As we speak is among the extra vital days of the offseason, no matter whether or not the Sox make any trades or vital free agent signings. That’s as a result of it’s the ultimate day to finalize the 40-man roster. Whereas there was hypothesis that Tanner Houck, who could miss all of 2026 and is a free agent after 2027, can be non-tendered, a number of sources now report that the Crimson Sox don’t have any intention of doing so. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
It’s laborious to imagine that we’re even discussing the opportunity of non-tendering Houck when, final season, we had been questioning whether or not he may begin the All-Star Sport. However pitching may be humorous like that, as Rick Porcello, who gained a Cy Younger Award sandwiched in between two under league common seasons, can attest. Now Porcello is up for an additional honor, as he’s on the Corridor-of-Fame poll for the primary time. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Porcello has no shot of getting voted into Cooperstown, in fact. Dustin Pedroia doesn’t both (no less than, not this 12 months) however he’s again on the poll for the second 12 months, after he obtained 11.9% of the votes final 12 months. That’s properly wanting the 75% threshold required for induction, but it surely’s not implausible that his case might obtain extra help within the coming years. In the meantime, Manny Ramirez can be on the poll for the ultimate time this 12 months. Having solely obtained 34% of the vote final 12 months, the second-best right-handed hitter of his technology is unlikely to make the reduce. Right here’s a primer on how voting works. (MLB.com)
Even when they don’t make it to Cooperstown, Pedroia and Ramirez will without end be liked by Crimson Sox followers for what they did on the sphere. Living proof: they had been concerned in 3 of this author’s high 10 moments in baseball historical past. Really, should you depend Manny being within the different dugout throughout Pedro’s outstanding efficiency in Sport 5 of the 1999 ALDS, they had been concerned in 4 of them. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
However sufficient concerning the previous, it’s extra enjoyable to speak about who is likely to be on the 2026 Crimson Sox. How does Bo Bichette at third and Pete Alonso in the course of the lineup sound? (Conor Roche, Boston.com)
What is going to Roman Anthony’s Corridor of Fame case seem like someday? It’s approach too early to make that willpower, however in a number of methods he already seems like a star. (Thomas Harrigan, MLB.com)
