2014 Roster Projections

[SoxFanForsyth]

O's not signing Balfour after all. Physical reasons.

 

Bring him to me now. I would love to add him to the back of this pen. Koji is 39 and coming off a ton of innings, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have Balfour right behind him. I know we have Mujica already but if you can get Balfour on a 1 year pillow deal a la Napoli to prove his health is nothing to worry about, I would love to have him.

 

Problem is, Balfour almost certainly doesn't sign a pillow deal without a closer role. But it's fun to dream.

[BSN07]

Bogaerts and JBJ are both Boras clients. Wouldn't be surprised in the least if Bogaerts is a lifer, and maybe JBJ too.

 

Damn does he really represent both?

[Behindenemylines]

Bring him to me now. I would love to add him to the back of this pen. Koji is 39 and coming off a ton of innings, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have Balfour right behind him. I know we have Mujica already but if you can get Balfour on a 1 year pillow deal a la Napoli to prove his health is nothing to worry about, I would love to have him.

 

Problem is, Balfour almost certainly doesn't sign a pillow deal without a closer role. But it's fun to dream.

 

There are rumors floating around that the $pankees have interest in Balfour. They question whether they think Robertson can do the job. I to see them be able to sure up their bullpen by throwing $$$$ at the problem.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Damn does he really represent both?

 

Yeah, sad news huh?

[Behindenemylines]

Bogaerts and JBJ are both Boras clients. Wouldn't be surprised in the least if Bogaerts is a lifer, and maybe JBJ too.

 

Be thankful that both are under team control for awhile and the Sox don't have to deal with that situation for awhile. If Bogaerts does explode and become the star we all hope he becomes do you lock him up long term with a big contract?

Edited December 26, 2013 by Behindenemylines
spelling

[seabeachfred]

Be thankful that both are under team control for awhile and the Sox don't have to deal with that situation for awhile. If Bogaerts does explode and become the start we all hope he become do you look him up long term with a big contract?

 

Right on Bogey---we lock him up long term when we can and be willing to spend the money on him. Bradley? If he doesn't produce get his ass out of Boston on the first train or plane. He is a decent player but that good that we have to get into a bidding war for him.

[Behindenemylines]

Right on Bogey---we lock him up long term when we can and be willing to spend the money on him. Bradley? If he doesn't produce get his ass out of Boston on the first train or plane. He is a decent player but that good that we have to get into a bidding war for him.

 

I think Bradley will be great with the glove in CF and if the Sox bat him 9th I think he will be okay. I don't expect to be great with the bat, but I really think he is going to be okay.

[seabeachfred]

I think Bradley will be great with the glove in CF and if the Sox bat him 9th I think he will be okay. I don't expect to be great with the bat, but I really think he is going to be okay.

 

BEL--I see no way that Bogey fails. Barring something unforeseen I see him emerging into a absolute star on the Red Sox. However, Bradley doesn't look like he will hit ML pitching on a consistent basis, there will be an opportunity to replace him the following year. Peter Bourgeous of the Cards might be available because they have this guy Taveras who they are sky high on, and the Yankees will be losing the guy who plays both center and left as a free agent and who I'm having a senior moment trying to remember his name. Man, getting old can really be a pain in the ass.

[crazydiamond]

As it looks like we might just end up signing Drew, do you think Ben might have this crazy plan-B-idea on his mind?

 

"Stephen always looked like a good defensive outfielder. When I was at Florida State, he would be out there shagging balls and at 11 or 12 years-old he was better than some of the outfielders we had. We didn't even have some freshmen and sophomores as good as he was. They wanted to recruit him with the idea he was going to be an outfielder like I was. But he wanted to play shortstop." (quote by J.D. Drew)

[seabeachfred]

As it looks like we might just end up signing Drew, do you think Ben might have this crazy plan-B-idea on his mind?

 

"Stephen always looked like a good defensive outfielder. When I was at Florida State, he would be out there shagging balls and at 11 or 12 years-old he was better than some of the outfielders we had. We didn't even have some freshmen and sophomores as good as he was. They wanted to recruit him with the idea he was going to be an outfielder like I was. But he wanted to play shortstop." (quote by J.D. Drew)

 

If Drew is resigned I will root like the dickens for him to succeed and will rail with joy if he does, but truth be known, I hope it never comes to that. Come on Mets, you guys need a shortstop. Sign this guy and take that silly notion Cherington and Farrell have about bringing this guy back to us.

[reYoukilis]

BEL--I see no way that Bogey fails. Barring something unforeseen I see him emerging into a absolute star on the Red Sox. However, Bradley doesn't look like he will hit ML pitching on a consistent basis, there will be an opportunity to replace him the following year. Peter Bourgeous of the Cards might be available because they have this guy Taveras who they are sky high on, and the Yankees will be losing the guy who plays both center and left as a free agent and who I'm having a senior moment trying to remember his name. Man, getting old can really be a pain in the ass.

I will pray like the dickens for Bradley to succeed. I like the kids manner and patience at the plate. Him and Xander are who I hope really shine. If they do our future will be bright, bright, bright.

[lospunchados]

BEL--I see no way that Bogey fails. Barring something unforeseen I see him emerging into a absolute star on the Red Sox. However, Bradley doesn't look like he will hit ML pitching on a consistent basis, there will be an opportunity to replace him the following year. Peter Bourgeous of the Cards might be available because they have this guy Taveras who they are sky high on, and the Yankees will be losing the guy who plays both center and left as a free agent and who I'm having a senior moment trying to remember his name. Man, getting old can really be a pain in the ass.

 

I don't understand why so many people think JBJ will never hit major league pitching.He has about the same line as Pedroia had on his first call up

 

Avg. OBP SLG

Pedroia .191 .258 .303

Bradley .189 .280 .337

 

For Pedroia that was 98 plate appearances and JBJ it was 107. They both were 23 at there call-up and Pedroia also came up the next year and didn't find his way till after the first month and a bit. I'm not saying he will be a star but it is way to early say he will never hit MLB pitching.

 

The only real concern for Bradley is he has a very high strikeout percentage (especially for a guy with moderate power potential/projection) which he needs to come down.

[User Name]

That's because many people lack patience with prospects and get extremely whiny if everything Red Sox related doesn't provide immediate production. These are the same people that wanted Pedroia to get benched when he was struggling.

[BornToRun]

That's because many people lack patience with prospects and get extremely whiny if everything Red Sox related doesn't provide immediate production. These are the same people that wanted Pedroia to get benched when he was struggling.

 

I remember feeling really smart in 2007 when Pedey blew to start the year and I was patient, knowing he'd get it together.

[Dojji]

I don't understand why so many people think JBJ will never hit major league pitching.He has about the same line as Pedroia had on his first call up

 

Avg. OBP SLG

Pedroia .191 .258 .303

Bradley .189 .280 .337

 

For Pedroia that was 98 plate appearances and JBJ it was 107. They both were 23 at there call-up and Pedroia also came up the next year and didn't find his way till after the first month and a bit. I'm not saying he will be a star but it is way to early say he will never hit MLB pitching.

 

The only real concern for Bradley is he has a very high strikeout percentage (especially for a guy with moderate power potential/projection) which he needs to come down.

 

For my standpoint, I do think JBJ will, eventually, hit major league pitching. My position is, he's already had more time to figure it out on the job than Pedey needed. He'll get it eventually, but maybe not necessarily on our timetable, more like Lowrie. So it might be a great idea to have someone around who can cover for the kid in case the adjustment period takes longer than we hope it does.

 

I'm fixated on Blanco as a solution for 2 reasons. First, he's likely to be available. The Giants are looking to do some shuffling in the outfield and I can't imagine them being particularly averse to dealing him for a fair price. Second, Blanco is in truth what we actually need backing up our rookie -- a guy who can get it done himself, but won't outshine the rookie when said rookie starts to produce.

 

If JBJ doesn't produce, which I don't believe is the case, Blanco is a very good bottom of the order roster filler type who won't hurt you as a starting CF. He's not great, he's not an all star, but he is useful. If JBJ does produce, Blanco is the stuff championship benches are made of. I expect the team to be hoping to bring in, maybe not Blanco himself, but a player in that mold (~2 WAR 3 position OF who stacks his production towards OBP) if the deal is there and the price is right, because it's a move that would make our outfield more resilient than it is right now.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Dojji

[User Name]

For my standpoint, I do think JBJ will, eventually, hit major league pitching. My position is, he's already had more time to figure it out on the job than Pedey needed. He'll get it eventually, but maybe not necessarily on our timetable, more like Lowrie. So it might be a great idea to have someone around who can cover for the kid in case the adjustment period takes longer than we hope it does.

 

Did you actually read the job post you're quoting? Bradley has exactly nine more plate appearances than Pedroia had when he was first called up, and Pedroia still needed another month + to adjust. Other than that, yeah, a 4th OF who can play center and hit lefties would be a good idea.

[Dojji]

Bradley's plate appearances came over a longer spread of time.

 

Again, not that worried about him in the long run, just a little nervous about the short term and willing to note that having a deep bench stacked to best cushion the team from any struggles from developing players is never a bad idea.

[reYoukilis]

I agree about getting another CFer to help break in Bradley. What about Juan Pierre? Unfortunately he bats the same side as Bradley but he's mlb's currently playing leader in stolen bases and the year before last had a 307 BA. I also think he's a good character guy and could be a bargain. Its definitely slim pickings in the free agent market.

[rjortiz]

I agree about getting another CFer to help break in Bradley. What about Juan Pierre? Unfortunately he bats the same side as Bradley but he's mlb's currently playing leader in stolen bases and the year before last had a 307 BA. I also think he's a good character guy and could be a bargain. Its definitely slim pickings in the free agent market.

 

He hasn't played CF in 4 years.

[reYoukilis]

He hasn't played CF in 4 years.

Something to consider, true, but to counter that, he was a CF'r for awhile, he's probably still fast, he's dedicated, probably still hungry, and as I said a good character, and the best part is that he'd only be a backup. The conundrum in the Bradley deal, IMO is that if Bradley is going to be the CF'r, he needs a buffer to transition him but not a buffer so talented that its a waste to have both. Its definitely more ideal to have them on batting on different sides of the plate but as I said, slim pickin's. Maybe a trade is in order.

[User Name]

Juan Pierre would be a terrible counterpart to JBJ. He can't play center adequately anymore, can't get on base, can't hit for power, and can't hit lefties. You need a guy who can spell JBJ against the tougher lefties, and who can man CF (or RF) for a significant stretch as a contingency plan for injury/ineffectiveness. Juan Pierre is not that guy. Character means little if you're sucking.

[lospunchados]

It's pretty simple, Ben believes in JBJ. If he thought he really needed a platoon he would have signed Rajai Davis who signed a very reasonable 2 years 10 million dollars contract to platoon in Detroit. He wants JBJ to get at bats at the major league level and to see if he can hit major league pitching. Last season he had a higher on base percentage against lefties than right handers so the redsox probably want to see how well that can carry over before making him a complete platoon player.

[Dojji]

It's not about a platoon. JBJ doesn't have a noted platoon weakness. It's about not counting on any one player until you have a fair idea what you'll get out of him. It's about depth and making sure we're fielding the deepest team we can.

[mvp 78]

Does Ben think Brentz can make the jump this year?

[BornToRun]

Does Ben think Brentz can make the jump this year?

 

Maybe. If he can refrain from shooting himself.

[User Name]

That's cold man. Funny, but cold.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe. If he can refrain from shooting himself.

 

Or partying with Britton.

[Spitball]

What am I missing here? Bradley is in center, Gomes, Nava, and Carp rotate/platoon in left, and Victorino is in right. Victorino is the back up to Bradley and Nava backs up Victorino. Brentz is waiting in the wings if there is an injury.

[Palodios]

What am I missing here? Bradley is in center, Gomes, Nava, and Carp rotate/platoon in left, and Victorino is in right. Victorino is the back up to Bradley and Nava backs up Victorino. Brentz is waiting in the wings if there is an injury.

 

Nava has no business in right field in Fenway.

[User Name]

Nava has no business in right field in Fenway.

 

He has no business in RF, period.