Best Bet 6/16/2025

Boston Red Sox @ Seattle Mariners(-1.5)

DK +123

FD +126

MLB Best Bet Season Record: 50-60

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Since 2019, the Boston Red Sox have an offensive fWAR of 119.8(15th), pitching fWAR of 84.4(15th), and a defensive fWAR of -60.6(23rd). Specifically in 2025 the fWARs are 11.9(8th), 11th(8.0) and 9.2(9th) respectively. However, with only a 2 and a half month sample, fWAR ends up weighted if you have a couple of exceptional players.

Defensively, Cedanne Rafaela and Carlos Narvaez are exceptional in the field so it's hiding the absolute travesties that are Jarren Duran and Kristian Campbell. Garret Crochet by himself is accounting for 2.7 fWAR of the 8.0 with only Aroldis Chapman posting another full win, which is embarrassing frankly for the franchise.

Offense at Fenway is manufactured by the Green Monster and other quirks, but the lineup was legitimate pre Bregman injury. so when you have a DH that has generated 2.1 fWAR without stepping on the field and has been the3rd best bat in the American League since April 1st , you trade him for the following.

Kyle Harrison

Jordan Hicks

And a pair of prospects that won't contribute anything. A team that has been nothing but mediocre just traded a player they signed in 2013 as a teenager for, frankly speaking, garbage. I'm sure Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello are fine, hardworking players that are good people. They are not good at baseball. Maybe Kyle Harrison and James Tibbs could be, but to trade Rafael Devers and only get one current big leaguer is malpractice.,

As of right now, the only two constants in these 7 seasons of mediocrity are Sam Kennedy and Alex Cora. There is not a single vestige of 2018 left, besides Alex Cora and Sam Kennedy. Alex Cora is therefore responsible for all of the terrible defense, terrible baserunning, and terrible bullpen management. He has dodged all blame regarding the Mookie trade, letting Xander walk, and now trading Rafael Devers. Craig Breslow wasn't putting Hernandez at short stop. Chaim Bloom was never saying to break Garret Whitlock and Tanner Houck. Alex Cora is who demanded Alex Bregman and then lied to Rafael Devers about Bregman playing 2nd. Alex Cora and Craig Breslow told Devers to burn his glove. He did, and he raked. When Triston Casas unfortunately went down with an injury for the 3rd year in a row (who could have seen it coming?????) Cora and Breslow, instead of assembling a competitive roster that could handle an injury prone player getting injured, demanded Devers play 1st, after telling him to throw away the glove, after telling him he's still the 3rd basemen, after giving him a 10 year $313,000,000. deal.

I really don't care what spin the former players try, this is embarrassing. I have no idea what Sam Kennedy tells John Henry about his baseball team but I cannot believe that the same guy who has treated Liverpool exceptionally well is okay with the state of his hometown baseball team. They just signed Florian Wirtz to a 150 million pound deal and has consistently spent money and let his soccer guys handle business.

Ultimately the difference is that Jurgen Klopp/Arne Slot and Richard Hughes are exceptional at what they do while Alex Cora and Sam Kennedy are inept and ineffectual. They have no plan, no direction, and think the fans are stupid.

I'm done. I will not waste any more time watching this team until Alex Cora is gone at bare minimum. Ideally it's all three of Alex Cora, Craig Breslow, and Sam Kennedy, and everybody else in the organization those 3 have ever hired. I will not buy tickets. I will not buy merchandise. It's done. The Boston Red Sox are an embarrassing organization. They will let all three of Campbell, Mayer, and Anthony walk or trade them for more garbage unless it is stripped down to the studs.

Anyways there will be best bets against this sorry team that can't generate offense at an acceptable level and needs 3 rookies to carry the lineup. Giolito will make the Mariners look like the 27 Yankees. Gilbert will make the offense look silly.

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