Offseason rumors

[Cassvt2023]

The Athletic sees the Sox and Giants as front-runners for Imanaga (though mentions "other teams" too, while saying Mets, Yankees and Orioles aren't involved).

https://theathletic.com/5179141/2024/01/04/shota-imanaga-contract-wander-franco-the-windup/

Compares him to Hisashi Iwakuma or Hiroki Kuroda.

This is really the first reporting on Imanaga since Alex Speier said he was expected in the States this week. His negotiating window is exactly one week from today. The Sox have been deafeningly quiet. I believe this is their preferred target and I'm optimistic that they'll sign him. Something like 5yrs/95m, which leaves a posting fee of another 20 mil or so. He slides right into the middle of the rotation as the only lefty to date now that Sale is gone. I know there are concerns with the long ball, but his K rate was very good, and more importantly his BB rate was excellent. Hi 2022 #'s were better than his 2023, which could've been some wear and tear adding the WBC (where he was better than YY and as good as Sasaki) to the season.

 

[Big Papi's Mango Salsa]

The Athletic sees the Sox and Giants as front-runners for Imanaga (though mentions "other teams" too, while saying Mets, Yankees and Orioles aren't involved).

https://theathletic.com/5179141/2024/01/04/shota-imanaga-contract-wander-franco-the-windup/

Compares him to Hisashi Iwakuma or Hiroki Kuroda.

I have no idea how accurate their projections are, but I'll say this "Hiroki Kuroda" on this team would be absolutely freaking huge. 30 starts a year of 115 ERA+ pitching good for about 3.1 bWAR per year.

Iwakuma would be "fine" but Kuroda was a "plug him in at SP2 and forget about it" stud for 7 years. Consistently. That guy would be worth 6/$150m. ("Iwakuma" would probably be worth around 5/$95m, agreed, but is more like the SP3 type I picture from Imanaga.)

 

[chrisfont9]

I have no idea how accurate their projections are, but I'll say this "Hiroki Kuroda" on this team would be absolutely freaking huge. 30 starts a year of 115 ERA+ pitching good for about 3.1 bWAR per year.

Iwakuma would be "fine" but Kuroda was a "plug him in at SP2 and forget about it" stud for 7 years. Consistently. That guy would be worth 6/$150m. ("Iwakuma" would probably be worth around 5/$95m, agreed, but is more like the SP3 type I picture from Imanaga.)

That sounds reasonable, including leaning more toward the lower (but still very useful) projection. I'm not sure how high the price is, given the lack of any overt interest. Obviously still not cheap but maybe they can get him for more like a 4-5 year deal on SP2/3 money?

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I've been hoping for Imanaga since YY was off the boards and some SoSH poster here detailed out some interesting pitch selection stuff that suggested he could become even better with better game and pitch management, which I suspect Bailey is even more familiar with those details than said SoSH poster (wish I could remember who it was).
I'm 100% certain the Sox aren't done even if it's not Imanaga I think they'll end up with one of the Snell/Montgomery duo remaining which I'd be okay with also. Obviously those other two will cost significantly more but seems the Sox projected budget would still allow for it.

 

[ehaz]

View: https://twitter.com/jake3roy/status/1743002558484951111?s=46


are any of the pending free agents Fortnite players?

 

[LogansDad]

I feel like the refresh rate on that would make it impossible to be competitive. I could be wrong though.

 

[sezwho]

I feel like the refresh rate on that would make it impossible to be competitive. I could be wrong though.

Please lord let someone here know the actual refresh rate of the Red Sox display.

 

[soxhop411]

View: https://twitter.com/jake3roy/status/1743002558484951111?s=46


are any of the pending free agents Fortnite players?

One Blake Snell
View: https://www.facebook.com/Rays/videos/10156157506318429/

 

[nayrbrey]

View: https://twitter.com/jake3roy/status/1743002558484951111?s=46


are any of the pending free agents Fortnite players?

Snell hosted an MLB player tournament a few years ago.

View: https://twitter.com/juanctoribio/status/1072692801094115328?s=20

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I feel like the refresh rate on that would make it impossible to be competitive. I could be wrong though.

Are we sure they're playing the game at the park as opposed to watching a Twitch stream of someone else playing?

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

A left-handed, Cy Young-winning, Fortnite-obsessed, ex-Ray? What could possibly go wrong with Boston signing him for let's say 7 years and $217 million with an opt-out after year three?

(I actually liked David Price, I just thought it was funny)

 

[BringBackMo]

I feel like the refresh rate on that would make it impossible to be competitive. I could be wrong though.

Please lord let someone here know the actual refresh rate of the Red Sox display.

I read posts like this and have no idea what they mean and realize that I have grown old.

 

[YTF]

A left-handed, Cy Young-winning, Fortnite-obsessed, ex-Ray? What could possibly go wrong with Boston signing him for let's say 7 years and $217 million with an opt-out after year three?

(I actually liked David Price, I just thought it was funny)

Holy fuck, I was just thinking to myself, "Wasn't there some sort of controversy concerning Price and Fortnite?"

 

[BigSoxFan]

A left-handed, Cy Young-winning, Fortnite-obsessed, ex-Ray? What could possibly go wrong with Boston signing him for let's say 7 years and $217 million with an opt-out after year three?

(I actually liked David Price, I just thought it was funny)

Great. Now I can’t unsee this…

 

[BringBackMo]

No idea if this Jake Roy guy is worth paying attention to. Just passing along that he appears to have 419 followers.

 

[YTF]

No idea if this Jake Roy guy is worth paying attention to. Just passing along that he appears to have 419 followers.

View attachment 76085

Fenway Jumbotron Beat Reporter? WTF is that? Is he the dude that put up the Happy Birthday message that my wife gifted me with for my 50th and finally got it right on the third night? Two nights AFTER we were there?

 

[BringBackMo]

Fenway Jumbotron Beat Reporter? WTF is that? Is he the dude that put up the Happy Birthday message that my wife gifted me with for my 50th and finally got it right on the third night? Two nights AFTER we were there?

No no no, that was the Fenway Jumbotron Enterprise Reporter. Young Jake just does Jumbotron Beat Reporting. You know, breaking news and such. I guess he's put in for the Jumbotron Business Desk but there are questions about his qualifications.

Also, how do you know FOR SURE that they got it right two nights later?

Also, watch this kid turn out to have it right.

 

[LogansDad]

No idea if this Jake Roy guy is worth paying attention to. Just passing along that he appears to have 419 followers.

View attachment 76085

I think it's pretty clearly just some dude who lives near Fenway and was high enough in a building to see the Jumobtron. That said, this thread has never really been on any rails, and it's fun to discuss, so I see no harm in it being here.

 

[BringBackMo]

I think it's pretty clearly just some dude who lives near Fenway and was high enough in a building to see the Jumobtron. That said, this thread has never really been on any rails, and it's fun to discuss, so I see no harm in it being here.

Sorry, I was totally kidding around and not trying to thread police. I definitely think it's fun and was glad to see the tweet during a slow time during the offseason.

 

[Cassvt2023]

It's starting to look like there are the big 3 LHP starters left on the board in Snell, Montgomery and Imanaga and 4 teams (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Giants) who seem to be the most aggressive in pursuing them. Someone is going to miss out and I don't think it can be the Sox, as we really need one of them (Imanaga?!) in additon to another SP now that Sale is gone.

 

[moondog80]

I only know through my kids, but I thought the Fortnite craze had come and gone?

 

[buttons]

It's starting to look like there are the big 3 LHP starters left on the board in Snell, Montgomery and Imanaga and 4 teams (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Giants) who seem to be the most aggressive in pursuing them. Someone is going to miss out and I don't think it can be the Sox, as we really need one of them (Imanaga?!) in additon to another SP now that Sale is gone.

One could only hope!

 

[YTF]

I only know through my kids, but I thought the Fortnite craze had come and gone?

I think it's back, my 13 year old grandson makes references to it.

 

[BeantownIdaho]

Groundskeeper had to go to work today and take his kid.... had him play on the jumbo tron to shut him up. That's all it is.

 

[The Mort Report]

I only know through my kids, but I thought the Fortnite craze had come and gone?

It's had a huge resurgence. Earlier this winter they relaunched "Chapter 1," a return to the original map, zones and weapons, and peaked at 5.8 million concurrent players after launch.

 

[chrisfont9]

It's starting to look like there are the big 3 LHP starters left on the board in Snell, Montgomery and Imanaga and 4 teams (Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Giants) who seem to be the most aggressive in pursuing them. Someone is going to miss out and I don't think it can be the Sox, as we really need one of them (Imanaga?!) in additon to another SP now that Sale is gone.

Well the Sox are probably 50-50 with the Giants for Imanaga. He might prefer SF but we have the Yoshida connection at least. Money-wise we can compete with them, and we just pilfered their pitching coach.

If we lose out there, then the musical chairs are down to two spots and the Sox plus two NY teams. I don't love our odds in either of those battles, with Monty set to get the biggest bag (Mets move) and Snell already drawing publicly conveyed "interest" from the Yanks. If the Mets don't want Snell and the Yankees reunite with Monty, then maybe Mets pass and we get either Snell or Imanaga. Or the Mets get Monty, the Yankees pass on Snell because they've had it with QOs, and we still get one of the two left.

Can this process ever end?

 

[Midnight Ryder Jones]

I think it's pretty clearly just some dude who lives near Fenway and was high enough in a building to see the Jumobtron. That said, this thread has never really been on any rails, and it's fun to discuss, so I see no harm in it being here.

Actually, looks like he's not just some dude who lives near the ballpark. He's an Over The Monster writer who wrote this incredibly detailed pitch-by-pitch breakdown of a Lucas Giolito start from last season:

https://www.overthemonster.com/2024/1/4/24019507/the-anatomy-of-an-inning-introducing-lucas-giolito-red-sox-free-agent-analysis-guardians-white-sox

Edit: upon closer inspection, it looks like it's just a breakdown of a couple of innings, not a whole start, but it's still a must read if you want to know about Giolito.

 

[Max Power]

The Mets might not sign anyone. They were interested in Yamamoto because he was young, but they had planned to retool the roster after crashing and burning this year.

 

[moondog80]

It's had a huge resurgence. Earlier this winter they relaunched "Chapter 1," a return to the original map, zones and weapons, and peaked at 5.8 million concurrent players after launch.

But I’m correct that it was out for a while?

 

[The Mort Report]

But I’m correct that it was out for a while?

For Fortnite yes, I can only seem to get the data dating back a year, but they were still averaging well over a million players a day mostly even in their "down time," which is still a ton of people for a game

 

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

View: https://twitter.com/jake3roy/status/1743002558484951111?s=46


are any of the pending free agents Fortnite players?

David Price signing imminent.

 

[The Gray Eagle]

The Mets might not sign anyone. They were interested in Yamamoto because he was young, but they had planned to retool the roster after crashing and burning this year.

Yes, the Mets were all in last offseason, then all out at the trade deadline, then all in for Yamamoto, now supposedly not in for anyone else. They pivot more often than Ross Geller carrying a couch up the stairs.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67RYI_0sc0

 

[Harry Hooper]

David Price signing imminent.

Well, the rotation lacks a LHP.

Regarding Imanaga, adding another HR-prone starter to Giolito is a bit scary.

 

[GPO Man]

Well, the rotation lacks a LHP.

Regarding Imanaga, adding another HR-prone starter to Giolito is a bit scary.

Might have to bring back Trupiano of they sign Imanaga.

 

[EyeBob]

One could only hope!

My 13 year old daughter and her friends just started playing it. NYF day she played for 6 hours.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Well, the rotation lacks a LHP.

Regarding Imanaga, adding another HR-prone starter to Giolito is a bit scary.

Might have to bring back Trupiano of they sign Imanaga.

I can never remember if it's a "The Sox are cheap and never sign anyonez!!!111" day or a "Why TF are they signing these bums??!!!111" day.

Someone please add me to the email distribution list.

 

[nvalvo]

Or maybe Breslow and Bailey think they have a way to keep hitters squaring these guys up quite so often, so their HR rate in Chicago or Yokohama just holds the price tag down. They'd have to be right about that, of course.

 

[Midnight Ryder Jones]

I can never remember if it's a "The Sox are cheap and never sign anyonez!!!111" day or a "Why TF are they signing these bums??!!!111" day.

Someone please add me to the email distribution list.

Maybe it's a "people have different opinions on baseball players and that doesn't automatically make them a shrill internet reactionary" day?

 

[Jimbodandy]

Maybe it's a "people have different opinions on baseball players and that doesn't automatically make them a shrill internet reactionary" day?

I don't think that's it.

 

[TimScribble]

Can’t find the original report but here’s the latest on Hernandez

View: https://twitter.com/bostonstrong_34/status/1743092974668394714?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ


According to a report, Rafa Nieves (Teoscar’s agent) is pushing the limits and asking for a 5th year in a possible deal with the teams interested. The Red Sox are still involved but I honestly don’t see them going more than 3 years.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Can’t find the original report but here’s the latest on Hernandez

View: https://twitter.com/bostonstrong_34/status/1743092974668394714?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ


According to a report, Rafa Nieves (Teoscar’s agent) is pushing the limits and asking for a 5th year in a possible deal with the teams interested. The Red Sox are still involved but I honestly don’t see them going more than 3 years.

BostonStrong__34 already has proven unreliable this offseason in how s/he interprets the "reports" of others. Take this with a huge block of salt

 

[TimScribble]

Yeah, that’s why I was trying to find the original report (which I have been unsuccessful).

 

[TimScribble]

Please ignore that.

View: https://twitter.com/mlb_agent/status/1743101039124115692?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ


Fake news.

 

[soxhop411]

Please ignore that.

View: https://twitter.com/mlb_agent/status/1743101039124115692?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ


Fake news.

Thats what the third time he has done something like this?
I mean at this point incarcerated bob (if he is still around) is a more legitimate source.

 

[LogansDad]

I have never thought that person was a source in any sense of the word. Pretty sure they are just a fan page with enough time on their hands to misread too many actual sources and post their own random thoughts while cross posting on all the other sources' pages.

I'm not even sure they ever really tried to claim to be a real source, to be honest, they just post all the time so people thought they were.

 

[TimScribble]

Well, at least we know now that it’s not a 5 year deal they’re wanting. Apologies for the nonsense that preceded.

 

[bosockboy]

He’s gonna get 3/60.

 

[HighTek]

I only know through my kids, but I thought the Fortnite craze had come and gone?

Fortnite just had their largest concurrent players last month. Its crushing it again in a big way.
Less than a month ago they added New Game modes including: Fortnite Lego - Fortnite Guitar/Hero Rock Band and Fortnite Racing all on the same day.
They are on fire again.

 

[chawson]

Well, the rotation lacks a LHP.

Regarding Imanaga, adding another HR-prone starter to Giolito is a bit scary.

Or maybe Breslow and Bailey think they have a way to keep hitters squaring these guys up quite so often, so their HR rate in Chicago or Yokohama just holds the price tag down. They'd have to be right about that, of course.

Regarding that home run rate, Imanaga’s home turf at Yokohama Stadium is quite small! This may have been mentioned in passing, but it’s the first I’ve seen it.



All five of those distances are shorter than every corresponding park in MLB, with the exception of a foot or two for the right-field poles in Boston and San Francisco.

Put into context, the largest MLB park by fair territory is 121,486 sq. ft. (Colorado, followed closely by Kansas City). The smallest is 106,923 (Houston). Fenway is 107,745. Yokohama Stadium, where Imagana pitched, has 101,021 sq. ft. of fair territory, or 6.2% less than Fenway.

I don’t know if there are any environmental factors that would mitigate the offense, but that’s a very small park!

 

[Midnight Ryder Jones]

Imanaga’s home at Yokohama Stadium is quite small! This may have been mentioned in passing, but it’s the first I’ve seen it.

View attachment 76098

All five of those distances are shorter than every corresponding park in MLB, with the exception of a foot or two for the right-field poles in Boston and San Francisco.

Put into context, the largest MLB park by fair territory is 121,486 sq. ft. (Colorado, followed closely by Kansas City). The smallest is 106,923 (Houston). Fenway is 107,745. Yokohama Stadium, where Imagana pitched, has 101,021 sq. ft. of fair territory, or 6.2% less than Fenway.

I don’t know if there are any environmental factors that would mitigate the offense, but that’s a very small park!

Japanese ballparks are smaller than MLB ballparks across the board, so his particular home park isn't much of a factor in his relative home run totals.