moonslav59

It is a SSS, but if he had 12 Ks and 1 BB, right now, we'd be viewing it as a sign he is not improving.

The major talk on Yoshida, when signed was the price and probable lack of anyone else coming close to our offer. It was NOT about his lack of skills. His defense was worse than anyone expected, I think. If he's worth $5-6M a year to some club, right now, I'd seriously make the deal. I know, paying $12-13M a year for him to play elsewhere is painful, I just don't see how he fits into any scheme. Hell, I'd rather have Refsnyder as the back-up DH and 5th OF'er, especially with so many LHBs in the OF. Devers at DH FT makes too much sense. Anthony putting the squeeze on the OF, even without Yoshida in the mix is already an issue (not a bad one.)

I like Mayer and Campbell more, but I think the DHam-Romy platoon is the slight favorite to be the starting 2B choice on opening day. Very slight. Maybe 34% DHam-Romy, 33% Mayer and 33% Campbell.

I'm not predicting he even wins a back-up role on the 26, this year, or next. I was just pointing out that being out of options, after this year, does give him this full year, the winter and next spring training to win a job on the 2026 roster. I like Story, Mayer, Campbell and the DHam-Romy platoon more than Grissom, right now, so I'll guess he is traded by next spring. Also, Arias and Romero might be knocking on the door by 2026 or 2027. (Not sure Cespedes can play 2B well enough.)

So, you have Rafaela>Abreu vs RHPs and Rafaela> Refsnyder vs LHPs. Maye Cora does, too. Rafaela's ST'ing is going very nicely, especially the much lower Ks and more BBs than Ks. If Anthony joins the OF, he will play FT or very near it. Duran is FT. That leaves Rafaela or a possible Abreu-Refsnyder platoon. If, somehow-some way Story and Mayer stay healthy for a full season, Campbell could further squeeze the OF. I know Cora has said Rafaela is the FT CF'er, but things can and do change. I'd like nothing more than for Rafaela to show he can hit and win the FT CF job for the next half decade. I think he can.

Houck says he wants to stay in BOS and was open for extension talks, but none came. Talk is that Newcomb might win the 5 slot. Fulmer said he does not have an opt out. Chapman looks like the closer with Slaten ahead of Hendriks on the depth chart, according to MLBTR.

He could have a nice year in AAA and make the club in 2026.

Campbell and Mayer are still 2B options.

Along w Guerrero & Wink.

It's strange. You know they have been trying to get Rafaela to change his free-swinging approach for years, then suddenly....

Agreed. Some team would take him for $4-6M a year.

Maybe, they both start off on the 10 Day IL. That would give them about 17 days more.

Well said. The stat of the spring might be... 39 PAs, 3 Ks and 6 BBs by Rafaela. (.436 OBP)

Agree. I think a lot of our Woo depth looks way better than it did, last March, even considering all the pitching injuries forcing 3-4 to be moved up the line.

I didn't forget him. I doubt he's on the roster by the end of the season.

I'm not for trading Arias, but I do think we could get a closer without trading a top 3 prospect. I think we should have signed Scott or a lesser closer, but we didn't, and the need is still there.

Looking down the road, I can't see Devers going back to 3B, even if Bregman bolts afte2025. We might end up seeing Mayer or Campbell at 3B, beyond '25. Even if we get Devers some time at 1B, Casas would DH on those days, so I just don't see how Yoshida fits into that slot. Anytime I mention Yoshida playing LF, as a possible option, there is major pushback, and rightfully so. Besides, we have Anthony banging on the OF door where we already have 4 good player with roles Rafaela, Abreu & Refsnyder. Even if we trade Abreu, there may still not be room for Yoshida in LF, even if we wanted him there. The easiest way to get Yoshida into our line-up would be by trading Casas and playing Devers at 1B. Maybe that's why we heard so many Casas rumors, this past winter. (I am against that idea.) I can't help but think we end up getting rid of Yoshida, one way or another- maybe this summer, maybe next winter. It's not that he can't hit, but I feel others offmore promise, and Devers should be the DH.

It's a close call on Campbell vs DHam/Romy. Anthony might be about how much time they think Abreu might need.

I think Arias and Abreu could get a really good closer.

For sure. I really like Rafaela, a lot, and I have hopes his offense will improve. How much is the big question. At what he will, in a few years, he should be a starter, but if he can get 450+ PAs at CF, RF, SS and 2B, that would be a very valuable player to have. Not talking April, 2025, but I think Duran and Anthony will be FT'ers. As long as Abreu is here, he should play vs RHPs. As long as Refsnyder here, he should play vs LHPs. That fills up the OF,without even thinking about Yoshida in LF, if Devers remains the FT DH. We have 3 guys fifor the 2 middle IF slots: Story, Mayer and Campbell. We have more-than-capable platoon tandem of DHam and Romy as back-ups. Rafaela may be a better option than them, but I doubt he wins an IF job over Campbell, Mayer and Story. Either someone will need to be traded, or Rafaela will be the super utility guy. I think we will try to trade Yoshida, assuming he adds some value, this year, or we just dump him, if he doesn't. Bregman's status in 2026 could make a difference, as 3B could open up for Mayer or Campbell, which could allow Rafaela to play 2B near FT or often. Then, there are farther away players like Jh garcia, Romero, Arias, Bleis, Cespedes and others. Having a surplus of talent is never a bad thing, unless it's among DH only players, but Ref might retire after this year, and Bregman may bolt. Someone may get hurt, not meet expectations or drop off a cliff, which would make the chocies easier, but I think we see some trades, next winter, if not this summer..

I think he was part of the Arenado talks, too.

Those are good choices to be made. At some point, a good or very good player will have to be traded, which can help us fill a void somewhere else- like Catcher or Pitcher.

No doubt! Almost $50M on 2 guys who can only DH to start the season!

Yoshida has real health issues. I think he's still throwing at 30 feet, so that is legit, IMO. They can also just option him to AAA, which is what they would do over an IL. Let him DH at AAA.

Having two guys who look to be DH only is not ideal, but Devers is a DH only, now, because of an injury. He can play 3B, or better yet, back-up 3B. I still think he can be better than casas at 1B defense, but that is unknown, and I have heard no mention of that idea among any Sox brass. Yoshida is passable in short corner OF parks, but he should be a DH only. His current throwing issues makes him a DH only, now. It does look like Bloom promising Devers 3B, going forward and thinking Yoshida can play LF were both mistakes that led us here. (This is the reason I must have suggested 20 Yoshida trades over the winter.) Having too many middle infielders or outfielders is one thing, and it's not bad, but 2 DH onlys, not counting Ref, is not a good thing.