And the off season begins (2018-19)

[notin]

I think I said this before, but I see two teams who will be in on Pearce. I see the Orioles offering a two year deal to mentor the youth movement. His credibility as a WS MVP could be very useful on a team now devoid of leadership. I could also see Cleveland going for him and moving EE to FT DH. I think there’s no earthly way he signs a one year deal. He’s gonna get two year offers

 

PLenty of teams have reasons to sign him, including the Yankees, where 1B isn't really locked up by anyone. Do you really think Greg "Wounded" Bird and Luke "Empty" Voit are the answer?

[moonslav59]

Here’s why I doubt Pearce is re-signed. He’s never been more marketable and he’s 35. He’s gonna get the biggest money he can find and the biggest role he can find. My bet is he signs with a team to be their regular 1b, no platoon. That increases his value and will likely see him dealt during that deal to a contender when the deadline comes about

 

I don't think GMs fall for small sample size heroics like fans do.

[moonslav59]

Pearce will be interesting. Jacko is right that this is his last chance for a big payday - and he wants a full time ride. At the same time he has always been a platoon bat. I'd put it at 50-50 he comes back. The Sox should be able to make him a 1 year deal to come back as a platoon guy. Maybe somebody will offer more, but I am not sure there are many full time rides for him.

 

Then, sign Pearce, make him FT and trade or bench Moreland.

[moonslav59]

I think I said this before, but I see two teams who will be in on Pearce. I see the Orioles offering a two year deal to mentor the youth movement. His credibility as a WS MVP could be very useful on a team now devoid of leadership. I could also see Cleveland going for him and moving EE to FT DH. I think there’s no earthly way he signs a one year deal. He’s gonna get two year offers

 

Hr may choose a winner and not the O's and Yanks.

[jacksonianmarch]

Pearce has actually been pretty good over the last 5 seasons. Two of those were clunkers. Two seasons between 1.6 and 2 WAR in part time and one season of 4.5 WAR. He is coming off a solid year with a ridiculous finish and brings veteran leadership to a club. He’s the perfect guy for a rebuilding club to bring in and show the kids how it’s done. Having a ring and WS MVP in his trophy case helps add legitimacy to him. He will sign with a team nobody expects and for more money and years than what the Sox can offer

[Bellhorn04]

Pearce has actually been pretty good over the last 5 seasons. Two of those were clunkers. Two seasons between 1.6 and 2 WAR in part time and one season of 4.5 WAR. He is coming off a solid year with a ridiculous finish and brings veteran leadership to a club. He’s the perfect guy for a rebuilding club to bring in and show the kids how it’s done. Having a ring and WS MVP in his trophy case helps add legitimacy to him. He will sign with a team nobody expects and for more money and years than what the Sox can offer

 

I see your crystal ball is still in fine working order. You should have a thread where you predict all the free agent signings MLBTR style.

[sk7326]

Then, sign Pearce, make him FT and trade or bench Moreland.

 

I wouldn't want to Peter principle Pearce like that. He has been a part timer his whole career - and it would be hard to justify assuming he can be more at his age.

[sk7326]

PLenty of teams have reasons to sign him, including the Yankees, where 1B isn't really locked up by anyone. Do you really think Greg "Wounded" Bird and Luke "Empty" Voit are the answer?

 

They are way cheaper than going into the FA pool and have a chance to be better. Heck, the Yankees could very well sign Machado and move Andujar to 1B and solve things that way.

[jacksonianmarch]

I see your crystal ball is still in fine working order. You should have a thread where you predict all the free agent signings MLBTR style.

 

There's hoping and wishing and then there is reasonably predicting. Teams that don't win like to pick off the players from teams that do. It is just as much about picking off talent as it is about picking off experience. There is a premium that gets paid by other organizations for players coming off a big post season. I know some of you are saying that the post season isn't looked at by the GM's, but that's total BS. Eovaldi looked like a guy getting a 1yr deal with an option at the end of 2018 regular season. Now he is a guy who is expected to see 3 guaranteed years and that is all due to a 22IP sample size in October. Same can be said for Pearce, who came into the POs as a platoon guy and left as a WS MVP. Now, if Pearce was a guy who had a long career and made a ton of money, then I'd say he would probably forgo the extra cash to return to Boston. But he hasn't. Based on his career earnings, he has made $24 mil. That is probably enough to set him up for life, except when you exclude taxes, living, etc. I am not crying poor for him, not in the least, but he has one more shot at maybe doubling that total. He is gonna take it.

[jacksonianmarch]

They are way cheaper than going into the FA pool and have a chance to be better. Heck, the Yankees could very well sign Machado and move Andujar to 1B and solve things that way.

 

We certainly could close the gap by adding a player, but I doubt that's the way we roll. Our lineup is deep without our 1b producing. We have one guy with all the promise but a body of glass and a baseball nerd's dream in Voit who hadn't gotten a chance until the end of 2018. My guess is Cashman doesn't mess with that too much. But if Cashman wanted to upset the apple cart a bit, he would probably prefer Donaldson, just because the acquisition cost would be lower

[moonslav59]

Pearce has actually been pretty good over the last 5 seasons. Two of those were clunkers. Two seasons between 1.6 and 2 WAR in part time and one season of 4.5 WAR. He is coming off a solid year with a ridiculous finish and brings veteran leadership to a club. He’s the perfect guy for a rebuilding club to bring in and show the kids how it’s done. Having a ring and WS MVP in his trophy case helps add legitimacy to him. He will sign with a team nobody expects and for more money and years than what the Sox can offer

 

I'm just not so sure a lifetime platoon player's value is going to sky rocket based on one post season. I may be proven wrong, but MLBTR's did not even list Pearce as a top 30 FA. Now, I think he is, but I'm thinking he might get $15M/2 max, and we can afford that, especially, if we trade Moreland.

[notin]

There's hoping and wishing and then there is reasonably predicting. Teams that don't win like to pick off the players from teams that do. It is just as much about picking off talent as it is about picking off experience. There is a premium that gets paid by other organizations for players coming off a big post season. I know some of you are saying that the post season isn't looked at by the GM's, but that's total BS. Eovaldi looked like a guy getting a 1yr deal with an option at the end of 2018 regular season. Now he is a guy who is expected to see 3 guaranteed years and that is all due to a 22IP sample size in October.

 

But that hasn’t happened yet.

 

While the early rumors are it’s going to take $60mill to sign Eovaldi for 4 years, last year it was supposed to take $200mill over 6 years to sign JD Martinez.

 

I do really doubt GMs put as much stock in the small sizes as you say. World Series MVPsinclude the Steve Pearce’s and Luis Sojo’s and David Freese’s of the world always seem to get paid the same as their non-WS MVP equivalents...

[notin]

There's hoping and wishing and then there is reasonably predicting. Teams that don't win like to pick off the players from teams that do. It is just as much about picking off talent as it is about picking off experience. There is a premium that gets paid by other organizations for players coming off a big post season. I know some of you are saying that the post season isn't looked at by the GM's, but that's total BS. Eovaldi looked like a guy getting a 1yr deal with an option at the end of 2018 regular season. Now he is a guy who is expected to see 3 guaranteed years and that is all due to a 22IP sample size in October. Same can be said for Pearce, who came into the POs as a platoon guy and left as a WS MVP. Now, if Pearce was a guy who had a long career and made a ton of money, then I'd say he would probably forgo the extra cash to return to Boston. But he hasn't. Based on his career earnings, he has made $24 mil. That is probably enough to set him up for life, except when you exclude taxes, living, etc. I am not crying poor for him, not in the least, but he has one more shot at maybe doubling that total. He is gonna take it.

 

 

Of course Pearce is going to take what he can get. That’s the exact reason he hired an agent in the first place.

 

This is his job. More people make decisions about where they work for money than for any other reason.

 

And as ballplayers go, Pearce has been a relative pauper in a clubhouse full of financial princes. I’d be very surprised if money (and/or years) wasn’t his biggest factor in making a decision...

[Tedballgame]

Pearce grew up a Red Sox fan. Fenway Park is made for him. He has a chance to play a lot and maybe get another ring. He will re-sign with the Sox. He is the perfect platoon player and veteran leader they need.

[notin]

Pearce grew up a Red Sox fan. Fenway Park is made for him. He has a chance to play a lot and maybe get another ring. He will re-sign with the Sox. He is the perfect platoon player and veteran leader they need.

 

That’s going to be the sales pitch, and it’s going to end with something like “and all of that can be yours for only $14 million over the next two years.” And if the Sox can ft him in the budget, done deal.

 

But he isn’t going to give the Sox a cheap hometown discount. He didn’t hire an agent to get him less money than he deserves...

[Tedballgame]

That’s going to be the sales pitch, and it’s going to end with something like “and all of that can be yours for only $14 million over the next two years.” And if the Sox can ft him in the budget, done deal.

 

But he isn’t going to give the Sox a cheap hometown discount. He didn’t hire an agent to get him less money than he deserves...

He is not going to get 14 million for two years from anybody. If thats what it takes, good bye and thank you for your services.

[Bellhorn04]

He is not going to get 14 million for two years from anybody. If thats what it takes, good bye and thank you for your services.

 

Moreland got 2 and 13, so it's not really a big stretch.

[moonslav59]

Moreland got 2 and 13, so it's not really a big stretch.

 

Pearce seems better, but he's on the wrong side a platoon.

 

I'm not sure his nice splits vs RHPs with the Sox is an indication that, at age 35, he finally figured out how to hit righties.

 

I still think $15M/2 might be as high as anyone might go. Maybe $20M/3?

[notin]

Moreland got 2 and 13, so it's not really a big stretch.

 

Gomes got $12millfor for 2years 5 years ago...

[sk7326]

Pearce seems better, but he's on the wrong side a platoon.

 

I'm not sure his nice splits vs RHPs with the Sox is an indication that, at age 35, he finally figured out how to hit righties.

 

I still think $15M/2 might be as high as anyone might go. Maybe $20M/3?

 

3 ain't happening - not without a team option. If the Red Sox are going to pay the tax anyway, might as well offer 1 yr and 7-8 and see what happens.

[Dojji]

I don't think GMs fall for small sample size heroics like fans do.

 

It depends on how desperate they are. Sometimes it's worth gambling on a guy like Pearce as an everyday 1B when all your other options are even worse.

[notin]

It depends on how desperate they are. Sometimes it's worth gambling on a guy like Pearce as an everyday 1B when all your other options are even worse.

 

Not really the same. If the other options are worse, that means all other evaluations were poor for all other options, but they were done on some level...

[S5Dewey]

Of course Pearce is going to take what he can get. That’s the exact reason he hired an agent in the first place.

 

This is his job. More people make decisions about where they work for money than for any other reason.

 

And as ballplayers go, Pearce has been a relative pauper in a clubhouse full of financial princes. I’d be very surprised if money (and/or years) wasn’t his biggest factor in making a decision...

 

I'm not sure I buy into this. People make decisions every day that aren't in their best financial interest. Sometimes it's not all about the money. People turn down promotions because they don't want to do the next job or because they'd have to move in spite of the fact that they'd make more money at the new job.

 

Go to Baltimore for the money? Really? Do you think that if Baltimore offered him 2/$15.5M and the Sox offered him 2/$15M he'd go to Baltimore? It's difficult to go to a team that's going no place after you've just won the WS and have a chance to stay there.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not sure I buy into this. People make decisions every day that aren't in their best financial interest. Sometimes it's not all about the money. People turn down promotions because they don't want to do the next job or because they'd have to move in spite of the fact that they'd make more money at the new job.

 

Go to Baltimore for the money? Really? Do you think that if Baltimore offered him 2/$15.5M and the Sox offered him 2/$15M he'd go to Baltimore? It's difficult to go to a team that's going no place after you've just won the WS and have a chance to stay there.

 

Before answering that, how do Massachusetts state income taxes compare to Maryland's?

 

Just kidding. I agree with you. I think there are instances where the player will take a little less money for a better overall gig.

[moonslav59]

It depends on how desperate they are. Sometimes it's worth gambling on a guy like Pearce as an everyday 1B when all your other options are even worse.

 

But, the "gamble" was there before the Series MVP.

[Jasonbay44]

Before answering that, how do Massachusetts state income taxes compare to Maryland's?

 

Just kidding. I agree with you. I think there are instances where the player will take a little less money for a better overall gig.

 

Maryland's state taxes are really bad, like worst in the country bad

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/12/here-are-the-best-and-worst-states-for-taxes.html

[Kimmi]

Pearce seems better, but he's on the wrong side a platoon.

 

I'm not sure his nice splits vs RHPs with the Sox is an indication that, at age 35, he finally figured out how to hit righties.

 

I still think $15M/2 might be as high as anyone might go. Maybe $20M/3?

 

I'd rather go $15M/2 than $20M/3.

 

I think that unless another team beats the Red Sox offer by a significant margin, we have a good chance of getting Pearce back. That's provided that the Sox want him back.

[Kimmi]

I'm not sure I buy into this. People make decisions every day that aren't in their best financial interest. Sometimes it's not all about the money.[/] People turn down promotions because they don't want to do the next job or because they'd have to move in spite of the fact that they'd make more money at the new job.

 

Go to Baltimore for the money? Really? Do you think that if Baltimore offered him 2/$15.5M and the Sox offered him 2/$15M he'd go to Baltimore? It's difficult to go to a team that's going no place after you've just won the WS and have a chance to stay there.

 

I keep saying this, and I keep being told that I'm crazy (not in so many words). Too often it is all about the money, but there are situations where personal and family interests trump money. Especially for guys who already have enough money to live comfortably.

[sk7326]

I keep saying this, and I keep being told that I'm crazy (not in so many words). Too often it is all about the money, but there are situations where personal and family interests trump money. Especially for guys who already have enough money to live comfortably.

 

For players it's about the money to a point ... if the offers are close that is one thing. If somebody offers a LOT more that is a different kettle of fish.

[Kimmi]

For players it's about the money to a point ... if the offers are close that is one thing. If somebody offers a LOT more that is a different kettle of fish.

 

Agreed.

 

That said, I often wonder what someone can do with $150 million that they can't do with $120 million. I understand the $30 million is a lot of money, but is it really that significant when you're already making that much? Is it worth uprooting your family from a home that they love, playing for a team that doesn't really have a shot at the playoffs, sacrificing your personal happiness and comfort, etc.?

 

I think much of the going after the most money has to do with ego more so than actually needing the money.