WILL the Sox add another player and if so, who?

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Regardless of whether you are pro or con signing or trading for Bregman, Arenado, etc.
Maybe it's another pitcher? A catcher?
Vote yes or no and the tell us who and why and for how much you anticipate ($ and years if a FA, for who goes the other way if a trade)

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I'm actually of the opinion that I think Breslow is optimistic about what he saw in '24... that what it needed was a top notch starter, another bullpen arm and good health from Casas, Story and the additions of some oft discussed rookies.
I'm with him. Like with any team, health and some luck are probably the most important part of a team. I like how it's looking..... as is, with the Yankees, Orioles, Astros all taking a step back, I think the Sox are looking at an 88-90 win season.
My suspicion is that Breslow will be more aggresive at the deadline but rolll with what he has for three months. The bullpen is improved- adding Criswell to it.... Whitlock back, Crawford and (ugh) Chapman makes it much stronger, not to mention Hendricks..... the rotation has more depth this year so the pen should be better by not having bullpen games every 5th or 6th day. The innings limits issues for Houck and Bello are pretty much over. I hope Cora will try to get 6+ innings out of them more often without a concern for their workload.
There's undoubtedly issues. Other than the Dodgers.... every team has them.

 

[Monbonthbump]

Yes, just because there is a long way to go before Spring. I don't think it will have much effect upon the team's season, however.

 

[NickEsasky]

I assume they add a reliever. I think they're done in the lineup.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Edit---- I added a 3rd choice- "yes... but a minor tweak". Something not terribly exciting. Another lesser bullpen arm/project type perhaps?
Thinking that "obviously, yeah......Yes" is something big- Bregman, even Canha.... or a big trade that sends Yoshida or Abreu or even Mayer the other way?

 

[Skiponzo]

I think they'll definitely keep looking for a RH bat to add to the mix and if they find one at the right price will add but it's not set in stone. I really believe they will add another relief pitcher. Potentially even and impact arm like Hoffman but I'm gonna go with my binky and say they add Yates for 2 years around $21M total.

 

[AlNipper49]

With how the cycles of free agency work I think there is a near 100% chance they’ll add more. They got folks at what the market supports. Once the market starts drying up a bit there is absolutely a chance to bargain upgrade, particularly with relievers.

 

[tbrown_01923]

a meaningful (core) bullpen arm, but not sure who.

 

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

My guess is that the most they spend on any remaining free agents will be a short deal for an older reliever with closing experience, but not necessarily a closer anymore. Something like David Robertson for 1/12.

I still think they will bring in a veteran backup catcher and stash Narvaez in AAA. Someone from the Elias Diaz, Yasmani Grandal, C Vaz (trade) for 1/5. Narvaez may be better than any of them but an injury to Wong would make the catching tandem Narvaez/Zavala and I don't want that.

For the lineup, I am not 100% sure they won't add Bregman but I don't particularly want it to happen. My guess is they end up signing Mark Canha (1/5) to backup 1B/DH/LF.

 

[Big Papi's Mango Salsa]

I voted yes on the minor tweak, and I'm in almost complete agreement with @Jack Rabbit Slim. As in I agree totally on what WILL happen, but I personally WANT Bregman at 3b, but don't think there is any chance of it actually transpiring.

They'll add:

1) Something that catches.
2) Decent bullpen piece - and I agree on Robertson being my preferred non-Yates target. Maybe Minter. Maybe LeClerc. That kind of thing.
3) Probably a right handed bat - which isn't what they actually need (in my opinion) but something they've been so adamant about that I think they'll add something minor (and I think Canha is minor). Maybe Grichuck. Ty France if he's still out there. Something miniscule like that.

 

[Cassvt2023]

I am in near total agreement with both @Jack Rabbit Slim and @Big Papi's Mango Salsa and voted minor tweak.

Canha: Can cover 1B/DH in case Romy starts at AAA and/or Masa isn't ready. career .349 OBP, .763 OPS and not a super high K guy fits the bill.
Grandal: Familiar with many of our pitchers already from Chi Sox Days. Switch hitter. A Wong injury would indeed leave us VERY thin @ C
Estevez: closing experience, career best 3.24 FIP .909 WHIP last season.

I'd give this off season an A- if something like this were to happen before ST.

 

[jacklamabe65]

Add another reliever - you can never have too much - and see how the kids unfold.

 

[Alex Cole's Rec Specs]

I think if the Red Sox were interested in paying for an impact player like Bregman or Hoffman, they would have done it by now, but I still chose "obviously, yeah" because I think they'll add two more players on one-year deals to bring the payroll right up against the CBT.

My guess is they add David Robertson and a hitter from the Grichuk/Canha/Hays class of free agent.

 

[PRabbit]

They add another bullpen arm and MAYBE another catcher.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I think if the Red Sox were interested in paying for an impact player like Bregman or Hoffman, they would have done it by now, but I still chose "obviously, yeah" because I think they'll add two more players on one-year deals to bring the payroll right up against the CBT.

My guess is they add David Robertson and a hitter from the Grichuk/Canha/Hays class of free agent.

It's a bit tricky to parse out what the difference between a minor and major change to the existing club.... but yeah, Robertson and Canha seem like it'd be on the perimeter

 

[Big Papi's Mango Salsa]

It's a bit tricky to parse out what the difference between a minor and major change to the existing club.... but yeah, Robertson and Canha seem like it'd be on the perimeter

Starter or closer (with term) = major. Anything else = minor. At least that's how I'm looking at it.

A small add could have a major impact (Koji wasn't signed to be the closer, David Ortiz was meant to platoon DH and Nate Eovaldi was a depth starter), but I don't think they're adding anyone that bumps an existing starter.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Starter or closer (with term) = major. Anything else = minor. At least that's how I'm looking at it.

A small add could have a major impact (Koji wasn't signed to be the closer, David Ortiz was meant to platoon DH and Nate Eovaldi was a depth starter), but I don't think they're adding anyone that bumps an existing starter.

True. Good way to parse that out. Yeah, Koji was considered a minor tweak at the time (obviously with some great upside). You hopefully catch even something close to Koji Magic with a peripheral addition and the entire season is different.

 

[benhogan]

I still think they move a subsidized Masa for RHH, back-up C or add another AAAA arm over the next 3 months

 

[RS2004foreever]

I assume they add a reliever. I think they're done in the lineup.

This

 

[LogansDad]

I think they will add at least one relief pitcher, but it may not be until after spring training starts and they can move Sandoval to the 60 day IL.

I know many would disagree, but I think the team is pretty happy with where they are at in regards to the 40 man roster, and they likely expect to already have one, possibly two more players that they will need to add to it once spring training ends. And yes, there are guys on the 40 man that it wouldn't necessarily "hurt" to lose, but I don't think there are any who would clear waivers currently, and giving up assets for nothing isn't usually a great business decision.

 

[AB in DC]

Do they really go to camp with just Wong/Narvaez as catcher candidates for the 26?

 

[Dewey'sCannon]

I voted yes, but minor tweak. I agree with those that think it's most likely to be a relief arm, a catcher, or possibly both. But I wouldn't completely rule out a bigger move if they can find a RHH (like maybe a trade with the Cubs for Suzuki) or maybe signing Tanner Scott if the market is reasonable (unlikely). I don't think they are really interested in either Bregman or Arenado (nor should they be).

 

[chrisfont9]

Do they really go to camp with just Wong/Narvaez as catcher candidates for the 26?

There are always moves to be made later in spring training when the 26-man squeeze is on.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Nobody game-changing. Bargain bin guy or two, also probably more reclamation projects. This is us.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Do they really go to camp with just Wong/Narvaez as catcher candidates for the 26?

I never want to use Appeals to Authority in an argument... but I'm starting to really think that Breslow has a lot more confidence in both Wong and Narvaez than almost everyone here and I'm willing to trust that. The fact that he dealt away a top C prospect- the area more than SS.. .more than the OF... that we all think needs the most help says a lot to me. I'm sure the WS would gladly have taken either Anthony or Campbell over Teel, and yeah, that would really have hurt, but there's actually depth at their respective spots that don't require shuffling some chairs around to add them.
Wong, at least to me, looked very good defensively up until the birth of his child. His backups didn't really do much. The guy was rode hard. Narvaez seems to hit all the buttons for a good backup C- top defense with some low ceiling offense upside.
I actually think, yeah.... they really do go to camp with just Wong/Narvaez and that's how Breslow wants it.

 

[Beomoose]

It feels like they're more or less out on the remaining impact Free Agents, unless someone drops their price it's going to be minor tweaks there. But a big trade still seems possible, if not a megaton like Jr or Cease then at least a serious defense upgrade in the infield.

 

[cantor44]

Agree with most here. I think they add another catcher (dangerously thin on that front if they don't, if even Narvaez is major league ready), and probably a relief arm. The arm will be of good quality, so that might be a bit more than a tweak.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

I still think they’ll add 1 more major addition either via trade (more likely) or signing but I won’t be surprised when yet again they do nothing.

 

[cornwalls@6]

I still think they try and ad an impactful right handed bat. We’re in the phase of free agency where teams are waiting out the market to leverage the best deals they can. I suspect we won’t see anything major until right before, or during the first week or so of ST.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I think tweaks, not tweak. Multiple bullpen arms, and a RH bench bat (possibly even AAAA-ish). Like the case for Grandal made above -- his deal last year with the Pirates was for 1/2.5M with performance bonuses, so expect this would come in south of that. According to the impeccably-credentialed Google AI, he's considered an elite framer and a mediocre blocker.

Fun fact: Grandal was originally a 27th round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2007, but elected to go to the U and emerged as a first-rounder for the Reds in 2010.

 

[grimshaw]

IMO, there is too much smoke with Bregman and Arenado for there not to be something big still out there. If they wanted to just do a tweak for a right handed bat, it could have been done already.

 

[Yo La Tengo]

IMO, there is too much smoke with Bregman and Arenado for there not to be something big still out there. If they wanted to just do a tweak for a right handed bat, it could have been done already.

I appreciate that Breslow has taken care of business this offseason in a way that allows for maximum flexibility over the next few months. They can improve the team by adding a catcher, a reliever, a RH bat for the bench or a big move that bumps one of the projected starters. The team is well positioned to take advantage of free agent deals (large dollars short span) as spring training approaches so I expect the waiting game will continue.

 

[grimshaw]

I appreciate that Breslow has taken care of business this offseason in a way that allows for maximum flexibility over the next few months. They can improve the team by adding a catcher, a reliever, a RH bat for the bench or a big move that bumps one of the projected starters. The team is well positioned to take advantage of free agent deals (large dollars short span) as spring training approaches so I expect the waiting game will continue.

Agreed. Improving the run differential is really the bottom line and it doesn't matter how they get there unless fans think they're getting shut out when a lefty is on the mound. The right handed fixation continues to baffle me when simply signing Tanner Scott could improve the team more overall.

Hypothetically if you score 1000 runs and allow 800, you're more or less the same team if you instead score 950 and allow 750.

 

[Cassvt2023]

It would be pretty irresponsible to not add some sort of insurance for a guy who can play 1B. If Casas, who missed significant time just last year for a really weird injury, either has lingering effects of that, or even jut gets hit on the hand and is out for an extended stretch by a wild minor league pitcher in ST, who is our starting 1B? Romy Gonzalez?

 

[simplicio]

I don't think we see more than one other acquisition without a corresponding trade from the 40 man. Shugart and Sogard are both very expendable and Sandoval will eventually get onto the 60 day IL, but those three spots allow for one addition (I'd guess some form of RHB comes first) and the space to add Anthony and Campbell.

Past that, you'd be issuing DFAs to people in the tier of Murphy, Winckowski, Bernardino, Kelly and Penrod, and I don't see the FO willing to let those go for nothing.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

It would be pretty irresponsible to not add some sort of insurance for a guy who can play 1B. If Casas, who missed significant time just last year for a really weird injury, either has lingering effects of that, or even jut gets hit on the hand and is out for an extended stretch by a wild minor league pitcher in ST, who is our starting 1B? Romy Gonzalez?

I expect there will be a minor league contract NRI 1B in camp, just like they did with CJ Cron last year. I suspect they might try Grissom at 1B a bit too, just to add a bit more flexibility when it comes time to integrate Campbell into the mix.

As we saw last year though, it probably won't be hard to acquire someone to fill in on a longer term basis should Casas go down. They managed to bring in Cooper and Smith within days of one another. Surely someone on that level will be available again.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

It would be pretty irresponsible to not add some sort of insurance for a guy who can play 1B. If Casas, who missed significant time just last year for a really weird injury, either has lingering effects of that, or even jut gets hit on the hand and is out for an extended stretch by a wild minor league pitcher in ST, who is our starting 1B? Romy Gonzalez?

I've proposed- but I'm sure Breslow has me on "ignore"- that they get Campbell a 1B glove first day of Spring Training and have him getting reps at the corners the whole month, plus starting at 3B and 1B in AAA to start the season. If he takes to the corners- you've got yourself the short term and long term answer.*

*Also assumes that Grissom takes to 2B like he did the final month last season. I'm bullish on him- really liked how he looked after finally getting healthy and up to speed. Last season some posters here had him as being the likliest Sox with the highest BA.

 

[Big Papi's Mango Salsa]

I like Grissom very well, and even with the benefit of hindsight, I still make the trade with him in and Sale out. However, I do think people are putting a bit too much stock in the September numbers for both Grissom and Story. They each played what, like two weeks at the end of the season.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s better them looking good then being terrible, I just don’t think it holds much predictive value.

Not at all against the idea of trying to make Grissom into a Ben Zobrist type down in AAA. I think he’s been surpassed by Campbell for 2b long term. Grissom has the bat to be a 110/115 OPS+ type hitter, which is great for a middle infielder but not good enough to be LF (in Fenway), 1b or DH on a big market team. That’d also be very valuable for a play anywhere guy, which is why I happen to like Spencer Steer a lot.

 

[biollante]

Thinking minor tweak just so I can be wrong. Things need to change or they won't make the playoffs again.

 

[LoweTek]

I will go out on a limb and say Bregman is still in play. While I believe it might be for shorter money and term with opt-outs, options, etc., he adds the most value to what this team badly needs. Better infield defense, right handed power and an experienced post-season leader would make a huge difference addressing the current weaknesses. Raffy is not a long term solution at 3B and needs to be addressed. Bregman is a Gold Glove at the position who is likely to pepper the wall. Casas has to prove he can stay healthy. A 1B/DH rotation with Devers makes sense to mitigate Casas' health risk. Outright Massa if you must but you've got to prevent runs in the field. The defense last year was an embarrassment.

 

[PrometheusWakefield]

I think it's Casas + Kutter for Alcantara and then Bregman.

1. The fact that the Red Sox have been in on Bregman and Arenado at all can only mean that they do not view Raffy as an acceptable major league third baseman. And agents gonna agent but in the end Raffy is a professional who will play the position he's assigned because he understands the bottom line is winning.
2. Bregman is projected to be a 4.1 WAR player in 2025, equal to Devers and higher than anyone else other than Crochet. The idea that he's in decline is exaggerated. Yes, he probably won't ever be the player he was in 2017-2019 again but there's no reason he can't continue to be the player he has been from 2022-2024. His statcast profile doesn't suggest declines in any of the areas you'd look for aging related decline.
3. Crochet-Alcantara-Buehler-Houck-Bello-Giolito would be an insane rotation. It has the depth to go a full season and survive injuries and also terrify a post season opponent.
4. Yes I think you go six man, I think six man has been the way to go ever since rosters expanded to 26 in 2021. The benefits of increased rest and reduced injuries is totally worth it if you've got the talent to pull it off.
5. A rotation like that deserves a real defense, and Story and Bregman have the potential to be huge as the left side of the infield for the Red Sox, in addition to our potential three gold glove outfield. Those plays Raffy doesn't make at third base not only mean additional runs but also more wear and tear on our pitching.
6. Kutter and Casas are both valuable but they are completely expendable in this scenario, or any other scenario in which you add an upgrade to the rotation or third base defense. Miami is not going to be competitive this year and there's no reason to waste another cost-controlled year from Alcantara. If they prefer to think further into the future you can always get another team involved.

 

[8slim]

My hunch is that, like others have said, they'll add a couple more small pieces. Nothing particularly substantial or headline-making.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I think it's Casas + Kutter for Alcantara and then Bregman.

1. The fact that the Red Sox have been in on Bregman and Arenado at all can only mean that they do not view Raffy as an acceptable major league third baseman. And agents gonna agent but in the end Raffy is a professional who will play the position he's assigned because he understands the bottom line is winning.
2. Bregman is projected to be a 4.1 WAR player in 2025, equal to Devers and higher than anyone else other than Crochet. The idea that he's in decline is exaggerated. Yes, he probably won't ever be the player he was in 2017-2019 again but there's no reason he can't continue to be the player he has been from 2022-2024. His statcast profile doesn't suggest declines in any of the areas you'd look for aging related decline.
3. Crochet-Alcantara-Buehler-Houck-Bello-Giolito would be an insane rotation. It has the depth to go a full season and survive injuries and also terrify a post season opponent.
4. Yes I think you go six man, I think six man has been the way to go ever since rosters expanded to 26 in 2021. The benefits of increased rest and reduced injuries is totally worth it if you've got the talent to pull it off.
5. A rotation like that deserves a real defense, and Story and Bregman have the potential to be huge as the left side of the infield for the Red Sox, in addition to our potential three gold glove outfield. Those plays Raffy doesn't make at third base not only mean additional runs but also more wear and tear on our pitching.
6. Kutter and Casas are both valuable but they are completely expendable in this scenario, or any other scenario in which you add an upgrade to the rotation or third base defense. Miami is not going to be competitive this year and there's no reason to waste another cost-controlled year from Alcantara. If they prefer to think further into the future you can always get another team involved.

Miami is not trading Alcantara.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I think it's Casas + Kutter for Alcantara and then Bregman.

1. The fact that the Red Sox have been in on Bregman and Arenado at all can only mean that they do not view Raffy as an acceptable major league third baseman. And agents gonna agent but in the end Raffy is a professional who will play the position he's assigned because he understands the bottom line is winning.
2. Bregman is projected to be a 4.1 WAR player in 2025, equal to Devers and higher than anyone else other than Crochet. The idea that he's in decline is exaggerated. Yes, he probably won't ever be the player he was in 2017-2019 again but there's no reason he can't continue to be the player he has been from 2022-2024. His statcast profile doesn't suggest declines in any of the areas you'd look for aging related decline.
3. Crochet-Alcantara-Buehler-Houck-Bello-Giolito would be an insane rotation. It has the depth to go a full season and survive injuries and also terrify a post season opponent.
4. Yes I think you go six man, I think six man has been the way to go ever since rosters expanded to 26 in 2021. The benefits of increased rest and reduced injuries is totally worth it if you've got the talent to pull it off.
5. A rotation like that deserves a real defense, and Story and Bregman have the potential to be huge as the left side of the infield for the Red Sox, in addition to our potential three gold glove outfield. Those plays Raffy doesn't make at third base not only mean additional runs but also more wear and tear on our pitching.
6. Kutter and Casas are both valuable but they are completely expendable in this scenario, or any other scenario in which you add an upgrade to the rotation or third base defense. Miami is not going to be competitive this year and there's no reason to waste another cost-controlled year from Alcantara. If they prefer to think further into the future you can always get another team involved.

Who does Alcantara now bump from the rotation, as Crawford likely has already been bumped… Giolito? You think after getting him and paying him to not pitch last season they’re going to now put him in a bullpen role???
Bello? Houck?

 

[moondog80]

Miami is not trading Alcantara.

And if they do it’s not for a guy with only one pre-arb year left.

 

[nclauser]

I think they’ll add one of the remaining established relievers (Hoffman?), and I think it’s 50/50 whether they offload Yoshida, DH Raffy, and have Bregman/Arenado at third.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

And if they do it’s not for a guy with only one pre-arb year left.

Likely true, but mainly because they're in a position where they need to be adding salary, not cutting it. Because of the revenue sharing money they receive, there's a floor they need to meet with their payroll this year. The A's are in the same boat which is why they've extended Rooker, traded for Springs, and signed Severino. The Marlins haven't added any payroll of note yet. Trading one of their highest paid players would only put them further in the hole.

 

[OCD SS]

I guess we’d just have to send them Yoshida to balance that…

 

[pearccol]

I never want to use Appeals to Authority in an argument... but I'm starting to really think that Breslow has a lot more confidence in both Wong and Narvaez than almost everyone here and I'm willing to trust that. The fact that he dealt away a top C prospect- the area more than SS.. .more than the OF... that we all think needs the most help says a lot to me. I'm sure the WS would gladly have taken either Anthony or Campbell over Teel, and yeah, that would really have hurt, but there's actually depth at their respective spots that don't require shuffling some chairs around to add them.
Wong, at least to me, looked very good defensively up until the birth of his child. His backups didn't really do much. The guy was rode hard. Narvaez seems to hit all the buttons for a good backup C- top defense with some low ceiling offense upside.
I actually think, yeah.... they really do go to camp with just Wong/Narvaez and that's how Breslow wants it.

I have to assume you are correct, in combination with the organization just can’t have valued Teel as highly as we all did. At a glance it seems so obvious that catcher is a position where we could significantly upgrade the roster. All of the major internal and external upgrade options all seem to play other positions.

Unless there is a trade for Sean Murphy on the horizon….

 

[simplicio]

I have to assume you are correct, in combination with the organization just can’t have valued Teel as highly as we all did. At a glance it seems so obvious that catcher is a position where we could significantly upgrade the roster. All of the major internal and external upgrade options all seem to play other positions.

Unless there is a trade for Sean Murphy on the horizon….

Connor Wong is in the best shape of his life. Or the heaviest shape of his life? He's eating a lot. Also working on defense.
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/01/connor-wong-is-forcing-food-after-red-sox-cleared-path-for-him-with-big-trade.html