notin

Cora played the “Henry loves me and wanted me doing your job but I turned him down” card…

Reportedly Cora wanted him at 2b, Bregman was compliant, but Breslow wanted Alex at 3b…

Many moves? No, I agree. The team won 89 games. They have some vacated holes to re-fill and some fairly obvious places to upgrade, but they are not going to get a 1b, 2b, 3b, DH, OF, #2 SP, C and a half of a new bullpen. The 2026 Red Sox will probably have a good amount in common with the 2025 Red Sox, as they won 89 games and made the postseason…

… which doesn’t have much to do with Jhostnyxon “the Password” Garcia. Yoshida’s fate is about as up in the air as it gets. He could be anything from opening day DH to DFA waiver wire fodder…

I don’t see Password being in MLB, unless it’s on another team or Boston has too many injuries. Why would any team put a 22yo BA Top 100 outfielder in a part time role? His most likely position is in the Polar Park outfield…

Where did I say he wouldn’t? It gets easier if he can move Nick “Deadweight” Castellanos…

Password starts in Worcester. The Sox (or any team) are not putting a 22yo BA Top 100 prospect on the bench. The only ways he makes an opening day roster is if there are lots of injuries or if he is traded elsewhere. I doubt Campbell’s road back to MLB is as long as many think. For some players, all it takes is being the best option available. (Matt Shaw, for example, didn’t learn to hit MLB pitching by facing AAA pitching for two months. But he did “earn” his way back by letting the Cubs learn what life was like with Vidal Brujan and Jon Berti in the starting lineup)…

Why not? If they still have Password, that is Plan B. And I hope if both Duran and Abreu get moved, it leads to filling some other gaping hole elsewhere. I wouldn’t worry about it beyond that it is a possibility. It is a very unlikely one. I think they only deal one of Duran or Abreu, and Campbell becomes depth. I think giving up on Campbell after 263 career PAs is a mistake. Especially since his slump was only half of that stretch…

Or demote him to Worcester. If the Sox do get a 1b, Yoshida might start the season as the DH in the likely event Casas is not yet ready…

Easy come, easy go…

Even knowing their needs isnt necessarily enough. Plenty of teams move “blocked” prospects around to fill roles…

The biggest issue with using BTV isnt the trade value. Those are largely based on projections by companies like Steamer. The issue is whether or not both sides actually want the players involved. For example, Wilyer Abreu has roughly the same value as Dalton Rushing. Now the Sox were linked to Rushing tjis past deadline. The Dodgers have Will Smith locked up long term. And had corner OF issues this past year to the point where they even out Rushing in the OF. So why not an actual outfielder? Would both teams agree to this trade? And both projected to be equal using their performance/salary projection system. But really, who knows? The Dodgers might now view Pages and Hernandez as corner OF starters. And Dave Robert’s refuses at times to pigeonhole a player in a position just because he can field it an elite level. That he has a Gold Glove middle infielder in the OF while his Gold Glove outfielder plays middle infield will always befuddle me… It seems to make sense for both teams. And the values are right there. But does either side want this? Only way to know is ask the CBOs…

Criswell is out of options, which makes for a difficult trade given his fringe talent level. I believe soxprospects is projecting him in the Boston 2026 roster, but that’s probably just filling in a blank in the only place they can put him…

BTV gives them similar value based on projected WAR and projected salary. No website can tell you whether or not either team will accept the trade, Those are different things altogether..,

Who? That deal is escaping me. Tanner Scott did fetch an elite one from San Diego. Thats probably the biggest deal for a reliever I can think of offhand…

That might be the worst comp I’ve seen on that site. Usually they also line up the positions better. Like the most similar hitter to a catcher is rarely a shortstop or an outfielder. If they had, say Luis Arraez on there, I’d like the match better. Verdugo just does not hit like Yandy at all, at least not at the Major League level. (Arraez is better than Diaz, but the difference between the two feels closer than Verdugo-Diaz.)

I thought you agreed with his assessment of Diaz’ value. If not, then what are you saying Diaz is worth giving up for in a deal? I think they can drop a pitcher. I’d be disappointed in Breslow if he dealt a top 100 pitching prospect like Witherspoon, Clarke, or Tolle, or even Perales for a $12mill rental 1b/DH. I expect the pitchers already on the 40 man are a greater risk to be traded. My theory is Harrison headlines that list. Not sure what the Sox think about Tolle…

Clarke? A top 100 pitching prospect for a $12mill rental /DH?

I gave justification for the Lowe comparison using WAR and awards, and didn’t use stats that didn’t exist at the time. While I do not agree his K rate justified ignoring the trade completely as a value comp, let’s find another. B-R lists Diaz’ most similar hitter as Alex Verdugo (How!?!?! I don’t get that one, but here we are). With the same control and less money, Verdugo was dealt for Fitts and Weissert plus. Could the Sox get Diaz for a similar package? If so, we’re looking at some sort of Mullins/Uberstine type thing here. (Weissert was reportedly a throw-in DFA candidate as NY needed to clear a 40 man roster spot.) Projections don’t justify anything close to Witherspoon. Does any trade in recent history?

I have said multiple times they will move one of Duran or Abreu. And I reserve the right to flip-flop all off-season for on the better one to deal. But even if they moved both, they don’t need another OF. Despite that many have probably given up on Kristian Campbell, he isn’t dead. In fact, that he only has 260 career plate appearances and a $60mill contract absolutely keeps him in the picture. (His return to AAA was certainly statistically unsuccessful, but was he making adjustments and working on something? If so, it can definitely make his stats look worse in multiple ways.) Also Password is still on the team, but as he is a top 100 prospect, on the 40 man roster, and possibly 6th on the OF depth chart, it is quite possible he gets traded. Imagine if Campbell’s does take over LF. Password would be a top 100 prospect behind 3 players all signed thru 2032 at a minimum…

Actually you did say the Sox should get him and also agreed it would cost Witherspoon plus for him. Myself and mvp called that a massive overpay. Sure I get you think other teams will drive up the price. It is certainly possible, but that doesn’t change what is a fair deal or not. And I don’t think so many teams will be tossing around top 100 pitching prospects like their Washington quarters. Especially since 1b and DH are not tough positions to fill without doing so. As I pointed out, last year Nate Lowe went for the bullpen equivalent of pocket change…

The Sox could and should move an OF to fill a void in the INF if possible. But spending heavily on the OF is very unlikely. Some pundits have posed Tucker getting $500mill. I consider that debatable. But $350mill minimum is a guarantee. I don’t see the Sox spending that much at a position in which they are fairly well set…

Witherspoon for Diaz is a redraft fantasy trade where money, years and position don’t matter…

And as you are the one who suggested acquiring Diaz, I assume you support the Sox trading Witherspoon plus others for one year of Diaz?

I’m sure they are going to WANT elite potential. But it’s unrealistic that they expect it. Diaz (whose most similar hitter per B-R is Alex Verdugo, which surprised me, too). Diaz has a Silver Slugger and been worth 5.0 bWAR in the past two seasons. Last year, the younger, cheaper Nate Lowe was coming off a similar 5.6bWAR over the previous two seasons, owned a Silver Slugger AND a Gold Glove and was traded by Texas to Washington for Robert Garcia, a 29yo fringey middle reliever. Not even the RP equivalent of Hamilton and a player not worthy of the 40 man roster of every team. Even if you like Diaz better than the more-decorated Lowe, I don’t see how the difference between the two can be justified by the gap between Kyle Witherspoon and Robert Garcia…