[McAdam]: “If they miss out on Bichette, the Sox will be forced to make do from within. They could install Marcelo Mayer at third and form a platoon of Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton for second base”

33 comments

1. “The arrival of Bregman and Crochet, coupled with the influx of young talent, signaled that it was OK to trust the organization again. A return to the postseason, however brief, validated the whole approach.

   And now? Now, the Red Sox are right back to where they were a year ago, their trust strained if not entirely spent, with few pathways back.

   It’s impossible to feel sorry for them. The Sox were casual at best in their pursuit of alternatives earlier this offseason. They barely stirred when it came to Kyle Schwarber, and while many presumed he was always going to return to Philadelphia, the Red Sox, with their resources, could have given him something to think about. They did not.

   They made an offer on Pete Alonso, but reportedly never went beyond a three-year proposal, [a laughably underwhelming approach for a 30-year-old free agent in his prime with multiple teams interested.](https://archive.is/o/DvJSH/https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/12/five-quick-thoughts-on-pete-alonso-signing-with-red-sox-division-rival-sean-mcadam.html)

   If their laissez faire approach to other free agent sluggers signaled a confidence that Bregman would ultimately return to them, they learned otherwise, the hard way, late Saturday night.

   And it’s not like there are several alternatives for them a month out from the start of spring training. Ketel Marte is officially off the trade market and Bichette has a number of different suitors, including the Philadelphia Phillies.

   One could argue that the Phillies have chronically underachieved on the field in recent seasons, failing to get out of the Division Series in each of the last two seasons despite consecutive first-place finishes. Over the last four years, they’ve gone from losing in the World Series to losing in the NLCS to twice losing in the Division Series.

   But when they want or need a player, they usually get him. They made Schwarber a priority and re-signed him. And with new bench coach Don Mattingly, a known mentor to Bichette, they’re now considered the favorites to emerge as winners of these negotiations, too.

   If they miss out on Bichette, the Sox will be forced to make do from within. They could install Marcelo Mayer at third and form a platoon of Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton for second base, but both solutions are, to put it mildly, imperfect. Mayer, talented as he may be, hasn’t established himself and must prove he can stay on the field for an entire season. Gonzalez and Hamilton profile as role players now being asked to punch way above their weight.

   That doesn’t begin to address the lack of pop, or the yawning leadership void that Bregman’s departure has created.

   At the outset of the offseason, the Red Sox publicly acknowledged they needed additional power to not only compete in the division but to advance deeper in October. [They acquired Willson Contreras,](https://archive.is/o/DvJSH/https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/12/red-sox-trade-for-willson-contreras-adding-bat-to-lineup-in-deal-with-cardinals.html) but his production merely matches what they got out of Bregman a year ago. Offensively speaking, the Sox are back to ground zero.

   The Red Sox’ unwillingness to get uncomfortable in pursuit of another championship has relegated them to a sort of baseball middle ground — interesting and maybe even competitive, yes, but unable to take the extra step that would vault them to the next level.

   Worse, they’ve squandered the good will that they assiduously rebuilt a year ago, when for a brief moment in time, they convinced the fan base that they cared again.

   And, as usual, they have no one to blame but themselves.”

2. Disgusting

3. We should put Masa at 3rd, in the end he was our big FA signing of the last 5 years

4. *shudders*

   no offense to the guy, but i don’t think i want to see 120 games of david hamilton

5. Don’t tell me Campbell got shot into the sun, rather give him another chance then Hammy AGAIN for the fourth season in a row 

6. 

7. 4th place team if that’s the solution

8. Ew

9. I’d rather Romy 100% tbh or use Sogard and Eaton

10. More likely see more of Ceddanne at 2b.

11. I have seen the future and we’re going to trade for some rundown 2B/3B but only after the other team agrees to pay down a chunk of the salary. Because we’re a big market team.

12. Stop spending your money on this team until they start spending money on the product.

13. John Henry is a cheap bastard

14. Sogard, come on down

15. Yep. They’ve already lost my trust, as I don’t believe they’ll be able to bring in Bichette. It’s winning back trust at this point for me. 

16. That might be a last place in the division roster

17. You mean WHEN they miss out on Bichette

18. The fans aren’t frustrated that we are not signing up for bad contracts, they are frustrated that we refuse to pay market price while also getting rid of assets.

19. It’s going to happen. Bring in the lockout. At this point I’m done with this team until Henry is gone.

20. We’re officially the New York Knicks of baseball. Tourists keep up the ticket sales enough. No need to ever win anything. That’s where the analogy ends though: Knicks fans lack class of course …

21. I was a FO apologist to a degree, more so preaching patience because Bregman and Bichette were still out there and I was like why waste energy before one of them signs, complaining.

    All of that complaining was validated and now we’re essentially fucked. Everyone knows we need a right handed bat and infielder. We have zero leverage with teams and Bichette now.

    Very depressing.

22. So if Trevor Story gets injured again and misses significant time, what’s our plan? Romy *and* Hamilton playing every day?

23. I do not understand why they just won’t fucking go for it. They’re the Boston Red Sox. Spend the money, and if it doesn’t go well they’ll still print multiple fucking Brinks trucks worth of cash with their overpriced novelty stadium with overpriced fan experiences and insane overpriced TV deals.

    I can’t wait for them to do an about-face due to fan pressure now, over-pay for a shittier FA who doesn’t fit half as well as Bregman or Schwarber would have, then when it doesn’t work out they’ll turn around and say to the fans “seeeeeee?? That’s why we don’t want to spend!!”. Fucking dweebs.

    Despite their random spasms of accidental competence, this ownership group has been insufferable for almost two decades now. The amount of not giving a shit is palpable.

24. #FULL. THROTTLE.

25. That’s a pathetic stance. A big market team that can’t put a full starting roster on the field

26. God I have missed Pedey so much since 2018. Will the Sox ever have an All Star everyday Second basemen again? No more platoons, no more utility men playing everyday. 

27. If David Hamilton starts at second base once this year I’m fucking out. Getting my tattoo lazered off. Fuck Henry and all those rich c*nts at FSG.

28. It’s a damn shame we’re going to waste years of Crochet and Anthony entering their prime.

29. David Hamilton should not play a single game on a team that’s trying to compete for a World Series. Comical

30. Best enjoy the few years of Anthony we’ll get before they move him too

31. I’m not spending one cent on this team if they go cheap out on us again

32. Reduce payroll, raise ticket and concession prices… something is rotten in Boston.

33. FSG is not at all concerned about the fan base trusting them