Spring Training 2018 Thread

[moonslav59]

I'm not concerned one way or the other about Hanley's option. It's a non factor for me, as it should be for Cora. I trust Cora to do the right thing.

 

A vesting Hanley option may close the window earlier or with a slam.

[moonslav59]

If everybody slows down for a minute and just thinks about the ramifications of what happens if Hanley comes up 10 or 20 at bats shy of the magic number, it just doesn't look very good for the home team. No one is going to care about 22 million and very few will take the stand that Hanley didn't earn it and that they are all over paid to begin with. It would become a social media nightmare I'm afraid in this day and age. If he is injured or just isn't playing well, that is another matter. I'm predicting that one way or another it won't be close if he doesn't get enough at bats. Most people me included do not want his option to make it but for us to say no way is one thing and the reality I think is something entirely different.

 

If we have a legitimate argument for benching HRam enough to prevent a vest, I'm fine with any ramifications. If it's a close call, it could get messy.

[Carbo-Diem]

He has already under performed for two of his three years here. I don't care how it looks even if he is having a monster year. There is no way the Sox let this vest. By the way, does anyone know if he gets released say 1 AB short and another team picks him up for just one game does his option vest for that team?

[jad]

There has been no indication that Hanley will be grumbling about anything. He understands the situation.

 

Whenever I hear the statement "X understands the situation" in a business context, X is invariably about to get screwed, and consequently does not accept the 'situation' in the least.

[kenmeister]

JBJ would have to have a ridiculously awful year at the plate for him to be benched. His defense alone will always allow for him to stay in lineups.

 

Hitting .200 would probably do it.

[Jasonbay44]

Hitting .200 would probably do it.

 

As long as he provides a decent OBP, plays his usual elite defense and flashes some pop, I don't really care about his average. He only hit .245 last year and was a 3 WAR player.

[cp176]

He has already under performed for two of his three years here. I don't care how it looks even if he is having a monster year. There is no way the Sox let this vest. By the way, does anyone know if he gets released say 1 AB short and another team picks him up for just one game does his option vest for that team?

 

I'm fairly certain no one posting here cares how it looks. You can feel and you can say anything you choose to say about any professional baseball player here it looks like to me. It is your opinion as it is everybody elses. We don't speak for the owners of the Boston red Sox. I'm pretty sure that whether he has under performed in the past or not, if it appears that they are making an attempt to keep him from getting those at bats, they are going to care greatly. I honestly hope that it doesn't come to that. It will be a very bad day for everyone involved. If it happens this way, do you think that anyone would accept a contract with a vesting option similar to this from the Red Sox ever again. I don't want to see Hanley get those at bats either but if they pull the kind of s*** here that some are suggesting I predict that they will be in a world of hurt. It is not my problem for sure but that is my opinion and it is one reason why I don't like this kind of contract. It makes no difference whether anyone here likes or dislikes Hanley Ramirez.

[Carbo-Diem]

I'm fairly certain no one posting here cares how it looks. You can feel and you can say anything you choose to say about any professional baseball player here it looks like to me. It is your opinion as it is everybody elses. We don't speak for the owners of the Boston red Sox. I'm pretty sure that whether he has under performed in the past or not, if it appears that they are making an attempt to keep him from getting those at bats, they are going to care greatly. I honestly hope that it doesn't come to that. It will be a very bad day for everyone involved. If it happens this way, do you think that anyone would accept a contract with a vesting option similar to this from the Red Sox ever again. I don't want to see Hanley get those at bats either but if they pull the kind of s*** here that some are suggesting I predict that they will be in a world of hurt. It is not my problem for sure but that is my opinion and it is one reason why I don't like this kind of contract. It makes no difference whether anyone here likes or dislikes Hanley Ramirez.

 

I don't see how the Sox will be "in a world of hurt". They will be free of a mediocre player and can apply the 22 million to extending any number of players that are actually worth that sort of money. I also doubt that a team would accept his contract from the Sox, my question pertained to if he was released. The whole discussion may be moot since he will most likely be injured tripping over his helmet running down to 1st.

[notin]

We have a first baseman who hasn't played the field for 3 straight games since 2016, and people are worried about his option vesting?

 

Raking or not, Hanley is 34 years old and not as durable as he used to be. Which was never all that durable...

[moonslav59]

We have a first baseman who hasn't played the field for 3 straight games since 2016, and people are worried about his option vesting?

 

Raking or not, Hanley is 34 years old and not as durable as he used to be. Which was never all that durable...

 

Good points, but this time of year is all about "what ifs...?"

[notin]

He has already under performed for two of his three years here. I don't care how it looks even if he is having a monster year. There is no way the Sox let this vest. By the way, does anyone know if he gets released say 1 AB short and another team picks him up for just one game does his option vest for that team?

 

Not if he clears waivers, which he will do of he gets released...

[Natick to NC]

Got a different take on Hanley ...I hope he is so damn good he makes the All star team he vests ...because if we have "That" Hanram ? We have a World Series team without making moves at the midway .JT and "That" Hanram plus Devers ??? Plus a beefed up Benny ? A year of Blake instead of a dinged up Holt ? Mookie freaking Betts having a bounce back season inspired ???? Shhhhhhh oooooot folks just hand that Trophy over now .Not even including Nuney for an entire year ???? Yeah I'll take Hanley Vesting . Edited March 22, 2018 by Natick to NC

[moonslav59]

Not if he clears waivers, which he will do of he gets released...

 

A DFA with 1 AB to go would be radical!

Edited March 22, 2018 by moonslav59

[Bellhorn04]

A vesting Hanley option may close the window earlier or with a slam.

 

You do have a flair for hyperbole.

[S5Dewey]

Got a different take on Hanley ...I hope he is so damn good he makes the All star team he vests ...because if we have "That" Hanram ? We have a World Series team without making moves at the midway .JT and "That" Hanram plus Devers ??? Plus a beefed up Benny ? A year of Blake instead of a dinged up Holt ? Mookie freaking Betts having a bounce back season inspired ???? Shhhhhhh oooooot folks just hand that Trophy over now .Not even including Nuney for an entire year ???? Yeah I'll take Hanley Vesting .

 

Yes, this. I've spent a lot of time scratching my head and wondering why so many posters seem to be almost hoping Hanley will fail.

The more successful Hanley is the more successful the Sox are and conversely (or is it inversely?) the less successful Hanley is the less successful the Sox are.

 

It would seem like we should all be hoping Hanley has a monster season with the attitude that if he fails we at least won't have his contract for another year...doesn't it?

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, this. I've spent a lot of time scratching my head and wondering why so many posters seem to be almost hoping Hanley will fail.

The more successful Hanley is the more successful the Sox are and conversely (or is it inversely?) the less successful Hanley is the less successful the Sox are.

 

It would seem like we should all be hoping Hanley has a monster season with the attitude that if he fails we at least won't have his contract for another year...doesn't it?

 

That is a good attitude, yes.

[Bellhorn04]

We can rattle on all we want about Hanley's option (and we will), but I'm quite sure the Sox FO and Cora have already discussed this at some length and have a sensible plan in place.

[moonslav59]

You do have a flair for hyperbole.

 

If it keeps us from signing Pom or replacing him in kind and/or moves our draft pick down 10 slots, it MAY close the window earlier or more forcibly.

 

Maybe mild hyperbole.

[Bellhorn04]

If it keeps us from signing Pom or replacing him in kind and/or moves our draft pick down 10 slots, it MAY close the window earlier or more forcibly.

 

Maybe mild hyperbole.

 

OK, that seems fair.

[moonslav59]

OK, that seems fair.

 

I said "may" in my original post.

 

[S5Dewey]

If [Hanley's vesting] keeps us from signing Pom or replacing him in kind and/or moves our draft pick down 10 slots, it MAY close the window earlier or more forcibly.

 

Or to put a more positive spin on it, Hanley's having a year which allows him to vest may take us deep into the playoffs.

 

If Hanley has 550 PA"s & an .850 OPS year and we lose in the WS are we going to be wishing his option hadn't vested?

 

I'm not. I want this team to go just as far as they can and I'll worry about this alleged "cliff" after the season is over.

[S5Dewey]

I'm not a big believer in the cliff anyway. When I think of the cliff I see Wiley Coyote plummeting into an abyss with an anvil in his arms. I don't see that happening. IMO as long as John Henry is at the helm this "cliff" will consist of battling for 3rd place for a couple of years while the team is reloading. That certainly won't be my favorite thing but OTOH I survived consecutive last place finishes and we're now in the thick of things again. It's not like we're going to become Seattle.

[moonslav59]

If Hanley has 550 PA"s & an .850 OPS year and we lose in the WS are we going to be wishing his option hadn't vested?

 

For me, most likely yes.

 

It depends on whether I think we had similar options along the way.

 

.850 will likely be way better than Moreland, Swihart or Travis, so it might be a clear choice to keep him playing. I get that, but if he's .950 vs LHPs and .800 vs RHPs, that's pretty close to Moreland vs RHPs, and since Moreland is a better fielder, I might still limit HRam's ABs even if he's at .850. Or, wish I did later.

[moonslav59]

I'm not a big believer in the cliff anyway. When I think of the cliff I see Wiley Coyote plummeting into an abyss with an anvil in his arms. I don't see that happening. IMO as long as John Henry is at the helm this "cliff" will consist of battling for 3rd place for a couple of years while the team is reloading. That certainly won't be my favorite thing but OTOH I survived consecutive last place finishes and we're now in the thick of things again. It's not like we're going to become Seattle.

 

It's hard to imagine a team spending $39M over the luxury limit having quality roster issues, but if you look at the timing of contract expirations of our best players and the state of our farm right now, a "cliff" is a real and to me, a probable happening.

 

We may debate what "a cliff" means, but it's very probable we will not be high competitive in 2021...maybe even 2020.

[OH FOY]

Poyner looking good, wonder if he goes North?

[mvp 78]

@PawSox

 

Brock Holt is batting .345 (10-for-29) and

leads the @RedSox with a .472 OBP. Holt has also only struck out twice this spring.

[mvp 78]

Poyner looking good, wonder if he goes North?

 

Since he has options, I'd hold him off until we get an injury in the pen.

[moonslav59]

@PawSox

 

Brock Holt is batting .345 (10-for-29) and

leads the @RedSox with a .472 OBP. Holt has also only struck out twice this spring.

 

He's feeling all that heat from Marrero!

[Bellhorn04]

He's feeling all that heat from Marrero!

 

He's also pissed from reading Talksox.

[mvp 78]

He's feeling all that heat from Marrero!

 

http://m.mlb.com/player/571918/deven-marrero

 

Ice cold. DFA Marrero!