The annual Jackie Bradley Jr thread (2019 Edition)

[notin]

If I was Rusney I would be pissed off, if they called me up. 11+million, next year 14 Million, No pressure, nothing to worry about. Living wonderful, I'm sure. Family set. I bet he's the happiest Man, who ever signed a Major League contract. Or at least its up there, with other signings.

58 + million and only 89 games in the Majors. Wonder what it breaks down, to pitches he faced.

 

 

He gets the same money whether he is playing in MLB, playing in AAA, or playing Nintendo RBI Baseball at home...

[cp176]

If I was Rusney I would be pissed off, if they called me up. 11+million, next year 14 Million, No pressure, nothing to worry about. Living wonderful, I'm sure. Family set. I bet he's the happiest Man, who ever signed a Major League contract. Or at least its up there, with other signings.

 

You could be right for sure. With all of the talk about the Red Sox not having any ml ready outfielders in the system, it just seems very strange to me. Basically I just think that it is ridiculous what has happened here. It is hard for me to digest because having a guy in the minors who can play but not giving him a chance for any reason just doesn't make sense to me. Makes me think about farm systems in general in another way i guess. People likely will read into this that I am thinking that he should be up and playing for us right now - that is not the case at all but I will say that if the day comes that we wind up sticking either Holt or Lin in the outfield for any reason and this guy stays in Pawtucket, I will just continue to chuckle. My real feeling is that yes he should be in the major leagues.

[Slasher9]

He gets the same money whether he is playing in MLB, playing in AAA, or playing Nintendo RBI Baseball at home...

 

the hotels / travel arrangements / lifestyle in the show is much much much better though. but yes, when all is said and done he is a multimillionaire...

[jad]

He probably is experiencing a feeling of security. it is still sad to me. Not only do I think that he could be a productive asset for another team I think that it is also likely that he could help us. in today's market would he be worth 10 mil. per year? who knows. Likely it just isn't worth the risk to him. For the record, I am much more concerned with a talented player stuck in a sad situation than i am by any of the luxury tax ramifications. In what world does a player like this not get a chance? (another chance)

 

I believe this is a glitch in the CBA that will be (somewhere in my mind I think it already has been?) addressed. It's similar to the old pre-free agency quirk that allowed a team to sign talented players and then simply park them in the minors to prevent other teams from taking them. (Or the A-Rod situation, where the Yankees were deliberately trying to punish him in any way they could just to get out of the contract. But they did not have the option to send him down.)

[cp176]

I believe this is a glitch in the CBA that will be (somewhere in my mind I think it already has been?) addressed. It's similar to the old pre-free agency quirk that allowed a team to sign talented players and then simply park them in the minors to prevent other teams from taking them. (Or the A-Rod situation, where the Yankees were deliberately trying to punish him in any way they could just to get out of the contract. But they did not have the option to send him down.)

 

Interesting for sure.

[notin]

I believe this is a glitch in the CBA that will be (somewhere in my mind I think it already has been?) addressed. It's similar to the old pre-free agency quirk that allowed a team to sign talented players and then simply park them in the minors to prevent other teams from taking them. (Or the A-Rod situation, where the Yankees were deliberately trying to punish him in any way they could just to get out of the contract. But they did not have the option to send him down.)

 

 

When did that happen when teams signed talented players and stashed them in the minors?

[jad]

When did that happen when teams signed talented players and stashed them in the minors?

 

It's before I had enough consciousness of the economics of baseball, but I recall reading somewhere during the A-rod mess that this was something the Yankees of the 50s and 60s were in a position to do and did--just sign young talent on speculation and let them rot in the minors with no real intention of bringing them up. In those pre-free-agency days, I wouldn't doubt that things like that happened pretty routinely.

[OH FOY]

He gets the same money whether he is playing in MLB, playing in AAA, or playing Nintendo RBI Baseball at home...

 

Yep, what the Sox should do and stop making mistakes, and let him go, get paid, and let another kid go to Pawtucket. Now, he's wasting Roster space. He's in no plans, for the future. So stop wasting it for another kid.

[OH FOY]

I would flip it, put Duran in Pawtucket, and Rusney in Greenfield. At least that's a future, some sort of plan. Now, they really look like idiots.

[notin]

Yep, what the Sox should do and stop making mistakes, and let him go, get paid, and let another kid go to Pawtucket. Now, he's wasting Roster space. He's in no plans, for the future. So stop wasting it for another kid.

 

Is he really?

 

The outfielders in Pawtucket are Castillo, Gorkys Hernandez, Bryce Brentz, and Cole Sturgeon (and maybe Sam Travis). It’s not like they have some overcrowding issue there that’s blocking everyone below. Which one isn’t expendable?

[notin]

I would flip it, put Duran in Pawtucket, and Rusney in Greenfield. At least that's a future, some sort of plan. Now, they really look like idiots.

 

 

AA is probably the most important step, when all the three levels of A ball get condensed into one league and the talent attrition gets maximized. AAA is barely developmental anymore and is for stashing minor league free agents and 40 man roster overspill. Why skip the most important step with Duran?

 

Stay the course with Duran, who is still only on A ball. If the Sox can find an actual MLB-caliber reserve outfielder, he can go to Pawtucket and replace, well, anyone. But Brentz should really be the first one gone anyway. Not Castillo...

[Bellhorn04]

I believe this is a glitch in the CBA that will be (somewhere in my mind I think it already has been?) addressed.

 

What happened with Castillo was this:

 

-There was a loophole in the previous CBA that allowed the Red Sox to remove Castillo from the 40 man roster and thus not have his salary count for tax purposes.

-In the new CBA the loophole was closed, so that if the Sox added him to the roster Castillo's salary would count for tax purposes until the end of his contract.

[notin]

I would flip it, put Duran in Pawtucket, and Rusney in Greenfield. At least that's a future, some sort of plan. Now, they really look like idiots.

 

 

As bad as the entire Castillo contract situation is, it’s not like the Sox are alone here. The Giants, for example, are LOADED with bad, immovable contracts for aging and rapidly declining players. I’d be hesitant to label the Sox “idiots” over one deal that didn’t work out...

[cp176]

As bad as the entire Castillo contract situation is, it’s not like the Sox are alone here. The Giants, for example, are LOADED with bad, immovable contracts for aging and rapidly declining players. I’d be hesitant to label the Sox “idiots” over one deal that didn’t work out...

 

The only problem that I have with this is that although Castillo is getting older, we may never know what he could do at the ml level. Is he good enough to start even for us or least be the number 4 man out there. he has clearly progressed throughout his ml years. He isn't just some stiff taking up a roster spot. Has he become a decent outfilelder? I don't know but I bet he could hit ml pitching. Don't try to guess where I'm going with this because I'm not - but a good guess anyway. It is just a messed up situation.

[dgalehouse]

With Castillo, it is all about not wanting to pay the tax . A shame that baseball has come to that .

[Bellhorn04]

With Castillo, it is all about not wanting to pay the tax . A shame that baseball has come to that .

 

IMHO it's just a weird combination of circumstances.

 

As has been noted, the player is being paid over $70 million to play for Pawtucket, so there are worse things.

[notin]

The only problem that I have with this is that although Castillo is getting older, we may never know what he could do at the ml level. Is he good enough to start even for us or least be the number 4 man out there. he has clearly progressed throughout his ml years. He isn't just some stiff taking up a roster spot. Has he become a decent outfilelder? I don't know but I bet he could hit ml pitching. Don't try to guess where I'm going with this because I'm not - but a good guess anyway. It is just a messed up situation.

 

He was always a good defensive outfielder, but he was reckless and prone to injuring himself on the field. Las go round in Boston came after he hurt his shoulder diving for a flyball and subsequently became a ground ball machine at the plate...

[cp176]

He was always a good defensive outfielder, but he was reckless and prone to injuring himself on the field. Las go round in Boston came after he hurt his shoulder diving for a flyball and subsequently became a ground ball machine at the plate...

 

I remember this very well. I think that you are right to that it was his last go around for the Sox. My last comment and then I'll let it go. If the Red Sox really felt any sense of urgency, which obviously they don't, to replace any of their current outfielders, they really wouldn't have far to look.

[notin]

I remember this very well. I think that you are right to that it was his last go around for the Sox. My last comment and then I'll let it go. If the Red Sox really felt any sense of urgency, which obviously they don't, to replace any of their current outfielders, they really wouldn't have far to look.

 

 

But I doubt they call up Castillo. Gorkys is probably ahead of him solely for financial reasons.

 

At least he (or any of the other Pawtucket outfielders) aren’t blocking anyone by taking roster spots. The best OF prospect the Sox have above A-ball is probably Marcus Wilson, and he’s only been with the organization for 2 weeks...

[jad]

What happened with Castillo was this:

 

-There was a loophole in the previous CBA that allowed the Red Sox to remove Castillo from the 40 man roster and thus not have his salary count for tax purposes.

-In the new CBA the loophole was closed, so that if the Sox added him to the roster Castillo's salary would count for tax purposes until the end of his contract.

 

Thanks. So the new agreement effectively prevents teams from signing a guy like that on speculation, right? Once they commit the money, it counts for the luxury tax.

[Maxbialystock]

Looks as though JBJ is getting some much needed rest.

[SCM33]

Looks as though JBJ is getting some much needed rest.

 

Wont help, still sucks.

[cp176]

Honest to God I like the guy but it is time for him to get going or he will likely be gone. What am I missing right now? Do people really think that his defense is so good that it can justify his absolute incompetence at the plate? I do not but although I have always felt he was good out there I have never thought he was great. My favorite of course is Fred Lynn. Now, I can actually see carrying a catcher like Leon because he is competent playing the most important defensive position in the game. if JBJ gets hot and the team wins, ok - you keep carrying him I guess but if the decision is made to go in another direction, I would be fine with it.

[dgalehouse]

Honest to God I like the guy but it is time for him to get going or he will likely be gone. What am I missing right now? Do people really think that his defense is so good that it can justify his absolute incompetence at the plate? I do not but although I have always felt he was good out there I have never thought he was great. My favorite of course is Fred Lynn. Now, I can actually see carrying a catcher like Leon because he is competent playing the most important defensive position in the game. if JBJ gets hot and the team wins, ok - you keep carrying him I guess but if the decision is made to go in another direction, I would be fine with it.

There really is no other direction to go right now . They don't want to pay the money it would cost to promote Castillo . A guy like Kemp could be available on the cheap . Do you want to do that ? Bradley will almost certainly have a hot streak at the plate at some point because that is his history. Why not just wait for it ? There is no good alternative.

[Bellhorn04]

Anyone who wants to get rid of JBJ must also want to get rid of Pearce, whose numbers are even worse.

[dgalehouse]

Anyone who wants to get rid of JBJ must also want to get rid of Pearce, whose numbers are even worse.

 

Probably. Bradley no doubt brings more to the table than Pearce . Pearce is certainly more expendable.

[Bellhorn04]

Probably. Bradley no doubt brings more to the table than Pearce . Pearce is certainly more expendable.

 

Pearce seems plenty expendable right now. But history suggests he will improve his numbers, just as Bradley will, and that it would be pretty stupid to cut loose every hitter who gets off to a terrible start.

[moonslav59]

The decision won't need to be made until Pedey & Holt are both ready, and nobody else can go on the IL (phantom or otherwise).

 

We should try to delay dumping Pearce, so he has a chance to rebound, but we can't send Chavis down right now, just because he has option..

[S5Dewey]

The decision won't need to be made until Pedey & Holt are both ready, and nobody else can go on the IL (phantom or otherwise).

 

We should try to delay dumping Pearce, so he has a chance to rebound, but we can't send Chavis down right now, just because he has option..

 

Right. As O'B said recently, I don't care who's healthy and who's not, Chavis isn't going anyplace.

[cp176]

Anyone who wants to get rid of JBJ must also want to get rid of Pearce, whose numbers are even worse.

 

I'm not sure that a blanket statement like this is supportable. Trust me, I'm in the camp of hope with respect to JBJ but I think that there is a big difference between Pearce and JBJ. Separate situations as far as I'm concerned.