Charlie Hoke

How much does erstwhile Red Sox Alex Verdugo have left in the tank? He hasn't played since last summer in 2025. Despite signing a minor league with the Padres this spring, he has yet to play a minor league game. With a -0.3 (Wins above Replacement) WAR in 56 games with the Braves in 2025, Verdugo has declined from a 2.7 WAR high with the Red Sox in 2023. So will he get a chance to play on the Padres minor league jersey of the year winning team, the El Paso Chihuahuas or will he seek to play elsewhere?

Jarred Kelenic was told he will not make the White Sox opening day roster after signing a minor league deal in the 2025 off season. His major league career is on hold again. As a corner outfielder/DH, he is in a highly competitive position, and while still not yet 27, his window may be closing. Could the Red Sox use him?

Under current MLB labor bargaining rules, teams generally have control of players until a player has accrued more than 6 years of MLB service. This ensures that teams have a reasonable amount of time to benefit from developing a player in their organization. Players who excel can enter arbitration after 3 years and sometimes after two years if they qualify under the "Super Two" rule of being in the top 22% of service time. Arbitration can be an adversarial process where the player submits a salary offer versus a team offer, where both sides have the incentive to promote in the player's case or discount in the team's case, a player's performance. Bad feelings incurred during arbitration often linger and affect future relationships. To avoid potentially contentious arbitration, often teams will lock up players with contracts earlier to buy out arbitration years and even some free agent years in advance. This has the benefit of the team securing a player whose rising performance may command a higher salary. Conversely this gives players earlier security for their playing career. The Red Sox have signed Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Garrett Whitlock to long term contracts avoiding arbitration. Garrett Crochet, who was arbitration eligible has also been locked up. Several free agent years being bought out, 4 for Roman Anthony (through 2030), 3 for Ceddanne Rafaela (through 2032) and one for Garrett Crochet (through 2032). With the core locked up for the near future, will the Red Sox be able to leverage this to post-season success?

How will a future expansion an realignment with 32 MLB impact the Red Sox? Two new teams bringing the total to 32 teams aligned in 8 divisions of four in two leagues will allow 4 division winners and 3 wild cards to play in the post-season. This is an increase of one additional playoff team from the current 3 divisions of 5 teams anointing one division winner and 3 wild cards in the current structure. The Red Sox would likely be in a division with the Yankees, but the 2 other teams would be chosen among the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Tampa Bay Rays. With 32 teams, a proposed schedule could be this. Current Proposed Division Games 13 x 4 = 52 14 x 3 = 42 League Games 6 x 6, 7 x 4 = 64 6 x 12 = 72 Inter-League Games 3 x 14, 4 x 1= 46 3 x 16 = 48 162 games 162 games # of Games x Opponents This structure will emulate the NFL structure with the top seeded division winner getting a 1st round bye and with three rounds of playoffs before the World Series. Should they stick with the current AL league structure or move to a more geographic league independent structure? AL Orientation Geographical Rivals Mixed Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Red Sox Yankees Yankees Yankees Yankees Orioles Phillies Mets Orioles Tampa Bay Nationals Phillies Nationals So who would you want to be in the division with the Red Sox?

Missing out getting free agents Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber may be disappointing at first but a long-term saving grace for the Red Sox. Pete Alonso opted out of a 2-year $54 million contract with the Mets to sign a 5-year $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he enters his age 31 year. Entering free agency, Kyle Schwarber elected to stay with the Phillies on a 5-year $150 million contract entering his age 33 year. From Baseball-Reference.com, the most similar player to Pete Alonso is Khris Davis. Here are their stats through their age 30 seasons. Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2013-2018) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2013-2018 25-30 MIL,OAK 11.7 775 3058 2726 425 676 143 8 193 497 18 5 261 814 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 1414 81 per Season 25-30 MIL,OAK 1.9 129 510 454 71 113 24 1 32 83 3 1 44 136 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 236 14 per 162 gms 25-30 MIL,OAK 2.4 162 639 570 89 141 30 2 40 104 4 1 55 170 .248 .320 .519 .839 126 .362 128 296 17 Pete Alonso: Standard Batting (2019-2025) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2025 24-30 NYM 23.3 1008 4316 3763 580 951 183 8 264 712 18 4 419 984 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 1942 108 per Season 24-30 NYM 3.3 144 617 538 83 136 26 1 38 102 3 1 60 141 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 277 15 per 162 gms 24-30 NYM 3.7 162 694 605 93 153 29 1 42 114 3 1 67 158 .253 .341 .516 .857 135 .367 135 312 17 From Age 31 onwards, Khris Davis only lasted three more years and hit only 28 more home runs. Khris Davis: Standard Batting (2019-2021) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2019-2021 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.9 205 746 668 81 144 21 1 28 93 0 0 67 203 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 251 18 per Season 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.3 68 249 223 27 48 7 0 9 31 0 0 22 68 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 84 6 per 162 gms 31-33 OAK,TEX -0.7 162 590 528 64 114 17 1 22 74 0 0 53 160 .216 .291 .376 .667 81 .293 82 198 14 Another cautionary tale for the Orioles might be their own Chris Davis who played from 2008 to 2020 and hit 241 home runs through his age 30 season and only 54 afterwards How will Pete Alonso perform through his contract through his age 35 season? Kyle Schwarber entering his age 33 season has a career similar to Dave Kingman who was most known also for his home run power and low average. Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1971-1981) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1971-1981 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 16.1 1243 4666 4192 592 1011 166 23 292 779 71 42 388 1244 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 2099 86 per Season 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 1.5 113 424 381 54 92 15 2 27 71 7 4 35 113 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 191 8 per 162 gms 22-32 CAL,CHC,NYM,NYY,SDP,SFG 2.1 162 608 546 77 132 22 3 38 102 9 6 51 162 .241 .308 .501 .809 122 .367 121 274 11 Kyle Schwarber: Standard Batting (2015-2025) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2015-2025 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 19.9 1291 5384 4544 800 1050 175 14 340 784 37 19 764 1527 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 2273 53 per Season 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 1.8 117 490 413 73 96 16 1 31 71 3 2 70 139 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 207 5 per 162 gms 22-32 BOS,CHC,PHI,WSN 2.5 162 676 570 100 132 22 2 43 98 5 2 96 192 .231 .346 .500 .846 127 .363 126 285 7 Dave Kingman played for 5 more years ending his career with 442 home runs. Dave Kingman: Standard Batting (1982-1986) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 1982-1986 33-37 NYM,OAK 1.3 698 2763 2485 309 564 74 2 150 431 14 7 220 572 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 1092 53 per Season 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 140 553 497 62 113 15 0 30 86 3 1 44 114 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 218 11 per 162 gms 33-37 NYM,OAK 0.3 162 641 577 72 131 17 1 35 100 3 2 51 133 .227 .290 .439 .730 104 .330 102 253 12 The Phillies also have the precedence of signing another powerful slugger, Ryan Howard to a 5-year extension for $125 million after his age 31 season.. Here's his performance through his age 32 season with 300 home runs. After age 32, Howard only hit 82 home runs in the final three years of his contract. Ryan Howard: Standard Batting (2004-2012) Seasons Age Team WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP 2004-2012 24-32 PHI 18.3 1098 4701 4054 661 1100 200 17 300 920 12 4 565 1306 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 2234 82 per Season 24-32 PHI 2 122 522 450 73 122 22 2 33 102 1 0 63 145 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 248 9 per 162 gms 24-32 PHI 2.7 162 694 598 98 162 30 3 44 136 2 1 83 193 .271 .364 .551 .915 135 .388 133 330 12 With an average value of $30 to $31 million per year for a 1st baseman and designated hitter, the Orioles and Phillies are paying premium prices for two positions low on the defensive spectrum and where careers go to end. The home run hitting skills of Alonso and Schwarber are among the most perishable of skills with age. Combined with their historically low batting averages and high strikeout rates, it is unclear that both will continue to produce at high levels for the rest of their contracts. Long term contracts tend to become big liabilities in their later years as performance declines as it inevitably will with age. Even thought these contracts appear to have secured Alonso and Schwarber for the Orioles and Phillies for the next five years, this may not prevent the players from being moved as circumstances change. Schwarber will vest in his 10 and 5 rights[1] after this season in 2026 and gain full veto rights over trades, and Pete Alonso has a limited no-trade clause which may limit the Orioles and Phillies ability to move these players elsewhere. Losing out on these two players especially with their trade protections basically is probably a burden the Red Sox are glad to have avoided. What do you think? [1] https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/10-and-5-rights

Returning to the post season for the first time since 2021, the 2025 Sox ended the year losing the American League Wild Card Series to the Yankees. Is the playoff window still opening? With a strong base of young players: Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Garrett Crochet, Carlos Narvaez, Brayan Bello, Kristian Campbell, the Sox are well positioned for the future, but veteran talent is thin with only Trevor Story, Jarred Duran, Lucas Giolito, Masataka Yoshida and Aroldis Chapman producing at high levels. Winning teams often blend veterans and youngsters to produce a sum greater than the whole. Finding that balance is critical to success and there is no sure formula to win the World Series. For 2026, the Red Sox will likely seek the quick fix of trading or signing free agents to get what they need which are corner infielders and starting pitchers. In previous championship years, the Red Sox were able to assemble winning rosters most judiciously through trades and free agency, but also from the emergence of prospects. 2004 started off with a trade for Curt Schilling and was bookend-ed by the trading away of Nomar Garciaparra for Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins. 2007's foundation was set with Dustin Pedroia's rookie year and by the 2005 trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell from the Florida Marlins primarily for prospect Hanley Ramirez. 2013 was set up by pre-season signing of Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli which solidified right field and 1st base and combined with the full maturation of Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, 2018 featured the full blooming of Xander Boegerts, Rafael Devers, Mookie Betts bolstered by the free agent signing of J.D. Martinez and earlier trades for David Price, Rick Porcello, and Chris Sale in prior years. What will the Sox do to keep the playoff window open for years to come?

Small decisions had big impacts in the 2025 World Series. What if one choice had gone the other way? Hobbling from a late regular season knee injury, Bo Bichette played gamely throughout the Series for Toronto and was pinch ran for late in games and often replaced by Isiah Kiner-Falefah, a former gold glover for base running and defensive ability. In the third inning of Game 7, Bo Bichette hit a 3-run homer off of Shohei Ohtani to give Toronto an early lead. In the final inning of Game 7, down by one run and after Vladimir Guerrero's leadoff double, Bo Bichette would have been up, but instead Isiah was the batter, having pinch run for Bichette in the bottom on the 9th with the score tied. The bat was taken out of Isiah's hands as he was asked to bunt Guerrero over to third, using up the Blue Jay's 25th out, and successfully moving the tying run to 3rd. This is a move that many teams make as getting a runner in to score from 3rd base with less than 2 outs is a percentage play. However late in a game, this sacrificed one of Toronto's remaining 3 outs in the game., The bunt was successful, but the Dodgers set up for a double play with a walk to the next batter. Had Bichette stayed in the game, would he had changed the Blue Jay's decision to bunt in that circumstance? Bichette was hitting .348 with 6 RBIs in the World Series and was the league leading hitter at .381 with runners in scoring position and 94 RBIs during the regular season. Would the Dodgers have pitched to him or walked him and put the potential winning run on base in the bottom of the 11th inning with a 1-run lead? When last on base, Bichette was the potential winning run, but his slowed running ability meant he was only able to move station to station or one base at a time and might not be able to score easily. Since it was the bottom of the 9th with the score tied, Toronto was playing to win and elected to pinch-run with a nimbler runner, but lesser batter, Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Was that potential winning run worth worsening Toronto's hitting lineup if he did not score and the game continued?

When you're the perennial All-Star and lauded as the team's superstar, you may feel you need to do it all. October 2, 1978, down by a run in the tiebreaker game to see who would go on to the ALCS, the Red Sox had two men on with Carl Yastrzemski at the plate [1] with 2 outs facing Rich Gossage. Gossage's first pitch was low for the ball. The second pitch was popped up as Yaz could not hold up his swing and Yankees 3rd Baseman Graig Nettles caught the box for the final out. Left on deck was catcher Carlton Fisk. With Gossage having already pitched 2 1/3 innings, should Yaz have waited to take another pitch and try and get on base and let someone else be the hero? October 20, 2025, down by a run, the Mariners are down to their last out against Toronto and All-Star center fielder Julio Rodriguez is at the plate against Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman. On a full count, Rodriguez swings and misses on a low and outside pitch to end the game while catcher Cal Raleigh on deck. [2] Would it better serve the team to take the walk and let Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs during the regular season have a shot? Often, a player particularly a superstar wants to make an impact and try and do it all, but baseball is a team sport and while one player can dominate a game, you win as a team. [1] YAZ SIR, GOOSE WAS YANK HERO [2] Julio Rodriguez's awful final AB will haunt the Mariners all offseason

Do you put the go-ahead run on base and walk a dangerous hitter to load the bases or do you pitch to him? In game 7 of the 2025 ALCS, the Mariners with a two-run lead, faced a decision with 1 out, runners on 2nd and 3rd and George Springer at the plate. With 22 previous post-season home runs and 2 more during the 2025 ALCS, Springer a right handed hitter was facing Eduard Bazardo who had not lost a game for the Mariners all season,, yet Bazardo had thrown 15 pitches over 2 innings the day before. With lefty Nathan Lukes on deck for Toronto, Bazardo would be disadvantaged facing Lukes had he intentionally walked Springer. Because of the three batter minimum rule[1], a lefty reliever could not have been brought into face Lukes after Bazardo had entered the game. Earlier in MLB history, a new pitcher could be inserted and face a single batter maximizing the lefty/lefty or righty/righty matchups, but since 2020, the three batter minimum requires relievers to stay in longer, With that in mind, the decision to matchup righty/righty and not put the winning run on base over-rode the fear of facing the dangerous hitter. In matchup between batter and pitcher, one will win, and in this case, the batter triumphed with George Springer hitting a go-ahead 3-run homer to give Toronto a lead they would not relinquish and the AL pennant. Would you have chosen differently? [1] MLB's Three Batter Minimum Rule

Eduard Bazardo, one of 4 remaining ex-Sox players and the only pitcher on still contending teams, will have a chance to play in the 2025 World Series. He plays a vital role for the 2025 Seattle Mariners coming out of the bullpen to preserve leads [1]. Signed as an international free agent in 2014 at the age of 19, Bazardo steadily rose through the minor leagues peaking as the 19th best prospect on the Sox and appeared poised to join the Sox in the majors but a lat injury on May 19, 2021 landed him on the 60-day disabled list. Coming back in 2022, Bazardo pitched in 12 games, posting an ERA of 2.76 over 16 1/3 innings, but elected for free agency after the season. After a brief stint in Baltimore, Bazardo was acquired by the Mariners in 2023 and split time in the minors and majors in 2024, before becoming a mainstay in the Mariners' bullpen. He led the Mariners relievers in innings pitched at 78 2/3 and recorded 12 holds. The change of scenery gave Bazardo that chance to hone his craft and now has him poised on the cusp of a World Series. [1] How the Mariners found Eduard Bazardo and turned him into a bullpen force | The Seattle Times

When is the right time to take a starting pitcher out of the game? Who earns the right to stay in a game? In the current game, it is rare for a starter to complete a game. With the availability of bullpen specialists and detailed metrics analysis on pitch counts, platoon advantages, and individual matchups, managers now opt to bring in a reliever for a starter before a starter is ready to leave. In game 4 of the 2025 ALCS playoffs, veteran Max Scherzer all but chased his manager back to the dugout in the 5th inning with a verbal drubbing. [1] Scherzer, the winner of two World Series titles and 3 Cy Young awards had earned his right to choose his own exit and finished the inning and got 2 more outs in the 6th before leaving and winning the pivotal game 4 of the ALCS. It's been said it's better to take someone out too early then too late. In this case the Blue Jays succeeded by letting Max Scherzer finish the 5th inning and continue on to the 6th. With a 4-run lead and Scherzer's pedigree, it wasn't too much of risk. In the past the Red Sox have waited too long with a starter and it cost them. In 2003, in the 7th and final game of the ALCS against the Yankees, Pedro Martinez had a 3-run lead on the Yankees but left in to start the 8th inning and gave up 3 runs before being removed, with the Red Sox ultimately losing in 11 innings. [2] When do you think is the right time to remove a starter? l1] 'I Thought He Was Gonna Kill Me': Blue Jays Manager John Schneider on Mound Visit With Max Scherzer [2] 2003 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 7, Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees: October 16, 2003 | Baseball-Reference.com

Rookies have made an impact in the post season for both good and bad. Is it wise to trust a rookie during the Playoffs and World Series? Of the remaining 2025 Playoff teams, there are 3 rookies on the Brewers, 1 on Toronto and 1 on the Dodgers. Milwaukee Brewers Issac Collins, OF Caleb Durbin, 3B Jacob Misiorowski, RP Los Angeles Dodgers Rori Sasaki, RP Toronto Blue Jays Trey Yesavage, SP In Game 2 of the ALCS, Trey Yesavage started and pitched until the 5th inning only giving up 3 runs before he was lifted with 2 men on in a tie game. The bullpen subsequently gave up the lead pinning Yesavage with the loss. Will he get another chance if the series goes further? In Game 1 of the NLCS, Both Issac Collins and Caleb Durbin were starters with Issac Collins scoring the only Brewers run off of Dodgers reliever, Rory Sasaki, who had previously saved 2 games in the NLDS. The Dodgers went to the bullpen with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning and were able to close it out for Sasaki. Will the rookies continue to shine on the biggest stage or will more veteran experience be more telling?

History suggests that managers in the first full season with a team have a good chance of winning the World Series. In Red Sox history, the following first year managers all won World Series in their first full season with the team: Jake Stahl (1912) Ed Barrow (1918) Terry Francona (2004) John Farrell (2012) Alex Cora (2018) Honorable mentions should go to Dick Williams who led the Red Sox to the 1967 pennant in his rookie manager season and to Joe "Walpole Joe" Morgan, who won two American League East Titles in his 1st and 3rd years as manager. "There can be only one." - Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez (Highlander) Only one remaining playoff team in the 2025 Division Series has a manager in his first full season: Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners, 90-72 record and the #2 seed in the American League. Will Dan Wilson's first full year as manager bring Seattle its first World Series championship?

After the end of the 2025 regular season, Jarred Kelenic is outrighted to the Braves AAA-Gwinnett farm team, removed from the Braves' 40-man roster, will not be offered arbitration, and instead opts for free agency. At 26, will he have the chance to continue his MLB career elsewhere? For now, Kelenic's biggest claim to fame may be bestowing the nickname, Big Dumper, to MVP candidate, Cal Raleigh, who was his teammate on the Seattle Mariners in 2021. Jarred Kelenic becomes free agent after being outrighted by Braves (Retrieved Oct 5, 2025) Why Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is called the Big Dumper | Sporting News (Retrieved Oct 5, 2025)

Mookie Betts and Kyle Schwarber, two ex-Red Sox, face off in the 2025 National League Division Series. Would the Sox have been better off keeping them instead of letting both go? Mookie Betts was traded away before the 2020 season for Jeter Downs, Alex Verdugo, and Connor Wong. Of the three, only Connor Wong remains now as a Red Sox, playing catcher. Betts had turned down a $300 million extension from the Red Sox resulting in his trade before his final contract year with the Red Sox. The Dodgers subsequently signed him to a 12 year extension for close to $400 million. Kyle Schwarber played part of 2021 and left after the season as a free agent, signing a 4-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a contract that finishes this year. Mookie since leaving the Red Sox has won two World Series and had 6 consecutive post-seasons with the Dodgers. Schwarber has led the Phillies to 4 consecutive post-seasons and one World Series after leaving the Red Sox. Would the Red Sox have gotten to the playoffs in the past few seasons had those two elite top of the order players remained?

In the first games of the 2025 Wild Card Series, two winning teams had their closers pitch multiple innings and it paid off. Most managers are reluctant to use their closers for more than one inning for fear of injury, overuse, or some other reason that belies the optimal strategy of using your best closer in the most highly leveraged situations. In Game 1 between the Red Sox and the Yankees, Aroldis Chapman came in the bottom of the 8th inning with a one run lead and the tying run at first to face the Yankees #9 hitter, José Caballero, and despite balking the runner to 2nd, gets Caballero to fly out. In the top of the 9th, Alex Bregman drives in an insurance run to make it a 2-run lead before the Yankees get their final at bats. Staying in the game for the 9th inning, Chapman made it even more exciting by giving up three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. In his only multi-inning appearance during the regular season, Aroldis Chapman came in the 7th inning against the Phillies on July 23, 2025, holding a one run lead getting the last out but then giving up a game tying home run in the 8th inning, a game which the Sox would win in 11. However, despite spotting the Yankees 3 base runners, Aroldis Chapman strikes out Giancarlo Stanton swinging, gets Jazz Chisholm on a flyball and then Trent Grisham on a swinging strikeout and the Sox take a 1 game lead in the Wild Card and a save goes in the books for Chapman, Likewise in Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, Tigers closer Will Vest came into the game with 2 outs in the 8th inning to successfully save the lead in a 1 run game. This was not an unfamiliar situation for Vest who had 16 multi-inning appearances and 3 multi-inning saves during the regular season. Currently, the closer pitches only in the final inning of a close game to nail down a victory, however, simply using a closer with such strict consistency is not the best strategy. In the past, relievers often went multiple innings and the multi-inning save was more common. In yesterday's two wild card games, the closer game in early to deal with the potential tying run on base already. Aroldis Chapman faced the #9 hitter and Will Vest faced the #2 hitter in their respective opponent's lineups. Getting the out here was crucial to holding the lead. With the top of order and heart of the orders coming up, Chapman and Vest would face the best batters of the Yankees and Indians. In both cases, the win probability for the Yankees and Indians edged up to 23% and 26% in the bottom of the 8th and managers Alex Cora for the Red Sox and AJ Hinch for the Tigers made the call to the bullpen for their closer to take the mound for an early entrance and it paid out with victories. Will more closers be used earlier and to get more than 3 outs to nail down games?

The regular season is over and now the post-season begins. So how much do the playoff teams get for getting into the postseason? Gate receipts from the guaranteed post-season games form the player pool of money. The guaranteed games are the minimum number of games in each series that must be played to determine the winner. This would be 2 games for the Wild Card Series, 3 for the Division series, and 4 for the League Championships and World Series games. 60% of these receipts from all of these games form the pool and then the money is divided between the winning and losing teams as follows: World Series Winner..................................36% World Series Loser....................................24% League Championship Series Losers (2)...............24% Division Series Losers (4).............................13% Wild Card Series Losers (4) ............................3% The players on the team then divide the pool into full shares, partial shares, and separate cash awards. In 2018, when the Red Sox won the World Series, the total player's pool was $88,188,633.49. The Red Sox 36% share of the pool was $31.747.908.06, which was divided into: 66 full shares @ $416.837.72 each 10.025 partial shares 8 cash awards In this case, full shares went to most players who played during the year, the front office staff, and coaching staff. Partial shares and cash awards were issued to others as determined by the players Sources: MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement (2022-2026) MLB Sets Postseason Shares Record Of Over $88 Million For 2018

Players moving between the Red Sox and the Yankees has been as common and frequent as the express air shuttle between the two cities. Of the 251 players who played for both teams, here’s some of the most significant switches. Which team has come out ahead? 2024: The Cuban Missile Soars! Signing Aroldis Chapman as a free agent is one of the more prescient moves by the Sox. A closer who has won two World Series and having played 7 seasons with the Yankees, at the age of 37, Aroldis Chapman is on the verge of setting the Red Sox record for the lowest ERA for a reliever. With a history of acquiring closers, Boston has secured Chapman's services for 2026 and will have an option for 2027 as well. 2024: A starting catcher as last Carlos Narváez was traded for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz in December, 2024 and has become the Red Sox starting catcher has played stellar defense and has also hit 11 home runs through August 24, 2025, while Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz has rapidly ascended from A to AA in the minor leagues with stellar performance. Year Tm Lg Lev Aff W L ERA RA9 G GS IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W 2022 2 Teams 2 Lgs Rk-A BOS 0 3 1.88 3.52 13 10 38.1 31 15 8 0 15 0 42 1.20 7.3 0 3.5 9.9 2.8 2022 Salem CARL A BOS 0 0 1.50 1.50 2 2 6.0 3 1 1 0 3 0 6 1.00 4.5 0 4.5 9 2.0 2022 Red Sox FCL Rk BOS 0 3 1.95 3.90 11 8 32.1 28 14 7 0 12 0 36 1.24 7.8 0 3.3 10 3.0 2023 Salem CARL A BOS 6 3 2.60 4.07 14 14 55.1 43 25 16 4 27 0 51 1.27 7 0.7 4.4 8.3 1.9 2024 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A+ BOS 5 5 2.91 3.91 21 20 89.2 65 39 29 5 43 0 102 1.20 6.5 0.5 4.3 10.2 2.4 2024 Greenville SALL A+ BOS 2 1 3.77 4.08 7 7 28.2 18 13 12 4 18 0 29 1.26 5.7 1.3 5.7 9.1 1.6 2024 Salem CARL A BOS 3 4 2.51 3.84 14 13 61.0 47 26 17 1 25 0 73 1.18 6.9 0.1 3.7 10.8 2.9 2025 2 Teams 2 Lgs A+-AA NYY 9 6 2.28 2.92 22 21 126.1 85 41 32 3 50 0 146 1.07 6.1 0.2 3.6 10.4 2.9 2025 Somerset EL AA NYY 3 2 2.32 2.95 7 7 42.2 33 14 11 2 13 0 47 1.08 7 0.4 2.7 9.9 3.6 2025 Hudson Valley SALL A+ NYY 6 4 2.26 2.90 15 14 83.2 52 27 21 1 37 0 99 1.06 5.6 0.1 4 10.6 2.7 All Levels (4 Seasons) 20 17 2.47 3.49 70 65 309.2 224 120 85 12 135 0 341 1.16 6.5 0.3 3.9 9.9 2.5 Stats for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz from Baseball-reference.com through August 26, 2025 2024: Alex Verdugo cut loose three years in a row Signed for 5 years, Alex Verdugo was traded to the Yankees after year 4 for 3 players: Nicholas Judice, Richard Fitts and Greg Weissert. Despite getting to the 2024 World Series with the Yankees, Verdugo was again allowed to leave as a free agent, signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves, was called up in April, but released in July, 2005. Will his trifecta of new teams be the end or will a fourth team take a chance on him? 2013: 7 phat years followed by 7 lean ones 7 productive years with the Red Sox and two World Championships for Jacoby Ellsbury attracted the Yankees who outbid the Red Sox with a 7-year contract with an 8th year option. However, Jacoby's production was leaner during his Yankee years and saw Jacoby released before his contract was up. 2006: The Caveman shaves After 4 years and 1 World Series win, Johnny Damon heads to New York, shaves his beard to abide by the Yankees’ grooming code, and plays for four more years and one more championship, missing one other Red Sox championship during that time. 1996: The Rocket lifts off After 192 wins, 3 20+ win seasons, and 3 Cy Young Awards, Roger Clemens left as a free agent in 1996 as Boston management believed he was in the "twilight" of his career. Signing with Toronto, Clemens won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons before being traded to Yankees. Two World Series championships, another 20-game winning season, three other World Series appearances, one with his hometown Astros, and two more Cy Young awards, 7 total, the most all-time, rounded out Clemens' career. 1996: Mike Stanton fortifies the pen After 1.5 seasons with the Red Sox, Mike Stanton was traded to the Rangers and then signed with the Yankees starting a streak of 6 years in the post season and 3 World Series championships. A 19-year career showed that a talented lefthander is always in demand. 1993: Chicken Dinners in New York A 5-time AL batting champ with the Red Sox, Wade Boggs had a .369 career average in Fenway, the highest all-time, but after his 1st sub-.300 season in 1992, Wade Boggs was not re-signed and entered free agency. Boggs left Boston and joined the Yankees, winning two World Series, and then played his final two seasons in Tampa Bay, collecting his 3,000th hit. Wade Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005. 1986: The Hit Man for the Groove Don Baylor, a former MVP, was traded for Mike Easler in an exchange of designated hitters. In exchange for future Cy Young award winner John Tudor, Easler came over from the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit .313 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs in 1984, but his production dropped the following year. As a right-handed batter, Baylor was better suited for Fenway Park and hit 31 home runs, bringing heart of the order offense and clubhouse leadership that contributed to Boston's winning the AL pennant in 1986. 1978: El Tiante goes out Luis Tiant won 122 games and was a 20+ game winner 3 times for the Sox but was only offered a 1-year contract after the 1978 season. Instead, he took a two-year deal with the Yankees and a 10-year post-playing deal as a Yankee scout, leaving as a free agent. A viable Hall of Fame candidate, Luis was on the BBWAA ballot for 20 years and was on 6 Veteran Committee ballots but never achieved that honor before passing away at 83 in 2024. 1977: The Bear can’t get over the mountain in Fenway Hoping to reverse the trend of giving players to the Yankees, the Red Sox signed Mike Torrez as a free agent who was fresh off a World Series win with the Yankees after the 1977 season. It almost paid off as Torrez led the Red Sox to a tie at the end of the 1978 season and started the tie-breaking 163rd game. Leading 2-0 with two outs in the 7th inning, Torrez served up a 3-run homer to Bucky Dent, giving the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish. Winning 60 games for the Red Sox over 5 years, Torrez’s first year, 1978, was the only year the Red Sox came close to the post-season. 1972: “Why pitch 9 inning when you can get just as famous pitching 2?” Sparky Lyle Debuting in 1967, Sparky Lyle missed the World Series due to a sore arm. He emerged as the Red Sox closer in those first 5 MLB seasons. Before the start of the 1972 season, Sparky Lyle was traded for 1st baseman Danny Cater and shortstop Mario Guerrero. Arriving in New York, he became their closer and was the first reliever to win the Cy Young Award in 1977 and that year was the first of back-to-back world championships for him and the Yankees. 1930: Red Yankee Red Ruffing was traded for a backup outfielder in 1930 and $50,000. Although he lost 20 games twice for the Red Sox, he won 20+ games 4 times in a row for the Yankees winning 6 World Championships and 7 pennants. Red Ruffing was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1967. 1921: Waite Hoyt from Schoolboy to Aristocrat Starting his professional career at the age of 15, Waite Hoyt joined Boston for his major league debut. After his first two major league seasons in Boston, Waite Hoyt was traded in an 8-player deal in 1921 to the Yankees, where he led them to 6 pennants and two world championships. A popular broadcaster after his playing days, Waite Hoyte won 237 games, all but 10 of them with Boston and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 by the Veteran’s Committee. 1919: The Bambino for Nannette The most well-known player move was Babe Ruth. After 6 years in Boston and 3 World Championships, the Bambino was sold after the season in 1919 to the Yankees for $100,000 to help fund the first stage production of the play that would become the musical No No Nanette. This sale allegedly started the curse of the Bambino which resulted in the Red Sox never winning the World Championship again for 86 years. 1919: Mays to the Yankees After two back-to-back seasons where he won more than 20 games (22 and 21) and pitching on two World Series champions in 1916 and 1918, Carl Mays was shipped mid-season in 1919 from the Red Sox to the Yankees for $40,000 and two other players. Carl Mays went on to win 26 and 27 games for the Yankees and helped take them to two more World Series. Carl Mays is infamous for throwing the pitch that killed batter Ray Chapman in 1920, the only major league player killed during a game. So who do you think has done better, the Sox or the Yankees in exchanging players over the years?

Jarred Kelenic has a website, https://www.kelenic.com/, but it hasn't been updated since 2021. When will we see Roman Anthony's website?

Roman Anthony just tied Ted Williams for the most times on base in his first 50 games with 82. In some elite company, indeed! Ted Williams: Batting Stats Through Career Game #50 G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GIDP HBP 50 224 196 29 54 17 3 9 54 1 0 28 33 .276 .366 .531 .897 104 3 0 Roman Anthony: Batting Stats Through Career Game #50 G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GIDP HBP 50 208 175 27 49 16 1 2 20 2 1 28 52 .280 .394 .417 .811 73 1 5 https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/roman-anthony-just-tied-ted-williams-in-elite-boston-red-sox-franchise-history

And just like that, after less than a week on the MLB roster without a single at bat or appearance in the field, on Monday, August 4, 2025, Jarred Kelenic is sent back down to AAA Gwinnett. His only contribution was as a pinch-runner for the ghost runner at 2nd base to start the 10th inning of a 1-0 loss at Kansas City on July 30, 2025. On a leadoff single by Ozzie Albies, Kelenic was only able to make it to third and was stranded as the Braves failed to plate him with 2 strikeouts and a lineout. His MLB career will continue to be on hold. For Roman Anthony, though he looks to be a bona fide major leaguer and is here to stay.

Jarred Kelenic was recalled from Triple AAA Gwinnett to the Atlanta Braves on July 30, 2025 and will now have a chance to play while RF Ronald Acuña is out with an injury. It is interesting that in his latest triple AAA stint, Kelenic was primarily a DH with only 2 games played in the field at RF. Batting .218 in Gwinnett, Kelenic has his work cut out for him if he's to be the everyday right fielder in Acuña's absence.

Actually the #1 and #2 and sometimes even the #3 will cause the lesser numbered pitchers to be skipped for starts. That's why top starters used to get 40+ starts a year, now about 30+ starts vs 20+ for the lower ranked pitchers. #1 will usually start every 5th day, bumping the lesser starters. With off days and travel days that count as rest days, the top starters will pitch based on the calendar and not on the game number. So Buehler will be skipped if a better pitcher is fully rested. And in the playoffs, teams will often go with a 3 or 4 man rotation.

Don't forget the night clubbing and nightlife distractions in many more cities now then before when there weren't as many teams, and the teams were closer geographically and culturally.

The travel schedule is heavier nowadays with much more cross-country travel, and there is benefit to giving the regulars some rest, while also keeping the bench players fresh with playing time. In the old days, you carried a bullpen catcher like Ralph Houk in 1950 who started 1 game and appeared in 10. Now the bullpen catcher is a non-roster player.