A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[S5Dewey]

I *so* want one more .300 season out of Pedroia.

 

Ya. Don't we all! I know I've said this before, but how good would the 2018 team have been WITH Pedroia?? Scary good. Not that they weren't scary good anyway.

[cp176]

Ya. Don't we all! I know I've said this before, but how good would the 2018 team have been WITH Pedroia?? Scary good. Not that they weren't scary good anyway.

 

Peoria might make a comeback even against my loud protestations of "we don't need him". I don't think he lasts though. I really am just ashamed of myself but I can't get that Machado incident out of my mind. Maybe if he returns and gets in that batter's box against Barnes and lets him throw at him a few times, I would change my feelings about him. (excuse me for this - I'm just in a playful mood right now)

[oldtimer]

Peoria might make a comeback even against my loud protestations of "we don't need him". I don't think he lasts though. I really am just ashamed of myself but I can't get that Machado incident out of my mind. Maybe if he returns and gets in that batter's box against Barnes and lets him throw at him a few times, I would change my feelings about him. (excuse me for this - I'm just in a playful mood right now)

 

Yes, I too would like to see Pedroia come back and perform near his past capability. My gut tells me he might make it back and even struggle for a while, but I doubt he can last or play even 81 games.

 

On another note, Moon listed salaries for only 9 pitchers, one of which is Wright, who has health problems of his own. He can be a valuable starter/Reliever if healthy, but there is a significan health risk with him as well. I would love to see us go for it again in 2019 by signing Eovaldi, Kelly and Brasier. We also might bring up an arm from the minors. If so, maybe the risk associated with Wright or the need for Thornburg or Workman might allow for a trade.

[Emp9]

You have serious durability issues. You don't seem to be able to stay on the Talksox field.

 

Oh yeah??? Tell all that to my agent.

 

 

[cp176]

Yes, I too would like to see Pedroia come back and perform near his past capability. My gut tells me he might make it back and even struggle for a while, but I doubt he can last or play even 81 games.

 

On another note, Moon listed salaries for only 9 pitchers, one of which is Wright, who has health problems of his own. He can be a valuable starter/Reliever if healthy, but there is a significan health risk with him as well. I would love to see us go for it again in 2019 by signing Eovaldi, Kelly and Brasier. We also might bring up an arm from the minors. If so, maybe the risk associated with Wright or the need for Thornburg or Workman might allow for a trade.

 

You are making me try to be serious. Probably a good thing.

 

I don't see second base as any issue at all. We have a number of guys right now who can play it adequately and others in the system who can if they can't. I'm just as nostalgic as anyone, but I just don't see Pedroia making much of a contribution on the field going forward.

 

I think that we will sign Eovaldi, Pomerantz possibly, and maybe Kelly as well.

 

I doubt very seriously that Swihart comes back, although he might I guess. It depends on how they address the catching situation or if they address it at all. I doubt seriously that they carry all three for another year.

 

I also won't be at all surprised if we see some trade action taking place as well in an effort to strengthen a team that already looks pretty strong and well set up for another year.

[notin]

I see a situation where a catcher is dealt for a reliever or prospect...

[Emp9]

I see a situation where a catcher is dealt for a reliever or prospect...

 

I was thinking this as well. Or part of a package. Like Swihart & Chavis for a set-up or decent MR guy.

[notin]

I was thinking this as well. Or part of a package. Like Swihart & Chavis for a set-up or decent MR guy.

 

I hope it’s Swihart. But some teams might prefer Vazquez.

 

Btw, any deal for an MLB pitcher puts Johnson’s roster spot at risk. Might as well include him too...

[notin]

I do agree Chavis is trade bait

[cp176]

I see a situation where a catcher is dealt for a reliever or prospect...

 

so do I

[cp176]

I do agree Chavis is trade bait

 

 

me too

[jacksonianmarch]

Do the Sox insure their contracts?

[Bellhorn04]

Do the Sox insure their contracts?

 

From what I've read they don't. The premiums are massive, as one would expect.

[Dojji]

They don't because they don't have to. They have an owner with a very high level of financial security.

 

Insurance is for situations where you can potentially incur losses you can't possibly cover out of pocket. If you have the financial security to take big losses on the chin without destroying your financial cushion, insurance is actually a losing proposition.

[S5Dewey]

Peoria might make a comeback even against my loud protestations of "we don't need him". I don't think he lasts though. I really am just ashamed of myself but I can't get that Machado incident out of my mind. Maybe if he returns and gets in that batter's box against Barnes and lets him throw at him a few times, I would change my feelings about him. (excuse me for this - I'm just in a playful mood right now)

 

There's nothing to be ashamed of. I have two problems with the Machado incident. One is Machado's slide and the other is Pedey's reaction. However, Machado is a cheap-shot artist and he continues to prove it so it's much easier to dislike Machado than it is Pedey.

[moonslav59]

With 9 field players including a DH and 2 catchers a given, we now have 3 utility players so either Swihart or Leon will not be with us next season. You can eliminate one salary there. I also only see 10 pitchers on your list with a potential for a starter and reliever. How much might they add? Could be $20 Mil between them to reach the high 230 million region. Even with that said, we still have uncertainty with Pedroia. His viability in 2019 is still a legitimate question. Could we wind up with Sandoval's and Pedroia's contracts for $32 mil being unproductive? Sure looks like a possibility.

 

If Pedey does not make the 25 man roster, there is room for Leon & Swihart, but I think we trade Swihart with another player (hopefull an out-of-options player) for a RP'er.

 

Since we have Pearce, Holt and Nunez, we don't need Lin, Chavis or Travis to replace Swihart or Leon.

[moonslav59]

We do have a little issue with having too many marginal players who are out of options (Cuevas, Swihart, Hembree, Johnson & Workman). I'm not sure how much value these players have in other GM's minds, and many teams are facing roster crunches this winter and may not be looking for a 2 for 1 type deal involving 2 out-of-options players.

 

In theory, I'd like to see us trade for a solid RP'er or 6th starter type (assuming we sign Eovaldi) that is better than Johnson/Velazquez.

 

I could see us trying something like this and throwing in Chavis, Ockimey or Travis might help improve the returning player's value a little bit:

 

Johnson, Swihart & Chavis for a better 5/6 starter.

 

Hembree, Swihart & Cuevas for a better RP'er.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Should we really be trading Chavis? Need something for the cliff years, don't we?

[notin]

Should we really be trading Chavis? Need something for the cliff years, don't we?

 

Holding on to Chavis is counterintuitive to being “all in”.

 

Besides, how many third basemen will we need in 2021?

[Bellhorn04]

Holding on to Chavis is counterintuitive to being “all in”.

 

Besides, how many third basemen will we need in 2021?

 

Can't Chavis play first, potentially?

[moonslav59]

Can't Chavis play first, potentially?

 

I don't think he's all that great at 3B, so manybe 1B is his final landing spot, but we're not yet sure Devers sticks at 3B either, so keeping Chavis does make some sense.

 

I guess it comes down to how good we (and more importantly DD) thinks he is and can become.

 

If you think he can be a plus at 3B or 1B in 2020, then find other guys to trade, but Chavis might be our best winter trading chip that wouldn't take away from our big league roster.

 

[notin]

Can't Chavis play first, potentially?

 

Do we really need him there either?

[Bellhorn04]

Do we really need him there either?

 

We'll need a first baseman in 2020, won't we?

[moonslav59]

We'll need a first baseman in 2020, won't we?

 

Yes, and keeping all 4 of our current farm options (Chavis, Ockimey, Travis & Dalbec) makes some sense, but trading one may not matter, if one of the other 3 steps up.

[notin]

Yes, and keeping all 4 of our current farm options (Chavis, Ockimey, Travis & Dalbec) makes some sense, but trading one may not matter, if one of the other 3 steps up.

 

Exactly.

 

It’s a numbers game.

[moonslav59]

Exactly.

 

It’s a numbers game.

 

...and a lot depends on how DD and his crew view the projected value of Chavis. For all we know, they may like Dalbec & Ockimey better or the same.

 

They may think none have a good chance. They may think 3 have a good chance. This is what will determine the choice of trading one of them and not our ideas of how good these kids are.

[Kimmi]

Doubt it. Not for a team with obvious ambitious to repeat in the World Series. We may or may not bring back Kimbrel, but DD isn't going into the season without a plan for exactly who he wants to close. The answer might surprise us, but there will BE an answer.

 

I agree with this. IMO, Dombrowski makes a splash for the closer role.

[Kimmi]

So much for the JDM to first base chatter.

 

I would still give JD reps at 1B. What would it hurt? He can play there in games at NL parks, and that would give us another option if Moreland or Pearce either get injured or do not perform up to task.

[moonslav59]

I would still give JD reps at 1B. What would it hurt? He can play there in games at NL parks, and that would give us another option if Moreland or Pearce either get injured or do not perform up to task.

 

Plus!

[notin]

I would still give JD reps at 1B. What would it hurt? He can play there in games at NL parks, and that would give us another option if Moreland or Pearce either get injured or do not perform up to task.

 

I’m not really sure why getting Pearce ended this. Do people forget that JDM is also the DH and plays everyday? Was the plan tomove JD to first against lefties and let the pitcher bat in those games?