A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Bellhorn04]

Something else to consider is there will be a new CB Agreement year AFTER Betts is signed. We may incur less penalty with luxury tax threashhold going up.

 

It's really an exciting time. I know this, all good things must end. I hope Henry leaves the window open as long as he can. Henry will be remembered for owning the Sox more than anything else he'll accomplish in his life. He's been a good steward for the Sox fans. He's set the bar high for next ownership group.

 

He's a smart guy. He knows this is is legacy.

 

Henry is the most underrated component of the Red Sox amazing run of success in the 21st century.

[cp176]

Henry is the most underrated component of the Red Sox amazing run of success in the 21st century.

 

Really ? - I'm not saying that you might not be right but I've always considered him at the top of the food chain so to speak. Without him as our owner, we do not accomplish what we have accomplished. i can't be alone with respect to my thinking.

[Slasher9]

Really ? - I'm not saying that you might not be right but I've always considered him at the top of the food chain so to speak. Without him as our owner, we do not accomplish what we have accomplished. i can't be alone with respect to my thinking.

 

i think that is what he meant by underrated. he hardly ever gets mentioned when it comes to Red Sox successes. DD & Cora get all the accolades....

[d-money]

Let’s repeat! Also I hope the skanks go after Corbin. I think he’s vastly overrated.

[cp176]

i think that is what he meant by underrated. he hardly ever gets mentioned when it comes to Red Sox successes. DD & Cora get all the accolades....

 

The beauty of it all I think is that that is exactly what JH wants. He wants to see DD and Cora get the credit. We have been extremely fortunate to have this ownership group in place for so long. Most of us who are lifelong fans kind of expected more success when JH purchased the team. It is probably safe to say that not many of us could have predicted the magnitude of the success that we have had. With all of the talk about how tough things are going to be for this franchise moving forward, a part of me thinks that this will be seen as just one more big challenge to overcome. I have learned to not underestimate what can happen when people who care about something get presented with big challenges. I don't think that our owners are going run away from a challenge. As long as they are here, and I think that they like it here, this team will continue to compete at the highest level. We saw what happens when they don't. That is when JH gets involved. Make changes - bring in the right people - get the job done.

[moonslav59]

Great post, CP. We are so lucky Henry bought the team.

[Bellhorn04]

Kershaw stays with Dodgers.

[Kimmi]

If the Sox resign Pearce and have Nunez and Holt, there is no room for a 3rd catcher. Pearce gves us more than Swihart. I suppose Pedey is in question but I do expect him to be the starting 2nd baseman. I think Moreland won't be traded so its either Swihart or Leon to go.

 

I am fairly convinced that one of Swihart or Leon will be traded. As you and several others have pointed out, there just isn't enough room on the roster for that 3rd catcher.

[Kimmi]

Having Swi and the others gives us incredible flexibility in the NL parks. I do not regret having him for a moment.

 

I absolutely love the flexibility that having a 3rd catcher who can play other positions (or a utility player who can also catch) brings to the team.

[Kimmi]

SBNations top Free Agents Rankings

36. Buchholz

 

!!!

 

In!

[jung]

For my game thread buddies, man I am jonesing something fierce. Upwards of 180 games and then......nothing.

[S5Dewey]

For my game thread buddies, man I am jonesing something fierce. Upwards of 180 games and then......nothing.

 

That's what I was telling my s/o recently, only as it pertains to the players. They've spent nine months together as friends and teammates, attempting to reach a goal. Now they've reached that goal and suddenly they've parted. That's got to leave a void in their lives, doesn't it?

[notin]

I am fairly convinced that one of Swihart or Leon will be traded. As you and several others have pointed out, there just isn't enough room on the roster for that 3rd catcher.

 

No point in trading Leon. He has virtually no value in a deal. Simplest thing is to non-tender him.

 

In fact, many people have described players as "more valuable to the Sox than they are in a trade," which I've heard to describe Holt and Swihart in particular. I never agree with this, but it might actually apply to Leon. As he is Sale's primary catcher, he has a value to the Sox. But to the rest of MLB, he is another all glove/no bat backup catcher, the likes of which can be had for minor league deals every off-season and can already be found in most organizations...

[notin]

For my game thread buddies, man I am jonesing something fierce. Upwards of 180 games and then......nothing.

 

At least it had a happy ending.

 

My daughter's softball team lost their first playoff game, and then BOOM. Season over.

 

But she knew most of the kids on the other team and was actually happy for them, and was hanging out with them after the game...

[notin]

The MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contect is out.

 

The staff predicted the Red Sox sign Eovaldi and Andrew Miller. Pearce was not among the top 50 free agents, and therefore had no prediction.

 

The prediction for the Yankees is Corbin and Ottavino. Not sure why anyone thinks the Yankees need bullpen help...

[notin]

Let’s repeat! Also I hope the skanks go after Corbin. I think he’s vastly overrated.

 

I fear they'll go after Kluber, who isn't overrated but is available..

[Jasonbay44]

The MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contect is out.

 

The staff predicted the Red Sox sign Eovaldi and Andrew Miller. Pearce was not among the top 50 free agents, and therefore had no prediction.

 

The prediction for the Yankees is Corbin and Ottavino. Not sure why anyone thinks the Yankees need bullpen help...

Miller worries me. He's getting older, struggled last year both on the mound and with injuries.

[moonslav59]

The MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contect is out.

 

The staff predicted the Red Sox sign Eovaldi and Andrew Miller. Pearce was not among the top 50 free agents, and therefore had no prediction.

 

The prediction for the Yankees is Corbin and Ottavino. Not sure why anyone thinks the Yankees need bullpen help...

 

Losing Britton and Robertson might be a reason, but they have larger needs elsewhere.

[moonslav59]

Miller worries me. He's getting older, struggled last year both on the mound and with injuries.

 

Me, too.

[jung]

Me, too.

 

Miller is broken. Probably needs an offseason and then some before he is anything like himself again. May need some sort of procedure. Always hard to tell these days. But he is clearly broken.

[notin]

Losing Britton and Robertson might be a reason, but they have larger needs elsewhere.

 

Britton only gave them 25 IP...

[notin]

Miller worries me. He's getting older, struggled last year both on the mound and with injuries.

 

I’d pass on Miller for the same reasons...

[Bellhorn04]

Miller would be worth considering if his issues knock down his price to something reasonable.

 

:D Like that's gonna happen.

[jacksonianmarch]

Losing Britton and Robertson might be a reason, but they have larger needs elsewhere.

 

We have a need in the rotation and a wish list for the lineup, although no glaring need now. We have plenty of kids who throw cheese who can be pen arms. Green and Betances were both failed starters with big arms that transitioned well. We have far more of those coming down the pipe as well. I don't see the need to grab a 30+ yr old reliever for similar money to KRob rather than just re-sign KRob. I don't think we add anything to be totally honest. Our pen as is, is already deep

 

Chapman

Betances

Green

Holder

 

Figure a pen now has 7 spots with 12 pitchers kept. German is out of options, so he will be out there. Cole will likely be out there too. Tarpley has the inside edge on lefty innings. I think we are full out there for now

[Bellhorn04]

We have a need in the rotation and a wish list for the lineup, although no glaring need now. We have plenty of kids who throw cheese who can be pen arms. Green and Betances were both failed starters with big arms that transitioned well. We have far more of those coming down the pipe as well. I don't see the need to grab a 30+ yr old reliever for similar money to KRob rather than just re-sign KRob. I don't think we add anything to be totally honest. Our pen as is, is already deep

 

Chapman

Betances

Green

Holder

 

Figure a pen now has 7 spots with 12 pitchers kept. German is out of options, so he will be out there. Cole will likely be out there too. Tarpley has the inside edge on lefty innings. I think we are full out there for now

 

Cole? Let's hope.

[notin]

Boring Sox off-season in store.

 

Unless something goes wrong in ST, the Sox have a full lineup returning, potentially no bench spots available, one open rotation spot and one bullpen spot.

 

I do think there will be some other moved

[Bellhorn04]

Boring Sox off-season in store.

 

Unless something goes wrong in ST, the Sox have a full lineup returning, potentially no bench spots available, one open rotation spot and one bullpen spot.

 

I do think there will be some other moved

 

It wouldn't be so boring if they sign Eovaldi...and Buchholz.

[jacksonianmarch]

Cole? Let's hope.

 

Cole was effective in a mop up role. When pressed for more, he wasn’t effectivr

[moonslav59]

For argument's sake, let's assume the Sox have $30M to spend this winter and the 2019 season, and every FA would agree to sign with us at the amount MLBTR projects. Who would you sign?

 

SP:

$21.5M x 6 Corbin

$20.5M x 4 Keuchel

$16M x 3 JA Happ

$16M x 2 Morton

$15M x 4 Eovaldi

$12M x 2 G Gonzalez

$11M x 3 Ryu

$11M x 2 A Sanchez

$11m x 2 M Harvey

$11M x 2 T Cahill

$8M x 2 L Lynn

$8M x 1 Sabathia

$7.5M x 2 D Holland

$7M x 6 Yusei Kikuchi

$6M x 2 B Norris

$6M x 2 W Miley

$6M x 1 E Santana

$6M x 1 Pomeranz

$5M x 2 G Richards

 

RP:

$17.5M x 4 Kimbrel

$11M x 3 J Familia

$11M x 3 Z Britton

$11M x 3 Robertson

$10M x 3 Ottavino

$9M x 9 A Miller

$9M x 3 J Kelly

$9M x 2 J Soria

$8M x 2 C Allen

$8M x 1 Herrera

$6M x 2 B Brach

$5M x 2 J Chavez

 

1B/3B (move to 1B or move Devers to 1B)

$20M x 1 Donaldson

$9M x 4 Marwin Gonzalez

$8M x 2 Moustakas

$?? x ?? S Pearce (not listed on MLBTR's top 50 list)

 

C

$16M x 4 Y Grandal

$12M x 3 W Ramos

$4M x 2 M Maldonado

$4M x 2 K Suzuki

 

2B

$10M x 2 D Murphy

$10M x 1 Dozier

$9M x 2 DJ Mahieu

 

[moonslav59]

I might try...

 

$15M Eovaldi

$10M Ottavino

and hope we can squeeze Pearce in.

 

or...

 

$11M Familia

$8M Cody Allen

$7M Kikuchi

Save $4M for in-season acquisition(s)