Xander Bogaerts

[Orange Juiced]

Red Sox' top prospect. Crushed a homer last night in his second game in AAA. Last two seasons he's done this (as a 19 and 20 year old):

 

2012: 476 ab, 37 2b, 20 hr, 81 rbi, .307/.373/.523/.896

2013: 226 ab, 12 2b, 7 hr, 37 rbi, .314/.410/.513/.923

 

Plays a premier position (SS). 6'3", 185 lbs, incredible athlete. Again, just 20 years old.

 

The question at this point is this: What is the list of players you would trade this guy for? It has to be a very short list. To give you some idea, here is the list of major league SS (that qualify) with an ops over .800:

 

Tulowitzki, Col - 1.048

Segura, Mil - .909

Peralta, Det - .875

Desmond, Was - .802

 

Obviously you can't just say his minor league ops would = his major league ops, which is why I dropped the standard down to .800, when he's got a .923 right now. In other words, right *NOW* he would have one of the very best bats in all of MLB at the SS position. Solid defender too - not Iglesias good, but solid.

 

So what's the list of players you'd trade this guy for?

 

(no, I'm not looking to trade him...this is a "holy crap this kid is unreal and my favorite team has him!" thread)

[User Name]

Xander Bogaerts

[Orange Juiced]

Xander Bogaerts

 

Sorry...I am new enough to talksox to not even know that there was a minor league forum.

[Dojji]

Eh, at this point it's not entirely beyond the pale to start talking about Bogaerts seriously on the big league forum. This kid is coming, and soon. We'll probably see him cameo with the team by the end of the year.

[Bellhorn04]

Future left side of infield Bogaerts and Iggy? WMB will have to find a new position, assuming he can also become a better hitter, or be traded.

[BSN07]

There is no one in the league I'd feel 100% ok trading him for other then Harper, Trout, Puig or Machado(none of those are happening). I'd never trade a prospect of his value for pitching. It's just too risky. For me Bogaerts is the definition of untouchable. Can anyone imagine if the O's traded Machado last season for some SP help since they were contending? The answer should be no. That's the same dilemma the SOx face this season. And I hope they make the same decision.

[Dojji]

I think BH04 was talking about trading WMB.

[Bellhorn04]

I think BH04 was talking about trading WMB.

 

Yes, that's what I meant.

[SoxFanForsyth]

There are very very few players who I deem untouchable. Bogaerts is just that. Even for a guy like Stanton, I don't think I could part ways with him.

 

If Bogaerts was a corner outfielder, I'd be much more apt to trading him. But a potential 35 HR bat at SS?? That's so incredibly valuable.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Merloni just said he thinks Bogaerts is going to be your everyday 3B in 2-3 weeks if Middlebrooks keeps this up

[Orange Juiced]

There is no one in the league I'd feel 100% ok trading him for other then Harper, Trout, Puig or Machado(none of those are happening). I'd never trade a prospect of his value for pitching. It's just too risky. For me Bogaerts is the definition of untouchable. Can anyone imagine if the O's traded Machado last season for some SP help since they were contending? The answer should be no. That's the same dilemma the SOx face this season. And I hope they make the same decision.

 

My list that I would *consider* (note, not necessarily do, but consider):

 

- Trout

- Harper

- Kershaw

- Puig

- Machado

- Harvey

- Strasburg (though the injuries worry me)

- Stanton

 

Probably a few more, but the list is indeed short.

[BSN07]

My list that I would *consider* (note, not necessarily do, but consider):

 

- Trout

- Harper

- Kershaw

- Puig

- Machado

- Harvey

- Strasburg (though the injuries worry me)

- Stanton

 

Probably a few more, but the list is indeed short.

 

If I included P on my list it probably look about the same as yours.

[mvp 78]

Future left side of infield Bogaerts and Iggy? WMB will have to find a new position, assuming he can also become a better hitter, or be traded.

 

I think a lot of us expected to move WMB to 1b eventually anyway.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I think a lot of us expected to move WMB to 1b eventually anyway.

 

I'm not sure Middlebrooks has the stick to be an everyday 1B to be honest.

 

That being said, Middlebrooks is taking ground balls today because of Nap's illness. Wonder what the corresponding move would be if he hit the DL

[mvp 78]

If he can work through this slump, he's a 30 hr guy. That's more than enough for 1b.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Drew and, to a lesser extent Middlebrooks, better shape up in a hurry. I only say WMB to a lesser extent because he is still very much a part of the future of the organization, whereas Drew is on a 1-year deal, with no implications on the Sox future.

 

Anyway, here's what Cherrington just said -

 

"You know, I've always kind of felt like there's no such thing as a prospect in Triple-A," Cherington said. "Once you get to Triple-A, you're either ready to help the big league team or you're not. And us, we're finding out about the guys at Triple-A now, who's ready and who isn't.

 

"We felt like Xander had done enough in Double-A to warrant a promotion. He spent some time there last year and went back this year and really improved in areas he needed to. He certainly improved in strike zone management this year. He's played a consistent shortstop. We know he's a threat with the bat. We just felt like it was time for him to face Triple-A pitching, guys that do different things.

 

"So he'll get some at bats there, we'll see where we are. Once you get to Triple-A it's sort of an extension of the big league team and you're no longer a prospect. You're either at Triple-A or ready to help us in the big leagues."

 

Sounds like the Sox believe that AAA is more of a warming drawer than a development stage for guys like Bradley and Bogaerts.

 

If that's the case, Middlebrooks and Drew dont necessarily have the luxury of a couple months to figure it out while Bogaerts develops in AAA. Cherrington is saying that once you get past AA, you're available to be called up at any point regardless of experience in AAA.

[Standing Room]

Drew and, to a lesser extent Middlebrooks, better shape up in a hurry. I only say WMB to a lesser extent because he is still very much a part of the future of the organization, whereas Drew is on a 1-year deal, with no implications on the Sox future.

 

Anyway, here's what Cherrington just said -

 

 

 

Sounds like the Sox believe that AAA is more of a warming drawer than a development stage for guys like Bradley and Bogaerts.

 

If that's the case, Middlebrooks and Drew dont necessarily have the luxury of a couple months to figure it out while Bogaerts develops in AAA. Cherrington is saying that once you get past AA, you're available to be called up at any point regardless of experience in AAA.

 

If Middlebrooks doesn't start hitting, I'd allow him some more time in the "warming stage". I love that we have so much competition on this team for starting positions.

[mvp 78]

Right behind Xander is Cecchini who was just promoted to AA.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Just started this thread on Garin Cecchini this morning, but it's easy to miss bc it's down in the Minor League section.

 

Just FYI.

[Dojji]

Keep an eye on Michael Almanzar as well. He's a dark horse, but he's always oozed talent and lacked the skill, now he's finally putting things together.

 

He's tentatively still in the mix at third, I suspect if he makes it to Boston it will be as a first baseman however.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Can Bogaerts close?

[SoxFanForsyth]

He certainly can't hit right now (he's in a bad rut seriously)

[RedSoxNC84]

He certainly can't hit right now (he's in a bad rut seriously)

 

23 ABs. He'll put it together.

[SoxFanForsyth]

23 ABs. He'll put it together.

 

Oh I have no doubt you're right. He's going to be a superstar, and likely soon. I was just commenting on the little rut he's in, that's all.

[jung]

I agree SFF as far as how much time guys like WMB have.

 

The interesting thing about BC's comment which I think is accurate for big market teams, according to him, the Sox do not even consider AAA as important from a developmental perspective. You can agree with the approach or not but it does appear that a big market team like the Sox simply does not do much developmentally with players beyond a certain point.

 

At the opposite end of the spectrum you have teams like the Rays who will take a guy that has already made it to the bigs, like Loney for example and will work with him to make significant changes. We had Loney. We needed a 1st baseman. Did we do anything with him. Yea...we sent him packing. A team like the Rays really must make the most of the players they have. A team like the Sox is more likely to say...screw it...we will pick somebody out of our system or we will just buy somebody.

 

We just heard Lavarnway talking about going through all kinds of changes last year cause he was trying to continue to develop as a HR hitter. Sounds like a guy that the Sox simply allowed to work his way out of his hitting problems or not but weren't doing much organizationally to help him one way or the other.

 

So I agree with you SFF. Especially with regard to WMB. I don't think he really has as much time as some might think to get himself straightened out. Frankly I think he will need to take a short term approach to resolving his issues and I have thought that for a while now. That is also one thing driving my concern that trying to turn him into a ML (as opposed to minor league) hitter capable of hitting to all fields will simply turn into a ticket out of town for WMB. He does not have that kind of time.

[SoxSport]

Bradley should be up right now, but he has to wait his turn. The way he turned on that left hander to hit one over the bullpen last time here shows he can hit all kinds of pitching. He could well be their best outfielder right now, but he just has to wait his turn on what is still a veteran team.

[jacksonianmarch]

There is no doubt in my mind that Bradley starts in CF on opening day for you. Ells is as good as gone. One thing they have to work on with him, though, is his study of the game. One of the pregame interviews, Eck said that the kid made a comment about not watching a lot of tape, and being a see-the-ball, hit-the-ball kind of hitter. Learning and researching makes it a little easier out there and is a necessity of the professional hitters, so he'll need to work on that to reach his potential

[Dojji]

Mmmh. Hitting is such a psychological thing. If a guy can thrive as a pure reaction hitter, I don't necessarily want some habit-bound task-doer cluttering up his mind causing him to overthink just becasue that's the way it's usually done.. Giving a man knowledge at the cost of confidence is a trade-off.

[a700hitter]

Mmmh. Hitting is such a psychological thing. If a guy can thrive as a pure reaction hitter, I don't necessarily want some habit-bound task-doer cluttering up his mind causing him to overthink just becasue that's the way it's usually done.. Giving a man knowledge at the cost of confidence is a trade-off.

I agree, unless a guy has a hitch or a long swing. Leave him the hell alone. Just educate him as to how pitchers are attacking him.

[Standing Room]

I seem to remember an interview with Bradley after he was called up for the second time and he was actually hitting, in which he discussed having changed his approach. He used to be a guess hitter who would study pitcher habits and look for a certain pitch in a certain situation. But then he found that pitchers would change their habits at the major league level and he'd look silly. He then discussed becoming more of a see the ball, hit the ball hitter who adjusted to the type of pitch out of the pitcher's hand. And he appeared to be hitting much better with that approach. There's more than one way to skin a cat.