The Sox rank 30th in OAA (-14) at SS and 29th in DRS (-12) and 28th in UZR/150 at -8.5.
Fixing this problem with Mayer or Story at SS would be a big improvement. Also, the team is last in 2B OAA (-9), so moving Story to 2B would give us a double boost at 2 key positions.
Moving Rafaela to FT CF helps, too. He is +9 DRS in CF and +4 OAA.
Up the middle D is most essential. Duran in LF and CF is a plus. Abreu has looked inconsistent in RF but has put up good numbers (5th in RF OAA at +2 and 4th in DRS at +6.)
Devers and Casas give us subpar D, but at least they are at positions of lower importance for D. Our catchers rank near the bottom on D.
RF in Fenway is a big challenge, but if Campbell could pull it off, then yes.
I like the idea of eventually having Mayer at SS and Story at 2B. That improves the middle IF defense, a lot. Forcing Rafaela to FT CF improves the D, a lot, as well. We can do a lot to improve our D without any additions or hurting the offense by benching better batters.
Abreu-Ref in RF is not great. Devers at 3B is who he is. Casas is no wonder on D. Wong is still learning, but we could see a big improvement on D, next year with Story at middle IF and Rafaela in CF FT. Mayer should be better than DHam-Romy-Sogard-Grissom on D. I'm not sure Campbell is, but he has time to work on it.
Oh, trust me, that is my expectation.
Don't forget Henriks and Fulmer.
My ideas I'm posting here, are hopes not expectations or predictions.
I have not totally given up on the idea that one day JH will open his wallet, but I'm not going to expect it. I'll believe it when I see it, and I could understand the logic that if big spending is in the future plans, 2026 looks more likely. (That's what scares me the most: I'm sick of waiting until next year.)
I can certainly see the Sox thinking, let's allow all these kids to come up and give us many inexpensive years. It makes a lot of sense, especially to an owner turned miser.
I just don't see how we will fit them all on the 13 everyday player roster. We simply have to trade someone for a pitcher. Maybe, it's Abreu or Casas, and not a big 3 or 4 prospect. Maybe we find a taker for Story or Yoshida to make room for some kids. We aren't getting a top pitcher for Abreu, so I'm not sure that works, unless we decide to spend big on FA pitchers and trade Abreu for a #3 SP'er or top set-up man.
Trading Casas only makes sense, if we move Devers to 1B. Do we then look to have Mater at 3B and Campbell at 2B by 2026?
I think trading Anthony, Mayer or Teel as part of a major package makes more sense.
Games up to Sept 8th:
BOS: 3@HOU, 3 v ARI, 5 v TOR, 3@DET, 3@NYM, 2vCWS
KCR: 3vLAA, 3 v PHI, 4@CLE, 4@HOU, 3vCLE. 3 v MIN
MIN: 3@SDP, 3vSTL, 3v ATL, 3v TOR, 4@TBR, 3@KCR
It could very well be "now or never."
Maybe he brings back Danny Jansen on a 1 year deal.
I think he'll just sign 1-2 minor league deals with Catchers having MLB experience. No need to even be on the 40, except for who will be Wong's back-up.
The 2025 Woo line-up looks pretty good!
1. Mayer S
2. Campbell CF
3. Anthony RF
4. Teel C
5. Meidroth 3B
6. Valdez 2B
7. Gasper/Hickey DH
8. Jordan 1B
9. Sogard/Rosier LF (Maybe Jh Garcia by the end of 2025.)
It's not just New England pumping up our top 3-4 prospects, but I agree on the timetable being slow to develop.
I think the idea of replacing Sale with Gio was that we would not need as much depth, as Gio was projected to make 27-32 starts, while Sale's could be anywhere from 0- 27.
We have not lost 5 straight, either.
We've lost 4 in a row- 3 times.
We've lost 3 in a row- 3 times.
We've had these winning streaks:
5 twice
4 twice
3 twice
I like Anthony more than Mayer, too, but I think that is who SEA would insist on getting. I also think our middle IF is weaker than our OF (esp LHB OF'ers.)
I think the Sox farm matches up with SEA's needs, nicely.
It's hard to know what SP'ers might be on the block, this winter, and most will likely be too high-priced for JH's liking, but I will look through some teams that might be regrouping and come up with some names, later today.
Who might those teams be?
TOR
CWS
LAA
DET
MIA
COL
OAK
WSH
???
TBR
CIN
SFG
CHC
TEX
I'm super high on Campbell, and his RHB is needed, but you have to give to get, and I want to hold onto mayer and Teel. I think having Jh Garcia lessens the blow of losing Campbell. I think Cespedes and Arias are too far away to have great trade value. Bleis maye, as well, and I doubt SEA wants 2 OF'ers for a TOTR SP.
Word was they were open for offers, last winter. I wonder if a guy like Castillo would be "more" available. (I'm not sure JH accepts his contract, but the return would be less.)
What top pitchers might be "on the block?"
Miami's don't look so good, anymore.
I would not assume his offense will be horrific, but it could be pretty bad, to start off. I wonder how much rehab he will get before being called up.
If we are out of it, we may decide to not risk another injury and just let him do light rehab with Woo.
His .681 OPS w BOS is not far from the league average, now.
I think he helped stabilize the SS position, a little bit, but his defense hurt the team in many games- maybe 2-4 losses, which could very well be what we miss the playoffs by.
The position was so bad, after Story went down, that "stabilize" does not mean he did well.
The DHam-Romy (Westbrook-Sogard) depth helped, too, but they had defensive short-comings, too.
Counting on or "hoping" on Story staying healthy, seems like the new heartbreaker reoccurrence.