A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[Nick]

It sounds like the sox think Weber is good to be the bulk guy. Perez and Eovaldi are just as injury prone. To be honest, I am baffled the sox haven't stacked the roster with bargain basement MiLB signings of veteran pitchers coming off bad years. I am frankly stunned

 

We're probably not done yet.

[a700hitter]

They get paid TO PLAY A KIDS GAME!!!!!!!

 

That attitude should have died in the 1980's with the wave.

He did get to leave an impoverished country where the people make $20/month to make millions of dollars with almost no scrutiny. He thinks he died and went to heaven. He should have a shrine to Ben in his house for giving him one of the most absurd contracts in history.

[Noles_1335]

is there any options left out there that are even worth a shot.... if so who should we go grab before we find ourselves fighting out last place with the O's

[Slasher9]

we will use an opener / BP game 2x through if we have to. maybe even 3.

i'm still trying to wrap my head around "opener/BP" games but will need to do it quick as we will be seeing this all season long. the kids that can throw will get many chances this season.

[kenmeister]

is there any options left out there that are even worth a shot.... if so who should we go grab before we find ourselves fighting out last place with the O's

 

According to

2020 MLB free agents by position

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Although a number of star players signed contract extensions before the 2019 season commenced instead of testing the open market this offseason, the current free-agent class still included many interesting names. Below, you'll find the list of this year's crop of notable free agents. The list will be updated throughout

the available starting pitchers are:

• Andrew Cashner
  
• Jason Vargas
  
• Clay Buchholz
  
• Marco Estrada
  
• Clayton Richard
  
• Matt Harvey
  
• Ervin Santana
  

 

I'm holding out some small hope that Hector Velazquez gets his groove back and can help carry the 5th starter role along with Weber.

[Bellhorn04]

We're probably not done yet.

 

Bloom's got $16 mill to play with, Nick.

[Nick]

Bloom's got $16 mill to play with, Nick.

 

he probably hasn't seen that much cash available in years.....he's thinking 8 starters at $2M apiece.

[vegasbob]

According to

2020 MLB free agents by position

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Although a number of star players signed contract extensions before the 2019 season commenced instead of testing the open market this offseason, the current free-agent class still included many interesting names. Below, you'll find the list of this year's crop of notable free agents. The list will be updated throughout

the available starting pitchers are:

• Andrew Cashner
  
• Jason Vargas
  
• Clay Buchholz
  
• Marco Estrada
  
• Clayton Richard
  
• Matt Harvey
  
• Ervin Santana
  

 

I'm holding out some small hope that Hector Velazquez gets his groove back and can help carry the 5th starter role along with Weber.

 

Keep your hopes on Velazquez small, and you won't be much disappointed. Surely someone on that weak list can throw 5 innings every 5 days and not be down 10 runs.. The real story is that the farm system has not developed a starting pitcher in over a decade who is still with Boston. Easy to blame DD's trades for losing a couple ,but the 4 WS titles in less than 2 decades still overrides a lot of pitching prospects. How many cities and fan bases would trade places with us ?

[mvp 78]

you dont think we have a punchers chance of signing him in FA?

 

Nope.

[mvp 78]

We're probably not done yet.

 

Done with what? Nobody is left to sign.

[mvp 78]

According to

2020 MLB free agents by position

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Although a number of star players signed contract extensions before the 2019 season commenced instead of testing the open market this offseason, the current free-agent class still included many interesting names. Below, you'll find the list of this year's crop of notable free agents. The list will be updated throughout

the available starting pitchers are:

• Andrew Cashner
  
• Jason Vargas
  
• Clay Buchholz
  
• Marco Estrada
  
• Clayton Richard
  
• Matt Harvey
  
• Ervin Santana
  

 

I'm holding out some small hope that Hector Velazquez gets his groove back and can help carry the 5th starter role along with Weber.

 

Santana was good at one point. None of the other guys have much upside. You can bring them in, but you may be better off just giving Houck a shot every 5th day.

[mvp 78]

he probably hasn't seen that much cash available in years.....he's thinking 8 starters at $2M apiece.

 

Well we haven't heard a peep about him looking into anyone. The longer this goes, the less likely that the Sox will bring anyone in.

 

As for Cashner, reports are now saying that his agent is billing him as a reliever going forward.

[Slasher9]

Nope.

 

fyi....i just threw a slice of pizza at you.

[mvp 78]

fyi....i just threw a slice of pizza at you.

 

No cheat meals today.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think we're going to see more arms getting early promotions from the minors. While it never made sense to rush a prospect into a traditional MLB rotation, expecting him to achieve or exceed an unrealistic workload, it does make sense in Bloom's world of openers and bullpen games to bring up a live arm and let it fly for an inning or two.

 

We hear a lot these days of "putting a player in situations where he can succeed", and what could be better for a young pitcher than letting him unleash his stuff at the beginning of a game, with no pacing expectations, no high leverage late-inning pressure, and no overthinking? Then as he gets accustomed to the Show, slowly stretch him out into more innings and longer, more meaningful roles...

[Bellhorn04]

Well we haven't heard a peep about him looking into anyone. The longer this goes, the less likely that the Sox will bring anyone in.

 

Bloom keeps things pretty quiet. And still a month to opening day.

[notin]

Bloom's got $16 mill to play with, Nick.

 

... and with that much available, he can sign every available free agent..

[mvp 78]

Bloom keeps things pretty quiet. And still a month to opening day.

 

No reason to be waiting on the guys remaining. Seems like he’s not interested IMO.

[moonslav59]

If he was good enough, he'd be in MLB right now. He's basically a AAAA guy with little upside.

 

I disagree. No way would we pay the tax, if he was just going to be our 4th OF'er.

 

He might have been good enough to be a role player in MLB, but the tax issue may have prevented him for that.

[moonslav59]

Well we haven't heard a peep about him looking into anyone. The longer this goes, the less likely that the Sox will bring anyone in.

 

As for Cashner, reports are now saying that his agent is billing him as a reliever going forward.

 

Well, if the Myers deal gets done, it apparently included Quantril, so we'd have our 4/5th starter.

[mvp 78]

Well, if the Myers deal gets done, it apparently included Quantril, so we'd have our 4/5th starter.

 

I don't believe that deal is legit. It's been over a week with no updates and the only reporter talking about it is a guy in SD.

[mvp 78]

I disagree. No way would we pay the tax, if he was just going to be our 4th OF'er.

 

He might have been good enough to be a role player in MLB, but the tax issue may have prevented him for that.

 

1. "No way would we pay the tax."

2. "The tax issue MAY have prevented him."

 

Pick one.

[kenmeister]

Santana was good at one point. None of the other guys have much upside. You can bring them in, but you may be better off just giving Houck a shot every 5th day.

 

I'd probably sign Jason Vargas from that list to a 1 year deal.

[mvp 78]

I'd probably sign Jason Vargas from that list to a 1 year deal.

 

Every projection has him with an ERA and FIP well above 5. Pass. I'd take my chance with in house options because I don't believe the ceiling his high enough to bring him in. There's going to be a few guys at the end of ST who are going to be put through waivers. I bet a few of them would be much better than Vargas.

[jad]

Castillo could restructure the deal, keeping the same money over more years but lowering his AAV. He could “retire” and come back later as a free agent.

 

While I think he’d like to get back to the Show, I don’t think he has too many regrets...

 

That's interesting. Are you sure of that? Because if that were possible, it would be relatively easy (well, "possible") for a team to get under the cap by deferring ('restructuring') money owed in a particular year to particular players. I don't think once a contract is signed, it can be changed. (Here is some language concerning this I found--not sure how accurate it is):

 

Deferred money is part of the total contract value, and is included in the luxury tax calculation. Only the years during which the player is signed to play count for the denominator, though.

 

Any contract that is obviously an attempt to circumvent the luxury tax would be shot down by the office of the commissioner. You're not allowed to do that.

[Bellhorn04]

That's interesting. Are you sure of that? Because if that were possible, it would be relatively easy (well, "possible") for a team to get under the cap by deferring ('restructuring') money owed in a particular year to particular players. I don't think once a contract is signed, it can be changed. (Here is some language concerning this I found--not sure how accurate it is):

 

Deferred money is part of the total contract value, and is included in the luxury tax calculation. Only the years during which the player is signed to play count for the denominator, though.

 

Any contract that is obviously an attempt to circumvent the luxury tax would be shot down by the office of the commissioner. You're not allowed to do that.

 

Agreed. And this would be a very obvious attempt.

[notin]

Agreed. And this would be a very obvious attempt.

 

But the deferred money deals like Sale’s are not?

[jad]

But the deferred money deals like Sale’s are not?

 

That's my question. Once a deal is made, it can't be changed. What I don't know is how a front- or back-loaded deal counts for tax purposes. Is it averaged? Or, as long as it's a deal made in good faith (e.g., a lot of money up front, then less for final years, or the reverse--an escalating one, with a lot of deferred money), whether that is simply counted year by year as is, or averaged. I believe ANY non-standard deal that's made specifically to get around the tax would not be allowed (that is, these would be determined on a case by case basis). Anyone know?

[Slasher9]

That's my question. Once a deal is made, it can't be changed. What I don't know is how a front- or back-loaded deal counts for tax purposes. Is it averaged? Or, as long as it's a deal made in good faith (e.g., a lot of money up front, then less for final years, or the reverse--an escalating one, with a lot of deferred money), whether that is simply counted year by year as is, or averaged. I believe ANY non-standard deal that's made specifically to get around the tax would not be allowed (that is, these would be determined on a case by case basis). Anyone know?

 

the money is spread evenly across the length of contract for tax purposes.

basically: total amount of contract / # of years = AAV for tax purposes

it doesnt matter if the player gets 90% of the money in the first year. it will be distributed evenly among all the years the contract is for.

[jad]

the money is spread evenly across the length of contract for tax purposes.

basically: total amount of contract / # of years = AAV for tax purposes

it doesnt matter if the player gets 90% of the money in the first year. it will be distributed evenly among all the years the contract is for.

 

Thanks.