A Realistic View at 2017 Part I

[moonslav59]

First Kyle Kendrick to a $1M minor league deal, then this from MLBTR...

 

Red Sox signed righty Erik Cordier and lefty Cesar Cabral, per Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The hard-throwing Cordier, 30, will return stateside after a brief and unsuccessful stint with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball in 2016 (10 runs in 12 1/3 innings). Cordier has long battled control issues but has shown a consistent ability to hit triple digits with his fastball in the past. His last Major League stint came in 2015. As for Cabral, the 27-year-old former Rule 5 pick has averaged about a strikeout per inning throughout his minor league career but has yet to find success at the Triple-A level. He pitched just 8 1/3 innings last season, all with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate, and allowed nine earned runs on 13 hits and four walks. He’s logged 5 2/3 innings in the Majors in his career but has never been able to stick on a 25-man roster.

[Spudboy]

First Kyle Kendrick to a $1M minor league deal, then this from MLBTR...

 

Red Sox signed righty Erik Cordier and lefty Cesar Cabral, per Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The hard-throwing Cordier, 30, will return stateside after a brief and unsuccessful stint with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball in 2016 (10 runs in 12 1/3 innings). Cordier has long battled control issues but has shown a consistent ability to hit triple digits with his fastball in the past. His last Major League stint came in 2015. As for Cabral, the 27-year-old former Rule 5 pick has averaged about a strikeout per inning throughout his minor league career but has yet to find success at the Triple-A level. He pitched just 8 1/3 innings last season, all with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate, and allowed nine earned runs on 13 hits and four walks. He’s logged 5 2/3 innings in the Majors in his career but has never been able to stick on a 25-man roster.

 

Book the Duckboats!!!!

 

Seriously, this is normal.

[moonslav59]

Book the Duckboats!!!!

 

Seriously, this is normal.

 

Agreed. These Sean O'Sullivan/Aaron Cook types rarely make a difference.

[Bellhorn04]

Book the Duckboats!!!!

 

Seriously, this is normal.

 

In olden times before the internet, most of us wouldn't know or give a s*** that transactions like this took place.

[cp176]

In olden times before the internet, most of us wouldn't know or give a s*** that transactions like this took place.

 

Lordy lordy do I miss the old daze!

[Jack Flap]

Lol, why is cheap-ass Dombrowski wasting his time with these clowns?

[Spudboy]

Lol, why is cheap-ass Dombrowski wasting his time with these clowns?

 

Org depth.

[moonslav59]

Lol, why is cheap-ass Dombrowski wasting his time with these clowns?

 

$1M for Kendrick is about $400K over min wage.

[mvp 78]

Org depth.

 

Hi-Ho Silva must not have been available!

[moonslav59]

Neftali Feliz signed for $5.35M. He had an awful 2015 season, but has been pretty good otherwise.

 

I'm not sure how he got his K/9 rate up by about 3 per 9, so maybe there's something I'm missing, but this looks like a steal for the Brewers.

[moonslav59]

O's to sign Trumbo for $12.5M x 3.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

...Farrell said the final two [rotation] spots will be a competition between Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez....

 

...via Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, per Farrell, there’s still a “note of competition” at the hot corner between Pablo Sandoval, Brock Holt and Rule 5 pick Josh Rutledge. Sandoval’s contract, presumably, makes him the favorite, but I’d wager that he’ll be on a short leash and will have to show semblance of rebound potential in Spring Training and/or early in the year.

[Jack Flap]

Org depth.

 

$1M for Kendrick is about $400K over min wage.

 

Sarcasm really doesn't come through on the internet, I guess.

[Bellhorn04]

Sarcasm really doesn't come through on the internet, I guess.

 

I was with ya all the way, JF.

 

The only good thing on the old Sawxheads site was the policy that sarcastic comments were supposed to be in green.

[Spudboy]

Sarcasm really doesn't come through on the internet, I guess.

 

I was with ya all the way, JF.

 

The only good thing on the old Sawxheads site was the policy that sarcastic comments were supposed to be in green.

 

I just woke up so maybe my two neurons are not working yet. But I don't get it, I guess. I was not being sarcastic. Was Moon?

 

Things are moving too fast for the Kid ( to quote Richard Prior ).

[S5Dewey]

MLBTR...

 

...Farrell said the final two [rotation] spots will be a competition between Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez....

 

...via Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, per Farrell, there’s still a “note of competition” at the hot corner between Pablo Sandoval, Brock Holt and Rule 5 pick Josh Rutledge. Sandoval’s contract, presumably, makes him the favorite, but I’d wager that he’ll be on a short leash and will have to show semblance of rebound potential in Spring Training and/or early in the year.

 

When Farrell was asked what his depth chart at 3B looked like he said, "Pablo, Holt, Rutledge".

[moonslav59]

Sarcasm really doesn't come through on the internet, I guess.

 

Actually, I figured it was probably sarcastic, but I still wanted to point out how little these organizational depth signings really matter, in terms of the luxury tax budget issue.

[moonslav59]

When Farrell was asked what his depth chart at 3B looked like he said, "Pablo, Holt, Rutledge".

 

He also said this about our catching situation, which only adds to the mystery...

 

Farrell said that as it stands, Sandy Leon is heading to camp as the No. 1 catcher, but Blake Swihart will be able to challenge him for that role. Britton notes that Farrell didn’t mention Christian Vazquez. However, Vazquez is out of minor league options, and the team isn’t sure how Swihart’s ankle will be able to hold up for regular work behind the dish, so Britton’s interpretation of the situation is that Leon and Vazquez will open the year as Boston’s catching tandem.

[cp176]

He also said this about our catching situation, which only adds to the mystery...

 

Farrell said that as it stands, Sandy Leon is heading to camp as the No. 1 catcher, but Blake Swihart will be able to challenge him for that role. Britton notes that Farrell didn’t mention Christian Vazquez. However, Vazquez is out of minor league options, and the team isn’t sure how Swihart’s ankle will be able to hold up for regular work behind the dish, so Britton’s interpretation of the situation is that Leon and Vazquez will open the year as Boston’s catching tandem.

 

We probably are going to be hearing all kinds of interpretations of what Farrell said about the catching situation. I'm glad that we don't get told all of the gory details if there are any. It is possible I think that the people who truly know what is going on are more impressed with Leon and even Swihart's potential going forward than they are with that of Vazquez. I just want the best catcher overall to catch. It is Leon going into spring training.

[moonslav59]

We probably are going to be hearing all kinds of interpretations of what Farrell said about the catching situation. I'm glad that we don't get told all of the gory details if there are any. It is possible I think that the people who truly know what is going on are more impressed with Leon and even Swihart's potential going forward than they are with that of Vazquez. I just want the best catcher overall to catch. It is Leon going into spring training.

 

Just strange that he didn't even mention the chance of Vaz winning the job.

[cp176]

Just strange that he didn't even mention the chance of Vaz winning the job.

 

I'm glad about that. Going in to the spring, there should be no question about who the starting catcher will be. Leon earned it in every way. things could change for sure, but that is the way it is right now.

[moonslav59]

I'm glad about that. Going in to the spring, there should be no question about who the starting catcher will be. Leon earned it in every way. things could change for sure, but that is the way it is right now.

 

But, he said Swihart can challenge Leon for that role, so it isn't a "no question" situation.

[Bellhorn04]

I just woke up so maybe my two neurons are not working yet. But I don't get it, I guess. I was not being sarcastic. Was Moon?

 

Jack Flap was being sarcastic a ways back.

[cp176]

But, he said Swihart can challenge Leon for that role, so it isn't a "no question" situation.

 

In my mind - there is no question. Speaking here for no one other than myself. If I had to make a bet, my bet would be that most people agree that there is no question as to Leon being the clear front runner.

[Slasher9]

in ~ 1 hour we will need to replace the following players on the 40 man roster as i expect them to be rounded up and sent home as promised on the election trail for the past 12 months by our new president:

Luis Ysla

E-Rod

Roenis Elias

Fernando Abad

Xander Bogaerts

Marco Hernandez

Pablo Sandoval

Han Ram

Sandy Leon

C. Vazquez

J. Lake

 

looks like Swihart will be our opening day catcher.....

[Dojji]

Just strange that he didn't even mention the chance of Vaz winning the job.

 

How I interpreted this:

 

Vaz is either the starter or the backup, either way his job is secure. Vaz is good enough to provide positive value as a backup catcher even if not hitting. Leon is not secure, if he can't replicate last year, o9r at least provide enough positive value to avoid tantalizing the team with Swihart's potential, he's gone in favor of Swihart.

[moonslav59]

In my mind - there is no question. Speaking here for no one other than myself. If I had to make a bet, my bet would be that most people agree that there is no question as to Leon being the clear front runner.

 

I totally agree, Leon is and should be the front runner, but apparently Swihart is still in the running (not Vaz), according to JF's most recent statement.

[moonslav59]

How I interpreted this:

 

Vaz is either the starter or the backup, either way his job is secure. Vaz is good enough to provide positive value as a backup catcher even if not hitting. Leon is not secure, if he can't replicate last year, o9r at least provide enough positive value to avoid tantalizing the team with Swihart's potential, he's gone in favor of Swihart.

 

I read it to mean Vaz is the back-up and either Leon or Swi could be the starter with Leon as the front runner.

[Dojji]

I disagree slightly. I think Vaz may break camp as the backup, but the door is open so he can win more playing time than the conventional backup or even take over for the "starter" if he's doing well enough.

[moonslav59]

I disagree slightly. I think Vaz may break camp as the backup, but the door is open so he can win more playing time than the conventional backup or even take over for the "starter" if he's doing well enough.

 

I agree, but JF's quote was what was being discussed. He mentioned only Swihart as competing for the starting role.

 

If Swi starts, we'll have to carry 3 catchers or DL (fake or otherwise) or trade Vaz or Leon, since both are out of options. Only Swi has options, so it seems almost automatic to assume he starts in AAA, barring a catcher injury or trade. I'm wondering if the omission of Vazquez in his statement was a mistake or purposeful.