Papi's replacement in 2017

[seannybboi]

I hate to talk about this but it's becoming more and more reality as the season ages and it's becoming harder to imagine this lineup without Ortiz next season. However I can't find any report or interviews that give slim chance/hope Papi might reconsider retiring. Let's just say the Red Sox win another WS and Papi follows Peyton Manning. I think the off season priority will be finding a bat that can be inserted right in the middle of the lineup. No bats can probably replace Big Papi but we will need a middle of order bat to maintain high scoring offensive lineup. There are few obvious candidates media is reporting or suggesting and they probably are leading candidates. Who is the guy that you want in middle of this lineup next season? Edited May 17, 2016 by seannybboi

[S5Dewey]

Wow. A lot can happen between now and then.

 

I think he's gone. He's a very proud Papi and I believe he wants to go out on top, maybe a year too early rather than a year too late. I also think he's very aware of his legacy and the damage he could do to it by sticking around too long.

 

In the best case scenario I see Hanley moving to DH and one of "The Travis Twins" at each corner IF position. In a slightly less favorable scenario I see the Sox signing one of the guys from Toronto to be the DH. Bautista is my personal favorite. (and how in God's name did Teix get into the mix? Ugh)

 

Since we will still need pitching and money is going to be an issue I'm going with Shaw and Sam at the corners and Hanley as the DH. So much for voting anonymously, huh?

[seannybboi]

Wow. A lot can happen between now and then.

 

I think he's gone. He's a very proud Papi and I believe he wants to go out on top, maybe a year too early rather than a year too late. I also think he's very aware of his legacy and the damage he could do to it by sticking around too long.

 

In the best case scenario I see Hanley moving to DH and one of "The Travis Twins" at each corner IF position. In a slightly less favorable scenario I see the Sox signing one of the guys from Toronto to be the DH. Bautista is my personal favorite. (and how in God's name did Teix get into the mix? Ugh)

 

Since we will still need pitching and money is going to be an issue I'm going with Shaw and Sam at the corners and Hanley as the DH. So much for voting anonymously, huh?

 

There are reports on Tex being potential Red Sox target since he requires shorter term and less financial commitment than guys with the Jays. Nick Cafardo reported this I think.

[S5Dewey]

There are reports on Tex being potential Red Sox target since he requires shorter term and less financial commitment than guys with the Jays. Nick Cafardo reported this I think.

 

"The bitterness of poor quality lives on long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten".

[Slasher9]

HanRam will get the bulk of the DH ab's next year.

how is moncada's arm strength from 3b?

[sk7326]

I think your first choice is to see if Papi wants to come back. I am sure you will know whether the team has discussed it based on how amazing the Papi tributes are as the season rolls on. I know you want to go out on top, but I am sympathetic to what Bill Walton once said. You have the rest of your life to be old and unable to play.

[seannybboi]

HanRam will get the bulk of the DH ab's next year.

how is moncada's arm strength from 3b?

 

soxprospects.com has plus arm strength for Moncada and think he can play at any position. If FO is determined to go with HanRam at DH, I won't be surprised if Moncada gets good number of reps at 3B starting with the Sea Dogs which could happen very soon now with Benintendi is up at Portland.

[Jack Flap]

We will still have Hanley and (I hate to say it, but) Pablo under contract in 2017, with Shaw and Travis available to play 1B and Moncada potentially entering the picture as a 3B option. With all of that in mind, I'd prefer not to spend big bucks to bring in an aging slugger just to DH.

[Thunder]

Well it's not going to be a one person job. It sucks that Hanley has been so good at first so far, because he would be a prime candidate. Would hate to have him only play 1st for a year, but he and Shaw could platoon into that role, and we could pick up a 1B or 3B, depending on who is available. I don't want to see this happen, because Shaw and Hanley both seem like legit Gold Glove candidates. Moancada could also play 3B, of course, but it all depends on who is on the market.

[Slasher9]

2017:

3b: panda/shaw

1b: shaw/HanRam

DH: HanRam/Shaw

 

2018:

3b: Moncada

1b: Shaw/HanRam

DH: HanRam/Shaw

[illinoisredsox]

At least for next year, I think you may see a rotating type of situation, giving certain guys days "off" from the field. Hanram, Pedroia, Sandoval (I know) would all be possibilities, but you could occasionally see Betts or Bogaerts once or twice a month as well. They could then return Holt to his most valuable role of super utility guy as well.

[illinoisredsox]

Well it's not going to be a one person job. It sucks that Hanley has been so good at first so far, because he would be a prime candidate. Would hate to have him only play 1st for a year, but he and Shaw could platoon into that role, and we could pick up a 1B or 3B, depending on who is available. I don't want to see this happen, because Shaw and Hanley both seem like legit Gold Glove candidates. Moancada could also play 3B, of course, but it all depends on who is on the market.

 

Have to disagree with you on the GG status of both Shaw and Hanley. They are decent but not of that caliber. Hanley in particular makes some plays a lot tougher than they need to be due to things like stretching too quickly and then having make a last second adjustment when the throw is a little off line. It looks great but is unnecessary in many cases. Watch AGon or Texiera closely. They almost never have to make those types of plays. That's GG caliber 1B.

[Bellhorn04]

I think your first choice is to see if Papi wants to come back. I am sure you will know whether the team has discussed it based on how amazing the Papi tributes are as the season rolls on. I know you want to go out on top, but I am sympathetic to what Bill Walton once said. You have the rest of your life to be old and unable to play.

 

Well put.

[Bellhorn04]

Can't forget about our old friend the Panda. This would seem to be the only opening for him, and we are paying him $19 million AAV, after all.

[seannybboi]

Please remember we are trying to fill in for David Ortiz who's been the center piece of this powerful offense. Internal solution will create another hole to fill in and it can't just be a decent one. So if Hanley becomes our regular DH, then either Travis Shaw or Sam Travis will have to be our regular 1B but can you really put that pressure on Sam Travis from the get go? Panda has been disaster for 2 seasons now and can you honestly expect him to be major offensive contributor in 2017? DD will not hand a job to Panda because he's getting paid a lot. I'm not saying internal candidates do not make sense here but it's more complicated than signing a guy from the outside.

[Hugh2]

I think if you focus on trying to replace Ortiz with one person at DH you're going to spend a ton of money for one position for a guy who doesnt' play the field and nothing on pitching.

 

I think the reality is you can't replace a guy like Ortiz. You focus on putting together a good all around baseball team and if you do that you won't need to replace Ortiz.

[TheBabeStrikesBack]

Panda

[Eddy Ballgame]

Good points...A lot could definitely happen, but right now I would guess that Shaw & Travis will be at the corners with Hanley doing the bulk of the DHing in 2017. One scout called Sam Travis the "next Paul Goldschmidt" earlier this year, and while that seems to be a bit of a stretch, he's definitely in the mix for next year.

 

I don't see Ortiz changing his mind & I definitely don't see Sandoval being in the picture, but anything could happen I guess. If Sandoval proves to be healthy next spring, they'll move him & eat the majority of the deal in my opinion.

The only way I see someone like Bautista being an option is if they move Sam Travis in a package for a TOTR starter.

[Hugh2]

I like Sam Travis bat a lot, there is definitely a MLB hitter in there but I don't think his power is ever going to be what people expect it to be. He hits the ball very hard but he just doesn't have a HR swing, he's a line drive guy and he's hit at least 3 laser shot HR's this year that would easily be wall ball singles at Fenway. There's nothing wrong with that and he is going to be valuable but I just don't see a perennial 30/100 guy in him like a Goldschmidt or an Ortiz.

 

Now, he could be the rare type that is able to make some adjustments and alter his swing to add power to his game but that seems to flame more guys out and create more busts than it helps (Think Garrin Cecchini). Honestly I'd be fine with what Sam Travis potentially will bring to the big leagues. I think he can be a .280 hitter .800 OPS guy with about 12-15 HR's.

[S5Dewey]

Good points...A lot could definitely happen, but right now I would guess that Shaw & Travis will be at the corners with Hanley doing the bulk of the DHing in 2017. One scout called Sam Travis the "next Paul Goldschmidt" earlier this year, and while that seems to be a bit of a stretch, he's definitely in the mix for next year.

 

I don't see Ortiz changing his mind & I definitely don't see Sandoval being in the picture, but anything could happen I guess. If Sandoval proves to be healthy next spring, they'll move him & eat the majority of the deal in my opinion.

The only way I see someone like Bautista being an option is if they move Sam Travis in a package for a TOTR starter.

\

 

To let him go for anything less would be a TRAVISty.

(Sorry, couldn't resist. )

[Dojji]

I like Sam Travis bat a lot, there is definitely a MLB hitter in there but I don't think his power is ever going to be what people expect it to be. He hits the ball very hard but he just doesn't have a HR swing, he's a line drive guy and he's hit at least 3 laser shot HR's this year that would easily be wall ball singles at Fenway. There's nothing wrong with that and he is going to be valuable but I just don't see a perennial 30/100 guy in him like a Goldschmidt or an Ortiz.

 

Do we really need a 30 hr bat at first base at all times? Best 1B we'd had since Vaughn was Youk, and he never got to 30. I don't know what the fascination is with big-fly power. It's attractive, it's nice to have, but the idea that a first baseman had better hit at least 20 HR's Or Else, is kind of dated in my opinion. you need a guy who's going to create runs one way or another, because it's a position that can tolerate a guy who's a hitter first and foremost, but there's no ironclad law that says that those runs have to be created by home run.

 

Now I'm not going to weigh in one way or the other on Travis, he's got some growing to do before we get a good picture of him, but let's remember this -- we have never had a first baseman hit 30 HR's or more in any year in which we won the World Series. In fact the most HR hit by a Red Sox first baseman during a World Series year was Napoli in 2013 with 23. You can absolutely win without an overpowered hitting 1B. you can win with 'em too of course, but anyway, they're not the be-all

Edited May 17, 2016 by Dojji

[seannybboi]

Do we really need a 30 hr bat at first base at all times? Best 1B we'd had since Vaughn was Youk, and he never got to 30. I don't know what the fascination is with big-fly power. It's attractive, it's nice to have, but the idea that a first baseman had better hit at least 20 HR's Or Else, is kind of dated in my opinion. you need a guy who's going to create runs one way or another, because it's a position that can tolerate a guy who's a hitter first and foremost, but there's no ironclad law that says that those runs have to be created by home run.

 

Now I'm not going to weigh in one way or the other on Travis, he's got some growing to do before we get a good picture of him, but let's remember this -- we have never had a first baseman hit 30 HR's or more in any year in which we won the World Series. In fact the most HR hit by a Red Sox first baseman during a World Series year was Napoli in 2013 with 23. You can absolutely win without an overpowered hitting 1B. you can win with 'em too of course, but anyway, they're not the be-all

 

To be honest, we don't really need a 30 HR guy at any position. Sox were the best scoring team with 2nd to last in HR until few weeks ago. But Papi is not just HR. He drives guys in, hits clutch, gets on base, hits doubles all over the field, etc. In 2015, average 1B would have hit about 26 HRs in 600 AB and slugged .452 but Papi hit 37 HRs and slugged .553 in 528 AB last season. So if a bat is needed after Papi is gone, 30-100 bat will be needed but not necessarily at 1B.

[Dojji]

Or the offense could be distributed by improvement at multiple positions -- for example, decent .800 OPS bats at first base and left field combined with Vazquez getting his average and OBP up a bit, but a relatively modest DH, would still provide about the same if not slightly more offense overall.. Edited May 17, 2016 by Dojji

[Hugh2]

Do we really need a 30 hr bat at first base at all times? Best 1B we'd had since Vaughn was Youk, and he never got to 30. I don't know what the fascination is with big-fly power. It's attractive, it's nice to have, but the idea that a first baseman had better hit at least 20 HR's Or Else, is kind of dated in my opinion. you need a guy who's going to create runs one way or another, because it's a position that can tolerate a guy who's a hitter first and foremost, but there's no ironclad law that says that those runs have to be created by home run.

 

Now I'm not going to weigh in one way or the other on Travis, he's got some growing to do before we get a good picture of him, but let's remember this -- we have never had a first baseman hit 30 HR's or more in any year in which we won the World Series. In fact the most HR hit by a Red Sox first baseman during a World Series year was Napoli in 2013 with 23. You can absolutely win without an overpowered hitting 1B. you can win with 'em too of course, but anyway, they're not the be-all

 

Nope, we don't. I never said Sam Travis has to be that guy only that he isn't....and that should be fine on a well constructed team. If the overall offense is great all around why go out and spend $20 million plus on a first baseman? I get that it's relatively an easy position to fill and it's ideal to put a big bopper there but everything is relative and I think it could certainly make sense to have a guy like Sam Travis (assuming he can do in MLB what he's done in the minors) at first base. And who knows....maybe he does grow into a little bit more power.

[Palodios]

I hate to say it, but no one replaces Papi. There will be a big hole at DH for years to come because no one will be able to do what he has done.

[Dojji]

Papi shoulda got the MVP in 2006. He was literally the only reason we won more games than we lost that year. had the team done better in the standings he probably would have.

[Eddy Ballgame]

I hate to say it, but no one replaces Papi. There will be a big hole at DH for years to come because no one will be able to do what he has done.

 

There's no question that Ortiz will be difficult to replace on AND off the field. The guy is obviously a Boston legend, but the DH spot doesn't have to be a hole. If it's not Ramirez, it's not like they'll acquire a Mario Mendoza or a Jose Iglesias type to DH. They'll definitely bring in someone who can hit.

[Emp9]

There's no question that Ortiz will be difficult to replace on AND off the field. The guy is obviously a Boston legend, but the DH spot doesn't have to be a hole. If it's not Ramirez, it's not like they'll acquire a Mario Mendoza or a Jose Iglesias type to DH. They'll definitely bring in someone who can hit.

 

Jose Iglesias for DH? Do me a favor... Track down S5 and propose this idea. ( I can already imagine an everlasting, omnipresent, east coast structure fire that would ensure everyone could roast marshmallows from their front steps forevermore) lol

[sk7326]

Papi shoulda got the MVP in 2006. He was literally the only reason we won more games than we lost that year. had the team done better in the standings he probably would have.

 

It was not a great crop for MVP that year (by bWAR). Justin Morneau though was one of the worst MVP choices of the last few decades.

 

Johan Santana and former Red Sox Great Grady Sizemore were probably the best choices, with Ortiz having a very strong case.

[Emp9]

I'm liking the rotational DH more and more if we're fast-tracking Benintendi (and possibly Moncada). That way we cld use the $ saved and start extending guys like Betts, Bogey, Maybe even JBJ and Erod if its warranted. Either that or spend on pitching if there's a totr FA SP to be had (Although I don't think there is one to be had).