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Post by scottysmalls on Sept 9, 2023 14:14:57 GMT -5
Duran is the worst (or right among the worst) defensive full time centerfielder in MLB. I don't know that he's really an acceptable solution unless he can take another step forward. Great in a corner though. He’s at 0 OAA, no? The argument that he’s less good than all other qualified centerfielders, and the argument that he’s a significant problem for the 2024 team on defense, are different arguments. If you think Rafaela is a high end fielder at any of the three up the middle positions, then you can decide whether you think Duran in CF or Urias/Valdez/Reyes/? at 2B is more of a problem for the team defense. In those terms, for me anyway, I’d just roll with Duran and fix second base, even if the bat might be inconsistent. OAA is defined as above the average outfielder, not above the average center fielder. Every other team plays a center fielder who is an above who is an above average outfielder.
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Post by Guidas on Sept 9, 2023 14:15:58 GMT -5
How was Duran at 2nd? Seems if he was average it would be a good move. It would waste his speed but if he is taking bad routes and has a weak arm I don`t see how it would hurt. He was average to slightly above. But this suggestion wrankles many on this board. Of course, if the org tries it and it works it will be hailed as Front Office Genius™.
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Post by wcsoxfan on Sept 9, 2023 14:29:15 GMT -5
It's been suggested many times before, and Duran had the 'potential' to be average (or slightly better) at 2B, but he hasn't played there since Low-A ball in 2018; a whole 20 games 5 years ago (he did play there in college as well).
So far he hasn't shown the ability to pickup new positions quickly. A move to 2B for Duran would be a 2025+ decision, when the need would likely no longer exist.
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Post by scottysmalls on Sept 9, 2023 14:31:42 GMT -5
Yeah I agree if the team thought Duran could be an average 2B defensively there’s a decent case for him to play there next season, but I think it’s really unlikely that is the case.
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Post by nonothing on Sept 9, 2023 15:54:04 GMT -5
I think even if it might be a good idea, the Kiké experiment would make them too risk averse to try it.
If it succeeded, maybe you get some kudos, but doing that again and failing a second time probably costs a job, and human nature makes taking that risk very difficult -- even if it would be a smart thing to do.
I don't know enough about Duran's D at 2B to have an opinion regarding whether it would be smart. But I suspect the Sox would be hesitant to try it given the poor outcome of the Kiké experiment.
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Post by incandenza on Sept 10, 2023 9:29:38 GMT -5
Everyone here agrees they need better defense next year, Verdugo has been their best defensive player this year, and yet he is the most popular name to throw out as trade bait. It's a little mystifying.
I don't think they actually need to trade anybody, but if they do Duran seems like the best candidate, since he probably has the most trade value, is a somewhat redundant lefty, and he does not help them solve their issues on defense. The big caveat is that I really don't know how he's seen around the league - is this season regarded as a flash in the pan? Do teams believe the defense can be adequate? Would there be concern about the toe injury compromising his one elite skill?
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Sept 10, 2023 9:39:16 GMT -5
Everyone here agrees they need better defense next year, Verdugo has been their best defensive player this year, and yet he is the most popular name to throw out as trade bait. It's a little mystifying. I don't think they actually need to trade anybody, but if they do Duran seems like the best candidate, since he probably has the most trade value, is a somewhat redundant lefty, and he does not help them solve their issues on defense. The big caveat is that I really don't know how he's seen around the league - is this season regarded as a flash in the pan? Do teams believe the defense can be adequate? Would there be concern about the toe injury compromising his one elite skill? Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go.
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Post by scottysmalls on Sept 10, 2023 9:49:12 GMT -5
Everyone here agrees they need better defense next year, Verdugo has been their best defensive player this year, and yet he is the most popular name to throw out as trade bait. It's a little mystifying. I don't think they actually need to trade anybody, but if they do Duran seems like the best candidate, since he probably has the most trade value, is a somewhat redundant lefty, and he does not help them solve their issues on defense. The big caveat is that I really don't know how he's seen around the league - is this season regarded as a flash in the pan? Do teams believe the defense can be adequate? Would there be concern about the toe injury compromising his one elite skill? Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go. One thing they could get for Verdugo is 3 WAR playing right field. Somehow the value of a season’s worth of playing is never factored in when people say they are gonna lose guys for nothing
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Post by dcsoxfan15 on Sept 10, 2023 9:51:25 GMT -5
Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go. One thing they could get for Verdugo is 3 WAR playing right field. Somehow the value of a season’s worth of playing is never factored in when people say they are gonna lose guys for nothing I think a lot of the talk around Verdugo is also kind of in the light from the vibes around how the team views him. He doesn't seem to be Chaim's favorite with some of his shenanigans, and it just feels likely that he's getting shopped this off-season, like he was at the deadline.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Sept 10, 2023 9:52:13 GMT -5
Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go. One thing they could get for Verdugo is 3 WAR playing right field. Somehow the value of a season’s worth of playing is never factored in when people say they are gonna lose guys for nothing Oh, trust me, I have made that argument before.
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Post by incandenza on Sept 10, 2023 10:22:37 GMT -5
Everyone here agrees they need better defense next year, Verdugo has been their best defensive player this year, and yet he is the most popular name to throw out as trade bait. It's a little mystifying. I don't think they actually need to trade anybody, but if they do Duran seems like the best candidate, since he probably has the most trade value, is a somewhat redundant lefty, and he does not help them solve their issues on defense. The big caveat is that I really don't know how he's seen around the league - is this season regarded as a flash in the pan? Do teams believe the defense can be adequate? Would there be concern about the toe injury compromising his one elite skill? Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go. The lack of long-term commitment cuts more the other way, I would think. Suppose Verdugo weren't on the team and they had a hole in RF that people were talking about filling with an unproven rookie in Abreu or an old free agent like Duvall. And a 27 year old Verdugo were out there and available on a 1/10 deal (about what he should get in arb). Wouldn't that be almost a no-brainer of an addition to make? Yes, that means he should also have some trade value, but not that much, since it's only one year of control.
Plus if he has another 2.5-3 WAR season next year he'd be a QO candidate with the potential to bring in an extra draft pick.
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manfred
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Post by manfred on Sept 10, 2023 10:27:03 GMT -5
Part of the reason Verdugo gets batted around is his contract status. How much do you want to pay him after next year? Or, more to the point, if they are not going to sign him to a good contract, then they should get something for him. And he has value. It isn’t a slam. It is a calculation. But your scenario is a valid one, obviously, too. Broadly, I think most folks view OF as a little bit of a surplus, so someone can (but not necessarily must) go. The lack of long-term commitment cuts more the other way, I would think. Suppose Verdugo weren't on the team and they had a hole in RF that people were talking about filling with an unproven rookie in Abreu or an old free agent like Duvall. And a 27 year old Verdugo were out there and available on a 1/10 deal (about what he should get in arb). Wouldn't that be almost a no-brainer of an addition to make? Yes, that means he should also have some trade value, but not that much, since it's only one year of control.
Plus if he has another 2.5-3 WAR season next year he'd be a QO candidate with the potential to bring in an extra draft pick.
That’s all fine, too. I think the team has options.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Sept 10, 2023 22:31:02 GMT -5
Everyone here agrees they need better defense next year, Verdugo has been their best defensive player this year, and yet he is the most popular name to throw out as trade bait. It's a little mystifying. I don't think they actually need to trade anybody, but if they do Duran seems like the best candidate, since he probably has the most trade value, is a somewhat redundant lefty, and he does not help them solve their issues on defense. The big caveat is that I really don't know how he's seen around the league - is this season regarded as a flash in the pan? Do teams believe the defense can be adequate? Would there be concern about the toe injury compromising his one elite skill? I dont think it's that mystifying. Hes already been benched twice for non performance issues. He has 1 year left and Bloom understandably has no inclination to extend him. Yes I get your point about him being a QO and I also agree that hes been good on defense for a team that needs defense. But Duvall is a good defender, misplaced in CF, but I suspect he'd do fine as a RF, and I think Abreu should be able to handle RF as well. I dont find Duran as redundant as others do. He possesses an athleticism and speed that the Sox simply dont have. Without him the Sox are pretty much station to station, among the slowest teams in the league. Duran gives them an electricity they lack. He would be better off in LF, and playing half his games at Fenway doesn't really bother me. I dont anticipate that Verdugo gets them a lot by himself although maybe there's a team with a starting pitcher one year away from free agency who needs Verdugo more, or maybe they package Vereugo with a prospect or two to get pitching help. I suspect Verdugo will be heavily shopped this winter.
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rhswanzey
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Post by rhswanzey on Sept 10, 2023 22:38:35 GMT -5
Duvall isn’t coming off a season ending wrist surgery this year. When we collectively talk about him being here next year, I wonder if his current contract is clouding our assumptions about what his next contract looks like.
He can probably get 2-3 years, not one. He can probably top 7m AAV. The market is thin on bats. So he can probably top both term and AAV.
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Post by incandenza on Sept 10, 2023 22:49:43 GMT -5
Are people aware that the Red Sox are 14th in the majors by wRC+? Only 103. That's really not good enough.
It's kinda weird, most offseasons there's a chorus of "we need to add a middle-of-the-order slugger." This year the majority view seems to be "ehh, let's let one or two of our best hitters walk as free agents and trade another of our best position players away while we're at it." No one's even explaining what trade return they should get - it's just, like, let's trade one of our WAR leaders who's on arb salary for the heck of it!
And since Verdugo only has one year of control, only a team that aims to compete in 2024 is going to trade for him; but then why would a team like that give up anything useful at the major league level? The team that just has so much pitching they don't know what to do with it does not exist.
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Post by terriblehondo on Sept 11, 2023 5:21:45 GMT -5
As far as Duran he made great strides coming into this year. He made all these strides in last years off season. This year it will be all rehab in the off season. Will he come back healthy because it is his speed that makes him? Will he back slide defensively if he cannot keep up with the program that helped him get better? Was he just a flash in the pan. I don't see how he would be trade bait with how risk adverse most GM's seem today.
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Post by nonothing on Sept 11, 2023 7:25:29 GMT -5
It is cool we all debate which LH OF they should trade, but I think the front office has to be more creative than picking the guy they want to trade and seeing what pitcher that will net.
They need to be open to trading *any* of the LH OF for SP. If the SP they could get for one is better than the SP they could get for another, they need to decide if the difference is worth it -- and not every team will value Yoshida, Duran, Verdugo and Abreu equally.
So the Sox need to find out from every team who they value enough to get us an SP we value and then work a deal from there. I don't think that we need to say who we are shopping. The whole league knows we have 4 of these guys. Once we get a deal in place to re-sign Duvall for 1 or 2 yrs (which we almost certainly will -- and I don't think given age and injury history that other teams without a Fenway Park to hit in will go past us and offer 3, though could be wrong), plus we have Refsnyder and Rafaela -- I think it will be more than obvious we have surplus OF, espcially LH hitters others need, to trade for pitching.
Teams will tell us for who they want. I am not for just trading a guy in a vacuum, but if Yoshida or Duran or Verdugo or Abreu net us one of the Indians or Mariners or another teams' solid controllable arm... well I think we will be and should be open to dealing any of them. Abreu and Rafaela simply make it possible for us to consider Verdugo as part of the group we could afford to trade vs untouchable (despite critics) due to his defensive value.
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Post by ematz1423 on Sept 11, 2023 7:42:37 GMT -5
It is cool we all debate which LH OF they should trade, but I think the front office has to be more creative than picking the guy they want to trade and seeing what pitcher that will net. They need to be open to trading *any* of the LH OF for SP. If the SP they could get for one is better than the SP they could get for another, they need to decide if the difference is worth it -- and not every team will value Yoshida, Duran, Verdugo and Abreu equally. So the Sox need to find out from every team who they value enough to get us an SP we value and then work a deal from there. I don't think that we need to say who we are shopping. The whole league knows we have 4 of these guys. Once we get a deal in place to re-sign Duvall for 1 or 2 yrs (which we almost certainly will -- and I don't think given age and injury history that other teams without a Fenway Park to hit in will go past us and offer 3, though could be wrong), plus we have Refsnyder and Rafaela -- I think it will be more than obvious we have surplus OF, espcially LH hitters others need, to trade for pitching. Teams will tell us for who they want. I am not for just trading a guy in a vacuum, but if Yoshida or Duran or Verdugo or Abreu net us one of the Indians or Mariners or another teams' solid controllable arm... well I think we will be and should be open to dealing any of them. Abreu and Rafaela simply make it possible for us to consider Verdugo as part of the group we could afford to trade vs untouchable (despite critics) due to his defensive value. The problem is none of them are likely to fetch any sort of decent SP without a big package of prospects going back with it. So it's not really as easy as just saying which of Yoshida/Duran/Verdugo/Abreu will fetch them the best SP. In all honesty the best bet might be to try and trade one of them for a comparable RHH OFer. He's not even close to a perfect fit but could Verdugo bring back Tyler O'Neill+ a more from the Cards? Would that even be worth it? Maybe Verdugo and something for O'Neill and Edman? Edman fixes the 2nd base issue and O'Neill adds a RHH OFer who is decent. Like I said not a perfect fit necessarily but just trying to spitball here. I've been saying for the previous couple offseasons that if the Sox want to bolster this roster enough to make a real run at the division/WS competitor the front office is going to need to get creative with trading. I'd say it's possibly even more so the case this offseason at least in terms of the lineup. On paper there aren't really any FAs that are going to bolster the lineup all that much if at all outside of Ohtani. To fix the pitching they can flex their financial might and sign some, that's not the case as far as I can see in this FA for hitters.
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Sept 11, 2023 8:49:37 GMT -5
It is cool we all debate which LH OF they should trade, but I think the front office has to be more creative than picking the guy they want to trade and seeing what pitcher that will net. They need to be open to trading *any* of the LH OF for SP. If the SP they could get for one is better than the SP they could get for another, they need to decide if the difference is worth it -- and not every team will value Yoshida, Duran, Verdugo and Abreu equally. [...] This is an important point. Too many people talk about guys they want to trade like they are shirts you no longer like and you want to give them away our sell them online. They stop liking a guy and say, "let's trade him." The question is, "how can we deal from our surplus of X to solve out shortage of Y?"
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Post by nonothing on Sept 11, 2023 10:51:02 GMT -5
It is cool we all debate which LH OF they should trade, but I think the front office has to be more creative than picking the guy they want to trade and seeing what pitcher that will net. They need to be open to trading *any* of the LH OF for SP. If the SP they could get for one is better than the SP they could get for another, they need to decide if the difference is worth it -- and not every team will value Yoshida, Duran, Verdugo and Abreu equally. So the Sox need to find out from every team who they value enough to get us an SP we value and then work a deal from there. I don't think that we need to say who we are shopping. The whole league knows we have 4 of these guys. Once we get a deal in place to re-sign Duvall for 1 or 2 yrs (which we almost certainly will -- and I don't think given age and injury history that other teams without a Fenway Park to hit in will go past us and offer 3, though could be wrong), plus we have Refsnyder and Rafaela -- I think it will be more than obvious we have surplus OF, espcially LH hitters others need, to trade for pitching. Teams will tell us for who they want. I am not for just trading a guy in a vacuum, but if Yoshida or Duran or Verdugo or Abreu net us one of the Indians or Mariners or another teams' solid controllable arm... well I think we will be and should be open to dealing any of them. Abreu and Rafaela simply make it possible for us to consider Verdugo as part of the group we could afford to trade vs untouchable (despite critics) due to his defensive value. The problem is none of them are likely to fetch any sort of decent SP without a big package of prospects going back with it. So it's not really as easy as just saying which of Yoshida/Duran/Verdugo/Abreu will fetch them the best SP. In all honesty the best bet might be to try and trade one of them for a comparable RHH OFer. He's not even close to a perfect fit but could Verdugo bring back Tyler O'Neill+ a more from the Cards? Would that even be worth it? Maybe Verdugo and something for O'Neill and Edman? Edman fixes the 2nd base issue and O'Neill adds a RHH OFer who is decent. Like I said not a perfect fit necessarily but just trying to spitball here. I've been saying for the previous couple offseasons that if the Sox want to bolster this roster enough to make a real run at the division/WS competitor the front office is going to need to get creative with trading. I'd say it's possibly even more so the case this offseason at least in terms of the lineup. On paper there aren't really any FAs that are going to bolster the lineup all that much if at all outside of Ohtani. To fix the pitching they can flex their financial might and sign some, that's not the case as far as I can see in this FA for hitters. Agree prospects might be part of a deal, but honestly I think 5 yrs of Duran is worth a lot to a team with OFs that can't hit. He is an average defender -- average defense for a potential .300 hitter who can hit 15 HR/yr, steal bases and generally wreak havoc with his speed -- that's worth a lot at a prearb rate. His production over a full healthy season is probably worth $15M/yr on FA market -- still >$10M/yr probability adjusted for potential sub-par performance and/or injuries. Regardless, whatever prospects need to be attached -- if it isn't Teel, Mayer, Rafaela or Anthony (our LT up the middle + younger power bat to complement core -- or probably Gonzalez), we should attach what is needed for the best SP upgrades we can get. Also, signing FA pitchers is a huge problem because of the length of contracts. It isn't the AAV. It is the length of the dollars, and almost all of those contracts go very badly. Sweet spot is a Mongomery type guy at $100-120M over 5 yrs. Worth $20M/yr and likely to give you at least 3 good seasons in the 5. $200M contracts for pitchers are just bad ideas unless it is an absolute superstar (Cole, Verlander and Scherzer in their primes). Otherwise, you end up with a David Price situation. Even though he helped them win a WS -- he ate up too much payroll for not enough production most of the time to the point where... well, we all know. So respectfully prefer we sign a Montgomery type and then trade for a controllable starter using MLB player and prospect capital. Also -- Crawford seems left off the SP convo frequently. He is a legit 5, if not better for a playoff team (who pitches from pen in playoffs). He needs defense behind him, but he is likely a Wakefield-type guy who takes the ball every 5 days and does his job for less than absurd amounts of $ (albeit only 5 IP per game, which they need to try to get to 6IP next year). Bello and Crawford are probably both rotation locks next year. Sale and Houck would probably both be better in the pen, but one will start and both likely at times due to injuries. They need 2 more solid SPs, and then they would have 6 who could do it, with Whitlock, Murphy, Pivetta and others in the pen who can pitch bulk innings fron time to time (but hopefully rarely over 3IP). The biggest problem is finding a #1. Bello is 1/2, probably not really a #1 yet next year. Is Yamamoto a 1/2 to pair with him? If so -- Yamamoto, Bello, Montgomery, Sale, Crawford probably makes for a competitive team with Houck and others in pen but stretched out and maybe another inexpensive veteran who tries to make the club in camp. No doubt they need to get more high end pitching depth in future and hope they go for high end arms (pref college) in the draft next year. It is time, and they can afford a year off from MIs.
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Post by dcsoxfan15 on Sept 11, 2023 11:41:01 GMT -5
I agree that in a market that has nearly exclusively starting pitching, it's time to throw cash at some top of the rotation talent, and trade to reinforce the lineup. We need a good young right fielder who can hit from the right and play good defense. Time to call the Padres and get Tatis.
I am kidding, but this is fun to dream about
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Post by ematz1423 on Sept 11, 2023 11:48:43 GMT -5
I agree that in a market that has nearly exclusively starting pitching, it's time to throw cash at some top of the rotation talent, and trade to reinforce the lineup. We need a good young right fielder who can hit from the right and play good defense. Time to call the Padres and get Tatis. I am kidding, but this is fun to dream about The only fly in the ointment here is if you look at Fangraphs overall def #s for RFs only three are in the positive this season. Tatis, Adolis Garcia and our own Alex Verdugo. I would guess Garcia and Tatis aren't going anywhere either. I'm with the thought that the Sox could use a RHH OFer but the type you speak of don't really grow on trees. It's going to be difficult to improve on Verdugo next season, so I'm starting to lean towards just keeping him and playing it out with him.
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Post by dcsoxfan15 on Sept 11, 2023 11:54:51 GMT -5
I agree that in a market that has nearly exclusively starting pitching, it's time to throw cash at some top of the rotation talent, and trade to reinforce the lineup. We need a good young right fielder who can hit from the right and play good defense. Time to call the Padres and get Tatis. I am kidding, but this is fun to dream about The only fly in the ointment here is if you look at Fangraphs overall def #s for RFs only three are in the positive this season. Tatis, Adolis Garcia and our own Alex Verdugo. I would guess Garcia and Tatis aren't going anywhere either. I'm with the thought that the Sox could use a RHH OFer but the type you speak of don't really grow on trees. It's going to be difficult to improve on Verdugo next season, so I'm starting to lean towards just keeping him and playing it out with him. Yeah, that's a tough archetype, especially in Fenway's right field for half the games. We clearly need some right handed pop though, and I'm not sure where to get it. Glut of left handed outfielders and I'm not ready to rely on just Story, Urias, and Rafaela for the right handed hitting. Just typing that made me feel queasy.
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Post by ematz1423 on Sept 11, 2023 12:34:09 GMT -5
The only fly in the ointment here is if you look at Fangraphs overall def #s for RFs only three are in the positive this season. Tatis, Adolis Garcia and our own Alex Verdugo. I would guess Garcia and Tatis aren't going anywhere either. I'm with the thought that the Sox could use a RHH OFer but the type you speak of don't really grow on trees. It's going to be difficult to improve on Verdugo next season, so I'm starting to lean towards just keeping him and playing it out with him. Yeah, that's a tough archetype, especially in Fenway's right field for half the games. We clearly need some right handed pop though, and I'm not sure where to get it. Glut of left handed outfielders and I'm not ready to rely on just Story, Urias, and Rafaela for the right handed hitting. Just typing that made me feel queasy. No disagreement here in anything you're saying, seems to me they have maybe two avenues for that RH pop assuming they don't completely overhaul the lineup anyway. Sign a DH type and keep Yoshida in LF more often than what is probably ideal. Sign/acquire RHH COF, probably more likely to be a LFer? Maybe Teoscar Hernandez would fit the bill? He's played to a -4.9 def in RF for the Mariners, perhaps that ticks up a bit if he plays LF not RF, either way he'd be an improvement over Yoshida defensively and add RH pop. I don't love his K% of 30.4 this season and 28.4 last season but there's not really going to be a perfect acquisition available so anyone they acquire is going to have warts. Could also just bring Duvall back if his contract is reasonable enough, he'd be an upgrade in LF over Yoshida. This all assumes like Verdugo is back in RF anyway.
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Post by dcsoxfan15 on Sept 11, 2023 13:16:01 GMT -5
Your starting right fielder for the 2024 Boston Red Sox... Lane Thomas? This is not a perfect fit for the team, but following along the theme of trading for a right handed hitter and signing pitching, I think we should take a look at the 28 year old RF from DC. He's had a good season, but there are worrying signs like a low walk rate, high strikeouts and non-stellar average exit velocities. Regardless, he's put in a pretty solid season in DC. Has a strong arm and excellent speed. Losing Turner is going to sting, but I think it's unlikely he signs here because I believe another team will throw more money at him or more years (2) than Chaim is willing. Thomas won't give the same quality of at-bats, but we can rely on Yoshida and Casas to be the hitters that grind long AB's and next year, this team really just needs some righty thump. <img src="<iframe src="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/illustrator/static?guid=afe1c6ae-80d1-4d53-b934-8c79af8f614c&scale=true"></iframe>" alt="Spray" style="max-width:100%;"> The spray chart for Thomas this year is interesting, I can see at least 6 outs that would have been homeruns, several extra doubles and some doubles that turn into home runs on here in Fenway. Seems like a Hunter Renfroe clone, with better speed. I could see his defense being better, especially if you've got someone in center like Rafaela who makes the whole outfield better with his range. Possible target that may not be terribly expensive because, A. It's Washington, B. Some under the hood numbers that aren't amazing, C. Bad free agent market for outfielders means that a short term solution like this could be worthwhile.
Duran - LF Thomas - RF Devers - 3B Casas- 1B Story - SS Yoshida - DH Urias - 2B Wong - C Rafaela - CF
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