Red Sox/MLB 2025 Off-Season Hot Stove II

[EverettMike]

CC Sabathia: 1st ballot HOFer
Johan Santana: Didn't even make it to a 2nd ballot

Make it make sense

I was there for their entire careers and would have taken Santana 100 times out of 100.

I guess I'll have to dive into the numbers, and I'm not saying I'm right the voters are wrong, just that it never crossed my mind Sabathia was gonna make the Hall.

Statistically, Shilling should be in but his post career shenanigans cost him. Numbers can be there but if you piss off the voters, you aren't getting in.

CC shouldn't be first ballot and I'm not sure he should even be in and especially not before Louis Tiant (RIP).


Yes, I believe so and as much as he deserves to get ragged on, I don't think it was him who left Ichiro off the ballot.

Schilling is actually a fringe case and that was the absolute consensus when he retired. Even then, he would have been voted in if he didn't throw a hissy fit at the last second.

 

[whitetape]

I worry that Bregman would be another Elias Lindholm, an aging player with his best years behind him, but tying up a lot of money on a longterm deal, and blocking young talent. His walk rate is declining, he doesn't hit the ball all that hard, he's getting slower as a runner. The Sox should resist anything more than a one- or two-year deal, which Bregman would of course reject. Let Grissom and Campbell fight it out for second base, or move Rafaela there and introduce Anthony to left field. Rafaela would greatly improve the infield defense once he got used to the position, Duran would be fine at center. Doesn't solve the problem of having too many left-handed hitters--but does Bregman really add that much?

 

[sarge88]

Carlos Estevez
David Robertson
Kyle Finnegan
Jakob Junis
Tommy Khanle
Paul Sewald
Danny Coulombe

Am I wrong in thinking that Slaten could be a closer eventually?

 

[GatorMike]

Am I wrong in thinking that Slaten could be a closer eventually?

I'd say it's a definite possibility.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Sabathia getting in because 250 wins and 3000 k over better pitchers in his era (Santana, Hernandez) reeks of old voters rallying for "traditional stats"

 

[RoccoF14]

Never in my life did I think CC Sabathia was going to the HoF.

I sure did.

 

[RoccoF14]

I was there for their entire careers and would have taken Santana 100 times out of 100.

I guess I'll have to dive into the numbers, and I'm not saying I'm right the voters are wrong, just that it never crossed my mind Sabathia was gonna make the Hall.



Schilling is actually a fringe case and that was the absolute consensus when he retired. Even then, he would have been voted in if he didn't throw a hissy fit at the last second.

Santana should definitely be in too.

 

[Smitty93]

I feel like we need some kind of fear index for baseball players. If you didn't strike fear in opposing fans, then you don't belong in the Hall of Fame. The type of fear that makes you say "oh no, we're totally screwed".

 

[DKH]

Dustin Pedroia is a HOF

If you watched this guy from 2007 to whatever religiously and don’t think he’s a HOF caliber player no hope for you

Also I would put David Wright in

Two of my favorite players absolutely belong in had not health

If not for health & injury they are in - only reason why

Embarrassing only 47 votes though

 

[BigGoalBrad]

Hall of Longevity of course Savathia is in.

 

[yazmybaby]

I worry that Bregman would be another Elias Lindholm, an aging player with his best years behind him, but tying up a lot of money on a longterm deal, and blocking young talent. His walk rate is declining, he doesn't hit the ball all that hard, he's getting slower as a runner. The Sox should resist anything more than a one- or two-year deal, which Bregman would of course reject. Let Grissom and Campbell fight it out for second base, or move Rafaela there and introduce Anthony to left field. Rafaela would greatly improve the infield defense once he got used to the position, Duran would be fine at center. Doesn't solve the problem of having too many left-handed hitters--but does Bregman really add that much?

I would not be worried about Breggy declining in the short term ( 2-3 years).
His WAR the last three years are all above 4.0, his BA is very consistent at .260-.270, which will improve at Fenway due the Green Monster.
To compare, Devers WAR numbers the last three years has been 4.5 / 3.5 and 3.7.
He is a pull hitter, would not surprise me if he hits 40 +doubles in a full season.
His other strength is his defense, won a gold glove last year. This is one area we need to improve vs last year.
To date, we are fielding the same lineup as last year, except a change at 2B, so I do not expect the defense to be improved.
Story may help in this area, if he plays a full season.

 

[yazmybaby]

I was there for their entire careers and would have taken Santana 100 times out of 100.

I guess I'll have to dive into the numbers, and I'm not saying I'm right the voters are wrong, just that it never crossed my mind Sabathia was gonna make the Hall.



Schilling is actually a fringe case and that was the absolute consensus when he retired. Even then, he would have been voted in if he didn't throw a hissy fit at the last second.

Santana's best comp is Ron Guidry and both should not be in the HOF.
I am not a huge CC fan, but he did win 251 games and had 3000+ strikeouts, two stats they heavily weigh.

 

[CDJ]

Am I wrong in thinking that Slaten could be a closer eventually?

Could absolutely see that

As far as that list goes Junis has ties to Andrew Bailey iirc

Never in my life did I think CC Sabathia was going to the HoF.

Great pitcher and I think he probably should’ve gotten in like 8 years from now maybe, but 1st ballot is absolutely insane. Typical Yankee bias bs

 

[sarge88]

Dustin Pedroia is a HOF

If you watched this guy from 2007 to whatever religiously and don’t think he’s a HOF caliber player no hope for you

Also I would put David Wright in

Two of my favorite players absolutely belong in had not health

If not for health & injury they are in - only reason why

Embarrassing only 47 votes though

Pedroia at his best was elite+, IMO.

Like you said injuries prevented the longevity needed to get it.

One of many players with HOF talent and ability, but not an HOF career.

 

[Johnnyduke]

Great pitcher and I think he probably should’ve gotten in like 8 years from now maybe, but 1st ballot is absolutely insane. Typical Yankee bias bs

This is one thing i never get. If someone is worthy of HOF it shouldn't take them x amount of years to get in just because.