As an unabashed Freddie fan, I would love to have him on the Sox. Dealing with a glut of talent is rarely a bad problem to have.
The only reason to be hesitant about Freeman is the cost and how it could impact the rest of the roster. It's going to take top dollars for a long time, which is always a risk. But he's legit top 2-3 in the league good. Since he entered the league, only two first basemen have been better than him on an OPS+ basis (Votto and Goldschmidt). Arguably there's only one 1B better right now (Vlad Jr).Freeman is great. But 1b seems like the kind of position where the Sox have incredibly exciting young (and very cheap) talent on the way. The cost savings from having Casas at 1b from 2023-2028 could really help find talent elsewhere. Obviously, having FF at 1b in 2022 would be a major upgrade but still. I'm not sure I love this idea.
I'd love to see him here, but the early asking price was 6 years at 30M per and while he's been very durable that's a big commitment through age 38. Maybe this is an attempt to "drive up the price" with the MFY and Toronto involved? Or maybe they see this as a legit counter to what NY and Toronto have done. It does free up Casas to be moved and it would be one less bat to worry about next off season. In the end, I don't think it happens.As an unabashed Freddie fan, I would love to have him on the Sox. Dealing with a glut of talent is rarely a bad problem to have.
Definitely. He's still productive, if overpaid. You can get some young talent and still a useful piece just by flexing a little financial muscle.If we are entertaining 1B ideas, 2 years of Joey Votto would cost 57 million and might get Castillo stapled to him. And doesn’t really hurt the Casas timeline. I’d prefer that route.
Or it’s a ploy by his agent to get a better offer from the Yankees. The Rays, Jays, and Sox all being in on him is curious.I'd love to see him here, but the early asking price was 6 years at 30M per and while he's been very durable that's a big commitment through age 38. Maybe this is an attempt to "drive up the price" with the MFY and Toronto involved? Or maybe they see this as a legit counter to what NY and Toronto have done. It does free up Casas to be moved and it would be one less bat to worry about next off season. In the end, I don't think it happens.
This wasn’t the main thrust of your post, but would Hernandez play in center if JBJ were a starter? I guess we’ll see you n another week or so.If Correa is off the table, I would be all-in on Freddie Freeman. Great player, high character. He can play 1B this year and between him, Devers, or Casas could all rotate through the DH slot after this year when JD is a free agent. This would be a no-brainer to me.
Hernandez CF
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Freeman 1B
Martinez DH
Verdugo LF
Arroyo 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley RF
Bench: Duran, Dalbec, Plawecki, Arauz
Heck of a lineup.
Red October can only go with what we have ATM. Push to shove perhaps JBJ plays center, but I think that also magnifies the need for another corner OF.This wasn’t the main thrust of your post, but would Hernandez play in center if JBJ were a starter? I guess we’ll see you n another week or so.
Red October can only go with what we have ATM. Push to shove perhaps JBJ plays center, but I think that also magnifies the need for another corner OF.
Yes I believe they would keep Kike in center and JBJ in right. Kike was great in center last year.This wasn’t the main thrust of your post, but would Hernandez play in center if JBJ were a starter? I guess we’ll see you n another week or so.
The Reds are going to trade Castillo for a guy who couldn't crack our post-season lineup, another guy who couldn't crack our lineup at all and a walk-prone, oft-injured relief pitcher?Send Dalbec, Duran and Darwinzon to the Reds for Castillo
I think a big part of chawson's suggestion was also taking on Moustakas' salary. Not quite enough, imho, to get Castillo, but that's a tire to kick.The Reds are going to trade Castillo for a guy who couldn't crack our post-season lineup, another guy who couldn't crack our lineup at all and a walk-prone, oft-injured relief pitcher?
Small nitpick but on Devers DH days neither of the other two can play 3B.If Correa is off the table, I would be all-in on Freddie Freeman. Great player, high character. He can play 1B this year and between him, Devers, or Casas could all rotate through the DH slot after this year when JD is a free agent. This would be a no-brainer to me.
Hernandez CF
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Freeman 1B
Martinez DH
Verdugo LF
Arroyo 2B
Vazquez C
Bradley RF
Bench: Duran, Dalbec, Plawecki, Arauz
Heck of a lineup.
Right, taking on Moustakas’ $32 million would grease the wheels, is the idea. I’m not sure how many other teams would be willing to do that.I think a big part of chawson's suggestion was also taking on Moustakas' salary. Not quite enough, imho, to get Castillo, but that's a tire to kick.
What would you propose to do with these cost-controlled young players instead?The idea that the Sox are going to suddenly make a series of moves which add tons of payroll and strips the team of cost controlled young players don’t seem at all realistic to me. I think they will see what RH bat is willing to take a short term deal and maybe add a middle infielder. Suddenly taking on Voto’s deal would be quite a pivot. Adding a top shelf starter would be nice but I’m not sure how they do it with the current set up; they don’t appear to have room for another one without moving one of the guys they have, and none are good candidates to deal.
Wasn't Votto entirely worth his contract last year? Fangraphs has him at 3.6 WAR. Steamer is only projecting 1.7 this year, not sure why. But I don't think you can count on getting discounts by taking his full contract.Joey Votto is 38 but his contract is winding down to the point where it's not a total albatross ($25M in 2022 and 2023). It would be pretty cool to have Casas' idol as the stop gap for a season and Votto could move to DH in 2023.
Perhaps taking on Votto's entire contract would enable them to acquire Luis Castillo without putting Casas and/or Mayer on the table. Two years of Berrios cost the Blue Jays two top 50 prospects if I recall correctly. Castillo may be better but you're also taking on ~$50M in salary. Maybe a package centered around Nick Yorke makes sense?
This guy gets it.As an unabashed Freddie fan, I would love to have him on the Sox. Dealing with a glut of talent is rarely a bad problem to have.
Also by all accounts an incredible character guy. Pretty optimal player to build a young team around over the next half-decade.I’m not crazy about mega deals for guys Freeman’s age but if you’re going to do it, he’s pretty much the exact profile of the guy you do it for. Really well-balanced hitter who has a strong command of the strike zone.
I think this is right. Votto wants to stay in Cincinnati or he'd have been moved a long time ago, and I think the feeling is mutual. In fact, I think a big reason why the Reds are moving other players for nothing or next to nothing is so they can afford him (in their own minds anyway).If we’re talking Votto then it’s worth noting that he’s been pretty consistent in saying that he doesn’t want to waive his NTC. Doesn’t hurt to ask, I guess.
Arauz can play 3rd.Small nitpick but on Devers DH days neither of the other two can play 3B.
True but he's 38 years old and his two previous seasons combined he accumulated 1.4 WAR over nearly 200 games.Wasn't Votto entirely worth his contract last year? Fangraphs has him at 3.6 WAR. Steamer is only projecting 1.7 this year, not sure why. But I don't think you can count on getting discounts by taking his full contract.
But one of Freeman/Casas sits. Not optimal.Arauz can play 3rd.
Not very. Soxprospects says this year is his ETA, like June or so. That plus Dalbec's second half is what makes putting all your eggs in the Freeman basket seem insane and completely counter to their organizational plan. I guess he has enough potential holes in his swing where you could still say "it's just projection" but there just doesn't seem to be a ton of uncertainty there where you would take the risk in blocking him.How far do we think Casas is away from being part of this team?
If things go well in AAA, he should be up for good by August/September.How far do we think Casas is away from being part of this team?
I am in favor of staying the course with the apparent plans at 1B and SS, meaning no big signings there so as to keep the path clear for Casas and Mayer. That said, I believe that this plan is actually the riskier once, since Freeman seems as close to plug-and-play as you’re likely to find in free agency. So when it comes to a scenario where all the eggs are going in one basket, it’s probably the one where we’re counting on an emergence of the youngsters. Again, that’s the plan I prefer for a number of reasons, but I think it’s important to acknowledge the risks.Not very. Soxprospects says this year is his ETA, like June or so. That plus Dalbec's second half is what makes putting all your eggs in the Freeman basket seem insane and completely counter to their organizational plan. I guess he has enough potential holes in his swing where you could still say "it's just projection" but there just doesn't seem to be a ton of uncertainty there where you would take the risk in blocking him.
I will never understand the Albies one, but in this case, Olson is from Atlanta, so it makes sense he'd want to lock in there for the long haul.Olson and the Braves reached an eight-year, $168 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Olson had two years before becoming a free agent. He turns 28 at the end of this month so the new contract will take him through age 35.
That seems like a really team friendly deal. Maybe now is the time to see what Devers might consider for an extension. I'd be thrilled if he agreed to similar terms through age 35 but I've assumed it would take a lot more dollars.
EDIT: Not sure how the Braves are getting these deals done, but the numbers for Acuna, Albies, and now Olson set up that team to be really good for a long time.
Any mention of Freeman to the REd Sox is a desperate ploy to try to get other teams to bid a bit higher. They aren't blocking Casas and I doubt Freeman/Casas would rotate 1B/DH.
When was the last time Heyman actually reported something without carrying water for someone? I don't believe the Sox are in on Freeman unless this is Bloom thinking outside the box and possibly moving Casas for an OF or SP. I also don't believe they want JBJ anywhere near a starting position.Heyman is still banging the Freeman-possibly-to-the-Sox drum. This second tweet adds so little to the first (from 5 hours earlier) that I think this "reporting" is agent-driven (as usual from Heyman).
View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1503791866248155144
Whew! The only explanation for him doubling down is that he knows we are all on to his complete bullshit act.Heyman is still banging the Freeman-possibly-to-the-Sox drum. This second tweet adds so little to the first (from 5 hours earlier) that I think this "reporting" is agent-driven (as usual from Heyman).
View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1503791866248155144
See here's why I was spitballing bringing in Suzuki and Schwarber. The money for the two combined would be MAYBE 5M per year more than what it takes to get Freemen. Suzuki addresses the RH OF need, Dalbec starts at first and Casas comes up when they think he's ready. Schwarber and Casas give you two left handed power bats and you should be able to find a taker for JDM. Depending on the partner and the return you might have to eat some of the $$$. This also lessens the need for JBJ to be an everyday guy, keeps Duran in AAA and doesn't cost the Sox a single prospect.It's funny. I was assuming that if we are indeed kicking the tires on Freeman, that we had an offer in hand for JDM. Send him to the NL, and when Casas is ready, he and Freeman split 1B/DH duties.
Of course, that doesn't address the need for a RH hitting OF. It's a little confusing.