Red Sox 2025-26 Off Season

[Roy H.]

How does Suarez stack up against Gray? Seems like a legit #2, but not a 1B to Crochet.

I think that's right.  He's not a #1, but he's a good #2.  He's also been excellent in the post-season over his career.

Now, let's trade Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello and Jordan Hicks for a power-hitting third baseman.

[Vermont Green]

I guess you can never have enough pitching (but 11 starters with MLB experience seems excessive).  That is just crazy depth.

I am not familiar with this guy (guess I don't see NL games all that much).  Seems very durable.  Last season, 26 starts, 157 innings (that is 6+ per start).  That seems really good.

1.  Crochet
2.  Suarez
3.  Gray
4.  Bello
5.  Oviedo
6.  Crawford
7.  Sandoval
8.  Houck (Bullpen when back?)
9.  Harrison
10. Early
11. Tolle

1-5 seems pretty solid.  Crawford and Sandoval need to show they can bounce back.  Houck maybe back for the second half of the season (perhaps in the bullpen).  Then the 3 young guys.  Yes, I would think there would be some trades.  I like Houck, I would not trade him.  Don't expect any of the top 5 to get traded, maybe Bello.  Bello might be a good trade candidate, he would have value, and we have other young pitchers coming up behind him to replace him.  Bello seems like a good but not great pitcher.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Well, they finally signed a free agent:

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a five-year, $130 million deal with left-hander Ranger Suarez, a source told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

Suarez, 30, has been a steady and underrated pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies since 2021, with a 3.25 ERA over the past five seasons while relying on a six-pitch repertoire that allows him to overcome below-average fastball velocity.

The left-hander's velocity has slipped from 93.4 mph to 92.0 to 91.2 over the past three seasons, but his ERA has gone from 4.18 to 3.46 to 3.20 and his WAR has gone from 2.4 to 3.4 to 4.0.

I'm fine with the deal, but I'm wondering what the Sox are going to do with all of their starting pitchers.

Have a great bullpen maybe...I agree, lot's of starters.  Maybe this sets up a trade for a right handed power hitter for 2nd or 3rd.

I'm hoping for this, or something similar?trade for a slugging 3B and move Mayer to 2B, or trade for a slugging SS and move Story to 2B, or trade for a slugging 3B and keep Mayer at 3B. They have extra pitchers AND extra outfielders to use in a trade.

[Vermont Green]

Plan A:  Sign Bo Bichette (probably not likely)

Once Bichette is off the table, go to Plan B, C, D, ...

I would say Plan B is to trade for a 3B.  At this point, BOS could offer Duran or Abreu + Bello, and not really create a hole in their everyday line up or pitching rotation.  That is a lot and should return a very good player and likely some prospects.  Not sure who to target exactly but if they are able to do that, the line up could look like this:

1B  Contreras
2B  Meyer/Campbell Platoon
SS  Story
3B  New Guy
LF  Anthony or Duran
CF  Rafaela
RF  Abreu or Anthony
C    Narvaez
DH  Casas

With the pitching that they now have, that is a decent team.  There are too many LH hitting outfielders (Anthony, Abreu, Duran, Yoshida).  Got to move one of them, at least.  Another RH bat for the bench would be useful.  Some one who could play a position plus some DH against lefties.