UtahSox

So specifically for the last couple of weeks we have argued JH’s desire to spend…. The number many of us (not all) arrived at was 244 ish for 2026 payroll…. Which I think meant we had 48m to spend. Did we just spend 30m on Gray or 10m of that 48m??

Question how does this deal work against our payroll and luxury tax? Do we get penalized for the full 31m or does the 20m that St Louis is eating stay on their books?

So my question is did we whiff on Hicks? Or was Devers trade value so bad, we had to take a bad contract to get him out of here? RD11 in later life will regret being such a baby. “What could have been as a redsox IF he was team player in 2025”

Alonso, Polanco, Ryan is like B- work out of Breslow. Next year‘s free agency will be heavy pitcher laden so I think it’s really important. We had some quality bats if this is indeed a window. Alonso, Bregman, trading an OF + farm guys for Ketel Marte. And then trading MM for SP2 would be my perfect off-season.

Love the idea of Marte at 2b, with Alonso at 1b and letting Bregman walk. Devils advocate On the AB contract…., I saw somewhere they are projecting Bregman at 5 yr 150m.. If we’re ok with AB2 coming back on current deal at 2yr 80, then getting AB2 for the next 3 for 70m is palatable. Also this is the whole point of upgrading our farm system, so you can take chances on longer term deals and if they fall on face on tail end you have a cheap Arb player to pick up production.

2 rebuttals + 1 bonus thought. 1. the Devers leaving wasn’t the only controlled variable leading you to arrive at your stat (which is accurate we won more games after he left.) But opponents, health, locker room cohesion, pitching, other guys progressing etc all play a part. 2. To pose a real threat in Playoffs, with the way games are managed/pitched it augments the value of the home run. So while in the regular season I agree our offense was solid over 162, and that’s also conceding we were awful with RISP. When it comes time for October Baseball, and getting runners across home plate. I’m of the belief that Home runs have such added value then. RD11 rarely crossed my mind in July-August, but by the time October rolled around everytime the 3-4 spot came to plate I thought “damn I wish Devers were hitting right now”. Regardless of wins or losses the RS roster was scarier with RD11 in it. And we NEVER got the chance to see this lineup with comfortable RA19, healthy AB2, and content RD11. Strictly conjecture but it could have been awesome.

Saw the Masslive report we have shown interest in Donavan from the Cards. Thoughts if we traded Abreu and K Campbell + pitcher for Willson Contreras& Donovan? Then went all the way in on Schwarber, literally just raising the # until he said yes.

it’s been my experience that trades always push into pain threshold so what about this? K Marte for Duran, Harrison and Witherspoon or Perales? You still doing it?? I am……. Especially if we could pull it off right now. (While still negotiating with Bregman/ Alonso) I’m also of the belief that Bregman wants to be a Red Sox. Boras now knowing MM is slotted at 3rd helps our negotiating power.

Do you feel the same way about Steve Cohen resigning Alonso as well? A reality where we miss on both of them is likely, and scary to me. I just don’t see a lot of Bats out there we could go get that solve our lack of power problem. Ketel Marte trade? Who else? Go trade for Jo Adell? Trying to think of 30+ HR bats we could acquire if we miss on both free agent power bats.

You guys love your defensive outfielders with sub 700 OPS in Sept/ October. Need to trade 1, I suspect if the rest of league valued Abreu like we do on Talking Sox he’d already be in a different uniform. Assuming they are valued similarly by teams. Least impactful trade to 2026 success. 1. Rafaela 2. Abreu (could and would flip flop to #1, if we sign Schwarber) 3. Duran

Agree I like FA top bats vs FA top arms… coincidentally I think there are more quality TOTR arms with a couple of years control available for trade, than big bats available via trade. My question about Joe Ryan is if the twins didn’t like our prospect package for him in July, do we really think we’re players now? What about Sandy Alcantara missed 2024 W/ TJ’s, started looking really good at tail end of 2025. With Woodruff back in fold for Brewers, is Peralta more expendable now? To take the next step I think RS have to go into ST w/ minimum addition of 4 players 2 out of this group: Alonso, Schwarber, Bregman, Tucker, Bichette, Seager, Marte, Willson Contreras. 1 in this group 1aSP via trade/ Free agency: Ryan, Skubal, Alcantara, Gore, peralta, Valdez, Cease. (greene is not available) and 1 out of the next tier down: Gallen, Kelly, King, Ranger Suarez, Verlander, Bassitt, Giolito, Edward Cabrera, Senga, Keller maybe more!

1- I think Dodgers/ Yankees will not be players in Free agents for Starting Pitchers: dodgers- already have Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Sasaki, oh and what about Ohtani? Yankees- Cole, Fried, Rodon and Schlittler. I do think we will have competition for free agents, but not from those 2. 2- It’s really bothering me how we have tiered down, to where we are trying to figure out what fits financially, not wanting to get stuck with long contracts….. not what makes our team best possible right now. Somehow ownership has forgotten we are the Boston F*cking Red Sox. Sad deal.

Here are a few thoughts to add to what he’s saying: Toronto: They got Bieber to stay at $16M, which might end up being the steal of the decade. And the Tucker noise around them is getting louder. If they land him, that instantly wakes up the economic engine of “Canada’s Team.” They could easily be a bigger problem than people realize. Yankees: Now heavily linked to Seager, and I still think Bellinger goes back there. He loved that short porch in right. Add in Cole returning and Schlittler emerging, and they’re clearly gearing up for a real push. Seattle: Elite starting pitching, a top-tier farm system, and the prospect capital to pull off a big trade (Marte-type moves). The question is whether they’ll actually spend big — historically they haven’t — but the ingredients are there for them to be dangerous. One more team to add: Baltimore: I know a lot of people feel like the Orioles lost the trade with the Angels, but if Grayson wasn’t going to be fully healthy to start 2026, then Baltimore may have played this exactly right. They added a 100-RBI, 35+ HR bat with a .320+ OBP whose swing path and pull tendencies are tailor-made for Camden Yards. And there’s been real smoke connecting them to Cease. Just those two “win-now” moves on a roster that massively underperformed in 2025 would make them a serious threat again. Bottom line: the Red Sox have to make moves. The teams around us are getting better.

I completely agree with MoonSlav — if the Red Sox only re-sign Bregman and make one trade for a No. 2 starter like Ryan or Lodolo, then no, we haven’t meaningfully improved. The front office has done a good job of quietly moving the goalposts, and if you compare the roster that finished 2025 in New York to what 2026 might look like, sure — technically we’ll look better. But if you’re being honest and comparing Opening Day 2025 vs. Opening Day 2026, assuming our only moves are re-signing Bregman and adding one SP2, the roster is not drastically improved. That’s the apples-to-apples comparison fans should be making. The organization has repeatedly said for months that they’re “all in” and that “the window is fully open.” If that’s true, then the 2026 Opening Day roster should reflect it. If not, then it’s clear they’re just trying to placate the fanbase while continuing to print money. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown: Catcher- Narváez was a pleasant surprise in 2025, and I think he takes another step in 2026. Advantage: 2026 First Base- Casas’ health remains a major question mark. In 2025 he wasn’t available, but if he is healthy in 2026 and starting at 1B, the safer comparison still leans toward 2025 based on certainty. Advantage: 2025 Second Base- We were basically in a platoon both years. Can Romy replicate what he did last year? He was terrific, but regression is real. Slight advantage: 2025 Shortstop- Story played fantastic once healthy, and hopefully he repeats that in 2026. Advantage: Neutral Third Base- Assuming Bregman returns, the 2026 version of him should be better than the 2025 version, given how much the injury slowed him last season. Advantage: 2026 Outfield- The rise of Roman Anthony is enormous — that alone is a huge positive going into 2026. But the other three outfielders, even with two Gold Gloves, faded offensively down the stretch. And if we trade for a SP2, Duran likely isn’t here, so comparing 2025 (with JD) vs. 2026 (without JD) still gives 2026 a slight edge — but it’s not a massive leap. Advantage: 2026 Designated Hitter- This becomes even more important because the rest of the lineup lacks true home-run threats. In 2025, we had one of the best hitters in baseball at DH (Devers). In 2026, we’re talking about a Romy/Yoshida platoon. This is a MASSIVE MASSIVE MASSIVE step backwards. Advantage: 2025 (by a mile) Starting Pitching- Crochet was everything we hoped he’d be. The rest of the rotation, despite mixed results, actually looked like a strength on paper heading into Opening Day 2025. Even if we add a true SP2, the bottom three of the rotation last year (Giolito, Buehler, Houck) offered more promise than what we’ll have on Opening Day 2026. Adding one high-end arm doesn’t fix everything. Advantage: 2025 Bullpen- The 2025 bullpen massively exceeded expectations. Expecting the same level of dominance again without adding another high-leverage reliever is unrealistic. Advantage: 2025 moon Slav is right if that is all we do we are not a better team. End of story.

Yeah Sox trade an all star for 2 prospects?? Life comes at us fast. We back to 2022?

Early doesn’t have TOTR stuff, is projected at best as a #3 SP. I’d do that deal in a second……. I do think RS in win now mode, are better off keeping JD vs WA. Where the Dbacks would be more interested in WA.

I just saw a Hogdale tweet about AZ Dbacks are going to be actively shopping Ketel Marte. I think many of us agree Ketel would be a perfect fit into our lineup, + defender, switch hitter hits for power from right side of plate. but this tweet made me think about 2 questions. 1. Would the Dbacks take Abreu for Marte straight up? I believe they have a pretty good young middle infielder they want to bring up. Abreu is a Gold glove OFer youngish controllable. If yes this allows us to hold onto Marcelo and improve our position in negotiating with Bregman. I have a sneaky suspicion AB wants to be in Boston. But during negotiations if Boras knows we are actually comfortable with letting Bregman walk, and play Mayer at 3b it would definitely help us. Not only getting Marte, but getting him here in November, would change the dynamic for off season. Assuming you can get Marte, AND eventually Bregman resigns it frees up everything else. You could: a. let it ride with Casas at 1b, KC or Jhosty as 4 OFer. And still trade MM + young arms for SP2. b.Or you could add a 1b and rotate Casas at DH. And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2 c. or you could add a 4th OFer again, or And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2 d. just get a straight DH. And still trade MM + Young Arms for SP2 2. The timing of getting pieces moving/ in place might be just as important as whom we end up with. Are there any other positions that a trade in November would help us/ hurt us in negotiations?

I agree… I came across this stat on #4 hitters in MLB in 2025… our production wasn’t good enough. Suarez/ Alonso is probably best realistic option. Then trade Duran + young Pitcher or 2 for a #2 SP. Then hope like hell Bello & 1 other arm takes massive step forward.

Mainly cuz I watched his last start vs Dodgers. He was lights out… Now looking at his stats I get your perspective, but he still has good stuff. Maybe if you can get Suarez, Woodruff or King that might be better play.? I would definitely rather have Gallen vs Giolito though.

I agree I don’t think Mayer is more than a platoon player in 2026… that’s assuming he stays relatively healthy…… although my track record isn’t superb… I was in Anaheim last year when Red Sox played the Angels, and was asking “isn’t there anyone more productive we could play over Anthony?” classic me. I don’t get the apprehension to sign good players 31 yrs old to 5-6 year deals? Also with the conversation of next CBA focusing around floors, I think you will find places to dump salary in years to come. If we have a team to step forward right now, take the risk if Bregman and Alonso are limited in 2029 the Pirates will take them on along with a prospect and a check. RS can’t waste Crochet, Chapman, Whitlock. i like the idea of SP2- Alcantara, Ryan (trade Abreu, Tolle, Perales) SP3-adding Zac Gallen who will have QO so might look something like Bregman deal last year. resigning Bregman and adding either Alonso or Schwarber. I prefer Alonso. This lineup 1b Alonso/ Casas 2b Mayer/ Romy/ Rafaela ss Story/ Mayer 3b Bregman/ Mayer LF Duran/ Garcia or Campbell cF Rafaela/ Garcia or Campbell RF Anthony/ Garcia or Campbell DH Casas/ Yoshida/ Alonso

Breggie wasn’t the only one. Our OF offensive production was abysmal.

Hear me out on this idea. I think we all feel like Gio/Bello are #3-4 SP at best right now… So signing Gio for 22 seems like a lot when we could probably get Cease for 28-29, or Bieber for similar 22-26. 1. Crochet 2. (Trade for Ryan or Alcantara type) 3. Sign Cease, Gallen, Bieber as 3SP 4. Bello 5. Depth/ young arms

There is a lot of smoke around Utah getting expansion team. Pretty far down the road in terms of stadium funding etc., I have a source high within the miller family 1. I believe Vegas is a done deal, I was there last month and stadium is moving along nicely. 2. Rays need to figure out stadium deal in Tampa, or move team to Nashville. 3. Nashville is obvious next choice for expansion if Tampa finds stadium deal. 4. SLC or Portland look like the next 2 obvious choices. I can’t speak for anyone in Portland, but Millers feel like they will have a team by 2032.

I think it became glaringly obvious down the stretch, our offense was lacking to win in October…. I will say if our hitting with RISP moderately improved in 2026, that could make your point true. I still believe we need two power bats in lineup that scare people. RA is #1 need to go get #2.

Man they both sucked down the stretch when we needed production out of OF. After RA went down, Rafaela hit barely .200 and Abreu sat out for 2 months with a “calf strain”. And when he came back did absolutely nothing. We need to move on from 1 of those 2.