oldtimer

To me, the Sox couldn't afford both Soto and Devers, so it was an either/or. Just too much money for Soto. Paying for a player at $51 mil per year to age 41 made no sense anyway. I believe in spending money, but doing it wisely. We have the elements of a competitive team provided we spend on pitching and a very good right hand hitter who can hold his own in the field.

My answer is no it wouldn't be enough. We need to spend on pitching. Having two expensive players (Devers and Soto) who will be in decline at the same time makes no sense to me. At my age, I probably won't be around to see it happen, but still it looks like a poor strategy. To me it's either/or. If Soto, then trade Devers and probably Yoshida at the same time. Soto is better offensively and defensively. We have some impressive rookies coming along to fill in. Leave some money on the table to fill the great need, which is pitching.

I believe we will and should promote both Anthony and Campbell. With those two, and in the event we also get Soto, we would have some tough decsions to make for the 2025 season and beyond. To my thinking Yoshida never was a good fit and becomes a prioity to trade. I see it as an either/or with Soto/Devers. I'm fine with either, but not both. Yes we need a short term backup catcher. And Refsnyder makes perfect sense as a backup outfielder. Whether Rafaela is on the active roster to start the season is open to question so who the backup utility infielders should be depends on the possibility of Soto coming to the Sox. In that regard, I question the sense of a 15 year deal for any player. Might be great for part of that time but a big liability as age sets in. Sox management needs to make wise use of their resources.

I was of the opinion that they should sign Soto, even at the outrageous numbers being talked about. I have changed my mind when I heard he wants a deal stretching over 15 years. The risk is just too high when taking a commitment of that length. If the Red Sox are to spend, lets hope they do so wisely and get value for their outlays.

If we expend the big bucks, let's do it wisely.

Realistically, I can't see us affording both, so if it is either/or I think Soto is a better bet overall. Devers is $31.5 mil/yr and Soto may be $40 m/yr. Keep Casas and use Abreu as trade bait to fulfilll over needs.

Time for a shakeup? Lot of Flexibilty, Balance, Power. Higher risk with multiple rookies. Only Wong to cover FB. C Jansen/Wong FB Casas SB Grissom SS Story TB Campbell RF Soto CF Duran LF Anthony DH Oneill Util: Rafaela, Refsnyder, Mayer Trade Yoshida, Devers, Abreau

Every team will try and sign him so the probability of the Sox winning is low but not zero. I can see us getting Fried as a major lefty #1 or #2 even if we are lucky enough to get Sasaki.

He may have value in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes. He would fill a major need for a #1 or #2 starter and he is only 23 years old and maybe not as costly in the budget cap as others we might get. In addition, we could use our tradable prospects to reel in relief pitchers and/or a right hand power bat.

If you could have either of these two players straight up for the Sox, who would you take? Devers vs Soto?

As usual, a well thought out suggestion for improving the Sox. I have a little different take as I like an outfield of Duran, Anthony, Abreu and Refsnyder with Rafaela on the 40 man but getting a AAA assignment to improve his hitting. That outfield is fairly young, athletic and plays good defense although admittedly is not balanced at the plate. An infield of Casas, Campbell, Story and Devers also makes sense although Devers at 31.5 Mil a year through 2033 makes me wonder if we will carry dead weight that will hurt us along the way. Grissom is a talented and young guy with upside if he can stay healthy. He is insurance in the infield and could add balance to the lineup. Wong and one other at catcher. Teel is not ready but a long term FA may not be needed as I expect Teel may make the jump in 2026. Yoshida can hit and as a result may be of interest to another team who isn't as lefty biased as we are. Unloading his salary makes more sense to me and then Refsnyder, Devers, Casas or Grissom can DH. I am not sold on a right hand power hitter with a high strikeout rate. If we do get one perhaps he should be able to cover ist base when facing left hand starters. Perhaps keeping DHam makes sense for his speed, defense and versatility and trading from some of our other prospect talent to land a ist lline left hand starter and two quality arms for the bull pen although more likely much of the BP may have to come from the FA ranks. I'm interested why you didn't mention Mayer.

I'm of the opinion we go for speed, defense, balance and contact hitters. Some of those can be prospects. What have we got to lose after the past 5 years. I doubt if we spend big, so would like to conserve what we have for pitching. Wong and FA (dont think Teel is ready) Casas Campbell/Grissom Story/Grisssom Devers(Would trade him but don't see a favorable situation) or DH/Hamilton Abreu/ Refsnyder Duran Anthony (Rafaela to minors to work on hitting. Up early) And E. Valdez X Yoshida (doesn't fit the team going forward-neither speed, defense or balance)

After watching the Dodgers edge out the Padres, it made me think that both these teams are loaded with big name hitters and they also have excellent defensive teams. Despite those attributes, both teams were largely shutdown by exceptional pitching. In the case of the Dodgers, they had injuries among their starters and were relying on a very capable and deep bull pen. To me there are two seasons. One where a team has to make the playoffs and the second for the team to succeed in the playoff. In the first, a loaded team can beat up enough on average pitching and the second where they have to have outstanding pitching while eking out wins with defense, speed and what hitting they can find. Hitters who have low strike out rates and put the ball in play are especially valued. The Sox currently have one of the poorer defenses in baseball, had too many players with high strike rates and were not deep on the pitching side. Those who believe ownership will spend enough to be competitive with teams like the Dodgers or Padres are just dreaming. Better to find ways to improve team speed and defense as much as possible from within and filling one or two position players while plowing the most money into at least one quality starter and greatly strengthening the BP. Suggestions: 1. Take Devers off 3rd and mainly DH him while trading Yoshida.to clear space 2. Fill 3rd with a FA with defensive chops and is a RH hitter. Devers as backup 3. Leave Story at short and back him up with Mayer 4. Fill 2nd from the minors with Cambell while keeping Grissom as alternate. 5. Leave Casas at 1st with Devers as backup 6. I’m happy with Duran and Abreu and think it’s time for Anthony in the outfield. Refsnyder as backup. Return Rafaela to minors to work on hitting. 7. Wong as primary catcher (not great defensively) and add a FA backup catcher. Teel isn’t ready. That gives us speed and improves the defense. I am willing to risk that all the prospects will hit. What do we have to lose? Another last place finish? 8. Spend on at least one quality starter and multiple relief arms. My preference is for younger arms as I don’t expect we can move the needle forward enough in one season to compete for it all.

Moon has said he would trade anyone on the Sox if we could get better doing that. I would test his resolve by suggesting trading Devers might make the most sense. His huge contract ($31,350,000 guaranteed through 2033) might make that hard, particularly with his defensive shortcomings. He chases outside the zone a lot but his hand/eye co-ordination and power provide results that other teams may covet. Will he age well? I personally don't think so. Even just clearing his contract might give us the financial flexibility to get solid right handed hitter and defender that would give the Sox more balance and also make keeping guys like Casas less of a problem from a balance point of view.

Would you trade Devers? As unpopular as that sounds, it would certainly get a good return but would anyone take that salary?

After watching the Dodgers edge out the Padres, it made me think that both these teams are loaded with big name hitters and they also have excellent defen sive teams. Despite those attribute, both teams were largely shutdown by exceptional pitching. In the case of the Dodgers, they had injuries among their starters and were relying on a very capable and deep bull pen. To me there are two seasons. One where a team has to make the playoffs and the second for the team to succeed in the playoff. In the first, a loaded team can beat up enough on weaker average pitching and the second where they have to have outstanding pitching while ekeing out wins with defense, speed and what hittiing they can find. Hitters who have low strike out rates and put the ball in play are especially valued. The Sox currently have one of the poorer defenses in baseball, had too many players with high strike rates and we're not deep on the pitching side. Those who believe ownership will spend enough to be competitive with teams like the Dodgers or Padres are just dreaming. Better to find ways to improve team speed and defense as much as possible from within and filling one or two position players while plowing the most money into at least one quality starter and greatly strengthening the BP. Suggestions: 1. Take Devers off 3rd and mainly DH him while trading Yoshida. 2. Fill 3rd with a FA with defensive chops and is a RH hitter. 3. Leave Story at short and back him up with Mayer 4. Fill 2nd from the minors with Cambell and let him compete with Grissom (best man starts) 5. Leave Casas at 1st with Devers as backup 6. I'm happy with Duran and Abreau but think we need to bring Anothy up. Refsnyder or other right hsnd bat can back up. Return Rafaela to minors to improve plate discipline. 7. Wong as primary catcher but defense is questionable. FA backup catchel as Teel not ready. These moves improves the defense and team speed. I am willing to risk the prospects hitting. What do we have to lose? Another dismal season? 8. Concentrate on at least one front line starter and multiple quality relief pitchers. We can expect pitching injuries so depth is criticl. i prefer younger arms where possible as it is unlikely we will make enough moves to be fully competitive in 2025.

I have been dormant for months after seeing the Sox falter as I expected they would. I agree with Hugh to some extent. Bring up the young talent to solve the 2nd base situation and improve the outfield. The young players don't have to get gray in their beards before becoming a positive, Trade Yoshida as he is not a field player and hasn't the power to be a DH. Look to Story to fill SS. Find a RH power bat in free agency. Not from the dumpster but someone front line. If need be, move Devers to DH. Costly for the position but it improves the defense and lowers the injury risks. With the extra money, get a front line starter and a RP who can deal with pressure situations. That requires adjustments in thinking by management and also coaching but should be enough to earn us a playoff spot. I've been a fan since the 1940's but have not felt optimistic about management being either intelligent or being willing to spend on the team. Hope they prove me wrong.

I have been dormant for months after seeing the Sox falter as I expected they would. I agree with Hugh to some extent. Bring up the young talent to solve the 2nd base situation and improve the outfield. The young players don't have to get gray in their beards before becoming a positive, Trade Yoshida as he is not a field player and hasn't the power to be a DH. Look to Story to fill SS. Find a RH power bat in free agency. Not from the dumpster but someone front line. If need be, move Devers to DH. Costly for the position but it improves the defense and lowers the injury risks. With the extra money, get a front line starter and a RP who can deal with pressure situations. That requires adjustments in thinking by management and also coaching but should be enough to earn us a playoff spot. I've been a fan since the 1940's but have not felt optimistic about management being either intelligent or being willing to spend on the team. Hope they prove me wrong.

I remember when you advocated trading Duran. To be fair, his defense was substandard at that time and he was working on his hitting. How things have changed. He is 4th in MLBB in extra base hits behind Judge, Otani and Witt. Add to that 32 BB and 33 steals, he has become an elite offensive player. Devers is 5th in MLBB and to be fair, he has less at bats, but the Sox offense has become a team strength. Good that Sox management kept the players with a high potential. We have one of the best outfields in baseball now and Anthony is an exciting prospect. I hope Sox ownership is willing to backup this years unexpected performance by investing in quality pitching.

He will have to turn his gold glove in after this game.

Then there is Dalbec at .415. Why do we keep him on the 40 man?

We knew the lineup was weak in April and if anything, injuries have made it weaker.

I know I harp on this, but if you have a guy who goes 1 for 30 AB (2 were walks)and strikes out 19 times would you keep him on the 40 man? The same guy is a marginal fielder. Why not bring up a vaunted rookie who is much morew valuable defensively and might just get a hit here and there? The Sox management inaction is frustrating. Dalbec is the player and it is not his first time around the May pole. What makes management feel things would change?

Dalbec is 0 for 19 with 12 strikeouts. His fielding is not that good. Why take up a spot on the 40 man? It's so obvious I'm surprised that even the Red Sox management hasn't seen it. DFA him now. We have better fielders who actually might get a hit once in a while. I admit to continuing to be negative about this year. We waste our good performers with terrible fielding and weak hitting.

Time to admit we belong in the cellar and act accordingly. Bring up the prospects and let them gain experience. Probably would resxult in a better defense and could the hitting be worse? Maybe, but we aren't going anywhere and where we have spent money we are beset with the injury bug.