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

[EverettMike]

This is a f***ing joke, right? They're just openly trolling us at this point? They have to be. Right?

Right?

 

[DKH]

There was so much opportunity to crush this offseason. Yet here we are. The island of misfit pitchers.

it’s not over and they arguably got best pitcher

 

[Shaun]

i hate this team

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

it’s not over and they arguably got best pitcher

I’m sorry…..what!?!?!

 

[Mr Cartmenez]

Bloom or Breslow, they're just empty suits doing John Henry's bidding.

It's rather pathetic that in one of the best free agent classes of starting pitchers ever, the Red Sox with their budget and revenue trade valuable prospects for one starter in order to save money and then go sign a second half lottery ticket TJ guy for peanuts for the third damn year in a row.

I’m sorry…..what!?!?!

Who are the Cy Young winners Snell and Burnes when you can have the second coming of Chris Sale and his 200 career innings? Who wouldn't line up to give up multiple top 100 prospects for that when you can have the other chumps for just money.

 

[GatorMike]

Fine, I'll say it.

The rotation isn't their biggest problem. Last year, the rotation was 10th in MLB in Wins Above Average, and they've upgraded Pivetta's spot with Crochet. They're getting Giolito back, and they've got more depth than they've had in years.

At this point, they need another bullpen arm and a right-handed power hitter more than they need another starter.

 

[DKH]

cubs rumored at Buehler

Sasaki would be my number 1 choice

Kirby Yates uber underrated would be interested if you can get on 2 year deal especially Liam Hendricks not sure where he is and Whitlock out till June likely / he’s a guy I would like as a potential closer

Sounds like they want a young cost controlled pitcher like Pirates’ Jones or Mariners’ Woo, for Casas.

Sox will likely be tying up $50 M per between Houck & Crochet by this time nest season if everything goes according to plan

I’m sorry…..what!?!?!

lol

sorry just going by what the ex-ball players, hosts and writers saying on MLB Tonight (even Yankees writers)

 

[DKH]

Fine, I'll say it.

The rotation isn't their biggest problem. Last year, the rotation was 10th in MLB in Wins Above Average, and they've upgraded Pivetta's spot with Crochet. They're getting Giolito back, and they've got more depth than they've had in years.

At this point, they need another bullpen arm and a right-handed power hitter more than they need another starter.

I was just discussing this with some buddies and we landed on Kirby Yates and then were arguing Bregman v Teoscar

Good call Mike why you are must read

i hate this team

Don’t follow

You got 29 other choices

 

[DKH]

Who are the Cy Young winners Snell and Burnes when you can have the second coming of Chris Sale and his 200 career innings? Who wouldn't line up to give up multiple top 100 prospects for that when you can have the other chumps for just money.

I like Snell the best

He is going to be fantastic on LA

I’d go by preference

1. Snell
2. Burnes
3. Fried
4. Sasaki
5. Bieber
6. Buehler
7. Manaea

Crochet is raw but since he came out of Tennessee he’s got outrageous stuff

I’d probably put him 4 because of lack of innings but upside ridiculous

 

[Mr Cartmenez]

Fine, I'll say it.

The rotation isn't their biggest problem. Last year, the rotation was 10th in MLB in Wins Above Average, and they've upgraded Pivetta's spot with Crochet. They're getting Giolito back, and they've got more depth than they've had in years.

At this point, they need another bullpen arm and a right-handed power hitter more than they need another starter.

You can't have too much pitching and in such a great market for pitching as this years, it's almost criminal getting nobody from the top 3 guys. Most media outlets and majority of the fanbase expected or demanded the Sox to get at least one of Snell, Burnes or Fried. And that was still with the possibility of a Crochet-trade.

The only reason the tune has changed after the Crochet-trade is that many can't accept that the Red Sox ownership plain sucks.

 

[DKH]

One scenario which exists

INFIELD

Devers (L) & Casas (L) at corners

Story (R) at SS and Rafaela can back up

Hamilton (L) & Grissom (R) 2B but Kristian Campbell (R) starts in Worcester and if all things go as planned is long term future second baseman

Marcelo Mayer plays SS at Worcester but gets reps at 3B

C: Conor Wong (R)

DH: Yodhida (L)

They need a good lefty C bat if possible

I think a repaired shoulder & healthy thumb we get the April- June 2023 Yoshida (but as soon as can move he gone I don’t care if hitting.350 on June 1 with double digits HR)

OUTFIELD

LF: Duran (L), refsnyder (R)
CF: Rafaela (R); Duran backup
RF: Abreu (L); Anthony (L)

Not sure when Anthony ready but could pull a Tony C or Dwight Evans

Eye Candy lineup sooner rather …..

Duran (L)
Campbell (R)
Devers (L)
Casas (L)
Yoshida (L)
Abreu/Anthony (L)
Story (R)
Wong (R)
Rafaela (R)

Mayer SS/3B
C
Hamilton 2B/SS
Grissom 2B/LF

GM-ing hat :

I’d sign one of Hernandez or Bregman with the idea of moving Yoshida and freeing up DH for eventually Devers (Bregman excellent 3B) or if sign Hernandez you got flex in OF and allow Anthony to take a bit slow

I got to have one

As for pitching

I would like
Scott or Yates

I like Whitlock as a future closer but made of glass

Yates a dawg

As for Sasaki - my number 1 target but Steve Cohen apparently has wood over him @LouJersey is that correct

 

[DKH]

Sandoval would be a great move IF they were spending like it was the Dombrowski era. If you're a rich team, moves like that are exactly the ones you should be making. Now, of course, you need to act like you're a rich team.

Agree - but it’s still on going

I expect one of Bregman or Teoscar

If not they better have someone who bats right who’s damn good

I don’t see a closer who resides at the intersection of Trust & Health on their roster - not counting Liam , Chapman etc

Scott or Yates do this

I go hard after Sasaki but his situation is different

Teoscar, Yates, Bergman, Scott can be had

They do none of this I’ll be irate like everyone else but let’s see

Tough to trust them

 

[24giovanni]

Agree - but it’s still on going

I expect one of Bregman or Teoscar

If not they better have someone who bats right who’s damn good

I don’t see a closer who resides at the intersection of Trust & Health on their roster - not counting Liam , Chapman etc

Scott or Yates do this

I go hard after Sasaki but his situation is different

Teoscar, Yates, Bergman, Scott can be had

They do none of this I’ll be irate like everyone else but let’s see

Tough to trust them

Love those Dan, just wish a few would be probable.

 

[Oates2Neely]

it’s not over and they arguably got best pitcher

Agree to disagree. In the Ortiz Ramirez Pedro era they were consistently in the running for the top available players. Now it seems the teams interest in players is disingenuous. It’s a ploy to keep the fanbase onboard.

You do make some solid points in this thread. I think we just disagree on the ownerships actual intent on fielding a roster worthy of competing for a World Series trophy.

 

[LouJersey]

One scenario which exists

INFIELD

Devers (L) & Casas (L) at corners

Story (R) at SS and Rafaela can back up

Hamilton (L) & Grissom (R) 2B but Kristian Campbell (R) starts in Worcester and if all things go as planned is long term future second baseman

Marcelo Mayer plays SS at Worcester but gets reps at 3B

C: Conor Wong (R)

DH: Yodhida (L)

They need a good lefty C bat if possible

I think a repaired shoulder & healthy thumb we get the April- June 2023 Yoshida (but as soon as can move he gone I don’t care if hitting.350 on June 1 with double digits HR)

OUTFIELD

LF: Duran (L), refsnyder (R)
CF: Rafaela (R); Duran backup
RF: Abreu (L); Anthony (L)

Not sure when Anthony ready but could pull a Tony C or Dwight Evans

Eye Candy lineup sooner rather …..

Duran (L)
Campbell (R)
Devers (L)
Casas (L)
Yoshida (L)
Abreu/Anthony (L)
Story (R)
Wong (R)
Rafaela (R)

Mayer SS/3B
C
Hamilton 2B/SS
Grissom 2B/LF

GM-ing hat :

I’d sign one of Hernandez or Bregman with the idea of moving Yoshida and freeing up DH for eventually Devers (Bregman excellent 3B) or if sign Hernandez you got flex in OF and allow Anthony to take a bit slow

I got to have one

As for pitching

I would like
Scott or Yates

I like Whitlock as a future closer but made of glass

Yates a dawg

As for Sasaki - my number 1 target but Steve Cohen apparently has wood over him @LouJersey is that correct

That’s his next Rembrandt but I think he wants to play for a team not as in the limelight. I think he has issues with anxiety. Senga would hang w him and Mets could use a 6 man rotation

 

[Ludwig Fell Down]

This is a f***ing joke, right? They're just openly trolling us at this point? They have to be. Right?

Right?

I missed the announcement where they rehired Dan Duquette to be GM.

 

[EverettMike]

I missed the announcement where they rehired Dan Duquette to be GM.

I would take Dan Duquette over Craig Breslow 100 times over.

 

[BradPark22]

Agree to disagree. In the Ortiz Ramirez Pedro era they were consistently in the running for the top available players. Now it seems the teams interest in players is disingenuous. It’s a ploy to keep the fanbase onboard.

You do make some solid points in this thread. I think we just disagree on the ownerships actual intent on fielding a roster worthy of competing for a World Series trophy.

During that era there were many swing and misses, Pablo, Crawford and Gonzalez come to mind immediately, just because you sign the darlings of free agency doesn't mean they pan out.

 

[Oates2Neely]

During that era there were many swing and misses, Pablo, Crawford and Gonzalez come to mind immediately, just because you sign the darlings of free agency doesn't mean they pan out.

At least they took a swing. This version of ownership seems to be faking it

 

[wintersej]

Agree to disagree. In the Ortiz Ramirez Pedro era they were consistently in the running for the top available players. Now it seems the teams interest in players is disingenuous. It’s a ploy to keep the fanbase onboard.

You do make some solid points in this thread. I think we just disagree on the ownerships actual intent on fielding a roster worthy of competing for a World Series trophy.

Let’s wait and see what happens when the prospects are contributing and them spending money can actually result in a ring.

 

[DKH]

Agree to disagree. In the Ortiz Ramirez Pedro era they were consistently in the running for the top available players. Now it seems the teams interest in players is disingenuous. It’s a ploy to keep the fanbase onboard.

You do make some solid points in this thread. I think we just disagree on the ownerships actual intent on fielding a roster worthy of competing for a World Series trophy.

they need a guy like Bregman with the intent they can move Yoshida in next year

If it’s Bregman they get a guy like Grichuk to be 4/5 OF

They get neither Teoscar or Bregman not going to be happy - they both fit if they can open up that DH for Devers to take on an Ortiz/ type role

Speaking of 4th OF righty bat who is plus corner OF

https://nesn.com/2024/12/red-sox-rumors-free-agent-outfielder-added-to-bostons-radar/amp/

Kind of makes me think Dave Roberts is correct Teoscar Hernandez going back to Dodgers

If so gotta get Bregman

 

[DKH]

You get Bregman you try and move Yoshida last 3 years sooner rather than later but the end game would be Campbell plays second which apparently is considered his best position, Bregman is a GG 3B, and they can get Devers to DH

This likely not be right away - Campbell may need consistent reps at 2B in AAA, Yoshida needs to show healthy & productive bat which we’ve seen to move, and Devers balks for now

End Game to me

Duran LF
Bregman 3B
Devers DH
Casas 1B
Story/Mayer SS
Abreu/Anthony RF
Campbell 2B
Wong C
Rafaela CF

Many ways to do batting order - if Roman Anthony is an aggressive hitter who has excellent strike zone awareness you bat him second - Duran gets on first he has more field uncovered and sees fastballs

If Bregman hits in Fenway even 80 % of past you can bat three

Bregman adds a righty bat with Story, Campbell, Wong, and Rafaela

You have pretty good balance~ righty/lefty. You have power at all corners, the defense with Story & Bregman is high end, you got a guy who won a GG in RF who I consider inferior to both Duran & Rafaela in the OF who are very good defensively

They are all but Story & Bregman developed thru the Red Sox system

To me it’s a fun likeable team

Gotta make a few moves but all possible

Then sign Houck & Crochet~ that adds likely $50 M per season but gotta tie those two up

They got Bello & Rafaela already on team friendly deals

 

[KOZ37]

You get Bregman you try and move Yoshida last 3 years sooner rather than later but the end game would be Campbell plays second which apparently is considered his best position, Bregman is a GG 3B, and they can get Devers to DH

This likely not be right away - Campbell may need consistent reps at 2B in AAA, Yoshida needs to show healthy & productive bat which we’ve seen to move, and Devers balks for now

End Game to me

Duran LF
Bregman 3B
Devers DH
Casas 1B
Story/Mayer SS
Abreu/Anthony RF
Campbell 2B
Wong C
Rafaela CF

Many ways to do batting order - if Roman Anthony is an aggressive hitter who has excellent strike zone awareness you bat him second - Duran gets on first he has more field uncovered and sees fastballs

If Bregman hits in Fenway even 80 % of past you can bat three

Bregman adds a righty bat with Story, Campbell, Wong, and Rafaela

You have pretty good balance~ righty/lefty. You have power at all corners, the defense with Story & Bregman is high end, you got a guy who won a GG in RF who I consider inferior to both Duran & Rafaela in the OF who are very good defensively

They are all but Story & Bregman developed thru the Red Sox system

To me it’s a fun likeable team

Gotta make a few moves but all possible

Then sign Houck & Crochet~ that adds likely $50 M per season but gotta tie those two up

They got Bello & Rafaela already on team friendly deals

They need another quality SP and a power arm in the pen. Bergman would be fine but I hope it won't keep them out of the Vladdy sweepstakes next year. They need to do something after talking a big game for second straight season. I do love getting Crochet but there needs to be more.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Yankees trade Jose Trevino to Reds for Fernando Cruz, Alex Jackson in surprise swap

The Yankees have traded the veteran catcher to the Reds in exchange for reliever Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson.

nypost.com

 

[DKH]

They need another quality SP and a power arm in the pen. Bergman would be fine but I hope it won't keep them out of the Vladdy sweepstakes next year. They need to do something after talking a big game for second straight season. I do love getting Crochet but there needs to be more.

They were 6th in AL in starter ERA based on primarily
Bello
Houck
Crawford
Criswell

Bello was rocky but 15 of 30 starts 2 runs or less and 20-10 in starts

Every, every, every former pitcher on mlb network from Leiter, Plesac, Peavy ….said Crochet has number one stuff

Giolito ready for camp. I like him if healthy and says is - he’s a legit 3

You got Fitts & Criswell for 6 -8 plus the starter they like they got from Pirates I swap of former first rounders. Love the Sandoval gamble / guy had around a 125 ERA + from 21-23. Beast mind set

If this was stratomatic of my APBA League fantasy stuff I offer a gazillion dollars for Burnes
- but my account gut says they will have 75 M signed up between Crochet, Houck, Bello. I’m all for Burnes but if I owned team I don’t do 8 years / 3 or 4 for 30 M area yes

The Mets & Dodgers are going rouge and will eventually lead to a hard cap and loopholes closed although likely all the present contracts grandfathered in. I don’t see Sox doing this - the Yankees are irked what Mets are doing as they are getting roasted for not being fiscally irresponsible

I go after Yates - love him. Get him 2 years so where Whitlock is

Tanner Scott would be homerun but don’t see it

Give me Bregman, 4th OF, backup C, and Yates or Scott