2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[cp176]

They said different things...

 

I don't see it that way at all. One a little more positive than they other I guess but essentially the same. Give what we have on hand a shot before going out to sign someone who may or may not be an upgrade. I wonder if sometimes you might see what you want to see in other people's postings?

[oldtimer]

I'd say they are close enough to even with those two old fogies, but to me, it's more about saving luxury tax money.

 

I'm fine with signing Lackey or Dickey to a minor league only deal, but they will want incentives or bonuses that could bring us too close to the major tax limit and disallow any mid season move we might need badly.

 

We can sign two $1M guys now or trade for a $6M guy on July 31st, and both plans cost us $2M. I'll wait it out for the $6M guy and hope an in house guys rises to the occasion.

 

How long are we going to keep never knowing about Johnson and Elias? Guys like Velazquez would never get a chance.

 

Fister was a lightening strike. Most of those type signings never work out.

 

Same as giving guys like Johnson, Elias and Velazquez a final chance. At least we'll know, if we should keep them around any longer.

 

To me it makes sense to try to unload players from our roster that don't project as being useful to the team this year and thereby increasing our luxury tax space. The idea of giving what we have as pitching staff an opportunity to succeed and pick up help later in the year if the team requires it. Sounds like a good plan unless our staff becomes fraught with injuries and the need arises much earlier.

[moonslav59]

To me it makes sense to try to unload players from our roster that don't project as being useful to the team this year and thereby increasing our luxury tax space. The idea of giving what we have as pitching staff an opportunity to succeed and pick up help later in the year if the team requires it. Sounds like a good plan unless our staff becomes fraught with injuries and the need arises much earlier.

 

Yes, of course. If we need a starter in late May, then we may have to look then.

 

We may need two of the four right away (My guess is the out-of-options Johnson plus Velazquez. If one fails, or someone else gets hurt, we can try Elias or Beeks. It will take 2-3 starts to see, if they can work out, so that's two weeks each.

 

I get the argument that trying these 4 guys first and watching them all fail, could put us in a bind for the playoffs or home field advantage, but I'm not convinced Lackey or Dickey are significant enough upgrades to pay more for and cut into our spending budget for the summer.

[notin]

No, but we have Elias and Beeks as well. Can you guarantee Lackey or Dickey are not toast?

 

I'm not against signing 5 guys like Dickey or Lackey to minor league deals, but I want to keep the $4M for a "real pitcher" in July, if needed.

 

No. But I can guarantee there will be more healthy arms from the set of Lackey, Dickey (or whoever), Beeks, Elias, and Velasquez than from the set of Beeks, Elias and Velasquez alone. ...

[Emp9]

So we got

 

1Sale

2Price

3Porcello

4Pomeranz (forearm strain)

5And whoever really

 

Last time I checked (which was yesterday), Pom’s injury wasn’t that serious and there’s a strong likelihood he still starts the season.

 

Later in the season we should get Erod & Wright back (guessing about 3 months from now). Then we have 4 other minor league SPs to fill in any rotational gaps along the way.

 

What’s everyone freakng out about? Our 5th Starter? Am I missing something?

[Bellhorn04]

So we got

 

1Sale

2Price

3Porcello

4Pomeranz (forearm strain)

5And whoever really

 

Last time I checked (which was yesterday), Pom’s injury wasn’t that serious and there’s a strong likelihood he still starts the season.

 

Later in the season we should get Erod & Wright back (guessing about 3 months from now). Then we have 4 other minor league SPs to fill in any rotational gaps along the way.

 

What’s everyone freakng out about? Our 5th Starter? Am I missing something?

 

a) I don't think it's a case of freaking out...just typical pre-season chatter.

I think it might be a tad optimistic to say there's a strong likelihood Pomeranz starts the season, which is only 3 weeks away. But we'll see.

c) What's the harm in signing a guy to a minor league deal for further insurance? A lot of teams have signed pitchers to minor league deals already.

[Jack Flap]

a) I don't think it's a case of freaking out...just typical pre-season chatter.

I think it might be a tad optimistic to say there's a strong likelihood Pomeranz starts the season, which is only 3 weeks away. But we'll see.

c) What's the harm in signing a guy to a minor league deal for further insurance? A lot of teams have signed pitchers to minor league deals already.

 

I agree. There's no cause for "freaking out" at this point, and we may very well have enough depth to get through the season (though the back of our rotation looks rather suspect to me until proven otherwise, particularly with the Pomeranz news), but it never hurts to have more. How often have we gone into the season thinking we had plenty of pitching, only to find ourselves giving starts to a Sean O'Sullivan or Kyle Kendrick a month or two in?

[Nick]

Why would Lackey want to return to Boston? He hated here.

[Bellhorn04]

Why would Lackey want to return to Boston? He hated here.

 

I don't think Lackey is coming here. Buchholz or Dickey would be my guess if DD signs any of them.

[Emp9]

I think it might be a tad optimistic to say there's a strong likelihood Pomeranz starts the season, which is only 3 weeks away. But we'll see.

 

Guess I’m just going by what’s been actually reported. If what’s been reported is deemed optimistic, a mild forearm strain that should set Pom back a week, I’ve no basis to say otherwise or any reason to argue the contrary.

[Bellhorn04]

Guess I’m just going by what’s been actually reported. If what’s been reported is deemed optimistic, a mild forearm strain that should set Pom back a week, I’ve no basis to say otherwise or any reason to argue the contrary.

 

What I'm reading is that it's possible he'll be ready for the start but they don't really know yet, there's no timetable etc.

 

He hasn't started throwing again yet. I'm sure they'll take it slow and careful.

[cp176]

Guess I’m just going by what’s been actually reported. If what’s been reported is deemed optimistic, a mild forearm strain that should set Pom back a week, I’ve no basis to say otherwise or any reason to argue the contrary.

 

I think that that is the way to go as well. What good does it do to try to read something in to a stoy that isn't there with respect to any injury. If he is really injured we'll know soon enough.

[Natick to NC]

Why would Lackey want to return to Boston? He hated here.

 

One last shot at a ring ?

[Kimmi]

I will blame him of this team is hit by a rash of pitching injuries and the Sox miss the playoffs because key games down the stretch were started by some AAAA pitcher who didn't belong in the majors. ..

 

I agree, and said something similar in another post.

 

I won't blame him if the starting pitching is healthy but underperforms, but I will blame him if we lack the starting pitching depth that we need to get through the season.

[Kimmi]

for

 

Some guys will want incentives. Some will want out dates. And for some players, that is a reason not to sign them. But some won't. Our some incentives are worth putting in the contract.

 

It's not about taking chances away from the players you mentioned (by the way, Velasquez was once signed to the exact type of minor league deal I am pushing for here.)

 

It's alt having more depth and more options. Can you guarantee Johnson or Velasquez will be healthy when we need them?

 

Once again, I agree. Get as much depth as you possibly can. Johnson, Elias, and Velazquez will get their chances. What's the harm in having a couple of veteran guys around, just in case?

[Kimmi]

So we got

 

1Sale

2Price

3Porcello

4Pomeranz (forearm strain)

5And whoever really

 

Last time I checked (which was yesterday), Pom’s injury wasn’t that serious and there’s a strong likelihood he still starts the season.

 

Later in the season we should get Erod & Wright back (guessing about 3 months from now). Then we have 4 other minor league SPs to fill in any rotational gaps along the way.

 

What’s everyone freakng out about? Our 5th Starter? Am I missing something?

 

No one's freaking out. We do have some legitimate health concerns with our rotation. They may end up being fine. They just as easily might end up not being fine. I just think that having as much depth and flexibility as possible makes good sense.

[FredLynn]

I agree, and said something similar in another post.

 

I won't blame him if the starting pitching is healthy but underperforms, but I will blame him if we lack the starting pitching depth that we need to get through the season.

 

We already lack the starting pitching depth to get through the season, as things stand right now.

[Larry Cook]

When does price pitch next? He holds the keys to our season in his damaged elbow.

[moonslav59]

We already lack the starting pitching depth to get through the season, as things stand right now.

 

We don't really know this.

 

We have ERod and Wright returning at some point- maybe earlier than we think.

 

If Pom stays healthy, we could be okay with just needing one 6th starter until one of those two return.

 

I'd like to add some inexpensive depth, but I'm not sure what's left.

 

Johnson has been on the 40 man roster since 2015. He's dealt with health issues here and there, but he's 27 now and has plkayed 3 years of college ball and 8 years of professional ball. It's finally time, once and for all, to find out what this guy can do. If he fails, we can finally clear his dead weight roster spot. If he does well, we'll have save money for a summer pick-up.

 

Velazquez is 29. He's played in professional ball since 2010 and been under a 3.00 ERA for the last 3 years in a row. I'd like to see what he's got. He looked good in a tiny sample size last year, so let him show what he's got.

 

Keep a short leash on both of these guys, and if the suck, trade for a guy and use the $4M remaining on a pro-rated deal.

 

Also, Elias looked good in Seatlle for a year or two. He's been on the 40 man since 2015. He also has dealt with injuries, but has looked good so far this Spring and had a nice winter league session. I'm not going to say, "He deserves a shot," but I wouldn't be very surprised, if he does well when called upon.

 

Beeks, Haley and Shepherd are a long shots.

[mvp 78]

When does price pitch next? He holds the keys to our season in his damaged elbow.

 

I don't know what you're talking about. He has an elbow that magically repairs itself.

[a700hitter]

I don't know what you're talking about. He has an elbow that magically repairs itself.

Once a guy has an elbow problem like Price, they are on TJ watch forever after. The same is true of Tanaka. Hopefully, Price will be as fortunate as Tanaka and be able to perform at a high level and avoid surgery.

[mvp 78]

Someday, Astro is going to pull a little too hard on his dog leash and Price's elbow will be done forever. RIP.

[FredLynn]

We don't really know this.

 

We have ERod and Wright returning at some point- maybe earlier than we think.

 

If Pom stays healthy, we could be okay with just needing one 6th starter until one of those two return.

 

I'd like to add some inexpensive depth, but I'm not sure what's left.

 

Johnson has been on the 40 man roster since 2015. He's dealt with health issues here and there, but he's 27 now and has plkayed 3 years of college ball and 8 years of professional ball. It's finally time, once and for all, to find out what this guy can do. If he fails, we can finally clear his dead weight roster spot. If he does well, we'll have save money for a summer pick-up.

 

Velazquez is 29. He's played in professional ball since 2010 and been under a 3.00 ERA for the last 3 years in a row. I'd like to see what he's got. He looked good in a tiny sample size last year, so let him show what he's got.

 

Keep a short leash on both of these guys, and if the suck, trade for a guy and use the $4M remaining on a pro-rated deal.

 

Also, Elias looked good in Seatlle for a year or two. He's been on the 40 man since 2015. He also has dealt with injuries, but has looked good so far this Spring and had a nice winter league session. I'm not going to say, "He deserves a shot," but I wouldn't be very surprised, if he does well when called upon.

 

Beeks, Haley and Shepherd are a long shots.

 

I think I would hold my nose and take a flyer on Buchholz-minor league contract only. There are too many question marks healthwise for this rotation.

[a700hitter]

Someday, Astro is going to pull a little too hard on his dog leash and Price's elbow will be done forever. RIP.

Nah, he walks Astro righthanded.

[a700hitter]

Why would Lackey want to return to Boston? He hated here.

But I understand that he loved the chicken and beer.

[mvp 78]

But I understand that he loved the chicken and beer.

 

Is the Popeye's near Landsdowne still open?

[notin]

I think I would hold my nose and take a flyer on Buchholz-minor league contract only. There are too many question marks healthwise for this rotation.

 

Supposedly Buchholz is still having health issues. Someone posted he was not able to pass a physical, which would not be surprising and explain why he has not received a minor league deal from anyone yet...

[Larry Cook]

if we brought in any starter at this point in trainers my camp, I think it is very unlikely they could be ready for opening day. We are basically launching with a half dozen pitchers on the shelf.

 

Time for the AAAA pitchers to step up!

[mvp 78]

Johnson or Velazquez would be fine for a few weeks.

[notin]

Johnson or Velazquez would be fine for a few weeks.

 

Maybe. Why not have a few more options and simply pick the best one? Not sure why so many people are opposed to minor league deals that carry ZERO risk.

 

If Velasquez and Johnson are good enough, what is the risk in having them compete with a veteran or two on a minor league deal to earn the spot?