Red Sox/MLB 2025 Hot Stove - Mets land Juan Soto on 15-year, $765M deal

[CDJ]

I'm really struggling with the idea of using trades to improve the team. I can understand it for something like catcher, where there's not a good free agent option, but barring another team doing something really stupid, I don't see how a trade, where you'd downgrade in one area to upgrade in another, is a better option than simply spending money on a free agent.

Yes, that free agent's going to be overpaid, and I don't really want most of them, but it will only cost them money, which they have plenty of. Money is a significantly more replenishable resource than players.

If they trade for a late inning reliever I’m gonna jump off the sagamore

 

[EverettMike]

:whispers: I think they're already there

Yeah, some were already there, but I think there was still lots of anger last off-season about not going "full throttle." Anger is always better.

This year it just seems like everyone either shrugs because it's what they expected or they simply don't care.

I'm really struggling with the idea of using trades to improve the team. I can understand it for something like catcher, where there's not a good free agent option, but barring another team doing something really stupid, I don't see how a trade, where you'd downgrade in one area to upgrade in another, is a better option than simply spending money on a free agent.

Yes, that free agent's going to be overpaid, and I don't really want most of them, but it will only cost them money, which they have plenty of. Money is a significantly more replenishable resource than players.

Breslow might really set them back another 10 years so they can be an 86 win team for two seasons.

 

[EverettMike]

God this was/is such a good free agency class and Craig f***ing Breslow is trying to make a million trades.

 

[ON3M4N]

If Jerod Mayo was calling our pitching development staff impressive I would be incredibly concerned about our pitching development staff lmao


I’m not pissy I’m just telling you your perspective of their present-day pitching development machine doesn’t align with what most of the industry (players included) thinks at this point in time, that’s all. It’s just a fact. That’s why Mayo said it. Not many orgs are investing what they have been investing into pitching development the last couple of years and that’s a good thing because under Bloom and Dombrowski they were definitely deficient in that area. I think up until the last couple years they developed like 1 SP and it was Doubront for a couple years. Terrible track record. Under Breslow it’s night and day though- Breslow/Willard/Bailey/Boddy should put us in a really good spot going forward in that regard. They’ve already turned 3 into bonafide big league starters.

They've had 1 season with Breslow at the wheel. Your telling me that Bello & Houck weren't starters before last season?

 

[CDJ]

I just know they’re gonna trade for Bednar or something from Pittsburgh when I just want them to throw money at Tanner Scott

 

[EverettMike]

My genuine fear that I think could happen is they're going to give Bregman an awful deal before they give away Casas for cents on the dollar.

 

[CDJ]

They've had 1 season with Breslow at the wheel. You’re telling me that Bello & Houck weren't starters before last season?

Houck certainly wasn’t guaranteed a rotation spot entering last year. A lot of people (myself included) wanted him in the bullpen. He had to win a rotation spot in the spring and he developed into a 3.5 WAR guy under their tutelage.

Bello has been a starter throughout though, sure. He’s been Pedro’s pet project for a few years at this point.

 

[Smitty93]

My genuine fear that I think could happen is they're going to give Bregman an awful deal before they give away Casas for cents on the dollar.

Oh, it's coming. You'll get Arenado, Bregman, and Castillo in, with Casas and others going out and like it! 2nd place and wild card series exit here we come!

 

[CDJ]

I don’t think there’s any way they trade Casas for Castillo, if they do I’ll lose my mind.

Seems like the cards will eat some salary just to dump Arenado since they don’t really have much leverage.

 

[EverettMike]

"We need pitching."

"Great, there are so many good pitchers who are free agents."

"........No. No cause they cost money."

 

[BradPark22]

Oh, it's coming. You'll get Arenado, Bregman, and Castillo in, with Casas and others going out and like it! 2nd place and wild card series exit here we come!

Sadly, I'd take that wildcard result with the way the past few seasons have gone.

 

[Mr Cartmenez]

I don’t think there’s any way they trade Casas for Castillo, if they do I’ll lose my mind.

I think there is a way. And that way is the Sox asking Seattle to eat some of the salary. Not saying it's going to happen, but if you rule it out entirely, you'd still have way too much faith in this cheap ownership than they deserve.

Taking the rumors into account that Breslow appears to be "persistent" about trades and seeing how he caved in the Crochet-trade after missing out on Fried, I think there is a high chance that he'll make another ill advised trade.

It may not be his fault, but that's what GMs tend to do when they need immediate results after years of disappointment, but the owners refuse to open up their wallets.

 

[GatorMike]

I think there is a way. And that way is the Sox asking Seattle to eat some of the salary. Not saying it's going to happen, but if you rule it out entirely, you'd still have way too much faith in this cheap ownership than they deserve.

Listen, until proven otherwise, ownership deserves the crap they're getting from fans. But...

They're $50 million under the first CBT threshold, and ~$40 million under last season's payroll. There's no way they can get away cutting spending by that much.

They've got at least one significant salary acquisition in them.

Let's wait and see how things play out.

 

[24giovanni]

Listen, until proven otherwise, ownership deserves the crap they're getting from fans. But...

They're $50 million under the first CBT threshold, and ~$40 million under last season's payroll. There's no way they can get away cutting spending by that much.

They've got at least one significant salary acquisition in them.

Let's wait and see how things play out.

Wait until when, opening day? This team is so f***ing slow doing things. It is about money trust me as they are cheap bastards.

 

[BradPark22]

Wait until when, opening day? This team is so f***ing slow doing things. It is about money trust me as they are cheap bastards.

Free agents aren't exactly flying off the shelves at the moment.

 

[GatorMike]

Wait until when, opening day? This team is so f***ing slow doing things.

I don't think it's just the Red Sox.

At last check, fewer than half of the Top 50 free agents had signed.

 

[CDJ]

Wait until when, opening day? This team is so f***ing slow doing things. It is about money trust me as they are cheap bastards.

Right now the entire league is slow doing things, Crochet/Chapman probably qualifies as active at this point

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[GatorMike]

 

[Smitty93]

Trying not to overreact to this, but not loving what this is signaling

 

[Mr Cartmenez]

"What? Fans and media are still dissatisfied and calling us cheap after signing a big name like Chapman? How can that be? Quick Craig, sign some reliever that has a famous baseball name people still remember. And I'd advise taking someone who's currently injured, so it won't be that costly."

 

[GatorMike]

Trying not to overreact to this, but not loving what this is signaling

For what it's worth, Alex Speier says the Sox are "still open" to adding other starters.

Also, healthy Patrick Sandoval is pretty good.

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

For what it's worth I am wondering what is posted in here more.

"The Sox are interested" or"For what it's worth" ?

 

[FRyan4426]

Welp, don’t think they’re going after anymore starters now. Of course the water carriers like Miliken love the Sandoval move. I’d like one offseason where we don’t have a rehab deal.

This is going to be your team with maybe a Yoshida deal. They won’t spend money. Offense is worse than last year. Say what you will about O’Neil, but he was still a power bat that won’t be replaced.

 

[CDJ]

He’s a good pitcher when he’s healthy, doesn’t really move the needle for 2025 though