A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[mvp 78]

The mid season move is going to be a starting pitcher. There are bargain basement deals to be had now.

 

This was one alternative option (maybe in hindsight).

 

I'm not even sure I'd be for the idea, but it certainly merits strong consideration.

 

My own personal "what if" concerns signing Moose or Duda instead of Moreland (and Holt). Then, we'd have a lot of money left for summer. My second consideration would be to have signed Morrsion, instead of Moreland & Holt. We'd be about even on the summer spending budget with that one.

 

Or they should just trade Hanley and eat 50% of the contract. Then you'd have enough to keep Holt and sign Duda or Moose retroactively. Just need to build that time machine.

[Bellhorn04]

Or they should just trade Hanley and eat 50% of the contract. Then you'd have enough to keep Holt and sign Duda or Moose retroactively. Just need to build that time machine.

 

But who would want Hanley right now even for 'only' $11 million?

[mvp 78]

But who would want Hanley right now even for 'only' $11 million?

 

He's the #3 hitter on a back to back division winning team. What's not to like?!?!

[moonslav59]

Or they should just trade Hanley and eat 50% of the contract. Then you'd have enough to keep Holt and sign Duda or Moose retroactively. Just need to build that time machine.

 

I'm not trading HRam, so I can keep Holt.

 

I actually think HRam will have a decent season, and since I hated the Moreland signing, I feel we need HRam now more than a few million in payroll relief.

 

Note: we'd maybe save $6-9M not $11M, and that would have been enough to sign Duda, Moose or even Morrison, but why would anyone who passed on Morrison, Duda or Moose and to pay their salary for HRam?

[moonslav59]

He's the #3 hitter on a back to back division winning team. What's not to like?!?!

 

Would you want HRam over Moose or Morrison?

[mvp 78]

Moreland's contract will be the reason we lose this year. Had we only waited and knew what the market was.......And Holt sucks. I'll take anyone over Holt.

 

If the Sox lose because of $6.5M, it's extremely poor roster construction.

[mvp 78]

Would you want HRam over Moose or Morrison?

 

I'd DFA Hanley and just go with Mitch/JD.

[mvp 78]

I'm not trading HRam, so I can keep Holt.

 

I actually think HRam will have a decent season, and since I hated the Moreland signing, I feel we need HRam now more than a few million in payroll relief.

 

Note: we'd maybe save $6-9M not $11M, and that would have been enough to sign Duda, Moose or even Morrison, but why would anyone who passed on Morrison, Duda or Moose and to pay their salary for HRam?

 

Because he's a #3 hitter who is going to "have a decent season".

[moonslav59]

I'd DFA Hanley and just go with Mitch/JD.

 

So why would anyone else pay HRam $11M, when they could have had Morrison for less?

[harmony]

He's the #3 hitter on a back to back division winning team. What's not to like?!?!

The projected 2018 WAR of 0.7, which last year was valued at $5.5 million, and the $22 million vesting option for 2019.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8001&position=SS

[Bellhorn04]

Because he's a #3 hitter who is going to "have a decent season".

 

But we've established that #3 hitter isn't that important.

[moonslav59]

But we've established that #3 hitter isn't that important.

 

Especially ours

[Nick]

If the Sox lose because of $6.5M, it's extremely poor roster construction.

 

That was a dig for Moon who wants to rescind the Moreland deal.

[mvp 78]

IDK. Maybe Hanley is really really great and his option should vest!

[notin]

He's the #3 hitter on a back to back division winning team. What's not to like?!?!

 

It doesn't sound like you like him all that much. Why would anyone else?

[notin]

He's the #3 hitter on a back to back division winning team. What's not to like?!?!

 

It doesn't sound like you like him all that much. Why would anyone else?

[notin]

I'm not trading HRam, so I can keep Holt.

 

I actually think HRam will have a decent season, and since I hated the Moreland signing, I feel we need HRam now more than a few million in payroll relief.

 

Note: we'd maybe save $6-9M not $11M, and that would have been enough to sign Duda, Moose or even Morrison, but why would anyone who passed on Morrison, Duda or Moose and to pay their salary for HRam?

 

To keep draft picks? That was the big deal with Moustakas anyway. ..

[Slasher9]

f*** moreland.

HanRam is going to have a monster year.

book it.

[mvp 78]

I'll take any bet that Mitch has a higher fWAR this season than Hanley.

[cp176]

But we've established that #3 hitter isn't that important.

 

Oh no no no - Maybe you have determined this Bell along with what two others maybe three. I think that there is still a majority here who get what the significant importance of a strong number three guy in that lineup is all about.

[cp176]

f*** moreland.

HanRam is going to have a monster year.

book it.

 

So is Price! Let's go

[Kimmi]

Price and Sale are pretty similar in terms of stuff. If I was Cora, I’d slide in a righty between the two so you don’t have similar looks. Also, if you’re facing the same oppponent, letting their RH complements to get two consecutive starts doesn’t help either. If I was Cora, I’d have Sale-Porcello-Price-Pom-whomever

 

Pom and Price are very different so stacking them isn’t a big deal.

 

Valid point. IMO, Cora is just trying to give Price the honor of being the #2 guy behind Sale. It's likely that Price's and Sale's starts end up getting separated because of all of the early off days or some other reason.

[Kimmi]

IDK. Maybe Hanley is really really great and his option should vest!

 

!!!

[Kimmi]

Oh no no no - Maybe you have determined this Bell along with what two others maybe three. I think that there is still a majority here who get what the significant importance of a strong number three guy in that lineup is all about.

 

The perceived significant importance.

[Hugh2]

If Hanley plays well enough so his option vests, couldn't we trade him next offseason?

[cp176]

The perceived significant importance.

 

We are all a bunch of numbskulls who just don't get it. Maybe someday we will smarten up.

[jacksonianmarch]

If Hanley plays well enough so his option vests, couldn't we trade him next offseason?

 

No, you cannot. Take a look at the really good DH's or 1b's and how they did this run through FA? If Hanley has a Logan Morrison type season (38HR, .869OPS, 3.6WAR), he still wont be worth $22 mil. If he does well, you need to keep the option from vesting then re-sign him for $5 mil on a 1 yr deal for next yr

[moonslav59]

To keep draft picks? That was the big deal with Moustakas anyway. ..

 

We wouldn't lose draft picks. It would just move down from like 24 to 34. It's the international pool money loss that hurts more.

 

How much is all that worth in money, in your opinion.

[moonslav59]

Our best time to trade HRam was the after 2016, and even then we'd have had to pay part of his contract.

[Hugh2]

No, you cannot. Take a look at the really good DH's or 1b's and how they did this run through FA? If Hanley has a Logan Morrison type season (38HR, .869OPS, 3.6WAR), he still wont be worth $22 mil. If he does well, you need to keep the option from vesting then re-sign him for $5 mil on a 1 yr deal for next yr

 

I beg to differ for multiple reasons.

 

1. This year's free agent market seems to have been an anomaly. Teams have been trying to reset, and save their money for next year.

 

2. Morrison has one good year on his record after an entire career of playing at replacement level.

 

3. Morrison was a free agent, I'm talking about trading a player.

 

If Hanley has a really good year, and there are a plethora of teams that have reset and have cash you might find a market for Hanley if there are a few teams who missed out on Machado, Donaldson, Harper, McCutchen + and that's just the hitters. If someone like Matt Harvey has a bounce back year the pitching market is stacked as well when Kershaw opts out.

 

I'm not saying we get a lot for Hanley, but you can easily shed his money next year. There will be a team that missed out and will hope Hanley can replicate his 2018 if it's a good year. They won't be locked down by years or losing draft picks either.

 

 

My point is, I think Hanley's play should dictate his playing time. I wouldn't be worried about that option vesting if he earns it he earns it.