And the off season begins (2018-19)

[moonslav59]

You don't want to stockpile too many mediocrities. Can always go with a bullpen game here and there.

 

Yes, and we have Johnson and Velazquez in our pen, who can both start or spot start. We have Wright and Shawaryn, so that makes 9. If we need more, DD can try to work his magic again next summer and find us the next Eovaldi for Beeks type of deal.

[moonslav59]

Only in Tampa, where they can’t afford starting pitching...

 

Their "bullpen games" often were games where a RP'er started, and then a starter type pitcher came in for 4-5 innings.

[moonslav59]

If you didn't like them re-signing Pearce and Eovaldi, I don't know what to tell ya.

 

Yes! We did not have these guys all year this year, so just having them from the start should be a big plus. Maybe add Pedey, Thornburg and Wright, and we might absorb the loss of Kimbrel and Kelly without any more big splash deals.

[fxkatt]

The catcher situation will also be clarified soon.

 

That would be cool. It would be fun to dissect our first real trade in some time.

[moonslav59]

I think we make a couple minor to mediocre deals for 2 RP'ers- most likely with options remaining and several years of team control.

 

We might trade players/prospects from this list:

 

Swihart

Chavis

Shawaryn

Ockimey

and maybe Johnson or Hembree to an upgrade

[moonslav59]

That would be cool. It would be fun to dissect our first real trade in some time.

 

Last trades were what?

 

Buttry & Jerez for Kinsler

 

Beeks for Eovaldi

 

Espinal for Pearce

 

I'm not sure trading Swihart & Chavis for a RP'er is going to be a huge conversation piece, but what else is there to talk about?

[jacksonianmarch]

We will see what the relief pitching market entails. Dave has had issues building pens but he’s never lacked a closer. In Florida he had Rob Nen. In Detroit he had Valverde and KRod. In Boston, he’s had Kimbrel. All guys obtained were closers when they got to their teams

[fxkatt]

Last trades were what?

 

Buttry & Jerez for Kinsler

 

Beeks for Eovaldi

 

Espinal for Pearce

 

I'm not sure trading Swihart & Chavis for a RP'er is going to be a huge conversation piece, but what else is there to talk about?

 

Beeks for Eovaldi was the only one I could recall. The others went under my radar even at the time, because Beeks was the only one I really knew anything about.

 

I guess Mets pitchers are always of interest to me. But I have to learn more about Chavez before I know his current and future worth. I know he's a problem, but he is young.

[moonslav59]

Beeks for Eovaldi was the only one I could recall. The others went under my radar even at the time, because Beeks was the only one I really knew anything about.

 

I guess Mets pitchers are always of interest to me. But I have to learn more about Chavez before I know his current and future worth. I know he's a problem, but he is young.

 

DD or an opposing GM might value Dalbec more than Chavis. We also have Casas way down the line.

 

I could see us trading one with other pieces for a useful and inexpensive pen arm.

[jacksonianmarch]

Casas is too far away to be worth anything and yet the Sox sunk too much into him to sell him now.

[moonslav59]

Casas is too far away to be worth anything and yet the Sox sunk too much into him to sell him now.

 

The Marlins might be the only team taking a longer view to a large extent.

 

I'm not saying you are wrong, but one never knows what a certain GM covets.

 

We could also offer closer prospects like Groome or D Hernandez.

 

[Larry Cook]

The Marlins might be the only team taking a longer view to a large extent.

 

I'm not saying you are wrong, but one never knows what a certain GM covets.

 

We could also offer closer prospects like Groome or D Hernandez.

 

 

After watching Hernandez throw in the Arizona league, I am convinced he could be a valuable piece of our bullpen. Great arm action. Two close to plus pitches.

[Dojji]

Yes! We did not have these guys all year this year, so just having them from the start should be a big plus. Maybe add Pedey, Thornburg and Wright, and we might absorb the loss of Kimbrel and Kelly without any more big splash deals.

 

At a certain point you have to ask the mediocricies to play up, But nobody likes depending on them.

 

For a team as good as we obviously were we had some pretty lousy luck in some key areas, especially with injuries to Pedroia, Sale, E-Rod and Wright. DD covered for them brilliantly but one would think that ordinary fortune would suggest that these players produce more for us next year.

 

Personaly I think acquiring a catcher is probably overall a much higher priority than acquiring another SP, and I would also say that I don't expect the team to go out and acquire either one unless they think they have a surefire hit.

 

I also think Brian Johnson will get plenty of chances to prove he belongs in a big league rotation next year, because he's the first starter up when someone goes down and those guys are usually good for between 6 and 15 starts depending on how the season goes provided they themselves stay healthy. Personally I think he's a big league starter, and is going to take a step forward and prove he deserves a full time rule, albeit a full time role at the bottom of the rotation. We'll see if I'm right.

Edited December 15, 2018 by Dojji

[moonslav59]

After watching Hernandez throw in the Arizona league, I am convinced he could be a valuable piece of our bullpen. Great arm action. Two close to plus pitches.

 

I'm thinking Hernandez might be our best prospect. I don't want to trade him, but to get something, you have to give something.

 

 

 

[moonslav59]

At a certain point you have to ask the mediocricies to play up, But nobody likes depending on them.

 

For a team as good as we obviously were we had some pretty lousy luck in some key areas, especially with injuries to Pedroia, Sale, E-Rod and Wright. DD covered for them brilliantly but one would think that ordinary fortune would suggest that these players produce more for us next year.

 

Personaly I think acquiring a catcher is probably overall a much higher priority than acquiring another SP, and I would also say that I don't expect the team to go out and acquire either one unless they think they have a surefire hit.

 

I also think Brian Johnson will get plenty of chances to prove he belongs in a big league rotation next year, because he's the first starter up when someone goes down and those guys are usually good for between 6 and 15 starts depending on how the season goes provided they themselves stay healthy. Personally I think he's a big league starter, and is going to take a step forward and prove he deserves a full time rule, albeit a full time role at the bottom of the rotation. We'll see if I'm right.

 

I think Wright will be the 6th starter, but certainly Johnson is in the running.

 

With limited funds, I doubt we go for a catcher, especially with pen needs being a higher priority (IMO).

[Kimmi]

I'm not convinced that DD has decided not to spend another nickel on the bullpen...I'll believe it if I see it on Opening Day.

 

There's another story floating around that the Sox are still in contact with Kimbrel, after all...

 

Oh he's spening more money on the bullpen, without a doubt. The way he was talking, though, he won't sign Kimbrel to a 4 or 5 year deal.

 

That said, I'm not sure I believe that.

[Kimmi]

The big issue is the budget. Does DD have the authority to go past the $40M mark or even go over by a little?

 

If yes, he can spend a little on a FA pen arm and maybe trade a couple out of options guys like Johnson, Swihart or Hembree for a better pen arm than we have now.

 

If we have only $4-5M to spend, then we may be looking to save it for mid season needs and try to fill a pen role via trade that does not add salary or better yet, lowers it.

 

Dombrowski also said that at some point soon, the Sox will have to reset the penalty. The idea that the Sox will be okay because we have the money to sign whoever we want is not realistic. Of course we could sign or retain anyone we want to. Realistically, it's not happening.

[Kimmi]

But the way teams go through pitchers, he MIGHT be needed. Hang onto him unless you can really get something worthwhile back.

 

Agreed. The more pitching depth, the better. It would be nice if he had options though.

[Kimmi]

I

 

Why not? There’s no rule that you have to use them all.

 

The more mediocrities you have, the more likely one of them works out...

 

^^This.

 

There is really no downside to signing these guys to minor league deals.

 

Sign as many as you reasonably can.

[Kimmi]

The only soon-move that I can see happening is for a relief pitcher. I think once one top guy goes, all the topsters go, and that could happen at any moment. Once the price is set, we either jump, or bide our time and hustle up someone who can be a piece of our relief puzzle.

 

Kimbrel is holding up the market.

[Kimmi]

Their "bullpen games" often were games where a RP'er started, and then a starter type pitcher came in for 4-5 innings.

 

It's more of an "Opener" type game than a bullpen game. The idea of an opener starting the game can certainly mess with the opposing manager's line up.

[cp176]

Everyone realizes that the Red Sox will not be able to retain all of our beloved (maybe even a little over rated) players when the times come. I liked what Dombrowski said in addition to this. The part that maybe needs to also be paid attention to. The core of your successful team changes - it always does, That does not mean that the team necessarily goes into any type of dry spell with respect to winning. It is just the way it goes.

[notin]

Everyone realizes that the Red Sox will not be able to retain all of our beloved (maybe even a little over rated) players when the times come. I liked what Dombrowski said in addition to this. The part that maybe needs to also be paid attention to. The core of your successful team changes - it always does, That does not mean that the team necessarily goes into any type of dry spell with respect to winning. It is just the way it goes.

 

It does if you can’t replace them.

 

If Betts, Bogaerts, Martinez, and Sale leave as free agents, you don’t think it will impact the ability of this team to win?

[Bellhorn04]

It does if you can’t replace them.

 

If Betts, Bogaerts, Martinez, and Sale leave as free agents, you don’t think it will impact the ability of this team to win?

 

If we lose all of them and don't replace them, we're up the creek. But that ain't happening of course.

[notin]

If we lose all of them and don't replace them, we're up the creek. But that ain't happening of course.

 

We aren’t replacing them from within without having problems. We might be able to retain one and replace another with a free agent. It will be interesting to see how DD handles it...

[Bellhorn04]

We aren’t replacing them from within without having problems. We might be able to retain one and replace another with a free agent. It will be interesting to see how DD handles it...

 

Right now I'm very interested to see what Machado and Harper get. It should have a significant impact on what Mookie expects to get.

[Nick]

Pitching still is the key in the playoffs. On the offensive side, it's better to have strength throughout the lineup as opposed to simply having two or three studs. You need good supporting cast is a short series.

 

Great example was relative lack of production out of our two best offensive players in the world series. Despite Betts and DJ having pedestrian numbers, other bats came alive to carry our offense. Timely hits came from elsewhere.

 

We do have to make choices. Is it better to spend say $25M on a dependable starter such as Porcello or do you spend extra money, $33M for a Ferrari, Sale? Porcello maybe more dependable over a 162 game season but there's no doubt it's nice to have Sale starting two games in a world series. But the $8M difference can buy us another bat. Tough choices.

Edited December 15, 2018 by Nick

[notin]

Right now I'm very interested to see what Machado and Harper get. It should have a significant impact on what Mookie expects to get.

 

In a related side note, the White Sox just acquired Yonder Alonso. Alonso is Machado’s brother-in-law and they’re allegedly tight. Reportedly the White Sox meet with Machado this weekend. Think Alonso goes to that meeting?

[Bellhorn04]

In a related side note, the White Sox just acquired Yonder Alonso. Alonso is Machado’s brother-in-law and they’re allegedly tight. Reportedly the White Sox meet with Machado this weekend. Think Alonso goes to that meeting?

 

Brother-in-law? Wow, that is pretty interesting. Go White Sox.

[cp176]

It does if you can’t replace them.

 

If Betts, Bogaerts, Martinez, and Sale leave as free agents, you don’t think it will impact the ability of this team to win?

 

Of course it would impact the team. What I am reading here is that you might be thinking that our owner and management cannot possibly overcome the loss of any of these guys?

You don't agree with the information coming from the front office I guess. My choice is to wait and see. I'm going to remain positive. You might think that my thinking is unrealistic. I am ok with that but I'll just keep on keeping on. Every time I read a doomsday forecast of the future of this franchise, I will continue to respond.