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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2023 23:52:16 GMT -5
Would he though? Mookie is the better player over Soto after all so maybe that makes up the difference in value of taking on Price’s contract (which was a lot less of a bomb than Xander or Cronenworth) Mookie's market was depressed. Only the Dodgers could take on Prices deal and had prospects to deal and the ability to extend Betts. The Padres arent adding salaries as far as we know and therefore will have more suitors to deal for Soto which should net them more than what the Sox got for Mookie.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2023 23:08:58 GMT -5
Trading for Soto without including a single high-tier prospect? Trading for Tatis without including Anthony, Mayer or Teel? If Breslow pulled one of those off, he would be vaulted to the top of the GM wizardry rankings. I like the spirit of it, but I don't see either of those packages even coming close. For me, if Tatis is really an option, there isn't a single prospect who's off the table. Is Soto's surplus value more than 3.6 WAR? Serious question because I was stuck on it while figuring out what to offer. It's a lot like the Betts trade. One year of a franchise player who's already getting paid for 3-ish WAR. With Betts, he had a 10-WAR ceiling, so you'd hope for a bigger return, but Soto is basically bat-only value... but oh, what a bat! What do you think the real price will be? I put together what should amount to a good deal more than 3.6 WAR. As always, it will depend on whether one team offers a marquee prospect that Preller can point to and say "look, I got the goods." Will that be from Breslow or will he assemble 5 WAR worth of Verdugo plus young pitching? Only one way to find out... Soto is like Mookie only if a big contract is included in the deal. Half of David Price's decreased the return price for Mookie. If Cronenworth or Xander isnt included in the deal Soto will fetch more than what Mookie plus Price brought back.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2023 17:36:10 GMT -5
From what the rumors say the Yankees are the favorites and willing to give up Schmidt, King, and a highly rated OF prospect. I guess a comparative package might be two of Houck, Crawford, Whitlock, or Winckowski and either Abreu or Rafaela or Duran. I'd guess if the Yankees part with Dominguez they'd probably get Soto. The Sox perhaps would have to look at parting with Anthony, which I would be hesitant to do. I would think Houck, Crawford, Rafaela plus Hickey might get some consideration? I'd give up Crawford, Houck, Rafaela, Yorke right now for Soto Me, too.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2023 17:05:24 GMT -5
From what the rumors say the Yankees are the favorites and willing to give up Schmidt, King, and a highly rated OF prospect.
I guess a comparative package might be two of Houck, Crawford, Whitlock, or Winckowski and either Abreu or Rafaela or Duran.
I'd guess if the Yankees part with Dominguez they'd probably get Soto. The Sox perhaps would have to look at parting with Anthony, which I would be hesitant to do.
I would think Houck, Crawford, Rafaela plus Hickey might get some consideration?
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 13, 2023 14:01:48 GMT -5
I'm kinda cooling on the idea of Duvall as a RHH OF option. His Steamer projection is uuuugly: 87 wRC+, .277 OBP, 0.3 WAR... That feels a little low but I kind of get it; his xwOBA was just .306 last season, and while he might be expected to overperform that a little in Fenway, he probably won't do so by 40 points again. Post-injury last season he had just a 93 wRC+. And he's 35. I think the best alternatives are: a) Sign Gurriel. He's got a 109 wRC+/1.5 WAR projection. Ben Clemens projected him for 3/45, which I don't love but could live with. b) Sign Garver to DH and leave Yoshida in LF. ADD: As for the Teoscar option... his xwOBA trend is basically a meteor heading straight into the sea: .401, .370, .351, .336. And the wOBA trend doesn't look any better. I would hate going to three years with him, which is what it would probably take. ADD2: Actually, maybe I like Pham on a one-year deal better than Duvall. And maybe I like that more than three-year deals for Gurriel or Teoscar.
Or to pick a different split point he had a 116 wRC+ in the first half and a 113 wRC+ in the second half. The projections last year were also bad, I just don't think they capture how good a fit he is for Fenway and might be overly penalizing his injured 2022. There also may be some defensive upside, he was bad in center this year after his injury, but historically has been really good there. I'm not adamant they need to resign him, but I like Duvall on a cheap one year deal better than any of those listed options I think. Yes, dont want any part of some overpay for Teoscar Hernandez. Would be fine with Duvall part II. I thought all in all he played well. The freak injury played with his numbers a bit as he was shaking off the rust when he came back and had his awesome start to the season cut short. Hes a good fit and can handle right should Verdugo get dealt and should Abreu struggle. At worst hes good insurance in the outfield.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 11, 2023 23:39:13 GMT -5
Buster Olney reports that he will 100% be traded this offseason. Forget Ohtani. Forget Yamamoto. Forget my latest binkie Burnes. This is the centerpiece of your offseason. No prospect is off the table (it won’t take all 3 of the top guys to get it done). Be creative if you have to. Get it done. When you do, you won’t have many bullets left for other trade acquisitions, so plan accordingly. Sign him to a 12 year extension. Fill all other holes with FA, with the exception of someone like Drury at 2B. He’ll cost peanuts in comparison, so I think you can still get that trade done with minimal handwringing. Yamamoto would also be nice as well! If it came with a guaranteed extension I’d certainly agree that there’s no one off the table, but especially given the return the Sox got for Mookie, and how little leverage the Padres seemingly have right now, I’m not sure it’s going to take *that* much. I would think the Padres would have multiple teams going after him, from the Yankees to the Mets to the Sox to the Giants to the Cubs. Because the Sox were stapling half of David Price's contract that lowered the price and the amount of teams in the bidding to just LA. If I were Preller I'd want Roman Anthony in a deal for Soto. I'd have to think he can wrangle a top prospect out of somebody. Soto will fetch more than Betts did as long as Cronenworth or Bogaerts' lengthy deal isnt attached.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 11, 2023 23:34:03 GMT -5
The quote makes me happy. The quote makes me worry. If Breslow means prospect quanity rather than quality then I'm ok with it. While depth is great keeping too much of it at the expense of improving the major league team is not. If any of Mayer, Anthony, or Teel gets dealt then I'll be majorly concerned and probably unhappy. The important thing to ke is Breslow being able to adequately judge who the keepers are and who is expendable. If anything I'm lond of worried he'll be what Dombrowski was reputed to be but isnt, a destroyer of farm systems. Dombrowski might have been guilty of thinning the depth but I never had qualms about him diminishing the quality of the system. He knew who to trade and who to keep as trades rarely bit him in the butt. I worry Breslow might not have that judgment. Soto might be an interesting test case. If Soto could be obtained for one of Mayer, Anthony (their most likely ask) or Teel would he do it or refrain? I really, really want the Sox to get Soto, but would be highly reticent of parting with either of those 3 to obtain Soto. But would Breslow? I have no idea what Breslow would do, given no track record, but based on the quotes and his being hired in the first place I don't worry about him being as timid or as conservative as Bloom, but I do worry he might be too much of the opposite. Still to be determined. As much as I like Soto in a vacuum. I am not a fan of getting him for the Sox. This team doesn't play good enough defense as is. I want top end pitching but will probably be disappointed. I get not wanting to see prospects traded but look back in time and how many prospects you or I did not want to see get traded never ended up being much of anything in the end. Yes it remains to be seen if Breslow's judgement is good. I have no idea even what his idea of Roster Construction is but the idea that winning games in the big leagues is what matters. I like. I hate to see a prospect who had value if we moved them wither away to nothing. I'd like to see thecSox develop and graduate the next wave of talent. I was glad Pedrioa, Lester, Papelbon. Youkilis, Ellsbury and Buchholz were kept around to impact the major league team. Likewise with Betts, Bradley, Benintendi, Devers, and Vazquez being kept around to form the next Sox core. And hopefully the same with Casas, Bello, Mayer, Anthony and Teel. I'm open to others being traded depending upon internal evaluations. As an aside, I understand the defensive hesitation regarding going after Soto but the Sox carried Manny Ramirez in LF for many years. Soto is the kind of guy you can do so for quite awhile if need be. It all depends on the cost to get him. Either way I hope to hell they put together an offer near 250 million to really have a good shot at Yamamoto and of course they need another front line/mid rotation type as well. I figure with Sale's money coming off the book soon there would be room for Soto long term as well.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 11, 2023 19:27:31 GMT -5
I love this quote. “It’s important not to lose sight that the goal of any organization is to win Major League games,” Breslow said. “It’s not to have the greatest farm system. It’s not to have the most prospect depth. It’s to win games.” The quote makes me happy. The quote makes me worry. If Breslow means prospect quanity rather than quality then I'm ok with it. While depth is great keeping too much of it at the expense of improving the major league team is not. If any of Mayer, Anthony, or Teel gets dealt then I'll be majorly concerned and probably unhappy. The important thing to ke is Breslow being able to adequately judge who the keepers are and who is expendable. If anything I'm lond of worried he'll be what Dombrowski was reputed to be but isnt, a destroyer of farm systems. Dombrowski might have been guilty of thinning the depth but I never had qualms about him diminishing the quality of the system. He knew who to trade and who to keep as trades rarely bit him in the butt. I worry Breslow might not have that judgment. Soto might be an interesting test case. If Soto could be obtained for one of Mayer, Anthony (their most likely ask) or Teel would he do it or refrain? I really, really want the Sox to get Soto, but would be highly reticent of parting with either of those 3 to obtain Soto. But would Breslow? I have no idea what Breslow would do, given no track record, but based on the quotes and his being hired in the first place I don't worry about him being as timid or as conservative as Bloom, but I do worry he might be too much of the opposite. Still to be determined.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 11, 2023 9:52:38 GMT -5
My main 4 hobbies are baseball, legos, music, and classic TV.
I actually have a hobby room (for now) where you walk down there and it feels like you're at Fenway Park as the wall are painted Fenway green. The scoreboard reflects the happiest Fenway moment of our lives, the Series clincher in 2013 against the Cardinals. Their are plaques commemorating the 9 championships, and banners and plaques celebrating the 6 Patriots superbowl championships along with various nods to the Celtics, Bruins, Hartford Whalers, and UConn Huskies men's and women's championships. The walls are covered with mostly Sox photos as the stairway leading down is adorned with photos of Sox players and non-Sox and non-Patriots championship teams.
On the shelves are Red Sox and Patriots related items like small model Fenway Parks, but mostly it consists of legos.
I have 8 banquet tables set up with legos containing all the kiddie town lego sets I grew up with in the 1970s and 80s along with the adult oriented modular sets that come out each year since 2007. Not a lot of space left in the room and I love building legos but because of cost and space I limit myself to the one new modular set each year.
I'm an avid baseball car collector, a baseball historian for all 30 teams, collecting almost all eras as I value historic collection for teams over actual card dollar values. I dont buy to sell. My cards are there to tell a story that goes beyond the stats with the focus on winning teams in franchise history although if there is a lot of losing or in between it tells that story too.
I'm branching off into other card collecting as i want to commemorate the six Patriots championships, and want to lightly capture the Celtics and Whalers, Bruins, and have some UConn Huskies cards.
But now I'm also going over to non sports cards capturing my other hobbies.
I love music, from Elvis to Metallica, and I loved the 1967 - 1993 era, am a huge classic/hard rock fan. I grew up in the 80s hair bands era while loving 1970s rock the most. Somewhere along the line I have some soft spots for some soft rock, became a Motown fan, enjoyed some of the disco era and 80s pop, and have become a fan of the blues, particularly modern blues as it feels closer to the spirit of 70s guitar rock than some of the stuff that's more modern.
I also am collecting cards of the TV shows and movies that I loved from the past. And whether there are cards or not i love my 70s and 80s sitcoms and the cop and detective shows from that era and a lot of movies from those eras and have always been a sucker for time travel theme movies.
I have an extensive library but it's mostly Red Sox themes books, mainly historical or biographical along with each Bill James baseball abstract which shaped and confirmed the way I see baseball.
And I even keep scrapbooks of a bunch of newspaoer articles and commemorative magazines dedicated to winning Sox teams and Patriots, Huskies, and Celtics, and have a video collection for anything Red Sox related and the commemorative videos of my other winners, and was pissed off when NESN didnt put out a 2018 commemorative video of the Sox.
I also collect autographs from having gone to numerous baseball themed events. I'm not one who goes to buy and sell autographs. I just enjoy the experience of meeting the player, executive. Etc. My favorite autographs were from Bob Feller who showed me where he served on a naval ship during WWII, an autograph of Roger Clemens from his New Britain Red Sox days, an autograph I didnt even realize I had for several years, and my first ever when a very young Oakland outfielder took the time to write a very gracious and kind inscription to me along with his autograph at the very first game I ever went to at Fenway, a guy named Rickey Henderson.
My dream room has existed thanks to the 2004 Red Sox who made the championship dream room a reality and focused the theme on winning, which was something I dreamt about as a kid but never really experienced. The 1995 UConn lady Huskies started it, followed by the 1999 UConn men's Huskies, and then Brady and Vinatieri gave it legs in Super Bowl 36, but when the 2004 Sox did what they did, the dream was becoming a reality and each succeeding championship of the 20 year golden age made it all the more special.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 9, 2023 8:44:47 GMT -5
I understand the unlikelihood of trading with a team like the Yankees, but a Gleyber Torres for Alex Verdugo trade could work for both teams. We might have to send a little bit more value their way but I don't think it would take anyone in the top 15. Count me in, kinda perfect deal for both sides. Sox get a legit 2B who also happens to provide RHH pop, Yankees get a starting OF who puts the ball in play and plays good defense I'd do it and not think twice about it assuming a lower tiered prospect but I suspect the Yankees will aim higher than Verdugo for their LH bat.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 9, 2023 6:54:42 GMT -5
Many are predicting Verdugo won’t be on the 2024 roster - Sean McAdams and Chris Henrique suggested via sources Yankees could be in play for him. He weirdly seems like a good fit for them, as they are lacking in lefty hitters, OF, and guys who avoid striking out. Icandenza made a great argument for why Verdugo the player would still make sense to retain for next year. With that being said… what does it say about a guy that a team is willing to entertain trading him to their hated arch-rival? It says that the Red Sox might not value Verdugo as highly as incandenza does. It seems to me teams put up with issues beyond the playing field when a player is good but once they become ordinary, those other issues become enough that the team entertains the idea of trading the player. We know there are some issues with Verdugo with lateness but I wonder if there's more that we dont know about. Maybe there isnt and it's simply the fact that hes a free agent soon and there is zero reason to extend him for big money and they think Abreu could approach average and replace him this year. Could be a combo of factors. Either way I would be more surprised if he was on the roster in 24 than not on the roster.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 8, 2023 21:48:33 GMT -5
I'm talking hitting for batting average, the hit tool. I'm not talking about the total offensive package including walks and power. Has Urias even managed to hit .250 in a season? That's what I was referring to. He can get away with hitting. 240 or thereabouts but he cant get away with hitting like he did last year. Mark Bellhorn was a lousy hitter but he had years where he was a good offensive player anyways. But when he stopped hitting almost altogether he couldn't keep his job. In 2021 the league batting average was .248 and Urias hit .249 so saying he never hit at the MLB level is not accurate even by this relatively meaningless definition of it. No, I merely stated that Urias has never managed to hit .250. Claiming a .249 as a career high is not something to brag about, even if it was only a point below .250 and a point above the league BA. The fact is that hes a .234 lifetime hitter in nearly 1500 ABs. That's not a good hit tool and last year he was less than that. Fact of the matter is when your hit tool is fringy you have to do other things to be useful which he can do,namely draw walks and hit for some power. But when the hit tool is fringy and the hitting is not there the other things dont make up for it. I think that's what happened to Urias last year. The Sox werent impressed with him. He was supposed to play every day but by September he had ceded time to Valdez, so it'd obvious he didnt impress and will likely not be the guy they turn to in 2024. I dont expect the Sox to tender him a contract. I'm not a Merrifield fan by any stretch, but I do think theyll head in that direction. Hes a better hitter but not necessarily a better offensive player but he's likely to consistently hit enough to be mediocre. Again, not an endorsement of Whitfield from me. I'd prefer to see Valdez get another look as I think his bat has more upside but understand why they dont believe in his glove. Based on that I do think Whitfield as the 2b is a realistic possibility in 2024 which makes me hope that Yorke gets to AAA soon and puts up gaudy numbers at Worcester and gets himself on the radar sooner than later, not that you can really count on that either. For all we know Yorke could be dealt. All this does is really make me miss Pedroia.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 8, 2023 16:13:29 GMT -5
I could be wrong but I think there's a possibility the Sox sign Whitfield. Instead of spreading the 2b mediocrity among several players like they did this year the mediocrity would be confined to one player, albeit at a price tag that'll make us pull our hair out. Merrifield can still hit a bit and going to Fenway could help a little, but hes an offensive mediocrity. If only Valdez could play a major league 2b I'd go with him, but he hasn't. I know others here like Urias. I was unimpressed. He did draw walks but he did nothing else well and has never really hit at the big league level and he'll cost more to keep. I think he'll be non tendered. As I see it, he had a chance to seize the job last year and failed to do that. I think for certainty purposes (albeit mediocrity) and because Merrifield can hit a bit, run decently, and not be a mess at 2b, while being able to back up on the outfield and is RH, I do believe the rumors that they're on on him. Hate to say it but I wouldnt be surprised if he lead off in 2024, especially if Duran gets dealt. What could you possibly mean by this? Urias has a 107 wRC+ in his last 1200 PAs. Even just last year with the Red Sox he had a 98 wRC+, which was almost identical to Valdez (102), and better than Merrifield has done in any season since 2020. I'd grant that Urias' defense was kind of disappointing, but there's an odd thing where a large number of people seem to have decided that his 68 PAs last year where he was playing injured for the Brewers is the true reflection of his abilities and the other 95% of his career going back to when he was 23 are the anomaly.
I'm talking hitting for batting average, the hit tool. I'm not talking about the total offensive package including walks and power. Has Urias even managed to hit .250 in a season? That's what I was referring to. He can get away with hitting. 240 or thereabouts but he cant get away with hitting like he did last year. Mark Bellhorn was a lousy hitter but he had years where he was a good offensive player anyways. But when he stopped hitting almost altogether he couldn't keep his job.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 8, 2023 13:40:09 GMT -5
I could be wrong but I think there's a possibility the Sox sign Whitfield.
Instead of spreading the 2b mediocrity among several players like they did this year the mediocrity would be confined to one player, albeit at a price tag that'll make us pull our hair out.
Merrifield can still hit a bit and going to Fenway could help a little, but hes an offensive mediocrity.
If only Valdez could play a major league 2b I'd go with him, but he hasn't. I know others here like Urias. I was unimpressed. He did draw walks but he did nothing else well and has never really hit at the big league level and he'll cost more to keep. I think he'll be non tendered. As I see it, he had a chance to seize the job last year and failed to do that.
I think for certainty purposes (albeit mediocrity) and because Merrifield can hit a bit, run decently, and not be a mess at 2b, while being able to back up on the outfield and is RH, I do believe the rumors that they're on on him. Hate to say it but I wouldnt be surprised if he lead off in 2024, especially if Duran gets dealt.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 7, 2023 23:06:09 GMT -5
I will never forget Boone's historic game 7 walk-off bunt that ended our dreams in 2003. Well, the Yankees were beaten in the AL East division tie breaker game by the Cleveland Indians when Jake Taylor's surprise bunt scored Willie Mays Hayes from 2b in the movie Major League, so I can understand how that impacted them ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 6, 2023 18:21:01 GMT -5
Agree with @ematz. The MFYs really can't afford to add a top-flight FA starter until 2025 at the earliest. As it stands, they are at $247m toward the CBT (per spotrac) and they have issues all over the diamond to address, not just in the rotation. I will be stunned if they sign one of the top five SPs. Of course, they are automatically included in any FA talk by national media because they're the MFYs but I'm not buying it. That said, LAD, STL, SFG, TOR will all be serious competition, with others possibly joining the party playing the role of the 2021-22 Rangers (CHC, CHW, SEA, ARI, MIN, MIL?). And there's no telling what NYM will do. As always, to land YY it will come down to ¥¥ and the mystery of what he sees in each team and city. Craig's going to need to hike up his big-boy pants, for sure. The Mets will definitely be in YY. I'd expect them to offer 250 million for Yamamoto. They have the payroll room and need for pitching, young ace caliber pitching (who doesn't need that?). The Mets are banking on their young players and prospects acquired to start impacting by 2025 and a young ace to go with these guys makes sense for them. The only way they dont go after Yamamoto is if they sign Ohtani and even then I wouldn't rule them out. My guess is Ohtani winds up with the Dodgers and Yamamoto with the Mets. The Sox will certainly be in the mix for both, but I think they'll wind up looking elsewhere instead.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 5, 2023 23:59:59 GMT -5
Tatis is target #1 for me just thought of this... would you trade Rafaela, Anthony, kutter, Houck, Yorke, bleis for Soto AND Tatis? Damn that would be nuts. If the Sox could extend Soto then yes. If Anthony develops as hoped for would he be as good overall as Soto? Soto could hit more than 600 HRs in his career. This theoretical deal doesnt even contain Mayer. If Bleis developed would he be as good as Tatis. Houck, Kutter, Rafaela, and Yorke are all useful players so it's a lot to give up but they're easier to replace than guys like Soto and Tatis. I think others would say that's way too much and you're on a big payroll hook and have put a big dent in the farm system and I wouldn't say they're wrong. I just think you're talking about very young superstars who could well be on a Cooperstown path. You get talent like that locked up, you can replace the Rafaelas, Houcks, Kutters, and Yorkes of the world even if that's easier said than done.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 5, 2023 12:43:12 GMT -5
Tim Anderson is now at the top of my 2B wish list on a one year "prove it " deal. He's been way to good. Plus, he's still solid defensively. Sort of reminds me of the 2010 Adrian Beltre signing. Given this, I think a "prove-it" deal is all he should get. The decline in walk rate is particularly concerning. He was either batting one or more injuries or we're seeing his offensive skills decline to a point where he's becoming a late-inning defensive replacement guy: I dont want any part of Tim Anderson. He has to hit over .300 not to be a total negative offensively and even then he's not that good. Then he bats leadoff and walks 20 times per year if that. Might as well lead off Rafaela and let him play 2b if they're going to do that, which I hope they don't.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 5, 2023 8:04:19 GMT -5
They will spend, especially for shorter term deals. The question becomes how willing are they to take on the deals where you get plenty of value up front but get locked into those rough back end years of decline.
Seems like you have to be willing to do that to sign a star player given the competition to sign him.
Paying Ohtani 50 million at age 31 is one thing but paying him that for his age 38 to 41 seasons are another. If the Sox aren't willing to, there will be another team that does.
This isnt me saying they should or shouldn't. This is me saying it's the cost of doing business. Not all back end deals end horribly. David Ortiz aged gracefully to the point opposing pitchers probably would have banded together to pay Ortiz to retire so they wouldn't have to face him anymore, lol
The Sox have to use their best judgment and it does explain why Bloom was more willing to risk signing Devers than Bogaerts or even Betts, that Devers final seasons on the contract only took him to age 36.
We will see where Breslow's judgments lie. After all some players effectiveness wears off in the mid 30s while others can age slower in their late 30, like a Dwight Evans for example.
So while I have no doubt the Sox will be willing to go to a 260 plus million payroll, I wonder how much stomach they have for potential long term dead money and if Breslow can find a way to still get his targets and minimize that issue.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 14:12:50 GMT -5
Fond memories of Drago in 1975. R.I.P. Thanks. I was looking for this thread but for whatever reason couldn't find it.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 13:58:02 GMT -5
Not exactly sure where to post this, but sad Red Sox alumni news.
Former reliever Dick Drago passed away at the age of 78.
He was the man on the mound in 1975 when the Red Sox won the pennant in 1975 when they swept Oakland, and he should have been a factor in Game 7 of the World Series, whether pitching in the 9th or 10 inning (Jim Willoughby should have pitched the 9th) but wasn't because he didn't get the chance.
He was later dealt to the California Angels as the player to be named later in the deal that brought Denny Doyle to Boston in 1975 to play 2b. While with the Angels in 1976 he was teammates with Jerry Remy and also served up Hank Aaron's 755th and last HR.
Then he came back via free agency to the Red Sox in 1978 (Remy soon rejoined him) after having been traded by California to Baltimore midseason in 1977. I remember him being on the first Red Sox team I remember, the 1980 Red Sox, which happened to be his final season with the Sox before he went to Seattle for the last season of his career.
He was a good multi-inning rubber armed reliever who had started off as a starter in KC (I think he came to the Sox for Marty Pattin).
RIP Dick Drago
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 13:30:29 GMT -5
I guess I'll take a really, really uneducated stab at this. DH: Ohtani C: Wong 1b: Casas 2b: Merrifield Ss: Story 3b: Devers Lf: Yoshida Cf: Trout Rf: Abreu Rotation: Bieber, Montgomery (or the lefty Japanese pitcher), Sale, Bello, Crawfore, Pivetta Bullpen: Jansen, Martin, Houck, Whitlock, Winckowski, Schreiber, 2nd lefty to be determined. They'd be adding around $115 million in salary here? I think that's pretty unlikely. I won’t go into trade packages but I’m thinking Soto LF Garver C and sometimes DH (2 year deal) Devers 3B Adames SS(stop gap for Mayer) Casas 1B Story 2B Yoshida DH sometimes LF Rafaela CF Abreu RF Nola (5 years if possible) Sale Gray (3 years ) Bello Crawford Traded: Houck, Duran, and Verdugo along with potential prospects not named Mayer, Anthony, and Teel Full intention to extend Soto and let Adames walk at end of season Why it can work? Sale, Jansen, Martin, Pivetta, etc is over $50 million falling off the books after the end of 2024 Gray, Story, Yoshida would all be gone and Nola on an expiring contract by the time extensions for potential guys like Teel, Anthony, and Mayer become a concern They'd be adding about $90 million in salary here while trading away a boatload of young talent for one-year rentals? I think that's pretty unlikely. My predictions are pie in the sky but conceptually I think that's where Breslow might try to go. Their pitching needs two front line starters so I'm guessing a free agent signing and a trade. They cant keep the offense as is. It lacks middle of the order thump and it slants too left handed and Story is the only RH power bat threat they have and who knows how he'll hit next year? When I had the Sox trading for Trout I had them paying roughly half of his salary. But no I don't expect them to necessarily trade for Trout, but I do think they intend to add a RH power bat, probably in RF. I have them signing Ohtani, but it's not hard to see him in Dodgers blue or even with the Mets, but the Sox certainly are a possibility. Should they lose out on Ohtani then I see them going after Soto. Should that fail then perhaps Trout is the big RH bat. I have trouble seeing the Padres parting with Tatis. They need a RH vat to stick between Devers and Casas and if they want to really stuff the lineup then they get Soto or Ohtani. Obviously Soto costs less to the payroll in 2024 than Ohtani would. Like I said, Trout would be about a 20 million bat. Subtracting out Duvall and Verdugo that's not a huge dollar difference in 2024. Ideally we want YY, and if they get him then hes their free agent signing and they trade for another pitcher. So with Trout you pay an extra 5 - 7 million or so versus Verdugo and Duvall. Maybe add in 25 million for Soto, 25 million for YY, and another 10 - 15 million for a lesser starter, then there's another 70 million added to the payroll. The numbers get adjusted if its Ohtani. Maybe Duvall comes back instead of Trout or some other idea. I would think the Sox payroll will exceed 250 million. I think the Sox playing in front of an empty ballpark and getting as much attention is the media market as the local soccer team is kind of jarring for ownership. I think they realize that apathy has set in and they need to spend a lot more. What iteration Breslow does to fill these needs remains to be seen. My guess is he lands one of Ohtani, Soto, and Trout, although as a fan I'd love two of them, especially if Trout comes heavily subsidized. My guess is they land one of Yamamoto, Montgomery, Nola, lefty stater from Japan whose name Im too lazy to look up and there's a trade for another starter. Breslow has a lot if work to do and he knows it. Incremental marginal moves are not what he was hired for. Too what extent he tackles these issues remains to be seen but I'm very anxious to see what he does and if he can do this without turning them into the Mets payroll or decimating the farm system.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 9:28:26 GMT -5
Jerry can you clarify your issue with him exactly? When you say we’ve been here before do you mean with an Ivy League guy in charge? A guy who embraces analytics? Which part of it is chafing you exactly is my question a couple more posts on this subject and i exit stage left. I don't have an issue with him, i said as much in a one of the posts. I gave him credit for being open minded about staffing changes. I don't particularly like the hire because he doesn't have the experience that I would like to see. That pretty much sums it up as far as him. I don't feel it is necessary to buy into what he sold to ownership to get the job. IF he had experience, actually running a club, then maybe I would feel differently. That may seem unfair to him, but it is perfectly reasonable to say, as a matter of fact, I bet he would agree. I will let him show me how good he is. And that segways into the whole Harvard / analytics / "smart" thing. We just got done with it. I think Bloom was a very smart guy, maybe too smart, and I spent the last 2 years shaking my head at what i was watching. An Ivy graduate is part of a fraternity, they take care of each other. That isn't always good. And we have seen practically ever hire in the past 10 years over MLB be some kind of mathematical genius. That is partially hyperbolic for effect, but i hope you understand what i am saying. It does n't impress me anymore, because i have seen dilution of the game itself and most guys aren't successful. Hope that explains it better. I like the fact that he was a former player, although I can attest to having awful Breslow relief appearance PTSD. Maybe that is part of what is going on here. In fairness to Breslow the pitcher, he was damn good during that 2013 season. Until the World Series. He had a very strong regular season and became the primary 8th inning guy. He was lights out in the ALDS and ALCS, but struggled mightily in the World series and was never the same again.
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 9:21:20 GMT -5
I avoid Shane Bieber like he’s the bubonic plague, if they trade for him over literally any other high end pitching target I will probably cry tears of sadness He’s not that good anymore and he’s having arm problems! His strikeouts/9 has almost been cut in half from 3 years ago and it has declined each year. Please do not trade significant assets for a guy clearly in decline with a bad arm. Musgrave over him FOR SURE, 8 days a week I'll assume Breslow will judge pitching better than me ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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redsox04071318champs
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 4, 2023 8:52:35 GMT -5
I guess I'll take a really, really uneducated stab at this.
DH: Ohtani C: Wong 1b: Casas 2b: Merrifield Ss: Story 3b: Devers Lf: Yoshida Cf: Trout Rf: Abreu
Rotation: Bieber, Montgomery (or the lefty Japanese pitcher), Sale, Bello, Crawfore, Pivetta
Bullpen: Jansen, Martin, Houck, Whitlock, Winckowski, Schreiber, 2nd lefty to be determined.
I'm guessing Ohtani is plan A, but if they fail to get him, then Soto becomes plan B.
I'm guessing that if the Sox have a shot at a partially subsidized Trout they take a crack at him to balance out their lineup as I think hed be easier to get than Tatis.
I'm guessing Bieber matches up better for the Sox than Burnes in a trade.
So I'll guess Valdez and Rafaela and others go in a deal for a substantially subsidized Trout (maybe half), and will generate a lot of controversy here based on Trout's worrisome trade history.
I'm guessing Duran and Verdugo both go in a deal to Cleveland for Bieber and perhaps a Cleveland reliever?
If course if Ohtabi heads to the Dodgers, then I think the Sox move in on Soto although theyll have competition.
Maybe instead of Bieber they use Duran, Verdugo and others to fetch Musgraves.
If the Sox do indeed trade Valdez but hang on to Yorke I'm guessing they sign Merrifield to bridge the gap to Yorke.
There feels like there are now many possible ways they could go to obtain impact, balance and lengthen the lineup, particularly from the middle of the order, hopefully stabilize the defense, while strengthening the top of the rotation and sorting out the hybrid guys as to who consistently starts and who is a bullpen member only. Breslows judgment with the pitchers he is willing or not willing to trade will also be interesting.
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