2019 Spring Training Thread

[BillyWilliams]

Our TalkSox contingent had a great time at the last two Red Sox games, and the Red Sox got back on the winning track. We were sitting two rows in front of Remy and OB and few rows behind DD, LaRussa and Eck. Iortiz and Dewey scored autographs from Eck, Remy and OB. Iortiz got Remy’s attention with an enthusiastic “Buenes Tardes!” just a few minutes before the live broadcast. It was a lot of fun watching the games with these guys. I am going home on Monday and looking forward to the regular season.

 

Pretty cool.

 

I went to the first Yanks vs sawx at that ballpark, had a great time.

[BillyWilliams]

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

 

Chris Freakin' Sale

 

Wait until after the season begins to make it official.

 

I hope so.

 

And if you re-sign betts you'll have $100M++/yr tied up in 3 players, 2 of which are over 30yr old pitchers.........

[moonslav59]

I hope so.

 

And if you re-sign betts you'll have $100M++/yr tied up in 3 players, 2 of which are over 30yr old pitchers.........

 

If JD is still on the books, we may have $130+M tied up in 4 players.

[notin]

If JD is still on the books, we may have $130+M tied up in 4 players.

 

 

Think JD opts out and gets a huge raise at age 32?

[BillyWilliams]

If JD is still on the books, we may have $130+M tied up in 4 players.

 

With 3 of them north of 30yrs old.

 

As a Yankee fan I would love to see that...........

[Slasher9]

Think JD opts out and gets a huge raise at age 32?

 

i dont think he opts out.

if he has another great season i can see the Sox adding another year to the current contract in lieu of JD opting out.

[jacksonianmarch]

i dont think he opts out.

if he has another great season i can see the Sox adding another year to the current contract in lieu of JD opting out.

 

If the contract stays as is and he has another productive, healthy year, he definitely opts out. Clearly, the Sox could motivate him to stay by extending him like what the Yanks did with CC

[iortiz]

Our TalkSox contingent had a great time at the last two Red Sox games, and the Red Sox got back on the winning track. We were sitting two rows in front of Remy and OB and few rows behind DD, LaRussa and Eck. Iortiz and Dewey scored autographs from Eck, Remy and OB. Iortiz got Remy’s attention with an enthusiastic “Buenes Tardes!” just a few minutes before the live broadcast. It was a lot of fun watching the games with these guys. I am going home on Monday and looking forward to the regular season.

 

My son's best friend (who went on to play college baseball) once observed that baseball is the perfect game for guys to get together at. There's enough action to keep your attention but at the same time there's enough 'dead time' to talk about the action and to carry on conversations.

 

Iortiz & a700 are they kind of guys we all want to watch a game with, friendly, personable and extremely knowledgeable - although their collective memory far surpasses mine. :-).

 

Over the years I've had the opportunity to meet up with several posters, both from TalkSox and from the old BDC forums. Meeting these folks is a chance to put a face with the words and learn their personalities and I've never been disappointed. It's an experience I highly recommend if you get the chance. Now I'm looking forward to ST next year!

It was an honor and a pleasure watching Red Sox baseball with you guys. Thank you for the tickets and for having me this week, the expirence was priceless. It’s great to share games with very knowglable baseball guys like Steve and Ted.

Edited March 18, 2019 by iortiz

[Larry Cook]

Sale has to prove the following to get a fat contract:

 

1.) the shoulder is fine, no residual damage,

 

2.) he can actually pitch 200 innings a year and not die on us in August of every year.

[Bellhorn04]

Sale has to prove the following to get a fat contract:

 

1.) the shoulder is fine, no residual damage,

 

2.) he can actually pitch 200 innings a year and not die on us in August of every year.

 

The thing is, Sale will either agree to an extension before the season or he'll take it to free agency.

 

All you can hope is that a) those concerning factors knock down his price some; and the Sox are right when they say he's physically sound.

[notin]

The thing is, Sale will either agree to an extension before the season or he'll take it to free agency.

 

All you can hope is that a) those concerning factors knock down his price some; and the Sox are right when they say he's physically sound.

 

 

I’m sure Sale is constantly being reminded of what a great deal he gave the White Sox last time and how many millions he cost himself. He might be getting advised to not take a discount offer again (as if $30-35mil per year should be considered a discount.)

[moonslav59]

Think JD opts out and gets a huge raise at age 32?

 

No. I'm not sure he opts out at all, and if he doesn't we may have $130+M in 4 players in 2021: Betts, Sale, Price & JD.

 

It will only be for 1 year, but 2020, with a Sale extension and Betts' arb will be a lot as well.

[S5Dewey]

I’m sure Sale is constantly being reminded of what a great deal he gave the White Sox last time and how many millions he cost himself. He might be getting advised to not take a discount offer again (as if $30-35mil per year should be considered a discount.)

 

 

With the 6 year rumor being leaked it appears that they've agreed to come to an agreement. Now they're just quibbling over the money.

[moonslav59]

With 3 of them north of 30yrs old.

 

As a Yankee fan I would love to see that...........

 

I can see your point, and you guys may be facing the same type of choices someday.

[moonslav59]

With the 6 year rumor being leaked it appears that they've agreed to come to an agreement. Now they're just quibbling over the money.

 

...or waiting for the season to begin to announce it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sale has to prove the following to get a fat contract:

 

1.) the shoulder is fine, no residual damage,

 

2.) he can actually pitch 200 innings a year and not die on us in August of every year.

 

Agreed, he needs to prove he isn’t damaged goods. I know the Sox want to keep him, but I don’t see them hammering out a contract prior to FA. The Sox are going to want a discount due to th injury concerns and Sale is going to want to maximize his income due to his performance. It’s probably best for both parties to wait until November

[S5Dewey]

No. I'm not sure he opts out at all, and if he doesn't we may have $130+M in 4 players in 2021: Betts, Sale, Price & JD.

 

It will only be for 1 year, but 2020, with a Sale extension and Betts' arb will be a lot as well.

 

I don't see him opting out. He's getting well paid, and he had to go deep into the offseason to get the contract he got. In addition, he's now two years older.

 

I can see the Sox offering him a 1B mitt and telling him to learn to use it. That'll make him a full-time defensive player - which he wants - without jeapordizing (sp???) his salary.

[S5Dewey]

...or waiting for the season to begin to announce it.

 

Tell me again.. what are the LT implications of that?

[notin]

I don't see him opting out. He's getting well paid, and he had to go deep into the offseason to get the contract he got. In addition, he's now two years older.

 

I can see the Sox offering him a 1B mitt and telling him to learn to use it. That'll make him a full-time defensive player - which he wants - without jeapordizing (sp???) his salary.

 

 

Or .. I think he should at least wait one more year to opt out since he still makes $23.4mill in 2020 before his salary drops (to a food stamp level $19mill). If so, the Sox might have an opening in the OF if Bradley walks. Martinez-Benintendi-Betts might be the OF in 2020...

[Bellhorn04]

Tell me again.. what are the LT implications of that?

 

It doesn't affect the 2019 payroll for tax purposes - it defers it all into 2020 and future years.

[S5Dewey]

It doesn't affect the 2019 payroll for tax purposes - it defers it all into 2020 and future years.

 

Thanks.

[TylerD]

Agreed, he needs to prove he isn’t damaged goods. I know the Sox want to keep him, but I don’t see them hammering out a contract prior to FA. The Sox are going to want a discount due to th injury concerns and Sale is going to want to maximize his income due to his performance. It’s probably best for both parties to wait until November

 

It's a shame he can't gain a bit more weight or something. He truly is an astonishing pitcher but it is definitely concerning he can't make a full season..... And in my personal opinion I think a big reason for that is his body weight. The guy is just too shin and has no muscle mass at all. I would love to keep him as he is a shut down pitcher and it's almost a guaranteed win when he is called upon but late in the season is a different story.

[moonslav59]

It's a shame he can't gain a bit more weight or something. He truly is an astonishing pitcher but it is definitely concerning he can't make a full season..... And in my personal opinion I think a big reason for that is his body weight. The guy is just too shin and has no muscle mass at all. I would love to keep him as he is a shut down pitcher and it's almost a guaranteed win when he is called upon but late in the season is a different story.

 

"Can't make a full season?"

 

He's one of the top IP pitchers over the last 5-7 years.

 

He's had 26 or more starts for 7 straight years, including 5 seasons with 30+. If you count his 3 playoff starts last year, he's stared 30+ games in 6 of the last 7 seasons with 4 straight going into 2019. He led the league in IP in 2017.

 

Am I concerned? Yes, but let's not say he hasn't shown he can last a full season. He's been a horse, until late last year and one other brief time way back in 2014.

 

[oldtimer]

With Trout now expected to sign a 12 year AAV of approx $36 million, the contract for Mookie might also escalate. I can't believe the 12 year deal myself. The risk is tremendous for the team. Imagine an injury or just normal decline setting in and leaving them with that dead money salary for 8 years. Things have gotten absolutely crazy. I wonder who does their risk analysis work?

[Bellhorn04]

With Trout now expected to sign a 12 year AAV of approx $36 million, the contract for Mookie might also escalate. I can't believe the 12 year deal myself. The risk is tremendous for the team. Imagine an injury or just normal decline setting in and leaving them with that dead money salary for 8 years. Things have gotten absolutely crazy. I wonder who does their risk analysis work?

 

The craziest part is that teams can actually afford to take on contracts like this and still make money.

[S5Dewey]

The craziest part is that teams can actually afford to take on contracts like this and still make money.

 

Again, as I've been saying, it makes me wonder just how much money there is floating around out there!

 

I wouldn't say that all owners could pony up that kind of money but if the richest can it follows that even the poorest are making a bundle.

[moonslav59]

The craziest part is that teams can actually afford to take on contracts like this and still make money.

 

It just goes to show us how much money is made in baseball.

 

162 games

 

TV

 

Concessions

 

Memorabilia

 

Playoffs

 

Look how much teams sell for compared to their purchase price!

[BillyWilliams]

 

Look how much teams sell for compared to their purchase price!

 

Well, that all depends on when they were purchased.

[Bellhorn04]

Again, as I've been saying, it makes me wonder just how much money there is floating around out there!

 

I wouldn't say that all owners could pony up that kind of money but if the richest can it follows that even the poorest are making a bundle.

 

This is why we need guys like you and 700hitter and iortiz going to those spring games!

[moonslav59]

Well, that all depends on when they were purchased.

 

Yes, but even teams sold shortly after purchase normally make big bucks.

 

http://www.afootinthebox.com/peter/every-mlb-teams-purchase-price-and-value-today