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 […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 1 read
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 […]
2 months ago | 6 reads
‘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 […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 4 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 4 reads
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. […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
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 […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
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 […]
3 months ago | 3 reads
For a pair of teams who share the same division and have represented the American League in the World Series a combined eight times over the last 40 years, the relationship between the Blue Jays and Red Sox has been remarkably tame. There’s no signature clash, no recent season where one stood in the doorway […]
3 months ago | 1 read
From everybody at Over The Monster, we’d like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! May it be a day filled with family, friends, and food, and at least a little bit of a debate around the table regarding where Sonny Gray slots into the Sox rotation next year. Use this thread to […]
3 months ago | 1 read
I’m thankful for David Ortiz and DAAAAAA Yankees lose! which became a viral sensation this year, expanding from just a Red Sox thing. — Mike Carlucci I’m thankful that Major League Baseball is in a great place, trending up from one of the best World Series of this century, complete with a normal offseason where […]
3 months ago | 2 reads
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 slugger who has already thrived in Boston. Who is he and where does he […]
3 months ago | 1 read
The Red Sox have a new top of the rotation arm in Sonny Gray, who has put up a career ERA+ of 117 in 13 seasons. But it hasn’t always been pretty. The nadir of his career came in 2018, when Gray fell flat on his face in his lone full season with the Yankees. […]
3 months ago | 0 reads
Good morning and happy one of the drunkest days of the year to all who celebrate. Being from Venezuela, Carlos Narvaez probably does not celebrate Thanksgiving by spending the night at his hometown dive bar with his high school frenemies. But he will be celebrating in some capacity today, because it’s his birthday. Talk about […]
3 months ago | 5 reads
Chaim! The Red Sox made their first big move of the offseason today, as current CBO Craig Breslow made a deal with recently departed CBO Chaim Bloom, acquiring three-time All-Star and former Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray from the Cardinals in exchange for Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke (the #8 prospect in the system […]
3 months ago | 2 reads
Happy Tuesday, Red Sox Nation! With Thanksgiving around the corner, MLB’s offseason is defrosting with the turkeys. The Mets and Rangers made a one for one major league trade and the Mariners brought back Josh Naylor, but apart from that, there hasn’t been much movement. Maybe today’s the day we get a nice appetizer before […]
3 months ago | 1 read
Good morning! Prognostications about where Japanese stars will end up when they come to the big leagues are often filled with stereotypes and lazy assumptions. They all want to play for the Dodgers, they all want to be on the West Coast, they all want to be on a team with other Japanese players, etc. […]
3 months ago | 4 reads
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 another rotation-lengthening option, this oen with hometown roots. As my colleague Mike Carlucci said earlier […]
3 months ago | 0 reads