Bryan Jaeger

This year, the Winter Meetings will take place in Orlando, Florida, from December 7-10. These meetings are renowned for major signings and trades, with all 30 MLB teams sending representatives alongside players, agents, and media. Notably, high-profile trades and signings — such as Juan Soto being traded to the New York Yankees and then signing a $765 million contract with the New York Mets, Miguel Cabrera being traded to the Detroit Tigers, and Shohei Ohtani signing a massive $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers — have highlighted the undeniable significance of this period for player movement. During last year's Winter Meetings, the Red Sox made the massive move in acquiring Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. Crochet lived up to the hype during the season, posting a 2.59 ERA, an 18-5 record, and a 255:46 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 205 1/3 innings. He's in prime form to carry this starting rotation for at least the next five years throughout the duration of the $170 million contract the lefty signed after landing in Boston last December. The Red Sox's significant needs for the upcoming season are on the pitching staff, which they addressed with short-term band-aids by acquiring Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals on November 25 and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 4. The pitching staff will still be the primary focus during the Winter Meetings, as will the the decision to re-sign Alex Bregman or let him go. While we wait for the news to drop, let's take a look at other notable acquisitions and failures the Red Sox have made during this time period. During the 2016 Winter Meetings, the Red Sox went after another White Sox player, acquiring Chris Sale in exchange for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz. Sale was phenomenal in his first two seasons in Boston, posting 2.90 and 2.11 ERAs, respectively, combining for a 545:77 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 29-12 record over 372 1/3 innings. Sale would earn his only two All-Star appearances as a Red Sox in those two campaigns seasons. During the 2023 offseason, he'd get traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year and Cy Young Award that following season. Not to be topped, in 2000, the Red Sox were the big talk of the Winter Meetings after agreeing to an eight-year $160 million contract with Manny Ramirez. He had a stellar seven-and-a-half years in Boston, hitting 274 home runs before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2008 trade deadline. The 1987 Winter Meetings led to the Red Sox answering their closer question that offseason by acquiring Lee Smith from the Chicago Cubs for Calvin Schiraldi and Al Nipper. Smith spent two and a half seasons with the Red Sox, successfully converting 58 save opportunities. The Red Sox have also been on the wrong side of Winter Meetings acquisitions. In 2004, Boston tried to re-sign Pedro Martinez; however, they were outbid by the Mets. The Red Sox didn't want to guarantee a fourth season, which led to Martinez's decision not to not re-sign. They were outbid again in 2014 for a former player, but this time it was Jon Lester signing with the Chicago Cubs. History repeated itself in 2022, when the Red Sox sought to re-sign Xander Bogaerts but were outbid by the San Diego Padres. This offseason's Winter Meetings will revolve around the possibility of re-signing Alex Bregman. Fans will hope history doesn't repeat itself and that the team doesn't lose out on bringing back a key player. Other than Bregman, the focus will continue to be on reshaping the pitching staff for the 2026 season. View full article

Before the Red Sox traded away superstar Rafael Devers, they were on a stretch of winning seven of nine games and scoring 5.3 runs per game. This run included winning five of six games, including a sweep of the New York Yankees, and reaching three games above .500 and a few games behind in the AL East race. Fans were optimistic after a disappointing start to the season, and the team was looking poised to be buyers at the trade deadline. The "Big 3" prospects — Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, and Roman Anthony — received their call-ups, and the season looked bright. Then came June 15, a day that will forever live in Red Sox history. The front office essentially replaced their best player with a group of prospects who haven't yet proven themselves capable of handling the big leagues. The team, since the trade, has gone 3-7 (as of June 28), including a six-game losing streak that featured a sweep by the Los Angeles Angels. In that streak, Boston is scoring just 2.7 runs per game. The Red Sox also lost two of three to Devers's new team, the San Francisco Giants. So, what has contributed to the Red Sox's recent slide? Well, the obvious issue was losing a three-time All-Star in the middle of the lineup. Devers struggled mightily in March and April, including starting the season 0-21 before getting his first hit. However, the slugger had turned around his season by June, hitting .356 with 33 runs batted in and drawing nearly as many walks (22) as he had strikeouts (23). Losing Devers isn't the whole issue, though. The offense as a whole has been atrocious since the trade. They've gone 55-292 for a .189 batting average, 10 homers, 30 runs, 27 knocked in, and 91 strikeouts. They have also only stole six bases, but it's hard to steal when runners can't get on base. Over the last seven days, the pitching staff has also struggled. They ranked 23rd in ERA (4.57) and second in walks allowed (22). Lucas Giolito and Garrett Crochet are the only starters to earn victories in that timespan. There was tons of hype around the top three prospects, but they've been a collection of disappointments. Kristian Campbell made the Opening Day roster but cooled off drastically after a hot start. He started hitting .301 with four home runs, 18 runs, 12 knocked in, and 19 walks in 103 at-bats. Since then, in 126 at-bats, the rookie has accumulated two home runs, six runs, nine knocked in, and 10 walks. The struggles have led to his recent demotion to Triple-A, which aims to help him correct his swing. Fellow rookies Mayer and Anthony aren't doing any better. Mayer is hitting .208 in 77 at-bats with four home runs, 12 runs, and has driven in seven. Anthony, despite some positive underlying metrics, has also been a mess at the plate, hitting .128 with one home run, five runs, and five knocked in 47 at-bats. He's been in the three-hole most of his time in the big leagues but has only a 60 wRC+. It's not just physically that the Red Sox are struggling; it's also mentally. In Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Giants, in the top of the eighth inning, Jarren Duran hit a leadoff single to right field. He unwisely tried for second on Mike Yastrzemski, who has a strong arm, and threw Duran out. There was no need to try for two bases when down three runs late in the game. There was a question about whether Duran, who overran the bag, got back, but there wasn't clear enough evidence to go our way to overturn the call on the field. Duran and Manager Alex Cora were ejected after the review. It also doesn't help that the Red Sox are still missing key players on the injured list. Masataka Yoshida has missed the entire season, but a return date has yet to be announced, and there are concerns that he may miss more time after the All-Star break. Alex Bregman has missed a month with a quad injury, and his return keeps getting pushed back. Kutter Crawford had high expectations this season but suffered a setback and has been shut down for the season. The Red Sox are now eight games back of the Yankees in the AL East, with three teams looking to buy ahead of them. Unless massive improvements occur quickly, it appears that the team will be looking towards 2026 and will likely be sellers at the deadline. View full article

Tanner Houck had a career year last season for the Red Sox, logging a 3.12 ERA, 154 strikeouts, and nine wins all while 178 2/3 innings, 72 more than his previous highest. Those marks the Red Sox reasons to be encouraged for the 2025 season, and adding Garrett Crochet gave the team a stellar one-two punch at the top of the starting rotation. Then this season began, and those expectations quickly flew out the window. Houck's season has been so bad (8.04 ERA) that there is no clear path for him to return to the rotation, barring injuries, when his injured list stint ends. The 28-year-old went on the 15-day injured list on May 14, with a right flexor pronator strain. Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reported there's no structural damage, and manager Alex Cora said, "I don't know how long he's going to be out." With no clear timetable to return, this could end up being an extended injured list stay in order to give the righty time to figure out what mechanics he needs to tweak to get back on the right path. Of course, if the injury has been playing a significant part in his struggles this year, perhaps just some rest and time off could help get Houck back on track. A few noticeable differences between last season and this season for Houck come from the quality of contact he's generating with his pitches. According to BaseballSavant, his sweeper and sinker are his primary pitches, and he has thrown them a combined 73 percent of the time over the last two seasons. His sinker's numbers are similar to the past, but his sweeper has seen drastic differences. His putaway percentage of his sweeper dropped from 22.3. percent last season to 18.4 percent this season. The reason for the drop-off is that the horizontal break dropped from 16.7 to 14.2 inches, and the spin direction movement dropped from 18.1 to 15.6 inches. In other words, his sweeper is sweeping less. It doesn't take a baseball genius to recognize why that's an issue for a pitcher. Looking at his quality of contact metrics, the drop in topped rate (i.e., when hitters hit a ball into the ground) and increase in solid and barrel rates from opposing hitters are tributes to the decrease in horizontal movement. If Houck can correct his struggles, Cora will decide whether he can return to the starting rotation or needs a stint in the bullpen. Hunter Dobbins, as a rookie, has filled in decently with a 3.90 ERA in 27 2/3 innings, and Brayan Bello is back after missing the start of the season. Likewise, Walker Buehler is returning soon from the injured list, and Kutter Crawford will return later in the season. With all of the moving parts, Houck's return to the rotation is far from a guarantee, especially if the Red Sox fancy themselves as contenders over the summer. Another outside addition could be in the cards if none of the in-house options live up to the billing. Regardless, Houck simply can't be trusted right now. Barring a long rehab stint in the minors where he rights the ship, it's hard to imagine the 2024 All-Star taking another turn through the rotation any time soon. View full article

The Red Sox are in second place in the AL East despite a .500 record thanks to the struggles of their rivals. They do trail the New York Yankees, but remain in the hunt thanks to six offensive players with a wRC+ over 115 and solid pitching from some of their stars. The Red Sox had big plans for Walker Buehler, Richard Fitts, and Masataka Yoshida this season; however, injuries have limited Fitts and kept Yoshida out all season thus far. How much longer can fans expect to be without these three? Walker Buehler Buehler has struggled at times this season through 33 2/3 innings despite a 4-1 record. He has posted a 4.28 ERA, although this is heavily skewed by the four and five runs he allowed in his first two starts, respectively. Since then, the righty has given up three runs once and two or fewer in three games. The 30-year-old suffered minor bursitis in his right shoulder and went on the 15-day injured list on April 29. Buehler is allowed to return on May 14, but he will throw a bullpen session on May 8 to determine his health. Barring any setbacks, he could return on his first available date against the Detroit Tigers, or next weekend when the Red Sox return home against the Atlanta Braves. Hunter Dobbins, the Red Sox's 14th-ranked prospect, has been recalled, but he struggled in his first start back in the big leagues. He allowed four earned runs, walked two, and struck out only twice. The righty's next start is slated against the Texas Rangers on May 9, and he should continue to fill in until Buehler is ready to return. Richard Fitts Fitts, who is still technically a rookie in 2025, has performed admirably this season. He started three games and gave up three runs in his first two outings, but he had a stellar outing versus the Chicago White Sox most recently. The righty only allowed two hits, a walk, and struck out five before suffering a strained pectoral muscle on April 12. Fitts made the Opening Day roster because Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito missed the season's start on the 15-day injured list. Fitts is throwing off the mound but will need to make rehab starts before getting activated. However, Bello and Giolito's return and Dobbins' emergence could block Fitts' return to the big leagues. These obstacles mean he will likely head to Triple-A until an injury in the Red Sox's rotation opens up, though perhaps another swingman spot in the bullpen could open up next to Sean Newcomb. Masataka Yoshida Yoshida has adjusted to the stateside game since coming over from the Nippon Professional League (Japan) in 2023. Over two seasons, he has hit 25 home runs, scored 116 runs, and knocked in 128 runners. He has also had a wRC+ of 110 and 115 in those two seasons. It's a big question whether Yoshida, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason to repair his right labrum, will be healthy enough to return this season and continue performing at his usual pace. The 31-year-old's recovery has not been ideal. He has started a throwing program, but is still experiencing pain. This is something he will likely experience all season if/when he makes his return. The Red Sox won't rush Yoshida back until he can feasibly play the field again. With Rafael Devers slotting into the designated hitter role and no signs of returning to the infield (barring a potential switch to first base), Yoshida won't be able to DH, where he primarily filled the lineup last season. So, Yoshida's rehab over the next month or two is crucial in deciding how he'll be able to contribute to Boston's cause in 2025. View full article

Masataka Yoshida is rehabbing his torn labrum in Fort Myers, but still has time before he's ready for a rehab assignment. When he returns to the big league lineup, where exactly will he find playing time? After undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason, Masataka Yoshida is working through a throwing program and taking live at-bats, but Manager Alex Cora has said Yoshida is not close to a rehab assignment. This lack of a timeframe to return gives the front office time to consider what to do with the 31-year-old. Last season, the left-handed hitter filled the designated hitter role, but Rafael Devers is in that role this season and Cora has said Devers will stay there. Yoshida isn't a strong outfielder and played only one inning in the outfield last season. In 2022, Yoshida signed a $90 million, five-year deal. However, the outfield is crowded with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder on the 26-man roster and star prospect Roman Anthony waiting in the wings. You can't have a $90 million paycheck sitting on the bench or down in Triple-A. What options do the Red Sox have regarding Masataka Yoshida? Option 1: Trade Him The Red Sox could use some pitching in return for Yoshida. In team ERA, the starting rotation ranks 20th (4.30), and the bullpen ranks 19th (3.96). Surely, power-needy teams would be interested in acquiring a solid left-handed bat, provided they have a hole at DH. Option 2: Designate for Assignment If the Red Sox can't find a trade partner, they can DFA Yoshida. This move would open a spot on the 40-man roster, giving the front office seven days to figure out a trade or place Yoshida on outright or unconditional release waivers. If they can't find a trade partner, I'd assume the team would issue an unconditional release. This means if Yoshida is not claimed off waivers, he will be released. Outright releases mean he can be sent down to Triple-A if not claimed by another team. The Red Sox won't want that huge contract in the minors. Option 3: Figure Out Whether Devers or Yoshida Can Play First Base This move is doubtful to happen, but with Triston Casas's early struggles, the option is at least worth considering. Casas is slashing a brutal .172/.243/.266 with one home run, three RBI, and three runs scored, for a 35 wRC+. The first baseman also has durability issues, having played more than 70 games only once in four seasons in the big leagues. Determining whether Devers or Yoshida can play first isn't completely ridiculous, especially since Casas is on a one-year pre-arbitration deal and is set for his first arbitration level after the season. Yoshida has proven that he can be successful in the majors, but there's an obvious solution for him to make it on the Red Sox's 26-man roster. Regardless of where the 31-year-old winds up, that team will get a power surge from the left-handed hitter. View full article

It seems clear that Alex Bregman will be the Opening Day starter at third base, with Rafael Devers not expected to play the position in spring training at all. How long that state of affairs will last is the question on every Red Sox fan's mind. When the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, the assumption was that he would fill the hole at second base, but in Rafael Devers' absence, he has spent all of his time at third base during spring training. Due to a lingering shoulder issue, Devers is not expected to play any time at the hot corner this spring. That likely means he will begin the season as the designated hitter. The 28-year-old has gone back and forth on his stance regarding a position change, but if Devers remains reluctant to relinquish the only position he has ever known, how will manager Alex Cora handle the starting lineup? Red Sox Third Base at a Glance Starter: Alex Bregman Backup: Rafael Devers Depth: Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard Red Sox Third Base 2024 fWAR ranking: 10 out of 30 The Good With Bregman handling third base, the defense at the hot corner is dramatically better. The 30-year-old comes to Boston after winning a Gold Glove at the position with the Astros last season. Devers has never been the surest of gloves, with a .944 fielding percentage over his seven-year career, and the advanced metrics paint even more dire picture. He has led the American League in third-base errors in those seven seasons and all of baseball in third-base errors five times. Cora's optimal lineup is starting the season (and possibly going all season long) with Devers as the designated hitter. Devers' acceptance of that role is unlikely, even if he says he will do whatever is best for the team, but more on this later. This move also allows Cora to insert Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton, or Vaughn Grissom at second base (though Grissom was optioned to the minors yesterday, so he's unlikely to man the keystone any time soon). Those are far better options than Bregman at second, and Gonzalez or Sogard could down third until Devers is ready to return to the field. The Bad A month ago, Devers said in an interview, "Third base is my position." However, nine years remain on his contract, so a trade is nearly impossible. He has since backed off those statements, saying he will do whatever the Red Sox ask. Should it become permanent, it will be interesting to see how Devers' position change affects the locker room. All baseball players, regardless of age, have an ego that helps them strive for excellence. Being told you are no longer playing the position you have played your whole career has to feel like a punch in the gut. Devers is only 28 and still in his prime, so it is not like we are talking about a 35-year-old nearing retirement. We'll be hearing more about this situation long after spring training ends. The Bottom Line Over his career, Devers has been a defensive hindrance, making the addition of a Gold Glover, Bregman, a noticeable upgrade at third base. Offensively, the Red Sox are better with Masataka Yoshida at designated hitter when he returns from the injured list, Devers at third, and Bregman at second. However, suppose Campbell breaks camp as the Opening Day second baseman and is productive at the beginning of his rookie year. In that case, Cora will have another complicated decision to make when Yoshida returns, which will likely lead to Yoshida being traded. View full article

The Red Sox have yet to name a starter at second base, and injuries will force Alex Cora to choose a depth player. When Alex Bregman signed with the Red Sox, he seemed likely to end up as the everyday second baseman. Rafael Devers has been dealing with a lingering shoulder injury but is expected to make his spring debut this week. With his late spring start, he will likely start the season as the designated hitter, and Bregman will start at third base. Masataka Yoshida, beginning the season on the injured list, opened the designated hitter slot. If this is how Cora configures his lineup, then that leaves second base open with no clear starter. Red Sox Second Basemen at a Glance Starter: David Hamilton Backup: Vaughn Grissom Depth: Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard Prospects: Kristian Campbell Red Sox 2B 2024 fWAR ranking: 25 out of 30 The Good The Red Sox will have a powerful lineup if and when Devers returns to third base and Bregman mans second. There is no obvious choice for second base right now, but the options are defensively strong. Hamilton and Grissom are two of the three names being discussed as the starter. Both started 28 games at second base for the Red Sox last season, with Hamilton putting up a total of 1.7 fWAR and Grissom a disastrous -0.7. Based on last season, Hamilton has to have the edge. Kristian Campbell also came into camp looking like a real possibility. The 22-year-old was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year and is a consensus top 10 prospect in the game. He has only had two seasons in various levels of the minor leagues, but last season, he slashed .330/.439/.558 with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases. Campbell would give the lineup a significant production boost over Grissom and Hamilton, but his inexperience, and the importance of making sure that he continues developing as well as possible, hurt his chances. The Bad If Hamilton or Grissom is named the starter, the offense will suffer. Neither is a major contributors to the offense, and they will likely bat eighth in the order. Last season, in 294 at-bats, Hamilton slashed .248/.303/.395 with eight home runs. That worked out to a below-average 92 wRC+, but because he stole 33 of 37 base attempts, he still ended up as a net positive on offense. Grissom did not perform any better. In 105 at-bats, he slashed .190/.246/.219 with no home runs and six runs batted in. Based on these numbers, Campbell is the obvious choice to start at second base, even if he has trouble finding his footing at first. However, he has struggled mightily in his first spring training experience. Campbell is 6-for-36 with 15 strikeouts and, surprisingly, has yet to homer, record an RBI, or steal a base. Campbell did homer in the Spring Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving Red Sox fans hope that he will start heating up. The Bottom Line Assuming the Red Sox are inclined to go this route — by no means a sure thing — they will be better offensively when Devers is healthy. He would return to third base, allowing Bregman to slot into second base. Until then, Hamilton is the likely candidate to man second base. However, it may not be long before we see Campbell get called up. View full article