mvp 78

They added Crochet and still haven't replaced their closer or RHB. Doesn't that make them clear favorites in the division?!?!?!

Yes, Judge went from 4.5 bWAR in an injury shortened 2023 to 10.8 in 2024. It wasn't all because of Soto and hand nothing to do with Verdugo. In 2023, Cole was the only starting pitcher above 1 bWAR. It was just a rough year for them.

I wondered about the option buy out. The club can buy out the option, not the player. Duran is already under club control through the 2028 season as a Super Two player. Even if the 2026 option is bought out — which would occur if the Red Sox feel his projected price in the arb process checked in south of the eventual option value — he would remain arbitration-eligible with the Sox for another three seasons. In addition to his 2025 guarantee, Duran will earn $50K bonuses for reaching 450, 500 and 550 plate appearances. So long as he’s healthy, he should get the $4MM salary at which he filed. (The Red Sox had countered with a $3.5MM submission.) As for the 2026 option, the base price will reportedly jump to $9MM if Duran finishes between 11th and 20th in AL MVP voting. (He finished eighth on the MVP ballot this past season.) It’ll be a $10MM option if he finishes between sixth and tenth, or an $11MM option if he lands second through fifth. If Duran is named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, the price of that option would jump to $12MM. If Duran is traded at any point between now and season’s end, the option would be eliminated and he’d receive a $100K assignment bonus from the acquiring team rather than the $100K buyout on said option.

No clue. They offered 700M for Soto. Do they really want to spend? None of us on here really know either way.

That's a migraine for me. You can have the wine, I'll have some bourbon.

If it's mostly packed with rocks?

The Yankees were in the WS last season and lost Soto, but got Fried, Goldschmidt, Bellinger, Devin Williams, Pablo Reyes and Colten Brewer. Unless there's an injury to Fried, there shouldn't be much of a falloff as that rotation is very good and much better than the Sox. Yanks: 48.8 fWAR Sox: 41.3 + 4.1 (Bregman) + 1.0 (Scott) = 46.4 fWAR still behind the Yanks

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/red-sox-sign-sean-newcomb-to-minor-league-deal.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky Sox sign Sean Newcomb to MiLB deal.

I looked at the numbers and deemed Mazza and his high socks to be better than Stock.

Favorites to get a WC? Sure.

2020 Robert Stock was better than 2020: Ryan Weber (was supposed to be the 4th starter) Austin Brice Colten Brewer Jeffrey Springs (potential closer of the future for the Red Sox per NESN, whatever happened to him?) Josh Osich Mick Kickham Dylan Covey (still kicking around I believe) Marcus Walden Kyle Hart (he's back in the Phillies org in 2025) Heath Hembree (so greasy) Matt Hall Andrew Triggs (I have a problem since I even remember him pitching) Josh Taylor Robinson Leyer (I watched way too much baseball in 2020 apparently) Zack Godley

They do need to fill out their MiLB rosters and throw some stuff at the wall. The problem isn't these moves, it's the lack of big moves aside from Crochet.

I mean, if we only lived in a world about what Henry actually allows, we'll all be having a fervent discussion over whether the Sox should sign Ottavino, Strickland or Neris.

He's a great pitcher oversees in lesser leagues and struggles stateside. He won't last the season in this org.

Wait a year. Sign Vlad. DFA Masa. Go year to year with Casas since 1B/DH contracts are cheap. Keep Devers at 3B until Casas finishes his ARB years.

We talk about Raffy's bad defense, but Vlad was -20 OAA, -21 FRV in 2019 at 3B. Raffy career: -29 OAA, -21 FRV. Vlad is a poor fielding 1B. He is miles worse than Raffy at 3B. Vlad is all time bad at 3B.

LOL Jays...

Casas: 222 G, 830 OPS, 2.9 bWAR Abreu: 160 G, 794 OPS, 4.2 bWAR These two players are closer to each other than some of us would like to believe.

Yamamoto missed 3 months last year with a shoulder injury, Before then? IDK. Maybe this is a recurring issue for him while Crochet stays healthy? Hard to say.

1B Devers 2B Grissom SS Hamilton 3B Vlad C Wong They can roll out the worst defensive lineup in the AL.

Just be kind and tip your bartender generously. I'm sure you put them through a lot. 😎

He's already signed for this year. You could say it's a 5/170 extension and push the CBT back. I don't have an issue signing him for that.

I've seen the Jays linked to Alonso too. If they sign Alonso, Bregman will really have nowhere else to go. I don't buy the Tigers have any real interest. They've struggled with attendance for the past 7 years. I think they are better off building with their younger guys than signing someone who can be their next Baez (well maybe not THAT bad) at some point.