Red Sox in season discussion
- Thread starter Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
- Start date
Seems like the biggest topics are
-Does JD opt out
-Do Houck and or Whitlock move to the rotation?
-The bullpen
-Go in on a SS on anticipation of X opting out or look to extend him?
-Extend Devers
-Does JD opt out
-Do Houck and or Whitlock move to the rotation?
-The bullpen
-Go in on a SS on anticipation of X opting out or look to extend him?
-Extend Devers
It all starts after JD opts out or not. If so, things are pretty wide open. Correa in play, bring back Schwarber…
SP ERod and Gausman would be terrific.
2-3 relievers and rebuild the bench.
Extend Devers and Eovaldi.
SP ERod and Gausman would be terrific.
2-3 relievers and rebuild the bench.
Extend Devers and Eovaldi.
I want ERod back
I want no part of Baez. I'd kick the tires on Semien, but I think those tires will get kicked a lot.
I'd prefer Schwarber to JD
I'd show Devers the money
And I have no idea what to do with the bullpen, but it needs a lot of reworking. That's just such a tricky thing to do in free agency.
I want no part of Baez. I'd kick the tires on Semien, but I think those tires will get kicked a lot.
I'd prefer Schwarber to JD
I'd show Devers the money
And I have no idea what to do with the bullpen, but it needs a lot of reworking. That's just such a tricky thing to do in free agency.
I want MJ Melendez.
I also prefer Schwarber to JD, but what JD does is out of the office's control and I want Schwarber back either way.
I stay away from the big money shortstops.
Bring E-Rod back, Houck and Whitlock to the rotation, fill in the pen with free agents (who I admittedly haven't looked at yet). I agree with BMHH that it is tricky in free agency, but it is doable.
Decline Vaz' option.
I want MJ Melendez.
I also prefer Schwarber to JD, but what JD does is out of the office's control and I want Schwarber back either way.
I stay away from the big money shortstops.
Bring E-Rod back, Houck and Whitlock to the rotation, fill in the pen with free agents (who I admittedly haven't looked at yet). I agree with BMHH that it is tricky in free agency, but it is doable.
Decline Vaz' option.
I want MJ Melendez.
I'm not all that big into re-signing Schwarber. I don't believe his salary is worth the clunky fit position-wise.
I'd love to sign E-Rod to a short term deal. But if he wants his long term payday now, after the 2021 he had, I'm fine letting him walk.
I'd like to do all we can to lock down X and Devers for good.
I'd love to sign E-Rod to a short term deal. But if he wants his long term payday now, after the 2021 he had, I'm fine letting him walk.
I'd like to do all we can to lock down X and Devers for good.
Offer 5x raises to every member of the Tampa pitching department to jump ship tomorrow
I'm most interested in what they do with the infield. One of the worst defensively in baseball. Do they do something drastic like positional changes and/or target a big free agent SS knowing Xander could opt out next year? Who plays 1B and 2B? A lot of questions all around the infield.
Sign Correa and Chris Taylor. Trade JD and make Devers the DH/rotate in at 3rd. Move Bogey to 3rd. X-Correa-Taylor-Dalbec until Casas is ready. Sale-Nate-Pivetta-Whitlock-Houck. Find a couple quality relievers and some bench depth somewhere as that’s a Bloom strength.
Sorry forgot to add that in this scenario I’d trade JD and move Devers to more of a DH role. Play DH, some 3rd as you can rotate Bogaerts through the DH spot as well.
I think it’s one of Martinez or Schwarber but not both. They’ve got Dalbec and Casas coming up like a freight train and I don’t think you want to block the position.
-resign Erod
- move both Houck and Whitlock to the rotation .. which gives you Sale, Nate, Pivetta, Erod, Houck and Whitlock
- while I like Arroyo I think an upgrade is in order
- decline Vazquez’s option ( they won’t)
- don’t spend big on bullpen pieces .. use Tampa method … under the radar acquisitions
- spend all your money on locking up Devers and potentially X
- hope like hell Barnes comes back
-resign Erod
- move both Houck and Whitlock to the rotation .. which gives you Sale, Nate, Pivetta, Erod, Houck and Whitlock
- while I like Arroyo I think an upgrade is in order
- decline Vazquez’s option ( they won’t)
- don’t spend big on bullpen pieces .. use Tampa method … under the radar acquisitions
- spend all your money on locking up Devers and potentially X
- hope like hell Barnes comes back
This seems like a good plan if the plan is to trade Devers in the next 2 years. If they actually want him to stay long term moving him to DH is a pretty bad way to do it.
You could move him to 1st and look to trade Casas for a young, cost-controlled arm as well. Big decisions to be made.
I looked this guy up after seeing your posts tonight.
I know KC just signed Salvy to the extension, but no way they give up Melendez.
Outs are the most valuable resource in baseball. And the Sox struggled to convert batted balls into outs. So i think that needs to be a focus. Whatever that looks like. It may involve some outside the box thinking. Maybe this means considering moving X off SS if they can sign Correa (yes, I know, gag). But they really need to figure out the IF defense. It will have a salutary effect on their pitchers.
Isn't it pretty safe to assume that JD is opting out? With the universal DH presumably coming to the NL, you'd figure there's a multi-year deal out there for him somewhere.
If we were to pursue one of the big FA SS's, where do we put Xander for 2022? 2b?
If we were to pursue one of the big FA SS's, where do we put Xander for 2022? 2b?
Some speed would be nice. Vazquez led the team in SB. I'm not saying we have to become the '85 Cardinals, but a happy medium would be nice. This lineup was constructed like a softball team, and it showed.
all free agents are probably going to be signed in a 1 week period in march, april or may.
None of these plans are going to take any kind of shape until the CBA gets hammered out. Universal DH? Pitcher roster limits? Luxury tax levels? Salary floor? Too many variables before things will move on anything major.
Duran being a complete black hole ended up really hurting the Sox, he would have been the perfect bench piece for this team in the playoffs if he could have hit even a little.
Need a real starter. We cant pretend Sale will come back as vintage Chris Sale. Cant depend on Eovaldi.
Id resign Erod if hell take reasonable money.
I think JD is a better talent than Schwarbz, not sure what to do there honestly.
I think Chaim surprises us
Id resign Erod if hell take reasonable money.
I think JD is a better talent than Schwarbz, not sure what to do there honestly.
I think Chaim surprises us
I hope that happens. Because that provides some flexibility. For example, you could pursue Correa (yes, I cannot type this with a straight face right now), move X to 3B and have Devers be DH/backup 3B/backup 1B. Improves IF defense and doesn’t add much to payroll (of course, you’d need X to be OK with this since he can opt out after next year). Maybe recency bias but they really need to improve their ability to convert batted balls into outs. They were quit poor at this.
He doesn't have to be vintage Sale. If he's the Sale that made his first 8 starts this year and can do it for a full season that roughly translates to 30 starts 150 innings and an ERA around 3, who wouldn't take that? And it's probably safe to assume he'll be at least a little better than he was in this years regular season after a full healthy off-season.
Yah. We don’t even know if there will be a season next year. Still seems like there is a lot of Animosity between the players and the owners.
On that note, Cora mentioned tonight that he noticed in the middle of Game 4 a change in the way Houston pitched the lineup ... and the hitters never made the proper adjustments.
That said, as an offense they became so one-dimensional that it seemed as though they simply stopped trying to manufacture an offense. Not just speed, but a succession of patient plate appearances and situational hitting.
When they were hot, it was exciting. When they weren't ...
The Red Sox have big decisions and changes to be made... in 2023. For 2022, I expect Bloom will follow through on the long-term plan based on an improving farm system.
The Red Sox have long-term answers at 1B and 2B in Casas and Downs, so they will probably make due with Dalbec and Arroyo for 2022, either full-time or as halves of a platoon. Bogaerts and Devers hold down SS and 3B for one more year before Bogaerts can opt out and the big calls need to be made. Cora obviously trusts Vazquez, so I think the club will pick up Vazquez' option. Plawecki is a cromulent backup, and won't cost much. LF Verdugo, CF Hernandez and RF Renfroe are all cheap and locked in for 2022.
Martinez will probably opt out, and not be re-signed. I suspect that Bloom and Cora would prefer to rotated position players through the DH spot rather than signing a full-time DH.
Farewell to Santana and Shaw.
Starting rotation: Eovaldi, Sale, Pivetta, Whitlock and Houck. Edro's return depends on the asking price. Farewell to Richards and Perez.
Bullpen: Barnes, Brasier, Sawamura, Hernandez, Taylor and Davis return. Valdez rides the shuttle again. Farewell to Ottavino and Robles, who will cost more than Bloom wants to pay relievers.
Needs:
1) LHB for 1B. Schwarber improved in the field with time, so if he is interested in returning as a DH-1B-LF, Bloom will probably make a strong bid.
2) a utility infielder and platoon partner for Arroyo. Iglesias might sign on for old times' sake. He obviously loves playing in Boston, the city loves him in return, and he won't cost much. Still, Bloom doesn't strike me as the sentimental type, and he can probably find a LHB 2B to platoon with Arroyo. Arauz will ride the shuttle for one more year.
3) 2 starting pitchers for depth, possibly including Seabold.
4) 2 high-quality relievers. Bullpen was the weak spot of the 2021 Red Sox, and all of Bloom's dealing never quite fixed that.
The Red Sox have long-term answers at 1B and 2B in Casas and Downs, so they will probably make due with Dalbec and Arroyo for 2022, either full-time or as halves of a platoon. Bogaerts and Devers hold down SS and 3B for one more year before Bogaerts can opt out and the big calls need to be made. Cora obviously trusts Vazquez, so I think the club will pick up Vazquez' option. Plawecki is a cromulent backup, and won't cost much. LF Verdugo, CF Hernandez and RF Renfroe are all cheap and locked in for 2022.
Martinez will probably opt out, and not be re-signed. I suspect that Bloom and Cora would prefer to rotated position players through the DH spot rather than signing a full-time DH.
Farewell to Santana and Shaw.
Starting rotation: Eovaldi, Sale, Pivetta, Whitlock and Houck. Edro's return depends on the asking price. Farewell to Richards and Perez.
Bullpen: Barnes, Brasier, Sawamura, Hernandez, Taylor and Davis return. Valdez rides the shuttle again. Farewell to Ottavino and Robles, who will cost more than Bloom wants to pay relievers.
Needs:
1) LHB for 1B. Schwarber improved in the field with time, so if he is interested in returning as a DH-1B-LF, Bloom will probably make a strong bid.
2) a utility infielder and platoon partner for Arroyo. Iglesias might sign on for old times' sake. He obviously loves playing in Boston, the city loves him in return, and he won't cost much. Still, Bloom doesn't strike me as the sentimental type, and he can probably find a LHB 2B to platoon with Arroyo. Arauz will ride the shuttle for one more year.
3) 2 starting pitchers for depth, possibly including Seabold.
4) 2 high-quality relievers. Bullpen was the weak spot of the 2021 Red Sox, and all of Bloom's dealing never quite fixed that.
My preferred strategy would be to spend on older FAs who are still good. Look for very short-term deals so we can be competitive until we graduate more players. Our contention window is close to shutting, either players are aging out of their primes (Sale) or they're going to become free agents very soon (Xander, Eovaldi). We got one title out of this window. The Yankees are in a very similar position, they also have one more year of their window left, they have zero titles for their current core. So, the optimal strategy is to spend without handcuffing the team for 5-7 years. That rules out long-term deals for guys like Seager and Correa. We've also stayed under the cap for the last two years, resetting the tax. Assuming that there are no major changes in the CBA, I'd go for two of Morton, Verlander and Scherzer. Spend a combined $50m on two of them, on one or two year deals. That allows us to remain competitive over the next two years, and gives Bloom time to see which prospects graduate.
I'd also look at giving Houck and Whitlock long-term deals. They're both controlled until 31 and 30, but if we could tack on 2-3 option years, it would give us a base for the next window. The model would be something less than what Severino signed for.
I'd also look at giving Houck and Whitlock long-term deals. They're both controlled until 31 and 30, but if we could tack on 2-3 option years, it would give us a base for the next window. The model would be something less than what Severino signed for.
They need to lock up the left side of the All Star infield. Rip up their current contracts and give them 25 million a year, Devers for ten years (through age 35) and Bogaerts for six years (also through age 35) with no opt outs. Not worried about their defense. Devers played well in the post-season and Bogaerts passes the eye test if not always the analytics.
I have the sense that both of them would like to stay in Boston. Each signed with the team at the age of 16. The Sox are the only significant employer they have known. Hell, Bogaerts told Boras a couple years ago, when his current contract was being negotiated, that he wanted to stay here. Maybe, too, they also want to stay together. From the looks of it, both on TV and in the ballparks, they seem to be buddies.
Like most of us, I'm on board with not signing Mookie to a contract that takes him through his age 39 season and with resetting the luxury tax. But the Sox should be able to keep the stars they have developed especially when they might be willing to give the club a hometown discount.
I have the sense that both of them would like to stay in Boston. Each signed with the team at the age of 16. The Sox are the only significant employer they have known. Hell, Bogaerts told Boras a couple years ago, when his current contract was being negotiated, that he wanted to stay here. Maybe, too, they also want to stay together. From the looks of it, both on TV and in the ballparks, they seem to be buddies.
Like most of us, I'm on board with not signing Mookie to a contract that takes him through his age 39 season and with resetting the luxury tax. But the Sox should be able to keep the stars they have developed especially when they might be willing to give the club a hometown discount.
Even if he wants to stay I'd be pretty shocked if Bogaerts takes 6-150. He just saw Lindor, a comparable player sign for 10-341 and he's about to watch several other comparable players get huge deals too.
Devers might take the 6-150 since it's buying out 2 arb years so it probably ends up being something like 4-120 in his free agent years which sets him up for life but also makes him free early enough to hopefully sign another decent size deal, I doubt he's locking himself in at 25 a year for 10 years right now.
At least Casas is coming on like a freight train for us in 2022.
(That is my way of saying TINSTAAP)
Casas replacing Shaw and either Duran or Downs replacing Santana would go a long way to fixing their bench depth issue in a hurry assuming they actually earned the spots.
I got a feeling that Bloom may not make very many exciting moves this off season. Even with the Sox in contention he didn't want to part with any of his to prospects at the trade deadline last summer, and I don't see him doing that this winter. I also don't see him actively pursuing any big name free agents that would require a long commitment or big money. I think his goal is to build from within.
You may be right, but let’s not forget that Bloom has a boss. And his boss has a pretty long track record of encouraging going for huge moves - some come to fruition, some don’t - when there is an opportunity to do so and the timing seems right.
Ward, Walter, Feltman, Murphy and Winkcowski all should be in the discussion for bullpen arms.
Edit- Does anyone know what their expected salary will be? Erod and Pedroia and Price are all off the books. There’s some Options that may get turned down…
Edit- Does anyone know what their expected salary will be? Erod and Pedroia and Price are all off the books. There’s some Options that may get turned down…
Price is on the books for another year at $16 million. Can’t see them picking up Perez’s or Richards’ options. Given the dearth of catching, I’d expect Vaz back at $7,000,000.
https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/red-sox