2017/18 Hot Stove Thread

[Spudboy]

I wonder how many times he needs to get released before he land in Pawtucket again?

[harmony]

The Red Sox reportedly have picked up outfielder Ramon Flores from the Arizona Diamondbacks:

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2018/3/26/17165750/red-sox-diamondbacks-trade-ramon-flores-outfield-depth

 

 

Flores, who turned 26 years old today, is a former Yankees international signee who, according to Roster Resource, has no options remaining:

 

https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-boston-red-sox/

 

Although Flores apparently has cleared waivers more than once:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ramon-flores

Edited March 27, 2018 by harmony

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox reportedly have picked up outfielder Ramon Flores from the Arizona Diamondbacks:

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2018/3/26/17165750/red-sox-diamondbacks-trade-ramon-flores-outfield-depth

 

 

Flores, who turned 26 years old today, is a former Yankees international signee who, according to Roster Resource, has no options remaining:

 

https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-boston-red-sox/

 

Although Flores apparently has cleared waivers more than once:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ramon-flores

 

To be stashed in AAA.

[jacksonianmarch]

I liked Flores as he was coming up. He was dealt to SEA because we didn’t have room for him in the OF and he suffered a pretty nasty injury there and hasn’t been the same

[harmony]

I liked Flores as he was coming up. He was dealt to SEA because we didn’t have room for him in the OF and he suffered a pretty nasty injury there and hasn’t been the same

After his trade with Jose Ramirez to Seattle for Dustin Ackley at the 2015 deadline, Ramon Flores posted a .423/.524/.654/1.178 line in 63 plate appearances at Triple A Tacoma before his career-threatening knee injury:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=flores002ram

 

That November the Mariners traded Flores to Milwaukee for shortstop Luis Sardinas.

[OH FOY]

He makes it to Boston, were in trouble.

[moonslav59]

He makes it to Boston, were in trouble.

 

Yes!

 

Here's the OF depth chart:

 

Beni-JBJ-Betts

 

JDM

Nunez

Swihart

Moreland

Holt

Lin/Flores

[OH FOY]

Barfield will be called up before Flores, even might be up, before Lin, who's such a weak hitter.

[OH FOY]

Wow 3 pitches, and out for JBJ, what's he hitting .140 for Spring.

[moonslav59]

Wow 3 pitches, and out for JBJ, what's he hitting .140 for Spring.

 

He's getting it out of his system while it doesn't count.

[mvp 78]

Wow 3 pitches, and out for JBJ, what's he hitting .140 for Spring.

 

Just wait until he signs his $20M AAV deal!

[cp176]

Wow 3 pitches, and out for JBJ, what's he hitting .140 for Spring.

 

spring training doesn't count. haven't you heard? LOL

[S5Dewey]

spring training doesn't count. haven't you heard? LOL

 

Spring Training only "doesn't count" when we want to say it doesn't count. Walden & Poiner are two pitchers who've made the 25 man roster largely on the basis of their ST performance.

 

Blake Swihart is there - or possibly even still with the Red Sox based on what he's done in ST. I would posit that had Devin Marrero had Holts offense and vice versa during ST Marrero would still be with the team and Swihart (out of options) would be with another organization.

[Bellhorn04]

Spring Training only "doesn't count" when we want to say it doesn't count. Walden & Poiner are two pitchers who've made the 25 man roster largely on the basis of their ST performance.

 

Blake Swihart is there - or possibly even still with the Red Sox based on what he's done in ST. I would posit that had Devin Marrero had Holts offense and vice versa during ST Marrero would still be with the team and Swihart (out of options) would be with another organization.

 

One might argue that it only counts for guys who are actually battling to make the team.

[cp176]

Spring Training only "doesn't count" when we want to say it doesn't count. Walden & Poiner are two pitchers who've made the 25 man roster largely on the basis of their ST performance.

 

Blake Swihart is there - or possibly even still with the Red Sox based on what he's done in ST. I would posit that had Devin Marrero had Holts offense and vice versa during ST Marrero would still be with the team and Swihart (out of options) would be with another organization.

 

I agree with you all the way.

[S5Dewey]

One might argue that it only counts for guys who are actually battling to make the team.

 

And I wouldn't dispute that. There were probably 20 players who had their spots sewn up on the first day if ST. Then there were maybe 10 more fighting for the last five spots.

[cp176]

One might argue that it only counts for guys who are actually battling to make the team.

 

 

I don't know. It is a good point though. I would also add though that in the case of a player that you expect to not only be on the team and also to make a major contribution, if they have a miserable spring and people don't think that management might be a little concerned, they are dreaming.

[moonslav59]

I don't know. It is a good point though. I would also add though that in the case of a player that you expect to not only be on the team and also to make a major contribution, if they have a miserable spring and people don't think that management might be a little concerned, they are dreaming.

 

Except maybe for players who are seasoned vets with a history of slow ST'ing but good seasons.

 

Even someone like JBJ. He slumps often in the regular season. I'm sure that's always been a concern to management. I'm not sure there any more concerned now, after a slow spring.

[moonslav59]

And I wouldn't dispute that. There were probably 20 players who had their spots sewn up on the first day if ST. Then there were maybe 10 more fighting for the last five spots.

 

Yes, this year, even with 7 guys on the DL, we maybe had 20 guys with their jobs pretty much safe:

 

18 Locks:

Sale, Price, Porcello, Kimbrel, Smtih, Kelly, Barnes, Hembree (out of options)

Vaz, HRam, Moreland, Nunez, Bogey, Devers, Beni, JBJ, Betts, JD

 

2 Close to Lock:

Johnson, Leon

 

5 Had to earn their slot:

Swihart, Holt,, Velazquez, Poyner & Walden

 

Had ERod, Pom, Thornburg, Wright and Pedey all been healthy, we might have just had one or two slots open:

 

Leon vs Swihart

 

Wright vs Johnson

 

Holt, Walden and Poyner would be in AAA. Johnso or Wright would be traded or phantom DL'd. Leon or Swihart- the same.

 

 

[cp176]

Except maybe for players who are seasoned vets with a history of slow ST'ing but good seasons.

 

Even someone like JBJ. He slumps often in the regular season. I'm sure that's always been a concern to management. I'm not sure there any more concerned now, after a slow spring.

 

I'm sure that they are genuinely concerned with JBJ right now even though the talk doesn't indicate it. Regardless of how well the man defends if the slumps continue and maybe even deepen it wouldn't surprise me at all if they at least try harder to move him. I love his defense and appreciate what he does for this team but if his offense does not start to at least stabilize and hopefully trend upward he becomes as replaceable as anyone else. I would be able to set my personal feelings for him aside.

[FredLynn]

I'm sure that they are genuinely concerned with JBJ right now even though the talk doesn't indicate it. Regardless of how well the man defends if the slumps continue and maybe even deepen it wouldn't surprise me at all if they at least try harder to move him. I love his defense and appreciate what he does for this team but if his offense does not start to at least stabilize and hopefully trend upward he becomes as replaceable as anyone else. I would be able to set my personal feelings for him aside.

 

Agreed. Gotta be able to hit the baseball. Benintendi would be a more than adequate CF if JBJ was moved.

[cp176]

Agreed. Gotta be able to hit the baseball. Benintendi would be a more than adequate CF if JBJ was moved.

 

Absolutely right.

I have to say though that I love this outfield as is but he has got to hit just a little. His defense looks special to me but not that special I guess. If he was a catcher or a shortstop and was an outstanding fielder I would be fine with whatever he brought to the table but he isn't. He is a centerfielder.

[OH FOY]

The slow spring for JBJ is concerning because of the competition he is facing. Having struggles against the Minor Leaguers. Hancock of the Cubs blew by 3 pitches to him, totally outmatched. Hancock really?

Not trying to bash him just telling it like I see it.

Hasn't made 1 adjustment to his swing since his Farm Days, to cut down the swing, try to go other way. Still tries to pull everything. This is a problem, never was HR hitter. But he thinks he is.

Edited March 28, 2018 by OH FOY!

[cp176]

The slow spring for JBJ is concerning because of the competition he is facing. Having struggles against the Minor Leaguers. Hancock of the Cubs blew by 3 pitches to him, totally outmatched. Hancock really?

Not trying to bash him just telling it like I see it.

 

I think that this is a big year for him. I hope it works out but if not, hey you just move on.

When he was playing in Portland a few years ago, it truly just made me forget about Elsbury. He looked that good.

[notin]

The slow spring for JBJ is concerning because of the competition he is facing. Having struggles against the Minor Leaguers. Hancock of the Cubs blew by 3 pitches to him, totally outmatched. Hancock really?

Not trying to bash him just telling it like I see it.

 

Never worry about a slow spring training for a player under contract. After all, what do these games mean to JBJ? It's not like he is in danger of losing his starting job

 

And especially NEVER worry about a slow spring training for a streaky hitter. ...

[OH FOY]

Usually I don't either, but when a Starting Caliber Major Leaguer is in his prime cant catch up to 94 MPH fastballs 3 times, that's concerning.

[notin]

Agreed. Gotta be able to hit the baseball. Benintendi would be a more than adequate CF if JBJ was moved.

 

 

Really? I'm not exactly dazzled by Benintendi in left field, let alone center. I know he played center in college, but that was then. Plenty of guys don't play their college position in the majors, which was why Tim Wakefield nevet played first and Jon Olerud never pitched. .

[Bellhorn04]

WAR was made for a guy like JBJ.

[Nick]

To think Stanton could have been had for $25M AAV. Not sign Moreland and trade JBJ, savings of $12M.

 

RF Betts

CF Beni

1B Hanley

LF Stanton

DH Martinez

SS Xander

3B Devers

2B Nunez

C Vazquez.

 

One can only dream.....it's just money.

[moonslav59]

Agreed. Gotta be able to hit the baseball. Benintendi would be a more than adequate CF if JBJ was moved.

 

Certainly not defensively, but the down grade in LF defense would be significant from Beni to JD. (1B would improve from HRam to Moreland/Travis)