Betts/Price to LA for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong

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SouthernBoSox

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FG rates Wong as a 40+ FV prospect, which would make him #7 in our system at best. They have Downs as a 45+, which would make him #2 to Casas at best. Of course that's just one source.
He is instantly, easily, the best catching prospect in the system. Catcher is a real weak point in our farm.
 

amfox1

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Giving effect to the trade the Red Sox should be $14-15mm under the 2020 luxury tax threshold.

Updating my post from the other thread:

Giving effect to the trade, the Red Sox are committed to seven players for approx. $107.9mm in AAV (Sale (25.6), Eovaldi (17.0), JDM (22.0, if no opt-out), Bogaerts (20.0), Pedroia (13.8), Benintendi (5.0), Vazquez (4.5)) in 2021. Sale and Bogaerts have no-trade clauses. Pedroia is untradeable.

In addition, the Red Sox will have approx $24mm in 40-man costs, medical benefits, etc. (using @redsoxpayroll's spreadsheet) and $16mm in payments for Price's contract.

So, before accounting for free agents and arb players, the Red Sox would be at approx $148mm with six players on the 25-man accounted for, plus Pedroia.

ERod (arb4), Barnes (arb3) and Devers (arb1) could easily run $20-25mm. Assuming $25mm, the Red Sox are now at $173mm with nine players (plus Pedroia) committed for 2021, or $27mm under the luxury tax threshold. Assuming the Red Sox remain under the ltt in 2020, the penalty will reset to 20% in 2021.

Edit: added Price's $16mm
 
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pokey_reese

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Yeah, I don't know, Graterol is #32 on the BP list (but #83 on the MLB.com list), Downs isn't on the BP at all, and is #86 on the BA list (though he is #44 on the MLB.com list), so it's hard to say this is a huge improvement until we find out down the road if Graterol stays healthy or not. I guess there is less risk in the position player, so that's nice, and a low-ceiling lotto ticket in Wong.
 

RedOctober3829

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All said and done I think Bloom got very good value for 1 year of Betts and $48 million of Price. I wish we got Muncy instead of Verdugo, but I get why that isn’t the case. Glad they didn’t have to take Pollack back.
 

Hank Scorpio

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Still not happy Mookie is going - even if it "had to be done". The idiotic Sale/Eovaldi contracts made this a foregone conclusion.

But now that this is done - I'd prefer if the Sox signed Puig to a 1-2 year deal, and traded Verdugo for cost controlled pitching.
 

Hee Sox Choi

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Fangraphs hasn't released their Dodgers prospect list this year so that grade (45+) is old. He had a good year and I imagine he'll be a 50. Here's some BP stuff:

8. Jeter Downs, SS
DOB:
7/27/1998
Height/Weight: 5’11” / 180 lbs
Bats/Throws:
R/R
Drafted/Acquired:
Drafted 32nd overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2017 draft, Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Miami, FL), signed for $1,822,500.
Previous Ranking(s):
#12 (Org)
2019 Stats:
.269/.354/.507, 19 HR, 23 SB in 107 games for High-A Rancho Cucamonga; .333/.429/.688, 5 HR, 1 SB in 12 games for Double-A Tulsa

The Report: The second prospect coming back to the sunshine state for Yasiel Puig last winter, Downs showed a solid power-and-speed combination from the shortstop position in his age-20 season. He led the California League with 33 doubles, then continued to rake during a cameo at Double-A, tying off his season with a three-homer game in the Texas League playoffs. After a pull-happy first half, Downs made adjustments to better utilize the opposite field in the second half, and both the hit and game power tools flourished. There isn’t really a carrying tool in the offensive toolbag; he’s got a decent approach and there’s solid-average pop, but he stills cuts off the outer half too often. He’s an above-average runner whose instincts play amplify his baserunning skill and should allow him to continue stealing bases at a solid clip. Defensively, the athletic 5-foot-10 middle infielder has good mobility and receptive hands, along with a 50-grade arm that is reasonable enough to cut it at the six, if not ideal for the role. It’s more comfortable as a second base projection, but he should be able to stay up the middle and add occasional shortstop utility. The bat will lead him to the big leagues, however, and while the Dodgers’ depth may delay Downs’ debut, he should be scratching at the major league door by 2021.

OFP: 55 / Sum-of-parts middle infielder with potential to produce above-average value

Variance: Medium-to-High.The bat-to-ball consistency will dictate whether he’s a toolsy bench asset or an everyday contributor. Brandon Williams

Major league ETA: 2021

Ben Carsley’s Fantasy Take: Downs might actually be a better dynasty prospect than an IRL one thanks to his power and speed combo. That being said, I’m lower on him than some of my dynasty-loving colleagues, as I think he has utility infielder written all over him if he stays in this org. Downs is more interesting than most players with this profile because of the potential for modest contributions in every category but average. Even so, the upside remains fairly modest.

16. Connor Wong, C (Double-A Tulsa)

Wong has interesting physical and defensive profiles that offset some severe flaws enough to make him a fun wildcard in the system. The right/right catcher is 23 and just finished terrorizing Double-A in a short 40-game stint after spending the better part of two seasons at High-A.

Wong has excellent coordination that allows him to make hard line drive contact consistently, but the combination of an extreme arm bar, aggressive approach, and trouble recognizing breaking balls lead to outlandishly high strikeout rates that threaten to derail the offensive profile. The arm bar helps him generate power, but it also creates huge holes up and on the inner third. He’s athletic enough to bet on an ability to integrate mechanical changes, but there’s work ahead.

Defensively, Wong has solid hands behind the plate, and while he doesn’t always have a smooth path to the ball, he performs well enough vertically and on the edges of the zone to add some value with his receiving. He has good footwork on blocks and a quick transition out of the crouch, which helps an average arm to play. The organization has flirted with second- and third-base reps for him, as well.

Wong currently projects to a tandem catching role at the major league level if he can shorten up the upper half of his swing and continue to bring his pop into games against experienced arms. —Kevin Carter
 

SouthernBoSox

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Yeah, I don't know, Graterol is #32 on the BP list (but #83 on the MLB.com list), Downs isn't on the BP at all, and is #86 on the BA list (though he is #44 on the MLB.com list), so it's hard to say this is a huge improvement until we find out down the road if Graterol stays healthy or not. I guess there is less risk in the position player, so that's nice, and a low-ceiling lotto ticket in Wong.
The Dodgers got Graterol, a comp B (67th) pick, and a lower level OF prospect.

Its safe to say those medical ain’t great.
 

Spelunker

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Getting under the luxury tax cap this year makes it more likely they'll sign Betts again in ten months. Maybe it's wishful thinking but that's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Man. I can't imagine a bigger sportsgasm than this (non championship division).
 

Hee Sox Choi

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So, this site just released a top1000 MLB players yesterday. His last year's list was pretty good and he gives you a nice prime projection. Gentlemen, start your b*ners.

133) Alex Verdugo BOS, OF, 23.11 – Plus contact rates transferred to the majors with a 13% K% and .294 BA in 106 games. Hits the ball very hard, so if he can lift it more, the power could blow up. I was high on Verdugo before the trade news, but moving to Boston would put him in a better ballpark and give him more job security. 2020 Projection: 81/18/78/.286/.340/.468/8 Prime Projection: 92/25/86/.298/.365/.510/10

148) Jeter Downs LAD, SS, 21.8 – I was high on Downs coming into 2019, ranking him 45th overall on my 2019 Top 472 Prospects Ranking. He continued to show off the same skills at High-A and Double-A that made me so high on him, which is a good feel to hit, the ability to lift the ball, and base stealing skills. ETA: 2021 Prime Projection: 87/26/83/.274/.347/.469/14

https://www.imaginarybrickwall.com/top-1000-rankings-for-2020-fantasy-baseball-dynasty-leagues/
 

P'tucket rhymes with...

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Yeah, I don't know, Graterol is #32 on the BP list (but #83 on the MLB.com list), Downs isn't on the BP at all, and is #86 on the BA list (though he is #44 on the MLB.com list), so it's hard to say this is a huge improvement until we find out down the road if Graterol stays healthy or not. I guess there is less risk in the position player, so that's nice, and a low-ceiling lotto ticket in Wong.
It's not hard to imagine Bloom's priorities here. High ceiling is nice, but he might have been completely happy to get high-floor, low-ceiling cost controlled contributors so he can pay some of the talent already in the system when the time comes (ERod, Devers), and maybe take a shot at some high-end talent (*coughMookiecough*).
 

Jimbodandy

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Props to SS for sniffing out the Gaterol stuff, and props to Bloom for landing the plane successfully in rough weather.

This trade is far from perfect. But the guys that he got are actually valuable in a system like ours. And he solved the reset problem, which is real. Fine work.
 

Teachdad46

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Still not happy Mookie is going - even if it "had to be done". The idiotic Sale/Eovaldi contracts made this a foregone conclusion.

But now that this is done - I'd prefer if the Sox signed Puig to a 1-2 year deal, and traded Verdugo for cost controlled pitching.
Please, no.
 

The Big Red Kahuna

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Friedman did pretty well if you look at it this way. Traded Puig and Alex Wood for Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs. Signed back Alex Wood on a one year deal. Traded Jeter Downs in a package for the second best player in baseball.
Don’t totally disagree. But you’re leaving out a few really big parts. Last sentence should have a few words at end that rhyme with “door ton bear”...
 

chawson

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Still not happy Mookie is going - even if it "had to be done". The idiotic Sale/Eovaldi contracts made this a foregone conclusion.

But now that this is done - I'd prefer if the Sox signed Puig to a 1-2 year deal, and traded Verdugo for cost controlled pitching.
I agree. Puig is the only free agent remaining with considerable upside, and signing him is really exactly what they should do now that they have the money.

Signing Puig to a one-year deal is a lot like the Beltre pillow contract, because he’d likely destroy the Monster. A two-year deal is even better — then he can trade one of the outfielders for prospects, or have one of Benny/Puig/Verdugo take over center when JBJ moves on.
 

Plympton91

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This is grotesque and appalling and frankly I'm not sure I can root for this team anymore.

You were given an opportunity at a do-over. To not take this disgusting person Verdugo on your team. And you chose to do it AGAIN.

I'm beside myself.
I am wondering how many people have actually read and thought about what they are saying about this kid. Maybe this is a board full of teatotlers, but if you went to a high school or college party where people got drunk and hooked up but you didn’t intervene then you are a lot closer to Alex Verdugo than you think you are.
 
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