moonslav59

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.

And what do Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Anthony, Refsnyder, Campbell, Yoshida and DHam/Romy (occaisonally) have in common? That's enough OF'ers for 2-3 teams.

You could be right. I don't know much about mayer's defense, but he seems better suited for 3B. Story still looks pretty damn good with the glove and range, but if the arm is much worse, I'm fine with him at 2B. Having Bregman at 3B and maybe Campbell at 2B creates a squeeze, but with Story and Mayer's health histories, keeping everyone for a while makes sense. I'd be fine with Bregman at 3B, Mayer at SS and Story at 2B. (This might be why we've seen Campbell playing OF, some.)

Not when you have devers at DH, FT. The idea of a back-up DH (only) is what's unusual.

Back to 2B. IMO, we start the year with DHam and Romy platooning 2B. I'd be fine with Campbell at 2B FT, but I think Brez holds off a few weeks.

I would, too. I'd have Ref playing over Raf vs LHPs, and Abreu over Raf vs RHPs.

Of course. Ref may retire, after this year. I must have suggested 20 Abreu trades over the winter, because I can see this happening. Right now, I would never be okay with benching Ref vs LHPs, in fact, I'd bat him top 5 in the line-up- 6th at worst. He is THAT good!

How does a team who stunk vs LHPs and got worse losing O'Neal bench the 13th best batter vs LHPs, so rafaela can play FT, or Abreu can bat vs LHPs after a sub .560 season?

So, we bench GG and better batter Abreu for Rafaela & Anthony? Duran-Rafaela-Anthony Bench: Abreu & Ref. I don't think so.

Yes. I was following the recent talk about Yoshida starting the season on the IL (or not.) If he can't play LF for the first 15 days, then he should be on the IL, since devers will DH FT. After 15 days, let's see how far Yoshida can throw.

Last I heard, he was only throwing 30 feet due to his injury recovery. To start the year, I doubt he can play any LF, except in BOS. I'm the guy who has been saying we will likely see Yoshida in LF more than we thought, this year- just not in the first few weeks.

If Duran and Anthony play FT OF, and Devers is the FT DH, how can you bench Refsnyder vs LHPs and play Rafaela, instead? Refsnyder is the 13th best batter vs LHPs over the last 3 years, and we suck vs lefties. vs LHPs: LF Refsnyder CF Duran RF Anthony Vs RHPs: Duran, Anthony, Abreu Rafaela will be the supersub, IMO. Expensive, but he can play CF, RF, 2B and SS.

No. DHam & Romy are not hurt or coming off a nasty illness. 1. I don't like Ref in RF, but he will likely play there, anyway vs LHPs, even with a healthy Abreu. 2. Ref should not start vs RHPs. With Anthony, none of this happens. Ref plays LF vs LHPs, with Duran moving to CF. Rafaela becomes the super sub and can play 2B or SS. He further crowds the middle IF, making Campbell less needed. That being said, I am fine with Campbell getting the call on opening day, but I think they will try and get him (and maybe Anthony, too) the extra year of control. Just my opinion on what Brez chooses.

I'd PH Romy. I don't think PH'er only should take up a slot on the 26. When Yoshida can play LF, or we decide to move Devers to 3B, I can see the reasoning for having Yoshi on the IL. Maybe Yoshia can play Fenway's LF and just have the cut off man run to 50 feet away from him

Story is the better defensive SS, and maybe they think that is more important. I'm not against Mayer at SS and Story at 2B.

It would have been nicer if he had done that for us, but hardly a difference maker.

This on top of Houck, Bello and Crawford added in recent years. While these 3 might not be great, they are the best 3 homegrowns we've seen in a long time. Plus these relief guys (some developed in other systems) Whitlock, Slaten, Wink, Kelly, Guerrero and others.