Offseason rumors

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Is there a reason to think Valdez is suddenly a good or even ok defensive player, though? I guess it all depends on what they are looking for with Grissom out- defense offense?

I also don’t see Rafaela as a back up, he needs at bats and regular playing time.q

Am also thinking about the OD roster, don’t think the “when Grissom and Refsnyder are healthy” points matter now, because they aren’t.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Is there a reason to think Valdez is suddenly a good or even ok defensive player, though? I guess it all depends on what they are looking for with Grissom out- defense offense?

I also don’t see Rafaela as a back up, he needs at bats and regular playing time.q

Am also thinking about the OD roster, don’t think the “when Grissom and Refsnyder are healthy” points matter now, because they aren’t.

Does Valdez need to be good or okay defensively? Passable is probably good enough to get by for a few weeks. And what I recall is he was horrendous in his first few games last year and then not nearly as bad after that. Not gold glove or even average, but not an abject disaster either.

He's going to be the primary 2B until Grissom gets back. I don't think that's really in doubt at this point.

 

[RS2004foreever]

Does anyone really not want to see what Cedanne Rafaela will do with a committed starting job from opening day?

I don't see how that happens with Duvall on the roster.

I am really skeptical about both Rafaela's and Duran's bat. In Duran's case every projection save run has his RC+ under 100. Across 2 seasons he has posted an RC+ of 120, but the BABIP is just unsustainable (.351/.381). I guess we will see - and this confirms this is a bridge year (which I have been in denial about I guess).

 

[Rovin Romine]

Is there a reason to think Valdez is suddenly a good or even ok defensive player, though? I guess it all depends on what they are looking for with Grissom out- defense offense?

I also don’t see Rafaela as a back up, he needs at bats and regular playing time.q

Am also thinking about the OD roster, don’t think the “when Grissom and Refsnyder are healthy” points matter now, because they aren’t.

There has been a lot of chatter about his improvement, and how the Sox are convinced he's taken a step forward. It was mentioned several times on the ST broadcasts. But as @Red(s)HawksFan points out, even below-average will be carried by his bat.

Long term it creates an interesting dynamic with the middle-infield - given that Grissom might transition back to short after a solid season at 2B. It's a potential area of strength to trade from.

 

[greenmountains]

I am really skeptical about both Rafaela's and Duran's bat. In Duran's case every projection save run has his RC+ under 100. Across 2 seasons he has posted an RC+ of 120, but the BABIP is just unsustainable (.351/.381). I guess we will see - and this confirms this is a bridge year (which I have been in denial about I guess).

I'm skeptical about Rafaela's decision making / free swinging. However his defense in game changing. I'd live with his offense in order to get his glove out there. I think JBJ level of performance....with breakthru potential if he ever finds the strike zone judgement.

I'm just skeptical about Duran. Is his BABIP sustainable...doubtful. But his speed will allow it to be a little higher than a generic replacement player. But is defense is pure meh.

Rafaela will make the two other outfielders better as he will control much more of the outfield. Duran simply won't do that and will be adequate at best. And the Sox need every possible improvement in defense.

 

[Cassvt2023]

In Pete Abe's Globe column this morning, he's predicting that they'll open the season with a Valdez/Reyes platoon at 2B until Grissom is back. He also opines that Dalbec has an inside track to make the OD roster, and we may see him occasionally in the outfield (rather scary to think about) and also that Houck has done enough to all but lock down a rotation spot.

 

[CR67dream]

He also opines that Dalbec has an inside track to make the OD roster, and we may see him occasionally in the outfield

So basically he's thinking that with Ref down for now, they will slide Dalbec into that role in addition to being available in the infield? Seems pretty risky, and without anything but his opining, like just a guess.

What would the roster look like with Bobby on opening day as it stands?

This is just a quick spitball, not predicting anything. At this point Abreu hasn't looked good at the plate, and may be playing his way to Worcester, and so far there is no commitment from the Sox that Rafaela will start in Boston, though he sure seems ready. That the Sox could gain an extra year of control by waiting a bit could be a factor as well. I hope it is not.

2) Wong
3) Casas
4) valdez/Reyes
5) Devers
6) Story
7) Duran/ O'Neil
8) Rafaela?? /Duran
9) Abreu?? /O'Neil
DH) Masa

Bench

Valdez/Reyes, Two of Duran/O'Neil/Abreu/Rafaela, McGuire, Dalbec

Cron would certainly be out in this scenario, so we'd likely see Ref come back with a first baseman's mitt in his bag, and Bobby riding the shuttle once he does. Obviously if one of Rafaela or Abreu does start in Worcester, it opens up things a bit. I'd rather that not happen.

Also Masa doesn't need a platoon, and can play left if need be with Rafaela in center and O'Neil in right against lefties with Bobby at DH, so maybe Dalbec could be strictly a break glass in case of emergency kind of thing in the outfield.

If that's the case, I can almost squint and see some value. Almost.

 

[Cassvt2023]

So basically he's thinking that with Ref down for now, they will slide Dalbec into that role in addition to being available in the infield? Seems pretty risky, and without anything but his opining, like just a guess.

What would the roster look like with Bobby on opening day as it stands?

This is just a quick spitball, not predicting anything. At this point Abreu hasn't looked good at the plate, and may be playing his way to Worcester, and so far there is no commitment from the Sox that Rafaela will start in Boston, though he sure seems ready. That the Sox could gain an extra year of control by waiting a bit could be a factor as well. I hope it is not.

2) Wong
3) Casas
4) valdez/Reyes
5) Devers
6) Story
7) Duran/ O'Neil
8) Rafaela?? /Duran
9) Abreu?? /O'Neil
DH) Masa

Bench

Valdez/Reyes, Two of Duran/O'Neil/Abreu/Rafaela, McGuire, Dalbec

Cron would certainly be out in this scenario, so we'd likely see Ref come back with a first baseman's mitt in his bag, and Bobby riding the shuttle once he does. Obviously if one of Rafaela or Abreu does start in Worcester, it opens up things a bit. I'd rather that not happen.

Also Masa doesn't need a platoon, and can play left if need be with Rafaela in center and O'Neil in right against lefties with Bobby at DH, so maybe Dalbec could be strictly a break glass in case of emergency kind of thing in the outfield.

If that's the case, I can almost squint and see some value. Almost.

It's fair to question if Abreu will actually be on the OD roster at this point, given his ST struggles. I can't see how Rafaela is NOT on it, and it has nothing to do with his controllable year. I've watched him in a handful of ST games and he has looked more disciplined at the plate. So in this scenario, the door is open for Dalbec, Cron and Romy.

Spitballing their positional flexibility:

1B Casas, Dalbec, Cron, Reyes
2B Valdez, Reyes, Romy
SS Story, Reyes, Romy
3B Devers, Dalbec, Reyes, Romy
DH Anyone on roster
LF Duran, O'Neill, Masa, Dalbec
CF Rafaela, Duran, Romy, Reyes
RF O'Neill, Rafaela, Romy

The bench to start season may be McGuire, Reyes, Dalbec, Romy Gonzalez...

 

[Rovin Romine]

A general reminder that we do have a roster thread dealing with the pros and cons of our actual players and how the roster fits together. Maybe we want these conversations there instead of forever lost inside the "rumors" megathread.

I mean, do we really even need a rumors thread at this point?

 

[E5 Yaz]

I mean, do we really even need a rumors thread at this point?

We haven't had one for months

 

[Cassvt2023]

A general reminder that we do have a roster thread dealing with the pros and cons of our actual players and how the roster fits together. Maybe we want these conversations there instead of forever lost inside the "rumors" megathread.

I mean, do we really even need a rumors thread at this point?

Probably not. Sorry I was kind of piggybacking off of what @CR67dream posted.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Probably not. Sorry I was kind of piggybacking off of what @CR67dream posted.

You don't have to apologize to me or anyone. Personally I just don't want to see good roster discussions get lost.

 

[CR67dream]

The bench to start season may be McGuire, Reyes, Dalbec, Romy Gonzalez...

All that really does is swap Romy for Abreu, which I think at this point is certainly valid to look at, but it really doesn't change much of anything about Dalbec's fit, and with Romy's versatility I think Dalbec would be less likely to ever see the outfield in that scenario.

Also I agree with you 100% on Rafaela, I think it would be criminal to keep him down and don't think they will, just acknowledging possibilities/factors.

In any case, I've given Prognosticatin' Pete quite enough attention this morning...

Just saw the above posts, and they're not wrong. I don't have time to move stuff around today, at least for the next several hours, but if no one can get to it, I will see if I can move some stuff later tonight.

I'm not going to shut down this quagmire quite yet or without discussing it, in a very strange way it has provided a service and spawned some good discussion, but it's safe to say its days are numbered. Giggity!

Probably not. Sorry I was kind of piggybacking off of what @CR67dream posted.

Fair, and is actually a point in favor of this thread not existing much longer. While posting Pete's thoughts here sort of fits in with rumors/speculation, responses to his musings shouldn't get lost in a megathread that has just about lost any usefulness that it ever had.

I appreciate the reminders of the other threads that have slipped down, and encourage folks to look down the main page to see if there are more specific places/threads to add thoughts to, and to start new threads if there aren't.

Less than two weeks until real baseball. Giggity Giggity!

 

[BravesField]

It's fair to question if Abreu will actually be on the OD roster at this point, given his ST struggles. I can't see how Rafaela is NOT on it, and it has nothing to do with his controllable year. I've watched him in a handful of ST games and he has looked more disciplined at the plate. So in this scenario, the door is open for Dalbec, Cron and Romy.

Spitballing their positional flexibility:

1B Casas, Dalbec, Cron, Reyes
2B Valdez, Reyes, Romy
SS Story, Reyes, Romy
3B Devers, Dalbec, Reyes, Romy
DH Anyone on roster
LF Duran, O'Neill, Masa, Dalbec
CF Rafaela, Duran, Romy, Reyes
RF O'Neill, Rafaela, Romy

The bench to start season may be McGuire, Reyes, Dalbec, Romy Gonzalez...
[/QUOTE

 

[CR67dream]

I had a little more time than I thought, I'm locking this and starting a new thread for the unresolved FA. I will move some posts as time allows.