vegasbob

I contend that the Sox will play Yoshida to start the season and hope he shows enough output to warrant a trade, with salary subsidy, by late July . Or if he cannot contribute sufficiently to be traded then he will be in a zone that even JH will eat the salary for second half'26 and gamble on '27 being a short year. That tactic also allows Campbell to get his feet on the ground in Worcester for a couple months under an improved mindset, no pressure, waiting for the callup based on an injury or Yoshida's departure. Campbell riding the bench in Boston makes no sense at all in early 2026.

Note that a 26 HR hitter will , on average, get 1 per week of regular season. It might come in a 1-0 game and be the difference in gaining a win , or it might come , with others in a 14-4 laugher. The majority will be solo shots, if the hitter follows low OBP hitters in the lineup. Following Billy Beane, I think high OBPs will be more productive than a single addition of a 26HR guy.

Casas will begin the year on the IL list, or at WooSox to see if he can go on a daily basis. Yoshida becomes affordable to trade at the July '26 deadline , along with money or even DFA if he's not hitting well. Narvaez and Wong will be the catching tandem, with Contreras as an emergency filler 3B is Mayers until he shows he cannot stay on the field CF should stay as Rafaela's pasture and he should not be used as the primary 2Bman. The only benefit to Cedanne at 2B is that Abreu, Anthony and Duran can be in the lineup daily. That may sway AC to play him there. A trade of one of those OF'ers for pitching help could also sway that lineup. Note that among Casas, Abreu, Anthony, and Mayer, none have shown yet that they can stay on the field for 150+- games. Duran and Rafaela have done so. . Can Trevor Story stay in one productive piece for another season ? Bregman could not. What happens with K. Campbell if somehow he repeats his 2025 ST and looks like a serious player again ? I think it depends a lot on the trade outcomes among the OF'ers. My bet now would be on starting at WOOSox awaiting the next lengthy injury rehab.

I just cannot discount that team roster building via trades or FA's is currently influenced , at least in Boston, in anticipation of the possible work stoppage in 2027 . Henry probably has a good feel for his fellow owners positions on the key matter of a salary cap . If he thinks they will push hard on that item , even if compromised later like maybe July, I can see why there has been no rush to get into a multi-year premium for a player already over 30. Slow play 2026 , hope for continued development of Mayer , Anthony, Tolle , etc. and see where the collective bargaining agreement goes. This current roster should still be able to compete for a WC spot and I bet that is acceptable in the owner's Suite and maybe in the FO . Any new CBA , however, will still have to accommodate the current spending of team's like the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees and if anything like a salary cap gets introduced it will have to be gradually applied, perhaps with upgrades in minimums and other benefits for mid and lower level players , socialism being in vogue in some areas.

This may not be popular but at the end of Alonso's 5 year deal in Baltimore I think hindsight will show that it was best to avoid that deal.....and anything similar for Bregman , or Marte. The reasons that will make this come true include '26 season age ( over 30), injury history and future, the likelihood of no season in 2027, and declining abilities . Not a defense of Breslow following Henry's dictates but a reality when looking at a premium deal for interesting but not really great players . The Sox focus should remain on getting a true #2 pitcher and one more flame thrower in the bullpen. The Devers money plus Bregman's can pay for the best available. Take a chance on Casas waking up, Anthony progressing and both staying on the field for a season. Then the miracle ask....can K. Campbell actually play at the MLB level ?

That was Bloomie's mistake not Breslows. Yoshida with a good first half may actually become tradable at the deadline. Without a good showing he will be dead weight until the Sox agree to just eat the last year

Laughing at myself for even thinking it, but how wrong is the Sox FO for thinking that Triston Casas won't make an amazing comeback player of the year in 2026. It will become more evident as the season goes on that 2027 may not be played as the millionaires fight the billionaires, so multi-year deals are less predictable in outcomes for the over 30 age players. All of which gives Breslow the easy defense for not being competitive in chasing these guys.

Didn't the O's sign a guy named Chris Davis to a big deal in this century ? How did that go ?

Definitely got the sense that Breslow ( or Owners) wouldn't go the 5 years or maybe the $30MM AAV . OTOH, Alonso must know he will get less HRs in Baltimore , but he will be getting the money guaranteed, like all aging sluggers. Why do people think that Bregman will take any less , and when you look at his overall 2026, AB is a fading light over a 4-5 year period.

There is a reason, it is called pitching , not "throwing'

IMO, Breslow cannot build the roster to rely on the reappearance of 2 players: K. Campbell and T. Casas. Build the roster as if they will both be in Worcester at best or otherwise moved along in bigger deals for pitching. Both of these two need to show up at ST in mid February and earn a position on the 26, or in Casas case get stashed on the 60 day to wait and see. Neither can benefit from being a bench player. Campbell is in no position right now to displace another starter or even the Sogard, Eaton, Hamilton bench, and certainly not in the face of the OF + Yoshi logjam . Casas if healthy (lol) , at least , ahs a shot at position of need . So do the FA signings and or trades and then send these 2 a ticket to Ft. Myers to see what they can contribute.

Duran's personal and economic future may be best served by getting traded. If Speier's report is correct, Jarren will not be getting an extended deal at premium pricing from the Red Sox. A trade and sign deal with another team who actually needs an outfielder with some plus tools will be his way to bigger money. Otherwise, Duran's ship is leaving port without enough lifeboats. As a guy who plays hard, he is one leg injury away from being made irrelevant.

Regarding FA signings and JH in general, remember Bres signed Bregman to a $120MM deal while Devers was still on the team. You cannot say they expected to trade him away in February. Surely JH and Breslow see that there is an opportunity here to set the table for the next 3 years of a pennant contending team built around controlled cost youth. So an impact trade for pitching plus an FA signing of a key RH bat is not out of the question. Imagine if Hicks and Yoshida's contracts could be moved on, with a 50% contribution to lighten the load.

Those counting on Casas to be the 1B stud are hoping as a strategy . Let's see Casas in ST to see if he is physically ready , then plan on sending him to Worcester for end of March/April and let him show it, plus get over his "slow" start. Same applies to Kristian Campbell, let's see some results before giving him a key role. And that role should not be on the bench.

Bregman's option decision period begins after the WS, so any discussion before that is not definitive. I would ask Bregman to make that decision very early so that the changes his staying OR going can be fairly assessed. I do think his leg (s) were shot certainly in September but essentially the whole period after his 7 week IL stint., so we may not have seen his real output in age 32 season . We saw clearly he couldn't run and I suspect he lost some range at 3rd. Alex, just make a decision after the WS and let's get going with building a roster that can win the ALE.

IMO, the way to move Yoshida, without eating all of his last 2 year's money is to bundle him with either Duran or Abreu and a young pitcher among our reliever candidates . I really think there are teams who have serious hitting , K rates, and run creation issues . Angels top that list , but the A's need players also . Also , the Sox have a surplus of utility players with only 2 , maybe 3, slots available on the 2026 26 man active roster. Consider Wong as even another utility guy, but primarily back up catcher . How does Breslow get value back from this surplus of marginal guys ? Say Bres keeps Eaton and Gonzalez for the bench . Refsnyder may yet retire , or he will get the OF backup/platoon role. Will Hamilton and Sogard be held at Worcester awaiting the inevitable Mayer injury ? Mayer's role depends a lot on Bregman's decision , otherwise he is back at Worcester or takes one of the 2 bench slots awaiting the inevitable Bregman leg malfunction. Nat Lowe---forget he even exists , don't waste a 40 slot on him. If you don't believe Casas will play out well, go get another guy.

I don't get the current enthusiasm here for K. Campbell. After a great ST/April and the big contract , he did not just have a hiccup in May. He totally fell off the rails and did not really recover at Woo. Not to say Kristian is a lost cause but doesn't he have to actually show he can play/hit before pencilling him into 2026 ? For me , he goes to WooSox for April and shows he needs to come back. The question then is what position ? I would say the same about Casas , assuming his patella tendon fully recovers . Are you ready to wait out April/May with a performance like pre-injury 2025 ? After all he is a slow starter ( excuse, but reality) . Go have that slow start in Worcester until it warms up.

I think most would agree that AB is no bargain at $40million . As noted above, he is who he is and played to that level after the quad injury. If he does opt out, then good luck, Alex . I trust that once he opts out, the remainder of the contract is dead. BUT, keep in mind he has $80 million in guaranteed money from Boston for '26 and '27 . Given that those dollars are his for simply staying in place, wonder how much he loves himself. I cannot imagine a CBO/GM or owner willing to sign him at those levels for 4 , much less 5 years. My bet is that we have him and better get used to him consuming about 20% of the budget .

But the autopsy tomorrow will reveal the cause of death

Not Valdez. never!!

#4 after Brez adds two legit starters

In a hitters park. the two best Red Sox hit balls were CF warning track power balls. 3 games, 1 HR ???

Max, I enjoy your takes but I am referring to how they played and hit in games that mattered . Yes injuries were unfortunate but it doesn't change weak efforts when winners find a way as do losers If you're satisfied dropping 2 straight elimination games then enjoy the rest of your life. This group could have done something special. although the pitching staff shortages would have killed them in ALDS

Very young. very immature. very undereducated. very emotional Brayan is very not a winner under pressure

Duran pops out to left side again. foul even. Oh wait a winning Yankee player gives up his life to catch a ball Never see that urgency and energy from Sox