5GoldGlovesOF,75

Just don't call him a stiff.

Gold Glove first baseman with right-handed pull power and 11% K-rate -- now, is that really the kind of player that fits in with this Red Sox roster? This quote intrigues: "profile that mirrors the disciplined style Boston's hitting department has been preaching throughout the organization." (musing: writer either works for the Sox or isn't a Sox fan, since the org obviously needs less preaching and more teaching) link: https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/boston-red-sox/good-news-on-kazuma-okamoto/

They need at least two, but Bichette is the youngest and has led the AL in hits in his past four full seasons. Obviously, Bo would have to agree to play 2B or 3B, and we're not even sure he'd be ok at either. We know we're covered at SS.

This is the post I was waiting for -- and trying futilely to articulate in my own. Note to notin: I did cite career negative dWARs of both Hoskins and Bell to show how craptacular they'd improve our D (but only because I can't seem to find all the other metrics at MVP's fingertips)... bottom line -- what's the point of adding anyone if they're not going to be legitimate UPGRADES? And nothing against moonslav, whose lists we always appreciate all offseason, but the 2026 Red Sox need to add more than decent players -- especially if we lose Bregman, OUR LONE ALL-STAR REGULAR. When I say decent, that includes a power hitter who may sock 40 homers but strikeout 200 times -- we need less Ks more than we need more HRs... change. the. culture. Seattle just lost the pennant partially because in the 2nd inning of a tie game with two on and no outs, they sac bunted, so their #8 batter, Leo Rivas, could whiff and strand both. Rivas was 1-for-14 with 7 Ks in the ALCS -- if you're going to bunt them over for him, make him bunt, too -- at least then he might put the ball in play!!! Why talk about the M's? Because their production and flaws are similar to ours (except they're loaded with longball guys, while we lead the world in doubles).

(not a Mookie post, I swear) A National League team hasn't won back-to-back World Series in half a century. Toronto has, though, from the AL, in '92-93... But we all know the player LA has; he's not a pitcher, but an ex-Red Sox postseason star. Yes... Kike, King of Klocktober!

I never advocated for buying All-Stars at every position like the Yankees used to, or buying aces for every turn through the rotation like LA. But cutting corners obviously isn't giving the Sox much of a fighting chance this decade. Boston doesn't have to blow money on every big name free agent every year, but there are always certain talents available at positions of need. The Sox needed a top outfielder like Springer when he was a free agent, and the contract he signed with Toronto is comparable to Story's, but the fiscally fickle front fluffice didn't have to pay the tax -- and celebrated online. No fans did. Springer won the World Series with five home runs vs. the Dodgers nine seasons ago, and his homer last night won the pennant for Toronto (after taking a 96 mph fastball off his kneecap over the weekend). It was his fourth HR of this postseason. Who really cares about his WAR if he's still getting it done? '25 regular season: 32 HR, .309 BA, .959 OPS.

The '25 Red Sox' postseason lineup -- the most impotent playoff batting order in franchise history? And before anybody says Roman, just remember both the '67 and '75 Sox were missing AL home run champs in Tony Conigliaro and Jim Rice and still had lineups so loaded they made it to Game Seven of the World Series.

You know what I meant, so spare me the stats because you're in the mood to argue. No one can be another Mookie, but the Sox chose not to pay him his true market value and had all those savings to at least invest in the next best ballplayer available. Springer was a Silver Slugger All-Star OUTFIELDER with a World Series MVP in his prime at age 30, and chances would've come home to New England if it was 20 years earlier when Henry was all in. The BIG MARKET Red Sox needed to replace star power and still do.

Was just looking at another Sox site where fans are also speculating on the '26 batting order. The mediocrity being suggested is somnambulant. It drove me away in a somnambulance.

162-game averages Bell 24 HR, 85 RBI, .786 OPS, 18.6% K-rate Rhys 34 HR, 97 RBI, .820 OPS, 25% K-rate BUT... in a 10-year career, Bell has only earned 8.7 WAR, while Hoskins has 12.1 WAR in eight years -- mainly because they've both had negative dWARs in every single season. Yow... do we really want either to be our new first baseman?

When he became a free agent he was the perfect replacement for Betts. The Blue Jays signed Springer for 6 years at $150 million -- or less than half of the money Boston didn't have to pay Mookie. When the Sox didn't go after Springer, a local guy to logically recruit who grew up in Connecticut and starred at UConn, it was a portent for fans. George hasn't been a Hall of Famer in Toronto, but his 162-game averages over five seasons are something the Red Sox haven't seen from any player in that same half decade: 103 runs, 30 homers, 84 RBI, .804 OPS... ... mainly because the Sox have only had one position player for the past half decade: Jarren Duran.

One Anthony in the batting order is not worth trading Boston's next best four prospects for another pitcher. For the Sox to truly compete, they need at least three Anthonys: Roman Anthony, Anthony Anthony, and Lia Anthony.

You're right. How about eliminate Fenway Park's dumb Stadium Club seats and move the press box back down to the top of the home plate screen, so no structure is blocking the air currents that used to blow out before 1988 and allow batters the size of Rico Petrocelli to hit 40 home runs.

You guys are just fanists, taking fanist views. Just because you pay good money to go to Red Sox games or watch them on screens, why do you deserve a legitimate contender? When you go to a restaurant, do you expect good food? Isn't the atmosphere enough? If you buy a new car, does it have to take you where you want to go? Can't you just sit in it, look good, and hum "Sweet Caroline" while doing the wave...

St. Louis holds all the Cards. But if Chaim Bloom is dealing, there's good chance he'll drop the shuffle and a dead hand will be declared.

A few American free agents who were Red Sox hits: 2007, 2018 World Series champion Alex Cora, 2007 WS MVP Mike Lowell, the first DH of the Year in 1973 Orlando Cepeda, 1967 AL W-L% leader Jose Santiago...

Agreed. Why would Minnesota want Duran in any package for Ryan? They're not going anywhere with Duran, especially if they're trading their best pitcher. If the Twins didn't think Tolle, Password and Arias were enough at the deadline, adding Duran wasn't going to change their minds. And now that everyone's seen Early in action in the majors, everyone will ask for him this winter. Expect the price for a Ryan to include Tolle and Early... ... and Breslow may just decide to hang onto his minimum wage starters for a team he's building around pitching -- especially since the Sox' woefully inadequate batting order needs way too many reinforcements to legitimately compete for "a deep run in October."

The Union will never approve of a salary cap -- but don't take the paying public for granted. At least give the fans a beer and pretzel cap.

Only LA with its kajillion dollar TV contract can afford to stockpile aces they rest all during the summer, just to get ready for the postseason. 2025 Games Started: Glasnow 18, Ohtani 14, Snell 11. With frenemies like that, who needs openers.

But the Brewers were second to the the Dodgers in NL runs per game and led the majors in Ws -- even though they hit less home runs than the Red Sox! So who needs homers... except anyone who wants to win in the postseason.

Of course we need Schwarber and/or Polar Bear. But they're both going to cost a ton of money, and they're both destined to DH into their old ballplayer age... ... and John Henry just got out of his last Raffy contract.

I keep scrolling with my rightist hand, but my typing is done by my ambidexterist fingers. Except on April 15th, when I file and then pay my taxidermist. Having good skin is worth the fee.

My main concern were the strikeouts -- like with every prospect or Red Sox batter, in general, trying to adjust to big league pitching... Maybe it's just my crabby, old-guy obsession with batting from back when the object of hitting a baseball was actually hitting the baseball. But as far as power? Anthony crushed a 500-foot grand slam that forced Breslow to call him up. He also won a home run derby (Future Games?). That's plenty strong enough, but at 21 there's still room to bulk up. As for overrating him -- no doubt fans are desperate for a superstar in Boston to replace the Good (still winning titles in LA), the Bad (X doesn't mark the spot in SD), and the Ugly (banned to San Fran). But all those #1 prospect ratings came from industry professionals, and now seasoned teammates like Bregman are calling Ant one of the best in the bigs. Gotta consider the sources and feel encouraged.

Kristian Conundrum: Cora and Brez no longer discuss him extensively, and immediately change the subject with the same stock "Working on some things..." KC's minor league manager at the end of the season recently had just one word: "Outfielder."

Nothing against Campbell, but his spontaneous combustion as a second baseman is mind-boggling to this fan. It's really hard to fathom because there was nary a mention in scouting reports or 2024 Minor League awards of the possibility of the defensive disaster we witnessed. Most perplexing is that not one voice from the entire Red Sox org cautioned against giving him the starting job at 2B in the big leagues. Of course, most of the administration was too busy falling all over themselves congratulating each other on persuading KC to sign that team-friendly extension. But what about all his managers and coaches from the various levels he shot through in '24? Did reporters forget to interview any of them when Campbell struggled last Spring? Or did the complete silence just reflect fears of being primaried, like the scout from the doomed Zoom call with Brez?