A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Kimmi]

Mostly because Swi isn't as good as the guys he'd be replacing.

 

Swi is stuck in no-man's land. He's probably good enough to be a backup catcher but we've got one of those. He's also good enough to be a back-up position player, but not on the Sox with Nunez and Holt already there.

 

I like Swihart and I think he has a future in MLB if he'd get the playing time but there's no spot for him on the Sox. Do the kid a favor and trade him.

 

If the Sox are not going to give him the playing time, then yes, they need to let him go.

[moonslav59]

I still like the idea of having 3 catchers, IF one of them can play solidly at several other positions. But, for whatever reason, Cora seemed reluctant to give Swihart the playing time at those other positions.

 

I've always liked the idea, especially if Swihart could play other positions and hit over .750 (didn't happen), but I don't think we PH for our weak hitting catchers enough.

[oldtimer]

If the Sox are not going to give him the playing time, then yes, they need to let him go.

 

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.

[Emp9]

I have Sprint. In fact I’m posting from my cell right now and let me tell you my reception is alwa

 

lol

[Emp9]

DD's thoughts on the upcoming cliff

 

alright, that was a good post. touché lol

[lasitter]

Last place again?

 

I think it's unreasonable that we could repeat. The real question is what could we get for a couple of our quality pieces in their final year of team control, as opposed to just a rental.

 

I'd also like to find out if anyone other than Pedroia would take a long team friendly contract to become a franchise player. I'm not sorry about paying him for unproductive years specifically because he did.

[lasitter]

I still like the idea of having 3 catchers, IF one of them can play solidly at several other positions. But, for whatever reason, Cora seemed reluctant to give Swihart the playing time at those other positions.

 

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

[moonslav59]

If we get a platoon (Pearce?) for Moreland and Pedey makes the roster, there will be no room for Swihart, unless we unload Nunez or Holt (not).

[moonslav59]

SBNations top Free Agents Rankings

 

1. Machado

2. Harper

3. Kershaw

4. Corbin

5. Donaldson

6. Kimbrel

7. Happ

8. Keuchel

9. N Cruz

10. Pollock

11. A Miller

12. Morton

13. Brantley

14. Eovaldi

15. Ottavino

16. Ramos

17. Y Grandal

18. LeMahieu

19. Robertson

20. McCutchen

21. Lowrie

22. Ryu

23. Murphy

24. K Suzuki

25. Marwin Gonzalez

26. Jose Iglesias

27. Adam Jones

28. Gio Gonzalez

29. Z Britton

30. CC Sabathia

31. Joe Kelly

32. Wade Miley

33. J Chavez

34. T Sipp

35. Markakis

36. Buchholz

37. M Harvey

38. L Lynn

39. E Santana

40. G Richards

41. Shawn Kelley

42. Ian Kinsler

43. B Dozier

44. Asdrubal Cabrera

45. B McCann

46. E Gattis

47. M Wieters

48. A Sanchez

49. B Norris

50. Hellickson/Cahill/D Holland

[Bellhorn04]

I've always liked the idea, especially if Swihart could play other positions and hit over .750 (didn't happen), but I don't think we PH for our weak hitting catchers enough.

 

You don't think Cora was aggressive enough in when he pinch hit for them? He certainly was in the postseason, I thought. In the regular season he probably placed less emphasis on it.

[Bellhorn04]

SBNations top Free Agents Rankings

36. Buchholz

 

!!!

[notin]

!!!

 

Ahead of Dozier.

 

How is Dozier lower than Kinsler?

[Bellhorn04]

It's not his job to be extremely specific to the media about his plans. It's always better to talk in generalities.

 

Oh I get that. When it came to the question about free agents he could have said something like 'We're working hard on all those matters' or something truly vague. What he said suggested that there would be more than one Qualifying Offer, which anyone following the team knows makes no sense. I just find it mildly amusing.

[Bellhorn04]

Ahead of Dozier.

 

How is Dozier lower than Kinsler?

 

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

[notin]

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

 

Hey, depending on Pedroia’s health, 2b might be a position of need. According to this guy, the Sox would be better off signing Kinsler instead of Dozier. I would expect Kinsler to be a cheaper and, more important, shorter deal. But which one makes the Sox better?

[notin]

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

 

If you take DD for his word and the Sox are keeping Swihart, Pearce becomes a lot less likely to return. There are simply not enough roster spots if everyone is healthy...

[Nick]

f***ing Panda. I would like to fly him up suspended from a helicopter and drop him right on Cherry's face. "Here Ben, Boston says HELLO".

 

Unfortunately his $18M could be the difference between winning the world series again. Just think what we can get for that, year early.

[Bellhorn04]

Unfortunately his $18M could be the difference between winning the world series again. Just think what we can get for that, year early.

 

Can't be helped. And fortunately we've got an owner who is willing to incur the tax.

[notin]

Unfortunately his $18M could be the difference between winning the world series again. Just think what we can get for that, year early.

 

It comes off the books just in time to lock up Betts...

[Nick]

It comes off the books just in time to lock up Betts...

 

 

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.

[Slasher9]

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

 

IN!

[Slasher9]

If you take DD for his word ...

 

i mean last year we had 3 guys get surgeries within 1 week of him saying "no one needs surgery".

[cp176]

Unfortunately his $18M could be the difference between winning the world series again. Just think what we can get for that, year early.

 

I think that it is really interesting that we had the highest payroll in the game but a great deal of that money was forked out to players who were not playing for us. The only reason I mention this is because we get brow beaten about the size of the payroll but in terms of what we actually got for it, I wonder where that puts us with respect to other teams. Our data compilation experts I'm sure could tell us the answer in a New York minute. (had to add that one)

[notin]

I don't care about them. Give me Eovaldi, Pearce and Buchholz and I'm good.

 

I don’t expect a busy off-season.

 

The focus is likely to be pitching, with the Sox lookin to add a starter and two relievers.

 

The Sox will certainly try to re-sign Eovaldi. If that fails, maybe try to re-sign Kimbrel. Or both, which is possible.

 

In the bullpen,I expect a trade for one reliever, possibly involving Michael Chavis and Brian Johnson for someone like Jose Leclerc or Will Smith.

 

And the last arm added via free agency. Joe Kelly is in play here. Or a lefty arm like Justin Wilson, Jake Diekman, or Aaron Loup.

 

If they bring in a starter (because they signed Kimbrel and not Eovaldi), some possible names include Pomeranz (who, if he is healthy, could be a steal), Charlie Morton, Matt Harvey (could also be a steal, but, really, he’s never healthy), Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Tomlin, Lance Lynn, or Gio “Walk And Home Run Machine” Gonzalez. I suppose they could also go heavy on Dallas Keuchel, assuming his demands are not insane.

 

Unless they deal someone like Swihart or Holt, I don’t think Pearce comes back. If Pedroia is a question mark, it is possible Esteban Quiroz gets time at 2b. That is why he was originally signed, after all.

 

And other than a decision on Tyler Thornburg, that’s about it...

[harmony]

If they bring in a starter (because they signed Kimbrel and not Eovaldi), some possible names include Pomeranz (who, if he is healthy, could be a steal), Charlie Morton, Matt Harvey (could also be a steal, but, really, he’s never healthy), Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Tomlin, Lance Lynn, or Gio “Walk And Home Run Machine” Gonzalez. I suppose they could also go heavy on Dallas Keuchel, assuming his demands are not insane.

Wade Miley -- who led the 2015 Red Sox in starts, innings and wins -- is available with these Fancred projections:

42) Wade Miley, SP: He had a monster second half with Milwaukee. Big difference here. Expert: 2 years, $6.5M per, $13M. Me: 2 years, $10M per, $20M

.

https://fancredsports.com/Articles/inside-baseball-predicting-the-deals-for-131-of

[moonslav59]

You don't think Cora was aggressive enough in when he pinch hit for them? He certainly was in the postseason, I thought. In the regular season he probably placed less emphasis on it.

 

I'm not complaining, but I expected more PH'ing, even in the playoffs. I expected some more games would see our catchers PH for twice. It did happen more often in the playoffs, but I still expected more.

 

Again, I have no beefs with the best manager in Red Sox history.

[moonslav59]

Hey, depending on Pedroia’s health, 2b might be a position of need. According to this guy, the Sox would be better off signing Kinsler instead of Dozier. I would expect Kinsler to be a cheaper and, more important, shorter deal. But which one makes the Sox better?

 

We'd be better off waiting to the mid season for any 2B acquisitions.

[notin]

We'd be better off waiting to the mid season for any 2B acquisitions.

 

And if there is an early season need, Esteban Quiroz was signed for that reason...

[moonslav59]

And if there is an early season need, Esteban Quiroz was signed for that reason...

 

Plus, we could see an improved Nunez knee, continued improvement with Holt's durability and endurance and input from Lin or Hernandez before Quiroz gets a look and we decide to look outside the organization for a 2Bman. Then, there's a slight chance Pedey gives us something good.

 

Too many choices at 2B to spend precious resources there this winter. Wait it out.

[notin]

You clearly have more faith in Marco Hernandez than I do. I see him as a utility infielder with limited offensive potential and a hard time staying healthy. I think if there is a 40 man roster crunch, he’s a DFA candidate....