What should Bloom's plan for 2020 be?

[moonslav59]

I agree with this. I'm tired of all the poor offers for Mookie and Price from other teams. Yes, there's a downside to these two players but there's a huge upside for the team that gets them too - especially in the case of Mookie.

 

Sit tight with what we've got and see how things look mid-summer. If we decide to be sellers I have to ask how much worse can the offers be then than what we're getting offered now???

 

Depending on how well players are doing and how healthy players are, offers could get worse.

 

Also, if the idea is to reset, waiting until Julymeans traded contracts are pro-rated, so more players will need to be traded to get to the reset number.

 

Waiting almost guarantees a fire sale in July- perhaps for pennies on the dollar vs nickels, now.

[Bellhorn04]

Every day that goes by without a trade, the mystery of the plan deepens.

[Slasher9]

 

I dont see the need to panic trade, unless of course teams "make us offers that are SO GOOD, we simply can't refuse."

its 28-Jan-2020 and we havent made a trade yet. i believe "panic trade" has been removed from the equation at the moment. Bloom is the anti DD. patience is a virtue....

[oldtimer]

It appears the Betts trade will go through soon but no longer mentioned with Price. We would need to shed more to make the reset.

[notin]

I agree with this. I'm tired of all the poor offers for Mookie and Price from other teams. Yes, there's a downside to these two players but there's a huge upside for the team that gets them too - especially in the case of Mookie.

 

Sit tight with what we've got and see how things look mid-summer. If we decide to be sellers I have to ask how much worse can the offers be then than what we're getting offered now???

 

Well, the Orioles traded Machado for two future career minor leaguers, a AAAA utility infielder, and a singular prospect who luster has worn off. So all told, they got nothing.

 

That’s still in play...

[Slasher9]

It appears the Betts trade will go through soon but no longer mentioned with Price. We would need to shed more to make the reset.

 

if we shed Betts before the season - losing his $27MM will put us under the $208MM.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There seem to be two basic mindsets for Red Sox fans this winter:

 

1). assume that the most recent season is an indication of what will happen next -- and this is inherent in how most sports fans always view their teams (I blame it on football culture, trying to predict next Sunday based on last Sunday; such thinking is unavoidable, but doesn't apply the same way in every sport);

 

2). consider the assembled roster of core players, including their ages and body of work, and give them the benefit of the doubt that these above-average professionals know what they're doing.

 

I choose to use the latter rationale, which I think -- and trust -- the Boston brass has, as well. Sure, this offseason has been defined by payroll limitations (whether imposed by MLB rules or self-imposed by the owners)... but it's not unreasonable if the front office has decided, "These are the stars we've invested in, now let's watch them perform when they have something to prove..."

[Slasher9]

There seem to be two basic mindsets for Red Sox fans this winter:

 

1). assume that the most recent season is an indication of what will happen next -- and this is inherent in how most sports fans always view their teams (I blame it on football culture, trying to predict next Sunday based on last Sunday; such thinking is unavoidable, but doesn't apply the same way in every sport);

 

2). consider the assembled roster of core players, including their ages and body of work, and give them the benefit of the doubt that these above-average professionals know what they're doing.

 

I choose to use the latter rationale, which I think -- and trust -- the Boston brass has, as well. Sure, this offseason has been defined by payroll limitations (whether imposed by MLB rules or self-imposed by the owners)... but it's not unreasonable if the front office has decided, "These are the stars we've invested in, now let's watch them perform when they have something to prove..."

 

#1 and #2 is exactly how we entered 2019.

[mvp 78]

Every day that goes by without a trade, the mystery of the plan deepens.

 

I think Bloom is just being patient and waiting on the best offer possible. I bet a trade gets done prior to players arriving in the Fort.

[mvp 78]

if we shed Betts before the season - losing his $27MM will put us under the $208MM.

 

Except they'd possibly be bringing Myers back.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

#1 and #2 is exactly how we entered 2019.

 

Ha, true -- except a year ago everybody combined both mindsets. This year, they are polar opposites... like political parties- I mean, riots.

[oldtimer]

if we shed Betts before the season - losing his $27MM will put us under the $208MM.

 

we may then have to consider Meyers salary or any part thereof that the Padres won't cover. With this in mind, we might have to trade JBJ as well to make the Luxury Tax reset.

[harmony]

I think Bloom is just being patient and waiting on the best offer possible. I bet a trade gets done prior to players arriving in the Fort.

As are the executives for potential trade partners.

 

What team is under the most pressure?

[mvp 78]

As are the executives for potential trade partners.

 

What team is under the most pressure?

 

Henry has stated that he's fine going into the season with not resetting. My guess is the Padres since their GM is on the hot seat. Another bad season and he's gone.

[notin]

we may then have to consider Meyers salary or any part thereof that the Padres won't cover. With this in mind, we might have to trade JBJ as well to make the Luxury Tax reset.

 

Which is tougher?

 

Trading one year and $27mill worth of Betts?

 

Trading one year $11mill worth of Bradley?

[jung]

i dont disagree. i just dont think that makes it a "still need to"....

 

Well in my mind "the still need to" relates to how many starting pitchers this team can afford to protect through a 162 game season. They have to protect Sale. They are already committed to him and already protecting him. If we think that is going to change in 2020, we are dreaming.

 

Price looks like another starter that needs to be protected now as he makes the turn in his career and while they won't protect Eovaldi, getting a season out of him is clearly a chore. So that is 3/5 of the rotation leaving us with ERod and his gimpy knee and Perez who looks to be 2019 Porcello. Again, I have been and will continue to light candles for ERod.

 

So if they lose Mookie, they lose the most dynamic player on the team by far with nobody set up to take his place. Beni has struggled batting lead off and he is no CFer. He is a very good LFer but take him out of LF and he is barely ML average. So if they move JBJ to RF they are looking for a competent, solid CFer and JBJ is no longer in the position where his greatest asset is best used. I am done with JD in the outfield. That has to e over. So they really end up looking for a RFer that they can plug into the toughest RF in baseball, Fenway Park RF.

 

The right side of the infield is sort of a helter skelter mess and while Devers is a joy to watch at this stage of his career you need X out there to get the most out of Rafi on the left side. So it really boils down to both Rafi and X staying healthy throughout the season other than for a blow and the usual dings that they face all year. Don't know if anybody noticed but X could barely walk by the end of last year and I wonder if his heels or feet generally are going to start to bother him as he ages.

 

That sounds like an argument for a sure upper half of the AL team that might still struggle to get into the top 5 and make the post season unless something seriously different happens as to the 25 man roster. It looks like a team that is one year past its prime opportunity. We can argue that in some ways things outside their control robbed them of even a decent shot at 2019. But that is water over the dam now. The question is what do we have for 2020 and beyond.

 

I agree with Merloni regarding Mookie. Don't know whether we keep him for 2020 or not. But we are not signing him long term. We tried. It ain't happenin'.

[mvp 78]

Which is tougher?

 

Trading one year and $27mill worth of Betts?

 

Trading one year $11mill worth of Bradley?

 

Sox better hope that some contender gets a CF injury and has no depth if they want to move JBJ.

[notin]

Sox better hope that some contender gets a CF injury and has no depth if they want to move JBJ.

 

Right now the CF market is the Mets, the Reds, and the Rangers and maybe the Phillies.

 

Kevin Pillar and Billy Hamilton can take two of those opportunities...

[jung]

Sox better hope that some contender gets a CF injury and has no depth if they want to move JBJ.

 

JBJ would be the tougher sell.....no question. He would have to go to a team with real pitching. How many of those are there anyway?

[a700hitter]

I think that might be a bit harsh. It is possible that the best plan to keep Betts long term involves resetting now. Obviously moving Betts to reset and hoping to resign him carries serious risk, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the best effort.

 

No one is getting excited about the names floating about. So far, they’re just rumors. Hopefully if he deals Betts, he can get a more useful package. And reset. And sign Betts back here for 2021-2030...

If he trades Betts, I am not being harsh at all. No one in the fan base will think that trading Betts is part of a plan to keep him here for the long term no matter how they explain this reset mumbo jumbo. How did that work out with Lester?

[mvp 78]

Right now the CF market is the Mets, the Reds, and the Rangers and maybe the Phillies.

 

Kevin Pillar and Billy Hamilton can take two of those opportunities...

 

If they are struggling to get under the lux tax, they should just trade JBJ for a AAAA CFer and a relief prospect.

[mvp 78]

If he trades Betts, I am not being harsh at all. No one in the fan base will think that trading Betts is part of a plan to keep him here for the long term no matter how they explain this reset mumbo jumbo. How did that work out with Lester?

 

A little louder for the people in the back.

[Bellhorn04]

If he trades Betts, I am not being harsh at all. No one in the fan base will think that trading Betts is part of a plan to keep him here for the long term no matter how they explain this reset mumbo jumbo. How did that work out with Lester?

 

With Lester, they f***ed up before the season started.

 

Lester seems to have given them a legit shot to sign him, even after being traded.

 

Theo just blew everyone away with his offer.

[mvp 78]

With Lester, they f***ed up before the season started.

 

Lester seems to have given them a legit shot to sign him, even after being traded.

 

Theo just blew everyone away with his offer.

 

No, it was that they had a budget for starters over 30 and didn't want to exceed it. They were never going to re-sign him back then.

[moonslav59]

There seem to be two basic mindsets for Red Sox fans this winter:

 

1). assume that the most recent season is an indication of what will happen next -- and this is inherent in how most sports fans always view their teams (I blame it on football culture, trying to predict next Sunday based on last Sunday; such thinking is unavoidable, but doesn't apply the same way in every sport);

 

2). consider the assembled roster of core players, including their ages and body of work, and give them the benefit of the doubt that these above-average professionals know what they're doing.

 

I choose to use the latter rationale, which I think -- and trust -- the Boston brass has, as well. Sure, this offseason has been defined by payroll limitations (whether imposed by MLB rules or self-imposed by the owners)... but it's not unreasonable if the front office has decided, "These are the stars we've invested in, now let's watch them perform when they have something to prove..."

 

Assuming injuries and age take their toll have nothing to do with professionalism of our players.

 

We have some studs- no doubt, and that's what makes it hard to give up on 2020. You can't get much better than Betts, Devers, Bogey, JD and a healthy Sale, but this team has precious little else, except wings and prayers or rebounds, miracle recoveries and more.

 

Look at the 40 man roster. I've not seen a more shallower roster since last century. We have 20+ players that are not expected to be much help in 2020. Sure, some will and some will surprise, but some we expect to contribute may decline as well.

 

40 Man Roster 2020

 

Only 8 pretty sure bets (maybe 7, if not counting Sale):

Betts

Devers

Bogey

ERod

JD

Sale (a big question mark)

Workman

Beni

 

12 Not Sure to be very productive

Price

Eovaldi

Barnes

Vaz

JBJ

Walden

Taylor

Perez

Peraza

D Hernandez

Chavis

Plawecki

 

That's only 20 players total!!!

 

4 Future Help, at best

Dalbec

Chatham

M Wilson

Y Abar

 

Maybe we get 20-21 total. That's half the 40 man roster!

 

16 Could DFA or trade for scraps (or injured) and I wouldn't blink an eye

Hembree

Pedey

Velazquez

Lin

Brasier

Brewer

Reyes

Weber

Shawaryn

Osich

K Hart

J Arauz (rule 5)

C Mazza

A Brice

J Springs

M Hall

[Bellhorn04]

No, it was that they had a budget for starters over 30 and didn't want to exceed it. They were never going to re-sign him back then.

 

So you believe their $135 million offer was a charade?

[mvp 78]

So you believe their $135 million offer was a charade?

 

Yeah dude. They didn't really want to pay Lester. It was the org philosophy back then.

[Elktonnick]

If he trades Betts, I am not being harsh at all. No one in the fan base will think that trading Betts is part of a plan to keep him here for the long term no matter how they explain this reset mumbo jumbo. How did that work out with Lester?

 

If Bloom trades Betts now before the team has a chance to see how well they can compete in the 2020 season, it would be preemptive capitulation. Henry would see a catastrophic drop in both attendance and NESN ratings. Quite frankly the Padres have nothing that would justify any trade with them to Red Sox Nation. Red Sox fans would see any trade before the deadline as a betrayal by Henry. Lux Tax and reset mumbo jumbo would be seen as exactly that mumbo jumbo.

[moonslav59]

So you believe their $135 million offer was a charade?

 

It was by far the second highest offer on the table.

 

It's a shame they changed their policy for Price, but at the time, Price looked as good as any FA pitcher in a decade.

[mvp 78]

If Bloom trades Betts now before the team has a chance to see how well they can compete in the 2020 season, it would be preemptive capitulation. Henry would see a catastrophic drop in both attendance and NESN ratings. Quite frankly the Padres have nothing that would justify any trade with them to Red Sox Nation. Red Sox fans would see any trade before the deadline as a betrayal by Henry. Lux Tax and reset mumbo jumbo would be seen as exactly that mumbo jumbo.

 

Those have fallen for years anyway.