2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[Kimmi]

Agree with everything you said except for Devers late game D replacement .....look at my AVi I love this kid but his D is ........sketchy .I would only yank him with a lead obviously but the minute we get it and it's Red Machine time ....id yank him.

 

I think Cora needs to let Devers stay in the game late to help instill some confidence in Devers defensively. At least to start the season. If it turns out the Devers repeatedly costs us some close games due to poor defense, then Cora can make that decision. But IMO, Devers needs to be given the chance to show what he can do.

[Kimmi]

Maybe my head in the sand but you head is definitely up Holt's ass.

 

Change in his body will make him better defender? He sucks at every position. If we need long term replacement, Holt isn't it. Let see how long it takes Holt to get injured.

 

Holt is not going to be a Gold Glove defender, but he looks healthy and might be able to return to his 2.5 WAR level. He should be able to play his positions without being a liability.

[moonslav59]

Holt is not going to be a Gold Glove defender, but he looks healthy and might be able to return to his 2.5 WAR level. He should be able to play his positions without being a liability.

 

IMO, he's a defensive liability at every position he plays. Some UZR/150 numbers are small sample size that shows he's decent here and there, but I don't feel confidence in his defense anywhere he plays.

 

He may bat better than mosy utility IF'ers, but unless someone gets hurt long term, we won't be needing Holt's bat, since he's not an upgrade, offensively, at any position he playes, even if he hits .750. (Note: he hit .727 his AS season.)

[Larry Cook]

So barring an unforeseen injury, who goes when pedroia returns?

[moonslav59]

So barring an unforeseen injury, who goes when pedroia returns?

 

Barring other injuries, it has to be Holt or Swihart with Leon as an outside possibility.

 

I'd send Holt down as Nunez becomes the Jack of all trades,

Edited March 26, 2018 by moonslav59

[notin]

So barring an unforeseen injury, who goes when pedroia returns?

 

Holt has the only option on the bench...

[moonslav59]

Holt has the only option on the bench...

 

$2.2M for Holt.

 

It makes no sense.

 

The love affair should have ended before the contract was signed.

 

Will the love fest force a trade of Leon or Swihart?

[Natick to NC]

$2.2M for Holt.

 

It makes no sense.

 

The love affair should have ended before the contract was signed.

 

Will the love fest force a trade of Leon or Swihart?

 

Time to shine ....competition will be fair may the best player win .

Edited March 26, 2018 by Natick to NC

[moonslav59]

Time to shine ....

 

Who? Holt?

 

He should never play. If someone gets hurt, someone else will be the better choice to play most of the time.

 

He's not a late inning defensive replacement, perhaps the only thing we might need from our utiltiy infielder, and he's not a better hitter than anyone but Leon, but since Holt can't catch, he won't be playing there.

 

I'd rather have Marrero and have Holt's $2.2M put in the summer spending kitty.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Who? Holt?

 

He should never play. If someone gets hurt, someone else will be the better choice to play most of the time.

 

He's not a late inning defensive replacement, perhaps the only thing we might need from our utiltiy infielder, and he's not a better hitter than anyone but Leon, but since Holt can't catch, he won't be playing there.

 

I'd rather have Marrero and have Holt's $2.2M put in the summer spending kitty.

 

 

Ha, you're right back to beating the anti-Holt drum after saying this the day before-in a weak moment apparently:

 

As much as I have been down on Holt for a couple years, I'm glad he's back to form, and I'm fine with him on our 25 man roster.

[notin]

Barring other injuries, it has to be Holt or Swihart with Leon as an outside possibility.

 

I'd send Holt down as Nunez becomes the Jack of all trades,

 

Maybe Holt 's option and the ability to denote him factored into the decision to keep him. ..

[Bellhorn04]

Let's move the Holt discussion to the 'Realistic View at 2018' thread.

[moonslav59]

Ha, you're right back to beating the anti-Holt drum after saying this the day before-in a weak moment apparently:

 

As much as I have been down on Holt for a couple years, I'm glad he's back to form, and I'm fine with him on our 25 man roster.

 

Being "fine with him on the roster" is not the same as saying it's the choice I'd have made.

 

If he can return to his .727 bat of his AS season, he'll be a decent utility guy with defensive downside, but in all likely hood, our greatest utility need, once Pedey returns, is 3B and 2B defense/coverage- not a .727 hitting IF'er.

[moonslav59]

Maybe Holt 's option and the ability to denote him factored into the decision to keep him. ..

 

I'm sure it did, but starting him in AAA would have shown that value immediately. I think it was more about Marrero being able to be easily replaced, in kind, by any number of cheap available all- glove SSs.

[mvp 78]

I preferred Marrero to Holt, but I don't think it will substantially affect the team. Both guys are replaceable. It's fun to talk about the 25th man on the roster, but those guys don't usually win you a pennant.

[OH FOY]

I think Cora needs to let Devers stay in the game late to help instill some confidence in Devers defensively. At least to start the season. If it turns out the Devers repeatedly costs us some close games due to poor defense, then Cora can make that decision. But IMO, Devers needs to be given the chance to show what he can do.

 

This ^^^^

[moonslav59]

I preferred Marrero to Holt, but I don't think it will substantially affect the team. Both guys are replaceable. It's fun to talk about the 25th man on the roster, but those guys don't usually win you a pennant.

 

Agrred, but we could have kept both by maximizing the value of Holt's option.

[mvp 78]

Workman optioned to AAA.

[mvp 78]

@bradfo

 

Workman optioned. Looks like Walden and Poyner are the guys. Need one spot on 40 man

[mvp 78]

http://m.mlb.com/player/519393/marcus-walden?year=2018&stats=career-r-pitching-minors

[moonslav59]

Workman optioned to AAA.

 

Hmmmm.

 

They must feel he needs more work.

 

We should see him for an extended time this year.

[Spudboy]

I preferred Marrero to Holt, but I don't think it will substantially affect the team. Both guys are replaceable. It's fun to talk about the 25th man on the roster, but those guys don't usually win you a pennant.

 

Boom.

 

There has to be something to bitch about!

[mvp 78]

Hmmmm.

 

They must feel he needs more work.

 

We should see him for an extended time this year.

 

I wonder if they just liked Poyner and Walden more?

 

I honestly haven't seen either.

[Bellhorn04]

Hmmmm.

 

They must feel he needs more work.

 

We should see him for an extended time this year.

 

Wonder if there's any chance they try to convert him back to a starter.

[moonslav59]

Wonder if there's any chance they try to convert him back to a starter.

 

You'd think they'd have sytarted stretching him out in ST'ing, but I guess they could have that planned, since they never signed any starter depth this winter.

 

I've always liked Workman and was looking forward to a full season from him. Oh well...

[Maxbialystock]

Devers taken out after hard slide into catcher. Injured?

[cp176]

Hmmmm.

 

They must feel he needs more work.

 

We should see him for an extended time this year.

 

I'm the guy who thinks that quite often what these guys do in spring training counts. Walden and Poyner pitched better than Workman. They earned the right to be on the 25 - he did not. Maybe He will figure it out and maybe he won't.

[moonslav59]

I'm the guy who thinks that quite often what these guys do in spring training counts. Walden and Poyner pitched better than Workman. They earned the right to be on the 25 - he did not. Maybe He will figure it out and maybe he won't.

 

I'm not upset Workman did not make the roster.

 

I'm not one to judge players on 9 IP even at the big league level, let alone ST'ing, but I trust Sox management to know what's best.

 

I'm glad Walden and Poyner will get a look. It's nice to know we have more pen depth than I expected us to have.

 

As much as I like Workman, I wouldn't mind seeing other Sox pitchers staying healthy and doing so well, he never gets another chance.

 

[Natick to NC]

@bradfo

 

Workman optioned. Looks like Walden and Poyner are the guys. Need one spot on 40 man

 

Fantastic news !!!!!!!! POYNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moonslav59]

For those who thought we made a mistake getting rid of Brentz, the Sox were not alone in thinking he's not ML caliber...

 

The Mets have claimed outfielder Bryce Brentz off waivers from the Pirates, Adam Berry of MLB.com was among those to report.