2019 Spring Training Thread

[Kimmi]

I've already exceeded my quota of bullpen comments , but just one more thought : I don't understand why you would put so much money into building a championship team and then go cheap and hope for the best with the bullpen. The way the game is played today , just about every close game comes down to a battle of the bullpens , often for three or more innings . The one advantage the Yankees have on the Sox is the pen . And it could be a considerable advantage. Here's hoping Mejia stays clean and contributes and that this kid Feltman is the real deal .

 

More money does not necessarily equate to better. Likewise, going cheap does not necessarily mean being bad.

[Kimmi]

After the Sox win it all again- back-to-back- every team will copy us, and FA pen salaries will nose-dive.

 

!!!

[Kimmi]

Brace yourself, Kimmie. This is the rumor around the park today regarding Sale.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikedowling/2019/03/14/sale-red-sox-on-verge-of-contract-extension/#5dca604e3991

 

Haha. I am braced, though still cringing at the thought. I read this a couple of days ago and commented to SCM that Sale would be here in 2020.

 

I will go on record as saying that the Sox should not extend Sale to a long term contract @ $35 mil a year. It would be a huge mistake, IMO.

[TylerD]

Just saying. Sale looked dynamite today.

[iortiz]

Just saying. Sale looked dynamite today.

 

Yes he did. I was with my compadres A700 a en S5Dewey at the JetBlue Park and he looked sharp. Seems like they just offered 245/6. If true, it speaks volumes of his physical condition.

[moonslav59]

Yes he did. I was with my compadres A700 a en S5Dewey at the JetBlue Park and he looked sharp. Seems like they just offered 245/6. If true, it speaks volumes of his physical condition.

 

$41M a year?

[iortiz]

$41M a year?

 

Seems so...

[moonslav59]

Seems so...

 

Where's the link?

[moonslav59]

I found "$35M plus"...

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikedowling/2019/03/14/sale-red-sox-on-verge-of-contract-extension/#7a50a4d63991

[moonslav59]

I'd pay $35M x 6 for...

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

Wait until after the season begins to make it official.

[S5Dewey]

I found "$35M plus"...

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikedowling/2019/03/14/sale-red-sox-on-verge-of-contract-extension/#7a50a4d63991

 

I thought the article was interesting in that it mentioned the "negotiations" with Jon Lester and how the Sox blew that one so now they're determined to not make the same mistake again.

 

Once again what happened with Lester has Lucchino's fingerprints all over it.

[moonslav59]

I thought the article was interesting in that it mentioned the "negotiations" with Jon Lester and how the Sox blew that one so now they're determined to not make the same mistake again.

 

Once again what happened with Lester has Lucchino's fingerprints all over it.

 

I agree, and I hope we find a way to keep Sale.

[jung]

Cora had guys that will be on the 25 man out there the bulk of the game on Saturday and they looked like a team again. I hope Pedey plays as long as he can play protecting that knee as he did Saturday. I don't think he should stop trying to protect the knee out there in the field even if it feels pretty stable.

[cp176]

I am delighted that the Red Sox appear ready to sign Chirs Sale long term. Based on his comments, I'm pretty sure that John Henry takes responsibility for the Lester non-sign. The buck stops here so to speak. More importantly, I could care care less about who did what or who said what or who thinks what. Oh and I also think that this signing indicates that the Red Sox as an organization will do what they need to do to stay competitive moving forward. We are very fortunate to have an owner who is willing to put quite a bit of cash back into his team.

[Kimmi]

Just saying. Sale looked dynamite today.

 

Yes, he did. I'm not trying to say that Sale isn't a great pitcher.

 

Just saying that he is not worth $35 mil a year (or more) for a 5+ year contract.

 

That has everything to do with my dislike of huge contracts, especially for 30+ year old pitchers, and nothing to do with my opinion of Sale.

[Kimmi]

I'd pay $35M x 6 for...

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

Wait until after the season begins to make it official.

 

I hate to say it Moon, but you have gone over the deep end.

[Kimmi]

I thought the article was interesting in that it mentioned the "negotiations" with Jon Lester and how the Sox blew that one so now they're determined to not make the same mistake again.

 

Once again what happened with Lester has Lucchino's fingerprints all over it.

 

100% agree.

 

That said, I really hope that the Sox don't try to make up for their mistake with Lester by going overboard with Sale.

 

The Sox need to be smart about this.

[Nick]

I'd pay $35M x 6 for...

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

Wait until after the season begins to make it official.

 

You simply can not give up on this guy. Strong starting rotation is a must to field a world championship caliber team.

Offense can come and go. Great pitching still trumps great hitting.

 

This is what we're doing.

 

We're replacing Sale/Porcello with Sale/Hernandez in 2020.

Porcello's $20+M will take care of Sale's new contract.

 

I expect the Sox to announce the extension in early April.

[notin]

I'd pay $35M x 6 for...

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

Wait until after the season begins to make it official.

 

 

5 years would be my limit, and I would do it with great trepidation.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it will be great news for Sox fans if they do it. It will be a clear signal from JH that he is all in for the foreseeable future.

[S5Dewey]

5 years would be my limit, and I would do it with great trepidation.

 

I'm on board with the trepidation part, 100%. I remember when we first signed Sale that many of us were saying that his motion screams, "I'm going to need surgeryyyyyyy!"

 

Now, if there were some kind of a "John Lackey" clause to protect the Sox I could be enter into that 5 year deal with a lot more comfort, but that's probably not realistic.

[Bellhorn04]

To hell with trepidation, I say. Spend away, Johnny Boy! It's not like we can stop him.

[moonslav59]

5 years would be my limit, and I would do it with great trepidation.

 

What's one more year?

 

We'd be lucky he didn't hold out for 8 years.

[notin]

What's one more year?

 

We'd be lucky he didn't hold out for 8 years.

 

 

One more year could be a lot.

 

If Sandoval didn’t sign for “one more year,” we might have Craig Kimbrel in the bullpen. (Or another closer fresh off free agency.)

 

How many good years do you think Sale has left? Comparisons are tough, since most of his equals or close matches are not much older. But Johan Santana is a great comp through age 29. And how were Santana’s next 5 seasons after that? Well for starters, he only pitched in three of them. If something like that happens to Sale in three years, you think those first 3 years will be good enough to justify a 3 year $105mill deadweight commitment with a $35mill AAV clogging up the tax situation?

[notin]

To hell with trepidation, I say. Spend away, Johnny Boy! It's not like we can stop him.

 

 

I’d rather he spent heavy right now and re- offered the QO to Kimbrel. 1 yr $17.9mill...

[Bellhorn04]

I’d rather he spent heavy right now and re- offered the QO to Kimbrel. 1 yr $17.9mill...

 

I hear you. It might still happen, who knows?

[moonslav59]

One more year could be a lot.

 

If Sandoval didn’t sign for “one more year,” we might have Craig Kimbrel in the bullpen. (Or another closer fresh off free agency.)

 

How many good years do you think Sale has left? Comparisons are tough, since most of his equals or close matches are not much older. But Johan Santana is a great comp through age 29. And how were Santana’s next 5 seasons after that? Well for starters, he only pitched in three of them. If something like that happens to Sale in three years, you think those first 3 years will be good enough to justify a 3 year $105mill deadweight commitment with a $35mill AAV clogging up the tax situation?

 

I think what Sale would give us over the first 4 years of the 6 year deal would be worth having to deal with an expected decline in years 5 & 6.

 

Of course, I'd have trepidation, too, but Sale is just too great to let walk away.

 

I'm thinking a 6 year deal is less than he'd get on the open market, so that's our "hometown discount."

[Nick]

I think what Sale would give us over the first 4 years of the 6 year deal would be worth having to deal with an expected decline in years 5 & 6.

 

Of course, I'd have trepidation, too, but Sale is just too great to let walk away.

 

I'm thinking a 6 year deal is less than he'd get on the open market, so that's our "hometown discount."

 

It's silly to look for next 'Chris Sale' when we have the original ready to be extended.

[moonslav59]

It's silly to look for next 'Chris Sale' when we have the original ready to be extended.

 

I agree, but $35M could get us 2-3 very good players.

 

If we keep Betts, too. We'd be spending $100+M on 3 players.

Edited March 17, 2019 by moonslav59

[dgalehouse]

The Sale proposal is a tough one. Normally I am in favor of spending. And Sale is one of the best in the business. But it is an awfully big risk to make that kind of commitment to a pitcher , not to mention one who has not exactly been a model of durability.