He is 18 and just signed in June, I'd be worried if you had heard of him.
That was exactly my thought when I saw the news. His only real value is his defensive versatility, though he hasn't exactly shown to be stellar at any position. He's no real loss if they need the roster spot and have to waive him.
Does that mean he chases pitches out of the zone but hits them really well? Like Papa Vlad?
I think it's the opposite. He doesn't swing outside the zone very often. Suggesting he has a disciplined eye, but he hasn't really gotten much to show for it: .201/.291/.346/.641 line in 210 PA.
Eh, Chang has a lot more power, or at least much better exit velos. Both are interesting players!
Yu Chang (Yu Chang Yu Chang)
No big lose since we have first base taken care of. I am hoping we get some clarity on Evoldi soon.
After the JDM experience in 2022, where he declined before our very eyes over the second half, I would think we'd all be a bit hesitant about the Sox signing an older player than he to be a full-time DH, especially if it would require locking him up through his age 38 season.
He definitely would have helped as the DH and some time at 1B. But when the defending WS champs come calling with $20 million/year it's got to be a no-brainer for him. For free agents right now, it's got to be tough to choose Boston because of the uncertainty surrounding the long-term status of Devers and the SS position. Why would someone sign here over a place that is set up to win better unless the Sox overpay? Bloom and ownership need to get going on Devers/Bogaerts or they're going to lose out on other players because of this.
Sure, in theory..but all free agents who are willing to take relatively short term deals are going to come with flaws and be risks. Maybe the Sox go after a younger and more defensively flexible player like Gallo, Bellinger, Conforto, or Pederson.
I'm fine with taking a risk on a short-term deal to a flawed free agent, just not to be a full time DH. Jose Abreu on a 3-year deal would be a lot more worthwhile if the team didn't have a 1B-only rookie that they hope to see play 150+ games next season.
Not that it matters now, but couldn’t Abreu have taken some 1b playing time against LH? And been an insurance policy for Casas and allowed the Sox to dump Hosmer?
I am wondering how much first base the Astros are planning on playing Abreau. I can imagine he would prefer to have a consistent position rather then bounce around.
The Astros don't have a 1B otherwise, so I expect he'll be more or less full time there. Got to imagine their preference is to have Alvarez DH more often than not.
I'd really like to shy away from the full time DH type unless he can absolutely mash. IF Abreau were to come here I would hope it would have been as part time DH/RH 1B option. That said it's a moot point
It looks as though his DHing has mostly served as a way to give him partial days of as he routinely plays at least 75% of his games at 1B. In fact he played 1st in 128 games vs 29 at DH last season and 135 vs 18 the previous season.
Would Haniger be the DH? Or would he be in the OF where they have a need? I suppose he could do both.
Haniger might not be a plus right fielder anymore, but I think he could still be a plus left fielder at Fenway.
At this point, there don’t appear to be a ton of great options for RF unless the Sox sign a Turner or Nimmo and move one of them or Kike to RF. I guess Bellinger could work, too.
My thought is similar... sign a guy we can platoon somewhere and hit DH. If we are looking for someone to get some work at 1b then Josh Bell might be a good fit. If we need some outfielder depth as well as DH then Haniger might be a good fit there as well as a few other names. Paying Abreu crazy money to just DH is just that ... crazy. Really nothing gets solved until Xander decides.
Willson Contreras as DH, C2, and RHH 1B could be a good fit. He's got a couple hundred innings in the outfield, also.
