Maddie Landis

On Wednesday, MLB notified teams of their bonus pool and pick values for the 2026 Draft. The Red Sox rank 23rd with a total of $8,219,000 across nine picks. Their first round selection (20th overall) accounts for more than half of that value ($4,373,900). Round Pick Slot Value 1 20 $4,373,900 CB-B 67 $1,317,300 3 96 $815,700 5 156 $454,100 6 185 $352,900 7 214 $278,700 8 244 $227,200 9 274 $205,400 10 304 $194,000 As a brief refresher, two of the Red Sox’s offseason moves impacted their spending power. The Red Sox received the 67th pick in the supplemental second round (CB-B) in the Caleb Durbin and Kyle Harrison trade. After signing Ranger Suarez five-year, $150 million contract, they lost their second and fifth picks and $1 million from their international bonus pool. The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 11 to 13.

Every hidden nook, cranny, and secret value at the Boston Red Sox ballpark. By the fans, for the fans. (Updated for 2026!) Welcome! This is the definitive guide to Boston's Fenway Park, by the fans and for the fans. These recommendations were assembled by Talk Sox writers and community members who frequent the ballpark and have uncovered the best views, values, and secrets to share with you. Former Red Sox pitcher, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, once said, “Fenway Park is a shrine. People go there to worship." Lee’s statement rings true. Attending a baseball game at Fenway Park is a transcendental experience - it’s a living, breathing museum. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a lifelong Bostonian, this is a definitive guide to Fenway Park to help maximize your experience. Table of Contents (click to jump to section) Fenway Park Facts and Specs Best Places to Stay Around Fenway Park How to Get To & Park Around Fenway Park Best Seats at Fenway Park Best Food at Fenway Park Best Bars at Fenway Park Best Restaurants Around Fenway Park Secret Gems of Fenway Park Self-Guided Fenway Park Walking Tour Fenway Park Fan FAQs Fenway Park at a Glance Address: 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA 02215 Opened: April 12th, 1912 Capacity: 37,755 Dimensions Left field: 310 feet Left center field: 379 feet Center field: 420 feet Right field: 380 feet Where to Stay Around Fenway Park The Arcadian: The Arcadian is a newer hotel located in the quaint neighborhood of Brookline. It’s about 15 minutes away from downtown Boston, perfect for visitors looking for a quieter, yet accessible location to the city. Fenway Park is either a 15-minute T ride or a 24-minute walk away from the Arcadian. The Saint Paul Street Station on the Green Line is located right outside the hotel. Courtyard Boston Brookline: Terry Francona resided at the Courtyard Boston Brookline during part of his managerial tenure in Boston! The hotel is about a block up from the Arcadian. Nightly rates are slightly more expensive than the Arcadian, but since it’s a larger chain hotel, you can utilize Marriott Rewards Points, credit card rewards, etc., to get a discounted rate on your stay. Unlike the Arcadian, the hotel has a parking garage ($50 daily fee) that’s connected to the hotel. The Verb Hotel: The Verb Hotel is a newer boutique hotel in the Fenway neighborhood. It has a rock and roll theme with room decorations featuring band and concert posters. If you’re looking for unique accommodation, you can stay in a Backstage trailer! Note: the on-site hotel parking is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Hotel Commonwealth: Hotel Commonwealth is the Official Hotel of the Boston Red Sox. Depending on the time of the year you’re visiting Boston, Hotel Commonwealth is the most expensive accommodation on this list. It offers several Red Sox packages with opportunities to meet players and watch batting practice from a specially designated area. Some rooms offer a view of Fenway Park, and baseball decor and memorabilia are on display throughout the hotel. I highly recommend the hotel; it’s a definite bucket list item for any Red Sox fan. A couple of summers ago, I snagged a deal on Expedia for a 3-night stay at the Hotel Commonwealth. The staff was friendly and helpful, my room was quiet despite the view of the Massachusetts Turnpike, and the location (only a 5-minute walk to Fenway) is superb for a game. 2004 and 2007 World Series memorabilia are on display in the lobby. Elevator wall signed by various baseball personnel - who can you spot? As the team’s official hotel, it accommodates both former and current players. During my stay, I ran into Jonathan Papelbon in the lobby. (I also think I saw Triston Casas while waiting for the elevator... though this is unconfirmed). How to Get to and Park Around Fenway Park Boston traffic, especially around Kenmore during rush hour or before a game, can delay your arrival, so be sure to add some float time for your ETA. This map shows some parking garages and lots around Fenway Park. Parking spaces can be purchased in advance on Spot Angels at most locations. MASCO Parking Garage: If you’re looking to avoid pre-game or post-game traffic and don’t mind walking, the Masco Parking Garage is located about a mile away (20-minute walk) from Fenway Park. Spots can be pre-purchased online via SpotHero. Hynes Auditorium Garage: The Hynes Auditorium Garage is another option for fans looking to avoid traffic before or after the game. It also utilizes Spot Angels. The biggest difference between the Masco Parking Garage and the Hynes Auditorium Garage is their highway access. The Hynes Garage provides more convenient access to I-90 and I-93. Public Transportation To Fenway Park I'm a huge public transportation advocate, and the T (Boston's subway) offers the easiest and quickest method to get to the ballpark. The closest station to Fenway Park is Kenmore via the Green Line. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk from Kenmore Station to Gate E on Lansdowne Street. Visit the MBTA website for more information. Rideshare options like Uber and Lyft are available in Boston. The Red Sox also have a Fenway Park Bike Valet Program with Bluebikes. Check out Bluebikes’ website for their station map with bike locations and dock availability. Seating Options at Fenway Park Shaded Seats has a chart of the sun’s direction with Fenway Park’s seats. This is a helpful tool to keep in mind if you don’t want to spend your entire game roasting in the sun. The Red Sox have a Fenway Park 3D Seat Map listed on their website. To get a feel for your seat, I recommend checking out a View From My Seat, which features real photos that aren't computer-generated. Note: If you're a visiting fan, the visitor's dugout is situated behind third base. Everyone has different budgets and differing ranges for how much money they want to allocate toward tickets. Here, we’ve divided seat options into three categories: I’m John W. Henry (Money is no object) I’m willing to spend more money on seats I’m here for the vibes and a good time I’m John W. Henry These are premium seat options. Since Fenway is an older ballpark, it doesn’t have the stereotypical underground club seats that many newer stadiums feature for premium seat options. Most club areas are located on the second level of the ballpark. Aura Pavilion: AP01-AP1 The Aura Pavilion has padded shaded seats with access to the climate-controlled Aura Club. They’re located on the upper level of the stadium along the first and third baselines. The latter has the best view of the Boston Skyline, accentuated by the Prudential Tower, John Hancock Tower, and One Dalton. For an additional fee, the Aura Club has a buffet, and food can be delivered to your seat. Pavilion Club seats also provide early access to the ballpark. Dugout Box: FBC39 to FBC50 - Rows A1-3, FBC29 to FBC38 - Rows 1-2, and FBC17 to FBC20 - Rows 1-2 The Dugout Boxes are the closest seats to the field at Fenway Park. They’re padded with additional legroom. TV monitors are located in the first row of these sections. These tickets provide access to the Ford Clubhouse Lounge with a private entrance to the stadium, private restrooms, and a bar. Dell Technologies Club: EMC1 to EMC6 Located behind home plate above the second-level grandstand, the Dell Technologies Club's padded seats feature extra legroom. The club has a restaurant with premium food options. Green Monster Seats: M1 to M9 Avoid these seats if you have a fear of heights! For anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, you can sit on the famous Green Monster. These seats aren’t cheap. Since the sections only have three rows, seating is limited. Unlike traditional grandstand seats, the Green Monster offers barstool seats with a bar to place your food, beer, etc. Book in advance if you want to sit here. Note: your view of left field will be limited. I’m willing to spend more money on seats The happy medium between premium options and nosebleeds. Field Box Seats: F9-F82 The Field Box seats run from first base to third base in the lower bowl at Fenway. These are the favorite seats at Fenway Park because they offer a view of the entire field. Right Field Lower Box Seats: B1 to B8 The Right Lower Box seats are situated around Pesky’s Pole. If you want a direct view of the Green Monster, scoreboard, and left and right field, these are the seats for you. Right Field Box 1 is directly next to the visitor’s bullpen, so you can watch pitchers warming up. Green Monster Standing Room Only If you want the experience of catching a game on the Green Monster but don’t want to spend an excessive amount on tickets, you can purchase standing-room-only tickets. These tickets provide you with a bar to place your belongings, sans a designated seat. Loge Box Seats: B87 to B165 The Loge Box seats run parallel to the Field Boxes on the lower level. They’re cheaper than the Field Box seats and are slightly elevated from the field. I’m here for the vibes and a good time Self-explanatory. Right Field Bleachers: L40 to L4 The Right Field Bleachers are positioned behind the home and visitor’s bullpen. Row 1 is a mixture of handicapped and grandstand seats, and Row 3 has extra legroom in these sections. As you move farther away from the field, seat prices decrease in these sections. Ted Williams’ famous Red Seat rests in Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21. Note: Be careful around the bleacher stairs. These can serve as a tripping hazard if you're not paying close attention. Centerfield Bleachers: L34 to L3 The Center Field Bleachers are another reasonably priced option in the outfield. Section 38 has a slightly obstructed view of the center field triangle. Standing Room Only Fenway Park has several SRO options: Lower Level Standing Room: Located behind the grandstands. Some areas are obstructed by poles. Pavilion Level Standing Room: Located on the upper level behind the Aura Pavilion Club. Coke Deck Standing Room: Located underneath the Coca-Cola sign in the left field foul territory. Sam Deck Standing Room: Located underneath the Samuel Adams sign in right field. Bleacher Overlook Standing Room: Located behind the right field bleachers. Sections to Avoid Fenway is notably a smaller ballpark. One can argue there’s no such thing as a bad seat in the stadium, but I try to avoid the infield and outfield grandstand seats. The upper rows of these sections are far from the field, and some sections have slightly obstructed views. The seats aren’t positioned toward the field, so you have to sit at an angle during the game. Whenever I’ve sat in the grandstand, I felt disconnected since I was farther from the field. The seats are also notably smaller than the Loge and Field Boxes (which are already tight). Gems of Fenway Park Green Monster If you’re at Fenway Park, you can’t miss the Green Monster. The quirky structure was originally built to prevent curious passersby from watching games for free. Over time, it's undergone various renovations. Seats were added to the top in 2003. The manual scoreboard is operated by a small team, adding to Fenway’s old-timey feel. Red Seat Located in Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21, the Red Seat immediately catches the eye amid the wave of green bleacher seats in right field. The seat commemorates Ted Williams’ alleged 502-foot homerun. For etiquette, I recommend arriving at the stadium early so you have ample time to see the Red Seat and other gems and to ensure you don’t disturb fans during the game. Pesky’s Pole Named after the Red Sox shortstop, Johnny Pesky, Pesky’s Pole marks the end of the right field foul line in shallow right field. Situated 302 feet away from home plate (the shortest distance in the league), it accentuates the unique dimensions at Fenway Park. Before the game, you often see fans and visiting players signing the pole. Boston Skyline Head up to the third base side of the upper deck and take in the view of the Boston skyline from Fenway. Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond’s 1969 single “Sweet Caroline” plays in the middle of the eighth inning at every home Red Sox game. Other sports teams (ahem, the Premier League) have tried to appropriate the song, but it will always be the Red Sox’s anthem. Don’t miss it! Self-Guided Fenway Park Walking Tour Much like the Louvre, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the rich history that surrounds you at Fenway. Are you not sure where to start? Here’s a self-guided walking tour of the stadium, highlighting what to see before the first pitch. Start at Gate B and snap a couple of photos with The Teammates Statue, Carl Yastrzemski Statue, and Ted Williams Statue. Head west down Van Ness Street and turn right on Jersey Street. Depending on how early you arrive, you might see some players entering the stadium along Van Ness Street. Walk up Jersey Street and admire the World Series and American League Champion banners hanging on the right side of the street. Stop by the Jersey Street Team Store and stock up on Red Sox gear. For a quick detour, turn left onto David Ortiz Drive and see the life-size retired numbers in front of the Kenmore Lot. Turn right onto Brookline Avenue, and then turn right onto Lansdowne Street and enter the stadium via Gate C. Walk up the stairs to the Green Monster, and watch the last bit of the Red Sox’s batting practice. After you’re finished on the Green Monster, make your way to the right field bleachers and walk up to Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21 to see the Red Sox. Maneuver down to the right field foul territory and snap a picture of Peksy’s Pole. Along the third base/home plate concourse, there are old World Series logos painted on the wall. Head up to the Pavilion Deck, take a photo of the Boston Skyline, and marvel at baseball's best stadium backdrop. After you see everything, grab a bite, find your seat, and watch the game! Best Food at Fenway Park The Sausage Guy: The Sausage Guy sells mouthwatering grilled sausages with peppers and onions. In my opinion, it’s better than anything sold in the stadium. I recommend grabbing one either before or after the game. Location: 49 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215 (outside the parking garage on Lansdowne Street) Luke’s Lobster: Luke’s serves lobster bisque, New England Clam Chowder, and buttery lobster and crab rolls. “Chain seafood restaurant” is usually a red flag, but Luke’s places an emphasis on sustainability and the traceability of their seafood. Locations: Jersey Street, Right Field Concourse Savenor's Cheesesteak: Sliced grilled beef with peppers and onions, topped with American cheese. Locations: Jersey Street, Right Field Concourse Boston Crème Pie: Boston Crème Pie is two layers of vanilla cake sandwiched by pastry cream and topped with a chocolate ganache glaze. Locations: Big Concourse, Bleacher Concourse Cowboy Up! Burger: Named after Kevin Millar's slogan from the team's 2004 Red Sox World Series run, the burger features cheddar cheese, bacon, brisket, onion rings, and barbecue sauce on a brioche bun. Locations: Home Plate Concourse, Sam Deck, Angry Orchard Terrace Churros: Crispy fried dough (slightly larger than steak fries) coated in sugar and cinnamon Location: Kids Concourse El Tiante Cuban Sandwich: Luis Tiant, the late pitching legend, used to serve authentic Cuban sandwiches topped with sliced pork and ham, mustard, and pickles on Jersey Street. Though he passed away in October 2024, the stand carries on his enduring legacy. Locations: Jersey Street, Sam Deck, Angry Orchard Terrace Lobstah Poutine: Fenway's version swaps the gravy and cheese curds for clam chowder and Luke's Lobster meat, and adds bacon. Locations: Big Concourse, Angry Orchard Terrace, Sam Deck Monster Cookie: Enjoy a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie on your own (or to share). Locations: Big Concourse, Gate E Concourse Surf & Turf Dog: Want something different (and more expensive) than a traditional hot dog? Nestled in a brioche bun, The Surf & Turf Dog is made with Kobe beef -- a variant of Japanese wagyu -- garnished with Luke's Lobster meat, bacon, and chives. Locations: Clubs Standard Ballpark Fare: If you’re looking for traditional ballpark food (you can't go wrong with a Fenway Frank), the Red Sox’s official concession guide lists where these items are sold throughout the stadium. Fenway Food also posts photos of stadium food on Instagram. Moreover, Eater releases their annual stadium food guide before the season starts, so be sure to check that out. Best Bars Around Fenway Park The Bullpen is a hidden dive bar with its own entrance to Fenway Park. While Google Maps lists its address as 19 Jersey Street, it's best to enter the bar via Arthur's Way. If you're visiting during a game and don't have a ticket, you can still access the bar. Plus, you can come and go as you please throughout the game. The menu features classic sports bar fare along with a unique selection of cocktails. Bleacher Bar is a one-of-a-kind bar located beneath the center field bleachers at Fenway Park. The bar offers a glimpse of center field. The venue gets busy before games. Reservations can be made in advance. Cask ‘N Flagon is one of the many sports bars located on Lawnsdowne Street. It’s a great spot to pregame or catch a drink after the game. Game On is situated on the corner of Lawnsdowne and Jersey Street. For special events, they feature bar games such as cornhole, ping pong, and Jenga. If you’re a New England IPA enthusiast (like me), stop by Trillium’s Fenway location. The outdoor patio is a prime spot to hang out in the summer. It’s a family-friendly venue, and outside food is permitted. Time Out Market is located next door to satisfy any cravings. Trillium also gives tours at its flagship distillery in Canton. Best Restaurants Around Fenway Park Time Out Market Boston is a large dining hall with various eateries, including Union Square Doughnuts, Cuasser’s Roast Beef & Seafood, and Taqueria El Barrio. If your group has a diverse palate and can’t agree on a dining venue, Time Out Market lets you choose from a variety of options, ensuring everyone in your party is satisfied. Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks is an upscale American restaurant within a short walk of Fenway Park. If the weather permits, you can sit on their patio and dine with a view of Fenway Park. Try their Grilled Bavette Steak Frites. Mighty Squirrel is located below Eastern Standard. The restaurant has several New England-style IPAs on tap and offers a quieter dining experience than some of the raucous sports bars on Lansdowne Street. Looking for seafood? Eventide Fenway is an oyster bar within walking distance of Fenway. The venue offers classic New England seafood dishes like lobster rolls and New England clam chowder, as well as modern options such as tuna tartare and a fish charcuterie board. Blue Ribbon Sushi is located adjacent to Hotel Commonwealth. As its name suggests, the restaurant serves sushi in addition to Japanese dishes such as miso soup, miso cod, and wagyu gyoza. Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas has been noted as a frequent patron. Quick Bites Around Fenway Park Tasty Burger is a late-night spot for hot dogs, burgers, fries, milkshakes, or chicken. It’s open until 2:00 am seven days a week. If you want a quick coffee before the game, Tatte Bakery & Cafe and Caffè Nero are solid options. As for chain restaurants, Chipotle, Blaze Pizza, Honeygrow, and Starbucks have locations near the ballpark. Fenway Park Fan FAQs What is Fenway Park's bag policy? In recent years, MLB stadiums' bag policies have gotten progressively stricter. Fenway Park is no exception. To avoid any potential headaches, I'd advise against bringing a bag. Check out Fenway Park’s A-Z Guide for more information. Allowed A single-compartment bag no larger than 12”x12”x6” Clear bags are recommended to facilitate faster entry to the ballpark, but are not required Not Allowed Backpacks, large purses, duffle bags, and multi-compartment bags Exceptions are made for medical bags and diaper bags Clear backpacks are not permitted inside the stadium Can I watch batting practice at the ballpark? Yes, gates open 90 minutes before the game starts. This allows fans to catch the tail end of the visiting team’s batting practice. If you want to watch the Red Sox’s batting practice, you’ll have to purchase a Red Sox Nation membership, which costs $21.95. Membership provides early entry for you and one adult guest 2.5 hours before the first pitch. Children’s access (ages 18 and under) is covered by the membership. Additional Red Sox Nation benefits include 10% off at the Jersey Street Store and Red Sox Online Shop for the 2026 season, plus a $10 eCash bonus, redeemable in-person at the Jersey Street Store. Whether you live in Boston or you’re an out-of-towner, the membership is worth it alone for entering the stadium early. Moreover, if you’re attending a game with a giveaway, you’re guaranteed to receive the item with early entry. Can I bring outside food or drinks into Fenway Park? You can’t bring outside food into the stadium except for one sealed 16-ounce plastic bottle of water. Can I tour Fenway Park? Yes! The Red Sox offer a variety of tours, including a "Cultures of the Clubhouse" tour, an 8 AM Field Level tour, and a quick 15-minute tour. Visit their website for a detailed breakdown and to book your tour. Miscellaneous Boston Attractions Outside of Fenway Park, Boston has a ton of attractions that are worth visiting. Here’s an overview of them. Boston Duck Tours: Get the duckboats ready... for a Boston sightseeing tour! The Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics have used the Boston Duck Tours vehicles in various championship parades. Tours aren’t too long (roughly an hour and a half) and offer a relaxing overview of the city and the Charles River. They depart from three locations: the Museum of Science, the Prudential Center, and the New England Aquarium. Faneuil Hall: Faneuil Hall is a historic building where the Founding Fathers deliberated and advocated for independence from Great Britain. Admission is free, and it’s worth stopping by for a quick visit. The Fanueil Hall Marketplace is also located across the street from Fanueil Hall. Boston Public Library: The Boston Public Library is an architectural marvel. Admission is free. The building is easily accessible and is within walking distance of Newbury Street. For any long-distance runners, it’s also located next to the Boston Marathon Finish Line. Newbury Street: Newbury Street spans eight blocks filled with shopping and restaurants. Premium stores are located on the western side closest to the Public Garden. On the eastern end (closest to Fenway), you can find cafes, comic book stores, and vintage clothing stores. Rick Walker's is my go-to for vintage concert shirts. Museum of Fine Arts Boston: The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) has an impressive selection of contemporary and Old Masters artwork. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: If you have time to visit just one art museum, I highly recommend the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Housed in a Venetian-style palazzo, the museum was built to showcase Gardner’s private collection. Unlike typical art museums, it doesn’t feature wall labels next to the artworks. Let us know in the comments if you have any recommendations to enhance your experience at Fenway! Note: With the ongoing Fenway Corners development project, new restaurants and attractions will be added to the neighborhood, and this guide will reflect these changes! Be sure to re-review this guide as construction continues.

Professional athletes are just like us! They fib about their height. (For reference, I’m 5’6” on a good day.) Using data courtesy of Sox Stats, we can see which Red Sox players have shrunk (spoiler: most of them) or have grown. Ceddanne Rafaela, Justin Gonzalez, and Nelly Taylor are the only three players in the organization who have grown over the past two seasons. All three players are on the younger side, so a late growth spurt isn’t shocking. The biggest takeaway is that position players' heights have fluctuated the most, not pitchers. Are pitchers more secure in their height? Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow – who’s listed at 6’0” – clearly has a type that he likes to target in pitching acquisitions. (AKA: Tall and muscular guys, which I don’t blame him for.) Sonny Gray (5’10”) is an outlier as the team’s “shortest” pitcher. Does height even matter? No, not really. One of my favorite aspects of baseball is that players come in all different shapes and sizes. Unlike other sports, there isn’t a secret formula to build the perfect player. Over the past eight seasons, the heights of American League MVPs spread by over a foot from Jose Altuve (5’6”, 2017) to Aaron Judge (6’7”, 2025). Former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (5’9”) didn’t let his stature limit him, and many smaller players, like newcomer Caleb Durbin, cite him as an inspiration. So, the next time you tell a little white lie about your height, just remember you’re in good company.

Alex and Maddie sit down with Corbin from Red Seat Radio to discuss the start of spring training, whether they are already worried about the lockout, and their predictions for where the Red Sox will finish in the AL East. They talk through the logjam at DH and what an eventual Triston Casas return could mean for the position. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox

As one of the oldest franchises in Major League Baseball, the Boston Red Sox are deeply embedded in the sport’s history. The organization has stepped into the limelight at various points over the past 125 years, more often than not for trading the face of their franchise. Each seismic move significantly impacted the Red Sox, creating a ripple effect. If you believe in alternate timelines, imagine if: Babe Ruth wasn’t sent to the New York Yankees to help finance former owner Harry Frazee’s Broadway musical Billy Beane accepted the Red Sox's 5-year, $12.5 million general manager contract offer The team kept Anthony Rizzo Mookie Betts wasn’t traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a salary dump Signing Rafael Devers to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, the largest in franchise history, supposedly washed away the remorse of trading Mookie Betts. Devers was a homegrown player. A World Series Champion. The last man standing from the 2018 core. Nonetheless, history repeated itself. Following an exhilarating home sweep of the Yankees in mid-June of 2025, the Red Sox parted ways with Devers, sending him across the country to the San Francisco Giants. The move’s fallout has curdled faster than milk. The Red Sox received four players from the Giants: reliever Jordan Hicks, bulk reliever Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs, and pitching prospect Jose Bello. Come February 2026, Harrison and Bello are the only remaining pieces from the trade. The team quickly parted with Tibbs at the trade deadline, sending him to the Dodgers for Dustin May. Hicks is now the Chicago White Sox's problem. Trading the face of your franchise to appease Alex Bregman — who ended up being a one-year rental on a pillow contract — is a tough pill to swallow. Quantifying the move’s damage is even more brutal. Between Hicks, Harrison, and May, the Red Sox acquired a total of 5.9 fWAR. Sending Devers to San Francisco gave up 27.8 fWAR. The net loss sits at -21.9 fWAR. These totals reflect what players produced with their former teams. Their actual contributions with the Red Sox were much worse. When trading an established contributor, you should expect a decent return, not a bag of peanuts. Hicks’ 18.2 innings for the Red Sox featured -0.4 fWAR, 8.20 ERA, 6.19 FIP, and a ghastly 3.1% K-BB%. He continually forgot the strike zone existed and blew leads. Harrison, the more immediate bright spot from the trade, is under control through the 2030 season. Baseball America ranked him as the Giants’ #1 prospect in 2024. He tinkered with his pitch mix in Triple-A Worcester by adding a cutter and altering his changeup grip. The results point in a positive direction: 3.00 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 14.3% K-BB%, and 0.4 fWAR. With two remaining MiLB options, Harrison will likely start the 2026 season in Worcester. In the aftermath of the Joe Ryan debacle at the 2025 trade deadline, Red Sox fans were left with Dustin May as a consolation prize. Oh well, oh well. The Mayday Parade limped to a dismal 5.40 ERA, 5.39 FIP, 9.8% K-BB%, and -0.1 fWAR. Bello only tossed 23.1 innings at Single-A Salem last year. Entering his age-21 season, he could develop into a solid arm, but it’s too soon to tell. @Nick John broke down newcomer Gage Ziehl. Like Bello, he is a low-level prospect. Some of the organization’s pitching prospects have sped through the minors, so that we might see Bello and/or Ziehl in Triple-A Worcester by the end of the season. Other blockbuster trades in recent memory just haven’t aged this poorly so quickly. Hicks, Harrison, and May have combined for -0.1 WAR with the Red Sox. Meanwhile, Devers accumulated 1.3 fWAR on the West Coast (3.3 total). I’ll acknowledge that Devers’ contract won’t hold up over time. The extension was an orchestrated PR move to restore the team’s reputation and appease the fanbase after the departures of Betts and Xander Bogaerts. It occurred less than a month after Bogaerts was lured to the Padres on an 11-year, $280 million contract. Devers was never going to contend for a Gold Glove at third. His value came from his bat, tearing the seams off the ball from the two-hole. The Red Sox knew this. The trade wasn’t inevitable. It was the product of poor roster management, short-term thinking, and egos run unchecked. Comparison Trade Tree On the surface, Juan Soto and Rafael Devers share similar profiles. Both are bat-first players with questionable defense. The circumstances of their trades were vastly different. Soto was 23 years old when the Nationals traded him, earning $17.1 million under arbitration for the 2022 season. He had two years of team control before he hit free agency. Devers was 28, earning $29.66 million in AAV with about 8.5 years left on his 11-year, $331 million extension. The Nationals sold high on a young player they couldn’t retain instead of letting him walk for nothing. The Red Sox traded a franchise cornerstone owed $250+ million on a long-term deal because egos in the clubhouse and front office couldn’t be managed properly. After Soto rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension offer, the Nationals decided to cash out, shipping him to the Padres for a king’s ransom. Less than two years later, the Padres flipped Soto to the Yankees in his final year of arbitration. The move that emptied their farm system ended up replenishing it. Upon an initial review of the Soto trade tree, it looks like the Nationals were fleeced. But, the fWAR displayed reflects each player's value with their original team before being traded. It doesn’t account for any post-trade production, as prospects without any major league playing time do not initially register any value. From the draft until the majors, baseball prospects take time to develop. Most don’t pan out. However, the Nationals struck gold on their return of starter Mackenzie Gore, outfielder James Wood, shortstop CJ Abrams, and outfielder Robert Hassell III. Pitching for a team that’s finished at (or near) the bottom of the National League East over the past three seasons, Gore tossed 462.1 innings for a 4.15 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 16.6% K-BB%, and 7.3 fWAR. Wood, as a 22-year-old rookie, has amassed 4.6 fWAR and a 125 wRC+. His peripherals are outstanding, and he’s an exciting player to watch. Coming off a career-high season of 3.1 WAR (7.0 total), Abrams is more of a bat-first shortstop. He’s marked -18 OAA since 2023, the worst among qualified shortstops, and a .250/.307/.417 slash line and 99 wRC+ with the Nats. Hassell III (-0.5 fWAR) has struggled at the plate (.572 OPS). On the field, his defense passes the eye test. These players have generated a combined 18.4 fWAR. The Nationals have already broken even with at least two more seasons of Wood and Abrams. Soto posted 18.1 fWAR from 2022-24, before hitting free agency. The Soto trade tree continues to bear fruit. This offseason, the Nationals swapped Gore to the Rangers for another group of prospects. While these players aren’t knocking on the door yet, Paul Toboni, the Nationals’ newly minted President of Baseball Operations, has shown a knack for acquiring and developing young talent. Soto’s stint with the Padres was short. He slashed .265/.405/.488 across 936 PA in 214 games for a 148 wRC+ and 7.3 WAR. Realizing that they couldn’t retain Soto amid a bloated payroll, the Padres shipped him back to the East Coast, this time to the Yankees. In exchange, they received starters Michael King, Drew Thrope, and Randy Vásquez, reliever Jhony Brito, and catcher Kyle Higashioka. King’s career splits with the Yankees and Padres are nearly identical. When healthy, he’s a dominant pitcher. He put up 3.9 WAR in 2024 and 0.8 WAR across 15 games in 2025. This offseason, he signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the Padres. Brito posted 0.3 fWAR in 2024. He underwent an internal UCL brace surgery and missed the 2025 season. Heading into the 2026 season, his role is uncertain. Vásquez stepped up when injuries plagued the Padres rotation. Though his performance was a mixed bag in 2025, netting 0.8 fWAR. Higashioka (1.6 fWAR) was a serviceable catcher during his single season with the Padres. As a Red Sox fan, there’s schadenfreude in watching the Yankees trade a boatload of talent for a one-year Juan Soto rental. All told, the Padres’ return of 7.4 WAR falls just short of Soto’s 8.3 fWAR with the Yankees in 2025. If King stays healthy and Vásquez and Brito don’t regress, that gap could break even as soon as this season. The Other Awful Red Sox Trade Chaim Bloom’s tenure with the Red Sox was marred by the Mookie Betts trade. Six years later, rehashing this move is beating a dead horse, so I’m not going into too much detail here. The Dodgers’ return and its resulting moves have accumulated 7.9 fWAR for the Red Sox: OF Alex Verdugo: 6.0 fWAR INF Jeter Downs: - 0.4 fWAR RP Greg Weissert: 1.2 fWAR C Connor Wong: 0.9 fWAR SP Richard Fitts: 0.2 fWAR This total is fluid, as Sonny Gray hasn’t stepped on the mound in a Red Sox uniform yet. Barring him turning into a pumpkin, the number should climb, though it still won’t come anywhere close to Betts’ performance (28.0 WAR) with the Dodgers. You can chalk up one bad return to bad luck. Prospects are volatile. But two franchise players, traded under different GMs, both yielding dismal returns, point to a deeper issue. If you’re trading a generational talent, you should at least receive proven talent in return. Reclamation projects are a huge gamble. Craig Breslow flew too close to the sun and thought he could fix Jordan Hicks and Dustin May. He did not. After the Betts trade, the Red Sox found themselves in limbo, stuck between fully committing to a rebuild and attempting to compete. With the Devers trade behind them, the team is in a different place with a young, controllable core. Reinvesting the $250 million owed to Devers into Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, and Ranger Suárez signals they want to turn a new leaf. Whether the Red Sox have learned from their past mistakes remains to be seen. Mookie Betts was strike one. Rafael Devers was strike two. One more swing-and-miss and they’re out.

Two weeks before pitchers and catchers report, the Boston Red Sox still have a hole at second base. Their solution might already be on the roster. Catchers are a stalwart presence behind the plate. When I think of catchers, players with sturdier builds — Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, and Jason Varitek — immediately come to mind. Listed at 5’10”, 190 lbs, Connor Wong is not built like your typical catcher. Why? His original position in college (University of Houston) was shortstop. He transitioned to a catcher during his sophomore year. Wong’s performance hasn’t been the tour de force that was expected from one of the key pieces of the Mookie Betts trade. His defense and bat have never flourished concurrently. In 2024, he outperformed his expected offensive stats (.051 BA-xBA, .063 SLG-xSLG, and .039 wOBA-xWOBA), but his defense was subpar (-13 Blocks Above Average and -8 Framing Runs). The next year, things flipped. In 2025, Wong’s defense initially improved before a hand injury cut his playing time early in the season. Upon his return, Carlos Narváez’s breakout performance relegated him to a backup role. Wong finished the season with a .190 BA, .500 OPS, and a 39 wRC+. With less than two weeks until pitchers and catchers report, the Red Sox have a glaring hole at second base. Since Dustin Pedroia’s abrupt career-ending knee injury, second base depth has been the red-headed stepchild for the Red Sox’s roster construction. (You can also argue the same for catcher since Christian Vázquez was moved at the 2022 trade deadline.) External paths forward are limited. Ketel Marte is staying with the Diamondbacks. Nico Hoerner’s asking price is too high. If the Phillies had signed Bo Bichette, I would’ve loved a trade for Bryson Stott, but that’s wistful thinking. I’ve been beating the “Trade Jarren Duran” drum throughout the offseason, though I’d rather keep him than ship him off to Houston in a trade for Isaac Paredes. As for the other spots in the infield, shortstop is veteran Trevor Story’s position (if he can stay healthy for a second consecutive season), and Marcelo Mayer will likely start at third base, potentially sharing a platoon with Romy Gonzalez and/or Nick Sogard. The remaining depth of Gonzalez, Sogard, David Hamilton, and Nate Eaton doesn’t instill much confidence as an everyday player at second. Yet, the Red Sox’s solution might already be on the roster. Wong’s development has been zero-sum; every gain, whether defensive or offensive, has come at the other’s expense. What if the problem isn’t Wong, but his position? What happens to his production when he’s not catching? The Case for Connor Wong at Second Wong has logged a whopping total of 29 innings at second base. At catcher, he’s a career .250 hitter with a 90 wRC+ across 1,059 PA. At second, he’s yielded a .364 average with a 109 wRC+ across 11 plate appearances, a notable improvement, albeit in a very small sample size. To Wong’s credit, his offensive stats aren’t terrible; they’re average. Last year was an anomaly with injuries tanking his production. .wong-splits-wrapper { max-width: 1100px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center; } .wong-splits-wrapper .table-container { background: transparent; border-radius: 12px; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; } .wong-splits-wrapper table { width: 100%; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; border-radius: 12px; overflow: hidden; } .wong-splits-wrapper .title-row th { background: #0d2240; color: #fff; padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.95rem; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } .wong-splits-wrapper .header-row th { background: #1a3a5c; color: #fff; padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.95rem; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } .wong-splits-wrapper .header-row th:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 20px; } .wong-splits-wrapper td { padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.85rem; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8; color: #333; } .wong-splits-wrapper td:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: 600; color: #0d2240; } .wong-splits-wrapper tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .wong-splits-wrapper tbody tr { background: #fff; } .wong-splits-wrapper tbody tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } Connor Wong Career Splits by Position Position G PA BB% K% AVG OPS ISO BABIP wOBA wRC+ C 290 1059 6.5% 27.1% .250 .695 .136 .332 .304 90 1B 10 31 6.5% 32.3% .241 .670 .138 .368 .292 85 2B 6 11 0.0% 18.2% .364 .727 .000 .444 .321 109 LF 1 1 0.0% 0.0% .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 -100 DH 9 27 0.0% 29.6% .120 .305 .000 .176 .151 -13 Wong’s defense at second base is marginally below average, posting a minus-1 OAA and a FRV of -1 in 29 innings, but his skillset and raw athleticism suggest his floor is higher than his numbers indicate. .position-comps-wrapper { max-width: 800px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center; } .position-comps-wrapper .table-container { background: transparent; border-radius: 12px; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block; } .position-comps-wrapper table { width: 100%; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; border-radius: 12px; overflow: hidden; } .position-comps-wrapper .title-row th { background: #0d2240; color: #fff; padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.95rem; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } .position-comps-wrapper .header-row th { background: #1a3a5c; color: #fff; padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.95rem; letter-spacing: 0.5px; } .position-comps-wrapper .header-row th:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 20px; } .position-comps-wrapper td { padding: 14px 12px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.85rem; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8; color: #333; } .position-comps-wrapper td:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 20px; font-weight: 600; color: #0d2240; } .position-comps-wrapper tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .position-comps-wrapper tbody tr { background: #fff; } .position-comps-wrapper tbody tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .position-comps-wrapper .section-break td { padding: 8px; background: #bd3039; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8; } Career Position Comps Player Position Innings DRS OAA FRV Romy Gonzalez 2B 836.0 -4 -2 -2 Nick Sogard 2B 164.0 -1 0 0 David Hamilton 2B 679.1 16 6 4 Connor Wong 2B 29.0 -1 -1 -1 Modern catchers are more athletic than ever, but they display a different kind of athleticism that factors in blocking, framing, and throwing. Wong’s atypical build fails him in his blocking ability. Since 2023, he’s recorded -25 Blocks Above Average, the second-worst in baseball, and his framing is unremarkable (-15 Framing Runs). Wong’s injury history reflects the physical toll catching has taken on his body: March 2023: Left hamstring injury April 2025: Left pinky fracture 2025 offseason: Right-hand carpal boss excision Arm strength matters less at second compared to shortstop or third, but Wong’s is more than adequate. In 2024, Wong posted a 1.95 average pop time to second base (63rd percentile). Injuries slowed that to 1.97 in 2025 (39th percentile). Wong pairs quick transfer with throwing accuracy, finishing in the top 30% of CS Above Average (+3). His catcher arm strength graded at 81.4 mph in 2025. For comparison, Nico Hoerner’s sits at 75.5 mph and Brice Turang's at 80.1 mph. The common thread between catcher and second is making quick, targeted throws under pressure in awkward positions. Behind the plate, that means hitting the fielder’s glove at second from over 127 ft away while a runner barrels towards the bag. At second, turning a 4-6-3 double play requires fast hands, clean transfer, arm strength, and accuracy. Wong’s best defensive plays highlight this skillset and the instincts of a middle infielder, not a catcher. Most catchers aren’t expected to wreak havoc on the basepaths. They’re not usually built for it, and crouching for over two hours drains their battery. Wong, however, possesses elite sprint speed. A move to second would give him more opportunities to use it. That’s not to say there isn’t a downside. Moving Wong to second fixes one problem, but creates another at his old position. The remaining free-agent catchers won’t move the needle. Narváez struggled in the second half of his rookie season and is coming off meniscus surgery. Backup catcher could be a critical role, and moving Wong would strain the team’s already limited catching depth. My suggestion? Let Wong take reps at second in spring training. It’s a low-risk environment to explore whether both sides of his game can coexist away from catching. What is there to lose?

Alex and Maddie sit down with MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo to talk through the Red Sox offseason so far, his roster projection, and get a few behind-the-scenes travel stories. They wrap up with an overview of which Red Sox players are participating in the World Baseball Classic. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox

As a lefty, it’s easy to spot other left-handers in the wild. We wear watches on our right wrist and typically have ink/pencil smudges on the outside of our left hand. In baseball, the tell is a bit more obvious — you just need to look at a player’s throwing arm. Following the acquisition of Ranger Suárez, the Boston Red Sox have a plethora of left-handed starters on their roster: Garrett Crochet Ranger Suárez Payton Tolle Connelly Early Patrick Sandoval Kyle Harrison That’s six lefties, before factoring in right-handers Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. Crochet, Suárez, Gray, and Bello are guaranteed rotation spots (barring a potential Bello trade). It begs the question: how rare are lefty-heavy rotations? To avoid repeating myself, a lefty-heavy rotation is defined as one with three or more left-handed starters who have started at least 20 games. Data spans from 2010 to 2025. Since 2010, only 26 teams have featured lefty-heavy rotations. The White Sox ran one over four consecutive seasons (2013-2016), the longest streak in the dataset. The Red Sox followed with three straight from 2017 to 2019. Season Left-Handed Starters Lefty fWAR Rotation Rank 2017 Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez 12.5 4th 2018 Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez 10.6 8th 2019 Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez 9.6 13th *David Price (1.1 fWAR) was part of the 2017 rotation, but injuries limited him to just 11 starts. Do southpaw-heavy rotations actually perform better? From our sample, such rotations do have a small edge. They average 2.5 more fWAR and a 55.3% win rate compared to 52.1% for the rest of the league. The average rotation has just 1.1 lefty starters with 20+ starts. Fielding three is almost triple the norm. The primary advantage lies in pitching depth, not pitcher handedness. Having three quality starters is rare. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and White Sox didn't just wake up one day with them. Their rotations were already headlined by Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw in their primes. Group Teams Avg fWAR Avg Win % 0-2 Lefties 423 9.0 51.9% 3+ Lefties 26 11.5 55.3% Duke Wheeler, a former reliever who briefly pitched for the Pirates in 2008, emphasized, "If everybody is effective and everybody is a little different, it can work out. If you have five quality starters, it really doesn't matter if it's right-handed or left-handed." The 2011 Phillies' rotation proves Wheeler's point. Their fabled Four Aces (and Joe Blanton) accumulated the highest fWAR in history (27.0) with just two lefties, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, alongside righties Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Blanton. Rotations with four lefties are even rarer. There have only been four rotations in MLB history that featured four left-handed pitchers with at least 20 starts. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; max-width: 900px; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; padding: 12px 16px; text-align: left; font-weight: 600; } td { padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { font-weight: 600; } .team { font-weight: 600; color: #2563eb; } .war { text-align: center; font-weight: 600; color: #059669; } .record { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.9em; color: #555; } Season Team Record Left-Handed Starters 1954 WSH 41-44 Mickey McDermott, Johnny Schmitz, Chuck Stobbs, Dean Stone 2013 CHW 28-42 José Quintana, Chris Sale, Héctor Santiago, John Danks 2015 CHW 38-42 José Quintana, Chris Sale, John Danks, Carlos Rodón 2017 LAD 50-24 Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Hyun Jin Ryu Lefty-heavy rotation outcomes vary. Teams need a well-rounded roster to make a deep run in the postseason. The White Sox appear in the top 10 three times (2014, 2015, and 2016), but finished towards the bottom of the American League Central each year. The other seven teams played in October, but their performance varied due to roster construction. The 2011 Rangers had power hitters Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, and Ian Kinsler slug the team to the World Series. The Red Sox’s exit in the 2017 American League Division Series highlighted that they needed a power bat. The next season, J.D. Martinez and Steve Pearce provided thump to their lineup, and the team came out on top with a World Series title. Righty Nathan Eovaldi was also a key contributor on the mound. Then, there’s the 2025 Phillies. Their pitching was strong, but their offense ultimately came up short in a gut-wrenching National League Division Series loss. The 2026 Red Sox are hoping to avoid a similar fate. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { width: 60px; } td.season { font-weight: 600; } .team { width: 50px; } .rank { text-align: center; width: 80px; } .count { text-align: center; width: 55px; } .war { text-align: center; width: 65px; } th.war { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; } td.team { } td.war { text-align: center; } td.names { color: #000; } Top 10 Lefty-Heavy Rotations (2010-2025) Season Team Rotation Rank Lefties Lefty fWAR Pitchers 2025 PHI 1st 3 15.8 Jesús Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez 2015 CHW 8th 4 13.0 José Quintana, Chris Sale, John Danks, Carlos Rodón 2016 CHW 9th 3 12.9 Chris Sale, José Quintana, Carlos Rodón 2017 BOS 4th 3 12.5 Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez 2011 TEX 3rd 3 12.2 C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison 2013 LAD 2nd 3 12.1 Clayton Kershaw, Hyun Jin Ryu, Chris Capuano 2022 LAD 5th 3 10.9 Julio Urías, Tyler Anderson, Clayton Kershaw 2018 BOS 8th 3 10.6 David Price, Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez 2014 CHW 17th 3 10.5 John Danks, José Quintana, Chris Sale 2017 LAD 5th 4 10.1 Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Hyun Jin Ryu With Suárez in the fold, FanGraphs projects the Red Sox to have the best starting rotation in baseball. Garrett Crochet and Suárez anchor the top of the rotation. Payton Tolle and Connelly Early will likely start the season in Triple-A Worcester. When an inevitable injury hits, one of them will be called up. If either reaches 20 starts, the Red Sox could field its first lefty-heavy rotation in six years. Pitching depth alone doesn’t win titles. At the plate, the Red Sox rank 21st in FanGraphs projected batting WAR (21.8), and they must strengthen their infield before Opening Day. However, it's clear that this team has built up an inherent advantage by accruing so many arms from the left side — now they need to capitalize upon it. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 18px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { font-weight: 600; } .num { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; color: #444; } body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .season { width: 60px; } td.season { font-weight: 600; } .team { width: 50px; } .rank { text-align: center; width: 80px; } .count { text-align: center; width: 55px; } .war { text-align: center; width: 65px; } th.war { text-align: center; } .names { font-size: 0.95em; } td.team { } td.war { text-align: center; } td.names { color: #000; } body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; width: auto; background: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } th, td { padding: 14px 18px; text-align: left; } th { background: #1a1a2e; color: white; font-weight: 600; } td { border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; } tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tr:hover { background: #f8f9fa; } .group { font-weight: 600; } .num { text-align: center; }

The Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration hearings with their seven arbitration-eligible players this offseason. On Thursday, Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and Romy González each signed a one-year contract covering the 2026 season. @Alex Mayes and @Nick John previously wrote about Jarren Duran and Kutter Crawford’s deals, two of the team’s other arbitration-eligible players. Connor Wong also reached a $1.375 million agreement in November. body { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; padding: 20px; background-color: #f5f5f5; } table { border-collapse: collapse; background-color: white; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; } thead { background-color: #0d2b56; color: white; } th { padding: 14px 16px; text-align: center; font-weight: 600; font-size: 14px; } th:first-child { text-align: left; } td { padding: 12px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; } td:first-child { text-align: left; font-weight: 500; } tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } tbody tr:hover { background-color: #f8f9fa; } Player Position Service Time (Years) Salary Tanner Houck SP 4.100 $4.15 million Johan Oviedo SP 4.078 $1.55 million Romy González UTIL 3.083 $1.60 million Triston Casas 1B 3.031 $1.61 million I’m not too shocked at any of these numbers. Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo are in their second year of arbitration. Houck’s salary increased from $3.95 million in 2025 to $4.15 million in 2026, though he’s unlikely to see playing time as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Depending on how Johan Oviedo fares with the Red Sox, his contract could end up looking like a bargain. Romy González is a competent bench piece with positional versatility. Triston Casas, who was injured for much of 2025, is expected to return at some point during the 2026 season. You often hear claims online that players don’t want to sign with the Red Sox because their front office treats players poorly. It’s a gray area for the team, which has traded away franchise cornerstones like Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers. But judging solely by the arbitration process, the Red Sox have treated players fairly by consistently avoiding hearings in recent years. The last time the organization went to a hearing was six years ago, when Eduardo Rodríguez sought $8.675 million in salary, but lost his case and was awarded $8.3 million. Before that, Mookie Betts beat the team in 2018, earning $10.5 million, the highest salary the Red Sox have awarded through an arbitration hearing. Betts holds records for the highest salaries for a player in their second ($20 million in 2019) and third year of arbitration ($27 million in 2020), both of which were settled without a hearing. With these four salaries settled, the Red Sox are roughly $4 million under the first CBT threshold of $244 million. Should free agent third baseman Alex Bregman accept the team’s reportedly aggressive offer, it would push the team well beyond it.

Baseball has become an international sport. In 2025, internationally born players made up 27.8% of players on Opening Day rosters across Major League Baseball. The Dominican Republic led the way with 100 players, followed by Venezuela with 63 players. You can read more about the situation in Venezuela and its impact on Major League Baseball here. The Red Sox have four Venezuelan players in the organization: the new kid on the block, first baseman Willson Contreras, catcher Carlos Narváez, right fielder Wilyer Abreu, and shortstop prospect Franklin Arias. Beat writer Marcos Grunfeld reported that the Red Sox are “monitoring the situation” in Venezuela and have confirmed that their players, families, and staff in the country are safe. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe shared an updated list of players attending Fenway Fest this past Saturday. Of the team’s four Venezuelan players, all except Contreras are set to appear. Contreras’s absence caught my attention, especially given the current geopolitical situation. But on Monday morning, Contreras posted an Instagram Story of Cerro El Casupo, a park in Valencia, Venezuela (which I found after a quick reverse Google Image search), so he appears to be doing well. For reference, Valencia is approximately 103.77 miles away from Caracas, the Venezuelan capital and target of U.S. strikes on January 3. Safe travels to players (and any family joining them) traveling to Boston this weekend, and to Contreras ahead of spring training.

Alex and Maddie discuss the Willson Contreras trade and the impact it may have on Triston Casas. They go through the remaining free agent options for both second and third base before moving on to the starting pitching market. They close the episode discussing possible trade scenarios and give their takes on whether the Red Sox will sign either Tatsuya Imai or Kazuma Okamoto. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talksox

For baseball fans, we’re fortunate to have a plethora of projection models to review. There’s Jared Cross’ Steamer, Tom Tango’s Marcel the Monkey Forecasting System (Marcel), Nate Silver’s Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm (PECOTA), Brian Cartwright’s Oliver, and Dan Szymborski’s Zymborski Projection System (ZiPS). Each projection system has its own merits — one isn’t necessarily better than another. Are they 100% accurate? No, which is perfectly fine. Predicting the future is tough. However, they are fun to look at, and reviewing Szymborski’s projections helps the offseason progress a little faster! Just before Christmas, he dropped the Red Sox’s 2026 ZiPS projection. How does the model think the team will fare next year? Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, and the Rest of the Rotation Is ZiPS secretly rooting for the Red Sox? It loves Garrett Crochet (don’t we all?), who is projected to generate 5.3 WAR, the second most among pitchers, trailing Tarik Skubal (6.0 WAR). Sonny Gray is currently viewed as the team’s number two starter. Compared to last season’s gap between Crochet and the rest of the rotation, ZiPS is high on Gray, projecting a 112 ERA+ across 154.0 IP. It’s also optimistic about Brayan Bello (104 ERA+). @Alex Mayes and I have talked heavily about Bello’s future on the Talk Sox Podcast. The team’s starting pitching success depends on Brayan Bello, the bridge to the front and back of the rotation. Despite notching three full seasons under his belt, the right-hander's future remains uncertain Has he reached his full ceiling? Can he live up to his true potential? Moreover, what is his true potential? Could he be traded? Between Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, and Kyle Harrison, the team has more than enough options to fill at the backend of the rotation. Regardless of the depth behind Bello, the rotation’s ceiling and stability hinges on whether he can emerge as a reliable anchor. The Big, Beautiful Bullpen Meanwhile, the bullpen looks great, aside from Zack Kelly. Aroldis Chapman is expected to have another successful season (143 ERA+, the team’s second-best mark, and a 2.74 FIP). After a strong season as a full-time reliever, ZiPS is keen on Garrett Whitlock, projecting a 132 ERA+ and 3.05 FIP. Holes at 3B, 2B, and Catcher It’s almost 2026. Following the Rafael Devers trade, Alex Bregman’s injury, and his eventual opt-out come the offseason, I feel like a broken record saying the Red Sox need infield depth. Fortunately, the Willson Contreras trade addressed depth at first base. However, for the rest of the infield, help is required. ZiPS views Marcelo Mayer as a third baseman, rather than a second baseman (where he played 57 innings in 2025). Excluding first base, Mayer can play wherever he’s needed in the infield. Ceddanne Rafaela and Romy González are projected to net the most playing time at second. Free agents Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, and Kazuma Okamoto are unsigned and could help fill holes at second or third, so Rafaela can man center field on a full-time basis. Bench players like Romy González (projected .266/.307/.426, 102 OPS+, 0.9 WAR) and David Hamilton (projected .228/.298/.359, 83 0PS+, 1.8 WAR) are valuable contributors to the team, but when injuries forced them into full-time roles, their overall performance suffered. The team must add an everyday player at either second or third and deploy the González and Hamilton as depth when needed, rather than expect them to carry the workloads of starters. The catching group is projected to be around average. ZiPS is pessimistic about Carlos Narváez, projecting him to slash .224/.307/.362 with an 87 OPS+ and 1.6 WAR across 418 plate appearances. It expects Connor Wong’s bat to bounce back, though, slashing .248/.309/.386 with a 93 OPS+ and 0.6 WAR over 351 plate appearances. Maybe this is why the Red Sox have reportedly checked in on free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto? After an emotionally turbulent season that featured the team’s first playoff appearance since 2021, the Red Sox are looking to build upon their success. ZiPS highlights areas of need in the roster, but overall is optimistic about the team’s future trajectory: Now, it’s up to Craig Breslow and the front office to fill the roster’s outstanding needs.