Okay, so the team has filled the DH spot. What do you think the greatest area of need is at this exact moment? For this exercise, let's pretend we don't need clarity on the Devers situation.
I have seen several people say things like "we have no OF" or that the OF sucks, and while there is quite a bit of risk there, I am curious what you see changing before opening day. Yoshida was signed for starter money and coupled with Turner it seems certain he will be in LF most games. Same for Kike in CF. I could see them going for a better defensive RF and trading Verdugo (the Kepler scenario most likely) or getting a 4th OF with a better track record than Refsnyder, but these seem like small improvements. What would you like to see happen with the group we already have?But I think we all know, today, that a Yoshida/Hernández/Verdugo/Refsnyder outfield needs work.
Spend to the tax level to build the best club you can with the restriction of being very careful with long term commitments, at least until the farm starts producing cheap talent to offset those deals, because it was the drought of such players that put them in this spot, not the failure to sign Mookie Betts to a long term deal.We need a plan.
I'd vote pitching if I felt there was a good durable pitcher available, but Eo doesn't seem like a good fit (and I'm not sure any of the FAs available do). The primary concern with the staff is having guys not named Pivetta and Bello who can reliably take the mound every 5th day.I voted starting pitching, but more top end than depth. I was hoping for an Eovaldi reunion but at this point he may be weighing 4 or 5 year offers.
I agree that SS is 1st need--why move Story off 2B, where his defense has been great, especially when his defense at SS could be something of a liability (based on concerns about his arm)? I'd be glad if they pick up a good defensive SS who doesn't hit all that much. Close behind SS, though, is OF--Verdugo in RF at Fenway is less than ideal, to put it mildly. Starting pitching obviously has question marks, but it's possible to see a path to decency there (of course, a lot depends on health). I like the additions to the bullpen--potential for significant improvement over last year.I voted SS, because I have been convinced by the many people on here who don't think that he can hack it there anymore. I have no idea if that's true, but the logic behind it seems reasonable at the very least.
More starting pitching is a close second, though.
I would like to trade Verdugo and acquire a young OF with upside who can play Fenway’s RF. The Diamondbacks have an OF glut, for example.I voted starting pitching, but more top end than depth. I was hoping for an Eovaldi reunion but at this point he may be weighing 4 or 5 year offers.
I have seen several people say things like "we have no OF" or that the OF sucks, and while there is quite a bit of risk there, I am curious what you see changing before opening day. Yoshida was signed for starter money and coupled with Turner it seems certain he will be in LF most games. Same for Kike in CF. I could see them going for a better defensive RF and trading Verdugo (the Kepler scenario most likely) or getting a 4th OF with a better track record than Refsnyder, but these seem like small improvements. What would you like to see happen with the group we already have?
I think one of the biggest problems with defense right now is that we're in an era where there's fewer balls in play than through MLB history. The five lowest seasons per BIP have occurred, well... in the last five years.Clearly a SS or 2B. I'm okay with Story at SS but I really don't like any of the 2B (or SS) free agents available. A trade is really the only thing I can see happening but perhaps Bloom sees Valdez as more defensively competent than I do.
I'm good with the bullpen and with the rotation. Yeah.... health is always an issue and the warning meter is higher than on other teams but that's the situation when your "ace" is a crazily paid often injured guy. Bloom actually addressed it pretty well last season but the sheer volume of injuries hitting all at once was too overwhelming.
I still think defense is overrated in MLB and the difference between a great outfield and an average outfield is minimal over the course of a year... maybe a game or two. The Phillies possibly had the most embarrassing defense in the world, and offensive underperformance from a big FA signing and they still won 2 games in the WS.
The bullpen is currently a strength and has some depth in the minors.
With the addition of a 2B/SS over the existing quality, the team will be better than most think here. 85-88 wins is possible if health is just better than last year-to-average time on the DL for high end players
I do think IF defense is likely going to be more important going forward (and I suspect Bloom put on a public media show about X but saw his likely regression and defense as liabilities within a year)... but OF defense isn't.I think one of the biggest problems with defense right now is that we're in an era where there's fewer balls in play than through MLB history. The five lowest seasons per BIP have occurred, well... in the last five years.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/bat.shtml
I went outfield. I think we can get by with Story and Hernandez/Arroyo at SS/2B just fine, but it's hard to have any real optimism about the outfield especially if Arroyo/Hernandez are going to be seeing more time in the infield next year.
I prefer that they get that defensive RF that most of us seem to agree that is missing, but I also want Verdugo to remain unless he can be part of a package that brings back a player that fills a real need for at least 4-5 years. As I have mentioned before I like the makeup of a 4 man rotation of Yoshida/Verdugo in LF, Kike'/Kepler in CF and Kepler/Verdugo in RF with RFsnyder as your 5th OF/Jack of all trades. I'm hoping Turner can utilize the full off season and full ST to familiarize himself enough at 1B so that he can become the RH option at the position and that the DH slot can be available on those days to used in other ways.I voted starting pitching, but more top end than depth. I was hoping for an Eovaldi reunion but at this point he may be weighing 4 or 5 year offers.
I have seen several people say things like "we have no OF" or that the OF sucks, and while there is quite a bit of risk there, I am curious what you see changing before opening day. Yoshida was signed for starter money and coupled with Turner it seems certain he will be in LF most games. Same for Kike in CF. I could see them going for a better defensive RF and trading Verdugo (the Kepler scenario most likely) or getting a 4th OF with a better track record than Refsnyder, but these seem like small improvements. What would you like to see happen with the group we already have?
“Yeah, he hit for average, but he can be a lot better baserunning, defensively,” Cora said.
Verdugo has split his season between left field and right field but the numbers have not been encouraging in either spot. He ranks in the 12th percentile of all defenders in outs above average and in the 40th percentile in outfielder jump. His sprint speed, which averaged 27.5 ft/s in 2020 and 27 ft/s in 2021, is down to an average of 26.8 ft/s in 2022. By all metrics, the 26-year-old has been slower this year than in the past.
Cora noted that Verdugo spent much of the early part of the season banged up after fouling a ball off himself but also was heavier than in recent years. The Red Sox list him at 6-feet, 192 lbs. Cora said Verdugo tried to add some mass in order to hit for more power this season.
“He put on some weight, not in a bad way, but he got bigger, kind of like in the same narrative that happened with (Benintendi) in 2019,” Cora said. “Get bigger to hit for extra-base hits. In that sense, it cost him other aspects of the game.”
There have been some questions about Verdugo’s off-season and pregame routines. The Red Sox plan to push the outfielder to prepare the right way this winter before suiting up for Team Mexico in next year’s World Baseball Classic.
“We’re going to push him hard this off-season to get back to playing faster, to playing quicker,” Cora said. “I think, athletic-wise, he can do that. This off-season, obviously, with him playing for Mexico, his off-season stuff is going to be different. He’s going to be in better shape heading into spring training. I think this is a guy who we envision to be an impact player, not only in the batter’s box but also on the other side of the ball.”
“I think the off-season is going to dictate where he plays next year but I do believe he can be a lot better,” Cora said. “A lot better, regardless if he plays right or left. He can be a better defender.”
Thanks, the Dbacks OF are definitely an interesting option. I think ultimately too expensive prospect wise, but if Bloom is going to spend real prospect capital that kind of long-term control is the only time it makes sense (IMO anyway).I would like to trade Verdugo and acquire a young OF with upside who can play Fenway’s RF. The Diamondbacks have an OF glut, for example.
I agree with almost all of this, I would be very happy to add Kepler to the RF/CF mix and Refsnyder's (lack of) track record makes him best suited for 5th OF. I am not really convinced it makes sense to keep Verdugo as another LHH though. Swapping him out for someone from the Pollock/Myers/Duvall group would provide better balance to the OF rotation.I prefer that they get that defensive RF that most of us seem to agree that is missing, but I also want Verdugo to remain unless he can be part of a package that brings back a player that fills a real need for at least 4-5 years. As I have mentioned before I like the makeup of a 4 man rotation of Yoshida/Verdugo in LF, Kike'/Kepler in CF and Kepler/Verdugo in RF with RFsnyder as your 5th OF/Jack of all trades. I'm hoping Turner can utilize the full off season and full ST to familiarize himself enough at 1B so that he can become the RH option at the position and that the DH slot can be available on those days to used in other ways.
BTV thinks Houck (or Schreiber) for Kim straight up is fair, no Verdugo necessary.Does Verdugo/Houck get Ha-seong Kim?
Kim is super interesting. Obviously the Padres just picked up an extra infielder so he could be available. Of course SD is in win now mode so I don’t think they’d be looking for prospects. Wonder if Schreiber would be appealing to them.BTV thinks Houck (or Schreiber) for Kim straight up is fair, no Verdugo necessary.
Count me in the camp of not trading Schreiber or Houck. If this team is going to compete it's going to be on the strength of a deeper pitching staff. That being said, I'd be all for acquiring a defense first Shortstop and Kim fits that bill. Also Hoerner from the Cubs, what's their plan with him?Kim is super interesting. Obviously the Padres just picked up an extra infielder so he could be available. Of course SD is in win now mode so I don’t think they’d be looking for prospects. Wonder if Schreiber would be appealing to them.
The question that jumps out at me is why would the Royals trade a guy with 6 years of control for a slightly older but definitely more expensive one with only 2 years of control? Seems like the only thing that might make Verdugo attractive to the Royals is if they think their lineup is unbalanced and swapping Eaton for Verdugo's LHB would change that.Actually a Verdugo trade I'd be interested in that BTV thinks is fair or even a slight overpay is for Nate Eaton from KC. 25, RHB, still rookie eligible, kind of a noodle bat but still a 101 WRC+ to Verdugo's 103 this year. He seems to hit LHP well at least, but the arm and legs are absolutely elite MLB calibre and the real draw: the best overall arm in baseball last year, and 97th percentile sprint speed. His overall defensive metrics are brought down by splitting time at 3B where he wasn't great, but in RF statcast rated him at a 7% Success Rate added, aka Dalton Varsho level.
I'm fully basing this off numbers on websites, so anyone can tell me why he's actually terrible or that the Royals love him and would never let him go, but those defensive numbers do look really juicy to me and BTV thinks he's obtainable at least.
I also voted for "moar bullpen"I probably fall more in the "other" camp but that is a bit of a cop out since you could pretty much go through every aspect of both on-field and off-field operations to find flaws right now - so I went with "Moar Bullpen" mainly because I think the team will struggle to score runs at the clip we've been used to (even when not winning) and you can't simply wave a magic wand and say "add a couple silver slugger level bats" nor are there many front line starting pitchers busking for a contract on Boylston Street (plus "moar" - what the hell is that?). That leaves you dependent on beefing up what might (might) be a developing strength, which is the pen. I like a couple of the signings they've made and I think there is still talent to be mined out there. We can actually add wins by having a pen that gets you from innings 4-9 while you scratch and claw some runs back. While I certainly see a need I just don't see much of a realistic path towards strengthening the OF, SS or SP given the fact that the purse strings seem tighter than every English soccer fan's butthole when they hear the words "penalty shot".
Yep, I have no idea and I don't follow KC to tell you what they need; maybe it would require a larger trade with more pieces on both sides. Eaton was just a name that jumped out as a way of upgrading RF defensively without completely decapitating the offense or costing the full farm.The question that jumps out at me is why would the Royals trade a guy with 6 years of control for a slightly older but definitely more expensive one with only 2 years of control? Seems like the only thing that might make Verdugo attractive to the Royals is if they think their lineup is unbalanced and swapping Eaton for Verdugo's LHB would change that.
Any targets in mind?I think the biggest need is a starting pitcher who would be a higher-grade Pivetta, a guy who goes to the post each time out but with more consistent results. I have no father that Sale or Paxton contributes greatly this season, and I'm concerned about the innings situation with Whitlock.
I’m just echoing what the SoxProspects guys said on their podcast, but it sounds like Mata could be an interesting late inning relief piece as soon as Opening Day.Any targets in mind?
As is I don't mind seeing more Crawford, and hopefully Mata is ready to contribute in the summer. I just really don't want more of the Seabold/Winckowski experience.
Why is this incarnation of Red Sox management so incapable of finding the deft balance between annoying and signing players who actually want to stay in Boston? That makes 3 now: X, Vaz and Big Nate all reportedly wanted to stay. Maybe that's just the player taking a parting shot on his way out, but there were enough reports in each case that it seemed genuine (unlike Mookie who seemingly was determined to test the market - and Devers who now has nothing to stay for since his buddies have all left).Eovaldi or Kluber for me, plus that 1/$6M for Hill. Totally happy with Nate on a three-year deal or something, but it'll be pretty annoying after he was reportedly bummed that we didn't offer him an extension all year. It's one of this offseason's many unprovables, but there's no way he signs for less now than what he might have in August.
Replace Chaim with someone junior to him. Ruthless, but turn about is fair play. I like it!Other: Director of Baseball Operations.
I would personally prefer to hold onto Houck and would be fine with sending Verdugo for Kim, if SD had interest. Don't dislike Verdugo, just don't need him with Yoshida.BTV thinks Houck (or Schreiber) for Kim straight up is fair, no Verdugo necessary.
So then who plays right?I would personally prefer to hold onto Houck and would be fine with sending Verdugo for Kim, if SD had interest. Don't dislike Verdugo, just don't need him with Yoshida.
Right now, Schreiber is the most watchable player on the Red Sox. Get rid of him and there's little reason for me to tune in.Kim is super interesting. Obviously the Padres just picked up an extra infielder so he could be available. Of course SD is in win now mode so I don’t think they’d be looking for prospects. Wonder if Schreiber would be appealing to them.
In this scenario, I'm assuming we don't have a RF yet...Refsnyder?? Yoshida and Verdugo are best suited to LF, correct?So then who plays right?