Moncada is coming

[iortiz]

No, it has nothing to do with Hammels.

 

what do u mean

[Spudboy]

It's been a revolving door, but hardly a disaster. They did win 3 titles with the guys after Nomar.

 

Maybe disaster is too strong of a word.

 

Never the less, the position has been less than stable. It would be nice to see XB perform, develop, and stick.

 

I realize that there have been three titles despite the SS revolving door.

[mvp 78]

what do u mean

 

A700 said "would Marrero be a drop off from the 2014 blackhole?"

 

I responded "I at least want a guy with upside." Xander has shown that he can hit at times. Marrero hasn't shown that. Xander has the ability to improve on last year's numbers. Marrero does not. His glove is better, but he has a barely adequate AAA bat.

 

Without a decent replacement at SS, they shouldn't move Xander. If they can get someone in a deal for Craig, then they could try to swing a XB Hammels deal.

[Spudboy]

Orlando Cabrera disagrees. Lugo was fine in 07.

 

Alex Gonzales was good too.

 

I would just like to see a long term SS.

[mvp 78]

My original post was comparing XB and Marrero. It had nothing to do with Hammels.

[mvp 78]

Alex Gonzales was good too.

 

I would just like to see a long term SS.

 

Yeah and monkeys might fly out of my butt.

 

Topical jokes.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Huh?

I think he meant international.

[iortiz]

My original post was comparing XB and Marrero. It had nothing to do with Hammels.

 

I know, but I simply put that possibility if they planned to trade XB and then put M at SS or this new kid or whoever at some point.

 

Do not take me wrong, I do want XB, but I'd rather trade X than Betts or Blake if Hammels is the name.

[Bellhorn04]

I think he meant international.

 

I think you're right. But he was wrong on that point too...Castillo got $72.7 million.

[Palodios]

Alex Gonzales was good too.

 

I would just like to see a long term SS.

 

I am fairly certain the the revolving door at SS has been intentional. It is a position that usually has 5 players with OPSes above .800, and the rest float around .700. The top 5 are extremely expensive -- look at deals for guys like Tulo and Reyes. It is also an injury prone position, and a defense first position. They usually make their SS prospects available in trades very quickly unless they have the potential to be one of those top 5 guys... like Bogaerts.

[mvp 78]

I know, but I simply put that possibility if they planned to trade XB and then put M at SS or this new kid or whoever at some point.

 

Do not take me wrong, I do want XB, but I'd rather trade X than Betts or Blake if Hammels is the name.

If they beed to trade Hammels, they meed a better backup plan than Marrero. Imagine trotting Castillo/Vasquez/Marrero put as 7, 8 and 9. Not sure people would pay $100 to see that.

[a700hitter]

If they beed to trade Hammels, they meed a better backup plan than Marrero. Imagine trotting Castillo/Vasquez/Marrero put as 7, 8 and 9. Not sure people would pay $100 to see that.

I can't disagree with this. I hope that XB improves enough so that the bottom 3 is substantially better than Caditillo, Vasquez, Marrerro.

[mvp 78]

If they beed to trade Hammels, they meed a better backup plan than Marrero. Imagine trotting Castillo/Vasquez/Marrero put as 7, 8 and 9. Not sure people would pay $100 to see that.

 

Holy s*** I have fat fingers. Sorry everyone for my constant iphone asshattery.

[iortiz]

As I said I would live with that black hole at SS (...and still to be seen) if that meant landing Hammels or other No.1, since I see our current offense protecting that bat regardless the name at SS and I expect at least an average performance from Castillo and Vazquez... but again, that's me. Edited February 23, 2015 by iortiz

[NZSox]

Offense prospects looking pretty tasty now with Moncada, Betts, Swihart, Xander ..

 

I really like what management is doing.

[mvp 78]

http://bbref.com/m?p=XXminorsXXplayer.cgiQQid=moncad000joh

 

Not ready for primetime yet.

[User Name]

Hamels. Cole Hamels.

 

Jason HAMMEL is a pitcher for the Cubs, and HAMMELS doesn't even exist.

 

Even so, no thanks on Hamels.

[mvp 78]

Who gives a s***. We all know who we're talking about.

[cp176]

It doesn't really imo. They still aren't moving Xander or Swihart. I guess it could be argued it makes Betts possibly "more available", but I think they still hold onto him. They only way Hamels comes to Boston is for JBJ, Vazquez, and 1-2 SP prospects(Owens and maybe a Ball type). The Sox are already over the LT, so I'd be surprised if they made a move for Hamels before the date of the new LT year(April I believe).

 

 

I haven't read all of the posts yet, but do really think that this ownership (J. Henry) is really concerned about overpaying for anything? I don't. I like the signing. I have to feel that if they thought the "right" pitcher was out there for them for the money they would go get him. I don't think that they have seen what they want just yet. Lots of talk an various posts about the Sox and budgets but I for one am not buying that. I do think that they have a plan. I know that I have no clue what it might be, but I don't mind waiting to watch it develop.

[User Name]

Who gives a s***. We all know who we're talking about.

 

You'll say Hamels correctly because I say so bitch.

[sk7326]

As I said I would live with that black hole at SS (...and still to be seen) if that meant landing Hammels or other No.1, since I see our current offense protecting that bat regardless the name at SS and I expect at least an average performance from Castillo and Vazquez... but again, that's me.

 

Even if Betts and Swihart are still off limits - this move likely puts Devers or Margot into play as a sweetener for a deal that might have less high end big league ready prospect stuff.

[iortiz]

Well, I just tried to link this signing with a possible trade scenario for a No. 1 and since HaMMels talks were/are out there, and at some extent linked with our team, I thought that it could be a posibility (loooong shot) and the first name that came to my head was XB (since I wouldn't trade Betts or Blake)... Anyway, hopefully this kid is the real deal as everybody is saying. Edited February 23, 2015 by iortiz

[cp176]

If Pedroia is willing to give XB his vote of approval, it works for me. I don't think that he is going anywhere right away. They might not be in the trade market at all right now. The glut is in the outfield. I think that they are getting closer to where they want to be. Money is certainly not an issue. This signing says that they are willing to compete with anyone for the players that they want. Eventually they will have the arm that they are looking for. I don't think that they will give up young top talent for aging veterans. Hope I am right.

[User Name]

Even if Betts and Swihart are still off limits - this move likely puts Devers or Margot into play as a sweetener for a deal that might have less high end big league ready prospect stuff.

 

Possibly both.

[mvp 78]

You'll say Hamels correctly because I say so bitch.

 

Juggalonaut. I know how they converted you to juggalodom when you lived in MI.

[User Name]

Juggalonaut. I know how they converted you to juggalodom when you lived in MI.

 

I hate clowns, so no. Possibly Bluntnaut after I realized James Blunt is God-tier at Twitter.

[iortiz]

Even if Betts and Swihart are still off limits - this move likely puts Devers or Margot into play as a sweetener for a deal that might have less high end big league ready prospect stuff.

 

Not sure if even a package involving both, could make the Hammels or any other No 1. Trade done. I think you would need a bigger name to make it done, reason why I thought in X.

Edited February 23, 2015 by iortiz

[Palodios]

Amaro's contract is up this year. More than ever, he's a guy looking to "win" trades and show his value. The Red Sox are better off waiting for him to get fired so they can trade with his replacement.

[iortiz]

Yoan Moncada’s Reported Deal With Red Sox Opens More Doors For Boston

 

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/02/yoan-moncadas-reported-deal-with-red-sox-opens-more-doors-for-boston/

 

The Red Sox reportedly agreed to a contract Monday with Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada. The 19-year-old immediately becomes the organization’s top prospect and gives Boston added flexibility in potential trades. In short, the opportunity was too good to pass up despite the Red Sox reportedly shelling out $63 million for a relatively unknown quantity. Not only is Boston adding a potential star, but the team also is striking while the iron is hot given some of the variables at play. By all accounts, Moncada is a stud, which obviously trumps everything when explaining such an investment. He’ll need some seasoning in the minors, but Moncada, who turns 20 in May, is a five-tool player with the potential to become the league’s best Cuban product. That’s saying something when you consider the recent influx of Cuban talent — Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Rusney Castillo, etc. — across Major League Baseball. Player comparisons are tricky, and finding a major leaguer comparable to Moncada is especially difficult because there are so few players in the world who possess his all-around skill set. Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano’s name has been tossed around when discussing Moncada’s potential, though, and Baseball America’s Ben Badler told NESN.com on Sunday that he doesn’t hate the comparison. (Stop drooling, Red Sox fans.) Will Moncada, a switch-hitter, eventually overtake Cano for the title of best second baseman in baseball? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The kid can’t even legally buy a drink in the United States. But Moncada’s ridiculously high ceiling — he might have been the top pick in the MLB draft if eligible — is enough to capture any team’s attention, especially those with pockets deep enough to play a $63 million hand. As with anything, timing is everything. And this offseason marked the perfect time for the Red Sox to push all of their chips into the middle of the table. Moncada projects as a second baseman — third base and center field are two other potential destinations — and the Red Sox already have a pretty good one, but this is the type of deal you make now and figure out later. After all, who knows what can happen before Moncada is deemed major league-ready? Moncada, unlike the aforementioned Cuban players, was subject to MLB’s international signing guidelines, meaning he couldn’t sign a major league contract because he is not yet 23 years old and did not play in a Cuban professional league for at least five seasons. The Red Sox already blew past their roughly $3 million international bonus pool by signing pitching prospects Christopher Acosta and Anderson Espinoza last July, which actually made a pursuit of Moncada even more palatable. Exceeding the $3 million threshold meant the Red Sox would need to pay a 100 percent tax on any signing bonus committed to an international free agent this signing period. It’s significant in that a $31.5 million deal with Moncada became a $63 million investment, but it’s insignificant in that any team would have blown past its bonus pool in signing the Cuban prospect. The key piece of information here is that the Red Sox after June 15 are not allowed to award a signing bonus of more than $300,000 to any player subject to MLB’s international guidelines over the next two years because they exceeded their bonus pool for 2014. In other words, there was plenty of incentive to go all-in this offseason because Boston won’t be a major player on the international market again until at least 2017. The Red Sox clearly are focused on winning now, and Moncada could indirectly aid that effort. While the Red Sox might be content stockpiling young talent, the addition of Moncada means Boston, in theory, could be more aggressive in parting with other highly regarded prospects, perhaps to land an ace. Does that mean Cole Hamels or Jordan Zimmermann is walking through that door because the Red Sox farm system just got that much deeper? Not necessarily. But signing Moncada creates even more possibilities as far as building potential trade packages. The Moncada sweepstakes was intense, unique and fun. Now, the Red Sox are primed to reap the benefits of emerging victorious.

 

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/02/yoan-moncadas-reported-deal-with-red-sox-opens-more-doors-for-boston

[jacksonianmarch]

Moncada, Betts, and Castillo are the future, potentially the future in the OF, potentially the future in the IF with Bogaerts. One thing is for sure, though, you guys just brought in a top 10 MLB prospect who IMO is probably better than Buxton since he has played against elite competition at a younger age and held his own