Hugh2

A lot of that was philosophical in my opinion. It's not that they don't value scouting, they just put more weight behind their models, computers, ai etc etc.

Boston has zero excuse for not spending as much as any other team on development and scouting. Pay roll is a different story.

I don't really care where its' coming from. I mean I do, but it's just irelevant to the bottom line of this topic. At the end of the day revenue is revenue and if the Mets generate have less money than the red sox (after adjusting for payroll expenses) then the Sox have more cash. Now I was looking at 2024, but I wouldn't expect things to be much different for 2025.

I do remember reading teams projected war by Steamer and Boston was towards the top for pitching, but they were not at the bottom for hitting, after adding contreras they are about middle ground. But you can only project with the guys you have on the roster, the Sox since I read those projections have added Contreras, and if they add Bregman or Bichette they're likely shooting up those rankings into the top ten. absence of some very bad luck, one more good signing in the infield should make this a very good team. Not without flaws, but very good.

I haven't seen 2025 numbers yet, but in 2024 the LAD had $174 million more in revenue than the Boston Red Sox. But LAD spent $307 million more on payroll and tax than Boston did. The Red Sox actually had more operating income than LAD. LAD brings in more money, but they spend MORE than that amount on payroll alone, which means hypothetically they have actually less money than Boston. Now I'm just looking at 2024, and not other years, but I'd expect recent history to be similiar and my point is this. The Red Sox have all the wealth and more to put just as much resources in the development and interanational scouting that the LAD do. Actually, given their reluctance to go over the higher luxury tax limits I'd say they're in a position to be spending more than LAD right now.

Well some fans doesn't make it real, I could blame Garrett Crochet for the Red Sox not signing any other players because they pay him too much. Doesn't make it true, even so....while he's paid...it's not a mammath contract by any means. Any time you can have a 6 WAR player taking up less than 10% of your payroll.....that's a win.

He's 18, and I'm sure they got him in their bat speed program. It will be interesting to see how he progresses. I feel like he could be one of those guys that pops once he reaches Greenville.

Bogaerts and Machado are a much larger part of the issue. Tatis is 6 years younger than both those guys, making $24 million a year aav. He's far from the issue. After Jackson Merrill he's their most valuable asset.

Frazier is going to 28 in just a few days, he's a depth option.

I'm placing my bets, Bregman will sign today with Boston for 5/$125

That might be the early projection for when he could start throwing off a mound again this year but he probably wouldn't be ready for games until a few more months after that. If he's going to return to form or possibly even get better, I wouldn't expect him to be that guy until sometime around 2027/28, The next 2/year project pitcher contract guy might be in our very own back yard.

Are they? Everybody talks to everybody in the offseason. The whole "Red Sox checked in with _____" isn't exclusive to Boston. The most people interested the more the price for an asset is so the agents side has every incentive to either increase interest or at the very least increase the perception of that interest. Team ABC checking in and doing their due dilligence can turn into "Team ABC is in" on said player real quick. The Mets and the Phillies don't exactly need a 3B/2B right now. I'm not saying they wouldn't swoop in and buy him if his market collapsed, but I don't think either of those teams plan on being the highest bidder right now. I think Bregman, despite not having a QO attached is in the same exact boat he was in last year. Outlandish prediction.....but I think he ends up back in Boston for 5/125

The thing about Sandoval is the Red Sox signed him. They signed him two offseasons ago with the knowledge at the time that it was going to be all about the 2026 season. There might of been some hope that he possibly could contribute in the bullpen at the end of 2025 but for the most part, it was about 2026. We don't with any real clarity or precision how teams internally evaluate players. We don't fully know what the Sox liked about or saw in Sandoval, except that they did. People love to reference what Patrick has done, but that doesn't illustrate what the Sox think he is. Do they think he can take a step forward with them? do they think they can tinker with his arsenal? Do they think he's a #5 or a guy who if they can do what they hope to do with him is a #2? Now, things can change, maybe they don't like what theyv'e seen in his rehab, and hearts change over time perhaps they roll into 2026 thinking they have 5 legit better options than him. But penciling Sandoval into the 2026 rotation has always made complete absolute sense to me, and I say that as someone who wouldn't be completely shocked if he's not one of their main 5 starting pitchers in 2026 either.

My vote is for Yay

I have a question for the board. All things considered.......would you consider this a good offseason if the Red Sox, in addition to their other moves add one of: Ketel Marte Bo Bichette Alex Bregman Yay...or Nay?

Fixed

I'd project 87 wins now, 93 if they make a significant addition in the infield.

Replacement level team is expected to win 48 games, so this puts the Sox at 93 wins. Projected. That's a good team....hypothetically. Still, I think a good addition in the infield could make that win total sound a lot more reasonable to this fan base. Although interesting enough are the projections that are not here. Between all the trades, claims and DFA's and one hit wonders, and reaching into the depths of the 40 man there will double the amount of players here adding to the team. In 2025 the Red Sox had 18 players add negative war totaling about -5.2 WAR. If that were to hold true, we could project this team at around 87-88 wins, which is one less than last year. When you figure in subtracting Bregman and other players plus the additions and some steps forward from the youngsters that seems to be about the right range for this team. THey're good....but not great.

There is no question. i misread your last post. We are on the same page here.

Wait, IF Mayer is hurt? if Mayer is hurt don't we need two infielders now? If not our infield is actually going to be Romy/Story/Dham/Contreras. That........could end very badly. If that happens, and especially if someone like Story goes down and your infield is literally an AAA infield. Breslow should be fired on the spot.

Honestly, personally, I don't have a preference. If my team is loaded with offensive star studded talent in the field, I can see the advantage of using the DH more as a rotation to rest guys and also get some bench guys at bats and play with match ups. But If I have a team that really really needs an offensive upgrade and I'm carrying a few guys who are good on defense but not so much with the bat (Rafaela/Narvaez) etc etc. Then I could really be sold on going out and getting a player like Schwarber to fill in that DH spot. I think there's more than one way to skin a cat

I certainly won't say they're all good fielders.

Well last year they extended his rehab because even though he could hit he couldn't play the field yet......and he's an outfielder they said.

Let me clarify, Ohtani is absolutely 100% a full time DH. He's just irrelavent to this conversation because he is Ohtani. Ohtani is not evidence for or against how other teams conventionally employ a DH, because Ohtani is a once in a generation never seen before UNCONVENTIONAL player. Who we know for a fact is dh'ing because he is in fact also pitching and the team wants to reduce likelihood he gets hurt. We literally have a sample size of 0 to go on here with this. Ohtani is a true blue unicorn.

DUDE......it's freaking Ohtani. There's literally never been a player like him in the game of baseball EVER. He's already a HOF and a legend. I don't think you're making the point you think your're making by saying "ah ahhhhh Ohtani is a DH TOO!!!!!" No.....he's a pitcher who DH's when he's not pitching. Literally not up for comparision. And dude, I don't care about the "rule change" this isn't a court of law where a corporation is a person. You, me, Moon, my Mom, the mailman....every person on earth understands Ohtani is one singular person. You can't be seriously taken in this conversation by including Ohtani. And it's irrelavent because even if you DID (I included him in my count) there are way way way way less teams that have a DH who plays 50% of the time of more. WHere is at every other position not catcher for obvious reason that is verifiably not the case.