The Red Sox are still reeling from Alex Bregman‘s departure for the Cubs but have minimal time to lick their wounds. The free agent and trade markets have begun to pick up some steam, and whatever Boston’s pivot from losing Bregman will be, it’ll need to come together before terribly long. The Bregman deal and the trade of Nolan Arenado from St. Louis to Arizona both figure to get the ball rolling with regard to the infield market. There are also indications that the market for top free agent Kyle Tucker is gaining steam as well. Even though Tucker understandably isn’t a target for a Red Sox team that’s deep in lefty-swinging outfielders, reports of him nearing a decision only give further credence to the idea that the market will accelerate with pitchers and catchers just a month from reporting to spring training.
It’s not entirely clear how Boston will look to counteract Bregman’s defection just yet. Both Bo Bichette and Eugenio Suarez have been mentioned as possible fallback options. The fit in either case makes sense. Both swing right-handed and have batted-ball profiles that would fit well at Fenway Park. Suarez could step into Bregman’s spot at third base. Bichette could play third base or second base. Former top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell could factor in at whichever of those two positions is not filled externally.
Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive provide some context in their latest column, as does Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Per McAdam and Cotillo, the Red Sox showed preliminary interest in Suarez earlier in the offseason but were first waiting to see how the markets for not only Bregman but also Ketel Marte and Jorge Polanco played out. Suarez’s camp is operating under the assumption that there’s some interest and will soon be told whether the Sox plan to make a serious bid, per the report. Speier’s report generally backs up that line of thinking; he writes that the Red Sox have viewed Suarez as a fallback and had not seriously engaged with his camp prior to Bregman’s signing.
Suarez, 35 in July, popped 49 homers last season but hit .228/.298/.526 overall. He once graded as a strong defender at the hot corner but has seen his defensive grades slip as he’s aged into his mid-30s — as is often the case. His thunderous right-handed power and pull-happy approach make him a natural fit at Fenway Park, where he could pummel the Green Monster with line drives and clear it with regularity, but Suarez finished the season on a down note; his production waned after a trade from the D-backs to the Mariners last summer. After hitting .248/.320/.576 with a 26.8% strikeout rate for the Snakes, he posted a .189/.255/.428 slash with a 36% strikeout rate in 53 games for the M’s.
At the outset of free agency, MLBTR predicted a three-year deal worth a bit more than $20MM annually for Suarez. That contract seemed likely if a team were to make him a priority. That he’s been viewed as something of a fallback to sluggers like Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, as well as top infield free agents like Bregman and Bichette, would at least seem to imply that a two-year deal may now be likelier. A two-year contract certainly would align with the Red Sox’ apparent aversion to long-term deals for players in their 30s, but Boston will face competition in signing him. The Mariners remain open to a reunion, and the Pirates, who’ve spent the offseason searching for power upgrades, have interest as well.
The Sox will face competition with regard to Bichette, too — if they plan to pursue him at all. Bichette is 27 and won’t turn 28 until March. His age makes him a candidate to sign the type of long-term deal the Red Sox have been reluctant to put forth to free agents. Both the MassLive and Globe reports cast significant doubt on whether the Red Sox would actually engage in a legitimate bidding war with a team like the Phillies, who met with Bichette just yesterday and are far more comfortable doling out long-term contracts (at least based on recent history).
Depending on how or even if the Red Sox end up accomplishing their goal of adding another hitter, a reallocation of the funds previously earmarked for Bregman could come into play. Both MassLive and the Globe suggest that a pivot to the rotation is something the Sox could now pursue. Speier suggests that the Sox are “open-minded” with regard to the position another impact player could fill. That could mean the rotation or, speculatively speaking, perhaps a run at improving the catching corps. J.T. Realmuto is still a free agent, and the Phillies reportedly don’t think they can sign both Bichette and Realmuto.
If the Sox pivot to the rotation, there are still some notable names on the market. Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reports that as far back as November, Red Sox brass had an in-person sit-down with Framber Valdez‘s camp. That meeting came at the GM Meetings, where Valdez reportedly met with at least the Giants and Orioles as well.
Valdez, 32 next year, might not have been a top target after the Red Sox acquired Sonny Gray and pivoted to upgrading the lineup. However, he’d fit the stated goal of adding a No. 2 starter for a playoff series more directly than Gray. A postseason rotation with options including Garrett Crochet, Valdez, Gray and Brayan Bello would be quite strong, and it’s always possible that a touted young arm like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early forces his way into the mix.
Valdez became a free agent for the first time this offseason when he rejected a qualifying offer from the Astros, the only organization he’s ever known. He’s topped 190 innings in three of the past four seasons, pitching to a collective 3.21 ERA in 767 2/3 frames along the way. Valdez’s strikeout rate, walk rate and especially his 60% ground-ball rate have all been far better than the league average during that four-year span.
Signing Valdez, however, would require the Red Sox to punt their second- and fifth-highest selections in this summer’s draft, as well as $1MM of space in next year’s bonus pool for international free agent amateurs. The same is true of longtime Phillies southpaw Ranger Suarez and longtime D-backs righty Zac Gallen, both of whom rejected QOs as well. Whether they’d make those future concessions while simultaneously easing their reluctance to commit long-term deals to veterans in their 30s is an open question, but the Red Sox have now missed out on Bregman, Alonso and Schwarber in free agency, and top trade target Marte doesn’t sound like he’ll be moved at all. They’ll need to find a new plan of attack in the coming days, particularly with offseason activity picking back up following the annual holiday-season lull.
Astros and Red Sox are perfect trade partners Astros have Issac Paredes available and left handed relief pitching. Red Sox have left handed hitting outfielders. We need that, Boston needs that.
Usually, when the matchup is that obvious, it never comes to fruition……
Except:
1. Breslow has said he’s not trading an OF, it “was never likely”
2. Houston would have to add to the trade. Abreu or Duran for Paredes is a big overpay from the Sox.
I know, that’s why I added the term Houston has left-handed relief pitching. Dana Brown also said that he won’t trade an infielder, but still, they likely will have to with a logjam.
Breslow was talking in the moment and for leverage purposes. He has his overall budget mandate from ownership and will work within that framework.
Astros71 – Any thoughts from the Astros perspective which LH reliever they’d be inclined to move? I could see something like Paredes and King being tempting for the Sox.
King is a high leverage reliever with 5 years of control. The Astros will listen on King but Jose A Ferrer got Harry Ford and he also has 5 years of control. Although King may not get a top 50 prospect, he’s bound to get a lot, and Paredes also has strong value.
Sousa has 4 years of control and is in a similar boat, although he will fetch less because he’s coming off of elbow inflammation and shoulder surgery the year before. However, none of the Astros left handers are going to be accquired with crumbs and it’s real value.
Astros71 – Yeah for sure, I’m not talking about getting anything for crumbs, I’m talking about either 3 or 4 years of control over a 3-4 WAR outfielder depending on which one is going the other way.
Baseball Trade Values is far from gospel obviously, but they are generally in the vicinity when you input real world trades into their calculator, and they have Paredes and King for either Duran or Abreu as a huge overpay by Boston (and Paredes and Sousa as even more so).
How they calculate trade values is what would the player be worth in free agency.
baseballtradevalues.com/valuing-major-leaguers
That’s one factor in their calculations, they call that part “field value” and if you keep reading they adjust the field value by the injury risk, years of team control, future projections and several other things, and then they take that adjusted value and subtract the players salary to come up with their surplus value, and THAT is what they use as their trade value.
Super simplified it’s, ‘how good is the player,’ ‘how many years of control does the team have,’ and ‘how expensive is he?’
So trade value is how fans see it, I don’t think that Craig Breslow and Dana Brown will be stopped with trade value. They have their own trade value books.
Paredes will be the headliner for a Duran/Abreu trade. One thing that trade value doesn’t include is how much a team needs the player or how they fit in with a team.
Paredes, Jackson Nezuh, and Steven Okert for Jarren Duran is an offer I’m willing to give up. What do you, as an assumed Red Sox want?
Astros – Include Hader and kick in $9.5M and you’ve got yourself a deal.
No one is giving up a closer for Duran
Paredes hasn’t been as good as Duran and has a year less team control, Nezuh is a non-prospect with a FIP over 4 in AA, and Okert is a middle reliever with one year of team control.
If Duran is going for a lesser player with less team control, the other pieces are going to have to be better than that.
It’s true that Paredes fits the Red Sox roster a lot better than Duran so maybe there willing to take a little bit of a lopsided deal to make it happen, but the same can be said of Duran fitting the Astros roster.
If the Sox could get a high leverage lefty reliever with multiple years of control along with Paredes, maybe they suck it up and pull the trigger, but they aren’t doing it for Paredes and a couple trinkets.
Nezuh by the way is HOU No. 12 according to MLB Pipeline.
Also, can you generate your own package.
Number 12 in the Astros farm is bad. They are a bottom 3 farm
He’s the 12th ranked “prospect” in the system they ranked as the second worst in all of baseball.
And I thought I already did, Paredes and King.
Either way, he is still a top 20 prospect in your system.
I would do it if you added a prospect. To be fair, Sousa and King do exactly the same job. They are both high leverage lefties.
Astros Years of Control Gained: 3
Red Sox Years of Control Gained: 7
In addition, he is going to get quite expensive so that’s something else.
Or maybe attach a salary dump and Jarren Duran for Issac Paredes.
In context, I would do it for Duran+prospect for Paredes and King.
Astros – You think Duran doesn’t have enough value to land a closer? Strongly disagree with that. Hader wouldn’t even be a closer on the Sox, he’d be a setup guy like Whitlock.
Hader is a top 3 closer. You really think Whitlock is better??
Erebus – Just to be clear, I didn’t say Hader would be setting up Whitlock ….. he’d be setting up Chapman, who was definitely better than Hader last season.
But to answer your question, no I don’t.
Either way, nobody in contention is trading one of the best relievers in baseball. Especially with the Mariners getting Andres Munoz.
Joemo – Breslow isn’t going to come out and say that he needs to trade an outfielder, for numerous reasons. The fact remains that they have too many outfielders and no place to play them all unless they intend to both DFA Yoshida, and completely block a Casas return.
maine – Loomer said don’t be surprised if Rafaela gets moved to second base, especially if they don’t acquire Bo or Suarez or Donovan.
He said he was not likely but I never saw a quote that he would not trade an outfielder. His preference may be to not trade one of his outfielders, but if the price is right. I agree that Paredes is not of the same value as our outfielders. I think a true #2 pitcher is what would get him to part with one of them.
I don’t think anyone is going to trade a frontliner for Wilyer Abreu and maybe for Duran.
The Sox would need to give up a prospect or young pitcher. I agree an outfielder is not going to do it alone.
masslive.com/redsox/2026/01/red-sox-trade-of-outfi…
Speaking at the team’s Fenway Fest on Saturday in Boston, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said, despite industry rumors that someone like Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu would likely be moved this winter, that he never thought a trade involving an outfielder was necessary before Opening Day.
“It was never likely in my mind,” Breslow said. “We’ve got really talented outfielders. When teams call, that’s what other executives point to. They’re young, they’re controllable, they’re dynamic, they’re talented and can impact games in multiple ways. It’s really nice to be able to say they’re also members of the Boston Red Sox.”
—
Since the start of last season, it’s been clear that the Red Sox had 4 good OF for 3 positions, and Yoshida. They have had a long time to replace the issue and haven’t. That quote makes it clear to me that he’s going to hold onto all of them again.
Now of course he’s not going to say “yes we need to trade Duran” or similar, but he could answer without actually answering by saying something like “well we are always looking for ways to improve our team but are really happy with our current set of outfielders.
Then again, communication clearly isn’t Breslow’s strong suit.
Uncle – FWIW, the Sox asking price for Duran is a top of the rotation pitcher.
Rogers wrote. “There is interest in Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but the asking price — starting pitcher Cole Ragans — is simply too high for the Royals, and talks have stalled.”
Joe – Lying is Breslow’s strong suit. All suits lie.
Yeah they’re nuts lol. I wish them luck until they return to earth. Boston is a garbage org
Fever- I saw the article about the interest in Ragans. I agree that the only thing that is going to convince them to move an outfielder is a top arm to take the rotation to the next level. If they were able to do that it would help balance out the loss of offense in the lineup. I am sure Breslow is making calls to everyone trying to save face after losing Bregman.
Sox said they aren’t trading Duran and Astros said they aren’t trading Paredes. Paredes has hit 30 homers before, doesn’t k, is only going to be 27 and has a few years left on his contract. He also has been an AS 3B the past 2 years… Duran turns 30 mid season can’t play D, has gap power and struggled mightily vs LHP in 2025. A deal would have each team dealing for something of need while dealing surplus but the sox would have to add to Duran, the Astros shouldn’t have to add to Paredes
Blah Blah Blah from the GM’s. Your not giving Duran 6 starts every 10 games and Wilyer Abreu 4 every 10. They won’t like that, and same for Paredes. I see a trade happening for both our teams, but that may come during spring training or after they report.
How can you say Diran cant play D when he put up 8.7bwar as a centerfielder?
They are just as much team players as Devers was.If they do what is best for team,they will rotate.If one gets injured,you are covered.Otherwise,will you put Yoshida out there in that moment?
GaSox – Unfortunately some people here have memories that are shorter than Pedroia.
Duran was statistically the 2nd-best outfielder in MLB just 2 years ago, him and Varsho were far, far better than every other Qualified MLB outfielder.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?qual=y&sea…
TB – The problem is offense will be a challenge as the roster currently stands, they can’t afford to trade one of their best hitters (Duran or Abreu) and nobody will take Rafaela without the Sox eating a portion of his contract.
as long as the Astros add some ## and Paredes is on a short term deal count the Sox as interested.
Is 2 years of control short term for you?
Breslow can say that all he wants but the team as currently constructed has Abreu locked in at RF, Rafaela locked in at CF and Duran, Anthony and Yoshida for LF and DH. And then they have Campbell as a reserve OFer. Only 2 of those first 3 can play on any given day and with all of them batting left handed there’s no obvious rotation of them. Anthony has already proven he needs to play every day so you’re now down to juggling Duran and Yoshida in the lineup.
Bottom line is the roster works a lot better trading Duran. The sooner Breslow comes to that realization the better for the team.
I should add another option, although a costly one, is to either eat 80% of Yoshida’s salary and find a trade partner or bite the bullet and DFA him and eat the sunk cost and move on. He may have looked like a fit for the team when they originally signed him but he is mostly just clogging the roster right now.
King- I think moving Duran makes more sense. Yoshida can get on base and provide decent offense, so I don’t see them cutting him. I think it could also turn off future Japanese players not that they seem to be focusing on them lately. Duran will bring a decent return.
Carlos Correa for third base would be perfect
Astros aren’t trading a fan favorite and Correa has a NTC. Also, Boston has enough cheating footprint already.
Correa is not what they are looking for, he doesn’t provide the bat they need.
Interesting you say Astros need left handed hitting outfielders and they just traded a potential stud Jacob Melton to the Rays. 🤔
A POTENTIAL stud. Also, the only reason it’s in the outfield is what’s happening on the infield. They traded Melton because he wasn’t established. Both Abreu and Duran are.
lol at “reeling”
Right ! Doubt they’ll be reeling year of that contract. More like shouting praises of joy to the lord
Ugh… Bo isn’t a 3B.
No, but he could be a decent 2B.
👍
Could’ve just rec’d the comment.
@Astros71
First thing I did 😉
Kev – It still amazes me he is asking for $300M even though he currently doesn’t have a position.
7 WS games is enough to prove he can handle 2B? Not bloody likely.
Except for ONE game, he hasn’t even played 2B in the minors since 2018,
He’ll be fine at 2b. Where did he ask for 300 mil? Have not seen that anywhere. He’s likely getting closer to 150-200
Why not? I think his skillset actually fits 3B better than 2B, with his diminished range. His arm has been consistently better than Bregman’s.
@mainesox
Referencing his statscast page, Bo’s arm strength ranks in the 36th percentile while his range by OAA ranks in the 1st percentile. Digging deeper, over his career Bo has a -27 OAA coming in on balls. The other directions for fielding are also in the negative but we are specifically talking about 3B.
Coming in on balls and having a strong arm is pretty much the job description of a 3B. Bo is no 3B.
Most of Bo’s issues coming in stem from 21-22, he was above average coming in on balls in 23 and 24, and only slightly below average in 25.
He also has historically been better at moving to his left than his right which works better at 3B.
And he had an identical average throw speed to Bregman last year, and a higher max throw speed; in fact, he has been as high or higher than Bregman every season since 2020 when they started tracking it (aside from 2021, when Bichette still had the higher average speed, but Bregman topped his max speed).
@mainesox
So we’re agreed that Bo has a weak arm and has problems coming in on ground balls. Your comp with Bregman just illustrates that he’s just as bad as Bo. I mean, that’s why you keep bringing him up?
Nobody is concerned about Bregman’s arm at 3B because it’s more than enough for the position and Bichette’s is better, and he’s been fine-to-good at coming in on balls for the last three years. He’s also always been good at going to his left.
Also, Keith Law suggested the other day that he believes Bichette could be above average at either 2B or 3B.
Both Bregman and Bo have an arm strength in the 36th percentile. So Bo’s is not better, but the same. Over the past 3 years he has a -1 OAA on coming up in on GB’s. That is not “fine-to-good” but by definition below average. Going to his left he has a -7 OAA in the past 3 years (using you sample size). Again, this metric cannot be considered good as you say.
Keith Law is still relevant? Last I heard he was running a prospect ranking site, but that was years ago.
You signed Suarez so don’t think Bichette is for you anymore. Difference some ours can make.
Haven’t they said Campbell is just an OF now?
“Preferred position” is LF.
Do you believe anything they say? I don’t.
Dirty – Remember when they tried KC in LF during ST, and then later Cora said about it “What are we doing?”.
They don’t know what they are doing. They pretend just about every player can play every position because it makes management’s job easier.
“Flexibility” is code word for “we made bad decisions and now we have a position that needs to be manned by someone”. Which is precisely why they screwed up KC so bad, they treated him like a pinball.
They have mainly played him in the OF since late in the season (and played him there in winter ball), but they have not committed to keeping him out there.
maine – This is a classic example of why rushing to give a minor league player a longterm deal is highly risky.
What I’d like to know, why didn’t they determine his position in the minors? Oh yeah ….. because they had him playing everywhere.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
I still remember him bragging that he’s played every position except pitcher and catcher. I love the kid, but if you can’t play a position well then you shouldn’t be bragging about playing it.
“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Campbell is a great example of how organizations fall in love with athleticism and assume positional flexibility will fill gaps. I like the kid, but I still struggle to understand how Mayer, who was performing at a high level in spring training, was sent down while KC, hitting below .100, was promoted and then extended.
Spring Training numbers aren’t everything, but Mayer’s abs showed readiness. KC, on the other hand, didn’t look ready at the plate. He caught fire briefly, and I think the organization got excited about the idea that they had found a plus athlete they could lock up cheaply under this new “efficiency” mindset.
I don’t think you can compare the two, KC is getting what? $7.5mm aav? I don’t think that miss or potential hit is that big a deal, I mean we paid $60mm plus for 0 seasons or anything from Rusney at the big league level.
The Red Sox always talk tough, but never deliver when it comes to signing free agents.
The Red Sox are the kid who stands behind his father and talks tough to the other kid, but runs away when daddy isn’t around. John Henry is daddy.
Chance – There’s a video out there where a little dog is viciously barking at a big dog that’s on the other side of a closed glass door.
Then someone opens the door, and the little dog immediately turns around, puts his head down and quietly walks away.
The little dog is clearly Breslow.
Fever- the Sale trade is proof that breslow stands his ground and makes the move he wants (within the budget he’s given). Double that down with crochet and subsequent extension, or willingness to kick devers out of town.
He has some faults as Gm, they all do, but running with his tail between his legs doesnt seem to be a breslow trait.
If they are under the age of 33, the Red Sox probably aren’t interested
If we’re going off the names listed, Eugenio Suarez is the most likely due to the fewer years and fewer dollars he would command. i think the Sox are done with rotation moves mainly because there is depth there with Tolle, Early, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford and Kyle Harrison.
Cubs have a surplus of IFers, and could use another OFer. Red Sox have opposite situation.
Trade Nico Hoerner and another for Jarren Duran. Then, like Crochet, Red Sox need to lock Hoerner up.
Is something wrong with the Astros IF’s.
The Cubs have PCA, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ as outfielders.
Which IFers are the Astros will to trade?
Paredes is the only one Im aware of. And I doubt Breslow would be interested in him because he ‘s a poor defender. Breslow is all about upgrading defense. Maybe as a plan B or C.
Still, I think the Cubs are trying to shed salary.
Mayer will get 3B. Romy and Hamilton will platoon at 2B.
I’m willing to accept something otherwise, but I’m afraid this is how they’ll roll into ST.
Yup, with Wong, Casas & Yoshida joining the 2B platoon of Hamilton/Romy on the bench until the deadline…
Honestly, I would rather have that than they panic and spend $20mil/year for a guy like Eugenio Suarez who makes Devers look like Brooks Robinson at 3B
Suarez’s OAA for the last four years: -1, 11, 3, -3. Devers’ OAA over his last 4 seasons at 3B: -12, -2, -6, -8. I think you’ve got it backward.
All sounds to me like they still have no plan. Thanks Bres, you effing stiff.
They were too confident Bregman was coming back. They held off on making earlier moves to improve the offense and ended up empty handed when Bregman went to the highest bidder.
They are no doubt scrambling to save face.
Uncle: I see no reason not to wait for Bregman with other options still available. What options did they miss out on by waiting for Bregman? Maybe Marte, but maybe the asking price for Marte is just ridiculously high. Maybe Okamoto, but I don’t want another Yoshida situation.
Suit – you cant let yoshida turn you off the NPB pipeline forever.
Its not that Yoshida is bad, its that bloom was a historic buffoon and threw a contract out there probably double what eveyone else in MLB wanted to do, and his agent said ok, we’ll take your money sucker.
A sensible bid, even on a player with question marks is fine. Its oitbiddijg thr field by multiples of value that should give you pause and make you nervous.
GA: Yoshida won’t turn me off forever, but I think I want to wait until his contract is over before gambling on another Japanese position player that has never played in MLB.
All-I think Okamoto would have been worth the contract he got if they were not set on Bregman. If you were focused on the bat there was also Alonso and Schwarber. Not saying they were the perfect fit as we have a DH, but they would have provided the bat that was lost when Devers was traded.
Well they could’ve signed Alonso with the offer they reportedly made to Bregman, but since they thought they were going to outsmart Boras (LOL!) and wait everybody out they didn’t earmark enough cash to make Polar Bear a serious offer.
Even though I had less than zero interest in Arenado, there’s another option off the table because they’re just sitting around and another team decided to act.
They have a surplus of outfielders and mid-to-back end starting pitching and refuse to show any interest in trading from that depth to go get someone who should be available like Paredes, Donovan, Hoerner, or Vientos. They’ll sit and let those guys either stay put or get acquired by some other team for an offer they easily could’ve matched or topped.
How do they “refuse to show any interest” in trading from their pitching depth, when they traded Fitts and Dobbins for Grey and Contreras?
Impotent rage over a baseball team is fine if that’s what gets you off, but at least know what you’re talking about
UP, I think the Sox didn’t want to pay the posting fee, and lose $1m in international money and a 2nd and 5th draft pick for a QO free agent, thus Bregman was the answer, and they cheaped and whiffed. Breslow is inexperienced as a GM negotiator and strategist, clearly…
The thing about Masa is that he’d be perfect for CLE, CIN or any mid market team interested in a solid hitting, light fielding OF. If the Sox eat $20M of the deal, they could pick up a lotto ticket and clear out the artery at DH.
Why isn’t this happening?
Dirty- i dont trust Breslow to get anything of substance done. He’s has no plan, no vision. He can’t put together a 26Man roster, and is going to waste another year while hoping to hang on enough to back-door into a WC spot.
Boras made him look utterly ridiculous. I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall when Breslow said we dont believe you have other offers. Or how about when he explained that the $40m the Sox paid last year was some sort of weird down payment on a 6yr/$205m deal…..
Breslow overpaid for Crochet, which obviously has proved to be well worth it. Heck, even Fitts and Dobbins were probably overpays not that we see what Arizona gave Chaim. But, we’re now paying $38m for Gray and Contreras, while Alonso is making $31m.
Theyre going to screw up Mayer and Rafaela by moving them around from position to position
bostonglobe.com/2026/01/12/sports/red-sox-second-b…
Breslow has no vision. Gray is proof positive. And, I like Gray, probably more than many of you all. We have a glut of controllable SPs of varying degrees of potential. We have 4 OFs who all need to play everyday.
Most POBOs would’ve killed to go into this off season. Crochet atop the rotation, a solid young core of position players, a stocked farm system and money to spend.
Today we have Sonny Gray. I can’t even count Contreras as an addition, because his contributions to this team are far less than what Bregman wouldve brought to the table.
Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are gonna play third base? Well that’s certainly news to me.
Dirty- who said they were? Im asking if the plan was to bring in two players on the wrong side of their 30s without securing a 3B, 2B or #2 SP first….thats all
Sad, I know its been an unexpected offseason, meaning, disappointing.
But I dont think its fair to place that blame on Breslow. He can only operate within the limits Henry sets.
And if youve been followong along for enough time, you’d have seen a pattern repeat itself 5 times now: Roush. Liverpool. Penguins. PGA. And now, Fenway Corners.
Henry’s belt tightening to siphon mlney out of the red sox operating funs is nothing new since his focus shifted from ‘Red Sox’ to conglomerate building.
Moves around the margins like Gray or Contraras didnt hurt what could be offered to Bregman. That came from Henry constraints, especially the length of deferment on the salary.
I think we can all agree arenado is an inferior talent to what we acquired in our trades with StL.
You make the deals that line up when they line up. It didn’t distract from other FAs. And bregman was already off the team once he hit free agency. The only question was if he would return. In that regard, I still view Contreras as an addition. Maybe its not as massive as we hoped, but, it did add to the team.
GaSoxFan- there’s plenty of blame to be shared by Henry, Kennedy and Breslow. Of this we can all agree.
Where I disagree is where you posit that the deals “line up when they lineup”. If you have a plan you can be aggressive. Doesn’t have to be FAs, can be trades. But, going into a championship window like the Sox were/are you should be much more aggressive.
Breslow had the money, prospects and flexibility to find needle movers that push this team’s young core forward. To date he has not done that
Sorry, should’ve clarified that reply was to the ghost of Thomas Hamilton, who came out of nowhere being snarky in my replies, not you. I fully agree with everything you said!
Swan: Good point. I am starting to believe ownership has a really tight budget in place for Breslow and he is doing the best he can. I was thinking there was a general budget in place, but missing out on Bregman by not a lot makes it look like there are some rigid restrictions in place. They might only have another $27-30M left to play with (or whatever the net present value was of their offer to Bregman was). So, they may not want to blow a lot of the remaining $ to dump Yoshida.
Uncle – You’re right, it’s a perfect example of Red Sox arrogance.
“We are gonna offer you less money, we are gonna defer it until the 150th anniversary of Fenway, and you will not get a NTC because we reserve the right to trade you to any team at any time. Take it or leave it.”
And some people wonder why their free agent track record is abysmal.
Fever- I know most people were happy with the Devers trade, but management did not come out looking good to other players who are deciding between a few different teams. That may be why Bregman went with the Cubs and their no trade clause. They have had zero success replacing Devers bat and that is one of the things that will likely have a major impact on their success.
Uncle – Outside of here most people were not happy with the trade. I’m all over social media, probably a dozen different websites, and fans realized the Raffy situation couldn’t have been handled any worse. It’s not just the trading of him, it’s the return the Sox got for him because they rushed the trade and didn’t properly shop him around.
Not to get too much into it (again), but just think what happened ….. Raffy was the face of the franchise, a postseason hero, their only active star player for a few years, well respected by teammates, beloved throughout MLB, never had any behavioral issues, was truly happy and enjoyed being on the team, spent his entire professional career with the organization …. and he was quickly discarded for a mercenary with zero team history who signed with the sole intention of rebuilding his value so he could opt out and get the biggest contract possible.
It’s like divorcing the devoted wife of 12 years to be with the hot new wife, who then leaves shortly after she gets what she wants from you.
If the Sox miss the playoffs this year I think the Raffy situation will be a major factor in people losing their jobs.
Fever- I know a few of us were vocal about our disappointment in losing Devers. I know he wasn’t perfect and could have handled things better as could management.
I just think he had the potential to be like Ortiz at first and keep hitting 30+ homers until his contract ran out which at that point he would have likely moved back to being just a DH.
I will be curious to see how his career goes and if he will age as poorly as so many fans on here thought.
On the other hand, I do think Breslow is finally getting an opportunity to go “full throttle” so I am hoping he puts together a well balanced team ready to contend when spring training starts.
Dirty – What if the Red Sox plan is to have no plan? Wouldn’t that technically be a plan?
Technically I guess so, but it’s not a satisfactory plan!
Suarez at third for a year with Mayer at 2B, and make the big move for Valdez or a trade for Gore or Peralta (featuring Campbell or Early or even both), and this is a scary team.
I like that Suarez/Valdez combo ! I think Seattle is going to have last go at Suarez thou. Seems an unlikely couple but why else is he still on the market ? Kinda seems like he’s waiting to take the highest offer back to Seattle to match
Bichette to me has the most value to contract out of all the top free agents. If Boston gets one guy, make it a top player from a division rival
It’s such a shame to see how badly the Red Sox reputation has become in MLB. Some GM’s say that working with the Red Sox front office is very difficult and frustrating. They either overvalue their own players or undervalue players they are trying to acquire. Others say it’s impossible to work with Breslow.
When it comes to free agents, the Red Sox refuse to pay market rates. There are reports that Bregman wanted to stay in Boston and would have even accepted $10M less than what the Cubs were offering, (5/$165M) but the length of deferrals offered by Boston and their unwillingness to give him a no trade clause is what drove him to accept the Cubs offer. No trade clauses don’t mean much these days. If a team is heading downhill or rebuilding, most older players with NTC will waive it in pursuit of a title or at least a playoff team (see Sonny Gray, Arenado, etc). Boston needs to get rid of their unfounded superiority complex and come to grips with the market if they ever want to attract a true star player in free agency. If they can’t do that, then it’s time for John Henry and FSG to put the Red Sox up for sale. Their shareholders will make billions and a new owner would certainly change the modus operandi the Red Sox operate with now.
Dorothy, I could not agree more. Spot on.
Dorothy- I don’t think there is any chance this ownership group sells. We have to just hope Breslow gets things figured out within the financial constraints they have set. Still a number of moves that could turn things around. I am going to try to stay positive.
Uncle – They will not sell before The Corners is complete.
FPG – they’re never selling. FSG is a sports/entertainment company, not a baseball team. In terms of the sports/entertainment business they’re killing it. It’s a joyous time to be a FSG’er. Just look at all the happy billionaires on their Board.
In fact heres what their website says they do:
“At Fenway Sports Group (FSG), we have a 20-year track record of taking cherished and iconic clubs to new heights. Our stewardship philosophy is focused on preserving, protecting, and enhancing the organizations we acquire, while making strategic investments in innovative sports and entertainment companies”
Doesn’t say their business is winning MLB championships.
Uncle- obviously none of us know what the “budget” or financial constraints are. But, I will say this, Breslow is in over his head. He had money to spend and stay below the tax threshold and his solution was Gray and Comtreras.
Sad- I do think they were all in on Bregman and likely were pretty confident he was coming back. I don’t mind Gray or Contreras, but they have not put the Sox in a position where they are better than last year. I am going to wait and see what is next before passing judgment on Breslow.
Sound management means you don’t pay market rates when they are totally absurd and irresponsible. Bregman’s contract is absurd. He had two good months, got injured, and was a drag on the line-up when he came back.
I’ll bet you were one of those people who paid a premium over the sticker price for a new car during COVID.
PK – Sometimes you have to splurge to get what you want.
When I’m with the Gal, I buy her whatever she wants. If I didn’t there would be no Gal.
No money, no honey.
As cheap as John Henry is, I guarantee there are times he will pay crazy market prices for things that Linda wants.
FPG – an over-pay is mostly based on the prevailing wisdom of a moment in time.
For example, the 24th highest salary in mlb for 2026, before Bregman, Tucker, Bellinger and Bichette sign belongs to Raphael Devers, remember how “drastically overpaid” he was only 12 months ago?
Besides, if you make the playoffs each year, and win even one World Series, that contract pays for itself…..
Sad – I totally agree. It’s like anything you buy these days, what seems overpriced now will be considered a bargain in the future.
As for Raffy, converting him to a fulltime DH did devalue him. But as a solid defensive 1B, which I fully expect he will be, he most definitely could become a bargain.
PkCasimir – guess you missed the MLBTR post this morning about civility and not being insulting.
Sad – I’m curious, which article and who posted it? I haven’t been keeping up, but I’m glad there’s been something posted about civility. Overall it seems like a more friendly crowd here, I haven’t had to mute anyone in a long time. LOL
Dorothy: Which GMs said the Red Sox are difficult and frustrating? Who said it is impossible to work with Breslow? Where are you getting this from?
Well, I have heard the same regarding Boston through some sources. May not be Breslow necessarily as he has been short term and have heard that a spell.
Just as I heard Krall is not respected by other POBO/GMs and agents.
Suit- easy Google searxh
bleacherreport.com/articles/25231458-mlb-gms-repor…
Joon Lee
Tom Verducci
Carl Moesche
Katie Manganelli
100% Dorothy. Sox and Mr. Ivy League Breslow put values on players and want “value” by calculations completely without regard to cognizant market trends. Thus, they will never sign a good FA with later declining years, and get none, thus no FA’s yet. Not that it guarantees success, but…Devers a good example getting off his contract…
Boston is in the position of flexibility bc they quit paying market rates for free agents. Thats the right move ! NY teams and dodgers lineups will always be full of decay and Boston can’t compete with their spending anyway. They stepped out of the little brother shadow to create their own identity and have been very patient in doing so. Seems like their window is now opening and they best to stay patient
Big- how could you say that the Red Sox can’t compete (financially) with the Yankees. Seems to me like they have plenty of resources. Theyre too busy starving the Red Sox while building their sports/entertainment company’s other assets.
Funny that you said their window is opening. I agree. Patience is exactly the opposite of what you need to do in a championship window. You need to become hyper-aggressive. Ask the Bkue Jays that same question and see whT they say…..
Yankees (and jays) are just a small level above them. Mets and dodgers prob 3 levels above em
Dodgers are above everyone. The Sox could be catching up to the Yankees and Blue Jays soon.
Yeah signed Ranger Suarez helped.
I will be surprised at this point of the Red Sox make any significant moves. Oh they might add a reliever or two but I don’t think they are doing anything major. I can’t see how they will sign a 32 year old pitcher to long term contract doubt they sign Suarez either.
I think this is the opening day lineup in the field from left to right in the outfield Anthony, Duran, and Abreu. From left to right on the infield Mayer, Story, Rafaela, and Contreras. Narvaez at catcher and Masa DH.
I know that Rafaela is way more valuable in center but this way all the guys play and without a doubt Rafaela will play the best second base defensively unless you want Romy at second or the defensively challenged Campbell.
The biggest concern I have without Bregman or Bichette is the two hole. Anthony, Masa against righties and Romy against lefties, Duran, Contreras, Story, Abreu, Mayer, Narvaez, and Rafaela. You could switch out Abreu, Story and Mayer, Narvaez depending on if it’s a lefty or righty starter. It looks pretty suspect to me unless Mayer takes a big step forward and the back of that lineup might be pretty ugly. Casas getting some time in AAA and showing he’s healthy could be a big help in the power department maybe KC goes off and starts to hit like he did in 2024 but that’s a lot of if.
Maybe they should add to the rotation they are going to have win a lot of games with pitching unless a lot of ifs go the Red Sox way. I’m not interested in signing Suarez his profile looks to me like he could fall off a cliff offensively and may have already started doing that stay away from Suarez please.
The Suarez I mean in the last paragraph Eugenio not Ranger thought I should clarify.
Bruin, the difference of having Rafaela in center is much more than him at second. While he’s a good infielder, he already is amongst the best ever to patrol CF at Fenway. He should not play second until he ages out of center.
Normally I agree with you but the team doesn’t have anyone to play 2nd accept maybe Romy if we assume Mayer at third. Duran was really good in center in 2024 he won’t be Rafaela good so perhaps they ask Duran to try second again seems like a disaster to me. The point is this team really needed Bregman or Bichette and by far the best defender at 2nd on this roster assuming that Mayer and Story are on the left side of the infield is going to be Rafaela.
dewey – What lineup is better:
a) One with Rafaela in CF and Hamilton/Sogard/etc at 2B?
or
b) One with Rafaela at 2B and Duran, Abreu and Roman in the OF?
The extra offense will always contribute more to wins.
Fever, a running saved is as good as a run scored.
Better question is, are the sox better with Duran/Abreu/Anthony in the corners and DH, with Rafaela in CF, and whomever at 2B?
Or is yoshida’s bat more valuable than one of duran/abreu?
I vote for duran/abreu over yoshida every day of the week and twice if its a blue state election.
FPG – great questions. I can only hope that Breslow is communicating with the players as to where they should be playing. And then Cora actually plays them there.
bostonglobe.com/2026/01/12/sports/red-sox-second-b…
Sounds to me like Mayer would like to know where he is going to play, because (gasp) you need to practice to get good at one position.
I have lost faith….the front office is just clueless with a month to go before Truck Day
Bruin- I think this is a situation where they got caught with their pants down because they were confident Bregman was coming back. They are scrambling and trying to save face. It is going to be interesting to see how they come out of this. I am sure they are going to try and fail with Bichette and the most likely final result would be a trade for pitching. They are going to need a significant upgrade for the pitching to make up for the lack of offense they added.
Would love Bichette. Would honestly rather have Campbell trying to figure something out than have E. Suarez on any deal beyond maybe a one-year contract Adrian Beltre style. Suarez has great power but those strikeouts are just so unsavory.
Bichette would be a nice story; playing for the team that his dad finished with. Playing in the ballpark across the street from where his parents met, ETC. But those personal stories come with a checkered injury history and high price tag/long commitment. I’d rather have Suarez for a couple of seasons while Mayer and Campbell establish themselves as big leaguers
I was on the fence about signing Bregman and I’m on the fence about Bichette and Suarez.
I didn’t want Bregman for more than 3 years. I’d take a 6 or 7 year deal for Bichette and eat my crow later if he ends up with a a lot of IL time.
The big question is what kind of offers are being made to Bichette. I would assume he has moved to the top of the Sox list, but I am afraid they will be outbid. I assumed Bregman was coming back as I had no idea the Cubs would jump in and outbid the Sox. It sounds like it might have been as much about the no trade clause. I was fine with the 5 years for Bregman, although 4 was my preference.
Assuming offense is what held them back in the playoffs last year, who is still available that can put them where they need to be to compete for the division and regain footing in making a run at the championship. Suarez has bigger concerns than Bichette in my mind, but if Fenway is a field that may fit his offensive potential a short term deal could be worth it. The defensive question as well as high strikeouts make it difficult to take the chance at his age.
Bregman wasn’t perfect but I thought he was the safest option. Bichette is more than likely going to be much more expensive than they would go for.
Uncle: I would have chosen Bregman too, but I am not too upset they lost him. He is just one swing away from missing two months with an oblique strain like he did last year. None of the choices available to the Red Sox jump out at me at the moment.
Uncle – I read an interesting article today. If the Blue Jays go over the tax threshold this year, they have a minimum of $55 million, and maybe up to $70m if Berrios opts out, coming off their books after the 2026 season.
It seems like their first priority is Tucker. If they lose out to him bring Bichette back is an easy resigning. Of course Breslow will be waiting for him to sign for less than 3yrs
8 to 10 years around 300mm, at this point you do it, plug Bo in at 2b and Mayer at 3b. Or vice versa.. either we see an overpay like we did on Story or we get nobody else. I don’t think there is going to be an in between. Signing Suarez would be embarrassing, he doesn’t fit anything other than being the cheapest/shortest deal. I assume he will go hit 50 hrs for Pittsburgh or something and then disappear after another couple years like old man Cruz.
All- I know there was risk with Bregman as far as injury potential, but I don’t think the risk was as bad as many think. It will be interesting to see if he has any issues with the Cubs. I also don’t expect serious regression over the 5 year contract, but definitely would have preferred 4 years top. Unfortunately that would not have gotten it done.
Sad- It definitely looks like the Blue Jays are all in this offseason, so I would not be surprised to see them make another big move. It sounds like the Tucker race is heating up so we should know soon. At this point I think Breslow is going to have to provide Bichette with a bigger contract than they have been comfortable offering so doubt there is any chance we get him.
Rsox – I wouldn’t put much weight into those personal stories. Bo was conceived in Coors Field after Dante went 3-for-4 against the Padres in June 1997, but there’s no chance he will sign with the Rockies just because of that reason.
Suarez is the clubhouse leader and veteran presence that is desperately needed with the Red Sox, and he would have a huge impact on his fellow Venezuelans Abreu, Contreras, and Narvaez.
Any chance Boston would move Campbell, what do you think it would cost the reds?
Greene 😜
Screw Valdez. I’d rather they do nothing than bring him in.
As an ex catcher, I hate this guy, and I would rather lose than he pitch for the Sox.
The front office is sitting around crying. How can anything get done now?
The Red Sox are done signing meaningful free agents. The Red Sox reporters trying to make you feel like something could happen are mouth pieces of the Red Sox management. Get used to platoon players and low investment contracts.
Suarez would mash in that ballpark. Same in Cincinnati, where it has been proven.
Suarez had 49 HRs “but hit .228/.298/.526 overall”. But??? .526 SLG was 11th in MLB, just ahead of Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. Some comps: Bichette = 483 (27th); Donovan .422 (82nd), Paredes 458 (would be 53rd if he qualified). Unllike Bichette, Suarez won’t need a long multi year deal, unlike Donovan and Paredes, he won’t cost a bunch of prospects. Bringing back Bregman was the best option, but I can’t fault the Sox for balking at that asking price. Sox leading HR hitter last season was Story with 25, Abreu followed with 22 and Willson Contreras hit 20 for the Cards. Suarez is the power bat the Sox need. He didn’t hit in T-Mobile (hardly anyone not named Raleigh does), but was terrific for the DBacks (142 OPS+, best of his career) and should love Fenway.
The ‘only’ part comes.from that pitiful .228 batting average.
Even in today’s game where .228 might compete for a batting title, there doesn’t seem to be a big market for this 49 HR bat. Could be age, could be what he thinks he is worth, could be the low average and high whiff rate. I don’t hate Suarez if he would sign a 1 year deal, but I’m not thinking they’ve really changed the tram if he signs.
Hot take: Boston signs neither and saves their money for after the lockout season.
Been saving money since the 2021 lockout, all for what? You’re probably right in saying they’ll sign neither, but they won’t sign anyone in a year from now either.
Why would the Sox sign Valdez? All we have heard is this amazing surplus of pitching prospects… Should we no longer believe in them?
Agreed it doesn’t make sense to sign Valdez with all the good pitching they have.
If Eor from Pooh was a baseball fan- he’d root for the Red Sox
Along with Piglet and Tigger.
Until Henry sells the team and they stop hiring these small market minded GM’s this trend will continue. As a Sox fan it’s beyond frustrating to see how they operate this team
Red Sox Rumors: Suarez
It’s been sometime and I thought about it, I don’t want to trade King and Paredes for Duran while we have Sanchez on the roster. It sounds like he’s staying. I would rather get prospects.
There shouldn’t be a comma before “too.”