2016 Starting Rotation

[Dojji]

if Devers makes good, they'll find a spot for him, that goes for Moncada, it went for bets, Betts and it's going for Swihart too. you can see the wheels turning where Swihart is concerned already, trying to find a spot to let his bat play. The same process will happen for the others. Moncada will either be Pedey's replacement or he'll wind up in the outfield somewhere. Devers has a number of options of which position he could wind up playing as well. These things have a way of working out.

[Slasher9]

Devers' bat will be blocked by no one. The Red Sox should trade no member of their big 3 (Moncada, Benintendi, Devers) unless absolutely overwhelmed by an offer. Kopech won't net the Sox a packet of gum with his behavioral issues.

 

with DD at the helm 1 or more will be gone by end of July.

[User Name]

Not necessarily. DD is no stranger to dealing prospects, but he's also a shrewd trader, and the Sox have other trade chips. For my money, the two guys most likely to be traded mid-season are Swihart and Travis.

[a700hitter]

Not necessarily. DD is no stranger to dealing prospects, but he's also a shrewd trader, and the Sox have other trade chips. For my money, the two guys most likely to be traded mid-season are Swihart and Travis.

I would hate to see Travis get traded. He has a premium bat.

[User Name]

I would hate to see Travis get traded. He has a premium bat.

 

Personally, I like Travis better than the other Travis (in first name). In my opinion though, if someone's getting packaged for a premium pitcher, he and Swihart are options #1 and #2.

[sk7326]

Devers can either stay at 3B or move to another LF/1B (if he hits the milestones expected). Nobody significant is blocking any of those spots.

Moncada is likely to go to a corner too. He is playing 2B which makes sense, but given his size and age - he is probably going to outgrow it.

 

In terms of guys who could be dealt?

 

Swihart - you'd have to get something really good for the deal he's in. (like a #2/#3 pitcher with at least another year of control) His star has not been dimmed. He has burned two of his options, so the Sox will have to make decision on him one way or the other.

 

Somebody named Travis - you could go either way on this. There is no doubt that Shaw is a legitimate starter. But Travis could be ready for the bigs by the end of this year, and Ramirez could probably handle 3B. One again, this assumes there is a deal which makes sense to move Shaw. Travis has his own potential as a high on-base 15 HR Dave Magadan sort of guy ... that is a solid starter as well.

 

Jackie Bradley - he has done a lot to rehabilitate his stock. A quality center fielder who is cheap and controlled has innate value, especially since he seems to look like he can hit. Now offensively he is a baby Mike Napoli, the hot streaks can be great and the slumps can be deadly but the on base skills should play. But really, if Moncada is the real thing, Betts at CF and Moncada in RF makes a ton of sense.

 

Deven Merrero - a vacuum cleaner middle if who can hit enough to play. Not a centerpiece, but a very useful trade enhancer.

[Dojji]

I think Sam Travis is more of an offensive analogue to Mike Lowell than dave Magadan.

[sk7326]

I think Sam Travis is more of an offensive analogue to Mike Lowell than dave Magadan.

 

Maybe .. Mike Lowell was not espacially patient

[User Name]

Robin Ventura.

[Kimmi]

I read yesterday that Porcello has gone 6 or more innings in 12 straight starts, which puts him second only to Arrieta. There is a lot of value in that, in and of itself.

[Bellhorn04]

Might still be some hope left for Buchholz. He had a 5.76 ERA in April last year and pitched great after that...until he got hurt.

[a700hitter]

Might still be some hope left for Buchholz. He had a 5.76 ERA in April last year and pitched great after that...until he got hurt.

The best we can hope for is 2 good months and an injury.

[Palodios]

The best we can hope for is 2 good months and an injury.

 

I'd take two good months if they can find a pitcher at the deadline.

[Jack Flap]

Might still be some hope left for Buchholz. He had a 5.76 ERA in April last year and pitched great after that...until he got hurt.

 

It's not just the ERA, though.

 

Clay last April had a 2.61 FIP, 2.87 xFIP, and 11.88 K/9 to just 2.88 BB/9 - numbers that foretold the ace-like first half to come.

 

This month? 5.21 FIP, 5.28 xFIP, 6.18 K/9, 4.23 BB/9. Maybe he'll turn things around, and [insert standard "SSS and it's April" disclaimer], but I've just not seen anything so far from him that inspires confidence.

[User Name]

His BABIP is .314 and his HR/FB is 11.4%. There is literally not a single redeeming factor in Buchholz' underlying numbers.

[Station 13]

What's his swinging strike? He seems to can't buy a swing and miss these days. He throws a flat fastball when he has 2 strike, it gets put in play. I am astounded how they can keep him in Boston this long.

[User Name]

His swinging strike percentages and outside contact percentages are career worsts across the board so far.

[Dojji]

So we theoretically have 3 pitchers for 2 spots. Kelly and E-Rod are on the bubble, Wright has pitched himself out of the bubble for now, Price and Porky were never in danger of losing their jobs, and I think buchholz is pitching himself onto the bubble (or onto the DL). So that said, of the 3, Kelly, E-Rod, and Buchholz, at the moment you have to go with E-Rod and Buchholz, but Kelly might manage to worm his way into the 5 slot if Buchholz continues to struggle.

[mvp 78]

If it's between Kelly and Buchholz, I'd take Kelly. I want Kelly in the pen, but I'd rather have Buchholz out the door.

[Dojji]

Yeah I feel that way. I kinda feel like a battered spouse where Buchholz is concerned. So many times he promised to improve and so man times he let us down.

[Jack Flap]

I wouldn't displace Buchholz with Kelly yet, given how gawdawful the latter was before going on the DL, and Buch's history of crappy Aprils.

 

I think we go with Price/Porcello/Wright/Buchholz/Rodriguez once Eddie is ready...stash Kelly in Triple-A on rehab/option and give Buch a chance to right the ship for a few more weeks, at which point we can send him on a mysterious DL trip if he continues to be a liability.

[Bellhorn04]

Yeah I feel that way. I kinda feel like a battered spouse where Buchholz is concerned.

 

That's a very good, if politically incorrect, analogy.

[Spudboy]

His BABIP is .314 and his HR/FB is 11.4%. There is literally not a single redeeming factor in Buchholz' underlying numbers.

 

Then you can ad in his IQ which is probably under 100.

[a700hitter]

What do you guys think of Pomeranz on SD? I like his stuff. He is 27 years old. I wonder what the price would be.

[Palodios]

What do you guys think of Pomeranz on SD? I like his stuff. He is 27 years old. I wonder what the price would be.

 

I remember Pomeranz was the key piece from a Ubaldo Jimeniz trade a few years back. Everyone was high on his stuff at the time, but has mostly been a reliever in the past, hasn't he?

[a700hitter]

I remember Pomeranz was the key piece from a Ubaldo Jimeniz trade a few years back. Everyone was high on his stuff at the time, but has mostly been a reliever in the past, hasn't he?

About 50% of his appearances have been starts. This year he is in the SD rotation.

[sk7326]

What do you guys think of Pomeranz on SD? I like his stuff. He is 27 years old. I wonder what the price would be.

 

Need to study further - always skeptical of San Diego guys. Petco, Chavez and AT&T can run up pitching stats.

[a700hitter]

Need to study further - always skeptical of San Diego guys. Petco, Chavez and AT&T can run up pitching stats.

He has strikeout stuff which is not influenced by the ballpark.

[sk7326]

He has strikeout stuff which is not influenced by the ballpark.

 

Looks like control is dicey but strikeout rate is impressive. As I said, have to study further - glad things are going well for him

[User Name]

So many strikeouts. So many balls. Pomeranz is the type of guy that if an org can help him harness his command.....youwza!