And the off season begins (2018-19)

[Kimmi]

Kind of a boring Hot Stove League so far . We need a major surprise or two to stoke the fire a bit and create some excitement.

 

No, we really don't need any offseason excitement or surprises.

 

Be careful what you wish for.

[Kimmi]

Not sure I want any unpleasant surprises.

 

Exactly.

 

If it isn't broke...

[sk7326]

Kind of a boring Hot Stove League so far . We need a major surprise or two to stoke the fire a bit and create some excitement.

 

Good for the Red Sox, bad for baseball in general. It beats a work stoppage - that will be a couple of years from now.

[notin]

Kind of a boring Hot Stove League so far . We need a major surprise or two to stoke the fire a bit and create some excitement.

 

 

It actually seems slower than last year. I’m tempted to go out and make free agent offers to Machado and Harper myself...

[moonslav59]

Exactly.

 

If it isn't broke...

 

One could argue not bringing back CJ & JK is "breaking" it.

[notin]

DD has somewhat of a habit of acquiring players who’ve played for him before (Bryan Holaday, Rajai Davis, Ian Kinsler, Doug Fister, Johnny Peralta, and most recently Daniel Schlereth), which is not uncommon. In fact, a lot of employers like familiarity.

 

This makes me think if the Sox sign any reliever, the best bet might be Alex Wilson...

[Bellhorn04]

One could argue not bringing back CJ & JK is "breaking" it.

 

If you believe in fWAR, losing Kelly's 0.7 fWAR shouldn't hurt too much (great postseason aside).

[dgalehouse]

One could argue not bringing back CJ & JK is "breaking" it.

 

" If it ain't broke, don't fix it " makes sense. But you do need to maintain it or it will surely break.

[Nick]

This offer ($25M average annual value) for Machado, who is 26 and has a career .905 OPS, represents a continued issue with free agency. Ownership is showing an unwillingness to pay the top free agents what they deserve for a second straight year.

 

Per Christopher Smith at MasaLive

 

Do sportswriters take Economics class? Market value is where buyer and seller agrees to a price.

 

It DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH. IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT BUYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR YOUR HOUSE.

 

What you deserve has nothing to do with what you may get.

[Nick]

No, we really don't need any offseason excitement or surprises.

 

Be careful what you wish for.

 

Excitement? Hell we signed Eovaldi and Pearce. That was pretty exciting. I have good feeling about those two.

Edited January 16, 2019 by Nick

[sk7326]

This offer ($25M average annual value) for Machado, who is 26 and has a career .905 OPS, represents a continued issue with free agency. Ownership is showing an unwillingness to pay the top free agents what they deserve for a second straight year.

 

Per Christopher Smith at MasaLive

 

Do sportswriters take Economics class? Market value is where buyer and seller agrees to a price.

 

It DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH. IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT BUYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR YOUR HOUSE.

 

What you deserve has nothing to do with what you may get.

 

This is true ... now if a 26 year old FA without a significant injury history is not getting paid, then things are tough. Baseball is giving less of its revenue to players than other sports. Owners are being smart given the system etc. I have no doubt the system will change in a couple of years.

[moonslav59]

Excitement? Hell we signed Eovaldi and Pearce. That was pretty exciting. I have good feeling about those two.

 

I do, too, but I did about Nunez after re re-signed him before 2018.

[Kimmi]

One could argue not bringing back CJ & JK is "breaking" it.

 

Fair. But I'm just not concerned about our BP. IMO, they are easily replaceable.

[Kimmi]

Excitement? Hell we signed Eovaldi and Pearce. That was pretty exciting. I have good feeling about those two.

 

I am pleased to have both of those players returning.

 

What we don't need is the excitement of a blockbuster deal that involves the trade of Bogaerts, Porcello, or someone along those lines.

[Hitch]

This offer ($25M average annual value) for Machado, who is 26 and has a career .905 OPS, represents a continued issue with free agency. Ownership is showing an unwillingness to pay the top free agents what they deserve for a second straight year.

 

Per Christopher Smith at MasaLive

 

Do sportswriters take Economics class? Market value is where buyer and seller agrees to a price.

 

It DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH. IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT BUYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR YOUR HOUSE.

 

What you deserve has nothing to do with what you may get.

 

If Machado is available at 7 years for $25 a year, I'd grab him and trade Bogaerts in a heartbeat. Although I'm positive the price for Machado is going to get much higher.

[notin]

If Machado is available at 7 years for $25 a year, I'd grab him and trade Bogaerts in a heartbeat. Although I'm positive the price for Machado is going to get much higher.

 

 

But hypothetically what would a one year of Bogaerts be worth in a trade?

[Bellhorn04]

If Machado is available at 7 years for $25 a year, I'd grab him and trade Bogaerts in a heartbeat. Although I'm positive the price for Machado is going to get much higher.

 

I honestly don't know if the price is going to get that much higher. It's January 16. If there was going to be a bidding war it would have taken place by now. There's something a little odd going on here. It could be that Manny really did himself in with his behaviors.

[Hitch]

But hypothetically what would a one year of Bogaerts be worth in a trade?

 

Tough to answer, but I imagine restocking the farm a little and bringing back a good reliever would certainly not be out of the question.

 

I honestly don't know if the price is going to get that much higher. It's January 16. If there was going to be a bidding war it would have taken place by now. There's something a little odd going on here. It could be that Manny really did himself in with his behaviors.

 

Maybe. I just can't believe a guy of his talent will go that cheap and for only 7 years.

 

I completely understand that people are worried about his attitude on times and let's be honest he seems a right prick, but his team mates always seem to like him and even if you did get fed up of his ways, with that contract, you could probably easily move him after a few years if he continues to be such a force offensively and defensively.

 

I'd far prefer Manny for $25m over Bogey for what? $20m? Although Bogey would maybe get lesser years.

[Bellhorn04]

Tough to answer, but I imagine restocking the farm a little and bringing back a good reliever would certainly not be out of the question.

 

 

 

Maybe. I just can't believe a guy of his talent will go that cheap and for only 7 years.

 

I completely understand that people are worried about his attitude on times and let's be honest he seems a right prick, but his team mates always seem to like him and even if you did get fed up of his ways, with that contract, you could probably easily move him after a few years if he continues to be such a force offensively and defensively.

 

I'd far prefer Manny for $25m over Bogey for what? $20m? Although Bogey would maybe get lesser years.

 

Manny's agent says the report about the $175 mill offer is bogus. It might be turning into a circus.

[Hitch]

It wouldn't surprise me. I know the market is weirdly depressed right now, but that's crazy low.

[Bellhorn04]

As far as Manny vs. Bogaerts - Manny may be the bigger talent, but I think I'd rather have Xander. Some of that's homerism, no doubt, but the guy's been with us since 2013, played on 2 championship teams, really hit the ball well this year.

[Hitch]

I think if we put Manny on this team in place of Bogey we win 109 games this year.

[notin]

As far as Manny vs. Bogaerts - Manny may be the bigger talent, but I think I'd rather have Xander. Some of that's homerism, no doubt, but the guy's been with us since 2013, played on 2 championship teams, really hit the ball well this year.

 

 

Also, signing Machado for 7 years might mean Betts is gone in two...

[Nick]

Also, signing Machado for 7 years might mean Betts is gone in two...

 

Machado, personality aside, is a nice player. He's averaged around 36 homers over the past four years. But does his stats warrant a 10 year $300M deal? I just don't see it. What's his upside? Some players mature early and play well in early years. That does not mean they will continue to ascend.

 

On positional side, I see Trout and Betts deserving that kind of money. Not to say I'd pay for it. And can they really get that much better over the next ten years? I seriously doubt it.

[Bellhorn04]

One concerning thing about Machado is his numbers at Camden Yards and away from Camden Yards.

 

Career OPS at Camden .888

Career road OPS .761 - yuck

Edited January 17, 2019 by Bellhorn04

[jacksonianmarch]

Machado, personality aside, is a nice player. He's averaged around 36 homers over the past four years. But does his stats warrant a 10 year $300M deal? I just don't see it. What's his upside? Some players mature early and play well in early years. That does not mean they will continue to ascend.

 

On positional side, I see Trout and Betts deserving that kind of money. Not to say I'd pay for it. And can they really get that much better over the next ten years? I seriously doubt it.

 

He’s a perennial 6+ WAR player who plays the most important defensive position well (at least when he was in LA) and is a FA after just turning 26. That’s why he’s looking at the numbers he’s looking at. Also, at 26 yrs old, he’s got a shot to actually be better for the next 7 years

[moonslav59]

He’s a perennial 6+ WAR player who plays the most important defensive position well (at least when he was in LA) and is a FA after just turning 26. That’s why he’s looking at the numbers he’s looking at. Also, at 26 yrs old, he’s got a shot to actually be better for the next 7 years

 

He turns 27 in July and rates to have about 2-3 years "in prime." He may then have 2-3 years of near prime, but he may start declining after 2-3 years.

 

His age and position do make him seem like the best candidate to break the record for the highest contract ever, but his attitude might get in the way.

 

9 year deal:

 

2-3 prime

 

2-3 near/post prime

 

3-4 post prime but not necessarily a drag on the team & budget

[mvp 78]

One concerning thing about Machado is his numbers at Camden Yards and away from Camden Yards.

 

Career OPS at Camden .888

Career road OPS .761 - yuck

 

Xander career split:

 

home 835

away 709

[kenmeister]

As far as Manny vs. Bogaerts - Manny may be the bigger talent, but I think I'd rather have Xander. Some of that's homerism, no doubt, but the guy's been with us since 2013, played on 2 championship teams, really hit the ball well this year.

 

Same here.

 

And I really don't want Harper. Most overrated FA I can remember.

[mvp 78]

Same here.

 

And I really don't want Harper. Most overrated FA I can remember.

 

That's how I feel.