2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[a700hitter]

I think Bryant would be the only guy I'd trade Benintendi for. But, I dont see how that helps the Cubs. They'd be taking a bat away. They're looking to add onto what they have. Not get a player who hit less homeruns then the guy they'd be giving up to get him.

They need to open up a full time position for Baez.

[NativeBostonian]

They need to open up a full time position for Baez.

 

My only question is then, what would we do with a thirdbasemen? Can Bryant play outfield fulltime?

[harmony]

They need to open up a full time position for Baez.

The Cubs should just trade Javier Baez, who this year posted 2.2 fWAR and 2.9 bWAR in 145 games, for Andrew Benintendi, who this year posted 2.2 fWAR and 2.6 bWAR in 151 games. Baez can cover second base until Dustin Pedroia returns before filling an important utility role.

 

However, Benintendi comes with five years of team control while Baez has only four years of team control.

Edited November 1, 2017 by harmony

[a700hitter]

My only question is then, what would we do with a thirdbasemen? Can Bryant play outfield fulltime?

Move Devers to first base.

[Larry Cook]

Move Devers to first base.

 

I second this motion!!!

 

Followed by move chavis to second base!

[Bellhorn04]

I will wet myself if we trade Benintendi for Bryant and then we sign JD Martinez.

 

Let's be reasonable. There's no way in hell we're getting Bryant for Benintendi. Whatever Theo was thinking, I know it wasn't that.

 

There's also no way in hell we're trading Benintendi for Schwarber.

[cp176]

Let's be reasonable. There's no way in hell we're getting Bryant for Benintendi. Whatever Theo was thinking, I know it wasn't that.

 

There's also no way in hell we're trading Benintendi for Schwarber.

 

I think that you are right and I hope that you are right.

[harmony]

FanGraphs Depth Charts has posted these early WAR projections for 2018:

 

Andrew Benintendi: 2.2 WAR in 150 games

Kyle Schwarber: 1.7 WAR in 100 games

Javier Baez: 1.4 WAR in 111 games

Ian Happ: 1.1 WAR in 147 games

Kris Bryant: 6.1 WAR in 160 games

Mookie Betts: 5.6 WAR in 163? games

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=17901&position=OF

 

Benintendi had a solid rookie season, ranking seventh among rookie hitters in fWAR, largely on the strength of his extensive playing time:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=2&team=&rost=&age=&filter=&players=

 

Benintendi entered the season ranked first, first and third on prospect lists at Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus, after narrowly maintaining his rookie status with 105 at-bats in 2016. In contrast, Houston infielder Alex Bregman, who is three months older than Benintendi, missed the cut with 201 at-bats in 2016.

 

Bregman, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, posted 3.8 fWAR and 4.1 bWAR this year while Benintendi, the No. 7 pick in the 2015 draft, posted 2.2 fWAR and 2.6 bWAR this year. Each has five years of team control. FanGraphs Depth Charts projects 2018 WAR of 3.7 for Bregman and 2.2 for Benintendi.

 

The Cubs may be interested in Benintendi but we don't know how much the Cubs value the 23-year-old outfielder.

Edited November 1, 2017 by harmony

[Spudboy]

I hope the Sox don't do that deal.

 

30 HRs and 59 RBI.

 

.211 BA (career .222)

 

.315 OBP (career .329)

 

 

I'm with you Moon. That does not fix the "Power" problem.

 

At this point I don't see that as an upgrade.

[cp176]

I'm with you Moon. That does not fix the "Power" problem.

 

At this point I don't see that as an upgrade.

 

I don't think that Scwarber is the guy the Sox will go after if it means giving up anything. Wouldn't make any sense.

[moonslav59]

I'm with you Moon. That does not fix the "Power" problem.

 

At this point I don't see that as an upgrade.

 

It might bump our power up a little, but if the guy hits .211, it's not an upgrade over Beni.

[notin]

The chances of the Cubs dealing Kris Bryant for Andrew Benintendi are roughly the same as the chances of me flapping my arms and flying to the moon...

[notin]

Schwarber could be special in Fenway.

 

But benintendi is way more athletic than schwarber and projects to exceed schwarber in most areas except power.

 

If Theo were to sweeten the pot with a decent prospect, then this trade could make sense.

 

Schwarber's ceiling is Adam Dunn.

 

But until he learns to take pitches the other way and beat the shift he constantly faces, he looks a lot more like Chris Carter. He'll hit 30-35 home runs, but his other 600 or so plate appearances will be a lot less productive and his OPS will not be much better than that of Jackie Bradley.

 

And Scherer has also somehow managed to be so bad defensively, he can barely adequately field the position of DH.

 

Hopefully the Sox avoid this over-hyped one trick three true outcome pony...

[Spudboy]

It might bump our power up a little, but if the guy hits .211, it's not an upgrade over Beni.

 

That is why I used quotation marks.

 

It's in some way like robing Peter to pay Paul.

 

The net chane just would not be significant enough to be worth it.

[mvp 78]

I second this motion!!!

 

Followed by move chavis to second base!

 

Putting a statue up the middle would be a great way to help the team's defense!

[mvp 78]

JD Martinez signed with Boras. This has no impact on if the Sox can sign him.

[Bellhorn04]

JD Martinez signed with Boras. This has no impact on if the Sox can sign him.

 

Might be a good thing for us actually...sort of signals he's just looking for the top dollar and has no preference to return to Arizona.

[mvp 78]

Might be a good thing for us actually...sort of signals he's just looking for the top dollar and has no preference to return to Arizona.

 

Good point.

[harmony]

I don't think that Scwarber is the guy the Sox will go after if it means giving up anything. Wouldn't make any sense.

Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Benintendi are clearly different hitters but I would note that Schwarber has posted 1.1 bWAR and 3.3 fWAR in 200 MLB games while Benintendi has posted 3.1 bWAR and 2.8 fWAR in 185 games.

[Bellhorn04]

Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Benintendi are clearly different hitters but I would note that Schwarber has posted 1.1 bWAR and 3.3 fWAR in 200 MLB games while Benintendi has posted 3.1 bWAR and 2.8 fWAR in 185 games.

 

Hmm...another one of those major discrepancies between fWAR and bWAR.

[notin]

Kyle Schwarber and Andrew Benintendi are clearly different hitters but I would note that Schwarber has posted 1.1 bWAR and 3.3 fWAR in 200 MLB games while Benintendi has posted 3.1 bWAR and 2.8 fWAR in 185 games.

 

 

So.... bad deal for Boston.

[harmony]

The chances of the Cubs dealing Kris Bryant for Andrew Benintendi are roughly the same as the chances of me flapping my arms and flying to the moon...

Hey, it might work if the Cubs added Jason Heyward to the deal.

[moonslav59]

Hey, it might work if the Cubs added Jason Heyward to the deal.

 

I read somewhere that Ben was drooling over Heyward and Stanton.

[Spudboy]

f*** WAR.

[harmony]

One guy I haven’t thought of, but is clearly going to be in the sox crosshairs is Justin Upton. He put up a 5 WAR season and unlike JD, he plays solid defense and can run. He’s also healthier. While JD would likely be relegated to DH duties, Justin could unseat one of your OFers and allow you to use them for trade. I could see the sox nabbing Upton, moving Beni or Betts to CF and using Bradley to fill a rotation hole or the 2b hole

The Angels have signed Justin Upton to a five-year contract:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/angels-extend-justin-upton.html

[moonslav59]

The Angels have signed Justin Upton to a five-year contract:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/angels-extend-justin-upton.html

 

He went from $88M/4 to about $106M/5.

 

He's younger and a better defender than JD, so what's JD going to get?

[Spudboy]

So Brentz has been promoted to the 40 man roster.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-bryce-brentz-added-to-40-man-roster/

[Bellhorn04]

So Brentz has been promoted to the 40 man roster.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-bryce-brentz-added-to-40-man-roster/

 

Alright. So we might see him hit some home runs in a Boston uniform yet.

[Spudboy]

Alright. So we might see him hit some home runs in a Boston uniform yet.

 

He must get a shot at 4th OF in spring training.

 

He is hitting the s*** out of the ball in the Mexican winter league or whatever it is.

 

Something like 6 dingers in 14 games.

 

Not sure of the level of competition, though.

[mvp 78]

He must get a shot at 4th OF in spring training.

 

He is hitting the s*** out of the ball in the Mexican winter league or whatever it is.

 

Something like 6 dingers in 14 games.

 

Not sure of the level of competition, though.

 

Not great. Velazquez was the best pitcher down there last season. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=1438f8aa

 

Last year's OPS leader was former Red Sox player Corey Brown. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=brown-002cor Remember him?