Jackie Bradley

[moonslav59]

Kennedy admitted they are not...

 

It's a priority not a commitment.

 

My guess is we don't bring JBJ back and try to stay under the line while seeing if we can win. By the deadline, we decide to sell-off or maybe go over the line and make one final run at it, depending on how well or poorly we are doing.

 

My own personal view is to just decide to reset and trade JBJ, JD and Betts with the idea that we make a strong push to bring Betts back as a FA after 2020.

[Slasher9]

Kennedy admitted they are not...

 

yeah. they need to sell season tix so kennedy walked that statement back. not a chance JH goes over the limit this year. he is resetting.

[jad]

Players do it all the time. The idea is to get a much bigger contract one year later.

 

The bigger question is - why would a pitcher do it in Boston? Go to San Diego or Oakland...

 

I get the idea, I just don't know the examples. Anyone in Boston? or obvious examples elsewhere? (I know some in the NBA, just not in MLB. We're talking about veterans who have a chance for a long-term contract taking a one-year deal instead.)

[Bellhorn04]

I get the idea, I just don't know the examples. Anyone in Boston? or obvious examples elsewhere? (I know some in the NBA, just not in MLB. We're talking about veterans who have a chance for a long-term contract taking a one-year deal instead.)

 

Adrian Beltre. His was actually a one year deal plus a player option for a second year. But he used that one year to cash in on a nice deal.

[moonslav59]

Adrian Beltre. His was actually a one year deal plus a player option for a second year. But he used that one year to cash in on a nice deal.

 

Good one!

[Kimmi]

I think your grasping at straws if you think gooing over the limit will make them competitive with the best AL teams. The straws I think you hope for are that Sale, Price and Eovaldi all have much better years. I think the probability of that happening is low, so would instead stick to the idea of a reset in 2020, taking the hit next year with the hope of recovering during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. A strong pitching staff is paramount in competing at the highest level and there is a low probability the Sox will be good in that regard. If there is anyway to clear the starting pitching logjam in 2020, I would head in that direction.

 

I got back to my home in Florida and start playing softball again today. My goal is to lose the extra weight I gained on the European Cruise. Hope to be more successful than I think the Sox will be resetting while remaining competitive.

 

Yes, I am optimistic that our 3 starting pitchers will have better years, and that they will be healthier than they were this year. I do agree that without them, our team will not be very competitive in 2020, but I think they will all rebound.

 

Good luck with your softball league. I remain very impressed that you're still playing. Good for you!

[Kimmi]

I've heard this argument a couple of times. But it seems wishful thinking. Why would a veteran give up MLB's guaranteed money on a long-term deal for a one-year contract demanding that he 'prove himself'?

 

Yes, it might be wishful thinking. Maybe he really wants to stay in Boston? One can hope.

[moonslav59]

Yes, it might be wishful thinking. Maybe he really wants to stay in Boston? One can hope.

 

The main incentive is likely not wanting to play in Boston. It would be to want to reset his value by having a big 2020 season and getting a way better and longer term deal the following winter.

[moonslav59]

Yes, I am optimistic that our 3 starting pitchers will have better years, and that they will be healthier than they were this year. I do agree that without them, our team will not be very competitive in 2020, but I think they will all rebound.

 

I'm optimistic on maybe 2 of 3 doing better, but I think the odds are against all 3 doing better.

 

Another scenario is that all 3 do better, but ERod doing worse.

[Kimmi]

The main incentive is likely not wanting to play in Boston. It would be to want to reset his value by having a big 2020 season and getting a way better and longer term deal the following winter.

 

I get the idea of getting a better long term deal the following winter, but Porcello did also say that he would love to stay in Boston. In fact, he approached the FO early in the season with the idea that he was willing to take a discount to stay.

[Kimmi]

I'm optimistic on maybe 2 of 3 doing better, but I think the odds are against all 3 doing better.

 

Another scenario is that all 3 do better, but ERod doing worse.

 

I don't think it's that far of a long shot that all 3 will pitch better than they did this season.

 

As far as ERod is concerned, I think he will regress a bit.

[S5Dewey]

I don't think it's that far of a long shot that all 3 will pitch better than they did this season.

 

As far as ERod is concerned, I think he will regress a bit.

 

Another thing Kimmie and I agree on. IMO we hit a perfect storm of bad pitching in 2018. My bigger concern right now is Sale's arm/shoulder. If he's healthy (or reinvents himself) the Sox will be a contender next year provided they don't part with their defense to save money.

[notin]

Another thing Kimmie and I agree on. IMO we hit a perfect storm of bad pitching in 2018. My bigger concern right now is Sale's arm/shoulder. If he's healthy (or reinvents himself) the Sox will be a contender next year provided they don't part with their defense to save money.

 

If by defense, you mean Betts and Bradley, who really knows?

 

The entire sports media world thinks the Sox are trading Betts, so that is a point against it happening.

 

And one early report says the Sox plan on tendering Bradley. Of course, that same report says the plan is to tender him a contract and then trade him. Although who the source is for that story is beyond me, as the team has no GM...

[moonslav59]

Another thing Kimmie and I agree on. IMO we hit a perfect storm of bad pitching in 2018. My bigger concern right now is Sale's arm/shoulder. If he's healthy (or reinvents himself) the Sox will be a contender next year provided they don't part with their defense to save money.

 

I might be in a minority, but of the 3, Price, Sale and Eovaldi, I'm the least worried about Sale. He's the most important, so yes, that makes the worry more important, but in terms of who has the best chance at being healthy, I'd say Sale. Price and Eovaldi might be tied for the 2/3 slot.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR seems to think offers would be made for JBJ...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/10/looking-for-a-match-in-a-jackie-bradley-jr-trade.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[jacksonianmarch]

I might be in a minority, but of the 3, Price, Sale and Eovaldi, I'm the least worried about Sale. He's the most important, so yes, that makes the worry more important, but in terms of who has the best chance at being healthy, I'd say Sale. Price and Eovaldi might be tied for the 2/3 slot.

 

So the guy who finished the year on the shelf with an elbow issue requiring PRP is the most likely to be healthy? Is that an indictment of the three or fanboy optimism about the one?

[moonslav59]

So the guy who finished the year on the shelf with an elbow issue requiring PRP is the most likely to be healthy? Is that an indictment of the three or fanboy optimism about the one?

 

It's more about my lack of faith in Eovaldi and Price.

 

Price pitched 7 innings in mid April and was never allowed to do it again, despite pitching very well, at times. He'll be a year older in 2020.

 

Eovaldi's history speaks for itself.

 

Sale is a fierce competitor. I have more faith in his health than the others, yes.

 

It's not a slam dunk by any means.

[oldtimer]

It's more about my lack of faith in Eovaldi and Price.

 

Price pitched 7 innings in mid April and was never allowed to do it again, despite pitching very well, at times. He'll be a year older in 2020.

 

Eovaldi's history speaks for itself.

 

Sale is a fierce competitor. I have more faith in his health than the others, yes.

 

It's not a slam dunk by any means.

 

Right now I am guesswing 20 wins for the three combined will be the upside. Not a lot to look forward to.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's more about my lack of faith in Eovaldi and Price.

 

Price pitched 7 innings in mid April and was never allowed to do it again, despite pitching very well, at times. He'll be a year older in 2020.

 

Eovaldi's history speaks for itself.

 

Sale is a fierce competitor. I have more faith in his health than the others, yes.

 

It's not a slam dunk by any means.

 

That’s pretty realistic IMO. It’s more an indictment on the other two.

 

Listen guys, arms only have so many pitches in them. You saw it two nights ago with CC. 3700 innings (including playoffs) and that was all his arm could take. Most guys, the threshold is far lower. Price’s arm is starting to bark. Wrist and elbow to this point. Shoulder is inevitable. All former big league or even high volume collegiate and HS pitchers end up with arthritic throwing shoulders for a reason. It’s unnatural and there’s a limit. Price is getting towards his. Sale might be heading towards his as well. You rarely see players regain lost velocity. You do see pitchers reinventing themselves. That’s your hope for Price and Sale. If they can reinvent themselves to live with lower velocity, then they can extend the inevitable

[notin]

It's more about my lack of faith in Eovaldi and Price.

.

 

On board.

 

Price has never pitched like Price since coming to Boston. Eovaldi is pretty good when healthy, but he’s never healthy....

[Swiharts Ghost]

Come on the JBJ experiment is over .Can we talk about his replacement ? I hope so .

[moonslav59]

Come on the JBJ experiment is over .Can we talk about his replacement ? I hope so .

 

I'd take him back in a heartbeat, if he wasn't going to cost us $10-11M.

 

Many GMs would.

[Behindenemylines]

JBJ could be buried in a lineup that has JD and Betts in it. They still scored a ton of runs and his glove could save some. JD opts out and Betts gets traded then the long stretches of not hitting are harder to hide. I’m a big JBJ fan, but it is frustrating watching him hit. The 11 or 12 million they would have to pay him is something that needs to be looked at real hard.

[moonslav59]

JBJ could be buried in a lineup that has JD and Betts in it. They still scored a ton of runs and his glove could save some. JD opts out and Betts gets traded then the long stretches of not hitting are harder to hide. I’m a big JBJ fan, but it is frustrating watching him hit. The 11 or 12 million they would have to pay him is something that needs to be looked at real hard.

 

Only his first 6 weeks were awful in 2019.

[Swiharts Ghost]

I’m on the JBJ boat .I can’t trade the greatest CF in my lifetime can’t do it.The pitching staff must feel the same .Get more pop in LF is my choice and 2b .

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

JBJ may be the Red Sox best defensive centerfielder ever or at least in a hundred years. Before Bradley, Fred Lynn was the best I ever saw. Both were more spectacular and could throw much better than Ellsbury, Crisp, Damon, etc. I never saw Jimmy Piersall play, but HOFer Tris Speaker averaged 15 errors per in his Boston seasons. Maybe if the MLB continues to use the dejuiced ball from this postseason, then more batters will lower their launch angles, and guys like Bradley can improve their all-around game by spraying line drives all over the field. JBJ is always better when he goes oppo... (such an approach usually ignites his hot streaks, according to Remy and Eck).

[S5Dewey]

I'm just sitting back quietly listening to the chatter about all the reasons they're going to either non-tender JBJ or trade him so I can smile happily when April comes and he's still on the roster.

 

Sure, they may have to pay him $10M to keep him next year and they can likely sign someone who's cheaper but at the same time you often get what you pay for and the FO knows it. Logic says he stays unless, of course, you think that those GG Cf'ers with an OPS of >.700 grow on trees and they're everywhere.

[jacksonianmarch]

Billy Hamilton and Juan Lagares should be very cheap and have phenomenal defensive reputations

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Billy Hamilton and Juan Lagares should be very cheap and have phenomenal defensive reputations

 

Both might be decent late-inning defensive replacements for a roster that can carry them, but neither is a starter for contenders. Bradley's better all-around comp is Pillar, who makes about half as much -- both averaged just under 3 WAR the past five years -- and his peak in on-field value and contractual value may be Kiermaier, who averaged around 4 WAR the past six years and can make up to 13 mil by 2023... all are around 30 years old but have trended down to about 2 WAR the past couple years (JBJ has a slightly higher OPS). Finding a cheaper replacement with approximate value won't be easy, unless a non-bridge team is confident they have a youngster with break-out potential ready-for-primetime...

[Slasher9]

I'm just sitting back quietly listening to the chatter about all the reasons they're going to either non-tender JBJ or trade him so I can smile happily when April comes and he's still on the roster.

 

Sure, they may have to pay him $10M to keep him next year and they can likely sign someone who's cheaper but at the same time you often get what you pay for and the FO knows it. Logic says he stays unless, of course, you think that those GG Cf'ers with an OPS of >.700 grow on trees and they're everywhere.

 

i pray you are right. but i believe if JDM does not opt-out this will directly lead to JBj being non-tendered. although kennedy tried to walk it back...JH is 100% resetting the LT this coming season.