Offseason 2022-23 MLB Thread

moondog80

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But can I see a scenario where Bogaerts goes elsewhere and they just go sign a bunch of mid-level free agents and low-risk, high-reward guys?
I can see that too. But two thirds of the guys on that list are what I would consider mid-level. They're going to offer Eovaldi the QO and then not even go beyond 2/34 for him as all the other options are coming off the table? And there's no way his agent lets him take that deal while it looks like the Sox might be left with a lot of $$ but nobody to spend it on. Same goes for a lot of those deals. Conforto, Jansen, JDM, all one year deals, the definition of low-risk.
 

koufax32

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Audacy's Tim Kelly has an article out previewing the top 25 free agent predictions as the winter meetings arrive on Sunday. Out of the top 25, he has zero signing with the Red Sox.

--Judge: 8/$330 million: Yankees
--Turner: 8/$264 million: Phillies
--Correa: 9/$295 million: Cubs
--Bogaerts: 7/$203 million: Dodgers
--Verlander: 2/$88 million: Dodgers
--DeGrom: 3/$133 million: Mets
--Rodon: 5/$135 million: Rangers
--Swanson: 7/$170 million: Giants
--Nimmo: 6/$130 million: Rockies
--Contreras: 4/$80 million: Cardinals
--Bassitt: 3/$57 million: Mets
--Bellinger: 1/$18 million: Blue Jays
--Senga: 4/$69 million: Padres
--Taillon: 4/$60 million: Twins
--Bell: 3/$47 million: Cubs
--Taijuan Walker: 3/$50 million: Cardinals
--Benintendi: 3/$45 million: Twins
--Yoshida: 4/$60 million: Yankees
--Conforto: 1/$15 million: Mariners
--Eovaldi: 2/$34 million: Rays
--Eflin: 2/$22 million: Dodgers
--Quintana: 2/$26 million: Phillies
--Jansen: 1/$15 million: Giants
--JDM: 1/$17 million: Orioles
--Segura: 2/$24 million: White Sox

https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/red-sox/gallery/top-25-potential-2022-23-mlb-free-agents-dec#1--aaron-judge--rf-clb59zm9x002001oz2pybnkyd
I can’t decide which one of these would make me choke on my food/laugh the hardest. It’s definitely one of Judge, Swanson, or Taillon with Swanson probably winning out.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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I can see that too. But two thirds of the guys on that list are what I would consider mid-level. They're going to offer Eovaldi the QO and then not even go beyond 2/34 for him as all the other options are coming off the table? And there's no way his agent lets him take that deal while it looks like the Sox might be left with a lot of $$ but nobody to spend it on. Same goes for a lot of those deals. Conforto, Jansen, JDM, all one year deals, the definition of low-risk.
If they trade for a starter, there may not be room for Eovaldi- hell, there may not be room now if they are fully committed to Whitlock in the rotation, so perhaps they just take the pick and move on or sign a starter on a one year deal, or someone not listed here like Heaney.

If Conforto takes a one year deal, I assume it will be late in the off-season, at which point the Sox might not have room for him.

I think a lot of it comes down to timing; there’s usually better value to be had later in the off-season but it requires patience, roster spots, and playing time.
 

moondog80

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If they trade for a starter, there may not be room for Eovaldi- hell, there may not be room now if they are fully committed to Whitlock in the rotation, so perhaps they just take the pick and move on or sign a starter on a one year deal, or someone not listed here like Heaney.

If Conforto takes a one year deal, I assume it will be late in the off-season, at which point the Sox might not have room for him.

I think a lot of it comes down to timing; there’s usually better value to be had later in the off-season but it requires patience, roster spots, and playing time.

On an individual basis I can come up with an explanation as to why the Sox would pass on any of these. But the chances that the pass on *all* of them, given then season they just had, the money they have to spend, and the expectations they have gone out of their way to set, seem quite remote. Really the only way would be if they traded for Sean Murphy and another piece or two like him, and I don't think they will give up all the prospect capital that would be required in that case.

Would you bet on them to sign zero of those guys if I gave you 10 to 1 odds? (Theoretically. I'm not asking you to make a bet with some internet rando.)
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Heyman says the Astros and Verlander are far apart and Houston doesn’t want to go three years with him.
Can't really say I blame them. Yeah, he's the Cy Young winner but he's also about to turn 40. Even as good as he is, it probably isn't all that wise to lock into paying him presumably big money for his age 42 season. The Astros are also in a position where they have pretty strong depth in their rotation, so it's not like they desperately need him to stay. If someone else is willing to go three years with him, good for him.
 

jon abbey

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The Astros aren't making the most rational decisions currently with their GM and assistant GM both having been let go, personnel moves are currently being made by the owner and his advisors Jeff Bagwell and Reggie Jackson, both much better at hitting HRs than 2022 player evaluation. That being said, as RHF just said, they really don't need Verlander.

But I don't think deGrom/Verlander/Rodon will have any trouble getting the deals they want, I think the Dodgers/Mets/Rangers/Yankees will all be in there to various degrees even if HOU isn't.
 

LogansDad

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Yelling At Clouds

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Mariners fans are pissed because they would have preferred to sign one of the SSs, but I don’t think that was ever terribly likely. I’d argue that Wong is an upgrade over Frazier and Hernandez is a lateral move from Haniger but isn’t injured as frequently (knock on wood!) and therefore is preferable, they probably need a DH or OF still, like Bell, Beni, or Brantley. Some pitching depth wouldn’t hurt, either.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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The Astros aren't making the most rational decisions currently with their GM and assistant GM both having been let go, personnel moves are currently being made by the owner and his advisors Jeff Bagwell and Reggie Jackson, both much better at hitting HRs than 2022 player evaluation. That being said, as RHF just said, they really don't need Verlander.
The comments made by Bagwell the other day about analytics and reports Crane wants more “baseball men” should scare Astros fans.
 

Ale Xander

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If it’s not a Red Sock, I hope it’s Degrom that pitches in the 2024 ASG

glad to see the Rangers compete with their instate rival
 

Yelling At Clouds

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Mariners fans are pissed because they would have preferred to sign one of the SSs, but I don’t think that was ever terribly likely. I’d argue that Wong is an upgrade over Frazier and Hernandez is a lateral move from Haniger but isn’t injured as frequently (knock on wood!) and therefore is preferable, they probably need a DH or OF still, like Bell, Beni, or Brantley. Some pitching depth wouldn’t hurt, either.
Oh they're real pissed now...
 

chawson

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The Padres are already paying a shortstop $340 million.
And have another guy making only $7M who was pretty comfortably among the top half of shortstops in MLB.

It'd be very strange and maybe a <1 percent chance of happening but I do wonder if Tatis Jr. might be moved.
 

Minneapolis Millers

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Orioles just signed 35 yo Kyle Gibson to, as MLBTR put it, “strengthen” their rotation. Is there a SOSH-like message board for O’s fans? (Ghosts of Chris Davis, maybe?). If so, you’d have to think that, after whispers of the team opening its wallet to supplement their good, young prospects, their collective heads would be exploding. “Tons of money to spend and all we’ve done is sign Franchy Freakin Cordero and Kyle 5 ERA Gibson??”
 

E5 Yaz

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Orioles just signed 35 yo Kyle Gibson to, as MLBTR put it, “strengthen” their rotation. Is there a SOSH-like message board for O’s fans? (Ghosts of Chris Davis, maybe?). If so, you’d have to think that, after whispers of the team opening its wallet to supplement their good, young prospects, their collective heads would be exploding. “Tons of money to spend and all we’ve done is sign Franchy Freakin Cordero and Kyle 5 ERA Gibson??”
If it were the start of Spring Training, sure. But the Winter Meetings don't start until tomorrow.
 

Wingack

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Orioles just signed 35 yo Kyle Gibson to, as MLBTR put it, “strengthen” their rotation. Is there a SOSH-like message board for O’s fans? (Ghosts of Chris Davis, maybe?). If so, you’d have to think that, after whispers of the team opening its wallet to supplement their good, young prospects, their collective heads would be exploding. “Tons of money to spend and all we’ve done is sign Franchy Freakin Cordero and Kyle 5 ERA Gibson??”
They do have a pretty active board. OriolesHangout.com
 

simplicio

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There's also a scenario where the Cubs sign me to DH, but unfortunately I don't think that one is likely either.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Judge may or may not be at the Winter Meetings tomorrow. New York may or may not be surprised he is coming.

The guy has everyone saying different things while he hangs out at the Bucs game with his buddies.
 

E5 Yaz

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It's been boring thus far; hope action picks up Tuesday