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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Aug 4, 2023 10:35:32 GMT -5
I am very interested to see what kind of jump Cespedes continues to make. He is being raved about not only within the organization, but also Baseball America (who typically undervalue Red Sox prospects, in my opinion). Me too! His hit tool and power are quite impressive. I went back to look at how many homers Xander hit in the DSL and it was 3. Excellent average though. Devers hit 3 and was promoted to the FCL (GCL). You never see a lot of homers down there. I understand why he won't be promoted to the states with all of these infielders but I believe he'd hold his own. I agree that Teel will be up to Salem(?) soon, but what about Zanetello? Like the direction they took with their drafting this year. Exciting talent!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jul 13, 2023 14:18:17 GMT -5
Dang I hope Roman Anthony is as good as the publications think, but you better slow down. Certainly seeing him just 3 times last year in the FCL does not make me an expert. But please slow down some. He made solid contact last year and hit singles. So, after 15 games he is now the next great thing? Man, as a BIG Red Sox fan, I hope so.
To me it is unbelievable he is being ranked this highly so quickly. If, and I mean a big IF, he is still producing even close to this at the end of September, OK.
I certainly hope he is the next big thing...but a few weeks doesn't make it so!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jun 5, 2023 17:34:03 GMT -5
Mike and the guys are the best! I'm happy to donate each year
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on May 14, 2023 13:24:25 GMT -5
Does anyone have any news on Mayer's being out of the line-up so long?
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on May 14, 2023 13:21:39 GMT -5
Rafaela has 2 outstanding tools (D and base running). His hit tool may not be ideal, but he has shown he has some pop. In my opinion, he will at least be able to hit .260 with an OBP of .310. No that isn't great but with everything he can bring, he is a quality player.
I'm all for them trying to get him more selective but don't take away his ability to "sting" the ball. With it heating up, Ceddanne may be more productive once again.
Many players have NO outstanding skills. This guy could be dynamic even with him doing some chasing!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on May 2, 2023 15:08:54 GMT -5
RIP Gordon Lightfoot (even though he was probably a Blue Jays fan) Dam he was great! Big loss!
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Mar 9, 2023 13:33:24 GMT -5
Any information on the schedule for minor league spring games?
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Feb 18, 2023 18:27:56 GMT -5
Boy are we ever....LUCKY. How may other organizations wouldn't trade positions with us? Since 2004 we have been blessed. Yes, we have had some bumps, but I'll take the last 18 years. Be patient. These owners are continuously battered. Why? I like Bloom's goal of consistent playoffs and being in the hunt.
I'm, personally, looking for a lot of our young talent maturing. I'm excited to see what Casas, Bello, and even Toshida bring. Over 85 wins is doable if the rotation is healthy.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 29, 2023 7:46:05 GMT -5
We would ALL sign-up for Yoshida to have those numbers in his 1st season.
He, definitely, is one player I'm excited about following. I'm starting to become, slightly, more optimistic and I have to tell myself "STOP".
Thank God Spring Training is almost upon us.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 27, 2023 7:13:26 GMT -5
Maybe I'm the only one on here who thought, Eric, you were a young whipper snapper! Lol. Love your stuff but am surprised and actually pleased. Quick resume: 1) First-generation sabermetrician. Defined as: you saw the first nationally published Bill James Baseball Abstract and said, "oh my God, somebody else does this!" 2) Hired off the internet by John Henry to be a baseball ops consultant for the Sox, 2005-2008. Laid off when management ordered all but one of the consultants to be let go, but got six months severance pay. 3) Subject of a 6-page profile in the 15th Anniversary Issue of ESPN the Magazine (5/13/13). 4) Current Chair of SABR's Science and Baseball Committee. All of these have interesting stories behind or alongside them.
Excellent, Eric. Love your input! My first game was during the Mets first season at the Polo Grounds when I was 12. Remember walking up the ramp and seeing the sea of green. One of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 26, 2023 15:39:42 GMT -5
Eric Van wrote: "I may have been seriously following Red Sox prospects longer than anyone else on the board. I first became smitten with the topic by reading the prospect pages in the Red Sox Yearbook starting in 1962" Eric, you are a little behind me on following Red Sox prospects, but immeasurably ahead of me in your statistical sophistication. I started reading the minor league averages (top 10 in hitting and pitching with a short list of about 5 leaders in major categories, as I recall) in The Sporting News in the early 1950's. I was very frustrated by the lack of information. I had to be satisfied with the annual publications of major league and minor league statitstics (I do not remember when I began buying those Almanacs). I have every printed issue of Baseball America (except 2 in 1989 that were lost). I began watching Red Sox teams in the Carolina League when Carl Yastrzemski played in Raleigh (Class B) in 1959. That's all pretty amazing. Yeah, it's hard to imagine that every prospect's OBP was entirely unknown until The Sporting News published the annual Guide with all the minor league stats, at the end of the season. I don't know what year I started buying it either (alog with the Register with everyone's annual and career stats), as i later bought everything back to 1962 used. But I have a whole story about waiting for the Guide to arrive so I could look up Bagwell's OBP at New Britain to find out how bad the trade was. My dad took me to see Ted Williams in 1960, but my first specific baseball memory is of my Dad and Grandpop turning off the TV in disgust in the 9th inning of a blowout loss and turning it back on 10 or 15 minutes later to discover that Jim Pagliaroni was up with the bases full and the Sox only trailing by 4. Whereupon he hit a grand slam and the Sox ended up winning. Yup, down 12-5 with 2 outs and a man on first in the bottom of the ninth, and they won. My first year as a fan, '62, a friend's dad took us to see the season-ending doubleheader. The Sox backup 1B, Don Gile, came into that day with 37 PA and an .000 / .081 / .001 line. He started both games so Pete Runnels could protect his batting title, and (although I wonder whether anyone knew it), he needed a hit to avoid surpassing Pirates' 1936 2B Hal Finney's futility record of of 0 for 35 with zero walks (still the mark for never reaching base).
He doubled in the first game and the crowd went crazy. In the second game he came up with a man on and 1 out in the ninth, with the score tied 1-1, and hit a huge walk-off bomb to LF. The crowd filtered out in stunned disbelief.
And Gile never played in MLB again. I know I researched whether he's the only guy to have ended his career with a walk-off homer, but I've forgotten whether he is ... but if he isn't, he's definitely the worst hitter to have done so. I tell these two stories for three reasons ... 1) To entertain the youngsters on the board. 2) Because you may well remember them! 3) Because they go a long way towards explaining why I'm so smitten with the game -- I got two early lessons that anything can happen.
Maybe I'm the only one on here who thought, Eric, you were a young whipper snapper! Lol. Love your stuff but am surprised and actually pleased.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 18, 2023 11:15:37 GMT -5
They've already shelled out hundreds of millions this year so "strict" seems to largely be a matter of perception. We all need to travel back in time, before the shift became a thing. This is going to be a very different game. Fly ball pitchers gain in value, that's if MLB's version of the baseball is in keeping with the stated desire to keep more of those in the ballpark. Groundball pitchers will have to deal with many more of those pitches finding gaps, so they'll lose some of their value. Feel free to critique this idea. It's my own understanding of what's gone down. Norm is right. The game is going to be quite different this year with no shift. Story at 2nd would have been even more important. Speedy left-handed hitters are especially going to have career years. His point about flyball pitchers is right on. But if you don't have a good defensive outfield, it won't matter. Very pleased on the Duvall signing. I see him in right field eventually. Kiki defense in center will become even more important. An outfield of Verdugo, Kiki, and Duvall from left to right will be above average. It won't compare to the Beni, Jackie, Mookie outfield, but it will be fine. I hope Toshiba plays left only in Fenway and only for about 30 to 40 games. He will be DHing a lot I would guess along with Turner.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 11, 2023 19:13:27 GMT -5
The Story situation really took the wind out of my sails. Very much was looking forward to a full season out of him. Such a talented player.
As someone who often sees the positive side of our beloved Sox, I see this year as an opportunity to develop our kids. Casas, Bello, Whitlock, and maybe Valdez and Rafaela may jump in and make us look fondly on the future.
This has been a difficult winter for us all. Hard to believe, but our staff may be our best bet.
Hoping Bloom doesn't do anything stupid and give up some of our best prospects in the hope we can be the last wildcard. Be patient!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 4, 2023 19:57:44 GMT -5
Don't you dare trade Casas, Bello, or Rafaela. Be patient and we will be back.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Jan 4, 2023 19:55:40 GMT -5
Thank God we woke up and got him extended. Slight overpay but really had to happen. Now sign Pollack or Brian Anderson as a right-handed hitting outfielder and play the kids. 2024 will be our year!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 27, 2022 20:01:12 GMT -5
I try, real hard, to see the positive. This Correa thing and those ridiculous 11 and 12 year contracts really got me thinking about we may have dodged a few bullets. Because of Devers age, I'm fine with giving him a 10-year contract with a little more than 30 mill a year, but it seems like suicide to sign anyone for those many years.
I know, I know you get the 1st 3 to 5 years of hopefully their best, but look at the potential of a Correa blowing up in your face early.
We know that most of those deals will turn into dead money over the last 5-years. I guess what I'm getting to, is it really worth it unless the positional player is 25 or 26? A pitcher is even worse when talking over 4 or 5 years. Mookie? Probably fine but there are so many examples that are terrible.
Bloom does confuse me but maybe he is smarter than I thought. At least, I have Masa to watch!!
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 27, 2022 18:55:20 GMT -5
Now lets sign Wacha or Kluber. Didn't think they wanted Nate back and want the extra picks
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 11, 2022 12:34:22 GMT -5
I've seen all of the players mentioned except Yorke and Bello. My personal favorite is Rafaela. His critiques have been all over the place because of his aggressiveness at the plate. The strides he has made year after year tells you a lot about his intellect and work ethic. Speed, great D in center, and YES power should be exciting everyone. I would absolutely hate seeing him part of a trade. I see him as part of our core moving forward strongly.
The 3 young Latin pitchers should intrigue everyone on here (Perales, Wikelmen, and Elmer). One or two of them could be keepers.
I know Whitlock has 2-years of service, but he should also be counted as our future core.
Hopefully we don't lose any of our draft capital going forward by signing anyone with a qualifying offer. This draft, where we are situated, should add to the core nicely.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 10, 2022 13:00:33 GMT -5
In my opinion it all went wrong when we got the return for Mookie, not getting at least one really good player is a huge miss. I'll actually defend not giving out 10+ year contracts to guys pushing 30 years old or not giving long term contracts to aging pitchers, but with that being said if thats your org philosophy than you better copy the Braves model of taking care of your homegrown guys way before the bill is due. THIS to me is our biggest fault. It's like no one is thinking ahead. Mookie should have been extended after his 2nd season...same with Devers. Certainly Bogie should been extended last spring, at the least. I have sat back and really admired how the Braves have gone about their business. The Rays are more on top of this strategy than we are. Really glad Whitlock was taken care of and if Bello has a decent season, I hope they get off their ass and extend him to a team friendly contract. Casas too! I've been definitely a Bloom backer, but it is really getting hard to continue. What a disaster the Xander handling was.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Dec 4, 2022 14:59:11 GMT -5
Totally would like my favorite player back and even though I usually don't want to handcuff the Sox, this decision has MANY ramifications. By not keeping a player and a person like Xander, we are messaging to our fans and the other players we are not as serious and all-in. Mookie was a travesty but this is a colossal mistake.
I hate these huge contracts, but we are going to look really bad if we don't pony up for a person and player like Xander. If it takes $200 mill, do it. Xander always keeps himself in shape. 7-years for 200 million would probably do it.
There has to be a time we bite the bullet. This is that time to give a message we are ALWAYS playing to win. I'm a Bloom fan, but he is making a huge mistake making us look like cheap-skates. Come on Chaim, put all your chips in NOW!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 29, 2022 15:08:48 GMT -5
Opportunity cost of signing a big money DH this year - can't sign the best free agent DH (who also pitches) next year If the Sox go over again this year, they will be loathe to sign a $45M-55M AAV contract for Ohtani given their fear of the penalties. SAVE YOUR BULLETS!!
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 29, 2022 15:04:53 GMT -5
At the end of the day Bloom isn’t going to over pay for outside FA. Abreu isnt worth 20 million for us because he isn’t going to help us win a WS. We’re not there yet. I think Bloom might over pay for Devers. Other than that he’s going to get good value guys. That sucks as a fan base because we’re RS fans. We want to see big names but if he can draft and develop then we will be in a situation that we can overpay for a short term FA to win. I don’t want to be strapped in long term deals to just try and compete when we should be focusing on drafting and developing and keeping our guys until we’re ready to compete year in and year out like the astros. They let Correra and Springer walk and won a WS because they draft and develop. I think Bloom can get us there but we’re still probably 3-4 years away from being in that situation. Why spend 25% of your available money on a 36 year old 1st baseman/DH when you have a young stud you’re hoping is the beginning of the future. Casas needs to be that guy so we can save money and spend elsewhere. I think right now the best approach is to let the teams blow their money and pick up the deals at the end. Just like we did with Story. We’re just not 1 or 2 players away yet so it makes no sense to go after big names and strap the team financially. Really could not be said better! We all should be wanting to build a team, an organization like what the Astros have put together. I'm over the top excited about the farm system again. Yes we had a crap year last year, but the prospects made me positive for the future. We MAY be able to get into the playoffs next year, but I believe we are still 2-years away from making a lot of noise. I know it is hard to be patient. I'd like to see us sign, my favorite player (Xander), but I'm content to let him head else where if it gets close to $200 mill. We HAVE TO sign Devers. Why the hell we ever let him get this far without extending him, I don't understand. Hopefully, if Mayers is the real deal, we go ahead and extend him quickly once he is in the majors and shows he is for real. Let's start thinking like the Atlanta Braves. They seem to have a very solid handle on how to figure their future costs quite well. Sign some guys who have several years ahead of themselves. Forget signing so may folks that have a year or two left. In my thinking, the Red Sox will "arise" in around the year 2025, and be on top for quite awhile. Believe in Bloom and stop being so impatient.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 15, 2022 14:56:53 GMT -5
This will probably never happen with Eovaldi getting a QO but I would love to see Senga + Rodon signed. An opinion I've been developing today. Rodon seems to carry some risk, but he's been pretty durable lately. He might end up being better than every other pitcher on the FA market this year and will cost less than Verlander/DeGrome. Everyone wonders HOW we can get back into contention quickly. In my opinion, if Eovaldi accepts, it becomes a little more difficult. Nate is OK. I would rather Bloom swing for the fences and sign DeGroom say for 3-years at $40 mill a year. Certainly, Sale and DeGroom being completely healthy for the whole year may be a stretch, but if they are 80% of the time, we are in the race. I would rather they sign Senga for 5-years than go with Nate. Definitely want Xander back if possible. Sign Conforto and Haniger, and call it a night. DO NOT trade the top 5 to 6 prospects! Want a difference maker and a "bridge" to our prospects, sign DeGroom.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Oct 27, 2022 13:47:01 GMT -5
We need, at least, 2 things for us be back in the race. One is a right fielder who is above average defensively and has some pop, but they especially need a #2 or #3 reliable starter. I like Rodon a lot. We will need to spend this winter, and why not give Carlos Rodon a 4-year contract
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steveofbradenton
Veteran
Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
Posts: 1,826
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Post by steveofbradenton on Oct 27, 2022 13:38:01 GMT -5
In my opinion, a Jarren Duran could really profit from the new rules and especially on the non-shift. Speed and being left-handed could be really special.
Also, a 2nd baseman with range (like Story) will now be in more demand.
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