Sox acquire Steve Pearce

[Natick to NC]

Word is that we got cash with Pearce, so maybe we're not over the limit.

 

Trade season officially started for the Red Sox on Thursday night, when president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski reeled in veteran right-handed hitter Steve Pearce and cash considerations from the Blue Jays in exchange for Minor League infielder Santiago Espinal.

This works now if we get say 500 k right ? Then the obvious move is Trade Swihart what's that salary ?

[moonslav59]

Phillips fielding has been going down hill past few years, we'd be better of having Lin just be the late inning defensive replacement guy if thats what were looking for.. I love Brandon Phillips, in his prime he was one of my favorite players, but I honestly doubt he makes an impact for us. I think he's just an emergency depth signing, and a very good one at that, but unlikely to make much of an impact (if any).

 

I don't disagree with anything here, but if we have to free up some money, maybe we will trade Nunez or Holt and use Phillips to fill in for the one we trade.

[moonslav59]

This works now if we get say 500 k right ? Then the obvious move is Trade Swihart what's that salary ?

 

Near minimum, so even if we replace him with a minor leaguer, we save nothing.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Could Pearce have to do with Benny ?just a backup plan or is something afoot ?

 

Imho, Pearce was signed because he can play 1st base to perhaps platoon with Moreland and he can also play the OF on the days Cora wants to rest an outfielder. Beni isn't going anywhere.

[Natick to NC]

I doubt it. I think this move is because we didn't have RHH bench bat and have been struggling vs LHP. It's a weakness, why not address it? It doesn't have to indicate anything about any specific player.

 

Truth here. No doubt .Great move by Dave whatever happens .

[moonslav59]

You could be right ? I could be right but something tells me this is just the start .I don't think a BP arm is getting it done this year .Dave has bigger fish to fry .

 

DD already got all the big fish he could afford.

 

I'm nearly certain he won't do anything as bold as you are suggesting.

[Natick to NC]

Imho, Pearce was signed because he can play 1st base to perhaps platoon with Moreland and he can also play the OF on the days Cora wants to rest an outfielder. Beni isn't going anywhere.

 

Ok but Adam Lind is raking in Pawtucket he plays 1b and DH ????

[Natick to NC]

DD already got all the big fish he could afford.

 

I'm nearly certain he won't do anything as bold as you are suggesting.

 

Moon what about Lind ??? He's been fantastic in Pawtucket

[moonslav59]

Imho, Pearce was signed because he can play 1st base to perhaps platoon with Moreland and he can also play the OF on the days Cora wants to rest an outfielder. Beni isn't going anywhere.

 

Yes, Beni is our only sure bet star signed beyond 3 years. (Okay, maybe Devers makes two.)

[Jasonbay44]

Ok but Adam Lind is raking in Pawtucket he plays 1b and DH ????

 

Lind is a LHH, Pearce is RHH. Lind wont provide anything Moreland doesn't.

[moonslav59]

Moon what about Lind ??? He's been fantastic in Pawtucket

 

He's Moreland's insurance. They both bat LH'd, so he's not a good platoon match-up with Moreland-- like Pearce is.

 

Lind will never get called up, unless MM goes on the DL or when September call-ups occur.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Ok but Adam Lind is raking in Pawtucket he plays 1b and DH ????

 

Lin was also raking in Pawtucket. Not a true test what they will do in the big show.

[Jasonbay44]

I don't disagree with anything here, but if we have to free up some money, maybe we will trade Nunez or Holt and use Phillips to fill in for the one we trade.

 

I'm hoping we can trade Nunez, but I doubt anyone wants him. Phillips would have to really suck to be worse than Nunez has been this season.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

He's Moreland's insurance. They both bat LH'd, so he's not a good platoon match-up with Moreland-- like Pearce is.

 

Lind will never get called up, unless MM goes on the DL or when September call-ups occur.

 

Agree. Both Lind and Phillips are depth in case of injuries on the SOX.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm hoping we can trade Nunez, but I doubt anyone wants him. Phillips would have to really suck to be worse than Nunez has been this season.

 

 

With Nunez and Holt playing 2nd, the SOX are 55-27. I don't believe 2nd base is a problem. Also, the SOX are not going to eat Nunez's salary.

Edited June 29, 2018 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[Natick to NC]

Well JB and Moon .You are both convincing .The team Dave has assembled doesn't need much the holes do seem plugged more so this year .Ok so who's the Bullpen arm that solidify this squad .Miami has a damn good one down there that rarely gets print .

[moonslav59]

I'm hoping we can trade Nunez, but I doubt anyone wants him. Phillips would have to really suck to be worse than Nunez has been this season.

 

I'm not sure GMs assign value based on just what you've done for the last 3 months. Someone might want Nunez.

 

We don't need anything in return, except the freed up salary space. Then, Phillips could come up and do just as poorly as Nunez has been doing.

[Jasonbay44]

With Nunez and Holt playing 2nd, the SOX are 55-27. I don't believe 2nd base is a problem.

Just because a team wins when someone is playing bad, doesn't mean the position isn't weak. Were you happy with Pablo Sandoval last season when the team was winning with him s***ing the bed? Nunez has been horrendous. He has a -1.1 WAR.

[Natick to NC]

With Nunez and Holt playing 2nd, the SOX are 55-27. I don't believe 2nd base is a problem. Also, the SOX are not going to eat Nunez's salary.

 

No disrespect to you or anyone here .BPhillips is a better player even at this stage .I would pencil him in 3 days a week and not have a worry about the glove or bat.The other games can split with the other two .

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just because a team wins when someone is playing bad, doesn't mean the position isn't weak. Were you happy with Pablo Sandoval last season when the team was winning with him s***ing the bed? Nunez has been horrendous. He has a -1.1 WAR.

 

I'm not a fan of Nunez, but I don't believe he's been horrendous. I wouldn't feel sad if the SOX packaged Nunez and Swihart in a trade, but who the hell is going to want both of them?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

No disrespect to you or anyone here .BPhillips is a better player even at this stage .I would pencil him in 3 days a week and not have a worry about the glove or bat.The other games can split with the other two .

 

A team can only have 25 players.

[moonslav59]

Well JB and Moon .You are both convincing .The team Dave has assembled doesn't need much the holes do seem plugged more so this year .Ok so who's the Bullpen arm that solidify this squad .Miami has a damn good one down there that rarely gets print .

 

I see some areas I'd love to upgrade in a big way. It's not that I don't want some of the players you have mentioned. I'm sure DD would like to have some, too.

 

The problem is, we have very little budget space and very few ML ready prospects not on the DL or just coming off PED suspension. We can't afford to trade existing key players, because it would just open up another hole that I feel is bigger than any "hole" we have now.

 

Would it be nice to get an ace for the playoffs? Hell, yes! But, trading Beni and/or Bogey to get one solves a smaller problem than the one(s) it creates.

 

Would it be nice to get a great 2Bman? HELL, YES! But again, we don't have the pieces to get one.

 

DD has gone all out to build the team we have. It's not a perfect team. It has some areas that could use upgrades- no doubt, but he's done just about all that can be done, exept for some minor tweaks.

 

I'll be shocked, if we get anyone like degrom, Dozier, Abreu, Gennett or Merrifield.

 

You keep asking me about a big trade like these, and my answer is always the same. I'm glad you finally asked about a trade I feel might be more reasonable.

 

I do think we might be able to trade for a pretty good set-up man, perhaps even someone who is a closer now. I'm no expert on RP'ers from other teams, but I have mentioned the A's Treinen and the CWS' Soria (with cash). I'm not seeing any marlin pen arms I like, except maybe Barraclough, but he could just be a flash in the pan.

 

[a700hitter]

I'd hate to see Holt leave.

Holt is going nowhere.

[a700hitter]

My guess would be that Phillips and Pearce will be added to the MLB roster. Swihart will get DFA'd and one of the extra arms in the pen will be optioned to the minors. The bench will be:

 

Leon

Pearce

Holt

Phillips

 

Pearce will platoon with Moreland. That should be a strong platoon.

Phillips will share time at 2B with Nunez and Holt

Nunez will share some time at 3B with Devers.

Holt will get a little bit of time in the OF to spell Betts on rare occasion a Benintendi in LF

 

When and if Pedey comes back, my guess would be that either Pearce or Phillips goes depending on performance.

[Carbo-Diem]

Near minimum, so even if we replace him with a minor leaguer, we save nothing.

 

Maybe the thought is that Pedey is not back this year. Expose him to waivers ala Rusney castillo, no one wants to take on his contract. He is dropped from the 40 man so his salary does not count against the luxury tax limit. Then unlike Castillo, the Sox can bring him back next year when some money is off the books. Of course Pedey can refuse the assignment but if he knows it's only temporary he may agree.

[Jack Flap]

I hate to say it, but Swihart has to be the one to go, whether now or in the pretty near future. He's just taking up a roster spot at this point with no apparent reason for being there other than that the team doesn't want to DFA him and get nothing in return. I hope we can find a trade partner, even if it's just for some international cash or a PTBNL...it would suck to see him go somewhere else and contribute, but the status quo is helping neither his development nor the team.

 

I do like the Pearce pickup. He seems a very good fit for what we needed.

[jacksonianmarch]

If Pearce stays healthy, he’s a great pickup. He adds versatility vs lefties and if JBJ goes back in the tank, he can move to LF and allow Beni to shift over to CF. This lengthens your lineup, something many posters on here said wasn’t needed. Seems DD ascribed to my thinking.

 

Also, the Phillips move was puzzling. Not that the Sox signed him, but that he sat on the market so long. He had a good year last year. I know he’s 37 and isn’t the highlight reel he used to be, but he’s a solid 2b for sure

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe the thought is that Pedey is not back this year. Expose him to waivers ala Rusney castillo, no one wants to take on his contract. He is dropped from the 40 man so his salary does not count against the luxury tax limit. Then unlike Castillo, the Sox can bring him back next year when some money is off the books. Of course Pedey can refuse the assignment but if he knows it's only temporary he may agree.

 

Didn't they change the rules to prevent teams from doing this any more?

[illinoisredsox]

Didn't they change the rules to prevent teams from doing this any more?

 

Yep (and if Castillo is put back on the 40 man, his $ count going forward as well). I asked the other day, but I think the only way Pedroia's contract won't count is if he voluntarily walks away (ala Dempster). If he's forced to retire due to injury, it counts.

 

Other than another team picking up the entire contract (and why would they), his salary is on the books no matter what.

[illinoisredsox]

The announcers were talking about Phillips on the radio braodcast the other night; the speculation was he has some sort of "up or out" clause in that he has to be brought up by such and such an date or Phillips has the right to ask to be released; pretty standard with veterans. They were thinking mid July could be the timeframe.