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Predicting The 2024 Opening Day Roster
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Post by julyanmorley on Dec 6, 2023 9:01:37 GMT -5
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cdj
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Post by cdj on Dec 6, 2023 9:24:18 GMT -5
Sounds like what somebody who is uncomfortable with his outfield group would say
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Dec 6, 2023 9:40:45 GMT -5
Yeah this is the same group that was just gassing up Dalbec who struck out 35% of the time in Worcester this year. It’s posturing season
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Post by SlugLife on Dec 6, 2023 9:46:35 GMT -5
Michael Taylor still seems like the perfect fit right now. Elite defense in CF, cannon arm for RF, hits lefties...He can start in CF Opening Day and depending on the AAV could be an excellent fourth outfielder if Rafaela, Abreu, and/or Anthony emerge as everyday players in the next 2-3 years.
Full disclosure I do not see Duran as a long-term fit on this roster. I'm assuming Breslow sells high on him this winter.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Dec 6, 2023 10:52:44 GMT -5
I would like to see the Red Sox add some offense to 2B/OF. Morel, Brandon Lowe, Paredes, and Aranda have all been mentioned as potential trade chips for the Cubs/Rays. Morel got introduced to some OF and so has Lowe, which could be useful not only this year, but once Mayer and/or Yorke is up. I don’t think these guys would be cheap but they’re good long term pieces.
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Post by soxheater5 on Dec 6, 2023 16:37:20 GMT -5
I would like to see the Red Sox add some offense to 2B/OF. Morel, Brandon Lowe, Paredes, and Aranda have all been mentioned as potential trade chips for the Cubs/Rays. Morel got introduced to some OF and so has Lowe, which could be useful not only this year, but once Mayer and/or Yorke is up. I don’t think these guys would be cheap but they’re good long term pieces. I totally agree. I unfortunately think Morel will only be available if the Cubs put him in a deal for a big piece. I am a massive fan of adding Polanco via trade this offseason. Adds stability to the position, and would be awesome to add a switch hitter to the squad. Does anyone think Yorke is up by opening day/very early in the season?
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ematz1423
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Post by ematz1423 on Dec 6, 2023 16:42:57 GMT -5
I would like to see the Red Sox add some offense to 2B/OF. Morel, Brandon Lowe, Paredes, and Aranda have all been mentioned as potential trade chips for the Cubs/Rays. Morel got introduced to some OF and so has Lowe, which could be useful not only this year, but once Mayer and/or Yorke is up. I don’t think these guys would be cheap but they’re good long term pieces. I totally agree. I unfortunately think Morel will only be available if the Cubs put him in a deal for a big piece. I am a massive fan of adding Polanco via trade this offseason. Adds stability to the position, and would be awesome to add a switch hitter to the squad. Does anyone think Yorke is up by opening day/very early in the season?I would say no there is little to no chance that Yorke is on the ML roster even early next year. He put up pretty good #s in AA but not exactly enough to knock down the door to Boston.
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Post by alexcorahomevideo on Dec 6, 2023 18:27:24 GMT -5
Honestly if the Yankees get Yamamoto/Soto and the Jays get Ohtani how would people feel about the Sox blowing it up and trading Devers Sale Martin Jansen etc...?
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Post by beasleyrockah on Dec 6, 2023 19:39:18 GMT -5
Honestly if the Yankees get Yamamoto/Soto and the Jays get Ohtani how would people feel about the Sox blowing it up and trading Devers Sale Martin Jansen etc...? It would make absolutely zero sense at this time and isn't a worthy idea to discuss beyond ridiculing the fact it was even brought up in the first place.
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Post by awalkinthepark on Dec 6, 2023 22:02:06 GMT -5
Honestly if the Yankees get Yamamoto/Soto and the Jays get Ohtani how would people feel about the Sox blowing it up and trading Devers Sale Martin Jansen etc...? I don't think people appreciate just how important the offseasons after 2021 and 2022 were. That was the time for the Red Sox to define their roster for the next 3+ years, on the position player side at least. The Red Sox had a ton of money coming off the books and the free agent classes were loaded. They had the opportunity to retain Xander, or sign Seager, Correa or Freddie Freeman. They could have traded for Sean Murphy or Matt Olson. There were a ton of different paths Bloom could have taken. He decided to commit $500+ million to Devers, Story and Yoshida, and hung on to Casas instead of use him as a trade chip. The performance of the team for at least the next 2, maybe 3 years is really going to be driven by those 4. Blowing all of that up a year into it makes zero sense, especially when you aren't getting anything of value back for any of the guys you mentioned and because the free agent classes over the next few years are extremely weak compared to what we have seen the last few years. It would cement their place in the cellar for the foreseeable future, until (if) Mayer and Anthony are producing in the majors.
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Post by bosoxnation on Dec 7, 2023 2:48:03 GMT -5
Im going to predict our best 3 hitters all should be DHing but they will all be in the field.
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ematz1423
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Post by ematz1423 on Dec 7, 2023 7:41:57 GMT -5
Honestly if the Yankees get Yamamoto/Soto and the Jays get Ohtani how would people feel about the Sox blowing it up and trading Devers Sale Martin Jansen etc...? I don't think people appreciate just how important the offseasons after 2021 and 2022 were. That was the time for the Red Sox to define their roster for the next 3+ years, on the position player side at least. The Red Sox had a ton of money coming off the books and the free agent classes were loaded. They had the opportunity to retain Xander, or sign Seager, Correa or Freddie Freeman. They could have traded for Sean Murphy or Matt Olson. There were a ton of different paths Bloom could have taken. He decided to commit $500+ million to Devers, Story and Yoshida, and hung on to Casas instead of use him as a trade chip. The performance of the team for at least the next 2, maybe 3 years is really going to be driven by those 4. Blowing all of that up a year into it makes zero sense, especially when you aren't getting anything of value back for any of the guys you mentioned and because the free agent classes over the next few years are extremely weak compared to what we have seen the last few years. It would cement their place in the cellar for the foreseeable future, until (if) Mayer and Anthony are producing in the majors. Ignoring everything else posted, I just want to ask what the issue is that Bloom held on to Casas? The guy proved to be a middle of the order bat in his first full year in the big leagues who is making peanuts. Why would Casas have been better used as a trade chip then to hang on to and be a key cog in the middle of the lineup for years to come? That rationale doesn't make sense to me.
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Post by awalkinthepark on Dec 7, 2023 8:54:59 GMT -5
I don't think people appreciate just how important the offseasons after 2021 and 2022 were. That was the time for the Red Sox to define their roster for the next 3+ years, on the position player side at least. The Red Sox had a ton of money coming off the books and the free agent classes were loaded. They had the opportunity to retain Xander, or sign Seager, Correa or Freddie Freeman. They could have traded for Sean Murphy or Matt Olson. There were a ton of different paths Bloom could have taken. He decided to commit $500+ million to Devers, Story and Yoshida, and hung on to Casas instead of use him as a trade chip. The performance of the team for at least the next 2, maybe 3 years is really going to be driven by those 4. Blowing all of that up a year into it makes zero sense, especially when you aren't getting anything of value back for any of the guys you mentioned and because the free agent classes over the next few years are extremely weak compared to what we have seen the last few years. It would cement their place in the cellar for the foreseeable future, until (if) Mayer and Anthony are producing in the majors. Ignoring everything else posted, I just want to ask what the issue is that Bloom held on to Casas? The guy proved to be a middle of the order bat in his first full year in the big leagues who is making peanuts. Why would Casas have been better used as a trade chip then to hang on to and be a key cog in the middle of the lineup for years to come? That rationale doesn't make sense to me. Well the issue is that 1B has been pretty bad for the Red Sox the last few years. 2 very good first baseman were available - Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson - who would have helped the 22-23 Red Sox much more than Casas did. I am not saying Bloom should have gone that route - hanging on to him was probably the correct move. My point is that if you were going to hang on to Casas when he was a prospect, and pass on the various 1B who were available who would have helped the team the last few years, then it doesn't make sense to abandon that plan now.
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Post by jdb on Dec 7, 2023 9:25:52 GMT -5
I’m coming around to Taylor splitting time in CF with Duran and RF with Abreu. Curious if you all would call that signing paired with Gurriel in LF and a Drury trade a successful offseason for the lineup?
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jimoh
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Post by jimoh on Dec 7, 2023 9:49:35 GMT -5
I’m coming around to Taylor splitting time in CF with Duran and RF with Abreu. Curious if you all would call that signing paired with Gurriel in LF and a Drury trade a successful offseason for the lineup? Imagine Taylor hitting 9th, Maldonado hitting 8th, and whoever the 2b is hitting 7th.
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Post by bg23 on Dec 7, 2023 10:37:04 GMT -5
I’m coming around to Taylor splitting time in CF with Duran and RF with Abreu. Curious if you all would call that signing paired with Gurriel in LF and a Drury trade a successful offseason for the lineup? Taylor and Drury fit perfectly in my opinion. If we’re adding those two, I would prefer someone that is a more patient hitter than Gurriel. Drury and Taylor are both high chase, high whiff guys, so Gurriel’s 5-6% BB rate doesn’t really scratch the itch. He at least has a low k rate and a little pop. I wouldn’t be super upset I guess, but given the contract he’s likely going to get and the lineup context, I would hopefully shoot higher. For who? No idea!
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Dec 7, 2023 10:43:15 GMT -5
Drury or Polanco would be solid for 2B. Drury would definitely be cheaper and he is a slightly better glove, but the extra year of Polanco would actually be useful too.
Taylor is a good defensive CF and can hold his water against LHP. If the role is small, I’m fine with it. If it’s an everyday role then I think I’d prefer to try to develop Rafaela. But I don’t want Rafaela benched for 2/3 of the time when he could be getting constant reps in Worcester.
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Post by julyanmorley on Dec 7, 2023 12:39:00 GMT -5
The bullpen is getting pretty crowded
Major league relievers: Jensen, Martin, Schreiber Major league backup starters: Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Winckowski Up and down guys that have earned a solid major league job: Campbell, Bernardino, Murphy, Robertson, Weissert Up and down guys: Walter, Kelly, Jacques Out of options/Rule 5: Mata, Llovera, Slaten
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ematz1423
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Post by ematz1423 on Dec 7, 2023 12:42:43 GMT -5
The bullpen is getting pretty crowded Major league relievers: Jensen, Martin, Schreiber Major league backup starters: Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Winckowski Up and down guys that have earned a solid major league job: Campbell, Bernardino, Murphy, Robertson, Weissert Up and down guys: Walter, Kelly, Jacques Out of options/Rule 5: Mata, Llovera, Slaten I could certainly see a trade or two coming involving Houck/Whitlock/Crawford/Winckowski perhaps multiple of them but yes as things stand if they don't make a trade of a bullpen piece it would appear to my eyes that the bullpen is pretty well booked for this coming season. I don't see much need to go out and add anyone unless it's a pitcher and a contract Breslow loves, maybe that'll be Hicks? Other than Hicks and Hader though I'm not sure I'm seeing any FAs that would project to unseat those in the first two groupings you have listed.
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Dec 7, 2023 14:06:45 GMT -5
The bullpen is getting pretty crowded Major league relievers: Jensen, Martin, Schreiber Major league backup starters: Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Winckowski Up and down guys that have earned a solid major league job: Campbell, Bernardino, Murphy, Robertson, Weissert Up and down guys: Walter, Kelly, Jacques Out of options/Rule 5: Mata, Llovera, Slaten I could certainly see a trade or two coming involving Houck/Whitlock/Crawford/Winckowski perhaps multiple of them but yes as things stand if they don't make a trade of a bullpen piece it would appear to my eyes that the bullpen is pretty well booked for this coming season. I don't see much need to go out and add anyone unless it's a pitcher and a contract Breslow loves, maybe that'll be Hicks? Other than Hicks and Hader though I'm not sure I'm seeing any FAs that would project to unseat those in the first two groupings you have listed. Or they start in AAA, staying stretched out. Solves two problems at once.
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Post by asm19 on Dec 7, 2023 14:10:33 GMT -5
The bullpen is getting pretty crowded Major league relievers: Jensen, Martin, Schreiber Major league backup starters: Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Winckowski Up and down guys that have earned a solid major league job: Campbell, Bernardino, Murphy, Robertson, Weissert Up and down guys: Walter, Kelly, Jacques Out of options/Rule 5: Mata, Llovera, Slaten Sure beats calling Kaleb Ort up every week and a half
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Post by bloomstaxonomy on Dec 7, 2023 17:53:45 GMT -5
New predictions [my prediction from November included Juan Soto ] after an initial reading of the market: C: Wong 1B: Casas 2B: Merrifield 3B: Devers SS: Story LF: T. Hernandez CF: Duran RF: Abreu DH: Yoshida C: Maldonado IF: Valdez OF: Refsnyder UT: Reyes SP: Sale SP: Yamamoto SP: Bello SP: Lugo SP: Pivetta RP: Jansen RP: Martin RP: Whitlock RP: Schreiber RP: Houck RP: Bernardino RP: Crawford
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Post by redsoxpride34 on Dec 7, 2023 18:50:45 GMT -5
The bullpen is getting pretty crowded Major league relievers: Jensen, Martin, Schreiber Major league backup starters: Houck, Whitlock, Crawford, Winckowski Up and down guys that have earned a solid major league job: Campbell, Bernardino, Murphy, Robertson, Weissert Up and down guys: Walter, Kelly, Jacques Out of options/Rule 5: Mata, Llovera, Slaten I could certainly see a trade or two coming involving Houck/Whitlock/Crawford/Winckowski perhaps multiple of them but yes as things stand if they don't make a trade of a bullpen piece it would appear to my eyes that the bullpen is pretty well booked for this coming season. I don't see much need to go out and add anyone unless it's a pitcher and a contract Breslow loves, maybe that'll be Hicks? Other than Hicks and Hader though I'm not sure I'm seeing any FAs that would project to unseat those in the first two groupings you have listed. I think the guy to deal out of that group is Jansen. Bloom should have pulled the trigger on whatever deal they had in place for him at the deadline. I'd listen on martin as well but would only move for a significant return. I'd then look at to add hicks and/or hader.
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Post by bloomstaxonomy on Dec 7, 2023 19:12:15 GMT -5
The more I try to put the pieces together for 2024, the more I realize Bloom left us in quite a lurch at the major league level. Still a fan of his overall approach and vision, but (as many people have said) his decision-making, or lack thereof in the name of patience or paralysis, left a lot to be desired. The execution was questionable.
I don’t feel great about anyone but Devers, Casas, and Martin, though I’m bullish on Yoshida, Story, and Sale. I’m looking at a bunch of 0-2 WAR players. A lot of meh, too many question marks, and a team that is going to have a real hard time competing, even when you fill in some of the ? slots with good FA players.
There’s a little seductive, fanciful monster somewhere in the depth of my consciousness who whispers that Ohtani is coming. The silence from the Red Sox FO is deafening.
That would certainly change things.
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Dec 7, 2023 21:17:23 GMT -5
Drury or Polanco would be solid for 2B. Drury would definitely be cheaper and he is a slightly better glove, but the extra year of Polanco would actually be useful too. Taylor is a good defensive CF and can hold his water against LHP. If the role is small, I’m fine with it. If it’s an everyday role then I think I’d prefer to try to develop Rafaela. But I don’t want Rafaela benched for 2/3 of the time when he could be getting constant reps in Worcester. I think signing Taylor would imply giving Rafaela Worcester reps/ABs until at least Father’s Day. I’m fine with Drury but no thanks on Polanco bringing down Story’s value up the middle. Would rather see Adames flashing the leather there.
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