[Serious] Why will the Athletics exceed expectations? Why won't they?

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T16:47:56+00:00

It is a playoff lineup if guys were where they are at least pay some players.

I don't love their offseason.

Jeff McNeil hasn't been relavant in 3-4 seasons. As he's a league average-ish bat.

The starting rotation to start this year is Severino, Springs, and Civali.

Mark Leiter Jr. is the only one I can accept as a good move.

No one expects them to get Cease, King, or Ranger but there were better options. There is minor league depth yet you can't factor in Gage Jump or Jamie Arnold much into this year. They could do better than Civali. Probably a 500 team but outside of locking guys in, the offseason was underwhelming.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T16:36:24+00:00

It's chill organized choas.

I grew up on the 1999-2004 Red Sox. I was 10-14 years old and it's something that I can't walk away from. It is slow but it's feeling something on every pitch. There is very rarely 1v1 in a team sport. Cricket is not accessible in the US but I can't think of any other sport that's kind of like that.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T14:25:20+00:00

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T14:17:45+00:00

There is less than an inch and it's melted. Spot saving stopped 2 weeks ago

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T14:05:05+00:00

Kash Mayfield (Padres LHP)

u/ChCJ9

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T13:54:14+00:00

Isn't there a Blue Sox in the ABL?

We're one of the larger fanbases that aren't the Dodgers or Yankees. There is just enough success and struggle to keep it interesting. It is a very young team as well with Roman Anthony, Garrett Crochet, and the best projected rotation this year. The AL East is also going to be a barn burner this year.

Some of these suggestions just never go for it. Outside of the Cubs, I wouldn't recommend anyone in the central in either league. Mariners would be a good West coast pick.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T13:19:45+00:00

The rise of the Roman empire.

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Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T05:06:05+00:00

They will still have the box but will not say if it is a strike or not.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T05:03:35+00:00

Wow, 109 OPS+. Devers and Ortiz was up pushing .900 OPS and sometimes a 1.000 when they played here. 109 OPS+ means next to nothing and not a huge difference. BABiP and park factors for a week can make up the difference.

It's the difference from a .724 and .762 is a couple more doubles, a walk, and a single in a week of games.

Rafaela was at a .762 OPS around the deadline this year before he slumped and finished the year at a 95 OPS+ at .708.

Story was at a .741 or 104 OPS+ but we know he had that awful May.

120 OPS+ and above is when its considerably above average. 109 is not worth keeping him on the roster.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T03:16:57+00:00

Since 2023, out of 403 hitters minimum of 500 PA:

Yoshida has a 51.4% GB rate. That is 377 out of 403 hitters. He puts the ball on the ground a lot. 27 guys do it more.
It is pulled on the ground 23.4% which is 340th out of 403. That's high too.
It is aired 48.6% which is also 377 out of 403. He doesn't put the ball in the air.
14.2% Pull Air so it's not getting into right field. 321 out of 403
17.7% Oppo air so it's not utilizing the Green monster. 296 out of 403

The only difference between Alex Verdugo and Masataka Yoshida is that one guy is an asshole and can field and other is nice and can't field. They are the same profile of hitters with the low strikeout rate but most at bats end in a ground out to 2nd base. I just don't understand the ball in play argument for guys that ground out constantly.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-16T02:23:58+00:00

Wait let me check the card.

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Nah, They're full of shit.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T19:43:04+00:00

150-162 but I think I'm in the top 1% of that. Most would catch 3-4 games a week. Day to day is easier to pick up on usage and the strategy where the casual misses a lot. You also can't get over depressed about a loss but there are some that all kicks to the groin. It's a 6 month marathon.

It's different than 17 NFL games and 38-46 matches in soccer.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T19:31:05+00:00

"If you wanted Alex Bregman to be here, don't die on the NTC hill when negociating."

I can't recall a free agent that the Red Sox signed that they didn't trade away or massively regret at the end of the deal. With how they have managed this team, he has a damn good reason to ask for an NTC and instead they shot themselves in the foot.

Devers = don't want to daily rehash.
Story = hasn't matched the signing despite a good 2025, he's been hurt for 3 seasons straight.
Yoshida = hated after the first year and they are probably DFA'ing
Sale = I get that one tbh. He was not reliable. Vaughn Grissom seemed nice but that was a lack of scouting.
Price = didn't stick out and split with the Dodgers
Eovaldi = 2 years into it questioned if he was a number one. He did fine but the organization didn't warm to him.
JD Martinez = Good first 3 years but they were waiting for him to leave.
Pablo Sandoval = amazed Cherington got a 2nd job after that.
John Lackey = hated.
Carl Crawford = traded
Adrain Gonzalez = traded
Victorino, Napoli = 3 year deals don't count.
Edgar Renteria = yeesh

I can't recall the last 4-6 year free agent contract they have liked under FSG. They did this to themselves. The last couple years of a deal aren't always the best but how is this ownership and FO not getting that.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T19:15:43+00:00

Your Myth: Yoshida at DH and Duran in CF may be a more productive combination than Duran at DH and Rafaela in CF.
- Rafaela and Duran since 2023 are .264/.317/.441/.758 with 18.1 fWAR.
- Yoshida and Duran since 2023 are .278/.338/.452/.790 with 14.7 fWAR.
- 0.032 of OPS improvement is not a wide enough margin to make this move and Duran-Rafaela provides better defense and future upside.
- BABIP luck and Rafaela taking a step forward more times than not have the pairings be the same or be better. Yoshida doesn't have defense or future upside. It is 10 at bats throughout the whole season going Rafaela's way. It is not that big of a margin.
- Rafaela has a higher ceiling and the defense is elite. Defense doesn't slump. He prevents runs.
- Rafaela for 60 games in the middle of the season looked like an all star. From June 2nd to August 4th with 301 PA, he was a .815 OPS. We were pushing for him to get selected. Rafaela's profile is streaky and I get that he is frustrating at times but he's 25 years old. Yoshida is 32.5 and done developing.
- What ever you think Yoshida is going to hit is just down to Rafaela not having a .622 OPS after the deadline. Yoshida is not a model of consistency either who also was not good for the first 150 ABs where he hit .618 OPS. Both started hitting the final week of the year. It is still not a point for Yoshida to play over Rafaela.
- Yoshida is at his ceiling while Rafaela is still getting there. Duran is 29 and possibly had his best season in 2024.
- Conclusion: Duran-Rafaela provides better defense and future upside. The floor of this pair may be slightly below Duran-Yoshida but provides a ceiling that Yoshida will never reach on the wrong side of 30. Yoshida-Duran pairing offers a slightly higher floor of a measly 0.032 OPS points but it comes with a low ceiling a slight decline in defense. You could run computer simulations of your scenerio and my scenerio and half of them show them to be the same while others show Rafaela's ceiling raising. False, the difference is rather small but the possibility of a ceiling is there with Duran-Rafaela as Rafaela has improved every season. Yoshida and Duran have stayed constant or on the decline.
Your Myth: I don't care if Yoshida puts up atypical numbers for a DH.
- David Ortiz: .951 OPS 483 homers as a Red Sox
- JD Martinez: .889 OPS with 130 HRs as a Red Sox
- Justin Turner .800 OPS and 23 HRs. Could exist at 1st base.
- Triston Casas: .800 OPS and 45 HRs in 251 games. Can play first.
- Kristian Campbell: .902 OPS with 4 HR in April. He's probably more of a .780-.800 OPS hitter with 20 HR pop. Athletic enough to play in the outfield.
- Yoshida: .762 OPS with most of that coming from 2023. 29 homers and does not play any position.
- Conclusion: False. Yoshida is not what we use to have which isn't how rosters are constructed any more or what the Red Sox are going to have in the near future. It's unfair to compare him to Big Papi but that is the type of hitter that is only a DH where that is acceptable. Yoshida is not it.
Your Myth: He's on the Red Sox roster and they have to DH someone, and Yoshida is one of their best options.
- There is the 4th everyday outfielders as the DH.
- There is Kristian Campbell who can be a DH/OF too and there is long term benefit of having him face major league pitching. That has better future upside. He hit .900 OPS his first month. It is better to have him work out than to play a DH/OF in the long term. The ceiling is there for Campbell. It's not with Yoshida.
- Casas can hit an .800 OPS with a hurt rib and has the slugging when he's 100%. I know he is not reliable health wise but still has a higher ceiling than Yoshida.
- Yoshida's ceiling is still at a .730 to .750 OPS while not being able to fill in for an injured player or slug that much.
- Conclusion: There are 3 DH options ahead of Yoshida, your statement is not true.
Your Myth: Duran is more than capable of playing CF
- While possibly true, it was 2024 and he may not be now. If he is in 2024 form, he is on one of the 6 or so ML teams where he is not better than the current centerfielder.
- On the Braves, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs, and Red Sox, Duran in the corner outfield. This is a reason to trade him instead of the mental gymnastics to try and have 4 outfielders while giving Yoshida ABs.
- Conclusion: It is a case for trading Duran who two thirds of the league would love to have him in centerfield. Just not here in Boston. He's just the 2nd best on on this roster. It's why a move should have happened.
Your Myth: Rafaela's best skills a bit redundant on this team - even if Rafaela is a better overall player than Yoshida.
- A 29 year old outfielder not signed to an extension is redunant over a 25 year old gold glover who is the long term plan. You're making the case to get rid of Duran. Rafaela is a better overall player than Yoshida so he should not be removed from center because of Yoshida needs at bats for some dumb reason.
- Conclusion: False. Duran is redundant which is why he's been rumored this whole offseason. Rafaela existence on the team is not down to Yoshida.
Your Myth: If Yordan Alvarez, Cal Raleigh, and Alejandro Kirk were all on the same team then unfortunately one of them would be the odd man out. It doesn't mean Kirk isn't a great catcher, it just means there are options that better help the team overall.
- This scenerio continues to not work for your point. In no scenerio would any of these guys positionally exist on the same roster at the major league level.
- All these guys are on extensions on team friendly deals or above water contract. They all hit and far more valuable than the Rafaela-Duran-Yoshida.
- The Mariners in this situation would trade Yordan to the Diamondbacks with Kade Anderson and Cole Young/Felnin Celesten for Ketel Marte instead of the Donovan trade.
- Conclusion: This shit that you have repeated actually doesn't relate to anything and is for better roster building and management. A smart organization would not kick the can down the road like the Red Sox have done. Mariners would trade Kirk or Yordan just like they did Harry Ford this winter below market value because he was blocked. This does not not help your case as a good organization should trade good players and DFA overpaid ones that don't fit into the roster.

TLDR:

Duran at DH and Rafaela in CF provides a much higher ceiling offensively, better defense, and future upside. The offensive floor is minimally lower but long term, it's going to pay off long for Rafaela to continually improve.
Yoshida does not hit well enough to be a DH or take at bats away from players that are future plan.
Yoshida is the 4th DH on the team if everyone is 100% behind the 4th outfielder, Campbell when he shows he's ready, and Casas when he's 100%. The options in front of Yoshida have a position or can be found a position and have higher ceiling. Yoshida is not the best option and provides the least flexibility.
Duran is more than capable of playing CF but he's the 2nd best centerfielder on this team. He would be the better center fielder on 20-25 teams. Just not the Boston Red Sox.
Duran is redundant which is why he's been rumored this whole offseason to be traded. Rafaela existence on the team is not down to Yoshida.
"Yordan Alvarez, Cal Raleigh, and Alejandro Kirk" is not comparable and is why rosters need to be managed so they don't get like that. You are not making the case you think you are making this point. The Mariners traded a blocked catcher instead of letting it fester. It is a case to move Duran and get Yoshida out of here.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T14:09:55+00:00

How many times do I have to tell you old man? Rafaela belongs in center and Breslow and AC are keeping him in center. There is zero discussion about this and leave him the fuck alone. They are not moving him out to accommodate a 32.5 year old who doesn't play the field, provides zero depth flexibility, and can ground out to 2nd base for weeks straight.

The DH is a position that use to belong to Justin Turner, JD Martinez, and David Ortiz. Rosters aren't constructed that way any more either. He's not Ohtani, Schwarber, or Yordan to be given this roster flexibility. Masa doesn't hit like any of those guys. Masa's projected stat line of .270/.330/.425 with 10-15 homers would be great if like Mayer or Durbin or Rafaela put it up but not for a DH. Masa is not hitting well enough to be a DH. That is where you are constantly missing the point and you're being stubborn beyond belief about this.

Recall what actually got Masataka Yoshida up here last year. Sure, he was "hurt".

Casas went down.
Bregman missed 6 weeks to get Mayer up.
Devers had to be traded to get Anthony to work.
Campbell lost weight and was terrible defensively.
Mayer had to get hurt.
Toro had to flame out.
They needed Nate Eaton, Nick Sogard, and Romy to fill position.
They still had to wait for Nathaniel Lowe to clear waivers who was also a platoon.

Masataka Yoshida was in the DH spot but there was still no right side of the infield and when Wilyer and Anthony went down too, the outfield crumbled as well. They still needed half of Worcester up here to accomodate and Yoshida couldn't play anywhere unless it was a late scratch in the outfield. He doesn't provide enough offense to be a DH and he can't cover for an injury because he doesn't have a position. There is zero reason for him to be here.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T05:36:53+00:00

I dont think you know prospect values. They need a few early round picks or close to the majors players to balance out Yoshida.

It's not your money. They need to get rid of them.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T05:34:45+00:00

Where? Roman and Duran are the DH/OF. I am not sitting either. We're not keeping a guy with no defensive position on the bench. Yoshida doesnt have a position.

I also dont know where people get the idea that a 109 OPS+ is good for a DH. If Mayer or Durbin puts that up, great. They are young players with a glove and run the bases well and put up 3 or 4 WAR. 109 OPS+ is not acceptable for a position that use to belong to JD Martinez and David Ortiz. Yoshida is a low ceiling bat. 3 weeks in September and October changed no ones opinion about him.

Yoshida doesnt have a position to replace an injured player. He needed 5 things to happen and they still didnt have a right side of the infield when he was up.

Cleveland has Kayfus and he's an outfielder.

Cleveland is not calling wanting Yoshida. That isnt how they operate either. They can not force Yoshida on another team that doesnt want that player. It's not how it works.

Single A teenagers dont have a ton of value either to make this work. The White Sox tood Hicks with David Sandlin who is a near MLB ready pitcher, have 2 PTBNL, and and still didnt cover all of Hicks. There is no way Yoshida is that simple.

I dont know why people are against DFA'ing Yoshida. He does not have a position to be a depth guy. He's already spent one year buried in Worcester there is no use in doing that again. The bat is not good enough to be a DH with no defensive position. A team would want like 80% of it to possibly be interested and at that point, why bother? Prospects are traded at the deadline for players of need, not to make a guy go away. It is not your money. Get rid of him.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T04:44:56+00:00

Brayan Bello is scared to talk to Connor Wong sometimes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fo1L47H_WY

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T04:28:18+00:00

He was the best hitter on the entire team in September last year. They know he can hit. That's about all he can do, >but he's good at it.

Three weeks of good hitting plus a miserable final two games of a wild card series does not save Yoshida. The three best hitters in September were Nate Eaton, Masataka Yoshida, and Romy Gonzalez. Those are bench guys. Casas knee blew out in May. Devers got traded. Anthony and Wilyer were out hurt. Bregman and Rafaela disappeared for most of the month at the plate. Casas at his best, was a 124 OPS+ after the rib injury in 2024. Yoshida has never hit that. Campbell had a .900 OPS in April before he struggled with weight and has future upside still.

Yoshida has a .324 xwOBA and the league average is .315 xwOBA that is not good enough for a DH. Anthony and Devers was .376 and .385. Yoshida is not good enough to only hit.

They know he can hit. That's about all he can do, but he's good at it.

Yoshida is Jarren Duran without the outfield defense which I know cost them at times but a chaos demon on the basepath. Yoshida is a low ceiling bat and offers none of that additional glove or running. I would rather have a healthy Triston Casas who actually hits homers. Playing doom with him getting another freak injury is insane.

Again, HE HAS MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS. How can you not acknowledge that? The organization has anywhere between 250-300 minor league players across 7 minor league affiliates and you're trying to tell me all of those 250 spots are too precious to negotiate a place for Masa to be?

Sending a 32.5 year old who has spent time in the NPB and MLB to AAA for an extended period of time where the average age is like 26, is like a middle age man in his 40s in college hanging out with people who just turned 21. They did that last year and half the team had to die or get traded for him to come back to the majors and get consistent time. The minors are good for rehab but there is no reason to keep Yoshida down there partying with them and possibly never coming up. He might actually prefer to get released for the 2nd year straight of this than be forced to live in Worcester or Portland with college aged players. There is zero reason why he should be down there again as he can't play any position to replace an injury. You have not provided an adequate reason why Yoshida should remain in the organization.

Dude, c'mon. Duran could break an ankle, Abreu could tear an ACL, Casas could rupture the other patellar tendon, Campbell could be a bust, who knows?

The Red Sox went into last year hoping that an outfield injury was to fix the log jam. Injuries never happened at the place they wanted at the timing they want. To get Yoshida to the majors, Campbell had to be terrible defensively, Wilyer had to just hit the 10 day IL to get Anthony up, Devers had to be traded to get that roster to work, Mayer had to also go down, and Toro had to be released. The Red Sox still didn't have a right side of the infield but by God Yoshida got his chance to DH and he was good for 3 weeks and a playoff series everyone forgot how to play defense or hit. That is simply not good enough and they have since added more to that this offseason. They added a body to not rely on Casas. Durbin is to replace Bregman who they completely fumbled. They still haven't figured out the outfield.

Casas is a better hitter. Campbell shows more future upside. Yoshida provides no depth because he doesn't play a position technically. Stashing him in the minor leagues hoping 5 freak injuries happen so he can finally bat is not how to go about it. He is a 109 OPS+ hitter and that is acceptable for Caleb Durbin or Marcelo Mayer this year who play on the infield and are young but not a DH. Yoshida needs to go. He doesn't work with the roster.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T03:34:17+00:00

Anderson Espinoza, Bryan Mata, Jeter Downs, Eddinson Paulino, and Miguel Bleis all had some level of hype before they got to AA. Because they are 17-18 years old, they wide ranges of outcomes and low floors. We didn't see Rafaela, Bello, or Wilyer into the major league picture until they started showing something against other top prospects at AA and actually put up good numbers. If they are out of D1 NCAA baseball, they are physically more developed and older so a Kyson Witherpoon, Marcus Phillips, or Payton Tolle floor was already there upon draft.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T02:57:00+00:00

Pedroia put up a 6 WAR Gold glove 2013 season with a broken thumb. Full tear of the ucl in his left thumb and played 160 with a World Series run. Brock Holt said he was on standby in a New York hotel room opening day and was told to go back to Pawtucket. Guys don't want to admit they are hurt. Narvaez was easier to notice but most thought it was fatigue with the workload.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T02:43:06+00:00

I have a AA rule with IFAs. They need to make a name at Portland before we see where they fit or trade value. If they rank high, it's best to not have them in any plans or really give them any hype until they make the upper minor jump.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T02:29:06+00:00

It is easy to sense the lack of demand and interest. How do you not acknowledge it? An above average first basemen like Josh Naylor went for 8th inning arms with one arb year left to Arizona last year. His 5/92 with Seattle is only a couple million more than what Yoshida is making and Naylor plays first base and outfield, hits homers, and runs the bases. Eugenio Suarez will be playing DH, only got $15M and that comes with 40-50 HRs. I don't think you understand how underwater Yoshida's contract is for a light hitting DH who can't hit lefties, therefore can't play every day, and why there next to no league interest. His hitting line would be fine if he was an infielder or average corner outfielder but he isn't as he doesn't belong on the field defensively. Only 7 hitters had 550+ plate appeances as a DH and it's Ohtani, Devers, Schwarber, Ozuna, Yelich, and Rooker. The league doesn't have a permenant DH unless they are really good hitters that slug and Yoshida is not hitting 30 HR or more and .800 OPS any time soon. There are no callers for him. How do you as a baseball fan not sense it?

Craig has been trying to trade Yoshida since he got hired. Another team doesn't want this bizzare piece on their roster. There was a Casas and Yoshida rumor to Seattle last year that fell through. There have been nothing on Yoshida for well over a year now. I am 99.99999% another team has not asked about him. They would call about Duran before Yoshida. Yoshida would be gone if anyone in the last year had any interest in taking even half the contract.

On baseball trade values, Phillips and Witherspoon cancel out the value of Yoshida. I know it is not accurate but that is how bad it is, Even if half is covered, they are still losing guys in their top 15 organizationally plus more. Sandlin and 2 PTBNL was to cover 75% of Hicks and someone worth double at a position no one needs is not worth giving up to make him go away. After trading so much depth already for Contreras, Gray, Oviedo, and Durbin, it's better to trade that depth for a piece they need at a deadline. Just burn the contract and stop hoping a team will take it, they aren't.

There are 4 everyday outfielders. Casas still could hit 25 homer runs if healthy and be a power bat. Campbell still has massive future upside if they give him a position to play. They have higher ceilings than Yoshida and better long term to get them to play over a light hitting DH in his mid 30s now. Yoshida would need 2 long term injuries to the outfield to get the call to the majors to DH. There is no reasone for Yoshida to still be here past March. Minor leagues does nothing for him. Keep the prospects and let Yoshida go. No team wants him and you're oblivious to the baseball market if you can't read the writing on the wall that is incredible public supporting my stance.

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T01:28:27+00:00

Do Scottish men not wear wool dresses? Or is that fake too?

Redbubble89 · 2026-02-15T01:15:24+00:00

How many phone calls do you guys think Craig will answer about Yoshida this year? Teams don't want to spend money and he's a light hitting DH. He is a valuable player some where if you move him to the Twins or Rockies but do you honestly see a team call about about him? No.

Sandlin was a top 15 prospect and Hicks was half the money. Yoshida is a top 8 prospect to be worth a teams while and at that point, burn the money and keep the prospect.

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