∗ We’re into 2026 now and the clock is ticking for the Red Sox. So far this winter, they’ve upgraded their starting rotation and addressed the vacancy at first base.
But the additions of Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo and Willson Contreras aren’t enough — not if the Red Sox intend to keep pace with the rest of the division.
As currently constituted, the Red Sox are merely back to a net zero. If you swap out what’s expected from Contreras offensively, they’ve replicated Alex Bregman’s offensive contributions from a year ago, but haven’t gotten any better.
Now that Arizona’s Mike Hazen has said a trade involving Ketel Marte is pretty much off the table, it’s patently obvious that they need (at least) one more significant move to be considered true contenders. If it’s re-signing Bregman, that would mean Marcelo Mayer takes over at second base. If it means signing Bo Bichette, that would shift Mayer to third.
Either way, the Sox need to lengthen their lineup with a significant run-producing bat. Bregman also offers improved defense and a considerable off-field presence; Bichette is younger, puts the ball in play, and hits all kind of pitching.
One or the other has to get done. Otherwise, the Red Sox consign themselves to the middle of the pack in the American League and will have wasted a prime opportunity.
∗ Outside of the people who were in the room at the time of the incidents, no one knows for certain what happened with Stefon Diggs and Christian Barmore. Both are presumed innocent for now, which is as it should be.
But the Patriots face a tricky path here with both players. The team was intentional in adding “we support” Diggs in the statement that was released, while such a declaration was conspicuous by its absence for the one involving Barmore. Presumably, as both incidents are weeks (or months) old, the Patriots have more information about the evidence than the general public.
What’s clear is this: the all-too-familiar refrain from fans of “Why did she wait until now to report this?’ was both unfounded and ignorant. And it’s disrespectful to all victims of alleged domestic abuse to label these incidents ”a distraction," when, clearly, they’re far more than that.
∗ It has to be at least a little uncomfortable that Bruins GM Don Sweeney didn’t help get Morgan Geekie on the Team Canada roster for the Olympics. Geekie’s game isn’t perfect by any stretch — he doesn’t kill penalties and he’s not much of a defensive presence in his own zone.
But he managed 50 goals in the calendar year of 2025 and, at the time the roster was announced, he was second to only Nathan MacKinnon in goals this season. That should count for something.
∗ _One Battle After Another_ is a rollicking bit of moviemaking that will not seem anywhere close to its run time of 2:42.
∗ Maybe it’s because Drake Maye is only in his second season and fans want him to be rewarded for his stellar play, but I don’t ever recall this much interest in the voting for the NFL MVP around these parts.
It’s worth remembering that, great as he was, Tom Brady “only” won three over his 23 seasons while Aaron Rodgers has won four. And yet, any doubts about who was the better quarterback or who had the better career?
∗ And on the subject of awards: Jaylen Brown is having a fabulous season and his play is the primary reason the Celtics have remained in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title. But shouldn’t Brown be focused on something other than missing out on NBA Player of the Month for December?
∗ Could someone explain to me how it is that Adam Vinatieri, a finalist for Canton this year, is somehow not yet in the _Patriots_ Hall of Fame?
∗ The NHL’s Winter Classic has lost much of its original luster. The initial game in 2008 was played in Orchard Park, N.Y. and the scene resembled a snow globe. This year? It took place inside a domed stadium in Miami, not exactly synonymous with a winter wonderland.
∗ I’m proud to live in a state that makes its billionaires pay for (most of) their own new stadia. Contrast that with Kansas, which is inexplicably forking over about two-thirds of the cost for a new playpen for the Kansas City Chiefs, owned by one of the wealthiest families in America.
∗ Once, Canada could turn to Ken Dryden or Tony Esposito or Patrick Roy or Martin Brodeur to tend goal in international competition. Now, the birthplace of hockey is forced to choose between Jordan Binnington or Darcy Kuemper or Logan Thompson. How the mighty have fallen.
∗ When I want to hear a lengthy treatise on the ethical pitfalls surrounding college athletics, my first thought isn’t John Calipari. This is the same guy whose actions led to two Final Four appearances being vacated at two different schools.
If it’s all the same to you, coach, I’ll get my lectures about right and wrong elsewhere, thank you.
∗ These are (mostly) dark times for Bruins fans. But if you’ve watched any of the World Junior Championships, you can see the future: James Hagens and Will Zellers.
Help might even arrive sooner than expected, should the Bruins sign either or both after their respective college seasons are over.
∗ The quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff were, with one exception, completely uninteresting and not at all competitive — which parallels the sport itself at times, which routinely features too many mismatches and one-sided games.
∗ Warm thought for a cold weekend: pitchers and catchers are less than six weeks away from reporting to Fort Myers.