Dombrowski's In-Season Moves In Context

The Talented Allen Ripley

holden
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Steve Pearce, Nathan Eovaldi, Ian Kinsler. Each contributed in varying degrees during the season, and more importantly, each had their moments in the playoffs, particularly Eovaldi and Pearce. All were acquired despite having a thin farm system from which to offer players in return, and it's doubtful we'll look back and regret giving up Beeks or Buttrey or Jerez for these players, especially if the season ends with the Sox as World Series champions.

Excellent in-season roster construction, Dan. I salute you from my basement.
 

RG33

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Steve Pearce, Nathan Eovaldi, Ian Kinsler. Each contributed in varying degrees during the season, and more importantly, each had their moments in the playoffs, particularly Eovaldi and Pearce. All were acquired despite having a thin farm system from which to offer players in return, and it's doubtful we'll look back and regret giving up Beeks or Buttrey or Jerez for these players, especially if the season ends with the Sox as World Series champions.

Excellent in-season roster construction, Dan. I salute you from my basement.
Who the hell is Dan?
 

scottyno

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Also not quite in season, but he signed Ryan Brasier, a 30 year old that hadn't pitched in the majors in 5 years on March 4th, and now he's maybe the most reliable guy in the bullpen.
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

holden
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Dan, Dave, whatever. It was the celebratory beer talking.

I think it's also important to note the move Dombrowski DIDN'T make: trading what few assets we have for a bullpen arm in July or August when everyone was clamoring for it. In essence, Brasier's callup was the midseason acquisition to shore up the bullpen.
 

JimD

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Brasier also has very little service time so I would think they could re-sign him. B-ref says he is not eligible for arbitration until 2020.
I was wondering about this as well. Was he essentially signed as a minor league free agent? I have no idea what control the Sox have, but I sure hope he's part of the team in '19 and beyond.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Regret is a strong word but Buttrey would look good in the bullpen right now. Kinsler hasn't really moved the needle any.
 

nvalvo

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I was wondering about this as well. Was he essentially signed as a minor league free agent? I have no idea what control the Sox have, but I sure hope he's part of the team in '19 and beyond.
He literally still has rookie eligibility. He won't be a free agent until 2023. At his age, we likely have him for the rest of his career.
 

joe dokes

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Regret is a strong word but Buttrey would look good in the bullpen right now. Kinsler hasn't really moved the needle any.
True now, but he provided some stability at 2B when they really needed it. Reminded me a little of Peavy. Didn't do all that great in isolation, but compared to what he was replacing, it was important.
 

Jimbodandy

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True now, but he provided some stability at 2B when they really needed it. Reminded me a little of Peavy. Didn't do all that great in isolation, but compared to what he was replacing, it was important.
This is a great analogy IMO. Those late season Peavy starts stabilized things for that team. Not dominant by any means, but useful. Kinsler brings reliable defense, a right handed bat, and a bunch of experience to the table.
 

bankshot1

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Dan, Dave, whatever. It was the celebratory beer talking.

I think it's also important to note the move Dombrowski DIDN'T make: trading what few assets we have for a bullpen arm in July or August when everyone was clamoring for it. In essence, Brasier's callup was the midseason acquisition to shore up the bullpen.
Dan's not here, man.

Dave patched some holes with some nice dealin' without laying out a lot of cash and Cora has generally pushed the right button at the right time. I would have liked another BP arm, but last in waiver line and a carrying a league leading payroll probably precluded my wish list.

Dan had a tough year and I'd give him a gentlemen's C.

I'm leaning A- for Dave, but marking period closes in about 2 weeks.
 

EllisTheRimMan

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Dan, Dave, whatever. It was the celebratory beer talking.

I think it's also important to note the move Dombrowski DIDN'T make: trading what few assets we have for a bullpen arm in July or August when everyone was clamoring for it. In essence, Brasier's callup was the midseason acquisition to shore up the bullpen.
That’s his best move of the season imo. The “book” says you get a reliever by trade at the deadline. He doesn’t read the book, he’s writes it.
 

joe dokes

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That’s his best move of the season imo. The “book” says you get a reliever by trade at the deadline. He doesn’t read the book, he’s writes it.
I looked a few times after the deadline. Only Hand seemed to be worth it, post hoc, among the commonly discussed. I didn't really look in September.
"Just get someone" is stupid if most of them arent all that good.
 

Humphrey

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I know I'm jaded by my disrespect for most things Cafardo but I can't see how anyone can say they should have acquired Britton instead of Nathan E
 

lapa

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Also I’m glad they didn’t just throw brock holt away for a bag of balls at the deadline
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Also I’m glad they didn’t just throw brock holt away for a bag of balls at the deadline
Was there discussion of trading him? I have no recollection of this at all. I know during Spring Training a lot of us (myself included) were not for having him on the roster. At this point, I don't know how you don't keep him.... he feels almost like a coach, and he has some... uhmmmmm.... intangibles.
Anyhow.... in season moves. Yeah... I always thought of Brasier as THE deadline bullpen move just done a little earlier. I never understood the screams for getting a BP arm just because that's what you do!
 

YTF

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We talk about Cora seeming to push all (most) of the right buttons during this post season, but credit DD with providing said buttons. IMO Pearce has been outstanding on both sides of the ball. Mitchie Two Bags has been a solid contributor to this team for a good part of the season and Pearce has pretty much made him a distant memory.
 

YTF

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Was there discussion of trading him? I have no recollection of this at all. I know during Spring Training a lot of us (myself included) were not for having him on the roster. At this point, I don't know how you don't keep him.... he feels almost like a coach, and he has some... uhmmmmm.... intangibles.
Anyhow.... in season moves. Yeah... I always thought of Brasier as THE deadline bullpen move just done a little earlier. I never understood the screams for getting a BP arm just because that's what you do!
I think that there was discussion here in the forums thinking that Nunez, Swihart and to a lesser extent Lin made Holt somewhat expendable as a chip to try to address some needs on the team earlier in the year.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I think that there was discussion here in the forums thinking that Nunez, Swihart and to a lesser extent Lin made Holt somewhat expendable as a chip to try to address some needs on the team earlier in the year.
My recollection was more that it was get his salary off the books to stay under the cap enough to allow for an in season move, but we may be saying the same thing. Regardless, yes it was brought up and as it turned out thank Jeebus they didn’t.
 

Wake49

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Was there discussion of trading him? I have no recollection of this at all. I know during Spring Training a lot of us (myself included) were not for having him on the roster. At this point, I don't know how you don't keep him.... he feels almost like a coach, and he has some... uhmmmmm.... intangibles.
Anyhow.... in season moves. Yeah... I always thought of Brasier as THE deadline bullpen move just done a little earlier. I never understood the screams for getting a BP arm just because that's what you do!
People were singing a vastly different tune toward the end of September.
 

YTF

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My recollection was more that it was get his salary off the books to stay under the cap enough to allow for an in season move, but we may be saying the same thing. Regardless, yes it was brought up and as it turned out thank Jeebus they didn’t.
This might be closer to what the conversation was as there were questions about how healthy Holt might be and if that devalued him as a "chip". So yeah, at the time the reasoning might be that the value would be in any cap relief they might get. Same thing only different I guess.
 

Marciano490

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Worth noting he filled out the team perfectly with a fairly barren farm system.
 

Sox and Rocks

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It started with canning Farrell last offseason and hiring Cora.

It seems obvious now, but Farrell had led the team to 2 straight division championships and had a World Series win.

DD is a hell of a GM
 

Lowrielicious

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Sometimes it's the moves you don't make.

Held on to Brock.
Held on to JBJ and his .642 first half OPS.
 

sheamonu

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Masterful throughout the year (beginning with the managerial move). But the task of the GM never stops. There are some incredibly difficult decisions to be made - certainly over the next 2 seasons. Eventually restocking the farm system will have to begin. Remember then what we are saying now because, as unfair as it may be, DD is going to be vilified soon - it’s just the nature of the job.