5GoldGlovesOF,75

Especially after this just happened:

5.5

Duran was the Sox' top position player the past two years in WAR. Granted, those teams weren't world-beaters... Personally, I'm not a Duran guy and wouldn't flinch if he gets traded... but only for commensurate value. I like Ragans, but I'm not throwing in a package of talent for him when guys like Ryan are out there with fewer question marks.

Ragans pitched 61 innings? ... or divided by 9 = not even 7 games. Duran only played in One Hundred Fifty-Seven games.

Juan Pena, age 22 in 1999: 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 15 K, 3 BB... made two starts, threw 13 nasty innings and gave up one run... ... then blew out his elbow and never pitched again in the majors. Sox sure could've used Pena in the '99 postseason, when the rotation was Pedro and wait til Pedro can pitch again.

What -- it's not enough to trade an All-Star for an All-Star, but the Royals also deserve a really good pitching prospect and a really good outfield prospect? Let's also remember that Ragans -- a pitcher who plays once a week instead of daily like Duran -- also comes with injury questions... unlike someone who's never hurt and would play every inning of every game if the manager let him.

I don't think Early or Tolle get traded this winter. They have potential to be good big league starting pitchers -- at minimum wage for awhile -- which is something the Boston Red Sox haven't had in ages. Perhaps the front office -- like some of us amateur assistant VPs of the keyboards -- doesn't consider 2026 as the year to go all in full throttle for World Series rings. I have no basis for my take except for strong coffee... This upcoming season likely contains a lot of wait and see: 1). will any among Early, Tolle, and comebacking Crawford, Dobbins, Sandoval etc. emerge as rotation standouts? 2). Will any among Rafaela, Abreu/Duran and comebacking Casas and Mayer improve to become potential All-Stars? 3). Finally, will Anthony continue to progress into a star and develop the consistent power this line-up craves more than anything? If the Sox get positives from all three and become serious contenders, then we might see serious Brez activity by summer's trade deadline...

If it's a choice between Okamoto or Murakami, I'm OK with Okamoto. A good bat and good glove -- with less Ks -- helps the Red Sox in more ways than just the big fly. I don't feel good about this, but I can't help comparing any potential hitter from Japan to Yoshida. It's more about their league compared to the long seasons of the majors, and not just a WBC tournament all over the planet in March (where Masa rocked last time out). In 11 pro seasons in Japan, Kazuma Okamoto had a .277 batting average, with a .361 OBP/.521 SLUG/.882 OPS. He struck out 796 times with 481 walks. In 7 pro seasons in Japan, Masataka Yoshida had a .327 batting average, with a .421 OBP/.539 SLUG/.960 OPS. He had only 300 Ks to 421 BBs. Masa hit over 20 homers four times, and in his last three seasons had twice as many walks as strikeouts. Kaz hit over 30 HRs five straight years, but not his last two... there must have been some injuries then (buyer beware?). Bottom line: Boston is hesitant to play Yoshida in the field; the Sox cannot miss on recruiting another guy longterm if they're not sure he can play defense at the big league level.

Besides Bregman and Alonso, Marte is the third baseman the Sox have targeted this winter. Sanity is what drives me crazy.

Guy Ants already got a first baseman/DH!

Let's pretend Anthony and Mayer return from injuries and are good enough to replace Bregman and Duran, All-Stars in the past two years... here's the revised 2025 WC Playoff batting order: Ref, Platoon guy Story - ya, baby Anthony (for Bregman) Romy, Platoon guy Narvaez, 2nd half BA .187 Eaton, 4A Mayer (for Duran) Rafaela, 2nd half BA .218 Sogard, 4A ... sure, Casas and Abreu might be back and better than ever, and Yoshida may power up in the WBC... then they can start in place of next year's injured guys. Ready to win the World Series?

Good lists, MVP. I usually give Baseball America more regard because they specialize in evaluating ballplayers on the way up -- but not if they've never seen a guy yet. I generally want to see (which means read) how he looks at at least one pro level, though some D1 programs are probably equivalent to rookie ball or foreign leagues as far as quality competition. "Can't Miss" labels are almost as cliche as cliche. There are few Lebron James who look like they're pushing 30 in high school while knocking down bowling pins disguised as skinny boys.

Re. Sandoval: from what we've seen in Boston and on other pitching staffs, even for guys who return totally healthy from major surgery, it still takes at least half a year in a comeback season before most pitchers find their groove again. And relapses are very common. From Paxton to Giolito...

Posters keep mentioning Sandoval as a possible member of the 2026 starting rotation, but has anyone in the Red Sox organization? I read a lot of online articles containing quotes and may be confusing overlap with overhype, but would appreciate it if a sharp talksox typist could supply such pertinent info...

Are the high ratings for Dorian Soto based entirely on potential? He hasn't played at any pro level yet beyond the Dominican Summer League. No one on Soxprospects has even seen him play... Already the Sox' #10 best prospect and won't turn 18 until February... because he's still growing? What is this guy's top asset -- his arm? He's not noted as a great hitter or speed demon, and reports are they don't even know if he can stick at shortstop... Don't get me wrong; I'm not down on Dorian, just intrigued. Will he be the next Soto to make the majors before he can legally buy a beer? Does his presence in the system make trading Franklin Arias acceptable? Does anyone remember Robin Yount, who started at shortstop in Milwaukee at age 18?

It's the offseason. Things are barely happening yet, but it's already primetime for fans who post daily on forums. Here's another ranking... Talksox SPECULATING ROTATION: #1 -- Cy Offseason with his five pitches to improve the team (free agency, winter meetings, blockbuster trade, waiver wire acquisition, Rule V draft); #2 -- Preseason Predictor, who always takes the over on his Ws every Spring; #3 -- Julio Tradeadline, whose promising deceptive curveballs are inevitably spiked in the dirt; #4 and #5 -- Stretchrun Pickup and I.M. Ineligible... any contributions are appreciated. Type, post, repeat.

Possible answer: the guy who starts Game 2 in a playoff... but who you're not afraid to start Game 1, if you just used your ace to clinch the last round... ... and that doesn't necessarily mean an All-Star, who made that squad after a good first half: I'm looking at you, Matt Clement, Game 1 starter in the '05 playoffs (but probably the #4 behind Wake, Wells and Arroyo)... ... or you, Drew Pomeranz, who didn't even get a start in the '16 ALDS sweep at the hands of Cleveland, but who did give up the playoff-losing homer to Coco Crisp.

It's pretty obvious Gray replaces Giolito as a good veteran presence in the rotation. And Gio was arguably the #2 of a playoff team last year. If Sonny is only a decent #3 that means there's at least 60 to 70 starting pitchers better than him... ... though his durability -- which Gio once had -- gives Brez a better chance that he'll actually start a playoff game.

There are 30 teams with ideally 5-man rotations, so 150 starting pitchers. After seeing some of the comparative stats by moon and others -- when considering the total #1 and #2 guys -- here's what needs to be asked: Is Sonny Gray at least one of the top 60 starting pitchers in the MLB? ... or to reword: are there really 90 starting pitchers in the MLB better than Gray? (yes, I realize 5 of those 60 are probably Dodgers... but then 0 are Rockies).

Toronto also just signed Cease, who could be good or mediocre, but will give them innings. As for NY's Cole coming off major surgery, don't be so sure he'll be as good as new. It may take him a season to fully heal and pitch with consistency. Cole's also going to be 36 in '26, so by the time he's reliable again he could be as good as old.

Both Gray and a teammate attribute his struggles in pinstripes to a command by the pitching coach to change his repertoire. Obviously he moved on and got over it, making All-Star teams in each league for his next two teams. If you're still worried about Gray on big stages, please note his postseason ERA of 3.26 in 6 starts is better than his career regular season ERA of 3.58. He's had some blah playoff starts, but some good ones, like when he was a 23-year old rookie and bested Cy Young Verlander with 8 shutout innings to 7 shutout innings in a 1-0 win for Oakland. Pressure? When he was an undersized high school starting quarterback as a freshman, Gray insisted on playing the same day his father died in an auto crash. Sonny's tribute to dad included four TD passes and a big W. As a junior and senior he also QBed two state titles. He'll be ok under the blinking lights of the Citgo sign (before it's blocked by the new front office tower).

That's a fact (that many dispute).

Not in Yankee Stadium if Judge hits one and someone drops it. Ask anyone in the stands.

All Get Realists better remember this regime is counting on those whose Glass is Half-Fool. Fans pay for and sit in Fenway Park seats with views obstructed by poles in their face -- every year.

Well, Jimmy Dorsey was a big band leader, but not as famous as younger brother Tommy... whose biggest single was the #1 hit in 1940 titled "I'll Never Smile Again." Tommy's nickname was the Sentimental Gentleman of Swing, which contemporary Ted Williams had to hate -- "GENTLEman?!? Swing hard, in case the pitch hits your f***ing bat!" -- and explains why he never smiled again.