With the deadline for players and teams to exchange figures to file for arbitration now behind us, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on this weekend:
1. Orioles 40-man roster move incoming:
The Orioles made a move on the relief market last night, agreeing to terms with right-hander Andrew Kittredge on a one-year, $10MM deal that includes a club option for 2026. The move adds a veteran reliever with late-inning experience who can help set up for Félix Bautista alongside Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez, and Gregory Soto. In order for the signing to be made official, however, the Orioles will have to first clear a 40-man roster spot that can then be given to Kittredge. Typically, that will involve a club designating a player for assignment, though occasionally clubs will work out a trade to create the necessary vacancy.
Speaking of Orioles 40-man moves, they’ll get clarity on their recent DFA of catcher René Pinto at some point today. Baltimore signed right-hander Charlie Morton to a one-year deal seven days ago and designated the 28-year-old Pinto for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Pinto appeared in each of the last three seasons with the Rays but was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in early November. Now that a full week has passed he’ll either be claimed by another club or outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, where the Orioles would be able to stash him as non-roster depth for the 2025 campaign.
2. Multi-year talks for players who exchanged figures?
Seventeen players exchanged salary arbitration figures with their teams yesterday after failing to come to terms on a deal prior to yesterday’s filing deadline. Those teams and players can continue to negotiate, as the figures exchanged merely set the potential price outcomes to be determined in an arbitration hearing. A deal can still be hammered out for any and all of those 17 players before hearings begin next month. Most clubs, however, employ a file-and-trial approach, meaning they no longer discuss straight one-year agreements once figures are exchanged.
That leaves open the possibility of negotiating a multi-year deal (or a one-year deal with an option, as the option year effectively renders it a multi-year deal and makes that agreement irrelevant as a data point/comp for arbitration negotiations in future offseasons). In all likelihood, at least a few of the players who exchanged figures will come to terms either on a true multi-year deal or on a one-year deal with an option — eliminating the need for a hearing. The Cardinals at least discussed multi-year deals with Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar this week, for instance. Just logically speaking, a two-year deal for someone like Washington’s Nathaniel Lowe — locking in his final two arbitration seasons — could make sense for both the team and player.
High-profile impending free agents like Kyle Tucker and Michael King seem quite unlikely to sign extensions (Tucker in particular) and seem destined for a hearing. However, talks for the majority of the players in this group of 17 figure to continue as clubs and players look to avoid a hearing.
3. Red Sox to host Fenway Fest this weekend:
The Red Sox are hosting Fenway Fest, the club’s winter fan event, tomorrow from 9am to 5pm local time at Fenway Park. Tomorrow will mark the first installment of Fenway Fest, which was announced last month as a replacement for the club’s previous two-day Winter Weekend event that began in 2015. Notably, chief baseball office Craig Breslow, team president Sam Kennedy, and team owner John Henry are not scheduled to appear at tomorrow’s event after appearing at previous Winter Weekend events (perhaps unsurprisingly so; Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic notes that ownership was roundly booed at each of the past two winter fan fest events).
This year’s event includes appearances by manager Alex Cora and a number of coaches as well as a long list of players and prospects that includes recently-acquired starter Garrett Crochet. Aside from player and personnel appearances, the event also includes a preview of the upcoming Netflix documentary covering the 2024 Red Sox. More details regarding the event, including ticket pricing, can be found here via MLB.com.
MeowMeow
Come on John, if you aren’t even going to show up to be booed for one day then sell the team already.
Fever Pitch Guy
Meow – The article is actually incorrect, ownership didn’t show up last year either. It’s not just a matter of Red Sox Nation venting, Henry and Werner have a history of saying dumb arrogant things that are inflammatory to the fanbase.
Red Sox Nation is hoping one day FSG will replace Henry, the sooner the better.
And oh yeah …. Devers was just removed from the player appearance list, and Duran was never on the list.
Nice look having your two biggest stars be no-shows, eh? But they are still charging $85 for admission …. and BTW plenty of tickets still available!
MeowMeow
Makes sense, given how “full throttle” went over. I’ll always appreciate the Henry/Werner/Lucchino group for bringing championships here, but ownership just seems like they’re bored of baseball after winning so much. Which, go follow your soccer/hockey/whatever else dreams, but let someone else run the Red Sox who cares.
Fever Pitch Guy
Meow – John Henry is 75 years old, has 8 championship rings, was never a Red Sox fan (he’s a Cardinals fan), and has a bunch of other ventures he’s focusing on including Fenway Corners, the PGA, Pittsburgh Penguins, Liverpool FC, etc. The Red Sox winning is simply not a priority to him anymore, making money is.
Fever Pitch Guy
Meow – You won’t believe this …. Pedro, Bello and Buehler have officially withdrawn from tomorrow’s FSG Fest.
There’s reports Ortiz has as well, but his name is still on the official list.
The embarrassment keeps getting worse and worse for the Red Sox front office and ownership.
MeowMeow
Fever: In their defense, local weather calls for snow all day tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to be in an outdoor venue either
Fever Pitch Guy
Meow – Most of the itinerary is scheduled inside Fenway and the MGM Music Hall at Fenway.
Either way, it had been a weekend-long indoor event for over a decade until they decided to move it to Fenway this year because the resorts are “too expensive”.
Shoman5
Good news though. MLB Pipeline Executives poll rated the Red Sox Farm System # 1 after the trade for Crochet. Team is set up for success.. Playoffs this year and years to come!!!
Fever Pitch Guy
Shoman – I hope you’re right! Those rankings are heavily weighted by top prospects such as Anthony and Campbell, it will be interesting to see how the Sox farm system is rated after Anthony and Campbell are firmly settled with the Red Sox.
I know, I’m an eternal optimist …. but I really believe those two will be impact players for years to come!!!
Shoman5
Fever… actually in this case that rating is based more on what is coming up behind this current group. I agree that they will be impactful which is why they are probably not spending on FA’s this year . Big acquisition next year and extensions coming down the road to try and lock up younger home grown players rather that let them hit FA.
Fever Pitch Guy
Shoman – Mayer is the only Red Sox player to receive votes for top defensive player, I can’t wait for him to replace Story!
And Arias came up 4th for most underrated prospect, tied with Campbell.
Exciting times for Red Sox prospects, hopefully Cora and his coaches and the front office don’t mess it up!
RussianFemboy
Agreed.
Poolhalljunkies
85 bucks for admission thats ridiculous
RunDMC
I’d pay that for Fenway. Wouldn’t pay it for Wrigley (again) to inevitably sit behind a beam they assured me isn’t there. But hey, who needs to see home plate? Not much goes on there for CHC anyway, they said.
Fever Pitch Guy
Pool – And it used to be $25 if you wanted to buy an additional session for one autograph and one pic, now you have to pay the full $85 for an additional session. They just continue to try and squeeze every last dollar out of their fanbase, it’s disgusting … just like the “giveaways” at games that you now have to pay for.
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s not that bad for families. Kids 3-14 are $35. Something your kids will remember for a long time meeting their favorite players. Devers not being there is wild though. The brass should also be there to take any heat. These are your hardcore fans and season-ticket holders.
Fever Pitch Guy
YBC – The way it works (at least up until now), each admission ticket allows you to pick a room and time slot for one autograph and one picture …. but you don’t know who will be the two players (current or former) that are assigned to you. So not really a big thrill if you get Nick Sogard and Zach Penrod.
swanhenge
Probably best the stay away from any press events. They might have to actually proclaim some sort of confidence they’re committed to investing in the team. And then have to back it up.
Imagine that…
Fever Pitch Guy
swan – So true!! It’s better that ownership simply not speak, rather than say dumb things such as whining that “Players are expensive”.
cgallant
Oh yes that magical 81-81 Red Sox 2024 season.
Fever Pitch Guy
cg – First time since 2021 they didn’t have a losing record or finish in last place!! WOOO HOOO!!!
Bobby smac9
What is the price of a ticket?
Fever Pitch Guy
Bobby – It’s $85 admission for adults, and that includes a ticket for a crappy seat to a crappy April or May game in Fenway. That’s how desperate they are to unload tickets.
Bobby smac9
Glad I live 300 miles away.
Salzilla
One thing I didn’t notice yesterday, but saw in the mailer this morning was Caleb Ferguson is to be stretched out? Are these teams ok? I mean there’s a ton of starting pitchers looking for jobs, they have minor leaguers ready at Triple A, and yet this practice is becoming prevalent? To me it’s disturbing and another way to cheap out on real starters.
Bobby smac9
Money
padrepapi
Exactly, and especially when a 37 year old Alex Cobb coming off a 3 game season costs 15m.
Ferguson was a starter in the minors and a promising one at that. A 20 year old making 24 starts in the CAL league with a 2.87 era and 10k/9 is pretty good. From the players POV, can definitely understand wanting to be a starter in the bigs.
RussianFemboy
@Padre
Alex Cobb is a proven above average- to well above average starter…he got his first all star nod as a 35 year old starter.
He’s not really showing sign of regression, and is still worth that amount IMO.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Analytics-haters will love my reply. Let the failed starters refine their two plus pitches in the MLB. When the pitch data boxes get checked with the results as a secondary consideration, start the third/fourth pitch starter experiment.
avenger65
At least one Sox team is having a fan fest.
Fever Pitch Guy
avenger – Every MLB team has one.
The White Sox fan fest is January 24-25.
NashvilleJeff
@Fever: “Every MLB team has one.” Well, almost every team. The Braves cancelled their annual January Fan Fest this year. The press release from the team said that “construction projects at Truist Park and preparations for the 2025 MLB All Star game have made them unable to host the event.” Team officials probably weren’t looking forward to answering fans questions about the lack of activity by the FO this off season. Very convenient cancellation for them.
Fever Pitch Guy
Jeff – Sorry to hear. Yeah it does sound like an excuse, they could have held it anywhere.
whyhayzee
Here, it’s the Red Sox fans fester.
Bunch of complainers.
Mikenmn
I know 40 man roster slots are valued, but as they are also added into CBT tax, is it possible for a team close to the CBT line not fill a spot?
sonorawind
I’m pretty sure the CBA, negotiated by the MLBPA, stipulates the size of the rosters.
BeeCarbo
Don’t know why, but the recent RS pitching acquisitions remind me of the Ray Culp. Dick Elsworth era. Believe we will get 85 – 90 wins out of these guys. Bullpen is improved, so we won’t be blowing so many late inning games. (Sorry Nick P.).
Cora: The Wild Card
Fever Pitch Guy
Bee – Ken Rosenthal absolutely shredded Sox ownership for that exact reason. They promised to compete for a division title, but their acquisitions point more toward squeaking into the 3rd WC spot (Ken’s words).
dasit
FSG is the real estate broker
fenway corners is the house
red sox are the 2-car garage
Kidding Right?
Every freaking Red Sox related post brings out the same commenters to make the EXACT same bitter comments. Does it really ease your anger to make the same comments, over and over?
Take a deep breath, relax, contemplate your navel, let the anger go. Ommm. Ommm. Zen thoughts. Kumbaya. We Shall Overcome. Peace Train.
Those of us who have followed the Red Sox for many, many, many years – and I’m talking Yaz, Rico, Boomer era Red Sox, if not before, have a very different perspective than the younger fans who demand to know why the team doesn’t win every year. Yes, it’s a fallow time to be a Red Sox fan, but so were the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Boo hoo, John Henry is the worst owner of any team in MLB, as opposed, to, say, Harry Frazee, Bob Quinn, the famously racist long-time owner, Tom Yawkey, Heywood Sullivan and Buddy LeRoux, or John Harrington, the face of the JRY Trust.
Here’s a list of teams that have not won the World Series since 2018: Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Detroit, NYM, (Team formerly known as Oakland) A’s, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Toronto, Arizona, LAA, Miami, White Sox, Philadelphia, NYY, St Louis, San Francisco, Kansas City, Cubs, Milwaukee, San Diego, Seattle, Colorado, Tampa.
Teams that have won the World Series since 2018: Washington , Atlanta, Houston, Texas, Dodgers.
Teams that have won more World Series championships than Red Sox since John Henry purchased the team in 2001:
After several years of limited spending, and the fan-crushing trade of Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, the Red Sox are widely seen to have developed one of the ten best minor league systems in baseball, and many analysts are rating the Red Sox off season moves this winter as one of the best if not THE best overall upgrade in the majors.
But, no. The Red Sox have only won 4 championships in the last 20 seasons. That’s only 20% of them! They need to win every year! Like, you know, the Yankees, who have won… let me see here…. ONE title in the last 20 years.
Why don’t the Red Sox sign every big free agent name? Why don’t they outbid and outpay everyone for everyone?
Turn off sports radio, take a deep breath, and meditate “omm, omm, the Red Sox are the most successful franchise in the major leagues over the last 20 years, omm, omm, they’ve put together a team likely to contend this year, omm, omm, other owners and franchises and fan bases compete for the big free agents, omm, omm, I don’t need to repost the same bitter response to every Red Sox post, omm, omm, peace be with you.”
Fever Pitch Guy
Kidding – Interesting read, thank you!
Unfortunately nothing being discussed here is the same. This FSG Fest is in a brand new location and with a brand new format as the prior Winter Weekend. So that’s New Story #1.
New Story #2 is that Duran is a no-show, the same star player who yesterday was announced the Red Sox aren’t budging yet on the $500K gap for his salary this year.
New Story #3 is Devers being removed from the player appearance list just yesterday. He is unquestionably the team’s biggest star, face of the franchise, and oh by the way there’s been a lot of discussion about moving him off 3B which he absolutely doesn’t want to do.
So that’s three big new stories being discussed here. Not sure why you think this is all old news, but if you don’t want to read about FSG Fest going on TOMORROW and the potential internal discord going on with the team then please skip over the comments under this article. You can do that ya know, nobody is forcing you to read these articles or comments.
Have a blessed day!!
Joemo
Yeah, let’s just ignore 5 seasons of boneheaded moves because they did some good things previously.
Does this ownership group feel like the same one that led to the championships? If you took the ownership group from 2004 and magically transported them to now, would they have demanded trading Betts? Would they have gotten outbidfor whatever star player they were chasing? No they wouldn’t have. The ownership group now cares more about diversifying their portfolio rather than winning baseball games.
If ownership was attacking these seasons like they did previously, then fans would have no issue. But under Bloom and Breslow’s first year (which arguably gets a pass) they were not serious about winning games at the major league level and that’s embarrassing.
What big name free agents have the Red Sox signed recently? Trevor Story? The guy who was injured and hasn’t shown he can hit away from Coors? If they did sign any, then they wouldn’t have been stuck in that poor rebuild that they didn’t attack properly.
Shoman5
Joemo… yes those championships should buy some equity and trust with the fans. They have the top rated farm system… a young core of position players and pitchers and are set up for success moving forward with financial capacity to spend on the right fits and talent at the right time. They deserve some credit for what they are building.
Joemo
I give them tons of credit for what they did. But they could have contended the last five years if they just spent on some free agents. If they added a top tier SP they would have been fine. If the guy got hurt or didn’t perform at least they tried. Instead we had to sit through Paxton, Kluber, etc.
The young core of position players is great, but until last year pitching for some reason was ignored.
I give Breslow tons of credit for actually focusing on pitching and having the balls to swing a trade for a top tier pitcher. But there is still the issue with ownership. The rotation could be even better if they just spent money on Fried/Burnes.
Just look at Sasaki. They did not even get a meeting with him because of how others view the Red Sox organization. How far the mighty have fallen.
Fever Pitch Guy
Shoman – Championships buy equity for about 3 years.
Remember, when they traded Mookie and stopped spending in the 2019/2020 offseason they said it was all just to reset the luxury tax. Fans trusted them because of the 2018 championship. Fans suffered through the disasters of 2019 and 2020, primarily because many of the same 2018 players were still on the team in 2021.
But after 2021 when they STILL went dumpster diving, enough was enough.
They will get credit when they complement the young core of prospects with actual healthy talent and truly contend for a division title. Even Kennedy himself has admitted the front office deserves the scorn they’ve received the past few years. They are what their record says they are.
kingbum
John Henry isn’t interested in being baseball’s biggest spender as that is an inefficient use of money and I agree. You build from the bottom to the top if ya want to be a consistent winner. That is what Tampa and Baltimore have done so well, it’s what Kansas City is now doing. That is the proper way to build a team, the Dodgers pretty much bought the world series. I wonder if they are even turning a profit, in order to keep running a team like it or not that has to be a goal as well. Now if the team is just one or two pieces away, that’s when ya spend.
Joemo
King – you’re right, John Henry would rather use the money from the Red Sox and invest it elsewhere.
The good teams will have a good development pipeline and then use free agency to fill obvious roster holes. Teams that bring in a ton of money (aka the Red Sox) can afford to spend more money in free agency because they bring in more money. The Red Sox are near the bottom (5th? I think, there was an article somewhere on the scrooge index or how much teams invest their profits into the actual payroll) in reinvesting in the players.
I do agree that they don’t want to just spend money to spend money, but they have obvious needs and they have the means to fix them easily. Instead Heney is busy plotting his next business venture, which I get it running a baseball team after all is still just a business, but as a fan that’s frustrating.
kingbum
@Joemo……John Henry does have other responsibilities. Red Sox payroll has been right at the tax line around $230 million….Penguins 3rd in NHL at $94 million…..Liverpool is 5th in Champions League at £135 million or roughly $200 million. It’s a $12 billion empire all told. My point is that while the Red Sox is the crown jewel of Henry’s portfolio (or Liverpool it’s debatable) it’s not his only concern. The difference between 2004 and now is that John Henry now has a sports empire. I didn’t even mention Rousch-Fenway racing and his golf investments. John Henry was a finalist in buying the Commanders from Dan Snyder a couple years back. Henry wants a NFL team….While having all that going on he still is having a competitive payroll in baseball. All of Henry’s investments have very competitive even top payrolls, he isn’t cheap.
Fever Pitch Guy
King – No offense but Red Sox Nation can’t stop laughing at what you posted.
Tampa and Baltimore are consistent winners?
Baltimore was horrendous from 2017-2021, in fact they finished a ridiculous 61 games behind the Red Sox in 2018.
And get this, the Orioles haven’t even won a postseason game since 2014!!
And Tampa hasn’t advanced beyond the ALDS since 2008 (the joke of a 2020 season doesn’t count)..Do you really want the Red Sox to never even make it to the ALCS?
The proper way to build a team is the way the Dodgers and Yankees have done it …. by using MONEY to build a pipeline of prospects supplemented by star acquisitions.
The Dodgers made a $26M profit in 2023 and a $14M profit in 2022.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – You nailed it! The Red Sox are indeed officially the 5th-cheapest franchise in MLB, and they probably even moved up now that Oakland has been spending.
Nobody expects or wants the Red Sox to be the biggest spender in MLB like they were in 2018, all we want is for them to stop pocketing so much of their profits while running the team like a small market dumpster diver …. and that’s exactly what Ken Rosenthal (and thousands of others) just wrote about.
Joemo
As a Red Sox fan, why should I care about the Penguins or Liverpool or his next megayacht? I care about watching the Red Sox and having them field a competitive team. If John Henry doesn’t care about winning championships, then I don’t want him involved in ownership of the team.
And the Sox payroll has decreased in recent years. I believe from like 2000-2018 they were no lower than 6th overall. Now they are in double digits. Or something, I’m too lazy to look it up but there has been a steep steep dropoff to their previous spending.
Fever Pitch Guy
King – Please stop lying, just please stop. Show some class.
The Red Sox were 12th in payroll last year and 13th in 2023.
They were 4th in revenue in 2023.
stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm
visualcapitalist.com/which-mlb-teams-take-home-the…
That’s just one way in which John Henry is extremely CHEAP, and that’s why Red Sox Nation is so unhappy with him.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – Great post! I got your back, the Sox have been 12th-13th in payroll the past two seasons despite having the 4th-highest revenue.
And during the championship years?
2004 – 2nd highest in MLB
2007 – 2nd highest in MLB
2013 – 4th highest in MLB
2018 – Highest in MLB
Without the reasonable spending during those years, the Red Sox would still be listening to chants of 1918 from Yankee fans.
all in the suit that you wear
No one knows what the Red Sox revenue is. They don’t release it.
all in the suit that you wear
You guys are forgetting that MLB now has a luxury tax structure with penalties that affect the draft. This wasn’t always the case. You used to be able to spend and spend without any penalties.
all in the suit that you wear
Actually, luxury tax has been around but the draft and free agent penalties are newer and need to be considered now.
kingbum
FPG….12th Is still competitive. There is zero need to spend more than the tax. You develop your draft picks. Especially when for a player’s first 7 years in the bigs his salary is controlled. Free agents equal old contract dump later. Tampa has been consistent having winning seasons. Baltimore used the fact they sucked for a long time and built a winner using draft picks. Having dusty old veterans collecting checks is a waste of money unless they are on 1 or 2 year deals.
Joemo
King – the amount of money that a team spends when they have success is irrelevant. The reason why this is an issue is because the team severely decreased payroll and put out a horrible product on the field. If they cut their spending and still had success, no one would bat an eye.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – Exactly!!
The Red Sox are simply not smart enough to succeed with a small payroll. They keep gambling on players who are injured, coming off serious injury, or coming off dreadful seasons. That is a horrible way to try acquiring players who will be productive. But it keeps the payroll down so the Red Sox don’t care.
Fever Pitch Guy
King – I agree with you, going over the first threshold is not necessary to compete. However the Red Sox could easily have spent enough to have a Top 7 payroll while remaining under the threshold.
The problem is they spend poorly. When you spend poorly, you need to spend more to compensate for the wasted money IF you want to contend.
Look at the decision to replace Sale with Giolito. They “saved” $10M on Sale’s 2024 salary, but wasted $19M on Giolito’s salary. That’s as dumb as it gets! And please don’t bring up Grissom, with the Sox loaded farm system there was no need to acquire a spotty hitter who had graded poorly at SS and 2B with the Braves. Just an all-around horrible trade so far.
all in the suit that you wear
Joemo: The Red Sox have not severely decreased payroll. They just paid luxury tax in 2021 and have been around the luxury tax threshold since. Please show some numbers to justify your claim that the Red Sox have severely decreased payroll.
all in the suit that you wear
Being well over $200M every year is not a small payroll.
Joemo
FPG responded with some actual numbers. You can use spotrac to look at the numbers as well
spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2018/sort/cap_total…
Could also use her Sox page on Spotrac.
spotrac.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/overview/_/year/202…
all in the suit that you wear
Agreed the expectations are ridiculous. The Red Sox spend around the luxury tax threshold every year. That is not cheap and is certainly enough to field a very good team if spent well. Breslow is working on spending it better and I think they will spend more as the team gets closer to being championship caliber.
Shoman5
Kidding… very well said and needed! Great post!
bigbatflip
The issue isn’t the past results it’s in how management communicates to fans.
They say one thing, like how they’re going to go for it, really we mean it this time, but fail to sign anyone of impact. Then leak stories about how they were “in on” said top free agent but in reality were never close to signing, combined with the endless ‘we’re interested in top free agent” stories it just becomes tiresome.
If they would have just said the cupboard is a little bare and they need a few years to reload the farm system in order to bring in the next 5-10 year window of consistently making the playoffs and competing for a championship, and during those 2-3 years these are the prospects we should be watching – I think the fans would have been much more responsive.
RS fans are smart and understand baseball.. If you’re honest with them and layout your vision and plan for the future they would get on board, but constantly telling them one thing and doing another just gets them mad and erodes the vast amount of good will management had built up.
Fever Pitch Guy
big – Excellent post! And yeah the good will from the 2004-2018 seasons is long gone. They’ve treated the fanbase like garbage and still continue to do so with their FSG Fest disaster, constant lies, and money-first approach to running the team.
That’s why these are dark days for Red Sox Nation. Hopefully the players can bring us some happiness this year, it’s been a long long time.
all in the suit that you wear
You don’t have to be a fan if you don’t like things. No one is forcing you to be treated like garbage if that is what you think is happening. You should be long gone if you really believe that.
MLB-1971
Kidding – Agree 100%. Unhappy people making negative comments makes them feel empowered somehow. I have prostate cancer stage 4, and will not waste time on their negative vibes…. I just mute them all.
MLB-1971
That said, I totaly agree with everything you wrote. The Red Sox have 6 top 100 prospects with 3 in the top 25. The future looks bright for the Red Sox looks bright as long as they do not block those prospects with over 30, declining, expensive veterans!
all in the suit that you wear
MLB-1971: Agreed and they wouldn’t be in this position if they hadn’t taken a step back and rebuilt the farm system.
Joemo
The top two prospects are 2C (Anthony) and 4th round (Campbell) picks. Their poor seasons only really got them Mayer.
Then after Mayer the next chunk of guys are IFAs.
The could have done well in the majors and still acquired the majority of their top prospects.
Baseball isn’t like other sports where you can tank, get a high draft picks and instantly turn around a franchise.
all in the suit that you wear
Joemo: Correct. It takes about 5 years of having high draft picks to rebuild a farm system. In 5 years the Red Sox went from one of the worst farm systems to one of the best. Having a high draft pick definitely does matter. Remember tbe Red Sox also got Teel at pick 14 and Montgomery at pick 12. Also, if they contended those 5 years and had lower picks, their total amount of money to spend on draft picks would be significantly lower and they might not have been able to afford to sign better players later in the draft.
MLB-1971
Allin – Agreed. The 1980 and 1990 Red Sox constantly added players trying to ‘compete’ every year (bragged about how many straight year over .500, but it always caused them to come up short of their WS goal with rare exceptions….. like the Yankees the last 15 years).
After the Red Sox failed to ‘run it back’ in 2019, they needed to rebuild, but had many long term contracts, and their farm system was not strong enough for an immediate contender. They were fringe Wild Card contenders, but why add to those teams when it would only delay the rebuild (the mistake the Yankees keep making and will not correct until Cashman is gone). What point would there be to add to a team that would fail in the wild card round or ALDS. The Yankees only made the WS, because the AL was historically bad in 2024. They were nowhere near as good as the Dodgers!
The Red Sox have rising position player stars, and Breslow is building pitching depth that will be the envy of the MLB. These are ingredients for a sustained run competing for WS titles not playoff exist like the Yankees over the last 15 years.
I am truly glad Red Sox ownership has not listened to the whining ‘fans’ and stayed the course! They will be more successful for it. I want WS wins, not playoff exists.
butch779988
Red Sox management sucks.
dasit
personally i would rather make the playoffs 4 years in a row with no titles than trade 3 crappy seasons for a title. life is short and baseball seasons are long
olmtiant
Lots of interesting comments here… As a huge Redsox fan in Chicago the disappointments were more than this ‘kid’ could endure!! I remember bringing a transistor radio to school in 7 th grade to listen to one game playoff… When Yaz hit homer I was excited and cheered, I was supposed to be reading to myself in coat room.. cost me to stay after for a half hour, just in time to get home to see Bucky’s blast… It got worse as years went on, but I still rooted and held out optimism… In 04 after Foulke squeezed mitt you’d think I went crazy!! Nope I sat there in disbelief, not saying a word… while I continue to root for my beloved Redsox I realize how lucky I’ve been to see 4 championships!! I don’t feel the need to live and die with every season like I did as a ten year old.. Do I wish they’d make playoffs, sure but I’d take 9 years of last and one championship than 10 years of playoffs with nothing to show for it…Funny story is I’m also a huge Dallas Cowboys fan( I know Chicago and I root for everyone else) we’ll been married 27 years and I tell my wife since we’ve been married the Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl… To her Response how have the Redsox did??? Take care NATION!!!
baseballguru
Bregman and Scott or We aren’t spending like you’re words of hollow meanings to date.
SpeakdaTruth
Red Sox ownership are a bunch of cowards. They make dumb decisions that piss off the fan base then they hide to not be held accountable by the fan base?
If Red Sox don’t sign a RH hitter that’s worth a crap why would any Red Sox fan buy tickets? As long as fans keep buying tickets they’re not gonna change their CHEAP AF ways. Imagine being a top 5 MLB grossing team but spend like the A’s? That’s pathetic and inexcusable as a fan. There’s no reason for ownership to be doing this, unless they’re just SCAMMING SOX FANS.
all in the suit that you wear
They don’t owe you anything. You don’t have to buy tickets or merchandise or read articles about them…and they aren’t spending like the A’s.
MLB-1971
Speakda – Sounds like you would a MUCH HAPPIER as a Dodger fan. PLEASE do not torment yourself. I will add you to the muted list of whiners…..
baseballguru
You no Spend, We no Spend…BREGMAN AND SCOTT and we will see you there…