moonslav59

I still think 2025 might be a huge bustout year for Casas. Please, do NOT trade him.

He probably will start the year at 2B. One sign will be seeing or not seeing Devers practice or play some games at 1B. It would be hard to switch him over there, during the season. (To DH would be easier, but if he likes playing D, I'm thinking he'd prefer 1B to DH.) I hope Cora can talk Devers into doing the right thing for the team. I remember ARod moving to 3B, when he was even a better defensive SS than Jeter, because it seemed like the right thing to do. If Devers remains adamant about staying at 3B, it really puts the pressure on Cora. Nobody knows how good or bad Bregman might be at 2B, but I'm pretty sure Campbell would be better on D. I even think a DHam-Romy platoon at 2B would play better D than Bregman. I'm thinking : Bregman > Grissom on D. Playing Bregman at 2B and Devers at 3B could make two positions weaker, and if Devers can be better than Casas on 1B D, maybe 3 positions get worse, just to keep Devers happy. All I'm hearing down here in Houston is how they can replace Bregman's leadership skills, and how he helped so many Astros over the year. How he even learned Spanish, so he coudl talk to all the players on the team. Maybe, he can bring that much needed leadership to the Sox. Gotta like the 1.250 career OPS at Fenway. I'm liking the signing, more and more, but this whole playing 2B thing irks me, bigtime.

He's been really good for a couple years... vs LHPs.

No to Bregman at 2B.

We traded our catching prospect, and catching is one of our weakest areas.

We also paid Devers $30M.

It was said tongue in cheek. Bregman plays 2B, so Devers won't pout. Nice losing strategy, folks.

Not trash cans- just other methods, like the ones the Sox used.

They already said he will be, so there is that. The worst choice is playing Masas at DH, so Bregman can play 2B, Devers 3B and Casas 1B.

There is just no way I trade Casas, so we can find room for Yoshida to get ABs without playing in the OF.

Don't need clues: it stopped after 2017- right before his best two seasons.

Very nice article. Hearing a lot down here in Houston about the loss of Bregman's clubhouse attitude and how he helped this guy and that.

How desperate is STL to trade Arenado, now? It appears the Sox were their best chance. Apparently, Bregman agreeing to play 2B was part of the Sox choice. I still can't believe we paid $40M per for a .795 hitter to play off position. Arendao did agree to play 1B, but unless we trade Casas, it makes no sense talking to STL, anymore. They don't want Masa, but they could still cut some major budget by adding Contreras to the deal. Would anyone trade Casas & Yoshida (no money) for Arenado (no money) and Contreras? How about Arenado & a Catcher from Herrera or Pages? (We'd have to add cash.)

I'm 99% certain Yoshida begins the season with the Sox. He will be on the 26 or the 10 Day IL. He still has value, even if Devers and Casas are moved to a near FT pair-share of 1B & DH. He cannot build more value, if he doesn't play. There are other players that still have something to prove or think they have earned a right to show 2024 was no fluke. Abreu might feel he deserves a chance to play FT. Refsnyder has every right to believe he should start vs every LHP, either at DH or corner OF. Rafaela probably thinks he deserves a FT role in CF or as a CF/utility guy that plays 150 games. Duran has earned a FT role, but where? LF, CF or both? Anthony must think 2025 is his call-up year. Yoshida probably think he deserves to play everyday, or at least vs every RHP, as a DH or short corner OF. That's 6 guys for 3 OF slots, without mentioning Campbell's ability to play OF. The DH slot could be a Dever-Casas share with 1B or a Yoshida-Refsnyder platoon, or someway to mix and match. 1B: Casas or Devers and Casas. 3B: Bregman or Devers, or both. SS: Story with Mayer waiting for his shot. (Rafaela & Romy as depth) 2B: Campbell FT? Bregman FT or to start of at 2B or some share set-up at 2B and 3B? DHam-Romy platoon to start 2025? DHam-Grissom platoon? I have to think DHam thinks he should get serious consideration as a platoon at 2B. His D was plus. He stole a ton of bases in half a season. He hit RHPs, pretty well, after his slow start. Add Wong and Narvaez and I'm not sure how many players I mentioned, but it's way over 13.

I meant Haniger. My bad. The only advantages we get is that Haniger bats RH'd and could possibly platoon with Abreu (esp in away parks) and has one year left to pay. He could end up being traded or DFA'd, if Anthony gets the call. This is purely about getting out from as much of Masa's deal as possible. I like DHam and have not given up on Grissom, yet, but they seem to be squeezed, now, and certainly when Campbell gets the call.

I mentioned DHam as he bats LH'd, and we just added a RHB IF'er. His value is higher than Grissom, so maybe we could save more on Masa by sending him over Grissom. (I guess BTV says $10M more.) Masa+ $12-20M & Grissom for Garver. Masas +$2-12M & DHam for Garver.

Well said. I have to think the more Bregman plays 3B, the better we will be, but certainly times may arise, where other options might work out the same or better. If Devers and Casas are mainly pair-sharing 1B/DH, they may be able to play close to 160 games, there, but Bregman will need some rest, so Devers might play 5-10 games at 3B. Masa could DH on those days. He could play LF on some other days, when Ref (v LHPs) or Duran are not in LF. How well Rafaela does might dictate how much Duran plays CF vs LF, and how many opportunities Masa and Refsnyder get in LF (vs a DH platoon.) How well Abreu hits LHPs can have an influence on CF and LF playing time for Duran and Rafaela. When Anthony gets the call can have a major influence, at some point. There are so many moving parts, options and opportunities for several players to shine or shift to another position, things could get very interesting if more than 9 guys are doing well (or more as parts of a platoon.) Catcher is pretty set with Wong and Narvaez, but Narvaez could gain more and more playing time. 3B: Devers or Bregman (or a mix) 1B: Casas or Casas & Devers DH: Casas, Casas & Devers or Yoshida-Refsnyder platoon 2B: Campbell? Bregman? A platoon of DHam & Romy or DHam & Grissom SS: Sory, if healthy. Mayer, if not. Rafaela or Romy in a pinch. LF: Duran. Duran w Masa/Ref. Masa-Ref platoon almost exclusively. CF: Rafaela. Duran & Rafaela. Anthony? RF: Abreu FT. Abreu-Rafaela platoon? Anthony FT (Anthony RF v LHPs and CF vs RHPs?) It's enough to get the head spinning like the exorcist.

When did the trashcan banging stop?

Well, on the surface, Yoshida for Haniger, straight up would need $14M going to SEA, Maybe $7M in '26 and $7M in '27, but I really can't see why SEA wants to pay Yoshida $11M x 2 after 2025. Grissom might make them think he's worth the gamble. I'd trade Grissom, Yoshida + $14M for Garver. (I'd probably give $20M.) Do you think SEA would prefer DHam over Grissom?

Not only "selling low," but it seems like the 1Bman stock as a position has taken a tumble, this winter. Trades for decent 1Bmen got bad returns. 1Bmen FAs seemed to sell at decent prices- not inflated, like everyone else. I also feel like Casas could have a mega bustout season in 2025.

If only someone wanted Masa. Cora makes the call, but to me, the best team on O and D is having Bregman at 3B and Casas/Devers on a 1B/DH share. Everything else is secondary and less impactful, such as what do we do with Masa? Trade, Bench, Demote, play in LF are the 4 major options, unless he's on the IL. Play in LF hurts the D, but not by as much as we added with Bregman at 3B. Play LF w Duran in CF and Abreu/Rafaela platooning RF is better O than Rafaela playing CF FT, but the CF and RF D stays about the same. Trade makes sense, if we can find a taker and save a few $million. Bench wastes a bench spot for basically a DH/back-up DH/emergency LF'er sub. Demote helps nobody and hurts his value. (Might as well trade or DFA.) I know the team has said they want Rafaela to play CF as much as possible, but they also said Masa may get time in LF, so that pushes Duran to CF. Something has to give. I just hope it's not a Casas trade. To me, there is a drop off on O from Casas to Yoshida at DH. We can't afford a drop off on O, especially vs LHPs, where Casas is one of our best hitter and has been better than Masa and Bregman, recently.

How about Grissom and Yoshida to NYY for Stroman (owed $18.5M in 2025 w player option for $18M in '27, if he gets 140 IP.) Maybe pay off some of Yoshida's 2026 and 2017 years, since Stroman has just one year left.

Damn! Those guys are usually low-balling everyone.

I can't see him being worth $40M at 2B. His splits at Fenway give us hope he can improve on his .795 five year OPS, but he needs to play 3B to get the most value out of him and FOR THE TEAM! If we trade Casas, we might be worse on O with Breg vs Casas.

According to some sources, that puts us right on the tax line.