Defensive Indifference: the Sox's current and future(?) struggles in the field

[Benj4ever]

Hoping that this is more a bridge-year strategy while they try to get true regulars in place across the lineup. This would all be so much easier in a market where you could just say "hey, we are rebuilding" and people would just respond "oh, OK" instead of calling for everyone to be put to death. [kidding! sort of]

Possibly questionable opinion: is it really that big a deal to be at -7 DRS? Or -6 for all of 2022? Statistically speaking, Devers' offense overwhelms his defensive issues. There can be a force multiplier for bad defense up the middle, but at the corners it kinda just is what it is. Maybe moving him opens up a spot for another great two-way player but I suspect you are getting downgraded offense somewhere if you stick Devers at DH.

Funny thing is Devers was so much better defensively last year. This year, he looks like he's just mailing it in out there.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Funny thing is Devers was so much better defensively last year. This year, he looks like he's just mailing it in out there.

I thought he was solid first half of the season.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I don't see it. Sox need two strong defensive outfielders to cover CF and RF in Fenway. Duran isn't one of those. Verdugo is. Rafaela is, if he can hit MLB pitching. My guess is they keep Dugie, start '24 with Rafaela and Duran splitting CF, and if Rafaela is hitting, they shop Duran at the '24 deadline. Maybe shop Duran this off-season if they're feeling super-confident about Rafaela, but I don't see that happening. Or even shop Yoshida at the '24 deadline if they think Duran will keep hitting. But I think they need to keep Dugie until Anthony or another good-fielding prospect is ready (or they trade for/sign another strong defensive OF).

Yeah, people are way too quick to assume that Verdugo is getting traded. He might be, but I'd put it less than 50/50

 

[DavidTai]

I can't see shopping Yoshida if they want to have any hope of signing his ex-teammate.

 

[Heating up in the bullpen]

If Yorke or Meidroth forced the issue sufficiently by seizing the 2B spot, and Boston decided to move Devers to 1B, then Casas is an insanely valuable trade chip.

There's a lot left unsaid in this post, namely how a 2B prospect forcing their way up pushes Devers off of 3B. I suspect your math includes the ascendence of Mayer at SS, creating a logjam at SS/2B with Mayer, Story and Yorke/Meidroth. In that scenario, one of those guys gets pushed to 3B, pushing Devers to 1B (or DH) and Casas to DH (or trade bait).
Probably at least a year away from having that good problem. And by then they may also have Bonaci knocking on the door, with other middle infielders like Romero pushing their way up.
Looking forward to @JM3 's "Looking at 2024 Infield" thread for a full breakdown.

 

[Harry Hooper]

I thought he was solid first half of the season.

Devers looked pretty good in the field for the first 5-6 weeks, but things decayed as the season wore on.

 

[kazuneko]

I don't see it. Sox need two strong defensive outfielders to cover CF and RF in Fenway. Duran isn't one of those. Verdugo is. Rafaela is, if he can hit MLB pitching. My guess is they keep Dugie, start '24 with Rafaela and Duran splitting CF, and if Rafaela is hitting, they shop Duran at the '24 deadline. Maybe shop Duran this off-season if they're feeling super-confident about Rafaela, but I don't see that happening. Or even shop Yoshida at the '24 deadline if they think Duran will keep hitting. But I think they need to keep Dugie until Anthony or another good-fielding prospect is ready (or they trade for/sign another strong defensive OF).

Yes. I'm actually a bit surprised how eager people are to move on from Verdugo - especially in a discussion centered on improving the team's defense. All the data suggests that Verdugo has been the team's best fielder by a large margin. I get it that this is a bit surprising because of he had an off year last year, but his performance this year isn't wildly out of place when you take into account his history prior to 2022. He's been a good fielder, and this year he's been great (best DRS among all RF in the AL). If the team wants to improve it's defense, keeping him around -with Rafaela in the same OF- might be the best way to accomplish that goal.

 

[Heating up in the bullpen]

I can't see shopping Yoshida if they want to have any hope of signing his ex-teammate.

Sure, but that would be this off-season. Earliest they could shop Yoshida would be the '24 deadline, only if Rafaela looks like he'll hit enough to stick as a regular and Duran has kept up his offensive production. But even if all that happens, I see them shopping Duran rather than Yoshida -- his cost-controlled years will be very valuable if he's still hitting.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I can't see shopping Yoshida if they want to have any hope of signing his ex-teammate.

They aren't shopping Yoshida regardless.

 

[JM3]

There's a lot left unsaid in this post, namely how a 2B prospect forcing their way up pushes Devers off of 3B. I suspect your math includes the ascendence of Mayer at SS, creating a logjam at SS/2B with Mayer, Story and Yorke/Meidroth. In that scenario, one of those guys gets pushed to 3B, pushing Devers to 1B (or DH) and Casas to DH (or trade bait).
Probably at least a year away from having that good problem. And by then they may also have Bonaci knocking on the door, with other middle infielders like Romero pushing their way up.
Looking forward to @JM3 's "Looking at 2024 Infield" thread for a full breakdown.

I started a corner infield post earlier today that I'll probably finish tomorrow.

I considered doing all 4 infield positions together...& also all 4 separately, but I think corner & middle makes sense, & then 1 outfield post. Open to suggestions, though.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

They aren't shopping Yoshida regardless.

I doubt they’re shopping any of them. If everyone is bullish on Rafaela as they seem, he’s in CF next season…. Duran in LF and Verdugo in RF and you’ve got yourself a good defensive OF.
Story at SS, Urias at 2B (he made a play last night that I don’t think Arroyo gets to) and defense up the middle is now great.
Weak at the corners but I have seen improvements from Casas. Devers is problematic…..
It’s basically the same team as this year but plugs Story and Urias into the holes that were always shifting the entire season.
Yoshida mostly at DH. Would be great if Dalbec could replicate his AAA line and make Devers and Casas part of a corner IF/DH platoon…. If not get Turner again and it’s better this season by Story over ‘22SS..
Only really need to look at a top starter and another back-end rotation guy. Yamamoto and Montgomery