What is the greatest need right now?

[Max Power]

I voted OF even though we technically have 3 starters already. I don't like Verdugo in RF and I think the lineup as a whole is too right handed. SS is 1B, but I really think Chaim signed Story last year to be Bogaert's replacement. Arroyo is solid at 2B but can't stay healthy.

The lineup is absolutely not too right handed. And if it were, trading lefty Verdugo would be the opposite of what you want to do.

I don't like the idea of moving Verdugo. He was a good outfielder a couple of years ago before he got bigger and got hurt. He's only 26 and I'd rather bet on him regaining his form than moving him for spare parts.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

In this scenario, I'm assuming we don't have a RF yet...Refsnyder?? Yoshida and Verdugo are best suited to LF, correct?

Yoshida for sure. Verdugo yes, but we've seen that he can plan RF if needed. No way Refsnyder is the primary right fielder, so Yoshida and Verdugo are really only redundant if the Sox get another right fielder.

 

[pedro1999mvp]

The lineup is absolutely not too right handed. And if it were, trading lefty Verdugo would be the opposite of what you want to do.

I don't like the idea of moving Verdugo. He was a good outfielder a couple of years ago before he got bigger and got hurt. He's only 26 and I'd rather bet on him regaining his form than moving him for spare parts.

Sorry, I obviously meant that the lineup was too LEFT-handed hence why they could look to trade Verdugo. I like Verdugo, but we are too left-handed and we have 2 OF who are best in LF, and the other one was just signed, so if someone has to go, Verdugo makes more sense.

 

[Yo La Tengo]

Verdugo was fine in RF in 2020 and 2021, and awful last year.

UZR/150:
2020: 0.8 in 246.2 innings in RF
2021: 9.2 in 173 innings in RF
2022: -17.3 in 432.1 innings in RF

He looked noticeably slower last year, and it seems like Cora agrees with that. At the end of the season, he publicly challenged Verdugo to get in better shape and improve his defense and baserunning this year.

I don't remember Cora actually calling out one of his players in public like that before. I think the team expects him to be in better shape this year and to be better on the field and on the bases.

I agree with all of this, plus the Sox didn't sign Yoshida and Turner to sit on the bench, so, Verdugo is either playing most of the time in right field or he's getting traded. Considering he is turning 27 this May, has shown the ability to play well in Boston, doesn't become a free agent until 2025, and his stats being really good from June forward last year (.304/.356/.447 after the ASG), I'd like the Sox to play him and focus their efforts on landing a shortstop and maybe another pitcher.

 

[Puffy]

There are holes and weaknesses all around the roster and depth charts. I voted for OF because, after Kike, there's zero depth around CF or RF beyond rushing Ceddanne Rafaela. I like Refsnyder too, but I feel like he's going to end up being a lynchpin when he really should be a depth OF. With one injury, he would end up starting a lot on this team in 2023. I feel like the roster would benefit a legitimate CF/RF who can step in if Kike is injured (plausible) or is needed at SS or 2B.

 

[Puffy]

Sorry, I obviously meant that the lineup was too LEFT-handed hence why they could look to trade Verdugo. I like Verdugo, but we are too left-handed and we have 2 OF who are best in LF, and the other one was just signed, so if someone has to go, Verdugo makes more sense.

I would trade Verdugo straight up for Ramon Laureano. That seems to be a much better fit for our roster and lineup.

 

[Yo La Tengo]

Sorry, I obviously meant that the lineup was too LEFT-handed hence why they could look to trade Verdugo. I like Verdugo, but we are too left-handed and we have 2 OF who are best in LF, and the other one was just signed, so if someone has to go, Verdugo makes more sense.

I don't think the team is too left-handed:

Against right handed pitchers:

Story
Yoshida
Devers
Turner
Verdugo
Casas
Hernandez
SS or Arroyo
Maguire

Against left handed pitchers, options are to substitute Turner for Casas at 1B, Refsnyder to give either Verdugo or Yoshida a day off, Wong to catch and/or Arroyo to DH.

 

[Yo La Tengo]

I would trade Verdugo straight up for Ramon Laureano. That seems to be a much better fit for our roster and lineup.

For defense? Laureano's offensive stats have cratered since his one good season in 2019 (Verdugo has outperformed him each of the last 3 years). Plus, Laureano is older and the PED stain.
Not sure why the A's would be interested in trading a less expensive player who is under team control for longer either.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

Verdugo is a fine player- as mentioned a few posts up- he was actually the best offensive player after 7/1 last season. I also am highly skeptical of the importance of elite defense.
He’s a good role player and I don’t see any trade scenario that actually improves on him.
I’m a cynical optimist but other than a 2B/SS the team will be good, borderline playoff team. If X was still here and everything else was the same, I’d call it a good off-season.
The starting pitching is improved… the bullpen is improved. The offense as it is is improved even if it’s just Story at SS and Arroyo at 2B.

 

[moondog80]

For defense? Laureano's offensive stats have cratered since his one good season in 2019 (Verdugo has outperformed him each of the last 3 years). Plus, Laureano is older and the PED stain.
Not sure why the A's would be interested in trading a less expensive player who is under team control for longer either.

Verdugo and Laureano both have two years before FA, according to Cot's.

I'd be interested in this for the defense -- RF in Fenway is almost like having another CF, and it also allows you to deploy Kike at 2B if the need arises.

You're right that Oakland probably doesn't want Verdugo, but someone would and you could just make it a three way. BTV actually has Laureno as a little less valuable, but I'd be happy to add a fringe prospect to make it work.

 

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

Other: Director of Baseball Operations.

Replace Chaim with someone junior to him. Ruthless, but turn about is fair play. I like it!

First off, this is identifying the source of the problem and I fully support this.

Second off, how come when Everett's Dinosaurs posts something similar he gets a two day ban? That's messed up.

 

[simplicio]

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.

The BTV model says you'd need about 3 Verdugos to get a Kim. This is the type of Verdugo package they'd have to put together to avoid touching their top 10 prospects:

 

[Yaz4Ever]

The BTV model says you'd need about 3 Verdugos to get a Kim. This is the type of Verdugo package they'd have to put together to avoid touching their top 10 prospects:View attachment 59155

WOW

I knew I liked Kim, but didn't think Verdugo was worth so little in comparison.

 

[simplicio]

First off, this is identifying the source of the problem and I fully support this.

Second off, how come when Everett's Dinosaurs posts something similar he gets a two day ban? That's messed up.

This is clearly a thread about on-field roles and everyone else is managing to abide by it, so unless the new GM can also play a wicked SS or RF, it's intentionally off topic and shitting on yet another thread with completely unproductive demands to fire Bloom.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

First off, this is identifying the source of the problem and I fully support this.

Second off, how come when Everett's Dinosaurs posts something similar he gets a two day ban? That's messed up.

Because you might have missed my post right after the two you quoted I'll repeat myself here for the last time.
If you want to start a thread about replacing Bloom, start a thread with other candidates and why you think they would be better.
And no more Clemens PED posts.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

WOW

I knew I liked Kim, but didn't think Verdugo was worth so little in comparison.

I think it's entirely about years of control. Verdugo has two years left compared to Kim's four. Though having elite defense at a premium position probably improves Kim's value as well.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

I think it's entirely about years of control. Verdugo has two years left compared to Kim's four. Though having elite defense at a premium position probably improves Kim's value as well.

Verdugo is also estimated to make over $7M this year via arb; if he doesn’t improve over what he did last year, I think he’s a potential non-tender a year from now.

 

[Jack Rabbit Slim]

I think it's entirely about years of control. Verdugo has two years left compared to Kim's four. Though having elite defense at a premium position probably improves Kim's value as well.

Does anyone know more details about Kim's contract/years of control? From what I can find, it looks like $7M each for '23 and '24, then a mutual option for '25 that I can't seem to find any terms for. BRef also says he would still have an arb year left in '26 but sometimes it is agreed to make them a free agent after the guaranteed contract is up. If arb is still on the table, would that come into effect for '25 if he turns down his side of the mutual option?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Verdugo is also estimated to make over $7M this year via arb; if he doesn’t improve over what he did last year, I think he’s a potential non-tender a year from now.

Kim makes $6M AAV, so salary isn't really a differentiating factor between the two.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I’m impressed we made it all the way to Post #3 before some suggested the front office!

SS is the answer, but I think we’re tapped out on alternatives that could actually improve on an Arroyo/Story combo up the middle in some configuration. So I voted SP, where we could certainly find improvements — conceivably for the top half of the rotation (which will assuredly get injured), but unquestionably for depth.