Red Sox/MLB 2025 Off-Season Hot Stove II - TRUCK DAY IS FEBRUARY 3

[Carl Hungus]

According to most people here everyone is full of crap, Cotillo says he checks out. Couture posted this independently just a few minutes later.



Believe it, don’t believe it, I could care less.

was genuinely asking

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

was genuinely asking

My apologies.

 

[sarge88]

I don’t see how adding Arenado is a bad thing. He makes them a better team. No, he isn’t going to produce like 5 years ago, but he’s a plus defender and legitimizes the lineup.

I don’t care about the money and I’m not worried about him blocking prospects. If they’re good enough, they’ll play, as injuries happen and these things tend to work themselves out.

I know we always want to look at every prospective lineup through the lens of everyone having a career year, but this lineup is potentially well above average, and Arenado in place of Devers at 3B is a huge defensive upgrade.

Duran - LF
Devers - DH
Arenado 3B
Casas -1B
Abreu - RF
Story - SS
Wong - C
Campbell/Mayer/?? - 2B
Rafaella - CF

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I don’t see how adding Arenado is a bad thing. He makes them a better team. No, he isn’t going to produce like 5 years ago, but he’s a plus defender and legitimizes the lineup.

I don’t care about the money and I’m not worried about him blocking prospects. If they’re good enough, they’ll play, as injuries happen and these things tend to work themselves out.

I know we always want to look at every prospective lineup through the lens of everyone having a career year, but this lineup is potentially well above average, and Arenado in place of Devers at 3B is a huge defensive upgrade.

Duran - LF
Devers - DH
Arenado 3B
Casas -1B
Abreu - RF
Story - SS
Wong - C
Campbell/Mayer/?? - 2B
Rafaella - CF

Because it's big money and big years for an old over the hill guy. And his contract will be a reason they don't sign a big FA because of their garbage internal cap

 

[sarge88]

Because it's big money and big years for an old over the hill guy. And his contract will be a reason they don't sign a big FA because of their garbage internal cap

Only 2 years after this, I think at a combined 30 or so million. I'm not saying he's going to get better --- but I also don't think he'll fall off a cliff.

Either way, these things can get worked out and all I care about is them being better and giving us a quality product.

I'll take the year to year approach until we know what we have in the kids. I am definitely more optimistic about the team today than I was a year ago.

If they shore up 3B, especially with a RH power bat, I'll be even more so.

 

[GatorMike]

Only 2 years after this, I think at a combined 30 or so million. I'm not saying he's going to get better --- but I also don't think he'll fall off a cliff.

I think there's a real chance he falls off a cliff. Bat speed, exit velocity, barrel %... all somewhere between below average and abysmal last year. Still pretty close to elite defensively, but he can't run, and I doubt he'll ever hit for power again.

 

[RoccoF14]

I don't want Nolan at all.

All depends on the deal….

There’s no argument that having him at 3B makes this team better. Same with Bregman.

It all depends on what assets are moving in the other direction.

I still think Bregman is the guy the Sox end up getting, but either player makes you significantly better defensively. Which is exactly what this team needs.

Guy practically checked out during our season. Begged to go back to the Dodgers and they didn't want him.

Now he's with the Angels. Good riddance

I’ve never been a Kenny Jansen fan but I do have a question…..

Are Sox fans concerned at all about their current closer situation? I would be…

 

[GatorMike]

There’s no argument that having him at 3B makes this team better. Same with Bregman.

If Arenado is playing 3B, then that means Devers is playing either 1B or DH. You're essentially swapping out the bat of either Casas or Yoshida for Arenado, which is a likely downgrade.

Yes, you'd likely save some runs defensively at 3B. But you'd likely lose runs offensively by swapping out Yoshida's bat for Arenado's. I don't see enough improvement to justify trading a prospect and adding $15 million/year in payroll.

 

[yazmybaby]

I think there's a real chance he falls off a cliff. Bat speed, exit velocity, barrel %... all somewhere between below average and abysmal last year. Still pretty close to elite defensively, but he can't run, and I doubt he'll ever hit for power again.

Fenway is the second best ball park in the ML to be hitting in, Busch is 18th.
NA was an all star 2 years ago.
IMO a .270 BA / 25HR and 85 RBI and stellar defense is what we can expect next year.
Devers defense is not going to improve this year, or in the future, it will only get worse.
Red Sox have done nothing to upgrade defensively this off season.
Pitching ( which is improved) and defense wins championships.
Use Yoshida as a 4th OF / DH platoon.
Give Raffy 20 games at 3B / 20 and 1b and the rest as DH.
Based on Casas injury history, I will be surprised if he plays 100 games.
Would be nice to have Devers ready to play 1B when needed.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

Could Arenado have some Mike Lowell second chance in him?

Lowell was .239/ .298 / .360 before coming here at 31.

 

[yazmybaby]

Could Arenado have some Mike Lowell second chance in him?

Lowell was .239/ .298 / .360 before coming here at 31.

Good comparison.
Lowell was a great pickup.
O'Neill smashed 31 HR's last year and missed around 50 games.
JDM had great years here as well when he was in his 30's.
For a short term deal ( 2 years left on his contract), NA bridges the gap nicely to when Meyer will be playing full time in the infield.
He has the arm strength to play 3B, would be giving him some reps there at AAA this season, especially if Campbell can play 2b.

 

[RoccoF14]

Good comparison.
Lowell was a great pickup.
O'Neill smashed 31 HR's last year and missed around 50 games.
JDM had great years here as well when he was in his 30's.
For a short term deal ( 2 years left on his contract), NA bridges the gap nicely to when Meyer will be playing full time in the infield.
He has the arm strength to play 3B, would be giving him some reps there at AAA this season, especially if Campbell can play 2b.

I agree. I also think Arenado still has some production left in him at the plate as well. Especially playing in a park like Fenway. I wouldn't be shocked if he had as good or better numbers at the plate than Yoshida had last year. If Yoshida is the odd man out, I don't see it as a downgrade at all.

Again, it all depends on what the assets are that are moving out....

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

I honestly feeling like I'm missing something here. We need a RH bat. It's either Arenado or Bregman. I prefer Bregman but I am not as negative as most here with Arenado. I like the Mike Lowell comparison above. Also, I don't get the Yoshida love. Maybe because I hated the signing from day one but maybe because I see him as just another guy. I'd like to see Arenado get the chance if the return is minimal. When he's on, he mashes to left field and potentially could put a number of dents in the wall. Anyway, I'm ready for baseball given the dismal season by the B's.

 

[FrankerC]

Part of Crochet wanting to wait out extensions. If he waits and pitches into Cy Young contention, he prices out of Boston 100%.

 

[yazmybaby]

Boston Red Sox Major Trade Acquisition Makes Big Physical Change Heading into Camp

According to Boston Red Sox Insider Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom has made a significant physical change as spring trai

www.si.com

I hope Grissom can still run and field after gaining 20 lbs?

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

Boston Red Sox Major Trade Acquisition Makes Big Physical Change Heading into Camp

According to Boston Red Sox Insider Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom has made a significant physical change as spring trai

www.si.com

I hope Grissom can still run and field after gaining 20 lbs?

Didnt he lose that with the flu last year?

 

[Mione134]

Part of Crochet wanting to wait out extensions. If he waits and pitches into Cy Young contention, he prices out of Boston 100%.

We ain't paying him. We're cheap.

I’ve never been a Kenny Jansen fan but I do have a question…..

Are Sox fans concerned at all about their current closer situation? I would be…

Not really. We have guys who have done it and can do it.

I'd like another arm though.

 

[yazmybaby]

Didnt he lose that with the flu last year?

I saw a video of him walking into the Spring Training facility and he looks jacked.
You can tell he was pumping the iron in the off season.
He must weigh a least 220 now maybe more.
Hopefully this translates into more bat speed and power?
He looks too big to be playing 2B now, looks more like an OF.

 

[Midship]

I absolutely despise FSG and cannot fathom how any Red Sox fan can bring themselves to support this cheap ass team anymore. Haven't sat down and watched a full game since Betts was traded, but now I barely even pay attention.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

It must be baseball season.

 

[Smitty93]

Part of Crochet wanting to wait out extensions. If he waits and pitches into Cy Young contention, he prices out of Boston 100%.

Said it before, but not extending him within a month of that trade should have set off alarm bells for the fanbase. If he's not signed by Opening Day, I don't think he's on the team in 2026 (barring an injury that makes him unmovable).

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[McGarnagle]

Said it before, but not extending him within a month of that trade should have set off alarm bells for the fanbase. If he's not signed by Opening Day, I don't think he's on the team in 2026 (barring an injury that makes him unmovable).

Trading the prospects they did for him and not extending him would be the dumbest possible things to do