Last Week's Maildays

As I promised earlier, this is a much more diverse post.  I received a lot of smaller TCDB trade packages.  But yes, there are some Ceddanne Rafaela cards.

I promise the black theme was a coincidence.  But it is pretty cool.  

1.  Brayan Bello.  Bello has been the subject of some trade rumors lately.  I don't think Boston WANTS to trade him, but if it means bringing a big bat over (say: Ketel Marte), I could see him get moved.

2.  Tanner Houck.  Houck is recovering from Tommy John surgery.  It's going to be awhile before we see him again.

3.  Alex Bregman.  This is the Holiday image variation, the bat is striped like a candy cane.

4.  Alex Bregman.  After Boston lost out on both Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, the need to bring back Bregman is pretty big.

5.  Tyler O'Neill.  O'Neill has homered in six straight Opening Day games.

1.  Jose Iglesias.  Iglesias has put together a lengthy career.  He has had stints in Boston twice.  He came up with Boston and was second in the Rookie of the Year vote in 2013, though he was traded at the deadline to the Tigers.  He was back in 2021.  He has also played with the Reds, Orioles, Angels, Rockies, Mets and Padres.  

2.  Kyle Teel.  Teel was traded in the deal for Garrett Crochet.  There are rumors that Boston is interested in bringing him back.  We will see, but I doubt it will happen.

3.  Daniel Nava.  Nava hit a grand slam on the very first pitch he saw as a Major Leaguer. 

1.  John Schreiber.  I really liked Schreiber and was very disappointed when Boston traded him.  I'm just happy Topps finally made some cards of him with the Red Sox.

2.  Lucas Giolito.  Giolito had a nice stint with the Red Sox.  He was 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 games started.  He struck out 121 batters and walked 56 in 145 innings pitched.  Not bad for coming off of Tommy John surgery.

3.  Chris Martin.  Like Schreiber, Martin finally got a card released with the Red Sox.  It was his first card since 2020.  Martin received Cy Young points in 2023.

4.  David Ortiz.  As I have said recently, Ortiz is making another surge in my collection.  

5.  Triston Casas.  Right now it is looking like Casas will be the first-baseman in 2026.  

6.  Justin Slaten.  Slaten is one of the better Rule 5 picks in Red Sox history.  Probably second behind Garrett Whitlock.  

7.  Pedro Martinez.  Another Red Sox Hall of Famer who I have picked up a bunch of cards of lately.

1.  Don Baylor.  Baylor was a Silver Slugger winner for the Red Sox in 1986 when he was the team's designated hitter.  He also won two more for the Yankees.  He was the first manager for the Rockies.

2.  Fred Lynn.  I love this photo.  If Dale Murphy ever gets elected to the Hall of Fame, I think Lynn has to be considered.

3.  Jon Lester.  This card celebrates Lester's no-hitter against the Royals in 2008.  Lester will be up for the Hall of Fame next year.

4.  J.D. Drew.  This card celebrates Drew's All Star Game MVP award.  He is one of five Red Sox to win it, along with Carl Yastrzemski, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Jarren Duran.

5.  Jed Lowrie.  It's cool to see an insert card of a guy like Jed Lowrie.  Lowrie walked off the deciding game of the 2008 ALDS against the Angels by singling in Jason Bay in the bottom of the 9th off of Scot Shields.

6.  David Ortiz.

7.  Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Matsuzaka was fourth in the Rookie of the Year vote and fourth in the Cy Young vote in consecutive seasons for the Red Sox.  Unfortunately, his career was derailed by injuries after that.

8.  Clay Buchholz.  Buchholz is a pitcher I wish could have stayed healthy.  The years that he was good, he was VERY good.  From 2010 through 2013, he was 46-19 with a 3.15 ERA.  He had a ton of talent that he just could not seem to fully harness and stay healthy at the same time.

9.  David Ortiz.

10.  Rafael Devers.  The decision to trade the best slugger developed by the team since Mo Vaughn still looms large.  The Red Sox failed in signing the big free agent power hitters this week.  They need power badly.  

11.  Jacoby Ellsbury.  Ellsbury stole 241 bases in his career with the Red Sox.  He is third all-time in Red Sox history behind Harry Hooper (300) and Tris Speaker (267).

1.  Franklin Arias.  Arias is currently either the best or second-best prospect in the Red Sox system after the graduations of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell.  

2.  David Ortiz.

3.  Masataka Yoshida.  At this point Yoshida will be the team's designated hitter in 2026.

4.  Rafael Devers.

5.  Ceddanne Rafaela.  And we close things where we began today.