Martinez vs Hosmer vs Santana

[BstHcpr]

That's not true either. A700 is right wing and will say some vaguely political things from time to time and usually gets a pass.

 

He is triggered as often as the snowflakes from Berkeley.

[a700hitter]

That's not true either. A700 is right wing and will say some vaguely political things from time to time and usually gets a pass.

I am not on any wing. I am normal.

[mvp 78]

I am not on any wing. I am normal.

 

That's what everyone thinks Mr Bunker!

[dgalehouse]

I think the top priority now should be signing Martinez. Being that he is in demand , it will require an " overpay ". ( Hate Boras if you must , but he is the best in the business at what he does .) If you feel that Martinez / Hanley can handle first base / DH , you can then look to upgrade the pitching. Otherwise , Martinez plays left field , and JBJ is dealt in an effort to find a hard hitting first baseman and / or pitching help. ( We all know the list of first base candidates by now ). Signing a free agent first baseman , in addition to Martinez , would be expensive . But it all starts by signing JD Martinez. Get that done before someone beats you to the punch.

[mvp 78]

I think the top priority now should be signing Martinez. Being that he is in demand , it will require an " overpay ". ( Hate Boras if you must , but he is the best in the business at what he does .) If you feel that Martinez / Hanley can handle first base / DH , you can then look to upgrade the pitching. Otherwise , Martinez plays left field , and JBJ is dealt in an effort to find a hard hitting first baseman and / or pitching help. ( We all know the list of first base candidates by now ). Signing a free agent first baseman , in addition to Martinez , would be expensive . But it all starts by signing JD Martinez. Get that done before someone beats you to the punch.

 

Yup.

 

Sign JD to DH. Put Hanley at 1B. JD can play OF from time to time. Can rotate Travis in as needed.

[a700hitter]

That's what everyone thinks Mr Bunker!

No wingnut here, Mr. Lear.

[moonslav59]

Yup.

 

Sign JD to DH. Put Hanley at 1B. JD can play OF from time to time. Can rotate Travis in as needed.

 

IMO, Travis won't make the 25 man roster. Swihart & Marrero are out of options and Brentz will be the 4th OF'er.

 

When Pedey comes back, Hernandez will be squeezing someone. Then, there's 2 million dollar man Holt to deal with.

[mvp 78]

IMO, Travis won't make the 25 man roster. Swihart & Marrero are out of options and Brentz will be the 4th OF'er.

 

When Pedey comes back, Hernandez will be squeezing someone. Then, there's 2 million dollar man Holt to deal with.

 

Probably right, but I'm expecting another injury or roster moves to free up space.

[mvp 78]

No wingnut here, Mr. Lear.

 

Shakespeare is overrated claptrap. I only read the Fangraphs Tribune and Jay Jaffe's new book.

[Emp9]

Yup.

 

Sign JD to DH. Put Hanley at 1B. JD can play OF from time to time. Can rotate Travis in as needed.

 

Thats the plan. Or at least thats my plan anyway. I'd like another SP as well before the winter is over.

[moonslav59]

Probably right, but I'm expecting another injury or roster moves to free up space.

 

Maybe Swihart beats out Leon. That would create another slot. If not, we have 3 slots for 6+ players (Hernandez takes Pedey's slot until he returns, then another squeeze happens):

 

Brentz (hard to think of him as the only lock for the bench)

Swihart (no options)

Marrero (no options)

Holt (~$2M arb)

Lin

Quiroz

Travis

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

Thats the plan. Or at least thats my plan anyway. I'd like another SP as well before the winter is over.

 

Yup, always need to look for SP.

[notin]

Maybe Swihart beats out Leon. That would create another slot. If not, we have 3 slots for 6+ players (Hernandez takes Pedey's slot until he returns, then another squeeze happens):

 

Brentz (hard to think of him as the only lock for the bench)

Swihart (no options)

Marrero (no options)

Holt (~$2M arb)

Lin

Quiroz

Travis

 

 

 

 

The possibility no one is talking about is that Vazquez might be a trade chip.

 

Is there any other reason to hold on to both Leon and Swihart?

[moonslav59]

The possibility no one is talking about is that Vazquez might be a trade chip.

 

Is there any other reason to hold on to both Leon and Swihart?

 

I seriously doubt trading Vaz is being thought of.

 

I think we're keeping Swihart to see if he can win a utility role/3rd catcher slot on the 25 man roster.

 

I'm not sure the Sox brass is ready to hand Swihart the 2nd catcher slot and lose what rapport Leon has built up with Sale & Porcello.

 

I could see us trading or cutting Leon, if Swihart looks good in ST'ing. If that happens, our best case scenario would be for nobody to claim him and he accepts a minor league role with the Sox.

 

 

[Spudboy]

I think most of you guys are underselling Leon and his value to this team.

[OH FOY]

I think most of you guys are underselling Leon and his value to this team.

 

Agree.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I don't think highly of Leon at all. Sale's excellence has nothing to do with Leon IMO. Leon is a fringy MLB player. He will probably be the starting catcher on the Long Island Ducks in a few years.

 

If the Red Sox don't trade Bradley Jr., do they have a spot for JD Martinez? I don't see it. (1) You don't want Hanley in the field--he should be the DH, or at least a part time DH. (2) The Red Sox might need the DH spot for Pedroia in the long run.

 

The Red Sox were pursuing Ozuna--what does that mean? I would think that Bradley is indeed on the trade market. If Bradley wasn't on the trade market, what would they do with Ozuna?

 

The Red Sox need a 1b, keep DH open for Hanley and perhaps Pedroia long term, and they may decide to trade Bradley, move Benintendi to center, and bring in a LF bat (perhaps JD Martinez).

 

I'm assuming the initial reports regarding Bradley being on the trade market were correct.

Edited December 14, 2017 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Bellhorn04]

Sandy Leon is a cheap, perfectly adequate backup catcher. I don't know what some people are expecting in that position.

[moonslav59]

I don't think highly of Leon at all. Sale's excellence has nothing to do with Leon IMO. Leon is a fringy MLB player. He will probably be the starting catcher on the Long Island Ducks in a few years.

 

If the Red Sox don't trade Bradley Jr., do they have a spot for JD Martinez? I don't see it. (1) You don't want Hanley in the field--he should be the DH, or at least a part time DH. (2) The Red Sox might need the DH spot for Pedroia in the long run.

 

The Red Sox were pursuing Ozuna--what does that mean? I would think that Bradley is indeed on the trade market. If Bradley wasn't on the trade market, what would they do with Ozuna?

 

The Red Sox need a 1b, keep DH open for Hanley and perhaps Pedroia long term, and they may decide to trade Bradley, move Benintendi to center, and bring in a LF bat (perhaps JD Martinez).

 

I'm assuming the initial reports regarding Bradley being on the trade market were correct.

 

Word is HRam will be able to play 1B.

 

If he ends up getting hurt, at least we save the vesting option for 2019.

 

Win-win.

[moonslav59]

Sandy Leon is a cheap, perfectly adequate backup catcher. I don't know what some people are expecting in that position.

 

I'm perfectly fine with Leon as our back-up catcher, and I don't see keeping out-of-options marrero on the 25 man roster as reason enough to boot Leon for Swihart (also out of options) to fill his catching slot.

 

Let Swihart and marrero fight it out for a utility role. The loser can go on the phantom DL or be DFA'd. Keeping catcher depth is more important than keeping Marrero. We have Hernandez, Holt, Lin and Quiroz for non 1B infield depth.

[S5Dewey]

I'm perfectly fine with Leon as our back-up catcher, and I don't see keeping out-of-options marrero on the 25 man roster as reason enough to boot Leon for Swihart (also out of options) to fill his catching slot.

 

Let Swihart and marrero fight it out for a utility role. The loser can go on the phantom DL or be DFA'd. Keeping catcher depth is more important than keeping Marrero. We have Hernandez, Holt, Lin and Quiroz for non 1B infield depth.

 

Did I misunderstand this?

 

If Swihart and Marrero are allowed to fight it out for a utility role that fight will be over before the opening bell. Marrero can play any infield position while Swihart hasn't proven he can do anything other than catch.

[Spudboy]

Sandy Leon is a cheap, perfectly adequate backup catcher. I don't know what some people are expecting in that position.

 

Exactly, Bell.

 

That is what I see as well. Every team would be pleased to have our battery. There is no reason to screw-up a strength of this team by making a change.

[Carpin]

Word is HRam will be able to play 1B.

 

If he ends up getting hurt, at least we save the vesting option for 2019.

 

Win-win.

 

What are the conditions for that vesting option?

[moonslav59]

What are the conditions for that vesting option?

 

Something like 495 PAs and passes a physical.

 

He just barely got over 500 PAs this year.

[moonslav59]

Did I misunderstand this?

 

If Swihart and Marrero are allowed to fight it out for a utility role that fight will be over before the opening bell. Marrero can play any infield position while Swihart hasn't proven he can do anything other than catch.

 

But, we have Lin, Holt, Quiroz and then Hernandez once Pedey returns for the utility IF role. We do not have great depth at the catching position. Swihart's abilty to catch and play LF and perhaps 1B or 3B gives him the edge over Marrero, in my opinion. This assumes he looks good in ST'ing.

[S5Dewey]

But, we have Lin, Holt, Quiroz and then Hernandez once Pedey returns for the utility IF role. We do not have great depth at the catching position. Swihart's abilty to catch and play LF and perhaps 1B or 3B gives him the edge over Marrero, in my opinion. This assumes he looks good in ST'ing.

 

I still don't see Swihart as anything but a catcher but you may be right. It'll all depend on whether they try him at other positions in ST and how that pans out. I like Swihart because of his bat and it'd be nice to have a #3 catcher who can play other positions as well as be competent if/when an injury occurs to Vaz or Leon.

[mvp 78]

Sandy Leon is a cheap, perfectly adequate backup catcher. I don't know what some people are expecting in that position.

 

He's a guy you can get pretty easily. Time to see if Swihart can make it or not.

[mvp 78]

Did I misunderstand this?

 

If Swihart and Marrero are allowed to fight it out for a utility role that fight will be over before the opening bell. Marrero can play any infield position while Swihart hasn't proven he can do anything other than catch.

 

The FO has put it out there that he'd be a very useful super utility guy that can also catch.

[S5Dewey]

The FO has put it out there that he'd be a very useful super utility guy that can also catch.

 

So would I, if I had the skills. So far I haven't seen any indication that he can do anything at the ML level other than catch.

[Bellhorn04]

So would I, if I had the skills. So far I haven't seen any indication that he can do anything at the ML level other than catch.

 

He actually had a +8 UZR/150 for left field in 2016, although advanced metrics for Fenway's left field seem to be a little unreliable.