Red Sox in season discussion

Al Zarilla

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A little bit that, and a little bit that the rest of their division (so close to half their road games) is housed in ballparks that suppress offense a bit more than Coors does.
Except for Chase Field. They leave the roof open there unless it's very hot, so the ball flies because it is so hot most of the time. And, the outfield dimensions are pretty average. Hopefully, Story kills it at Fenway (and on the road). Get greedy!
 

chrisfont9

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I guess this is good news. The only guy blocked by this is Downs; Story may be off 2B by the time Yorke is ready, if you believe the rumors about his elbow, and anyway Yorke isn't quite as sure a bet as, say, Casas now is. But I wonder if there will be some position switching in the minors. And if they don't extend Bogaerts, I have no idea what the plan is for SS medium-term. Even if they do, that will give us until Mayer's arrival to bitch about X's defense.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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So are we thinking something like

1. Kiké CF
2. Story 2B
3. Devers 3B
4. Bogaerts SS
5. Martinez DH
6. Verdugo LF
7. Dalbec 1B
8. Vazquez C
9. Bradley RF

with Casas in the mix this summer? I’d still take a bigger bat in RF, but I can live with this.
I would flip Bradley and Vaz; Bobby D between the two lefties makes sense to me.
 

Jack Rabbit Slim

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That’s a solid lineup, but we still need to limit runs from our opponents. We need two solid SP to keep Houck and Whitlock from being forced into the rotation until Sale returns.
This seems like the ideal situation to see what Whitlock can do as a starter. He can stretch out this spring and start for a couple of months without having to commit to a full season from him. If the FO has any thoughts of him being a starter long term now is a great time.
 

Just a bit outside

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So are you thinking the Rays cut him loose or trade him? I can't see the latter happening in the division.
Trade him. The Rays have traded with the Sox before. I don’t think that is a stumbling block. I know they would prefer to move Kiermeier or Meadows but might move Margot to open up space for Lowe or Brujan.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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This seems like the ideal situation to see what Whitlock can do as a starter. He can stretch out this spring and start for a couple of months without having to commit to a full season from him. If the FO has any thoughts of him being a starter long term now is a great time.
Exactly. I don't understand the desire to push him or Houck to the bullpen. They can be of more value as starters. Sure, it'd be great if the rotation was good enough that they aren't needed, but that ship sailed already for 2022 I think. At least until the deadline, maybe.
 

Van Everyman

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Renfroe got a lot of attention for his 16 assists. He had a hose but he also had a propensity for being too aggressive trying to throw guys out, missing cut off men, and allowing trail runners to take extra bases. With JBJ you get way way better instincts tracking balls and a lot better decision-making with a similarly strong arm.
Right. It's interesting to me that Renfroe's negative defensive attributes worsened as the season went along. I wonder if scouting picked it all up early, and then used it against him later.
And fwiw--I know that 30HR hitters dont grow on trees.
I also think it’s distinctly possible that JBJ and Renfroe put up roughly equivalent offensive numbers in 2022. JBJ is extremely streaky but there isn’t any more reason to think he turned into a .163 hitter going forward than there was to think Renfroe became a .156 hitter in 2020 (oddly enough JBJ hit .283 in 2020 which was a career high). Is he as likely to hit 30 HR? Of course not. But he could put up 20 for sure. Plus, he’s also a generational OF talent whereas Renfroe is well below average once you factor in the errors and mental lapses.

Are we sure JBJ goes to RF?
 

joe dokes

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Are we sure JBJ goes to RF?
Now that Kiké is much less likely to be at 2B much at all, I think JBJs best use is in RF. If it was anyplace but Fenway, maybe not. I wonder if he will be as great in RF as he was in center, but he's likely to be better than Renfroe.
 

E5 Yaz

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Now that Kiké is much less likely to be at 2B much at all, I think JBJs best use is in RF. If it was anyplace but Fenway, maybe not. I wonder if he will be as great in RF as he was in center, but he's likely to be better than Renfroe.
I think they're more likely to be park specific. There's little reason, for instance, to play JBJ in 2B+ in The Bidet, whereas CF there has a ton of ground to cover
 

ArttyG12

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I’m pretty surprised at how ready people are to write off Duran. He had all of 112 PAs in the majors. That’s barely enough time to start a laser show. Kinda think he gets first crack at the everyday RF spot.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I’m pretty surprised at how ready people are to write off Duran. He had all of 112 PAs in the majors. That’s barely enough time to start a laser show. Kinda think he gets first crack at the everyday RF spot.
He was still green when he was called up, and I think expectations at the time were inflated because of the state of the big league lineup. I don't think it's writing him off to say he should be getting more time in Worcester.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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Would the Sox consider batting Story leadoff? He hasn’t done it a ton (although he’s been good when batting there), but he’s got more speed and is historically a better OBP guys than Hernandez.

Story
Devers
Bogaerts
Martinez
Hernandez
Verdugo
Dalbec
Bradley
Vazquez

Probably doesn’t matter a ton and Hernandez was good at the lead off spot…but this would get Story the maximum # of at bats, obviously and allow the team to take advantage of base stealing ability

Definitely adds some more interesting options for the order
 

Van Everyman

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Re. Duran, some people are definitely writing him off because of what they saw last year. But I agree, he’s likely to benefit from some seasoning in the minors.
 

Jerry’s Curl

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Exactly. Unless there just isn't a spot in the rotation (and that's clearly not the case) one of these guys should be getting the opportunity to help out the team in a bigger way.
Houck in the rotation and Whitlock as a swing man is ideal. Need someone in the pen to protect leads and bridge the gap.
 

allmanbro

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I'd guess if another OF comes, it's by trade. People have mentioned some targets here recently. But it seems like there is still a chance to take on the Myers contract to get some prospects/pitching from SD. Or maybe the A's would include Laureano with one of their pitchers.
 

YTF

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I’m pretty surprised at how ready people are to write off Duran. He had all of 112 PAs in the majors. That’s barely enough time to start a laser show. Kinda think he gets first crack at the everyday RF spot.
IMO Duran is going to have to been all worldly in the next 2 1/2 weeks to break camp as the Sox starting right fielder or one of Kike', Verdugo of Bradley starts the year on the IL. You reference his 112 PAs, but from what I remember his defense wasn't great. He's got speed for sure, but he didn't always seem to take the best routes to the ball and I'm not sure how well his arm plays in Fenway's RF. It's no knock to suggest he learn to hone both his offensive and defensive skills. The best way to do that is to play everyday and IMO the best place to do that is in WOOstah.
 

JimD

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I love, love, love Chaim's methodical approach. The man has an eye for value: if the Sox do not land one targeted player they move on to the next best option, and Bloom absolutely will not be swayed by impatient fans and mediots overreacting to whatever the Yankees do. With so many contracts coming off the books at the end of 2022, the team is still very well positioned to extend Devers this year if a deal can be done and even add at the trade deadline. I haven't felt this confident in the Sox front office since Theo's heyday.
 

chawson

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I love, love, love Chaim's methodical approach. The man has an eye for value: if the Sox do not land one targeted player they move on to the next best option, and Bloom absolutely will not be swayed by impatient fans and mediots overreacting to whatever the Yankees do. With so many contracts coming off the books at the end of 2022, the team is still very well positioned to extend Devers this year if a deal can be done and even add at the trade deadline. I haven't felt this confident in the Sox front office since Theo's heyday.
Assuming Bogaerts opts out, the Sox are now at $74 million in 2023 payroll commitments (18th in MLB), $53m in 2024 (17th) and $23m in 2025 (18th).

If you wanna include Bogaerts’ current deal, the Sox are at $94 million in 2023 payroll commitments (11th highest), $73m in 2024 (9th), and $43m in 2025 (11th).

We look like a team well poised to sign a guy to a $500 million contract in a few years, should it come to that.
 

Minneapolis Millers

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We look like a team well poised to sign a guy to a $500 million contract in a few years, should it come to that.
Man, I hope it’s me. Me or Juan Soto.

It will be interesting to watch Bloom’s approach. We haven’t done all that well locking up young studs early. But wouldn’t it be nice to have Casas come up, rake for a year or two, and get extended, giving us a .900 OPS for 8 years at $10M per?
 

nvalvo

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Houck in the rotation and Whitlock as a swing man is ideal. Need someone in the pen to protect leads and bridge the gap.
The pen is actually extremely deep. There's no 100% lockdown option unless Barnes is back to full strength, but there are kind of a ton of guys who should be at least pretty good.

Barnes
Robles
Diekman
Taylor
Brasier
Strahm
Sawamura
Davis
Hernandez
Bazardo
Valdez

That's a ton of depth, and then a few more guys who are likely to be SPs in the minors but could absolutely pitch out of the big league pen in a pinch. Picking one out of a hat: Kutter Crawford.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Man, I hope it’s me. Me or Juan Soto.

It will be interesting to watch Bloom’s approach. We haven’t done all that well locking up young studs early. But wouldn’t it be nice to have Casas come up, rake for a year or two, and get extended, giving us a .900 OPS for 8 years at $10M per?
Surely, you jest. 8/80 would be a hell of a coup for a guy with a .900 OPS. Bloom would be a candidate for the Hall of Fame to pull that off.
 

sezwho

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Man, I hope it’s me. Me or Juan Soto.

It will be interesting to watch Bloom’s approach. We haven’t done all that well locking up young studs early. But wouldn’t it be nice to have Casas come up, rake for a year or two, and get extended, giving us a .900 OPS for 8 years at $10M per?
Or me, and yes I’m already imagining Casas raking 900+OPS for quite some time.

His actions portray someone with ice water veins, but I’m wondering how confident Chaim was that one of the bats, and maybe Story’s in particular, would come their way.

Did they feel they had read the market or fear one more ‘mystery team’ appearing with a percieved (by them) overpay? Turning to the trade market sounds like an option, but it’s not one I’d choose over flexing just the checkbook directly.
 

Yelling At Clouds

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Their second pick in the second round. They got a compensation pick for not signing Fabian plus their regular pick. They lose the regular pick for Story.
Red Sox would lose the ERod comp pick if they signed Conforto. Right now, the net for ERod/Story is dropping approx. 15 spots in the draft.
I see. Yeah, I’d be surprised they went that route. I’d be surprised if any team gave up a pick for Conforto, frankly, but baseball has been surprising me a lot lately.
 

Rwillh11

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Brianish

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It's suggesting that we have other prospects we could trade for Manaea or Montas. Seems like complete speculation.
 

bosockboy

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"The Red Sox have material in the minors not named Mayer, Casas or Duran to acquire Manea or Montas through trade with the As. If they pull it off, it would put them among the favorites along with LA."

In the comments he also says Yorke is off-limits.
Thanks wouldn’t post translated version.
 

nvalvo

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I think we could absolutely get Manaea without including anyone in the top five. Letting Oakland pick their two faves from Brayan Bello, Blaise Jordan, Jay Groome, Gilberto Jimenez and Jeter Downs would get that done (the baseballtradevalues site agrees with me).

Montas has more years of control, so would be much more expensive to acquire.
 

OCD SS

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Mayer, Casas, (Yorke), and Duran... one of these things is not like the others

Edited to add that if the Sox are trading with Oakland, I would be very surprised if they weren't also going after a catcher. Murphy is the fashionable, no longer under the radar name in that department, and they were really close on Stallings before Miami overbid them, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them move on from Vazquez.
 
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edoug

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I think we could absolutely get Manaea without including anyone in the top five. Letting Oakland pick their two faves from Brayan Bello, Blaise Jordan, Jay Groome, Gilberto Jimenez and Jeter Downs would get that done (the baseballtradevalues site agrees with me).

Montas has more years of control, so would be much more expensive to acquire.
When told he may be traded. Blaise Jordan replied "Meh, I don't really care".
 

Average Game James

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Mayer, Casas, (Yorke), and Duran... one of these things is not like the others
Am I the only one reading into Yorke not being among the names mentioned in the tweet? In theory, if Bloom expects to extend/re-sign Xander then 2B is now locked up long-term with the Story signing, making Yorke a more logical trade piece.
 

OCD SS

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I agree, but, for example, those are all top 100 prospects according to mlb network. 14/18/55/85. So not crazy to write it that way.
https://www.mlb.com/prospects

EDIT but if they got Montas for a package headlined by Duran I'd be pretty amazed and thrilled.
Fair enough. Interestingly, the A's have really seemed to aim for prospects that are closer to the majors in their recent trades... I guess the question is how would you feel about giving up Duran (plus) to get Manaea? I think they'll be able to get a better offer for Montas.

Edit:
Am I the only one reading into Yorke not being among the names mentioned in the tweet? In theory, if Bloom expects to extend/re-sign Xander then 2B is now locked up long-term with the Story signing, making Yorke a more logical trade piece.
I was just going off of Rwillh11's note that Yorke was mentioned as off limits in the comments section. Yorke's bat will have to carry him, but he could still wind up in LF; he has so much developing left to do that I'm sure Bloom is not scheduling to take delivery of his new IF for 2026 (really the same rules apply to Mayer).
 
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