2026 Red Sox/MLB Season Thread

[byennie]

Seriously, when was the last time the sox had an elite batting catcher? Carlton Fisk??

Letting Martinez go, maybe some old heads can remind me why we did that??

Martinez could still really hit when we let him go, but his catching days were also over. Full-time DH the rest of his career.

Varitek also ate up over a decade, where he was pretty darn good albeit not "elite" at the plate.

Something I found interesting just browsing stats... there are only 7 catchers in all of MLB who qualify for the batting title. There just aren't that many full-time catchers these days, let alone big bats...

[Vermont Green]

I think you could use that same logic (limited sample size) to describe Early. And if I'm not mistaken, Mead was regarded as a top prospect while coming up. So I think he has some natural tools.

I don't have the baseball chops to project what type of player he will be. But he is a middle infielder who doesn't strike out a lot and can hit for power. Those seem a lot harder to come by for the Red Sox than quality starting pitchers. So I'm hopeful.

This is where I am at.  I saw this in an article out of WAS, both teams probably think they are selling high on their prospect and getting a player with high ceiling, at a position of need.  Both could be right to an extent.  But whatever argument is made, can go both ways.

I do find it odd that so many complained about the line-up/hitting, and now they bring in a hitter with an 0.852 OPS, and people don't like the trade.  What did people think it would take to get this level of a bat?

[Roy H.]

I think you could use that same logic (limited sample size) to describe Early. And if I'm not mistaken, Mead was regarded as a top prospect while coming up. So I think he has some natural tools.

I don't have the baseball chops to project what type of player he will be. But he is a middle infielder who doesn't strike out a lot and can hit for power. Those seem a lot harder to come by for the Red Sox than quality starting pitchers. So I'm hopeful.

This is where I am at.  I saw this in an article out of WAS, both teams probably think they are selling high on their prospect and getting a player with high ceiling, at a position of need.  Both could be right to an extent.  But whatever argument is made, can go both ways.

I do find it odd that so many complained about the line-up/hitting, and now they bring in a hitter with an 0.852 OPS, and people don't like the trade.  What did people think it would take to get this level of a bat?

Money spent in free agency.  Then you get to keep your prospects.

It's fine if the trade turns out to be value for value.  But, if it's just a hot season from Meade then we traded a good, cost-controlled pitcher to fill a need that could have been addressed in other ways.

[Vermont Green]

I think you could use that same logic (limited sample size) to describe Early. And if I'm not mistaken, Mead was regarded as a top prospect while coming up. So I think he has some natural tools.

I don't have the baseball chops to project what type of player he will be. But he is a middle infielder who doesn't strike out a lot and can hit for power. Those seem a lot harder to come by for the Red Sox than quality starting pitchers. So I'm hopeful.

This is where I am at.  I saw this in an article out of WAS, both teams probably think they are selling high on their prospect and getting a player with high ceiling, at a position of need.  Both could be right to an extent.  But whatever argument is made, can go both ways.

I do find it odd that so many complained about the line-up/hitting, and now they bring in a hitter with an 0.852 OPS, and people don't like the trade.  What did people think it would take to get this level of a bat?

Money spent in free agency.  Then you get to keep your prospects.

It's fine if the trade turns out to be value for value.  But, if it's just a hot season from Meade then we traded a good, cost-controlled pitcher to fill a need that could have been addressed in other ways.

This trade may or may not age well, true of any trade.  Same is true for over paying for a vet FA.  Would it really have been better to sign Bichette or Bregman (for example)?  Again, maybe it will play out that way, maybe not.    Trading Kyle Harrison for position players is shaping up to be a good deal.  Still time to go the other way also.

I saw a hit spray chart put up by Alex Speier:

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5nrheiao634zni6ecebaxni/post/3mrjlomlvds2j?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cbssports.com%252Fmlb%252Fnews%252Fcurtis-mead-connelly-early-trade-grades-red-sox-nationals%252F

There are about 9 outs that would have been wall balls or HR.  Mead could work out very well.  Time will tell.

[Goldstar88]

I think you could use that same logic (limited sample size) to describe Early. And if I'm not mistaken, Mead was regarded as a top prospect while coming up. So I think he has some natural tools.

I don't have the baseball chops to project what type of player he will be. But he is a middle infielder who doesn't strike out a lot and can hit for power. Those seem a lot harder to come by for the Red Sox than quality starting pitchers. So I'm hopeful.

This is where I am at.  I saw this in an article out of WAS, both teams probably think they are selling high on their prospect and getting a player with high ceiling, at a position of need.  Both could be right to an extent.  But whatever argument is made, can go both ways.

I do find it odd that so many complained about the line-up/hitting, and now they bring in a hitter with an 0.852 OPS, and people don't like the trade.  What did people think it would take to get this level of a bat?

Money spent in free agency.  Then you get to keep your prospects.

It's fine if the trade turns out to be value for value.  But, if it's just a hot season from Meade then we traded a good, cost-controlled pitcher to fill a need that could have been addressed in other ways.

This trade may or may not age well, true of any trade.  Same is true for over paying for a vet FA.  Would it really have been better to sign Bichette or Bregman (for example)?  Again, maybe it will play out that way, maybe not.    Trading Kyle Harrison for position players is shaping up to be a good deal.  Still time to go the other way also.

I saw a hit spray chart put up by Alex Speier:

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5nrheiao634zni6ecebaxni/post/3mrjlomlvds2j?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.cbssports.com%252Fmlb%252Fnews%252Fcurtis-mead-connelly-early-trade-grades-red-sox-nationals%252F

There are about 9 outs that would have been wall balls or HR.  Mead could work out very well.  Time will tell.

I agree. Early and Mead are gambles for both clubs. Small sample size for each player. You are right about Bregman/Bichette. Sox dodged a bullet there.

[BitterJim]

After leaving his first game yesterday with an injury that the team described as a "wrist contusion", Mead was added to the IL today. According to Tommy Cassell, it's a broken wrist (given that his x-rays were negative, that would mean a small break that was found in an MRI).

This year's team is seriously snakebitten.

[jambr380]

After leaving his first game yesterday with an injury that the team described as a "wrist contusion", Mead was added to the IL today. According to Tommy Cassell, it's a broken wrist (given that his x-rays were negative, that would mean a small break that was found in an MRI).

This year's team is seriously snakebitten.

It's almost laughable at this point. Oh, it's nothing always seems to turn into season ending injury. Grim news on Roman and Crochet, and I'm not sure if Casas is still alive at this point.

[Jiri Welsch]

Casas and McConnell are both recovering together.

I feel bad for Mead. Having the best year of his career, gets traded, immediately out for the year. Stinks.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

After leaving his first game yesterday with an injury that the team described as a "wrist contusion", Mead was added to the IL today. According to Tommy Cassell, it's a broken wrist (given that his x-rays were negative, that would mean a small break that was found in an MRI).

This year's team is seriously snakebitten.

It's almost laughable at this point. Oh, it's nothing always seems to turn into season ending injury. Grim news on Roman and Crochet, and I'm not sure if Casas is still alive at this point.

I still have PTSD about KG's knee, lol.

And yeah, this seems pretty typical. Trade away a good young pitcher only to have the guy you got back immediately shelved, possibly for the season.

[Goldstar88]

Casas and McConnell are both recovering together.

I feel bad for Mead. Having the best year of his career, gets traded, immediately out for the year. Stinks.

I have not heard that he is definitively out for the year. Guess it will depend on how severe the fracture is. Last game of the regular season is 9/27. Below is from CBS.

The Red Sox have not yet provided a timetable for Mead's return, but wrist fractures typically require a recovery period of almost two months.

[Goldstar88]

According to MassLive?s Chris Cotillo and Chris Smith, Mead could return to the Red Sox at some point during the 2026 season, as the injured slugger reportedly won?t need surgery to correct a broken wrist that he suffered in his Boston debut on Monday night against the A?s.

One source said that Mead was given a tentative timeline of 6-8 weeks, Cotillo and Smith wrote.

[Vermont Green]

According to MassLive?s Chris Cotillo and Chris Smith, Mead could return to the Red Sox at some point during the 2026 season, as the injured slugger reportedly won?t need surgery to correct a broken wrist that he suffered in his Boston debut on Monday night against the A?s.

One source said that Mead was given a tentative timeline of 6-8 weeks, Cotillo and Smith wrote.

What a tough break.  Not what the team needs right now. Should still be able to make the playoffs.

[Jiri Welsch]

I'm interested who is on the roster come August 4th. Seems like Breslow isn't done trying to make deals between now and the deadline.