2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[mvp 78]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/j-d-martinez-prefers-to-sign-as-outfielder-mlb-free-agent-rumors-red-sox.html

 

Free agent slugger J.D. Martinez is informing potential suitors that he would prefer to sign as an outfielder, according to a report from Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Just how that will impact the ongoing recruitment process is not yet clear, but the report suggests it could mean the oft-linked Red Sox will need to boost their offer or clear outfield space to make a deal.

 

Of course, as Silverman also acknowledges, there are some potential bargaining advantages to be pursued from taking this particular stance. And the Boston organization is wary of being drawn into a one-team bidding war.

 

Agent Scott Boras suggested at the Winter Meetings that Martinez was amenable to serving as a designated hitter, even indicating that his client had “never said to me anything about” the matter. But it seems a somewhat different tone has been struck in talks with teams.

 

Ample uncertainty remains in Martinez’s free-agent outlook. At this point, the Red Sox are perhaps the only clear suitor that can afford Martinez. His former team, the Diamondbacks, has also been directly connected but seemingly lacks the current financial capacity to fit the kind of salary that’ll be needed to lure the slugger. Likewise the Giants are attempting a financial tightrope walk that makes it somewhat difficult to imagine Martinez fitting (at least, at the rate of pay he’d prefer). A few other teams are rumored to be looking at the market’s best hitter, though it’s not really evident which are serious participants.

 

At the very least, the report suggests that, while Martinez might be willing to sign on as a DH, he’d require a sweetener to do so — at this stage of the proceedings, at least. (Indeed, Martinez has indicated he’d sign as a DH/outfielder for Boston, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets.) Boras has never been afraid to wait out the market for his clients, with notable power hitters such as Prince Fielder and Chris Davis scoring huge contracts in late January.

 

No doubt the Red Sox are interested in landing Martinez — Silverman calls him the organization’s “first choice” — but at a palatable price. The team could line up a trade of Jackie Bradley Jr. to make way for Martinez in the outfield while perhaps also making a move for Eric Hosmer or another option at first base, though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski threw cold water on the idea of a Bradley trade. If Boston’s preference is to utilize Martinez as a DH while holding onto Bradley, it seems the sides will wait to see who blinks first.

[Spudboy]

I am going to laugh my rather ample ass off if JD becomes the next S. Drew.

 

I doubt that it happens but it would be funny as f***.

[mvp 78]

Boras knows by now that our offer is the best one he's getting. He's just dragging things out to make it look like he's doing his due diligence, so JD can't blame him in any way for falling about $80 million short of what Scotty Boy told the public JD is worth.

 

Yup. Probably praying that some guy tries to put on Wade Boggs' cowboy boots or shoots guns with Brentz or drinks from Paxton Crawford's glassware or babysits Buchholz's kids and has to sit out the year so that an additional team enters the bidding.

[mvp 78]

I am going to laugh my rather ample ass off if JD becomes the next S. Drew.

 

I doubt that it happens but it would be funny as f***.

 

Drew was screwed for being attached to a QO (that he should've signed).

[S5Dewey]

Carson Smith and Steven Wright have signed one-year deals with the Sox.

 

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2018/Boston-pitchers-Carson-Smith-and-Steven-Wright-both-coming-off-injuries-agreed-to-one-year-contracts-with-the-Red-Sox-that-avoided-salary-arbitration/id-4570cf766ffb46f8a88504d26c810d2b

 

I'm not at all surprised about Smith but this apparently means that all is forgiven regarding Wright and his wife's 911 call.

[moonslav59]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/j-d-martinez-prefers-to-sign-as-outfielder-mlb-free-agent-rumors-red-sox.html

 

Free agent slugger J.D. Martinez is informing potential suitors that he would prefer to sign as an outfielder, according to a report from Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Just how that will impact the ongoing recruitment process is not yet clear, but the report suggests it could mean the oft-linked Red Sox will need to boost their offer or clear outfield space to make a deal.

 

Of course, as Silverman also acknowledges, there are some potential bargaining advantages to be pursued from taking this particular stance. And the Boston organization is wary of being drawn into a one-team bidding war.

 

Agent Scott Boras suggested at the Winter Meetings that Martinez was amenable to serving as a designated hitter, even indicating that his client had “never said to me anything about” the matter. But it seems a somewhat different tone has been struck in talks with teams.

 

Ample uncertainty remains in Martinez’s free-agent outlook. At this point, the Red Sox are perhaps the only clear suitor that can afford Martinez. His former team, the Diamondbacks, has also been directly connected but seemingly lacks the current financial capacity to fit the kind of salary that’ll be needed to lure the slugger. Likewise the Giants are attempting a financial tightrope walk that makes it somewhat difficult to imagine Martinez fitting (at least, at the rate of pay he’d prefer). A few other teams are rumored to be looking at the market’s best hitter, though it’s not really evident which are serious participants.

 

At the very least, the report suggests that, while Martinez might be willing to sign on as a DH, he’d require a sweetener to do so — at this stage of the proceedings, at least. (Indeed, Martinez has indicated he’d sign as a DH/outfielder for Boston, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets.) Boras has never been afraid to wait out the market for his clients, with notable power hitters such as Prince Fielder and Chris Davis scoring huge contracts in late January.

 

No doubt the Red Sox are interested in landing Martinez — Silverman calls him the organization’s “first choice” — but at a palatable price. The team could line up a trade of Jackie Bradley Jr. to make way for Martinez in the outfield while perhaps also making a move for Eric Hosmer or another option at first base, though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski threw cold water on the idea of a Bradley trade. If Boston’s preference is to utilize Martinez as a DH while holding onto Bradley, it seems the sides will wait to see who blinks first.

 

Seems weird that with just one apparent team bidding, the player/agent would make a further demand to try and get more bidders.

 

I'm thinking it will lessen the chances of another team joining the bidding, unless an NL team thinks they might steal JD away from the Sox by offering less money but a FT OF job.

[baseball jones]

Carson Smith and Steven Wright have signed one-year deals with the Sox.

 

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2018/Boston-pitchers-Carson-Smith-and-Steven-Wright-both-coming-off-injuries-agreed-to-one-year-contracts-with-the-Red-Sox-that-avoided-salary-arbitration/id-4570cf766ffb46f8a88504d26c810d2b

 

I'm not at all surprised about Smith but this apparently means that all is forgiven regarding Wright and his wife's 911 call.

 

i think the league will still suspend him a while.we are starting the season with aaa pitchers for a couple of months

[jacksonianmarch]

It’s not all is forgiven with Wright. It’s business as usual. They rendered him a contract, so this forgoes the need for arbitration. That’s it. His punishment is TBD

[Kimmi]

I still don't believe this is the case. I think they were just saying that in hopes that more bidders would show up. Nothing has indicated that he doesn't want to play for BOS. He even said he'd be fine to DH if he had to.

 

I concur. I beleive I read that JD would prefer to play the OF if given the choice, but at the same time he gave no indication that he would be unhappy or unwilling to DH. IMO, the holdup is strictly over the # of years. JD wants 6 or 7, Dombrowski is not willing to go more than 5.

[Kimmi]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/j-d-martinez-prefers-to-sign-as-outfielder-mlb-free-agent-rumors-red-sox.html

 

Free agent slugger J.D. Martinez is informing potential suitors that he would prefer to sign as an outfielder, according to a report from Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Just how that will impact the ongoing recruitment process is not yet clear, but the report suggests it could mean the oft-linked Red Sox will need to boost their offer or clear outfield space to make a deal.

 

Of course, as Silverman also acknowledges, there are some potential bargaining advantages to be pursued from taking this particular stance. And the Boston organization is wary of being drawn into a one-team bidding war.

 

Agent Scott Boras suggested at the Winter Meetings that Martinez was amenable to serving as a designated hitter, even indicating that his client had “never said to me anything about” the matter. But it seems a somewhat different tone has been struck in talks with teams.

 

Ample uncertainty remains in Martinez’s free-agent outlook. At this point, the Red Sox are perhaps the only clear suitor that can afford Martinez. His former team, the Diamondbacks, has also been directly connected but seemingly lacks the current financial capacity to fit the kind of salary that’ll be needed to lure the slugger. Likewise the Giants are attempting a financial tightrope walk that makes it somewhat difficult to imagine Martinez fitting (at least, at the rate of pay he’d prefer). A few other teams are rumored to be looking at the market’s best hitter, though it’s not really evident which are serious participants.

 

At the very least, the report suggests that, while Martinez might be willing to sign on as a DH, he’d require a sweetener to do so — at this stage of the proceedings, at least. (Indeed, Martinez has indicated he’d sign as a DH/outfielder for Boston, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets.) Boras has never been afraid to wait out the market for his clients, with notable power hitters such as Prince Fielder and Chris Davis scoring huge contracts in late January.

 

No doubt the Red Sox are interested in landing Martinez — Silverman calls him the organization’s “first choice” — but at a palatable price. The team could line up a trade of Jackie Bradley Jr. to make way for Martinez in the outfield while perhaps also making a move for Eric Hosmer or another option at first base, though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski threw cold water on the idea of a Bradley trade. If Boston’s preference is to utilize Martinez as a DH while holding onto Bradley, it seems the sides will wait to see who blinks first.

 

And there it is.

[Kimmi]

i think the league will still suspend him a while.we are starting the season with aaa pitchers for a couple of months

 

We need to sign another starter, #2/3 type.

 

That would actually be my preference over signing JD.

[Bellhorn04]

And there it is.

 

Worth noting that this piece was written on Dec. 15.

[jacksonianmarch]

You’ve got 4 guys who got the 1-3 level in the rotation and all will cost money. Lynn and Cobb would be awful fits. Arrieta and Darvish will be awful expensive

[cp176]

Worth noting that this piece was written on Dec. 15.

 

I read that piece a while back as well. I tend to agree with Kimmi on this one. My guess is that he wants more years than the sox are willing to give. He will see plenty of opportunity to play in the field for boston. Maybe not as often as he would like but he will get his chances for sure. I'm guessing that the money is there and the big issue really isn't whether he gets to play in the field everyday. I bet that it is about the years. he will be here soon.

[moonslav59]

Why would any other team suddenly get more interested in JD, because he says he wants to play OF not DH?

 

Unless he's saying he'll play for less, making demands should lessen the bidders not grow them.

 

[cp176]

Why would any other team suddenly get more interested in JD, because he says he wants to play OF not DH?

 

Unless he's saying he'll play for less, making demands should lessen the bidders not grow them.

 

 

I for one am going to be very surprised if we find out that there is any other club bidding against us.

[notin]

Seems weird that with just one apparent team bidding, the player/agent would make a further demand to try and get more bidders.

 

I'm thinking it will lessen the chances of another team joining the bidding, unless an NL team thinks they might steal JD away from the Sox by offering less money but a FT OF job.

 

That article does make it sound like he prefers playing the field over a DH job.

 

If both Boston and, say, San Francisco come in with equal offers , he could easily go to the Giants instead...

[notin]

I've been assuming that if the Sox sign Martinez, Bradley would get dealt for a pitcher. But if Dombrowski is being truthful when he says Bradley stays, why is he not getting pitching?

[baseball jones]

Why would any other team suddenly get more interested in JD, because he says he wants to play OF not DH?

 

Unless he's saying he'll play for less, making demands should lessen the bidders not grow them.

 

 

absolutely,

and why hasnt hosmer signed his mega deal yet? if its not true how many teams did he just lose as possible land spots?

[mvp 78]

Seems weird that with just one apparent team bidding, the player/agent would make a further demand to try and get more bidders.

 

How is that weird at all? Don’t you always want a second bidder to drive up the price?

[mvp 78]

We need to sign another starter, #2/3 type.

 

That would actually be my preference over signing JD.

 

The answer is always more pitching!

[mvp 78]

Worth noting that this piece was written on Dec. 15.

 

And not much has happened since.

[notin]

Why would any other team suddenly get more interested in JD, because he says he wants to play OF not DH?

 

Unless he's saying he'll play for less, making demands should lessen the bidders not grow them.

 

 

Typically the plan is to be the last option on the table. But it's January 9th and about 130 free agents out of 165ish are still unsigned. Still plenty of options out there for everyone. ..

[mvp 78]

That article does make it sound like he prefers playing the field over a DH job.

 

If both Boston and, say, San Francisco come in with equal offers , he could easily go to the Giants instead...

 

Which is why Boras wants more bidders: options.

[S5Dewey]

It’s not all is forgiven with Wright. It’s business as usual. They rendered him a contract, so this forgoes the need for arbitration. That’s it. His punishment is TBD

 

There was rampant speculation here that the Sox would have nothing to do with Wright in the future because of this incident. When I posted that I was thinking more of the Red Sox when I said "All is forgiven".

[moonslav59]

How is that weird at all? Don’t you always want a second bidder to drive up the price?

 

Of course you do, but he had no or few bidders before he made a further demand. My question is, how does the demand add bidders?

 

What team is out there that needs an OF'er and can afford him, it's not like they suddenly find out JD can play OF and wants to play OF not DH, and say, "Oh, let's now join the bidding!"

 

The only reason a team might join in, is if they find out Boston's offer (or the top offer) is lower than they expected AND within their budget limits.

 

I doubt the OF demand or preference matters at all to anyone except Boston. The risk is they lose their top bidder or only bidder (Boston).

[moonslav59]

Which is why Boras wants more bidders: options.

 

Again, how does adding a further demand increase bidders?

 

What am I missing?

[harmony]

Of course you do, but he had no or few bidders before he made a further demand. My question is, how does the demand add bidders?

 

What team is out there that needs an OF'er and can afford him, it's not like they suddenly find out JD can play OF and wants to play OF not DH, and say, "Oh, let's now join the bidding!"

 

The only reason a team might join in, is if they find out Boston's offer (or the top offer) is lower than they expected AND within their budget limits.

 

I doubt the OF demand or preference matters at all to anyone except Boston. The risk is they lose their top bidder or only bidder (Boston).

What if Scott Boras is waiting for Red Sox to top another team's current top bid for J.D. Martinez?

[mvp 78]

Again, how does adding a further demand increase bidders?

 

What am I missing?

 

You’re seeing it as a “demand” Boras is framing it as “hey he likes to play the OF so he’s not JUST a DH.”

[mvp 78]

To me, it’s just Boras posturing. Not a big deal.