It’s early in the hot stove season, yet it feels like we’re seeing the Red Sox pop up in the baseball news cycle almost every day as we head towards a winter of trades and free agent signings across Major League Baseball.

The past week-or-so, in particular, have been especially busy for Boston, with the franchise making a pair of trades on Tuesday, one of which was accompanied by a corresponding designation for assignment.

If your head has been spinning - don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s been a lot to keep track of.

With that said, I felt like it was a good time to give some snap reactions to everything that has happened so far, as a way for all of us to be on the same page about where we’re at with this team.

I’ll focus on the stuff that has actually tangibly happened first, and then I’ll hit on some rumor mill stuff.

Let’s start with one that caught me off guard. And we’ll go a little longer than a snap here, because I think the context is important here to understand why I was surprised (I know, breaking my own rules already).

RP Chris Murphy traded to White Sox for C Ronny Hernandez

This one was surprising for me because outside of Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, I felt like Murphy was Boston’s most reliable reliever in 2025.

At 27 years old, the left-handed reliever had his best season as a pro, sporting a 3.12 ERA across 23 outings while striking out 30 batters. After being selected by Boston in the sixth round of the 2019 draft, he cut his teeth while working through Boston’s minor league system, which culminated in 20 appearances at the major league level in 2023. While he wasn’t exactly a shut-down stud that season (4.91 ERA), you could see signs that the kid had great stuff, and was someone who could be a real contributor for the team moving forward.

Fast forward to spring training in 2024, and significant ligament damage forced the team to shut him down for the entire season. The damage resulted in Murphy undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of last year, derailing Murphy’s path of being a part of the Opening Day roster for the Red Sox in 2025.

After 18 appearances across three different levels of the minors in 2025, Murphy made his season debut for Boston on June 28. From there, I thought he was mostly nails.

NOT-SO-SNAP REACTION: For the team to move on from this guy after investing all this time and effort into getting him major-league ready, this feels like one they’re going to regret.

They must really like this Single-A prospect they’re getting in return from Chicago.

RP Luis Guerrero traded to Tampa Bay for IF Tristan Gray

SNAP REACTION: Meh.

I’m not losing sleep over the Red Sox moving off of Guerrero, but I hope they don’t think adding a guy like Gray to the infield solves any real holes they have at either first or third base.

Here’s what the team said about Gray in a statement on Monday:

“Gray, 29, played in 30 games for the Rays during 2025, batting .231 (18-for-78) with five doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI while making nine starts at second base, seven at shortstop, three at third base, and one at first base. The left-handed hitter also played in 72 games for Triple-A Charlotte, hitting .270 (67-for-248) with an .805 OPS. Originally selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has played in 47 career Major League games with the Rays (2023, 2025), Miami Marlins (2024), and Athletics (2024).”

Red Sox DFA Nathaniel Lowe to make room for Gray on 40-man roster

SNAP REACTION: A sign?

Does moving on from Lowe, who played a nice role for the team down the stretch run in 2025, indicate that there’s larger plans ahead for this team at first base?

We’ve all heard the Pete Alonso rumors at this point. Upgrading from some combination of Lowe/Triston Casas/Romy Gonzalez to Alonso in 2026 would be massive for Boston’s need for more consistent offense in the lineup.

Are they clearing out to bring in the big guy?

Red Sox Likely to tender contract to SP Tanner Houck

SNAP REACTION: Worth the risk

When he was right in 2024, he was among the best pitchers in all of baseball. And while 2025 saw the right-handed pitcher regress in an astonishing way before being shut down for the season with complications from a right flexor pronator strain, you have to see if you can get Houck back to being close to that 2024 version of himself again.

Even if it’s just a B+ version of the guy from ’24, that’s a valuable piece for the team on a lot of levels - rotation depth, a trade chip, whatever.

His flexor strain led to an August Tommy John surgery, which means we likely won’t see Houck in 2026. 2027 might seem like an eon away, but good on the Sox for giving themselves the opportunity to see what they have in Houck when he’s ready to return.

RP Brennan Bernardino traded to Colorado for IF/OF Braiden Ward

SNAP REACTION: I like it.

I know there’s a faction of the fanbase who loved Bernardino in a semi-ironic way. And while he had moments in 2025, he was mostly a liability when asked to take on a greater workload down the home stretch (save for a few moments here and there, which I’m sure the Bernie Mob will be quick to point out).

You move on from Bernardino, and you bring in a guy like Ward who seems like he has a Brock Holt-like skillset. I think guys like that are invaluable to have around, whether that’s on your 40-man or somewhere within your system.

RUMOR SNAP REACTIONS:

SKUBAL TRADE - Yes, please. Twice on Sundays.

DURAN TRADE - If the price is right, go for it.

ABREU TRADE - If the price is right, go for it. With that said, I’d rather move Duran.

CASAS TRADE - No reason to sell low right now, in my opinion.

ALONSO SIGNING - Yes, please. Twice on Sundays.

SCHWARBER SIGNING - Not as much as Alonso, but definitely in on this.

BREGMAN’S OPT OUT - If they don’t bring him back because they prioritized either or both of the two names listed above him, that’s fine by me.

Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.