Red Sox Rumors - Just Kidding

[HighTek]

"I think you should focus it on more important things than another baseball team absorbing some of Henry’s cash."

I don't care about Henry's cash, but spending over the tax on this team, is sub optimal because it's cost the draft position and IFA$. We can debate how important that is, but i am firmly in the reset the Tax camp.

 

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

Fenway Park is becoming the Island of Misfit Toys.

I’m beginning to wonder if agents for post-op players are beginning to view Bloom as King Moonracer.

 

[chawson]

Red Sox chatting with Matt Moore and Roberto Pérez, Cotillo says.

View: https://twitter.com/chriscotillo/status/1618645387342147585?s=46&t=gPlIBXrmB4z7L4yGxnrFDg


View: https://twitter.com/chriscotillo/status/1618645246824579072?s=46&t=gPlIBXrmB4z7L4yGxnrFDg


Cotillo also tweeted that they’re not in on Chafin.

Adding both Pérez and Alfaro makes me wonder if they're considering moving Connor Wong.

 

[bosockboy]

Red Sox chatting with Matt Moore and Roberto Pérez, Cotillo says.

View: https://twitter.com/chriscotillo/status/1618645387342147585?s=46&t=gPlIBXrmB4z7L4yGxnrFDg


View: https://twitter.com/chriscotillo/status/1618645246824579072?s=46&t=gPlIBXrmB4z7L4yGxnrFDg


Cotillo also tweeted that they’re not in on Chafin.

Adding both Pérez and Alfaro makes me wonder if they're considering moving Connor Wong.

Moore might allow you to move Pivetta also. Moore can be a 3-4 inning opener in a pinch to cover an IL stint.

 

[phineas gage]

Adding both Pérez and Alfaro makes me wonder if they're considering moving Connor Wong.

Could Wong be moving to 2B (keeping Arroyo as UI)?

 

[dhappy42]

Could Wong be moving to 2B (keeping Arroyo as UI)?

You want Wong as the every-day second baseman over Arroyo?

 

[phineas gage]

You want Wong as the every-day second baseman over Arroyo?

No--just wondering what they have in mind. Wong has played some second and Arroyo is fragile and valuable as UI. I'd be more on board with signing Iglesias to a cheap short contract.

But if Wong is destined for a trade, does he have much value?

 

[BeantownIdaho]

No--just wondering what they have in mind. Wong has played some second and Arroyo is fragile and valuable as UI. I'd be more on board with signing Iglesias to a cheap short contract.

But if Wong is destined for a trade, does he have much value?

I was thinking he may be part of a package somewhere. He actually put up pretty decent numbers in AAA last year and he's not a FA until 2029, so a team can be very patient if needed. He would definitely be a decent part of a package IMO.

 

[Max Power]

Jorge Alfaro, Dominican League and gas station stickball champ.

Mike Trout on Team USA, Acuña likely out of WBC, LIDOM championship updates - The Athletic

Alfaro, who fans have nicknamed “Aquaman” because of his long hair and resemblance to Jason Momoa, was immediately recognizable. With his hulking frame and hair, people knew Alfaro when they saw him, even in street clothes. And especially for what happened next.

It was well into the early morning in Santo Domingo, but an ad-lib game of stickball broke out between gas pumps. Cars drove in and out, but the game after the game kept going. Esmil Rogers, the ex-Yankees reliever who pitched in relief for Tigres in their run to another title, delivered again in the stickball game. Other players joined in. Fans gathered round, curious customers stopped to watch, too. Phone cameras rolled.

 

[BigJay]

Some scuttlebutt about the Sox possibly pursuing Cole Hamels, who has only pitched 1 game since 2020.

Red Sox Could Pursue Four-Time All-Star Attempting MLB Comeback To Bolster Rotation - Sports Illustrated Inside The Red Sox

 

[simplicio]

In an effort to reduce clicks given to clickbait I'll note that no, there's no source in the story connecting the Sox to Hamels, and this is entirely the author's speculation.

 

[streeter88]

In an effort to reduce clicks given to clickbait I'll note that no, there's no source in the story connecting the Sox to Hamels, and this is entirely the author's speculation.

Thanks.

Honestly, I think the Red Sox have already cornered the market on 30+ IL dwelling starting pitchers.

 

[PrometheusWakefield]

Jorge Alfaro, Dominican League and gas station stickball champ.

Mike Trout on Team USA, Acuña likely out of WBC, LIDOM championship updates - The Athletic

I thought the whole point of Alfaro is his 70 grade nickname "el oso".

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1619797839625990144


View: https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1619806710079823875

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Not that much of a rumor, but McWilliams in the Glob says "the Sox still want to add another player who can contribute in the middle infield... They still want another player who, like Mondesí, can play both middle-infield positions."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/14/sports/red-sox-like-looks-aldaberto-mondes-want-more-middle-infield-help/

He mentions Iglesias, but there's no mention of any sources or rumors, just that Iggy "certainly fits the profile."

Story is there and working out:

Story arrived to spring training early and was spotted without a sling after right elbow surgery. Both Cora and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Story is progressing but isn’t near baseball activity.

Sale and Paxton are throwing.

Sale will throw bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday and face hitters next week. Paxton is progressing, having thrown a bullpen Monday.

 

[koufax32]

Not that much of a rumor, but McWilliams in the Glob says "the Sox still want to add another player who can contribute in the middle infield... They still want another player who, like Mondesí, can play both middle-infield positions."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/14/sports/red-sox-like-looks-aldaberto-mondes-want-more-middle-infield-help/

He mentions Iglesias, but there's no mention of any sources or rumors, just that Iggy "certainly fits the profile."

Story is there and working out:


Sale and Paxton are throwing.

I don’t know why, but I had my heart set on getting Kim and have felt he’s the missing piece to what could be a pretty good team both this year and next.

The delay in addressing SS seems to imply the FO is fine with Hernandez playing there full time.

 

[chawson]

I don’t know why, but I had my heart set on getting Kim and have felt he’s the missing piece to what could be a pretty good team both this year and next.

The delay in addressing SS seems to imply the FO is fine with Hernandez playing there full time.

To me the Wacha signing suggests Kim is probably staying in SD. They needed another arm and now they don’t.

Still think the plan to start Kiké at short is a sleight of hand. I’m crossing my fingers for a small deal for Mateo (using some combo of Dalbec, Duran or Pivetta). Pretty sure something will happen.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I don’t know why, but I had my heart set on getting Kim and have felt he’s the missing piece to what could be a pretty good team both this year and next.

The delay in addressing SS seems to imply the FO is fine with Hernandez playing there full time.

Or they like Mondesi and/or expect Story to be back and playing short after the ASB

 

[The Gray Eagle]

Not that much of a rumor, but McWilliams in the Glob says "the Sox still want to add another player who can contribute in the middle infield... They still want another player who, like Mondesí, can play both middle-infield positions."
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/14/sports/red-sox-like-looks-aldaberto-mondes-want-more-middle-infield-help/

Looks like that rumored middle infielder was Yu Chang.
Oh, Yu!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/changyu01.shtml

I wonder if he will beat out Niko Goodrum for the futility infielder spot?
Goodrum hits poorly from both sides, while Chang only hits poorly from the right side. Is that an advantage for Yu or a disadvantage?
Goodrum hit .116 in 15 games last year while getting a World Series ring with the Astros. Chang hit .150 in 11 games with the Red Sox, so he has an edge with his experience of already sucking in Boston.

Chang also pitched 2 innings with a 13.50 ERA (but only a 9.61 FIP) last year, so he can suck in a totally different way that Goodrum can't. But they changed the rules to crack down on position player pitchers, so that probably won't be the difference maker.
While Chang was bad in his small sample size in Boston last year, he had a 101 OPS+ in 36 games before he got here-- the only time he's come close to being an average bat. Of course that was when he was with Tampa. That's what they do.

This is a close one, but Chang got a major league deal while Goodrum did not, so it's likely that Chang will make the team coming out of spring training. But Niko will be ready whenever we need a guy who can cover multiple positions while hitting under .200.

 

[joe dokes]

Looks like that rumored middle infielder was Yu Chang.
Oh, Yu!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/changyu01.shtml
Goodrum hits poorly from both sides, while Chang only hits poorly from the right side. Is that an advantage for Yu or a disadvantage?

Reminds me of:
Before Charlie Finley saddled Dick Williams with sprinter Herb Washington as a pinch-runner, he did the same with switch-hitter Allan Lewis, who was at least nominally a baseball player, but whose sole positive attribute was speed. (over 100 SBs in the minors one year). According to some book I read long ago, Williams quipped, "I hear he's a 300 hitter. 150 from each side."

 

[walt in maryland]

Looks like that rumored middle infielder was Yu Chang.
Oh, Yu!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/changyu01.shtml

I wonder if he will beat out Niko Goodrum for the futility infielder spot?
Goodrum hits poorly from both sides, while Chang only hits poorly from the right side. Is that an advantage for Yu or a disadvantage?
Goodrum hit .116 in 15 games last year while getting a World Series ring with the Astros. Chang hit .150 in 11 games with the Red Sox, so he has an edge with his experience of already sucking in Boston.

Chang also pitched 2 innings with a 13.50 ERA (but only a 9.61 FIP) last year, so he can suck in a totally different way that Goodrum can't. But they changed the rules to crack down on position player pitchers, so that probably won't be the difference maker.
While Chang was bad in his small sample size in Boston last year, he had a 101 OPS+ in 36 games before he got here-- the only time he's come close to being an average bat. Of course that was when he was with Tampa. That's what they do.

This is a close one, but Chang got a major league deal while Goodrum did not, so it's likely that Chang will make the team coming out of spring training. But Niko will be ready whenever we need a guy who can cover multiple positions while hitting under .200.

The more I think of it, Chang makes more sense than Andrus, given the Sox' clear intention to play Kike at shortstop. Chang is an excellent defender at multiple positions and didn't sign for $850K expecting t to play every day. Andrus likely wants a starting SS job, and may still get one.

 

[colonelmoran]

Honestly, I did not recognize his name from '22.

 

[Eddie Bressoud]

Would have preferred Iglesias, if they were going to recycle former Sox players.

 

[Yaz4Ever]

Wanted Kim. Not familiar with Yu Chang, but I'm not going to write him off just because I was hoping for someone else.

 

[OldeBeanTowne]

I still wish they had been able to sign Segura. It seems he would've been a good fit with his positional versatility and remaining athleticism. He would've been able to spell Devers at 3B, on occasion, as well. He's accounting for $8.5 million towards the luxury tax.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/miami-marlins/jean-segura-11562/

Of course, he may never have considered Boston and prefers living in Miami, but I think it was a missed opportunity especially given the contract (length, price, etc.) he signed and the lack of draft pick compensation. His age and health concerns are certainly mitigating factors.

 

[geoflin]

One reason I'm not pleased with the Chang acquisition is he really doesn't play SS. That leaves us with Arroyo backing up Hernandez until Mondesi is healthy, not ideal. I would have preferred a player better suited to at least back up SS.

 

[Coachster]

One reason I'm not pleased with the Chang acquisition is he really doesn't play SS. That leaves us with Arroyo backing up Hernandez until Mondesi is healthy, not ideal. I would have preferred a player better suited to at least back up SS.

He's got 180 innings at short in his MLB career, and he's NEVER MADE AN ERROR. That has to count for something.

I believe Goodrum is going to be the extra infielder till Mondesi is ready, but we'll see what the next couple weeks brings.

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

Chang is completely incompetent at the plate but he should be perfectly capable of playing some shortstop. He was almost exclusively a shortstop until he reached AAA and moving him to other positions since then wasn't because he couldn't handle the position, it was because he was never going to get playing time in Cleveland as a shortstop (Lindor, Gimenez, Rosario).

 

[BringBackMo]

One reason I'm not pleased with the Chang acquisition is he really doesn't play SS. That leaves us with Arroyo backing up Hernandez until Mondesi is healthy, not ideal. I would have preferred a player better suited to at least back up SS.

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2023/02/alex-cora-explains-why-red-sox-signed-yu-chang-to-fortify-infield-mix.html

“He’s another shortstop,” manager Alex Cora said.

”His defense was good. He put good at-bats but defensively, he’s solid,” Cora said. “You can move him around. Good athlete. He put competitive at-bats but I think his defense is what separates him from the others.”

 

[SouthernBoSox]

View: https://twitter.com/chrishenrique/status/1627450846744043522?s=46&t=8I6gDcc4tiO57jtQeIv68A


Pretty stunningly low amount.

 

[bosockboy]

View: https://twitter.com/chrishenrique/status/1627450846744043522?s=46&t=8I6gDcc4tiO57jtQeIv68A


Pretty stunningly low amount.

He had zero market without us. We must’ve really not liked him.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Wow, only time will tell whether or not the RED Sox would have been wise to toss $3mil his way.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Why is the assumption that the Red Sox passed on him rather than the other way around? Andrus is expected to be the regular 2B for the White Sox. Perhaps the Red Sox were only offering a part-time role (splitting time in a rotation with Kike, Arroyo, Duvall, etc) and he preferred the more sure thing? Or he liked his time in Chicago and didn't really want to leave?

 

[E5 Yaz]

Why is the assumption that the Red Sox passed on him rather than the other way around?

I know that you know the answer to this question. It's the same reason the Red Sox get blamed for not making a trade with Team X for Player Y despite our not knowing what negotiations, if any, took place

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Who knows what happened, but what Andrus signed for now is probably not what he would have signed for a week or a month ago. Maybe the Red Sox were interested before, but not now. Maybe the Red Sox were never interested, maybe Andrus preferred the White Sox. Who knows. But certainly seems like he misplayed his hand this off-season.

 

[jon abbey]

But certainly seems like he misplayed his hand this off-season.

Boras is his agent, this always seems to happen to a few of his guys but no one ever seems to hold that against him.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Boras is his agent, this always seems to happen to a few of his guys but no one ever seems to hold that against him.

True- often times it seems like guys where he can make it up the next off-season. But I don’t see that happening with Andrus.

 

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

Iglesias on a minor league deal?

 

[chrisfont9]

Boras is his agent, this always seems to happen to a few of his guys but no one ever seems to hold that against him.

Thank you!! Jesus, the Boras worship is so far beyond old. Not here, just out there in general.

Why is the assumption that the Red Sox passed on him rather than the other way around? Andrus is expected to be the regular 2B for the White Sox. Perhaps the Red Sox were only offering a part-time role (splitting time in a rotation with Kike, Arroyo, Duvall, etc) and he preferred the more sure thing? Or he liked his time in Chicago and didn't really want to leave?

This is my suspicion too. I never bought the idea that the Sox were bringing on a guy who would give them three presumed full-time players for two positions like it was musical chairs and expect a guy like Andrus to be interested. They got an expendable guy who will be expended as soon as Story is back.

 

[Blizzard of 1978]

Iglesias on a minor league deal?

I am still hoping for Iggy part three.

 

[ehaz]

Given Mondesi’s inability to stay on the field I’m pretty stunned that we didn’t go in this direction. Andrus was a 3.5 fWAR player last season…

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Andrus was super toasty as of 2019-21, remember Texas actually dumped his contract to the A's in a swap of bad contracts for Khris Davis.

I'm sure the projections say he's a 1 WAR player at the very most.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Andrus was super toasty as of 2019-21, remember Texas actually dumped his contract to the A's in a swap of bad contracts for Khris Davis.

I'm sure the projections say he's a 1 WAR player at the very most.

Fangraphs has a number of projections for him, ranging from 1 WAR to 1.9 WAR. They all seem to rely on his defense to produce those numbers (all his oWAR projections are negative, dWAR is positive) and who knows if that projection changes with a change in position.

To me, the fascination with Andrus (and Iglesias) is simply name recognition. I don't think Bloom going with other options in the middle infield is that big a deal.

 

[nvalvo]

I would have been pretty frustrated if we had brought in (or still do bring in) one of the FA retread types like Andrus or Iglesias.

Nobody altogether without question marks is signing up to be displaced by Story at midseason.

The options are thus trade (Kim, Wendle, etc.) or signing guys with question marks. If the reports are true, Bloom explored the trade options, and we ended up with one of each. We added one guy via FA with reliable health and defense and questions about his offense in Chang, and another guy (via trade) with All Star upside but questions about his health in Mondesí.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

I would have been pretty frustrated if we had brought in (or still do bring in) one of the FA retread types like Andrus or Iglesias.

Nobody altogether without question marks is signing up to be displaced by Story at midseason.

The options are thus trade (Kim, Wendle, etc.) or signing guys with question marks. If the reports are true, Bloom explored the trade options, and we ended up with one of each. We added one guy via FA with reliable health and defense and questions about his offense in Chang, and another guy (via trade) with All Star upside but questions about his health in Mondesí.

I think Andrus or Iglesias would clearly be better than Chang, but not sure either would have preferred the Sox situation given the lack of clarity and what happens if / when everyone is healthy.

Hopefully Kike is healthy and ready to go, especially early on with Mondesi out. The middle infield depth is pretty weak, IMO.

 

[chawson]

I agree with @Red(s)HawksFan that the almost entirely fan-driven push for Andrus was mostly about name recognition. (I'm sure Bloom "checked in" on Andrus, but that's due diligence and likely also true of every conceivable option.)

The projection systems peg Andrus for a wRC+ between 82 and 96, and Chang for an wRC+ between 80 and 94. Bref/Marcel gives Andrus a .654 OPS in 2023 and Chang a .679.

Meanwhile, Andrus's waning defensive abilities seem glaringly overlooked. According to DRS, he was roughly twice as bad a defensive shortstop (-26 DRS in 3988 innings) over the last four seasons as Bogaerts was (-13 in 4225 innings). Defensive metrics are always imprecise, but that's something. For that reason alone, I'm glad we went with Mondesi (+9 DRS in 1563 innings) and Chang (-1 in 180), but the offensive upside for the latter two seem a lot higher to me as well.

 

[nvalvo]

I think Andrus or Iglesias would clearly be better than Chang

I don't think that's clear at all.

Player, Age, xWOBA 2021, 2022, OAA 2021, 2022, Avg EV, Max EV

Chang, 27, .282, .290, +4, +3, 87.7, 111.3
Andrus, 34, .308, .293, +6, +3, 87.5, 110.2
Iglesias, 33, .297, .281, 0, 0, 84.1, 111.0

I literally do not know which of those three players I would project to perform best next season, but the StatCast suggests that Iglesias is the worst defender and has the worst quality of contact of the three.

And then we should also add:

Mondesí, 27, .318, .211, +5, +4, 89.7, 112.6

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Chang has a 29% K rate in his time in the bigs, and 26% at AAA. (Iglesias career 12%, Andrus 14%). Exit velocity is great but you have to make contact first; not sure that he will make enough contact to be useful.

 

[BringBackMo]

I think Andrus or Iglesias would clearly be better than Chang, but not sure either would have preferred the Sox situation given the lack of clarity and what happens if / when everyone is healthy.

Hopefully Kike is healthy and ready to go, especially early on with Mondesi out. The middle infield depth is pretty weak, IMO.

Can you explain what makes you think this is clear? I don’t see this at all.

 

[BringBackMo]

OK so it boils down for you to K rate. Fair enough, I suppose, but I don’t see a clear difference at all among these players.