moonslav59

Yes, I know how depth works. Yes, I have seen examples where even good depth was not good enough, as recently as last year. Yes, I saw Toro get way too many PAs, but we all knew we had poor 1B depth, last year, and needing Romy at 2B kept him from playing 1B, and we waited too long to get Nate Lowe. Do people know how improving your weakest slot on the roster is often the best way to improve a team, and that you have to give to get? I'm assuming you know this. I'm assuming you also know that often the best way to improve a weak or weaker area is to trade from an area where you feel you have someone who can replace the guy you trade with not much of a drop off, of the drop off is less than the gain made at the other position. My winter mantra was more about trading an OF'er, because I felt the "drop off" from Duran to Masa/Casas/Romy/KC at DH was not as much as the gain we would have gotten at 3B/2B/SP or even 1B, before we got Contreras, Gray and then Suarez & Durbin. Yes, I suggested some Masa trades, but I felt trading an OF'er made more sense, and saving $4M was not all that valuable. Now that we have the 4 guys I mentioned, the "weak or weaker" areas are not so pronounced. The need is not as great, and the OF depth "trade off" is not such a clear action to take, but the fact remains that we have a logjam at OF and DH or OF/DH, since Duran plays both. I don't see a big drop off from Masa to Casas/KC/Romy, but certainly there could be. An injury to one of the 3 OF'ers moves Duran to the OF and forces the issue of there being a drop off or not, and $4M in savings may not make up for it, if Masas does well and the 3 guys I named suck or are (still) injured. I get that. It's a risk. I disagree that the choice come down to Masa vs Eaton/Gasper/Seagler, but even if it did, it doesn't mean one of them play in Masa's vacated role. Romy would likely DH not one of them. Yes, Romy and Casas will start the year on the IL, and I'm all for waiting until one returns to make the trade, but when they do, it's not Eaton vs Masa- it's one of them vs Masa or a demotion to Montasario. With IKF, I can see not thinking Montasario is all that important, but until Mayer proves he belongs, I think he's more valuable than Masa, even as a PH or platoon for Mayer, until Romy returns. There is also still a chance Durbin is not as good as we think. Of course, there is no hurry to dump Masa as we give Durbin a look. We won't need to replace Durbin, if he sucks, for a while. There is no urgency to replace Masa, until Romy and or Casas is ready, but I still think I'd trade him, if someone offered to pay $4M x 2 or more. Knowing JH, that $4M is likely needed to allow for a deadline trade, once we actually see where the need is- like last year at 1B, 2B and eventually SP.

It would have helped if we actually made a decent attempt at replacing his bat. I think Contreras can fill Breggie's bat, but we left the Devers loss unfilled. Durbin and IKF improve the defense over Devers, but not really over Breggie, so that counts for very little. After all that went down, I agree that Devers had to go, but we left his line-up slot vacant. On top of that, they all but promised they'd fill the big bat need. I do realize teams can win in many different ways, but all our ring teams and near ring teams had not one but two or more big bats. My mind is biased.

I almost added this thought at the end of my post. This does look like a better line-up: L Anthony S KMarte L Duran R Contreras L Abreu R Story R Durbin R Narvaez R Rafaela. Paredes over Durbin would have been great, but we could not get him without losing Duran or Abreu- both LHB.

It's not like I'm saying having OF depth is worthless. Of course it has real value. Since adding Durbin and Contreras plus 2 decent SP'ers, we don't have the gaping hole we had a couple months ago, but we still have weaker positions where an upgrade looks better on paper than having amazing OF depth. Maybe I have more faith in KC than you do. Others can play OF, too. No, Ward and Eaton should not be viewed as FT'ers, if an OF'er goes out for the season, and yes, we can cite examples where we thought we had depth, only to find out it wasn't enough. I'm fully aware of the risks. I still think the roster was let unbalanced, again, while other high needs were not filled as well as they could have been. I'm not sure many trades make sense, now for an OF'er, but I do think if someone is interested in Masa, I'd do what I can to help rebalance the roster. We'd still have an OF logjam, but with DH less crowded, we can give Cora better roster flexibility with someone who is not a platoon DH only guy.

I'm fine with waiting a few weeks or months, or even long enough to get a good read on Casas, but I also like Romy & KC as DH's. I don't see KC as being short-side platooned, so he could be the FT DH, if an OF'er gets hurt. Yes, both KC & Romy are RH'd, but Duran isn't. Masa is blocked by Duran, so using one of the 4 bench slots for a DH that will likely be platooned does kinda make me think, why not now, if someone offers to pay a chunk of his deal? He may be worthless by the time Casas is healthy. We certainly have a logjam at DH, even if Casas never returns.

Yoshida was hurt, last year, too, so yes, he blocks Casas. With a healthy Contreras, the only slot for Casas is DH. For a career .800 batter who averages 30 HRs per 650, it seems obvious that, if healthy, Masa is totally blocking Casas. The only alternative view would be that Casas would be blocking Masa as the DH, since both are LHBs. BTW, Casas hits LHPs better than Masa. He does not need a platoon.

I agree. I think "saving" $4-5M is enough to make a difference for a deadline addition, and the roster slot is better filled by Monasterio, Romy, Ward or even Eaton. I'd say KC, but he will not be on the bench. With a DH logjam, KC is blocked there, too. Maybe a Masa trade allows for KC to get a shot there, even without an OF injury.

You make some good points and suggestions. I don't agree with them all. Here is a summary of some of my opinion. I do not think Breggie was worth even our final offer, so I'm glad we didn't go higher. I love the Suarez signing (instead,) but it makes me revisit the Sonny Gray move. Although we ended up trading so much SP'er depth, the need for Gray has been "vindicated" on paper, to me. I really like the Durbin trade and think it might end up being one of MLB's best winter trades, but he really did not fill the big bat need, at all. That is one reason I like to use the Contreras offense vs Bregman offense comp over Durbin vs Breggie. I think that's how Brez viewed the moves. Offense: Contreras = Bregman and Durbin = the 2025 Nate Lowe, Casas, Toro and others 1B mix. On defense: Breggie is slightly better than Durbin at 3B, but Contreras is way better at 1B than the 2025 mix. Once could call the corner IF moves a push with possible upside. The choice of using Mayer at 2B makes sense, since the Romy platoon becomes possible, when he comes back- if needed. It also allows Mayer to play SS, if needed, since Romy can play 2B. I like the IKF signing, and it's nice having a real defensive utility guy, for once. $6M seems high, but by what? $1-2M? No big deal. I really wanted K Marte, then pivoted to Paredes, but apparently those two players demanded more in return than Brez was prepared to give up. (Neto, too.) I'd rather have Paredes & Durbin or KMarte & Durbin than Mayer, but Mayer has some serious upside and might shut me up quickly. The problem was than HOU did not want Mayer. Apparently AZ wanted Mayer & Tolle for KMarte, and I can see why we said no. I think I'd have said yes, as KMarte is not paid much and is that big bat we needed. Being a switch-hitter is nice, too. Maybe getting KMarte and Durbin while losing Mayer & Tolle might have meant we don't get IKF and maybe even Gray, but I'd have tried to make the dollar work to keep 'em all. (Easy for me to say.) We still he 4 OF'ers plus KC & Masa as depth. We still have Duran at DH and several players that look like their best slots are or may be DH: Masa, Casas, KC & Romy. I'd have tried to trade Duran for Paredes, King and Jarek. (Maybe we have to add someone like Holobetz, Mullins or even Eyanson.) With Durbin not IKF. My choice roster might have looked like this: 1. L Anthony LF 2. S KMarte 2B 3. R Paredes 3B 4. R Contreras 1B 5. L Abreu RF 6. R Story SS 7. L Masa DH (L Casas/ R Romy or KC DH) 8. R Narvaez C 9. R Rafaela CF Bench: R Durbin, R Wong, R Romy, R Monasterio/L Casas/R KC SP: Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Oviedo RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, King, Weissert, Sandoval, Crawford, Watson or Moran

One area of doubt remains as a couple pen slots are uncertain. One main decision involves management deciding on whether they want to convert a starter to the pen right away, later in the season or not all. I think that was part of last year's plan, and it barely happened, as we began the season with Crawford, Gio and Sandoval on the IL, then lost Houck, Dobbins and others. We do have some clearly defined roles for closer Chapman, top set-up man Whitlock and the hopefully-healthy Slaten. It looks like Weissert will fill the key 4th RP'er slot that often is needed in moderate to high leverage situations. After the top 4, it gets a little complicated, since there are Rule 5 issues (Watson) and no options issues (Moran.) Those two will likely make the opening day 26 man roster, unless they really stink over the next 2 weeks or get hurt (phantom or otherwise.) That leaves 2 slots for... Crawford may start the year on the IL or rehabbing in AAA as a starter. Sandoval may be the guy the convert to the pen. Recent injury issues might play into the choice, and it seems like Oviedo will be our #5. I'm thinking he will be one of the 8. Zack Kelly still has an option, so he can be beat out by someone, but he might have the best chance for the 8 slot. There are still some decent FAs out there. Or waiting for last minute waiver pitchers or out of options squeezed players on other team's being traded near opening day. Sikkema might be this year's Newcomb. soxprospects,com mentioned Wu-Yelland as an outside candidate. Song has looked really good in ST'ing but I don't see them adding him to the 40 to take the last slot. Uberstine? I'm pretty sure they want to keep Early & Tolle in the AAA rotation, until needed as starters, but at some point, our pen needs and playoff aspirations might trump that desire.

You were calling for Bloom's firing for longer. Have you introduced yourself to JH? See how silly you sound? 🤪

Thnx. Fixed it.

MLB.com ranks the Sox farm #14. We dropped 11 slots (second most) due to graduations. MLB.com: Boston also features more international signees (15) on its Top 30 than any other system, highlighted by shortstops Franklin Arias and Dorian Soto, right-hander Juan Valera and outfielder Justin Gonzales.

Here is a look at one idea of what our SP'er depth chart from 2025 looked like and one view of the 2026 one: 2025: Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Giolito, Bello Depth: Crawford, Fitts, Newcomb, Dobbins, Criswell, Priester, Fulmer, Drohan, de Leon (Perales, Sandlin, Tolle, Early) Added: Harrison & D May/ Traded away: Newcomb & Priester. 2026: Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Bello, Houck (IL) Oviedo Depth: Crawford, Sandoval, Early, Tolle, Uberstine, Sikkema, I Coffey (Bennett, Mullins, Holobetz) To me, the top 3 are light years better looking that what we thought we had, last March. The top 5 and 7 look better, to me, too. Early & Tolle at 8 and 9 have immense promise. I'd say this area has improved.

So, what happens if Contreras outhits Alonso and or Schwarber? What if he outhits Bregman? Hell, what if Durbins does? One could ask me, what if Mayer outhits KMarte and Durbin outhits Paredes, too. What if Suarez turns out to be the steal of the winter signings? Better than Cease? What if Gray, at $21M outperforms guys like Framber at $115M/3 and King at $75M/3? Some may say these are long shots or near impossible, but what if a couple turn out to be true?

You never cease to mess it up. When I suggest 9 moves, I don't expect all 9 to be made, and when 7 of them involves Duran, it sould be kinda hard for all 9 to happen. I may believe those guys weren't good enough to play their positions, and yea, I give my opinions. Whoop-de-freakin-doo. LMAO. I doubt I said it 100 times, but we've certainly heard you say Bloom was not good enough 100's of times. I guess it's only okay for you to repeat yourself.

A review of the Sox significant or semi-significant winter transactions by timeline... DFA'd/non tendered: N Lowe & Winckowski Traded: Guerrero for Tristan Gray Traded: Chris Murphy for Ronny Hernandez Traded: Bernardino for Braided Ward Traded: Alex Hoppe for Luke Heyman Traded: Fitts, Clarke & PTBNL for Sonny Gray and $20M Traded: Jh Garcia & J Travieso for J Oviedo, T Samaniego & A Guzman Traded: Grisson for Isaiah Jackson Traded: Justin Riemer for Rule 5 Ryan Watson Lost: J Paez to Rule 5. Traded: Luis Perales for Jake Bennett Traded: Dobbins, Fajardo & B Aita for Contreras & $4M x 2 years. Signed Range Suarez Traded:Tristan Gray for Nate Baez Traded: Hicks, Sandlin & 2 PTBNL for Gage Ziehl & PTBNL Claimed: Mickey Gasper & T-C Cheng Traded: Harrison, Drohan & DHam for Durbin, Monasterio, Seigler & Round B Comp Pick Signed: Kiner-Falefa We traded 20 players for 17 and signed 2 Free Agents.

The injuries are piling up... Vinny Nittoli needs elbow surgery! OMG!

Have a look at the big spending Yankees' off season... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/offseason-in-review-new-york-yankees-17.html

I could be wrong, but I think Betts ended up signing with the LAD for just a little more than the reported Sox final offer. (The Covid affect might have affected the contract he signed.)

I just figured if Can and will mean the same thing to you, maybe had and has might too. 😉

I have been calling for Devers moving to 1B for over 3-4 years. I've thought his quickness and glove at 3B were not bad and would translate well to 1B, but I guess we'll find out watching him play 1B w SFG.

My bad. I thought you wrote "has." Sorry. I just got new glasses, too! 🤓

Weren't you the one who said can, will and might all mean the same thing?

Bernardino was no slouch. We traded him for Ward, so I think Brez really likes this guy. Last year, Newcomb snuck on the roster, after we thought our SP'er depth went 9-10 deep (not even counting Tolle & Early.)

Max Ferguson: career AAA player.