A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[mvp 78]

Elias is just about to blossom.

 

C'mon guys, it's the offseason, dream a little.

 

That sounds like a terrible dream. Dream big!

[moonslav59]

My list of top Sox DFA candidates:

 

1. Owens

2. Jerez

3. Elias

4. Holt ($2M arb projectred) or Marrero (out of options)

5. Taylor/Buttrey/Shepherd

(Trade Swihart, Hembree or Lin?)

 

[Jack Flap]

Elias is just about to blossom.

 

C'mon guys, it's the offseason, dream a little.

 

Jokes aside, turning Elias and/or Johnson into a serviceable LH reliever (as Dave recently hinted at) would be pretty huge. We went through most of last year with Robby Scott and Fernando Abad on the roster, so it's not like there isn't room for improvement.

[mvp 78]

Jokes aside, turning Elias and/or Johnson into a serviceable LH reliever (as Dave recently hinted at) would be pretty huge. We went through most of last year with Robby Scott and Fernando Abad on the roster, so it's not like there isn't room for improvement.

 

Abad and Scott have great splits against LHB tho. Elias isn't that good at getting lefties out.

[Spudboy]

You could convince me to keep Owens instead of Elias.

 

Was Elias the guy the Sox got in the trade with Seattle? That guy supposedly had big upside.

 

Maybe I am confused.

[moonslav59]

Was Elias the guy the Sox got in the trade with Seattle? That guy supposedly had big upside.

 

Maybe I am confused.

 

Yes, Smith and Elias for Miley.

 

Elias had some success in Seattle (ML club) before the trade.

[harmony]

Yes, Smith and Elias for Miley.

 

Elias had some success in Seattle (ML club) before the trade.

To be precise, Seattle traded Carson Smith and Roenis Elias for Wade Miley and Jonathan Aro.

 

Miley posted 0.6 fWAR and 0.5 bWAR in 19 starts for the Mariners before being traded for left-hander Ariel Miranda, who has posted 0.1 fWAR and 1.9 bWAR in 43 appearances, including 39 starts, for Seattle. Miranda remains under team control for five more seasons.

 

The Boston/Seattle trade may ultimately work out for both clubs but I suspect the Mariners are happy so far.

[Kimmi]

I think people sometimes confuse fantasy baseball with the reality of baseball as a sport/business. A " bang for your buck " may sound good , but when payrolls vary greatly , it is not enough. You want to build a championship caliber team. You don't shop in the bargain aisle.

 

I disagree. That doesn't mean that you only shop for 'bargains', but GMs, even those of big market clubs, better be keeping these types of players and deals in mind. IMO, making deals that will bring you the most WAR per dollar often makes a lot of sense.

[Bellhorn04]

Even a team with a $200 million payroll can't have a pile of guys making $20 million. The math just don't work.

[dgalehouse]

Really? So you don't think the Sox got a baegain in Fister last year?

 

Teams shop in the bargain aisle for multiple reasons. One is they lack the budget. But even high payroll teams look for depth and cheap players to offset the costs of the David Price's of the world.

 

I think fans think free agency revolves solely around big name players. And he reality is, that is exactly where the bargains are not. Who was a better deal for the Sox last year? Bargain aisle Doug Fister? Or payroll-mega hog Pablo Sandoval?

 

Exactly. The bargain aisle is mainly for teams that lack the budget. While you may find the occasional good deal , you will mostly get junk. ( You can get junk in the high priced aisle too if you are not careful ) I realize that you are an astute bargain aisle shopper , but it should be used only for temporary fixes , not to build a championship team. And definitely do not buy anything that says " As Seen On TV " .

[dgalehouse]

Even a team with a $200 million payroll can't have a pile of guys making $20 million. The math just don't work.

 

No , you have young players too. Making much less. The occasional bargain aisle fill in is fine. Just don't try to build a winner like that.

[moonslav59]

Most good teams, even high paying teams, sign a few low cost players they hope will be bargains.

 

They try not to rely on one to fill a key role, but sometimes it ends up working out that way.

[Slasher9]

Pitchers have since made adjustments to Blake Swihart. The prognosis is not good (although I hope Swihart proves me wrong).

 

pitchers always make adjustments. and hitters always make counter adjustments. why in this instance are you declaring "the prognosis is not good"?

perhaps if he was wearing a Mariners uniform there would be no such declaration?

[moonslav59]

pitchers always make adjustments. and hitters always make counter adjustments. why in this instance are you declaring "the prognosis is not good"?

perhaps if he was wearing a Mariners uniform there would be no such declaration?

 

Plus, we're not even sure his poor recent performance is related to pitcher adjustments or injury.

 

The last time he was 100% healthy, he was hitting pretty well.

[mvp 78]

Good point. I was under the mistaken impression that this forum started up only after the Boston.com forum closed down.

 

Anger rising...

[illinoisredsox]

Good point. I was under the mistaken impression that this forum started up only after the Boston.com forum closed down.

 

No, it's been around since at least 2004.

 

Now, there are a few "veterans" here who would just as soon see all the BDC expatriates go away, but that's a different story.

[mvp 78]

No, it's been around since at least 2004.

 

Now, there are a few "veterans" here who would just as soon see all the BDC expatriates go away, but that's a different story.

 

I wouldn't say "a few" and I certainly wouldn't say "all".

[a700hitter]

Elias is just about to blossom.

 

C'mon guys, it's the offseason, dream a little.

Is he on someone's bargain list?

[a700hitter]

I wouldn't say "a few" and I certainly wouldn't say "all".

It is more like "all" and "a few."

[moonslav59]

And vice versa.

[Larry Cook]

Did the Red Sox pull Brentz out of winter ball due to a Minor injury?

[mvp 78]

Did the Red Sox pull Brentz out of winter ball due to a Minor injury?

 

Looks like his last game was Nov 14th when he was added to the 40 man roster.

[moonslav59]

Did the Red Sox pull Brentz out of winter ball due to a Minor injury?

 

Yes. I read on soxprospects.com it was just a minor injury.

 

No guns involved.

[moonslav59]

Zero Options

 

Wright

Vazquez

Hembree

Swihart

Ramirez

Porcello

Marrero

Johnson

Leon

Pomeranz

Brentz

 

[notin]

This dedication to Brentz baffles me. Yes he was great in AAA last year finally . How many years will he take to figure out MLB pitching?

 

If he was at least a defensively gifted outfielder. ..

[moonslav59]

This dedication to Brentz baffles me. Yes he was great in AAA last year finally . How many years will he take to figure out MLB pitching?

 

If he was at least a defensively gifted outfielder. ..

 

It's easy to find a 4th OF'er mid season, so I don't think this is some sort of major commitment.

[harmony]

Zero Options

 

Wright

Vazquez

Hembree

Swihart

Ramirez

Porcello

Marrero

Johnson

Leon

Pomeranz

Brentz

 

In a confusing sixth paragraph, a Seattle blogger seems to propose a trade of left-hander Brian Johnson for lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski and six years of first baseman Dan Vogelbach:

 

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2017/11/25/16698428/incredible-sulks-offseason-plan

 

The 32-year-old Rzepczynski is owned $5.5 million next season in the final year of his contract.

 

I dislike the proposal for both teams. The Red Sox probably don't want a 1-for-2 trade to add to their 40-man roster. The Mariners probably don't want to give up much of value for Johnson, who is out of options.

[notin]

It's easy to find a 4th OF'er mid season, so I don't think this is some sort of major commitment.

 

It's always easy to find one. Which is why I'm so confused that they appear to be settling on Brentz...

[moonslav59]

In a confusing sixth paragraph, a Seattle blogger seems to propose a trade of left-hander Brian Johnson for lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski and six years of first baseman Dan Vogelbach:

 

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2017/11/25/16698428/incredible-sulks-offseason-plan

 

The 32-year-old Rzepczynski is owned $5.5 million next season in the final year of his contract.

 

I dislike the proposal for both teams. The Red Sox probably don't want a 1-for-2 trade to add to their 40-man roster. The Mariners probably don't want to give up much of value for Johnson, who is out of options.

 

We don't have 40 maan roster issues- just 25 man roster issues with too many marginal (bubble) guys at zero options.

[Spudboy]

This dedication to Brentz baffles me. Yes he was great in AAA last year finally . How many years will he take to figure out MLB pitching?

 

If he was at least a defensively gifted outfielder. ..

 

How many times did you see Brentz play AAA in 2017? 50, 60, 70 games?