Cespedes on the block

[Palodios]

Why would the Sox say anything at all that would diminish a player's value while shopping him? That makes no sense.

 

The Red Sox have always insulted players on their way out the door. These personality issues all seemed to come up around the same time as the Red Sox trying to trade Cespedes, and not so much beforehand.

 

 

Interesting to see so many people mentioning his "poor D".

 

It is interesting, especially considering that Fielding Bible called him the 3rd best defensive left fielder, and he is contending for a gold glove this year.

[FredLynn]

Cespedes was a good guy to trade for because the "trade/sign" question can be answered in either direction. His current deal is friendly, his defense is solid (more from measurement than perception) power is increasingly scarce in today's baseball and he at least has SHOWN (in his rookie year) that he might be able to deliver enough on-base to unlock all of the good stuff. But the last two seasons of ghastly on-base (with outs being the only true measure of time in baseball) raises concern as to whether he is more empty calories or not. He has to get better - but there is evidence that it is possible.

 

His dWAR over his time in the majors is minus 1.0. The notion that he was nominated for a gold glove is in line with Jeter's nomination from time to time-a joke. His OBP is worrisome: .296 with the Red Sox and .316 in three years in the majors. Also, he is mostly a line drive hitter and I think the wall at Fenway will hinder and not help his HR production. I do not want to see him signed long term with this club; and I also think that other GMs will see his negative dWAR , his low OBP, and consider the fact that after one year he will sign for whoever gives him the most money. If he is offered as trade bait, I do not think we will even get a good prospect for him, just a midlevel prospect or a borderline ML player. He just isn't that good; just flashy.

Edited October 27, 2014 by FredLynn

[Palodios]

His dWAR over his time in the majors is minus 1.0. The notion that he was nominated for a gold glove is in line with Jeter's nomination from time to time-a joke.

 

His dWar is skewed by poor center field defense. If you're going to play him in center, you're going to have problems. I don't trust gold gloves, but I do trust Fielder Bible, which also likes him.

[FredLynn]

His dWar is skewed by poor center field defense. If you're going to play him in center, you're going to have problems. I don't trust gold gloves, but I do trust Fielder Bible, which also likes him.

 

I used Baseballreference.com. He was in positive territory this year, but not by much (defensively). Watching him play, he is average in my own estimation, at best. Obviously he has a cannon for an arm, and that is his best weapon defensively. I see him getting poor reads on balls all the time. I do not think he is much more than average defensively, or maybe slightly above ave. Also important: he refuses to play in RF where his best weapon, his arm, would be better used. That reflects a bad attitude. I think players should play wherever they are told to play and give it their best.

Offensively, in 130 PAs at Fenway Park (admittedly a SSS), his OPS/tOPS is .672/74. My guess is that the dimensions and layout of the park do not favor RHH line drive hitters where the wall blocks his hard hit line drives. Its also possible that its just not enough ABs. Everyone is aware of his alarmingly low OBP. Assuming he doesn't get traded we will see what those numbers are after 250-300 ABs. Its a contract year; they should go up.

Cespedes is not a bad player; he is a good player, but not an excellent one. I do not believe he is worth a long term expensive investment. If we can trade him and get value in return we ought to do it. That would help relieve the OF glut as well.

[seabeachfred]

Why would the Sox say anything at all that would diminish a player's value while shopping him? That makes no sense.

 

I suspected this guy would not be around very long. I wonder what the Sox can salvage from this whole mess?

 

Interesting to see so many people mentioning his "poor D".

 

I never liked the Lester trade anyway Spud and thought it was the worst move we made in a season of bad moves. That I would rate it even higher than that pathetic Drew signing tells you just how much I hated trading Jon away. We may be feeling that for the next few years unless we get two top quality pitchers for the rotation and not some retreads or any of this buy low and hope high nonsense. Still, why would the Red Sox even be dumber to blare to all the other teams how they hate Cespedes, don't want him and will put him up for trade? If the guy is an A-hole, wouldn't someone in the organization have had known this guy had attitude problems, was weak defensively save for a strong arm, was not going to resign with the Red Sox, etc, etc? Looks to me as if the front office is still shooting themselves in the foot with their strange moves and conduct. Time for them to turn the cannon on the opposition instead of themselves, don't you think?

[SoxFanForsyth]

I agree this whole trade Cespedes speculation is odd, although he does offer the most trade value of any of our outfielders. I am really not sure what he would even net us to be honest.

 

I guess if the Mets are interested and you can swing a guy like Snydergard for Cespedes and a stud prospect, or you can get Wheeler for Cespedes plus a Barnes type, you do that.

 

I have also heard speculation from the Dallas Morning Sun that the Rangers should trade Gallo for Cespedes, which would never happen but it is certainly fun to dream.

 

Either way, those are the returns the Sox would have to get to trade Cespedes. A long term piece that they can win with now but build around in the future. They're not going to unload Cespedes for nothing because they would be then admitting to have lost the trade.

 

I do wonder if the Rangers feel like Gallo is ready now, if a deal could be struck involving Beltre and Cespedes (among other components)

[Behindenemylines]

If he doesn't want to be here, or is going to ask for the moon then deal him to get starting pitching. I could see the Sox trade him and then find a lefty hitting outfielder that would balance the lineup.

[Behindenemylines]

If he doesn't want to be here, or is going to ask for the moon then deal him to get starting pitching. I could see the Sox trade him and then find a lefty hitting outfielder that would balance the lineup.

 

Or sign Ramirez to replace him in LF and then trade him for a starter.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

As I said Pal, you were right. I just gave my opinion why this might be so---and put the blame on American athletes that could be playing baseball and go in a different direction. That wasn't the case back in the 40's and 50's and into the 60's.

 

I agree with you, Freddy. I think this is also a reason so many Asian players have become so valuable. It's not that they have all of a sudden hit a break-through on talent. It's more that the U.S. market has been watered down with fewer athletes going into Baseball. (And of course expansion.)

Just my opinion, though.

[iortiz]

We need to lock Cespedes up, not trade him.

 

For the first time in a couple years the Sox have a legitimate right handed power bat in the lineup.....a guy who legitimately puts a fear in the opposing team. Redsox cannot draft a power bat to save their life. They have literally never been able to do it. In the few instances they have, they traded him away before they could develop him. When was the last time the Sox drafted and developed a home grown power bat? Nomar? Mo Vaughn? In Cespedes, we actually have one......him in this lineup doesn't look too shabby:

 

CF Betts

2B Pedroia

DH Ortiz

LF Cespedes

1B Napoli

RF Castillo

SS Bogaerts

3B ??

C Vasquez

 

JBJ, Nava, Holt, and Craig can all have spots on the bench.

 

This, even with Panda and HR aboard.

[User Name]

If you think Cespedes is a better overall overall (or even power) hitter than Hanley Ramirez, we should meet up, because i have a bridge here i'd like to sell you.

[Spudboy]

It's not even open to discussion.

 

For all his perceived flaws, Hanley remains one of the very best pure hitters in MLB.

 

Sandoval is just above average.

 

And I would wager that if Hanley can stay healthy and in the lineup in 2015 he will provide equal to, or greater power than Cespedes.

[iortiz]

Ha, I'm not comparing nobody. My point is, keep Cespedes even with Panda and HR aboard.

[RedSoxNC84]

I'd like the idea of them being able to keep Cespedes, but he is intent on hitting the market, and they can't give him a QO. They can get the best value out of him if they deal him before the season. That's the way it is. That and with the surplus of outfielders that they have, they don't need him either.

 

If he were interested in signing an extension here then I'd be all for it but since he won't, dealing him is the best option.

[iortiz]

With Cespedes around this lineup would be pure TNT. Hopefully they get the SPs via FA.

[iortiz]

Also you have Castillo, Betts, Nava, Craig if somebody underperform or get injured AND put pressure in your titular Lup.

[iortiz]

Cespedes for Porcello?, please pass. Other no named Hamels, Cueto or Price... Pass.

[Spitball]

I would be ecstatic to get either Rick Porcello or Mike Leake for Cepedes.

 

The Sox gave up a couple of months of their ace for a couple of months and a whole season of Cespedes. They can't expect to get an ace back in return unless a lot more is added to the package. Cespedes for a season of a 3-4 starter is probably the best he can bring.

[mvp 78]

Cespedes for Porcello?, please pass. Other no named Hamels, Cueto or Price... Pass.

 

You are overstating Cespedes' value just a little bit there.

[User Name]

He seems to think Cespedes is the second coming of Hank Aaron. He isn't.

[a700hitter]

Leake stinks. We are not in need of back of the rotation guys. We have plenty of them with Kelly, Buchholz and a host of kids like Rubby, Webster and Workman. If they feel the need to get another back of the rotation type, I'd rather that they sign Masterson and package Cespedes with someone else to get a #2.

[mvp 78]

He seems to think Cespedes is the second coming of Hank Aaron. He isn't.

 

Cespedes should definitely be filming Original Coors ads though. Those would be great.

 

I would also like to see Sandoval "Hi Neighbor" ads.

[iortiz]

You are overstating Cespedes' value just a little bit there.

 

I know those names will cost Cespedes+. I just don't want to see a pitcher like Leake, Latos or Porcello around here and giving Cespedes for one of them. I prefer keeping Cespedes all the time.

[Spudboy]

Sandoval should be cast as Adam Richmond's replacement in "Man Vs. Food".

[iortiz]

Leake stinks. We are not in need of back of the rotation guys. We have plenty of them with Kelly, Buchholz and a host of kids like Rubby, Webster and Workman. If they feel the need to get another back of the rotation type, I'd rather that they sign Masterson and package Cespedes with someone else to get a #2.

 

Exactly!

 

We have plenty of #3,4,5. We need an ace and a 1st-tier pitcher like Shields.

[mvp 78]

Sandoval should be cast as Adam Richmond's replacement in "Man Vs. Food".

 

Mike Napoli as Dave Attell Insomniac

[seabeachfred]

Cespedes for Porcello?, please pass. Other no named Hamels, Cueto or Price... Pass.

 

iortiz, I hate to give you some bad news but it isn't going to be as easy as you think to peddle Cespedes to anybody. He has only one year left on his contract, will no doubt go FA after 2015, is not the best fielder in Christendom, has a miserably low OBA and has been catalogued as a problem in the clubhouse. If we can get a decent No. 3 for him we need to do it or we'll be stuck with him in 2015 in a crowded outfield which will lead to dissension and dissatisfaction on the bench and clubhouse. I saw that our here in California with the Dodgers problems with too many outfielder for too few positions----and we have more than they did. And don't buy into this nonsense about having a large surplus is a good problem to have. It is not. It is a recipe for a fractured team. Having said that, good to see you back posting here. I missed you.

[Spudboy]

Fred I think that it's a safe bet that one way or another the Sox will rid themselves of the outfield congestion before spring training. If Lester does not come back it makes it almost certain that one, two, or even three OF will be dealt. At least I hope so.

 

I don't wish to see Victorino go but maybe he can be part of a package or two that includes Cespedes and Graig. In this way the Sox eliminate a potential problem in the OF with playing time and can lower the payroll at the same time. This could help in paying for quality arms for the top of the rotation.

 

This, to me makes sense. I hope that the FO can see this too.

[wyo-sox]

I'd kinda hate to see Victorino go. While there is a log jam of outfieders, he is the most proven talent we have in the out field. And When you look at our potential line up.... Shane Victorino is the one true lead off hitter we have. He has had time to get healthy and will be playing for a contract....... getting rid of him would be a mistake.

[Elktonnick]

Both the Dodgers and Red Sox suffer from outfield glut, making peddling Cepedes for a decent return a challenge. Nevertheless it must be done in my view