Red Sox Rumors - Just Kidding

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
22,558
Maine
Not a bad role for him, honestly: he throws strikes, so he could eat innings in low leverage spots as the thirteenth pitcher on the roster.
Plus he has options which is pretty important if you're talking about the 13th pitcher on the roster. When they're in a spot where they burn him in a blowout (win or loss) and they need a fresher arm, he can be sent down to make room.
 

chawson

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
4,961
I guess after seeing all the articles that stated the Red Sox are going to be BIG players this off-season I was a bit disappointed this was one of the first rumors I saw. I get it though, it is a LONG off-season and there are plenty of needs for this team. My post wasn't intended to knock Kluber per se, just wanted to see bigger deals being planned.
Yeah, I hear ya. I totally agree that there should be a lot of big moves this offseason and I have no idea what's in store. I'd be surprised though, if they signed one of the big four SP FAs attached to QOs. Senga seems like a strong possibility, though.
 

Benj4ever

New Member
Nov 21, 2022
478
His bullpen management was horrid last season. If it continues into the next season, I think we need to be talking about a new manager before we talk about a new head of baseball ops.
New guy here. Not much of a Cora fan, and I do question his bullpen management. The biggest problem I have with the bullpen moving forward, though, is the trend of starters going 5 innings. When your pen pitches as much as the Sox' did last year, things will invariably go wrong.
 

effectivelywild

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
477
New guy here. Not much of a Cora fan, and I do question his bullpen management. The biggest problem I have with the bullpen moving forward, though, is the trend of starters going 5 innings. When your pen pitches as much as the Sox' did last year, things will invariably go wrong.
I understand your frustration---especially since we didn't exactly have a lockdown bullpen, but Boston was only 9th in innings pitched by relievers. Now admittedly the list of teams above them isn't exactly awe-inspiring, but they weren't outliers. And by xFIP they were the 9th best bullpen. I think a lot of it is they got overexposed especially when the majority of the rotation was out injured. But I don't think the trend of starters going 5 innings is limited to the Sox or is going away any time soon.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
22,558
Maine
New guy here. Not much of a Cora fan, and I do question his bullpen management. The biggest problem I have with the bullpen moving forward, though, is the trend of starters going 5 innings. When your pen pitches as much as the Sox' did last year, things will invariably go wrong.
In 2022, the MLB average was 5.2 innings per start. MLB average 10 years ago was 5.9 innings per start, as it also was twenty years ago. The trend of starters going 5 innings is not exclusive to the Red Sox nor a trend that is likely to reverse anytime soon.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
7,395
I understand your frustration---especially since we didn't exactly have a lockdown bullpen, but Boston was only 9th in innings pitched by relievers. Now admittedly the list of teams above them isn't exactly awe-inspiring, but they weren't outliers. And by xFIP they were the 9th best bullpen. I think a lot of it is they got overexposed especially when the majority of the rotation was out injured. But I don't think the trend of starters going 5 innings is limited to the Sox or is going away any time soon.
The 5 inning start seemed- at least - to only be an inflexible thing for the first month before the starters were allowed- when they weren’t getting destroyed- to go past 5.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
22,558
Maine
The 5 inning start seemed- at least - to only be an inflexible thing for the first month before the starters were allowed- when they weren’t getting destroyed- to go past 5.
Even if you want to restrict it to the first month or so, it wasn't a Red Sox exclusive thing. The whole league had their starters on pitch/inning restrictions the first month of the season. For March/April, the Red Sox were 20th of 30 teams in innings per start (4.7). League average was 4.8 innings per start, and the league leaders were only at 5.4 innings (Padres, Mets, Marlins). That's roughly a difference of two outs per game between the Sox and the top teams.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
7,395
Even if you want to restrict it to the first month or so, it wasn't a Red Sox exclusive thing. The whole league had their starters on pitch/inning restrictions the first month of the season. For March/April, the Red Sox were 20th of 30 teams in innings per start (4.7). League average was 4.8 innings per start, and the league leaders were only at 5.4 innings (Padres, Mets, Marlins). That's roughly a difference of two outs per game between the Sox and the top teams.
The Sox were relying on a lot of starts from Crawford, Bello, and Winckowski after the early season limit was lifted too
 

moondog80

heart is two sizes two small
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
8,764

sezwho

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,434
Isle of Plum

moondog80

heart is two sizes two small
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
8,764
Could be 4. Could be 12.
If it's just a straight 220 mil offer -- no options or opt outs or anything like that -- I can't see a denominator other than 7, 8, or 9. *Maybe* 10, but that would only be an opening offer as a means to make something else feel like a middle ground.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
If it's just a straight 220 mil offer -- no options or opt outs or anything like that -- I can't see a denominator other than 7, 8, or 9. *Maybe* 10, but that would only be an opening offer as a means to make something else feel like a middle ground.
Agreed. my hope is 7 gets it done. I don’t think he would jump on 8 or more, and six seems rich
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
15,124
So there is optimism that they can “bridge the gap”. Is there any word on what the “gap” is? What has Devers asked for?
 

BeantownIdaho

New Member
Dec 5, 2005
569
Nampa, Idaho
Probably 7 with an opt out somewhere.... Gives him the opportunity to opt out and still be at an age to get a bigger contract or finish this contract and be age 33 and still in line to get another decent contract.
 

Harry Hooper

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 4, 2002
35,561
"or so" is a heck of a descriptor. I suppose it makes sense to sign Devers first since he might not be too enthralled to sign if Bogaerts has signed eleswhere already.
 

buttons

New Member
Jul 18, 2005
62
an opt out after 3 years is Bogart revisited!
if the compensation is fair then he should
take the risk that in the future he could
demand more since we are taking the
risk that his value could be a lot less.
 

Minneapolis Millers

Wants you to please think of the Twins fans!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,753
Twin Cities
I think there are only 3 3Bman making $30M/yr or more: Rendon, Arenado, and Machado. All three were better overall players than Raffy when they signed their deals, although only Machado was as young. Then there’s a drop off to Ramirez, who’s just over $20. I’m guessing the Sox want to keep the AAV down below $30. If it’s below $25, then going 10 years is probably palatable. If they would go to 10/$261+, that would put Raffy #4 in AAV but #2 in total $.

If Devers insists on getting to $300, I doubt a deal with us gets done. All three of those top guys had to go elsewhere to get those huge deals. I’m hopeful that they can find a middle ground between $220 and $300, keeping the AAV down while giving Devers more options/control: an opt out after year 3 or 4, a limited no trade and/or trade escalator if he opts in.
 

chawson

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
4,961
I had a dream last night that the Sox signed Trevor Rosenthal. So I'm reporting that as a rumor.

Is that still an option? Speculating about taking a flyer on him is an annual tradition, but on the other hand, he's thrown maybe 50 professional innings in the last five years.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
32,589
Cora's inflexability last year was also a problem. It was apparent within the first few weeks the bullpen was a problem, but he decided to continue to baby his starters. If this was done due to a shorten spring training, it might have made some sense, but according to Cora he did this so the starters would be fresh for September. That worked out great.
"few weeks" and "baby the starters" aren't really carrying the weight you are assigning to them.
Pivetta made his 1st 6-inning start on May 6.(81/54/96/98) (not really babied before that. He just wasn't very good).
Eovaldi pitched 7 innings in his 4th start April 25 (76/101/95/72/95
Hill was never going to go deep very often.
Wacha pitched 6 innings in his 4th start. (72/79/82/92)
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
17,772
I have a thought why don't those debating Cora's bullpen usage,start a dedicated thread on that subject. So the rumors thread can stay just rumors. Thanks
Agreed. So annoying to see this thread bumped repeatedly only to see the latest argument about one guy's memories of how the bullpen was used last April.
Please call the thread "We know how to run a major league bullpen better than the stupid manager does."
EDIT: Thread has been started, thank you!
 

Sausage in Section 17

Poker Champ
SoSH Member
Mar 17, 2004
2,248
Excellent idea. But it might be best to wait until after they lose on Opening Day. ;)

As for rumors, there's this:
MLB experts predict if Xander Bogaerts will sign with Red Sox and for how much - masslive.com

At the bottom of that article is some Bowden speculation on Eovaldi...

Unlike ESPN and Heyman, Bowden speculated on Red Sox free agent pitcher Nate Eovaldi as well:



“Best fits: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rangers, Angels, Mets, Cardinals, Giants - Contract prediction: 4 years, $90 million”

Oof! I can't see 4 years and 90M for Eovaldi. If another team offers him that...vaya con dios, Nate.
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
17,772
The rumor link posted by @joe dokes above includes these guesses by the ESPN "experts":

Here’s what they predicted for Bogaerts:
McDaniel:
Boston Red Sox, six years, $168 million
Doolittle: Chicago Cubs, six years, $180 million
Schoenfield: Los Angeles Angels, six years, $184 million
Rogers: Giants (or Cubs), six years, $180 million
Lee: Red Sox, six years, $175 million
Olney: Red Sox, five years, $150 million
Gonzalez: Red Sox, seven years, $196 million

Other teams mentioned: Cubs, Giants, Angels.
The average predicted length is 6 years, with only one guess at 7 years and another at 5. Their combined guesses at average per season are right around $30 million.
I would not like to see us lose X to another team for a 6-year, $30 million contract.
We should be willing to match that or even top it by a bit, IMO.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
18,058
View: https://twitter.com/marino_pepen/status/1595084708718993408?s=46&t=jDAL1EKxtHPxGBjUV2Buvg


Rafael Devers aspires to reach $300 MM, and little by little the #RedSox have been getting closer. TODAY, the difference is around $50 MM. Conversations are still flowing...
I could live with around 10/300. And yes, there’s a bit of ”please don’t go” motivation to that.

edit: and if those predictions in the post above are accurate then there’s no reason to lose X to another team. I think those numbers are completely palatable.
 

Yaz4Ever

MemBer
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 10, 2004
11,466
MA-CA-RI-AZ-NC
I could live with around 10/300. And yes, there’s a bit of ”please don’t go” motivation to that.

edit: and if those predictions in the post above are accurate then there’s no reason to lose X to another team. I think those numbers are completely palatable.
I agree on Devers and X. If Xander can be had for 6/168, I'd be happy.
 
The rumor link posted by @joe dokes above includes these guesses by the ESPN "experts":

Here’s what they predicted for Bogaerts:
McDaniel:
Boston Red Sox, six years, $168 million
Doolittle: Chicago Cubs, six years, $180 million
Schoenfield: Los Angeles Angels, six years, $184 million
Rogers: Giants (or Cubs), six years, $180 million
Lee: Red Sox, six years, $175 million
Olney: Red Sox, five years, $150 million
Gonzalez: Red Sox, seven years, $196 million

Other teams mentioned: Cubs, Giants, Angels.
The average predicted length is 6 years, with only one guess at 7 years and another at 5. Their combined guesses at average per season are right around $30 million.
I would not like to see us lose X to another team for a 6-year, $30 million contract.
We should be willing to match that or even top it by a bit, IMO.
I would go for Raffy at 10/300 and X at 6/180 if that's what it takes.
If you haven't already would you mind adding your offers to my thread on this topic?

Based on the responses there you two are at the top of the curve for offers to X. Only two posters in my thread went 6+ years and 30+ AAV (one offered 6/180 and one 7/210). There were lots of offers of 6+ years and several more offers of 30+mm AAV, but aside from those 2 the 30mm+ offers were all 5 years or less and the 6+ year offers were all <30mm
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
74,330
Chad Jennings’s column in The Athletic today has BOS signing Bogaerts, Eovaldi, Senga, Jose Abreu, Haniger and trading for Scott Barlow as closer.
 

E5 Yaz

polka king
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
95,152
Oregon
Chad Jennings’s column in The Athletic today has BOS signing Bogaerts, Eovaldi, Senga, Jose Abreu, Haniger and trading for Scott Barlow as closer.
Someday, a writer will predict that a team will sign every available free agent ... then claim they were right after it all played out
 

nvalvo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
22,559
Rogers Park
Chad Jennings’s column in The Athletic today has BOS signing Bogaerts, Eovaldi, Senga, Jose Abreu, Haniger and trading for Scott Barlow as closer.
That would be a good offseason, although a lot would ride on the health of Haniger and Eovaldi. I don't know about the particulars, but I expect something on that scale.
 

simplicio

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2012
8,838
If Jose Abreu could be had for 2/36 as Tim Britton projected, they should have had him on a plane to Boston by now. He's a perfect fit for primary DH/1B backup.
 
If Jose Abreu could be had for 2/36 as Tim Britton projected, they should have had him on a plane to Boston by now. He's a perfect fit for primary DH/1B backup.
Strong agree on this one. There's certainly some risk that at age 36 his production falls off a cliff, but he could also have an Ortiz-ish career trajectory. He's old enough that nobody should be offering him anything more than short years, and that's exactly what we need. If we get him for 2 years and he falls apart it's not that big of a liability, but if he maintains his current level he's a really solid asset. Great gamble to take.
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
17,772
Chad Jennings’s column in The Athletic today has BOS signing Bogaerts, Eovaldi, Senga, Jose Abreu, Haniger and trading for Scott Barlow as closer.
I would sign up for this in a heartbeat. We'd be vastly improved without losing any draft/international compensation or being tied into any long contracts other than Xander, and we'd keep basically all our prospects.
 

deythur

New Member
I was listening to MLB Radio yesterday and they were discussing Senga with one of their guests. Duquette and the guest (forgot who) were discussing Senga only having 2 plus pitches and profiles much better as a reliever/closer or as mid rotation starter at best. With the rumors of the Sox at least kicking the tires on Senga does anyone have a better handle on what his pitch profile looks like and how it would translate to MLB?

They mentioned Gausman as 2 pitch pitcher comp. All I could think of is him being our new Koji (Koji=Kodai) but I cant imagine going hard after a closer at this point.
 

streeter88

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 2, 2006
2,078
Melbourne, Australia
I was listening to MLB Radio yesterday and they were discussing Senga with one of their guests. Duquette and the guest (forgot who) were discussing Senga only having 2 plus pitches and profiles much better as a reliever/closer or as mid rotation starter at best. With the rumors of the Sox at least kicking the tires on Senga does anyone have a better handle on what his pitch profile looks like and how it would translate to MLB?

They mentioned Gausman as 2 pitch pitcher comp. All I could think of is him being our new Koji (Koji=Kodai) but I cant imagine going hard after a closer at this point.
this might help…

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/lets-sign-a-starting-pitcher.37988/post-5261478
 

Dewey'sCannon

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
921
Maryland
If you haven't already would you mind adding your offers to my thread on this topic?

Based on the responses there you two are at the top of the curve for offers to X. Only two posters in my thread went 6+ years and 30+ AAV (one offered 6/180 and one 7/210). There were lots of offers of 6+ years and several more offers of 30+mm AAV, but aside from those 2 the 30mm+ offers were all 5 years or less and the 6+ year offers were all <30mm
In the other thread I offered 7/200 for X (with vesting option based on PAs) and 7/310 for Raffy, so 6/180 and 10/300 are in line with those (I was just reacting here to the suggestions in this thread as to what it would take - which I would do, especially given the alternatives).