Hard to say what's going to happen. We were expecting Duran or Abreu to be traded last offseason and it didn't happen, and it hasn't happened yet this offseason. Maybe they're just not getting enticing offers.
My concern is it would hurt the offense and that's an area we need improvement in. I would prefer to trade Abreu if we're trading an outfielder. Not that my preferences count for much LOL
The 2025 Sox had 4 free agents who totaled 12.9 bWAR - Bregman, Story, Giolito and Chapman.
Farm, trades and free agency, you have to use them all IMHO. Obviously have to be very selective with free agents because they're so expensive.
And if you look at it as value for money over the life of the contract it was a negative.
Winning the ring counts for a lot for me.
If we adhere strictly to the value for money concept, the contract we gave Foulke didn't work out. But I don't think many Red Sox fans regret it.
To me the epitome of a bad Red Sox contract if we include them all is Sandoval, because we literally got zero value out of it. Not one solitary redeeming contribution.
I did not complain much between the time Henry bought the team and 2019. I complained when they traded Betts and I haven't really been the same since. It's not like I want Henry to sell the team, but I do think there has been a big shift in philosophy. The hunger to win another title just isn't there anymore IMHO.
That leads to the inevitable arguments about what working out means. To me the Price signing worked out because we won the division 3 years in a row and the 2018 ring. I was fine with the Eovaldi contract as well.
But everyone has their own criteria for 'working out'.
I've had it with offseason dreams. Our dreams have never matched up to reality since the day they traded Betts, the day John Henry told us how it's going to be from now on.
Finishing last is not the critical measure though IMHO. 78-84 stinks but it's more like mediocre than bad. And those 2022-2024 teams all finished badly of course.
We could have made the playoffs every year from 2021 to 2025 with better moves and a bit more spending. It's not like we were that far away in any year. And having Betts would have been a massive improvement in itself.