t spend even when there is nothing worth buying?

I expect Breslow to do his job, which is STILL getting a very good bat or two to turn this team into a contender. I don't care HOW he does it.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I expect Breslow to do his job, which is STILL getting a very good bat or two to turn this team into a contender. I don't care HOW he does it.

Two? Nah. 

[FredLynn]

On 11/11/2026 at 9:40 AM, notin said:

Do the owners really want a cap? It seems like if, say, the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees wanted one, they could consider not spending so much.  A self-imposed cap.

And a cap would naturally come with a floor, much to the chagrin of the cheaper owners.  Plus the revenue-sharing from the luxury tax would be adversely affected, cutting into those small market payouts.   How else are the Marlins’ owners getting money?  From those 600 tickets they sell each game?
 

What team owners really want a cap and why?

In my latest poll of team owners 24  owners wanted a cap and six don't.

Of course I don't know what the owners want, one by one-only what I have read. The owners want a cap; the players don't. As for the floor, if owners can't afford the floor they shouldn't be owners.

[FredLynn]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Two? Nah. 

I said one or two. Last winter he got Contreras, but I don't expect him to have another career year this year.

[mvp 78]

Just now, FredLynn said:

I said one or two. Last winter he got Contreras, but I don't expect him to have another career year this year.

I'm not sure they'll get one TBH. 

[FredLynn]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

I'm not sure they'll get one TBH. 

I'm pretty sure that they will get NONE. Its how they work. They'll brag about how much they like this team then make excuses when they either fail to make the playoffs or do another one and out. 

Its getting old.

[notin]

2 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

In my latest poll of team owners 24  owners wanted a cap and six don't.

Of course I don't know what the owners want, one by one-only what I have read. The owners want a cap; the players don't. As for the floor, if owners can't afford the floor they shouldn't be owners.

Does this poll indicate “wanting a cap as a negotiating ploy” or “actually wanting a cap in place because self-imposed spending limits are just too complicated”?

 

A cap does nothing for owners beyond police where self-policing failed.  But by saying they need a cap, they can then use it to have the players give up something like shorter years to free agency or deferred money or a maximum contract length or whatever it is they truly want.

A poll is useless.  No owner is going to say “we don’t really care about a cap. We’re just saying we want one because we know they don’t”

[FredLynn]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Does this poll indicate “wanting a cap as a negotiating ploy” or “actually wanting a cap in place because self-imposed spending limits are just too complicated”?

 

A cap does nothing for owners beyond police where self-policing failed.  But by saying they need a cap, they can then use it to have the players give up something like shorter years to free agency or deferred money or a maximum contract length or whatever it is they truly want.

A poll is useless.  No owner is going to say “we don’t really care about a cap. We’re just saying we want one because we know they don’t”

They've been trying to get a cap for years. The players have rejected it for years. I think its going to come to a head this year.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

They've been trying to get a cap for years. The players have rejected it for years. I think its going to come to a head this year.

A safe bet that the next CBA won't have a cap included in it IMO. 

[FredLynn]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

A safe bet that the next CBA won't have a cap included in it IMO. 

I wouldn't bet on that. I think its 50/50 at this point. And I think there will be a long lockout.

[notin]

58 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I expect Breslow to do his job, which is STILL getting a very good bat or two to turn this team into a contender. I don't care HOW he does it.

Counting Mead?  The guy had 2 PA so he really wasn’t part of the problem…

[mvp 78]

21 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I wouldn't bet on that. I think its 50/50 at this point. And I think there will be a long lockout.

Owners already backed off having a cap for '27. The amount of concessions the owners would have to do seem unlikely to get a cap in place. 

[JoeBrady]

On 11/11/2026 at 12:40 PM, notin said:

What team owners really want a cap and why?

IMVHO, it is mis-direction.  They want revenue, and not enough teams will go to war over a salary cap that doesn't affect them.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Two? Nah. 

Not everyone takes into account the positions that they want to upgrade, by how much, and what the cost is.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Owners already backed off having a cap for '27. The amount of concessions the owners would have to do seem unlikely to get a cap in place. 

That is false. This is from today's Yahoo Sports: 

 

""MLB owners do not intend to pivot from their insistence on a salary cap and floor " Baseball Is Dead quoted Jess Passan.

Do you have an update where the owners have renounced a cap?

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Counting Mead?  The guy had 2 PA so he really wasn’t part of the problem…

Mead isn't the solution

[JAG]

13 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Mead isn't the solution

No he isn't, get Lowe and the kid from Japan. Bauers is just a decent power bat but not the solution.

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

That is false. This is from today's Yahoo Sports: 

 

""MLB owners do not intend to pivot from their insistence on a salary cap and floor " Baseball Is Dead quoted Jess Passan.

Do you have an update where the owners have renounced a cap?

They said the cap wouldn't apply in 27 and would push the start back to 28. Already negotiating against themselves. 

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

Not everyone takes into account the positions that they want to upgrade, by how much, and what the cost is.

Correct, because building a baseball team is not about filling every position like a checklist.  WE dont need Alonso because that position is already checked! Its already checked! Oh the horror.

[mvp 78]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I'm not sure they'll get one TBH. 

Really nailed it TBH. Proud of myself today.

[drewski6]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Owners already backed off having a cap for '27. The amount of concessions the owners would have to do seem unlikely to get a cap in place. 

A safe bet is that there wont be a cap for 2027.  You would need to give teams a couple years to get under. But the next CBA may include a cap that becomes effective 2029. Not saying it will. Just saying these are not the same safeness of bet:
 

1. There will be no cap in 2027
2. The next cba will not introduce a cap.

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Really nailed it TBH. Proud of myself today.

you could split hairs and say that hes merely a good bat and not a very good bat.  Not to imply Im saying that.  But I guess if you said Im not sure they will get even one (very good bat) because they are ur words, you are prob the best judger of where the bar is for "very good bat" and whether or not Bauer counts to you as a "very good bat"

Or you could even go the other way. I said they wouldnt get a very good bat.  Bauer is a very very good bat, so he doesnt count.  I dont know how many will buy it, but Id respect the attempt.