A Realistic View at 2018: Part I

[dgalehouse]

"Hot stove" season and the buildup to the trade deadline are both very fun times of year to me, particularly when the Sox are expected to be active. (Which, with Dombrowski at the helm, figures to be just about always.) Of course, that comes with a lot of BS as well, but you just have to take it in stride and enjoy the craziness.

 

" Take it in stride and enjoy the craziness " . Not a bad philosophy for life in general.

[Jack Flap]

" Take it in stride and enjoy the craziness " . Not a bad philosophy for life in general.

 

Indeed!

[moonslav59]

Winters used to be pretty depressing as we used to watch the Yanks sign multiple big named players.

 

Even as late as 2013-2014 the Yanks signed 3 out of the 14 QO free agents, including one of their own in Kurda, The others were Ellsbury, Beltran & McCann.

[moonslav59]

There are 3 slots open on the 40 man roster before any signings. Here are the rule 5 players:

Victor Acosta

Yoan Aybar

Trey Ball

Jeremy Barfield

Jalen Beeks

Danny Bethea

Jordan Betts

Ty Buttrey

Rusney Castillo

Harrison Cooney

Jake Cosart

Enmanuel De Jesus

Jhonathan Diaz

Willis Figueroa

Pat Goetze

Daniel Gonzalez

Justin Haley

Juan Hernandez

Bryan Hudson

Dedgar Jimenez

Raiwinson Lameda

Deiner Lopez

Isaias Lucena

Danny Mars

Kyle Martin

Algenis Martinez

Kevin McAvoy

Daniel McGrath

Ritzi Mendoza

Mike Meyers

Mike Miller

Samuel Miranda

Joseph Monge

Jhon Nunez

Justin Pacchioli

Yankory Pimentel

Jordan Procyshen

Hildemaro Requena

Jeremy Rivera

Fernando Rodriguez

Jake Romanski

Jose Sermo

Chandler Shepherd

Josh Smith

Teddy Stankiewicz

Cole Sturgeon

Aneury Tavarez

Carlos Tovar

Marcus Walden

Jordan Weems

Jantzen Witte

 

I'd add Beeks, Haley & Mars or Tavarez

[moonslav59]

Not surprisingly, all 9 QO free agents rejected the offer.

[mvp 78]

There are 3 slots open on the 40 man roster before any signings. Here are the rule 5 players:

Victor Acosta

Yoan Aybar

Trey Ball

Jeremy Barfield

Jalen Beeks

Danny Bethea

Jordan Betts

Ty Buttrey

Rusney Castillo

Harrison Cooney

Jake Cosart

Enmanuel De Jesus

Jhonathan Diaz

Willis Figueroa

Pat Goetze

Daniel Gonzalez

Justin Haley

Juan Hernandez

Bryan Hudson

Dedgar Jimenez

Raiwinson Lameda

Deiner Lopez

Isaias Lucena

Danny Mars

Kyle Martin

Algenis Martinez

Kevin McAvoy

Daniel McGrath

Ritzi Mendoza

Mike Meyers

Mike Miller

Samuel Miranda

Joseph Monge

Jhon Nunez

Justin Pacchioli

Yankory Pimentel

Jordan Procyshen

Hildemaro Requena

Jeremy Rivera

Fernando Rodriguez

Jake Romanski

Jose Sermo

Chandler Shepherd

Josh Smith

Teddy Stankiewicz

Cole Sturgeon

Aneury Tavarez

Carlos Tovar

Marcus Walden

Jordan Weems

Jantzen Witte

 

I'd add Beeks, Haley & Mars or Tavarez

 

They had no problem letting Tavarez go last year. Same will probably happen this year too.

 

I

[moonslav59]

They had no problem letting Tavarez go last year. Same will probably happen this year too.

 

I

 

Haley got selected last year but was returned.

[moonslav59]

The Yankees canned Girardi but kept their pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

 

It can and does happen.

[moonslav59]

They had no problem letting Tavarez go last year. Same will probably happen this year too.

 

 

I only mentioned Mars and Tavarez due to the lack of OF depth on the 40 man roster. We did add Brentz, but I'm not sure he's been signed yet.

[mvp 78]

I only mentioned Mars and Tavarez due to the lack of OF depth on the 40 man roster. We did add Brentz, but I'm not sure he's been signed yet.

 

I think Mars and Beeks should be kept around. The third slot could probably go to whoever (Haley/Martin/Cosart).

[moonslav59]

I think Mars and Beeks should be kept around. The third slot could probably go to whoever (Haley/Martin/Cosart).

 

All of them look better than Owens, so if we sign someone, I think Owens goes.

 

If we sign two, maybe Brentz signs to play in Japan. We might also try to trade out-of-options players like Hembree, Swihart, Marrero or Brentz.

[mvp 78]

All of them look better than Owens, so if we sign someone, I think Owens goes.

 

If we sign two, maybe Brentz signs to play in Japan. We might also try to trade out-of-options players like Hembree, Swihart, Marrero or Brentz.

 

I think they were looking at Owens to see if he'd throw well in the fall/winter. He's been s*****. They should cut bait. Even if he could locate (which he can't) he's probably no better than a 4th starter.

[Bellhorn04]

@PeteAbe 27 minutes ago

 

Dombrowski mentioned Bryce Brentz as a prominent candidate for 4th OF. Castillo's contract (which would trigger a cap hit) appears to exclude him.

[Spudboy]

@PeteAbe 27 minutes ago

 

Dombrowski mentioned Bryce Brentz as a prominent candidate for 4th OF. Castillo's contract (which would trigger a cap hit) appears to exclude him.

 

I like this idea for several reasons mostly doing with fairness and money spent bang for the buck.

 

Castillo is f***ed unless some team comes along and wants hims so badly that they will eat all of his contract. Too bad. It did not work out. He was given plenty of chances.

 

The irony is not that he has little chance to get to MLB he appears to be as ready as ever for the challenge.

[moonslav59]

Wonder why they chose Raja Davis over Brentz last summer. Brentz was el fuego!

[mvp 78]

@PeteAbe 27 minutes ago

 

Dombrowski mentioned Bryce Brentz as a prominent candidate for 4th OF. Castillo's contract (which would trigger a cap hit) appears to exclude him.

 

Why didn't they use him when rosters expanded in September?!?!?!?!?

 

I'll never understand that.

[Bellhorn04]

Why didn't they use him when rosters expanded in September?!?!?!?!?

 

I'll never understand that.

 

Beats me. I read something about them wanting to keep Chris Young around because he was such a great clubhouse presence.

 

Anyway it'd be pretty cool if Brentz gets a good shot in 2018.

[moonslav59]

Beats me. I read something about them wanting to keep Chris Young around because he was such a great clubhouse presence.

 

Anyway it'd be pretty cool if Brentz gets a good shot in 2018.

 

Is the clubhouse too small for Young and Brentz?

[Bellhorn04]

Is the clubhouse too small for Young and Brentz?

 

It's one of those things you'll never have a satisfactory answer for. They had their reasons, bad or good.

 

I'm just happy he's going to get a shot in 2018.

[moonslav59]

It's one of those things you'll never have a satisfactory answer for. They had their reasons, bad or good.

 

I'm just happy he's going to get a shot in 2018.

 

He seemingly deserves another crack at it.

 

I'm happy for him, but I guess i"m feeling ambivalent about him right now.

[notin]

Why didn't they use him when rosters expanded in September?!?!?!?!?

 

I'll never understand that.

 

Probably because it took him 5 years to figure out AAA pitching so they figured one month wasn't enough time to figure out MLB pitching...

[moonslav59]

Probably because it took him 5 years to figure out AAA pitching so they figured one month wasn't enough time to figure out MLB pitching...

 

I'm not expecting Brentz to contribute much, but I do see a sliver of hope.

[moonslav59]

Stanton actually has not ruled out the Red Sox — or, it seems, any other organizations — according to a report from Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston. While the slugger may have initial preferences, Drellich writes that he’s maintaining a “’completely’ open mind.” It’s ultimately not too surprising to hear some competing information flying about Stanton’s approach, for the reasons Goold explores in the below-linked piece. But if the slugger is indeed willing to entertain any possibilities, then that will presumably make for a more wide-open process — and keep things interesting right up to the point that Stanton weighs an actual opportunity t change teams, should it arise.

[moonslav59]

More...

 

Some of the same teams to have looked into other free agent first basemen — the Red Sox, Angels, and Mariners — have each contacted Lucas Duda as well, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). While he is arguably best served as a platoon option, it’s worth noting that Duda has generally been quite a productive offensive player and could represent a more affordable target than some other sluggers. The 31-year-old could turn into an excellent value if he’s able to approach the kind of output he sustained from 2014-15 and also demonstrated in the first half of the 2017 campaign.

[Larry Cook]

I still think trading with Atlanta for Adams makes sense.

 

He would not cost much of a prospect and he can mash when he is right.

[moonslav59]

I still think trading with Atlanta for Adams makes sense.

 

He would not cost much of a prospect and he can mash when he is right.

 

49 HRs in his last 700 PAs is very nice, but he bats left-handed and will not be cheap despite the one year of team control.

 

[Spudboy]

Wonder why they chose Raja Davis over Brentz last summer. Brentz was el fuego!

 

I'm hoping that he has a good spring and that he puts some balls in the seats early.

 

It would be great to see this guy contribute ( especially cheaply ) as opposed to paying FA prices for another platoon hitting 4th OFer.

[mvp 78]

I'm not expecting Brentz to contribute much, but I do see a sliver of hope.

 

But he'll be ready to be the 4th OF in April?

[moonslav59]

But he'll be ready to be the 4th OF in April?

 

Why wouldn't he?

[mvp 78]

Why wouldn't he?

 

Why wasn't he ready on Sept. 1 though?