If we can only get one, and I am not sure we will get any, what is your preference? For me a legit shut down closer is even more important than the bopper. But don't get me wrong, I will be ticked if we don't add both
Pick one, closer or RH slugger
- Thread starter TheDogMan
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If the offense minus said bopper doesn't put up sufficient runs on a consistent basis, then there's less of a need for a shut down closer. On the other hand, having a shut down closer makes having a bopper who can give them a lead with one swing all the more important.
Closer.
There are many ways to generate runs on offense, some of which don’t involve a RH slugger. There are few ways to close a game that don’t include a closer (cf: Boston Red Sox, April 2003).
There are many ways to generate runs on offense, some of which don’t involve a RH slugger. There are few ways to close a game that don’t include a closer (cf: Boston Red Sox, April 2003).
Yeah, we should add both but the way the Sox have chosen not to pay the freight for the talent needed I hope we can get one. I picked the closer because we might be able towin several more close games. 4-3 or 3-2, etc.
But they are better stocked in the relief corps than they are in the bopper department
I think so many of these hypotheticals really depend on what the organization's immediate view of KCamp and Anthony really are.
Reliever, but only based on the lack of impact bats are still available. And, more broadly, I’m not sure if there were any outside of Soto that I would have thought fit in well with the Redsox line up both this year and in ‘26 and on.
So much can change, but I think a Tanner Scott or Jeff Hoffman signing would truly galvanize this bullpen. I think if they elect to emphasis a run prevention unit to get to their 93 wins, the bullpen has to be beyond good, and a premier reliever would do that.
So much can change, but I think a Tanner Scott or Jeff Hoffman signing would truly galvanize this bullpen. I think if they elect to emphasis a run prevention unit to get to their 93 wins, the bullpen has to be beyond good, and a premier reliever would do that.
Signing a big RH bat
- it’s going to cost a huge amount for many years
- it’s going to block one of our prized prospects - either Anthony (Santander) or Campbell (Bregman)
- or it will necessitate trading Casas. While possibly improving the infield defense I’d bet Casas out hits Bregman going forward.
- Scoring runs is not a weakness
Signing a top reliever
- we need a top reliever - the “encumbent” hasn’t pitched in many, many months - there’s no guarantee Hendricks will perform at his previous level.
- reliever contracts tend to be shorter and much cheaper compared to starters or position players.
- run prevention IS a weakness
Seems pretty obvious to me.
- it’s going to cost a huge amount for many years
- it’s going to block one of our prized prospects - either Anthony (Santander) or Campbell (Bregman)
- or it will necessitate trading Casas. While possibly improving the infield defense I’d bet Casas out hits Bregman going forward.
- Scoring runs is not a weakness
Signing a top reliever
- we need a top reliever - the “encumbent” hasn’t pitched in many, many months - there’s no guarantee Hendricks will perform at his previous level.
- reliever contracts tend to be shorter and much cheaper compared to starters or position players.
- run prevention IS a weakness
Seems pretty obvious to me.
Free agent shut down relievers are the less risky "it's only money" deals. If they have to get uncomfortable signing someone, my first choice would be a Tanner Scott type over a position player. I have no faith that Hendricks or Chapman will contribute anything close to their peak, so want to load up just in case. I still can't think of the last time I hated bringing in a free agent more than the latter.
I don't want to relive August and everything after from last season. It's been a long December. Give me a shut down arm.
I don't want to relive August and everything after from last season. It's been a long December. Give me a shut down arm.
A reliever doesn’t cause a roster crunch. Although a RH hitter who checks enough boxes, they could figure something out.
Absolutely. They could sign someone like Profar and Kittredge, gain a draft pick, and be under the first tax threshold.
They have nearly $60million coming off the booos next year.
What I outlined above is a bare minimum imo. They can structure a Crochet extension AAV to kick in 2026
I have a feeling we won't just be looking at a Crochet extension come July. We might also be trying to extend Campbell and Anthony this year or next. Not that that should stop us.
I think one more bat is coming and so is one more reliever. I think they'll pony up for a reliever but the bat...it might not be one of the Profar/Bregman group.
I have a feeling Breslow is going to get inventive like he did with O'Neill. Remember all that took was a promising AAA reliever and Victor Santos. They'll want a short-term commitment so they can figure out what they've got in Anthony/Campbell. I still think they're going to move on from someone in the middle infield. There's just too many 2B on this team.
And the reliever is a necessity. Hendriks and Chapman could be great, they could also blow up in our faces.
While not answering the direct question, as to the intent behind it, I think the answer is the need for a “core” bat. What I mean by that is a player that has shown an MLB ability over a decent sample size to be effective and useful against both RHPs and LHPs, and to have control of that player for multiple seasons. To be clear, I don’t care if they hit RH, or LH, or hit by virtue of using their feet.
I’ve been begging for this since Bogaerts and JDM left, and it’s something I think they still need desperately. There are presently only two players on the roster that have shown this ability with any degree of dependability - Devers and Casas. Duran was “useful” last year against both sides (.320 OBP vs LHP), but that isn’t necessarily bankable as a repeat performance based off one season.
Everyone else has shown the high likelihood of needing to be platooned over the last couple seasons worth of data. The goal is to be above average at every position, not to have part time players at the majority of them. Even if Anthony and Campbell (effective against both sides in the upper minors) prove to be that, and understanding that the catcher position is “different”, you still have only 4 and at best 5 of the 8 positions filled with above average regulars day in and day out, and you’ve had 3 major things go ”right” to get there.
A core bat and a closer would be nice, and is certainly attainable. But if the idea is “you get one but not both, choose”, I think the core bat is the greater necessity.
I’ve been begging for this since Bogaerts and JDM left, and it’s something I think they still need desperately. There are presently only two players on the roster that have shown this ability with any degree of dependability - Devers and Casas. Duran was “useful” last year against both sides (.320 OBP vs LHP), but that isn’t necessarily bankable as a repeat performance based off one season.
Everyone else has shown the high likelihood of needing to be platooned over the last couple seasons worth of data. The goal is to be above average at every position, not to have part time players at the majority of them. Even if Anthony and Campbell (effective against both sides in the upper minors) prove to be that, and understanding that the catcher position is “different”, you still have only 4 and at best 5 of the 8 positions filled with above average regulars day in and day out, and you’ve had 3 major things go ”right” to get there.
A core bat and a closer would be nice, and is certainly attainable. But if the idea is “you get one but not both, choose”, I think the core bat is the greater necessity.
You don’t have to wait until July. They can sign a 1 year contract to avoid arbitration in January and then sign him to a long term extension that kicks in 2026 anytime after that.
That’s exactly what the did the Devers contract.
Right of course. But I was referring to the fact that we may be looking to extend others.
It's difficult to answer this in a vacuum without knowing A) who the "bopper" might be, B) how he slots defensively and C) what the domino effect of that might be. Most of us would like to see another player or two added to the roster, but with another 5-6 weeks before the majority of players report to Fort Meyers, we're bored and antsy and I fully expect that this thread becomes a replica of all the others. I used to love the off season, but in recent years it's just turned into 3 months of doom, gloom and angst.
I think on this team, right now, I pick the bopper. They have a lot of new arms coming to the pen, with high ceilings. The following folks might add a substantial amount of quality innings that weren't there last year: Hendricks, Whitlock, Chapman, Guerrero. Somebody in the rotation is going to the pen, maybe Crawford. Some good looking depth starters like Fitts and Criswell might be in the AAA rotation, but might also help out of the pen.
Don't get me wrong, adding a shut down all star closer would be nice, I just don't think it's the same imperative as a RH power hitter. The lineup is lefty dominant, and if you subtract O'Neill from last year, was shut down pretty easily against LHP. It's going to a problem. BUT - it seemed Teoscar was the obvious fit, especially given he wasn't looking for 6 years like Bregman. I'm just not sure who's left to get on the FA market. In the absence of an addition, I suppose the hope is Story hits a little, and Campbell emerges quickly. But man it would be nice to have an established RHH power hitter in the middle of that line up. Would change the whole dynamic.
Don't get me wrong, adding a shut down all star closer would be nice, I just don't think it's the same imperative as a RH power hitter. The lineup is lefty dominant, and if you subtract O'Neill from last year, was shut down pretty easily against LHP. It's going to a problem. BUT - it seemed Teoscar was the obvious fit, especially given he wasn't looking for 6 years like Bregman. I'm just not sure who's left to get on the FA market. In the absence of an addition, I suppose the hope is Story hits a little, and Campbell emerges quickly. But man it would be nice to have an established RHH power hitter in the middle of that line up. Would change the whole dynamic.
I think we need to really acknowledge that while we all thought Teoscar was fit, the front office clearly did not.
Two things have happened this offseason that are interesting when it comes to a right handed bat.
They didn’t have extend O’Neil a QO or offer him a contract afterwards. They didn’t pursue Teoscar like at all.
I think it’s an indication they want to improve contact. The Red Sox were third to last in strikeout rate last year. Just behind the Rockies.
It was a huge team weakness and something I’m sure they want to improve on. It’s one reason why Profar and his multiple position ability, makes sense to me.
What you say may well be true. Meanwhile, Teoscar has since said to media that his single focus was on returning to the Dodgers. That may have been evident to the FO.
Closer- most every Sox championship team has had a top notch guy- Foulke, Papelbon, Koji. In 2018 they patched with starters in the playoffs but got there during the year because Kimbrell was solid until then…also great to have a top #2 (or pair of). Timlin/Embree, Oki etc…
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Worth noting that Koji wasn't acquired to be the closer. He was the 3rd choice after Hanrahan and Bailey and didn't get the job until the end of June in 2013.
If this ends up being a championship team, the top notch guy/closer may just be on the roster already. That said, I do vote for getting another solid reliever (doesn't have to a "closer") over a RH "slugger" before the off-season ends.
and a lot of pretty good options too. Scott, Hoffman (may want to start) Yates, Estevez, Robertson, Minter, Finnegan, etc… I think they’ll still add, and waiting for prices or years to come down is not a bad thing at all, as bullpen arms are traditionally volatile from year to year. They obviously aren’t the only team playing the long game here. With Hendricks, Slaten, Chapman, Whitlock, Wink, Guerrero, Wesseirt, Wilson, Bernardino, Kelly, and maybe Crawford or Criswell, they look to have decent depth going into ST. 1 more good arm never hurts. And I probably missed a guy or two in both my lists….
Last time the Sox were this desperate for a right handed power hitter they went out and got Rob Deer. Let's not do that again. I'll pick closer..
The Blue Jays.... Dominion?.... Commonwealth? Seems increasingly convinced the team has blown or is blowing it's chance to hold onto Vladdy.
https://www.bluejaysinsider.com/mlb-team/toronto-blue-jays/the-toronto-blue-jays-and-vladimir-guerrero-jr-negotiations-seem-to-have-gone-from-bad-to-worse
I don't know that I'd take "generic RH slugger" over "generic closer," but I'll take Vlad (with a good chance to extend him) and worry about closing later if he's there to get.
https://www.bluejaysinsider.com/mlb-team/toronto-blue-jays/the-toronto-blue-jays-and-vladimir-guerrero-jr-negotiations-seem-to-have-gone-from-bad-to-worse
I don't know that I'd take "generic RH slugger" over "generic closer," but I'll take Vlad (with a good chance to extend him) and worry about closing later if he's there to get.
Rob Deer had a four year stretch of at least 25 homers and fewer than 70 RBI, capped by a 32HR, 64RBI campaign in 1992. Just incredible work there. I always thought that a softball-type DH named deer was the perfect Brewer.
Dude…..that is pathetic and unwarranted. Show just a modicum of class, eh?