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But Can He Pitch?
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OTM Open Thread 12/8? Will the Red Sox add a big bat during Winter Meetings?
The Winter Meetings are currently underway in Orlando. Yesterday, we hilariously saw Jeff Kent elected to the Hall of Fame by the Contemporary Era Committee, a development that may bode very well for Dustin Pedroia (seriously, go compare their stats side-by-side). Tomorrow the draft lottery takes center stage, while the Rule 5 Draft is on […]
Smash or Pass: Tatsuya Imai
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Next up isone of the best pitchers in Japan’s NPB, who is on his way to North America. Who is […]
Meet The New Guy: Vinny Capra
Who is he and where did he come from? He’s Vinny Capra. The 29-year-old actually already has ties to New England/Boston. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 2018 MLB Draft and spent some playing time for Manchester, New Hampshire’s Fisher Cats. After making his Major League debut with […]
Smash or Pass: Munetaka Murakami
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Next up, a future star who was recently posted by NPB. Who is he and where does he come […]
OTM Open Thread 12/6: Bichette to Boston rumors pick up
Good morning. One of baseball’s foremost insides stoked the hot stove, yesterday: Retaining free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman is a priority for the Boston Red Sox. But some with the club view Bo Bichette, previously a division rival with the Toronto Blue Jays, as an intriguing alternative. That’s from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, putting […]
The entire Red Sox pitching staff seems to hate the Yankees
On Tuesday, Sonny Gray greeted Red Sox Nation with exactly what it wanted to hear. Here’s the money quote: “It feels good to me to be able to go to a place now where it’s easy to hate the Yankees.” Not only is the quote bellicose, but the delivery leaves little room for epexegesis: Now […]
OTM Open Thread 12/5: Is the Johan Oviedo trade a precursor to something bigger?
Good morning! The Red Sox made a trade last night. And, regardless of whether you think it’s a good trade (Matt makes a pretty strong argument that it is) it’s definitely a curious trade, because Johan Oviedo certainly seems to fit the profile of one of those mid-rotation starters that Craig Breslow had said the […]
Red Sox acquire Johan Oviedo from the Pirates for Jhostynxon Garcia in five-player trade
The Red Sox just further bolstered their starting pitching depth with the acquisition of Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jeff Passan had the news earlier this evening: One of the first things you’ll notice about Oviedo is his size. At 6′6″ and 275 pounds, he instantly becomes the largest player on the team, clocking […]
Smash or Pass: Nolan Arenado
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today, we’re taking a look a player who was heavily linked to the Sox last year and seems likely […]
OTM Open Thread 12/4: How should the Red Sox value Jarren Duran in trade talks?
With an overflow in the outfield and plenty of needs still glaringly obvious across the rest of the Red Sox roster, Jarren Duran is the obvious trade candidate. What’s less obvious however is his true value on the block. According to Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, the Red Sox are starting out aiming high: This […]
Smash or Pass: Robert Suarez
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today we look at someone who could create that vaunted “super pen.” With Sonny Gray in the fold, many […]
Your Red Sox-centric guide to winter league baseball
Professional baseball in North America is over for the time being. You may not miss it yet (there were 2,430 regular season Major League games this year, plus the postseason, the minors, and college baseball — it’s okay if you need a little break), but there will be a point in the coming months when […]
Meet the New Guy: Sonny Gray
Who is he and where did he come from? He’s Sonny Douglas Gray and, although he was born and raised in suburban Nashville, if you’d listened to his introductory press call yesterday, you would’ve thought he grew up in a triple decker off Dot Ave: What does it mean, in his case, that he’s “more […]
OTM Open Thread 12/3: What’s next for Craig Breslow and the Red Sox?
Good morning! There’s snow on the ground in parts of Boston today and the winter meetings are right around the corner. We’re in the thick of the offseason. So what’s next for the Sox? Well, here’s a reminder that we don’t really know: Maybe they’ll get a big bat! Maybe they’ll get more pitching! Maybe […]
Red Sox News & Links: Sox linked to potential Ketel Marte trade
‘Tis the season for trade rumors, which are more fun than free agency rumors, IMO, because they’re about more than just money. And here’s one I didn’t see coming: the Diamondbacks are reportedly open to trading all-star second baseman Ketel Marte, with the Red Sox considered to be “on the radar.” The 32-year-old Marte, who […]
Should the Red Sox be concerned about Sonny Gray’s fastball?
Early in 2024, the Red Sox went with a breaking ball-heavy approach, giving the team a reputation for being anti-fastball. Now, when the Red Sox acquire a new pitcher, seemingly every analyst’s first move is to look at the new pitcher’s four-seam fastball. If the pitch has a high batting average against or low swinging […]
OTM Open Thread 12/2: Giving Tuesday
When did Giving Tuesday become a thing? Back in my day, it used to be just Black Friday, and at some point, Cyber Monday came along. Now we’ve got Giving Tuesday? What’s next, Taking Wednesday? Anyway, this Giving Tuesday, the Red Sox should give Alex Bregman a contract and give the Royals some assets for […]
The Red Sox are already crying poor
We are at the beginning of the free agent spending season and one year away from a collective bargaining fight between management and labor. This means one thing: it’s once again time for MLB owners to tell us all that they totally have a girlfriend, but you don’t know her because she lives in Canada. […]
Smash or Pass: Eugenio Suárez
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today we look at someone who could replace Alex Bregman’s bat on shorter years. Who is he and where […]
OTM Open Thread 12/1: Rare footage of Ted Williams, 1946 Red Sox
Good morning! It can be hard to return to work after an extended break. So do yourself a favor this morning and ease into things. Instead of going through your emails, watch this 15 minute home movie footage of the 1946 Red Sox — including the World Series against the Cardinals. Talk about what you […]
Red Sox 2025 November Approval Polling: How are they doing?
As the offseason gets ready to kick into high gear, now’s a good time check in with you, the Over The Monster community and gauge fan opinion on how the Red Sox are doing across the organization. Below are polls covering the job performance of the front office, ownership, and the manager, followed by some […]
Red Sox News & Links: Kristian Campbell to play winter ball
We heard rumors about this a few weeks ago but now it’s official: the Red Sox will send Kristian Campbell to the Caribbean for a little bit of winter ball this offseason. No word yet on where he’ll play, though the safe bet is that he’ll be in Puerto Rico with the Caguas Criollos, a […]
Smash or Pass: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today we look at someone who could fill a hole in the 2026 infield. Who is he and where […]
Black Friday (and beyond) Shopping List, 2025 Red Sox Edition
Whether or not you’re personally observing a Black Friday boycott this year, Craig Breslow has some shopping to do. We’ve already seen him wheeling and dealing, trying to make the moves we need to get past the first round of the 2026 postseason. Thanksgiving was late this year, so that means the holiday shopping season […]
Smash or Pass: J.T. Realmuto
Welcome back to the 2025-26 edition of Smash or Pass, in which we examine potential free agent and trade targets to determine whether the Red Sox should pursue them and what it would take to land them. Today we look at a fading star who has been linked to the Sox this offseason. Who is he […]