Assuming that Bloom is done? Or is he really now going to look to deal Pivetta and/or Houck? I still want Pivetta (expecting a better pitcher that can throw 160 innings) but I think Houck is officially expendable.Speier says 1/10M with a club option.
View: https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1608153322707423232
I know he's not all that inspiring, but for those concerned about where innings are going to come from, he did make 31 starts and threw 164 innings last year.
I think they go into spring training with everyone lined up to start, and then see where they're at by Opening Day (who's healthy, who's effective, etc). I can't imagine they're going to make any decisions before that point.Are they going to a 6 man rotation or does Houck or Whitlock go to bullpen? (Until Sale gets hurt)
Yeah, was gonna say a similar thing. They basically replace Hill with Kluber, who in his first full year back from 3 injured seasons threw 164 IP (Hill threw 124), had an ERA+ of 84 (Hill was better at 98), and had a FIP of 3.57 (Hill was at 3.92).The age doesn't bother me. If anything, they get younger swapping him out for Hill. I like that he throws strikes--only 20 BB in 164 IP last year. Put a plus defender at SS behind him and see what happens.
I believe that consensus on this board is that Bloom was done about a month ago.Assuming that Bloom is done?
I would definitely not rule out any deals.Assuming that Bloom is done? Or is he really now going to look to deal Pivetta and/or Houck? I still want Pivetta (expecting a better pitcher that can throw 160 innings) but I think Houck is officially expendable.
I think this is right. (And also have to consider who is adaptable to a different role).I think they go into spring training with everyone lined up to start, and then see where they're at by Opening Day (who's healthy, who's effective, etc). I can't imagine they're going to make any decisions before that point.
The time to take risk is when you have a bunch of minor leaguers on the cusp. Bloom needs to see what shakes out this season, which does not leave room for a ton of additions. I am also unsure of how signing Yoshida and risk averse happens in the same post.I'd characterize every deal this offseason as "fine" with the hypothetical exception of the Yoshida deal which carries a lot more boom (and bust) potential. Still waiting on anything to materialize from all the trade possibilities Bloom was silly enough to tease as if it were a guarantee that he would be making significant additions from that market.
A very tepid, risk-averse offseason so far that would make more sense to me with a stronger core in place and a bunch of blue chippers in Portland and Worcester ready to take Boston by storm. It has been a fill-in-the-gaps offseason for a team that needed gap-filling and then some. A lot rides on what we get from the Whitlock/Bello/Houck trio and what leaps may be taken (or players returned in trade) by our on-the-cusp guys like Mata, Walter, Murphy, Valdez, and maybe Raffaela and Lugo later in the summer.
Resolving the Devers situation and more clarity in the middle infield would help get over the feeling that we are just treading water. Still plenty of time for trades as well of course, but the risk aversion has me wondering what that may ultimately look like.
Anywho, I like the deal fine, Chaim has been able to squeeze value out of these kinds of deals.
Cross-posting from the Rumors thread, I think Kluber took it because he likely sees this as the "last roundup" sort of deal. Might as well spend a year pitching close to home before retiring.One year deal with a club option is the Bloom ideal; I guess on the third try, Kluber was willing to take it.
Agree... almost the same money and a club option if he pitches well. His numbers and durability last year are much better. Good signing to bridge to younger kids coming up.Yeah, was gonna say a similar thing. They basically replace Hill with Kluber, who in his first full year back from 3 injured seasons threw 164 IP (Hill threw 124), had an ERA+ of 84 (Hill was better at 98), and had a FIP of 3.57 (Hill was at 3.92).
All-in-all it feels like an upgrade, and if slotted properly as the 4th or 5th starter, will help the team in 2023.
But that's true no matter who they sign right now. The future of the team depends on how the prospects pan out. If they're good, the team will contend, if they're not, giving Xander 11 years wouldn't make much difference.A very tepid, risk-averse offseason so far that would make more sense to me with a stronger core in place and a bunch of blue chippers in Portland and Worcester ready to take Boston by storm. It has been a fill-in-the-gaps offseason for a team that needed gap-filling and then some. A lot rides on what we get from the Whitlock/Bello/Houck trio and what leaps may be taken (or players returned in trade) by our on-the-cusp guys like Mata, Walter, Murphy, Valdez, and maybe Raffaela and Lugo later in the summer.
Why would we assume this?Assuming that Bloom is done? Or is he really now going to look to deal Pivetta and/or Houck? I still want Pivetta (expecting a better pitcher that can throw 160 innings) but I think Houck is officially expendable.
It would be helpful if you posted his walk rates for the past few years so we wouldn't have to look them up to see what you're talking about.Good move. I like how he hardly walks anyone.
That sounds great, but in the last four seasons he has pitched a total of 280 innings with a 91 ERA+.Seems fine. Cheap and disposable. If he gives us 150-160 innings at an ERA+ around 110 then it’s really good.
For sure, I’m aware of his post-Cleveland career. But he did throw 160 innings last year at a better than league average ERA. So I’m hoping for a relay of that, which isn’t entirely unreasonable. If he sucks, we cut him in the summer. Whatevs.That sounds great, but in the last four seasons he has pitched a total of 280 innings with a 91 ERA+.
As a $10m reclamation project, he seems fine, but given the lack of dependable starters on this team it's hard to get very excited about this. It's worth a roll of the dice, but the rotation still feels like a total mess to me.
Wow, 4.34ERA was better than league average? I knew it was a hitter's year, but didn't realize quite how much.For sure, I’m aware of his post-Cleveland career. But he did throw 160 innings last year at a better than league average ERA. So I’m hoping for a relay of that, which isn’t entirely unreasonable. If he sucks, we cut him in the summer. Whatevs.
My bad, his ERA+ was an 84. Thats on me, I misread it. Well, fingers crossed he gets to 105!Wow, 4.34ERA was better than league average? I knew it was a hitter's year, but didn't realize quite how much.
In 2022, Kluber led the league among qualifying pitchers with 1.152 walks per 9 innings (Nola 2nd with 1.273)It would be helpful if you posted his walk rates for the past few years so we wouldn't have to look them up to see what you're talking about.
Yeah, the problem is that his K rate (7.6 per 9) and HR rate (1.1 per 9) are both well worse than any of the other guys on that list.Kluber led MLB in BB/9 at 1.15 this past season. After him were
Nola 1.27
Gausman 1.44
Verlander 1.49
Fried 1.55
Bieber 1.62
That's pretty interesting company.
Well, it's only a problem if we really think we just signed a guy to 1/$10m to be as good as those guys.Yeah, the problem is that his K rate (7.6 per 9) and HR rate (1.1 per 9) are both well worse than any of the other guys on that list.
I think that’s right. Wouldn’t be surprised if they open the year that way as well, given the desire probably to manage people’s innings.I think they go into spring training with everyone lined up to start, and then see where they're at by Opening Day (who's healthy, who's effective, etc). I can't imagine they're going to make any decisions before that point.
Do you have evidence to prove Kluber was aquired to flip?Kluber is another pitcher that if he pitches well enough, can be flipped to a contender at the deadline. Overall, a big market team using their cash resources to “buy” prospects is a good approach when that team has money to spend, but is probably not good enough to compete.