What Does the Acquisition of Rusney Castillo mean for Bradley?

[Spudboy]

Triple Post Warning!!!!

 

For Pal: http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/40923/red-sox-offseason-primer-outfield?ex_cid=espnapi_public

 

"I expect Cespedes to test free agency. I've seen a little regression in his game since he first came over from Cuba, and I don't think he's a good corner outfielder. A lot of his highlight plays came out of misplays. His whole effort level, to me, was greater when he first came here. He'll produce offense in real good spurts, but I'm not buying the total package. I guarantee you there will be no hometown discounts. For me, a lot of yellow flags."

[seabeachfred]

Bradley would be the perfect late inning defensive specialist. He doesn't enter the game unless you have a late lead. It could work pretty well.

 

Not with our manager Bellhorn. We saw how he kept running the guy out there time after time this past season, and even when he benched him it was for a day or two and then right back into the lineup to screw up some more. No!!! In my opinion the safest thing for the Red Sox would be to get him out of town....fast!!!!!!!!

[vjcsmoke]

Good Jacko.....tell you what, why don't you take him off our hands. Fact is, your Yankees wouldn't touch Bradley with a hot iron.

 

Maybe that's because the Yankees already have Jacoby Ellsbury?

It's true that right now Jackie Bradley Junior looks like he is playing with a wiffle bat. IE No idea how to hit.

But considering that our only OF locks are Rusney Castillo and 1 year of Cespedes, there's room for a 4th outfielder who can field and run the bases.

 

I'm not a believer in the rest of the current Red Sox outfield and unless by some miraculous chance we land Giancarlo Stanton, there's still big ? marks about Victorino and/or Allen Craig.

 

JBJ is the least of our problems and right now JBJ's value is low. What can we even get for him?

This is the same problem we face with Buchholz. He has low trade value but he's way too inconsistent to be a dependable top of the rotation starter for us.

Sure I'd like to upgrade on him and I'd be willing to move him, but who could we get in return??

 

Now if we could trade a package of Buccholz, JBJ, and prospects for Cole Hamels, I would drive them to the airport myself. But realistically, are these guys wanted by anybody right now?

[Spudboy]

I bet someone would bite on Buchholtz. Especially if the Sox had to pays some of his tab.

 

Sure, his value is lower than it was in the first half of 2013. But he has demonstrated dominant stuff in spurts. That is always tantalizing to teams.

[Bellhorn04]

I bet someone would bite on Buchholtz. Especially if the Sox had to pays some of his tab.

 

Sure, his value is lower than it was in the first half of 2013. But he has demonstrated dominant stuff in spurts. That is always tantalizing to teams.

 

Yes. It continues to tantalize the Red Sox too.

 

I don't think we can afford to trade an experienced starter right now. We're not exactly operating with a surplus.

[a700hitter]

Bradley would be the perfect late inning defensive specialist. He doesn't enter the game unless you have a late lead. It could work pretty well.

MLB rosters are too heavy with 12 pitchers to have room for a defensive specialist outfielder.

[Northern Star]

I think that he will not be getting a chance to be our CF anytime soon.

 

Considering he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a f***ing boat, I think even 4th OF is a stretch. Can't carry a guy just to be 8th inning defensive replacement.

[TeddyBallgame09]

JBJ is through..........a waste in any batting order. Sox cannot afford an automatic out.

[seabeachfred]

Maybe that's because the Yankees already have Jacoby Ellsbury?

It's true that right now Jackie Bradley Junior looks like he is playing with a wiffle bat. IE No idea how to hit.

But considering that our only OF locks are Rusney Castillo and 1 year of Cespedes, there's room for a 4th outfielder who can field and run the bases.

 

I'm not a believer in the rest of the current Red Sox outfield and unless by some miraculous chance we land Giancarlo Stanton, there's still big ? marks about Victorino and/or Allen Craig.

 

JBJ is the least of our problems and right now JBJ's value is low. What can we even get for him?

This is the same problem we face with Buchholz. He has low trade value but he's way too inconsistent to be a dependable top of the rotation starter for us.

Sure I'd like to upgrade on him and I'd be willing to move him, but who could we get in return??

 

Now if we could trade a package of Buccholz, JBJ, and prospects for Cole Hamels, I would drive them to the airport myself. But realistically, are these guys wanted by anybody right now?

 

Good to hear from you again VJ, and let me say we might be able to get Cole Hamels for Bucky and JBJ, but there would have to be more like Betts, Swihart and maybe someone like Margot. Hamels isn't going to come cheap and CB and JB are only the appendages to such a trade, the minor segments.

[seabeachfred]

I bet someone would bite on Buchholtz. Especially if the Sox had to pays some of his tab.

 

Sure, his value is lower than it was in the first half of 2013. But he has demonstrated dominant stuff in spurts. That is always tantalizing to teams.

 

Spud, it is also tantalizing to Lucchino the meddler who in August called Buchholz our future ace in waiting. How stupid is that? Just what you would expect to hear from a ignorant dork like that. Truth is, though, in spurts Clay has shown he can be an outstanding pitcher. His first half in 2013 showed he was among the very few top pitchers in the game. The question has always been how could the Red Sox get that maximum out of the guy for a whole season? They and everyone connected with the Red Sox from the owner down to the fans are still looking for the answer.

[seabeachfred]

Considering he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a f***ing boat, I think even 4th OF is a stretch. Can't carry a guy just to be 8th inning defensive replacement.

 

NS--I think it's a pretty fair assumption that you're in the majority there. I'm with you, so is 700 Hitter and I'm sure Spud, and others would fall into line on that one.

[sk7326]

They tried to be patient with Bradley - and I'd still be willing to do so. At the same time, it is clear that Betts is the future and Castillo is worth a look. Bradley killed a lot of his value this year - definitely needs a change of scenery.

[Behindenemylines]

Bradley could be a piece in a block buster trade that brings pitching back to the Sox. A lot of those trades have throw in, and he could be that. If it helps get a quality starter I'm good with that.

[a700hitter]

Bradley could be a piece in a block buster trade that brings pitching back to the Sox. A lot of those trades have throw in, and he could be that. If it helps get a quality starter I'm good with that.

 

I'd be okay getting a coupon for a free Legal Seafoods Clam Chowder for Bradley.

[BSN07]

I'd be okay getting a coupon for a free Legal Seafoods Clam Chowder for Bradley.

 

I'd hold out for the 2 for 1 special but if they offered 25% off I might jump at it

[sk7326]

I'd hold out for the 2 for 1 special but if they offered 25% off I might jump at it

 

funny thing with Bradley is, his defense is so good that the offensive threshhold for him to be a real starter is very low. It could be something as simple as shortening his swing and focusing on contact (the sort of adjustment which you can't really make during the season). Sure a .270/.320/.380 slash would not get the heart aflutter, but with his glove that is an average-above average starter. You have to expect it will have to happen somewhere else tho.

[a700hitter]

If he were a centipede with a glove on each leg, his defense will never be enough to justify keeping his bat in a major league batting order.

[BSN07]

funny thing with Bradley is, his defense is so good that the offensive threshhold for him to be a real starter is very low. It could be something as simple as shortening his swing and focusing on contact (the sort of adjustment which you can't really make during the season). Sure a .270/.320/.380 slash would not get the heart aflutter, but with his glove that is an average-above average starter. You have to expect it will have to happen somewhere else tho.

 

Oh I know, Bradley still has time to get it together, but for all the flailing ab's we had to watch this season, we should be able to take the piss out of him a bit for it

[SCM33]

He will never hit.

 

He is the best defensive 5th OF in baseball.

[Orange Juiced]

JBJ will almost certainly either be traded or start the year in Pawtucket.

[Dojji]

He will never hit.

 

He is the best defensive 5th OF in baseball.

 

I wouldn't say 'never." but I will take a second to say a quick toljaso to those who were convinced he was the latest and greatest, sight unseen.

 

And I'd say the emergence of Betts puts a bigger damper on JBJ's future with Boston than the signing of Castillo does. Castillo is almost completely unproven -- may be great, but you'd better have some plan in mind for what to do if he for some reason isn't. Betts on the other hand is showing that maybe he does have the stuff to get it done, pending what he does this year of course but what he's already done should buy him a good chance to prove he can repeat it.

[Spudboy]

I wouldn't say 'never." but I will take a second to say a quick toljaso to those who were convinced he was the latest and greatest, sight unseen.

 

And I'd say the emergence of Betts puts a bigger damper on JBJ's future with Boston than the signing of Castillo does. Castillo is almost completely unproven -- may be great, but you'd better have some plan in mind for what to do if he for some reason isn't. Betts on the other hand is showing that maybe he does have the stuff to get it done, pending what he does this year of course but what he's already done should buy him a good chance to prove he can repeat it.

 

Amen to that.

[seabeachfred]

I wouldn't say 'never." but I will take a second to say a quick toljaso to those who were convinced he was the latest and greatest, sight unseen.

 

And I'd say the emergence of Betts puts a bigger damper on JBJ's future with Boston than the signing of Castillo does. Castillo is almost completely unproven -- may be great, but you'd better have some plan in mind for what to do if he for some reason isn't. Betts on the other hand is showing that maybe he does have the stuff to get it done, pending what he does this year of course but what he's already done should buy him a good chance to prove he can repeat it.

 

Well said do. Betts is a keeper unless we have to include him on the very best of pitchers----which I don't think we'll have to do if Cherington can sign Lester (somewhat doubtful) and trade for Cueto or Zimmerman. Bradley, OTOH, is through in Boston. He failed so miserably with the bat and was so uncoachable that they finally had to send him down to Pawtucket where he failed miserably there as well, hitting only 2004. Betts for a long career with the Red Sox and Bradley out of town for a crate of lemons.

[Behindenemylines]

Unless he is needed in a trade to bring back a solid starting pitcher I would start him at AAA where you hope he can find a stroke that works for him. With his D you can live with a .250 hitter. He finds his stroke it opens up a lot of options for the Sox.

[a700hitter]

Unless he is needed in a trade to bring back a solid starting pitcher I would start him at AAA where you hope he can find a stroke that works for him. With his D you can live with a .250 hitter. He finds his stroke it opens up a lot of options for the Sox.

Castillo is our long term center fielder. Bradley has no spot on this roster as a starter hitting .250.

[sk7326]

Castillo is our long term center fielder. Bradley has no spot on this roster as a starter hitting .250.

 

Certainly the Red Sox signed him to be a pillar of the OF, whether it be in CF or RF. What is also true is that Bradley as a C/C- hitter combined with his glove is a legitimate starter for somebody. A B/B- hitter with his glove is a fringy All-Star. He was an F last season - and the question is how much of that is legitimately fixable. Given how much of his failings were driven by trying to impersonate Mike Napoli instead of just focusing on singles, adequate offensive production is not that far away. If I were a team with an opening at CF, I would absolutely throw a handful of magic beans at the Red Sox and see if I could land Bradley.

[a700hitter]

Certainly the Red Sox signed him to be a pillar of the OF, whether it be in CF or RF. What is also true is that Bradley as a C/C- hitter combined with his glove is a legitimate starter for somebody. A B/B- hitter with his glove is a fringy All-Star. He was an F last season - and the question is how much of that is legitimately fixable. Given how much of his failings were driven by trying to impersonate Mike Napoli instead of just focusing on singles, adequate offensive production is not that far away. If I were a team with an opening at CF, I would absolutely throw a handful of magic beans at the Red Sox and see if I could land Bradley.

His value is so low that he is worth more to keep as AAA roster filler.

[a700hitter]

If Castillo plays RF, it will be because Betts is playing CF.

[sk7326]

His value is so low that he is worth more to keep as AAA roster filler.

 

Oh, industrywide I am not sure it is quite that low. After all, the man has a major league skill, and one he does better than just about any person alive. That alone along with his age (not as young as you'd like but still not peak) should have him on many big league radars.

[sk7326]

If Castillo plays RF, it will be because Betts is playing CF.

 

That's my guess. Betts is one of the team's 3 best OFs and despite the fanfare surrounding Castillo - Betts was ahead of him as of the end of 2014 (understandably given how little baseball Castillo has played recently) and has a 5 year age advantage (and the projection that comes with it). Castillo's arm is not great but better than Betts' too, and it's not like Fenway RF does not require range.