Bastards of Boston Baseball (Red Sox) · Red Sox Podcast

Ranger Suarez press conference reaction!

January 22, 2026·1 hr·3 clips

They argue that trading Brian Bayo for defense would undermine the kind of pitcher he is.

1. Bastards of Boston Baseball reacts to the Red Sox signing Ranger Suarez and the press conference around it. 2. Nick and Chris frame the discussion around Sam Kennedy and Craig Breslow, who matter because they are shaping the roster. 3. The episode asks whether Boston is building a run-prevention team or weakening its offense. 4. Breslow’s comments on pitching and defense lead the hosts to discuss the infield as a problem area. 5. They bring up the outfield errors from last season and contrast that with uncertainty at second base, third base, and shortstop. 6. Ranger Suarez is treated as part of a stronger rotation that also includes Crochet, Bayo, Oviado, and depth options. 7. The hosts argue that Boston’s bullpen with Chapman, Whitlock, and Slayton also looks competitive. 8. The episode compares the Red Sox to the Yankees, including Cody Bellinger’s five-year deal and New York’s decision to run it back. 9. Toronto, Baltimore, and Tampa Bay are discussed as division competitors with different strengths. 10. The Orioles are described as a team that could jump Boston if young players like Jackson Holliday and Basalo develop quickly. 11. One recurring point is that the Red Sox offense feels less dynamic than the lineups of past title teams. 12. The hosts compare this roster to the Manny Papi years, the 2013 team, and the 2018 group with JD Martinez. 13. Another memorable point is the claim that Boston may have to win more games like 3-1 rather than with power. 14. They note that Craig Breslow explicitly said the team has to play its game offensively and on the bases. 15. The conversation turns to possible trade targets, including Isaac Paredes, Brendan Donovan, Bryson Stott, and Nico Horner. 16. They reject several of those names because the fit does not solve both the offense and the defense at once. 17. The tone is conversational and argumentative, with Nick and Chris pushing each other through roster scenarios. 18. The format is a live back-and-forth centered on current Red Sox news, division comparisons, and trade speculation. 19. Fans following Red Sox roster building and AL East debates would get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners wanting a pure game recap or a short, light conversation may skip it.

As heard by us

A thoughtful Red Sox fit debate that starts with Ranger Suarez and keeps widening.

Ranger Suarez's Boston presser ends up being less about the presser itself and more about how the Red Sox want the roster to work. If the rotation is going to give up plenty of contact, the infield has to do its part, so the defense matters here more than any one signing.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Ranger Suarez's signing turns into a real Red Sox roster fit check.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Bastards of Boston Baseball (Red Sox)