Red Sox acquire Eduardo Nunez
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
It would probably take every bit of Chris Young's freed up money and then some to keep Nunez so I guess the answer is yes, they could do that. However, I'm not overly enthusiastic about him being the defacto 4th OF. He's had 49 games played in the outfield in his MLB career (just 2 games in the minors). I'd rather they have a true outfielder as the primary back-up and let Nunez or Holt or whoever is deemed the super-utility guy be the 5th OF.
Anecdotally, he's a Hanley Ramirez-grade outfield defender.
(edited to add: anecdotally, in the sense that he doesn't have enough IP in the outfield to have real statistics, but from an eye-test standpoint he's horrible. Now, he's plenty athletic, so maybe a Spring Training with Ruben could get him into shape out there, but I would sign him with that in mind.)
I'd rather they just punted at 4th OF and see if Benintendi can hang in against lefties He only has 92 PA vs. them.
Nunez doesn't have a platoon split - he's actually slightly worse vs lefties (wRC+ 93 lifetime). If they have to platoon someone, I would want an actual lefty masher who was at least average in the field.
Plus - he'll be more expensive. It wouldn't shock me if he made close to 10 mill per year over 3 years.
Nunez doesn't have a platoon split - he's actually slightly worse vs lefties (wRC+ 93 lifetime). If they have to platoon someone, I would want an actual lefty masher who was at least average in the field.
Plus - he'll be more expensive. It wouldn't shock me if he made close to 10 mill per year over 3 years.
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Nunez is very versatile and in position to have his third straight season of > 100 OPS+; barring a collpase, his status as a late bloomer will be cemented. He won't be signing for Chris Young money, and I imagine he'll want a defined role.
A Brentz/Nunez tandem could make sense in place of Young/Holt. Brentz will make $1M+ less than Holt is this year. Nunez could be the super-utility guy without being a de facto 4th OFer. The ability of the 3 starters to play CF means you don't have to have a bench guy who can. The biggest problems there, in my mind, are if Brentz and Nunez can replicate their 2017 numbers (and Brentz against big league pitching) and whether Nunez signs for less than $10M per year.
If Nunez is offered a 3+ yr deal at $8M+/yr, we're not going to get him. Depends on how the market shakes out. His lack of one true defensive position (and average overall defense) could actually hurt him when teams go looking for position-specific starters. Not many teams hand out big Zobrist-type contracts.
Guessing that is more a reflection on how many good Ben Zobrist'type of players there actually are.
Nunez has done well enough this year where he's getting offered a starter level commitment somewhere. The chances of that being here are pretty much zero though imo, especially given the current roster makeup. As fun as the ride may end up being, in the much more open field scenario of an off-season he's simply not the type of premium priced egg DD is going to put in his shopping basket.
Sounds like a perfect bench for the end run
Nunez (rhh reverse split) - any infield position
Young (rhh) - any outfield position (or a corner moves to cf)
Holt - (lhh no split) any position
Vazquez (rhh) - except the one that Holt doesn't cover
Nunez (rhh reverse split) - any infield position
Young (rhh) - any outfield position (or a corner moves to cf)
Holt - (lhh no split) any position
Vazquez (rhh) - except the one that Holt doesn't cover
I'd rather see Holt replaced with either a slugger or a speedster for the playoffs, and with the likelihood of dropping to an 11-man BP, it could be both. Or a 3rd Catcher
The sox need to try to keep Nunez. Say goodbye to Young, Moreland and Holt if need be. Nunez is a top of the order type guy in hitting parks especially Fenway. He's made for Fenway. Pedroia isn't all of a sudden going to give the Sox 150 games any more. Pay extra to keep him. Let others go.
It's definitely worth pursuing but that has to be considered in the context of other Sox needs- short and long term.
Immediately needs are a power hitting 1B. Then long term contracts to any of the B's. Sale? Lock up Kimbrell?
The Red Sox, with their present payroll situation, can't be paying the kind of money Nunez is due to be offered this winter for a utility player. Not unless they're going to go the deep discount route again at 1B, as well as 4th OF, as well as in the bullpen.
It's a new reality. The Competitive Balance penalties are a real deterrent for teams to go over the luxury tax threshold. And the Red Sox have hamstrung themselves with deals like the Sandoval one (which to be reasonable was signed before these new CB rules were enacted).
It's a new reality. The Competitive Balance penalties are a real deterrent for teams to go over the luxury tax threshold. And the Red Sox have hamstrung themselves with deals like the Sandoval one (which to be reasonable was signed before these new CB rules were enacted).
Devers and Beni for next year will give them enough power.And expect and improvement from Xander. To get the power bat - along with being a good player - imo it would be less likely for long-term contracts.
Maybe most teams will see his lifetime .910 OPS at Fenway and figure he's really good there and probably not that good across all other ballparks. They'll quite possibly figure he'll go back to the lifetime 97 OPS guy, although they may think he figured something out in 2015 with Minnesota. He's been better since. Hopefully, the other GMs will conclude my first point here.
Nunez should start. His value is that he can start anywhere. Next year you sign him initially as your 1b/dh - he and Hanley. The beauty of Nunez is - anyone gets hurt you can plug him into near any spot but he would be a starter either dh or 1b- and he a top of the order quality hitter. And we do have age as a huge consideration at 2b as is Hanley. The power bat good quality 1st baseman is going to cost a lot too. But with Nunez you don't need Holt and you don't need to pay for a good quality power bat 1b. A good quality 1b plus Holt is near same price as Nunez would be. But it's not like Nunez will be getting $12m- 15m. A guy like Nunez doesn't have the same value in big ball parks.
If no Nunez, the sox need to get one fa more starter or trade for one unless you're going to go with Travis. The SOx will be able to to let go Moreland and Young. Also Holt. Also either Kelly or Abad more than likely because we'll be adding Carson Smith next year. I don't believe the $9m you give to a starter like Nunez will hurt us that much. In hitting parks - he's a great value imo - especially Fenway. We still need to play/pay to win. And Hanley and Pedey are injury concerns. You need a quality bat - and Nunez can fit both positions.
All the b's and Sale can't be signed anyways and we're still pressing to win it all not only this year but thereafter too. And Nunez isn't going to get a 5 year deal either.