Red Sox sign Jake Bauers

[a700hitter]

When I mentioned him during the World Series, people Pooh-poohed it.  I guess the Red Sox thought differently.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/11/red-sox-sign-jake-bauers.html

[a700hitter]

He can play the OF and 1B.  Interesting move for what it will mean for future moves.  Duran is probably a goner.  Casas is in limbo at best.  Contreras and his short fuse might pull a Devers.   I’d be happy to move him as I consider him to be a powder keg.

[jad]

I thought we already had a roster full of .220 hitters.

 

[JAG]

I like Bauers but what does this mean for signing the kid from Japan or Lowe? Breslow always goes for the 2nd tier free agents. Losing grey will be a blow also.

[Old Red]

5 minutes ago, JAG said:

I like Bauers but what does this mean for signing the kid from Japan or Lowe? Breslow always goes for the 2nd tier free agents. Losing grey will be a blow also.

Meh. Cheaper option.

[Michigan Adam2]

Guy had 26hr and .386 obp with 94 walks. 86 rbi. He had a very good year, but by far his best year. 4 year deal but not huge money. Lh hitter. Duran and masa likely need to leave for peanuts. 

[mvp 78]

He's not going to HR at Fenway. The epitome of a career year FA signing. 🙃

[WoxburyWommunityWollege]

We are probably in for an exciting offseason because it seems like the Red Sox need to trade away at least like 3-4 guys from their 40 man roster.  They have way too many positional players within their org.  Yoshida is probably gone but I'm not really firmly in the trade-Duran camp - just because he's so reliable (in terms of durability and defense) and Anthony isn't at all.

[Tedballgame]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's not going to HR at Fenway. The epitome of a career year FA signing. 🙃

I have to agree with you. He might hit some homers at Yankee Stadium so that could be good. Seems somewhat of a knee jerk reaction move. Signals that Casas won't be a factor unless he tears up AAA. Yoshida will be gone, along with Duran. Bauers/Contreras will split time between 1B and DH I would guess. Although, maybe Contreras gets traded while his value is high but that wouldn't seem to be a good move to lose a power bat when they have so few. 

[mvp 78]

Bauers: 863 OPS vs RHP

BOS: 710 OPS vs RHP (22nd)

[mvp 78]

This definitely is the end to Masa's stay in BOS. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

"WHERE will we play Bauers?"

How about: right in the heart of the batting order!

And let's settle something right now. The Red Sox didn't sign this guy because he hit .095 in the World Series. In the regular season he led the best team in baseball in Home Runs and On Base Percentage. 

You find a place for a bat like that. Good start to the offseason.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

"WHERE will we play Bauers?"

How about: right in the heart of the batting order!

And let's settle something right now. The Red Sox didn't sign this guy because he hit .095 in the World Series. In the regular season he led the best team in baseball in Home Runs and On Base Percentage. 

You find a place for a bat like that. Good start to the offseason.

Yup, get 17 good hitters, make sure some have options...Make sure they are positionally versatile. Put the athletic guys up the middle and the hulks at the corners.  

Positions are suggestions in 2026.  

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

"WHERE will we play Bauers?"

How about: right in the heart of the batting order!

And let's settle something right now. The Red Sox didn't sign this guy because he hit .095 in the World Series. In the regular season he led the best team in baseball in Home Runs and On Base Percentage. 

You find a place for a bat like that. Good start to the offseason.

This guy gets it.

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Yup, get 17 good hitters, make sure some have options...Make sure they are positionally versatile. Put the athletic guys up the middle and the hulks at the corners.  

Positions are suggestions in 2026.  

I don't think you even watch baseball sometimes. 

[drewski6]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

I don't think you even watch baseball sometimes. 

They like that Bauer can play multiple positions, they like that Durbin can play multiple positions, they were willing to go a big chunk with Monasterio at SS

This is and has been the trend.  And its not only the red sox.

[Hitch]

Cheap, not too long, good hitter. Can't grumble in isolation, but this roster (already lopsided), needs a lot of work to make sense.

Yoshida and Duran need moving.

[norbit]

Not a Breslow fan, but I applaud him for making the move pre-cba agreement.  At this point I feel like you have to go all in and make move for an EDLC type.

RF Anthony
SS EDLC
LF Bauer
1B Contreras
DH Gasper
3B Mead
C.   Adley
2B Romy/Sogard
CF Rafeala

That lineup has crazy depth,  I don't know if its possible to get 80-100 games out Bauer in LF, but it does change the dynamic of the lineup,  2028 could see Gonzales in LF and Move Bauer to 1B.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, norbit said:

Not a Breslow fan, but I applaud him for making the move pre-cba agreement.  At this point I feel like you have to go all in and make move for an EDLC type.

RF Anthony
SS EDLC
LF Bauer
1B Contreras
DH Gasper
3B Mead
C.   Adley
2B Romy/Sogard
CF Rafeala

That lineup has crazy depth,  I don't know if its possible to get 80-100 games out Bauer in LF, but it does change the dynamic of the lineup,  2028 could see Gonzales in LF and Move Bauer to 1B.

So its abreu, durbin, and arias for EDLC?  Gotta be honest, dont hate it.

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Cheap, not too long, good hitter. Can't grumble in isolation, but this roster (already lopsided), needs a lot of work to make sense.

Yoshida and Duran need moving.

Certainly at least one, but prob both, yeah.  You can always subtract tho. You may have to eat some money but you can always subtract.

[mvp 78]

Positions are suggestions:

William Contreras C 128 G

Jake Bauers 1B 119 G

Brice Turang 2B 151 G

Cooper Pratt SS 74 G (midseason call up)

David Hamilton 3B 87 G (HULK)

Jackson Chourio LF 123 G

Garrett Mitchell CF 140 G

Sal Frelick RF 104 G (HULK)

Christian Yellich DH 112 G

Aside from Hamilton being a UTIL guy and Bauers playing some OF, none of these guys were moving around. 

 

[Hugh2]

One of the biggest reasons I was initially against Bauers is because it was rumored he'd be offered a Q.O. which didn't make much sense to me but seeing how he has not been I think it's a great pick up.  I just hope it's not the main move they make. 

One thing is certain, They certainly don't have enough room on the roster for another 1b or LF/DH type.  They have Contreras/Duran/Yoshida/Mead/Story etc etc.  If they make any more moves on the offensive side I think the guy needs to definitively be a SS, or a good back up catcher. 

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

They like that Bauer can play multiple positions, they like that Durbin can play multiple positions, they were willing to go a big chunk with Monasterio at SS

This is and has been the trend.  And its not only the red sox.

Bauer can "play multiple positions" but not well! He's worse than Contreras at 1B and a bad OFer on a team with a bunch of them. He's going to be a DH for the most part. 

[mvp 78]

33 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Bauers: 863 OPS vs RHP

BOS: 710 OPS vs RHP (22nd)

This is the biggest reason they like Bauers. It has nothing to do with him being a bad OFer. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

One of the biggest reasons I was initially against Bauers is because it was rumored he'd be offered a Q.O. which didn't make much sense to me but seeing how he has not been I think it's a great pick up.

https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-lose-jake-bauers-gain-2027-draft-pick

He did receive a QO. He just hadn't declined it yet. 

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, norbit said:

Not a Breslow fan, but I applaud him for making the move pre-cba agreement.  At this point I feel like you have to go all in and make move for an EDLC type.

RF Anthony
SS EDLC
LF Bauer
1B Contreras
DH Gasper
3B Mead
C.   Adley
2B Romy/Sogard
CF Rafeala

That lineup has crazy depth,  I don't know if its possible to get 80-100 games out Bauer in LF, but it does change the dynamic of the lineup,  2028 could see Gonzales in LF and Move Bauer to 1B.

Romy 2b

Mead 3b

Anthony RF

Bauers LF

That's quite the fall from the defense the Sox had in 2026. 

[Donnie Sadler was short]

10 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

So its abreu, durbin, and arias for EDLC?  Gotta be honest, dont hate it.

Mead is not a good defender even at 2nd..and you wanna put him at 3rd??

[mvp 78]

Just now, Donnie Sadler was short said:

Mead is not a good defender even at 2nd..and you wanna put him at 3rd??

He's got really bad arm strength too! 77.1 average velo (9th percentile). 

[drewski6]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Positions are suggestions:

William Contreras C 128 G

Jake Bauers 1B 119 G

Brice Turang 2B 151 G

Cooper Pratt SS 74 G (midseason call up)

David Hamilton 3B 87 G (HULK)

Jackson Chourio LF 123 G

Garrett Mitchell CF 140 G

Sal Frelick RF 104 G (HULK)

Christian Yellich DH 112 G

Aside from Hamilton being a UTIL guy and Bauers playing some OF, none of these guys were moving around. 

 

thats one team in a single year.  If you are disagreeing with the statement that guys are switching positions more than they ever have in the past, I dont know what to tell you.

There is a universe in which the rs will play most players at most positions.  Versatility is good.

[WoxburyWommunityWollege]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

He's got really bad arm strength too! 77.1 average velo (9th percentile). 

Bregman also has bad arm strength and just won his second GG at 3B.