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BUY OR SELL? With the #MLB trade deadline approaching and the team playing well, the question of becoming a buyer or seller is on the table. Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow joins!
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00:00And it is Craig Breslow, the Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox, who joins us this morning.
00:06Hey, Craig.
00:07Hey, how are you doing?
00:09Well, listen, we are all over you when the team is not playing well.
00:14So we need to be fair and balanced on this show.
00:18And you probably did not hear my lead this morning, but I offered you my full support going forward.
00:25This team is on a bit of a heater, Craig.
00:31But the players, the staff, those are the people that deserve the credit for just continuing to grind through every
00:39day.
00:41And, yeah, it's obviously been great to be on the stretch that we are right now.
00:45We also still have plenty of work to do.
00:48We've talked about this with you before.
00:50Have you been able to, if there is one, figure a reason out when it comes to why this team
00:57is so much better on the road?
01:01I wish I had a clear answer because if I did, we'd make sure that we either keep doing whatever
01:06makes us successful on the road at home or stop doing whatever is giving us struggles at home when we
01:11go on the road.
01:12And I think we want to be really careful not to create an answer that isn't the right one.
01:21So we're still trying to figure that out.
01:24I mean, my hope is that we've just never really gone on a consistent run where we've synced up the
01:32pitching, hitting, defense in the way that we have over the last two weeks or so.
01:38And if we're playing this well, it doesn't really matter where we're playing.
01:41But obviously our record indicates that there's something happening at home here that we haven't figured out quite yet.
01:46A couple worrisome moments last night, injury-wise.
01:49Any update this morning on, I'll go Wilson Contreras first?
01:55Yeah, we're still trying to get more information.
02:00And, you know, last night, obviously both he and Anthony Siegler were in pain and facing discomfort to the point
02:09that they couldn't continue in the games.
02:11I connected with both of them after the game.
02:13They saw our medical staff.
02:14And, you know, at this point, it's more of kind of a day-to-day type thing.
02:17We'll know a lot more when they report today, though.
02:20I know there's going to be more questions about Roman Anthony, but there was a report out that he was
02:25scheduled to see a hand specialist in Atlanta.
02:27I think that was Dr. Gary Lurie.
02:29Has he had that appointment?
02:31Is that still on the table?
02:34Yeah, so he actually did have that appointment.
02:38And Dr. Lurie kind of confirmed the diagnosis and treatment plans that our doctors had identified that Roman's been on.
02:48Unfortunately, this is just an injury that's taking longer than expected to heal.
02:54But by all accounts, it sounds like we're on the right track.
02:58Go ahead.
02:59Chad Tracy said that Roman Anthony is heading to Florida to get away from the madness.
03:07Some suggestion out there that the organization may be frustrated with him being out and about and that this is
03:15a wake-up call.
03:16Can you give us a little bit of the insight on that?
03:22Sure, and I'm glad that you asked me so that I can address this.
03:27Roman is in Florida to continue with his treatment.
03:30We're constantly trying to balance what is best for Roman with what is best for the 26 guys who are
03:36trying to get ready for a game.
03:38Unfortunately, the number of players on the IL has grown, but the size of the training room at Fenway Park
03:44has not.
03:45And we just kind of decided that, number one, it made sense for Roman to see another hand specialist in
03:52Atlanta.
03:52And then from there, continue with the rehab from Fort Myers, where we've got all of the resources and everything
04:00that we need.
04:00But the notion that this is somehow punitive or that we're trying to keep Roman from eating dinner is pretty
04:06ridiculous.
04:07All right, so you don't mind if he goes to Strega or Mama Mia's Cutlets or wherever.
04:14It doesn't matter to you guys.
04:17I do not care where he eats dinner.
04:20I care that he eats dinner and he continues to get stronger and we get him back on the field
04:25as soon as we can.
04:26Craig, we talked to Sam Kennedy a few weeks back and he talked about potentially a pivot and maybe being
04:33more of sellers come trade deadline.
04:36With the way you guys have been playing over the past couple of weeks, there's a chance that come all
04:40-star break,
04:41you might have your hands on that third wildcard spot or maybe even be a game away.
04:46Where are you when it comes to looking at the potential direction you want to go in for this team,
04:52especially come trade deadline?
04:54Are you looking now to be more of a buyer in the buyer's market?
04:59I'd say two things.
05:02One is that I am always going to be guided by doing what I think is best for the organization.
05:10And we should be able to make that decision with information that's kind of current and up-to-date.
05:17And we still have three and a half weeks before the trade deadline.
05:20And so we're getting information about our team and about where we stand our position every single day.
05:26That said, everybody in my position wants to be in a place where, you know, it's very easy to justify
05:33adding to the team.
05:34You take these jobs, you join professional sports because you want to win championships.
05:38So, you know, continuing to play well, you know, putting ourselves in a really good position here is exactly what
05:45we want.
05:45We always go back and forth on these things, so I'll try to ask it in a different way.
05:50If the deadline were today, would you, Craig Breslow, be a buyer or a seller?
05:57Uh, fortunately, I don't have to make that decision because it's not, uh, and the most important thing, um, outside
06:05of, of our games between now and, and the all-star break is preparing for the draft and making sure
06:10that we're able to add as much down to the organization.
06:12Um, how much of, we were talking about this earlier, so I'll ask it, how much of a factor is
06:19whether there is going to be a season or not next year, uh, when it comes to making that decision?
06:29Yeah, you know, I think we, we want to try and separate the two and say, you know, our expectations
06:35going into 26 were to build off of what we did, uh, last year and getting to the playoffs and
06:40trying to add, um, to, to be able to make, take the next step.
06:44And I will be the first person to acknowledge that thus far our play to date, um, has not been
06:49indicative of that.
06:50And, and we need to figure out why, and we need to make sure we get back on track.
06:55But, you know, I think we are, we are committed to, to winning and doing everything we possibly can in
07:012026, independent of, of what happens in 27.
07:05I think, you know, where it will become more interesting is because teams are thinking about players who are under
07:12control in, in 2027 and beyond how you want to value that year.
07:15And I think everybody's going to approach it a little bit differently.
07:18Going back to Roman, um, with that doctor's appointment, you said that confirmed what you guys already thought.
07:25And your treatment plan is surgery totally off the table for the rest of this season.
07:33So I have learned, uh, in my, my brief tenure here, never to speak in absolutes as it relates to
07:38medical situations.
07:40Um, but surgery is not currently part of the conversation.
07:44Um, and I don't, I don't even know what a surgeon would do if they were to approach this surgically.
07:50Um, you know, by all means, this is something that should get better with conservative care.
07:55It's just taken longer than we had thought.
07:58If Suarez is unable to go Saturday, does that mean Brian Bale gets the call up?
08:04I think we'll, we'll sit down with Trace and Bales and, and talk through what gives us the best chance
08:10of, you know, winning as many games as possible heading into the break while also being mindful of Brian's development
08:17in, in, uh, Worcester and doing everything we can to get him back on track.
08:22Um, so he'll be, he'll be part of the conversation, I'm sure.
08:26Um, but until we understand what's going on with Ranger, you know, it didn't make too much sense to get
08:30too far ahead of ourselves.
08:32We just want to make sure that we've got as many options lined up as we can.
08:35If he does come up, my recommendation, keep him away from the first inning.
08:40Craig, when, when you look at this, this team, especially from the offensive side, everybody talks about driveline and driveline
08:47and the direction that you guys parted ways with, with Kyle, who was kind of the face of driveline.
08:54What has been the biggest difference in your opinion, when you look at this offense, um, and why they've been
09:00successful over the past, you know, several weeks?
09:03Yeah, I guess like it's, it's hard for me to answer that question, uh, and, and kind of ignore the
09:08driveline.
09:09Driveline, driveline, uh, you know, thing here, just because I think it's important, um, to, to recognize that first of
09:16all, like we're not driveline where the Boston Red Sox and second, like what every team in baseball is doing
09:23is trying to, you know, take something really complicated, like hitting and break it down into smaller things that we
09:30can teach.
09:31We can talk about, we can get players to focus on, to try to make them better hitters.
09:36When you put all those pieces back together, that's a kind of a framework or a model that every team
09:41is using that players are, are going to, to, to find in the off season.
09:45We have to make sure that we can support our players separately.
09:48What is, you know, what is kind of turned over the last couple of weeks?
09:51Um, I would say there are a few things that we can point to.
09:54Uh, I think the biggest thing here is just generally making better swing decisions.
09:59Um, you know, I think in July, we've got probably a 10 or 11% walk rate, which is quite
10:04a bit higher than what it had been.
10:06So we're getting on base via the walk and, and, and chasing less, uh, and then doing some more damage,
10:11um, you know, getting guys to, to hit the ball out of the park, um, getting guys to, to hit
10:17doubles.
10:17Um, and particularly when, when there are runners on base, so, um, you know, multi home, uh, multi run home
10:23runs.
10:24Um, and then I think there's just been, uh, a contagious effect to that where, you know, somebody gets on
10:31base grinding out and on, uh, and at bat and the next guy up does the same thing.
10:35So we saw, you know, we saw it in Anaheim, we saw it with Schultz, uh, the first game of
10:39the series where the opposing starting pitchers got 70, 80 pitches heading into the fourth or fifth inning.
10:45And I think that's a, that's a hallmark of a really effective offense.
10:48How much of feel and going with your gut, uh, comes into play for a hitter when they're up at
10:54the plate?
10:56Yeah, I think, uh, I think there's a lot now.
10:58I've never, never was a good hitter at a, at a high level.
11:02Um, but, you know, I think so much of hitting is, is a reaction.
11:07It's feel, it's confidence that we need to make sure we're equipping our players with, um, with all of those
11:13things as much as, you know, expectations for what pitch they might see or what location.
11:19Um, you know, I think confidence is such an important part of, of hitting.
11:24Um, and that's why we see it act so streaky.
11:27Um, and, and, and so, you know, I think our hitting coaches are doing a great job of balancing, making
11:33sure players have the information to know what to expect when they step into the box, but also feeling prepared
11:38and confident and feeling like they can put together a really good at bat.
11:42Craig, what is your read of the situation with the Wilson Contreras looming suspension?
11:47I think a lot of fans feel like they're kind of in the dark about when and how that's actually
11:52going to be served.
11:54Yeah.
11:54Um, you know, I guess to some degree we are as well, um, you know, in that obviously, uh, on
12:00the, on the Nats side, those suspensions have been handed down with Eaton.
12:05Um, you know, he's served his over the last two days and we're still awaiting formal acknowledgement of, of where,
12:14um, MLB lands on this.
12:16So, uh, we don't know is, is the short answer.
12:19Um, and if this keeps getting pushed or if I don't know, somehow MLB forgets, uh, that's okay too.
12:25Have you been in, do you remember being in a situation where a suspension was handed down so long after
12:31the fact and like played out this way?
12:35Uh, I, I don't, um, that said, I've only been, uh, around a handful of suspensions.
12:41So I think my, my, uh, yeah, that's a total pool of information I have to draw from is pretty
12:46slim, but it does seem like, um, you know, it's, it's probably near time to, uh, to understand what we're
12:51facing here and just kind of be able to, to go out, have, uh, have Wilson serve the suspension and
12:56move on.
12:57He's, he's been accountable.
12:58He's taken responsibility.
13:00Uh, I think, you know, we'd, we'd like to just get this behind us.
13:03All right, Craig, as always, thanks for taking the time.
13:05Did you make it, did you make it to a Noah Kahn show yet this week?
13:10Uh, so actually I, I did, um, we have a bunch of our scouts in town, um, for, for the
13:15draft and they had a chance to, to watch a little bit of it.
13:19I popped up, um, and it, and it turns out when there's a concert going on, uh, it's nearly impossible
13:23to get work done in the offices at Fenway, uh, which is both a blessing and a curse.
13:27So even if I wasn't attending, um, you know, out and, and watching, I would have certainly heard.
13:32There you go.
13:33Uh-huh.
13:33A little nugget right there.
13:34Yeah.
13:35A bunch of scouts.
13:36So we thought you only had two.
13:38That was the reporting.
13:39It sounds like.
13:40I know.
13:40If you would have walked, yeah, if you would have walked through the offices or, you know, walk through the,
13:44the concert.
13:45Wait, what, who are you and what do you do?
13:47What, what is the scout?
13:49All right.
13:50Well, uh, we appreciate you taking the time.
13:52We will talk to you again soon.
13:53All right.
13:55Sounds good.
13:55Take care.
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