2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[cp176]

Most of us really don't care if Henry wants to spend all of his money signing expensive free agent after expensive free. The problem is, we know that he's not going to do that. He does have a budget, contrary to what some believe.

 

Since he is not going to spend without limit, a strong farm is important, and how he spends his money is also important. If overpaying with a long contract for someone like Martinez is going to prohibit us from making future moves that are needed, then I care.

 

Most of us really do admit that we don't have a clue as to what John Henry might be willing to do with his money.

[Kimmi]

i am hopeful that betts and xander will have better power numbers than they did in 2017.

as far as resigning moreland - if they dont trade/sign one of the big guns - i almost would rather save the $ they would spend on moreland and try travis.

 

I would be okay with giving Travis a shot, but I think there has to be a viable Plan B in place.

[Kimmi]

Your team scored 73 less runs than NY and 93 runs less than your team scored in 2016. Your offense was 6th in the AL in scoring, which puts you squarely in the average category. You won with pitching. Your rotation has injury question marks entering the season. If your rotation and pen dont step forward again, you’ll lose your margin for error. Your offense is literally one player from being a top 3 offense in all of baseball.

 

Our offense will improve by our current players performing up to expectations.

 

Add a #2/3 pitcher to insure against the Price injury, make some tweaks to the bullpen, and we are good to go.

[moonslav59]

Most of us really do admit that we don't have a clue as to what John Henry might be willing to do with his money.

 

While true, his track record has been to avoid going too far over the tax limit, but I guess one could say nothing can be read into that, in terms of is it just coincidence or some sort of planned thing?

 

My guess is, and it's just a guess, Henry will not want pay taxes every year. He will want to reset the tax from time to time to keep the rate lower. He will seriously try to avoid the second penalty phase of the luxury tax.

 

I've been actually thinking DD will do something he's never allowed to be done before: go over the luxury tax by $10-19M next season. I'm not expecting anything more radical anytime soon.

 

[Kimmi]

The surgery thing was more amusing to me than anything else...not sure why some people are still so hung up about it. All of the surgeries were known about almost immediately in the following days, so it's not like he was trying to conceal something. Wasn't this right around the time Farrell was fired? Maybe he just didn't give a f*** about Hanley's shoulder that day... He could/should have chosen different wording perhaps, but you know it's a slow winter when we're still talking about this 2 months later.

 

I'm not hung up about the surgery comment, I was just trying to make the point that we should not take Dombrowski's comments at face value.

[notin]

I would be okay with giving Travis a shot, but I think there has to be a viable Plan B in place.

 

Travis is Plan B or C. Let him start the season in Pawtucket and work a few things out

[cp176]

While true, his track record has been to avoid going too far over the tax limit, but I guess one could say nothing can be read into that, in terms of is it just coincidence or some sort of planned thing?

 

My guess is, and it's just a guess, Henry will not want pay taxes every year. He will want to reset the tax from time to time to keep the rate lower. He will seriously try to avoid the second penalty phase of the luxury tax.

 

I've been actually thinking DD will do something he's never allowed to be done before: go over the luxury tax by $10-19M next season. I'm not expecting anything more radical anytime soon.

 

 

I really think that you might be right. I like very much how you phrased this. It does not lead me to think that you might think that you know more about this than the rest of us do. In reality, of course I understand that they have a budget but I would never pretend to understand to what extent a billionaire might go to get what he wants. I think that your comment shows some degree of common sense. I agree by the way.

[Kimmi]

It was that troublemaker Kimmi.

 

Ha! It's been days since I've mentioned the cliff!

 

And don't think I haven't noticed your comments about clutch players.

[Kimmi]

Most of us really do admit that we don't have a clue as to what John Henry might be willing to do with his money.

 

Do I know for sure what he is willing to do with his money? No.

 

But I do think I have a bit of a clue as to what he's willing to do based on what he's done so far.

[Kimmi]

Travis is Plan B or C. Let him start the season in Pawtucket and work a few things out

 

I would tend to agree with this. He should not be Plan A. That said, I would prefer taking our chances with him than grossly overpaying another player.

[moonslav59]

I really think that you might be right. I like very much how you phrased this. It does not lead me to think that you might think that you know more about this than the rest of us do. In reality, of course I understand that they have a budget but I would never pretend to understand to what extent a billionaire might go to get what he wants. I think that your comment shows some degree of common sense. I agree by the way.

 

It's also my opinion that some owners really view their spending and success with pride. I doubt Steinbrenner relished the idea that so many baseball people viewed the Yankees winning championships as being bought and not earned by great management skills and shrewd acquisitions. I have a hunch that Henry does not want to be viewed as the Dodgers East. It's just a hunch, and I have no evidence to support this opinion.

 

The penalty for going over the second level is not really crippling, as long as it's just done once, but I doubt we do it. (If we were to do it, it makes sense to do it right after a reset.)

 

[cp176]

It's also my opinion that some owners really view their spending and success with pride. I doubt Steinbrenner relished the idea that so many baseball people viewed the Yankees winning championships as being bought and not earned by great management skills and shrewd acquisitions. I have a hunch that Henry does not want to be viewed as the Dodgers East. It's just a hunch, and I have no evidence to support this opinion.

 

The penalty for going over the second level is not really crippling, as long as it's just done once, but I doubt we do it. (If we were to do it, it makes sense to do it right after a reset.)

 

 

I agree with this one as well but I would add that if he decides to spend what he chooses to spend it probably will have nothing to do with him potentially going over any type of monetary limit established by anyone. I'm thinking that he will probably make moves that seem to make a little sense to us but to assume based on anything that anyone here can look at what he has spent and try to guess what he might spend in the future is a stretch for me. Billionaires don't operate on a level that most of us can identify with. We have an insider here maybe we have a billionaire on board as well.

[moonslav59]

I agree with this one as well but I would add that if he decides to spend what he chooses to spend it probably will have nothing to do with him potentially going over any type of monetary limit established by anyone. I'm thinking that he will probably make moves that seem to make a little sense to us but to assume based on anything that anyone here can look at what he has spent and try to guess what he might spend in the future is a stretch for me. Billionaires don't operate on a level that most of us can identify with. We have an insider here maybe we have a billionaire on board as well.

 

I agree. We'll never know what Henry's plans are, or if the fact that we've always stayed near the luxury tax limit means anything other going forward, but I do feel I have some reasons to think he cares about that "monetary limit established by [someone]" other than himself. Again, this is just conjecture on my part...

 

1) Castillo has not been added to the 40 man roster. This could be because DD does not think he's good enough, but I feel his salary added to the luxury budget was and is a major reason he is not on the 40-man roster.

 

2) We came so close to the luxury tax limit this year without going over, and it appeared like we could have used a big hitter to increase our odds for a ring. I happen to think resetting the tax was a bigger priority than Henry and DD led onto this season.

 

3) Billionaires do operate in ways we cannot every fully understand, but it's my opinion that many got there by pinching pennies and restricting spending when not needed for adding to profits.

 

4) That's all I got. No fourth point today.

 

I wouldn't mind at all, if he spends more than ever and doesn't care about taxes, but I do think there is some

 

[harmony]

The Mariners basically took Gordon for free. The prospect package is middling to say the least

Seattle traded its No. 2 and No. 7 prospects (and a lower-level prospect) from their weak farm system, according to MLB Prospect Watch. Nick Neidert, a 21-year-old right-hander, was ranked 84th on Baseball America's midseason prospect list but does not currently appear on MLB Prospect Watch's Top 100.

 

I like Dee Gordon but I thought the Mariners overpaid a tad despite picking up $1 million in international slot money.

 

It's sad when Mariner fans find the offseason more entertaining than the regular season.

[SCM33]

Don’t sign Hosmer!

 

Second this.

[cp176]

I agree. We'll never know what Henry's plans are, or if the fact that we've always stayed near the luxury tax limit means anything other going forward, but I do feel I have some reasons to think he cares about that "monetary limit established by [someone]" other than himself. Again, this is just conjecture on my part...

 

1) Castillo has not been added to the 40 man roster. This could be because DD does not think he's good enough, but I feel his salary added to the luxury budget was and is a major reason he is not on the 40-man roster.

 

2) We came so close to the luxury tax limit this year without going over, and it appeared like we could have used a big hitter to increase our odds for a ring. I happen to think resetting the tax was a bigger priority than Henry and DD led onto this season.

 

3) Billionaires do operate in ways we cannot every fully understand, but it's my opinion that many got there by pinching pennies and restricting spending when not needed for adding to profits.

 

4) That's all I got. No fourth point today.

 

I wouldn't mind at all, if he spends more than ever and doesn't care about taxes, but I do think there is some

 

 

Hey - I'm all for number 3. It's how I got there! lol

[moonslav59]

Seattle traded its No. 2 and No. 7 prospects (and a lower-level prospect) from their weak farm system, according to MLB Prospect Watch. Nick Neidert, a 21-year-old right-hander, was ranked 84th on Baseball America's midseason prospect list but does not currently appear on MLB Prospect Watch's Top 100.

 

I like Dee Gordon but I thought the Mariners overpaid a tad despite picking up $1 million in international slot money.

 

It's sad when Mariner fans find the offseason more entertaining than the regular season.

 

I think you guys did well. His salary is not too bad.

[Larry Cook]

Latest reports have abreu staying in Chicago.

 

So we have Martinez and hosmer As possible desperate Dave targets.

 

One thing that seems odd, does desperate dave have any desire to lock up any of the youngsters to long term deals this winter?

 

Maybe given the fact that we got roasted by the stupid long term deal we gave the eternally injured banana boy Pedroia, management might be loath to do another deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

I read all the projections on Neidert and they’re all back end rotation projections. Not sure why he hit top 100 with a terrible projection. Once he got smashed on promotion, I think his rankings tumbled. He’s not a great prospect at all. The SS is a no hit defensive whiz far down in the system. The reliever might have a future. Either way, not much to get a lightning fast guy who perennially hits .300 and steals 30 bases. When he plays full seasons, he’s a 3 WAR player and at his salary, he’s cheap

[Slasher9]

Travis is Plan B or C. Let him start the season in Pawtucket and work a few things out

 

agreed. my point was that if DD is thinking to spend $$ on moreland is plan A...forget that and go straight to plan B.

[moonslav59]

agreed. my point was that if DD is thinking to spend $$ on moreland is plan A...forget that and go straight to plan B.

 

If Moreland is plan A, then DD is sorely mistaken. I Hosmer is signed, I'll literally puke.

[Slasher9]

If Moreland is plan A, then DD is sorely mistaken. I Hosmer is signed, I'll literally puke.

 

agreed. maybe my wording is off. moreland shouldnt even be a plan. if all other FA options fail...skip moreland entirely and go straight to travis.

[notin]

agreed. maybe my wording is off. moreland shouldnt even be a plan. if all other FA options fail...skip moreland entirely and go straight to travis.

 

I'm certainly not pro-Moreland, just like I wasn't last year. But I would at least hope to get a LHH option to platoon with Travis. While the Sox could use Swihart that way, to me that means they'll probably be looking for a 1b in July

[cp176]

Think that I am ready to say that at this point there is very little comparison between Travis and Moreland. If first base boils down to this decision, I don't think that there is much to decide. Moreland, with all of his apparent limitations, can hit the ball farther than Travis. The last thing this team needs now is to even consider replacing a bat with a little home run pop with another singles hitter. Add the big bats and maybe Sam gets a chance but to date he has a lot more to prove than the guy who has already proven at least something at the ml level. I like Sam to but I don't think there is any chance he starts the season in Boston. Depending on what gets done, he might even be packaged up nicely and traded away.

[moonslav59]

agreed. maybe my wording is off. moreland shouldnt even be a plan. if all other FA options fail...skip moreland entirely and go straight to travis.

 

...or, just sign a DH and go with HRam at 1B (with Travis as AAA depth).

[moonslav59]

Think that I am ready to say that at this point there is very little comparison between Travis and Moreland. If first base boils down to this decision, I don't think that there is much to decide. Moreland, with all of his apparent limitations, can hit the ball farther than Travis. The last thing this team needs now is to even consider replacing a bat with a little home run pop with another singles hitter. Add the big bats and maybe Sam gets a chance but to date he has a lot more to prove than the guy who has already proven at least something at the ml level. I like Sam to but I don't think there is any chance he starts the season in Boston. Depending on what gets done, he might even be packaged up nicely and traded away.

 

I agree. 1B is a position of power. We are a team looking to add power this winter. Subtracting power at 1B is a non starter for me.

[Slasher9]

...or, just sign a DH and go with HRam at 1B (with Travis as AAA depth).

 

yes. Giancarlo as DH with HanRam playing 1b is my Christmas wish...

[Jack Flap]

I'm not hung up about the surgery comment, I was just trying to make the point that we should not take Dombrowski's comments at face value.

 

Oh, I didn't think you were specifically. And I don't disagree with you...I guess I'm just accustomed to taking statements from any GM with a grain of salt regardless.

[Jack Flap]

Lots of Giancarlo rumors from last night, with some ominous hints about the Yankees...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/giancarlo-stanton-rumors-12717.html

[moonslav59]

yes. Giancarlo as DH with HanRam playing 1b is my Christmas wish...

 

The Stanton ship has sailed. The Sox have a .0001% chance at getting him.

 

JD is the shiny toy, now.