A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[Thunder]

I agree. I don't see an NL team reaching for JD when they don't know if they'll need a DH in 2021.

 

My favorite perk of having the DH in the AL

[Thunder]

Happy to contribute the first trade JBJ 2020 post.

 

It's a shame it's too late to trade Pedroia

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm all for keeping JD. I just think if he sees a monetary reason to opt out, like a new market in the NL, then Bloom will be anxious to swap his bat-only asset for the best young arm available.

 

But I also think the free agent market will be significantly affected by the economy -- especially if the half-season doesn't happen or has to close down early because of the virus.

[notin]

Doubtful.

 

I suppose a better question is “does his agent think he can get a better deal?

[Kimmi]

I seriously doubt if any club is going to come up with more than $19.5 mil per year for a DH in the new reality of baseball contracts. I think JD will remain with the Sox for the next 2 years and that is a good thing for us.

 

I agree. Besides, why would the Sox want to trade away one of their best players when they will need him in the playoffs?

[Kimmi]

But can he get a better deal than $38.75mill over 2 years on the market? Maybe a lower AAV but for more years?

 

He still has one opt out remaining...

 

I can't see JD getting a better deal than the one he currently has, especially with the financial hit that owners will be taking this year. JD might be better off playing out the 2 years of the current contract and hoping the market rebounds somewhat by the time he is a free agent again.

[Bellhorn04]

I agree. Besides, why would the Sox want to trade away one of their best players when they will need him in the playoffs?

 

It strikes me as weird how much Red Sox fans talk about trading JD Martinez. All the guy has done in two years is hit like David Ortiz, be instrumental in winning a championship, and from all reports be a great clubhouse presence and help to other hitters.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It strikes me as weird how much Red Sox fans talk about trading JD Martinez. All the guy has done in two years is hit like David Ortiz, be instrumental in winning a championship, and from all reports be a great clubhouse presence and help to other hitters.

 

I agree entirely with your second sentence. Not seeing many Sox fans talking about trading JD, though, except for speculation he may be on the block because of his opt-outs. I do think there are less fans that actually want him traded than want him kept from playing the outfield.

[Kimmi]

It strikes me as weird how much Red Sox fans talk about trading JD Martinez. All the guy has done in two years is hit like David Ortiz, be instrumental in winning a championship, and from all reports be a great clubhouse presence and help to other hitters.

 

On a relatively cheap contract too!

[Kimmi]

I agree entirely with your second sentence. Not seeing many Sox fans talking about trading JD, though, except for speculation he may be on the block because of his opt-outs. I do think there are less fans that actually want him traded than want him kept from playing the outfield.

 

Fair enough. We all just need something baseball related to talk about.

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats

Last year at this time the Sox had won 11 of 13, outscoring opponents 100-37, had gone from 8.5 back to 3.0 back.

 

That night Sale struck out 17 over 7 innings, Workman gave up the lead in the 8th, Brasier lost it in the 11th. The season imploded from there.

[SoxHop]

What salaries come off the books at the end of the year?

 

I was thinking. If there was a dream season to cancel for the Sox, this would have been the year. Lemonade out of lemons I guess.

[mvp 78]

What salaries come off the books at the end of the year?

 

I was thinking. If there was a dream season to cancel for the Sox, this would have been the year. Lemonade out of lemons I guess.

 

JBJ

Pillar

Workman

McHugh

Lucroy

 

JD has opt out.

[SoxHop]

JBJ

Pillar

Workman

McHugh

Lucroy

 

JD has opt out.

 

Yuck. I thought it was more than that. I was hoping for Hanley and Panda's, but I'm guessing that can't be more than 1 more year on those.

[mvp 78]

Yuck. I thought it was more than that. I was hoping for Hanley and Panda's, but I'm guessing that can't be more than 1 more year on those.

 

They are already off the books. Pedroia is off after 2021.

[SoxHop]

They are already off the books. Pedroia is off after 2021.

 

...thanks.

[Thunder]

They are already off the books. Pedroia is off after 2021.

 

I would have loved to be the accountant that performed those write-offs

[Elktonnick]

Peter Gammons made an observation recently that is interesting. He believes that the covid pandemic has so affected the economics of baseball that Mookie Betts is unlikely to be able to sign a deal as good as the one he turned down on Boston. Time will tell.

[Jasonbay44]

Peter Gammons made an observation recently that is interesting. He believes that the covid pandemic has so affected the economics of baseball that Mookie Betts is unlikely to be able to sign a deal as good as the one he turned down on Boston. Time will tell.

It definitely wouldn't surprise me. Playing games without fans, which sounds like could be happening for at least this season and possibly next, is going to cost teams a lot of money.

[mvp 78]

It definitely wouldn't surprise me. Playing games without fans, which sounds like could be happening for at least this season and possibly next, is going to cost teams a lot of money.

 

Honestly, it puts the "large market" teams in a better situation than before. They are more typically flushed with cash and can keep full staffing without fans. Other teams may have to let go of office personnel, scouts and maybe even lower level coaches. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox could theoretically call everyone in to work and not really miss a beat. Yeah, Henry would lose money this year, but he's made money hand over fist since buying the Sox.

[Elktonnick]

Honestly, it puts the "large market" teams in a better situation than before. They are more typically flushed with cash and can keep full staffing without fans. Other teams may have to let go of office personnel, scouts and maybe even lower level coaches. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox could theoretically call everyone in to work and not really miss a beat. Yeah, Henry would lose money this year, but he's made money hand over fist since buying the Sox.

 

You are correct! The upcoming CBA negotiations are going to be a real pip. Also I worry about what this will do to Minor League Baseball!

[Kimmi]

Peter Gammons made an observation recently that is interesting. He believes that the covid pandemic has so affected the economics of baseball that Mookie Betts is unlikely to be able to sign a deal as good as the one he turned down on Boston. Time will tell.

 

I am thinking that it might be to Mookie's advantage to sign a one year deal this off season, and see where things stand after next season. Or maybe sign a two year deal. Gammons said that it could take 3 years for the free agent market to rebound to where it was before the pandemic.

 

I would gladly take Mookie back on that type of deal.

[mvp 78]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/05/boston-red-sox-analyst-dennis-eckersley-on-mlb-safety-proposal-this-thing-could-blow-up-in-their-faces.html

 

“The July 4 thing, I think, is kind of a pipe dream,” Eckersley said on NESN. “I would think, if anything, it’s shifted back a little.”

 

Eckersley thinks the amount of money at stake will force MLB and the MLBPA to come to terms on a deal eventually, with June 1 looking like a deadline for negotiations. As other sports begin to ramp up, the pressure will mount on baseball.

[mvp 78]

You are correct! The upcoming CBA negotiations are going to be a real pip. Also I worry about what this will do to Minor League Baseball!

 

No MiLB this year. They are going to go through with the restructuring of MiLB next season most likely. I think that's one of the real reasons they have reduced the draft to 5 rounds. I bet next year's draft is only 20 rounds.

[Elktonnick]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/05/boston-red-sox-analyst-dennis-eckersley-on-mlb-safety-proposal-this-thing-could-blow-up-in-their-faces.html

 

“The July 4 thing, I think, is kind of a pipe dream,” Eckersley said on NESN. “I would think, if anything, it’s shifted back a little.”

 

Eckersley thinks the amount of money at stake will force MLB and the MLBPA to come to terms on a deal eventually, with June 1 looking like a deadline for negotiations. As other sports begin to ramp up, the pressure will mount on baseball.

Makes sense to me but will it to the players and owners?

[Elktonnick]

No MiLB this year. They are going to go through with the restructuring of MiLB next season most likely. I think that's one of the real reasons they have reduced the draft to 5 rounds. I bet next year's draft is only 20 rounds.

 

I knew that there was not going to any minor league ball this year. My concern is for its long term survival. Minor league baseball is huge in this area. It's loss will be devastating.

[moonslav59]

I think it would be a big mistake to dismantle minor league baseball. It's the backbone to many smaller communities and sparks wide-spread interest in the sport.

[mvp 78]

I knew that there was not going to any minor league ball this year. My concern is for its long term survival. Minor league baseball is huge in this area. It's loss will be devastating.

 

The Appalachian League is going to die. Maybe all sort season leagues go away or are just pushed to ST facilities.

[mvp 78]

I think it would be a big mistake to dismantle minor league baseball. It's the backbone to many smaller communities and sparks wide-spread interest in the sport.

 

I agree. It's not a good look for the owners. They don't pay the MiLB players enough as is.

[Elktonnick]

I think it would be a big mistake to dismantle minor league baseball. It's the backbone to many smaller communities and sparks wide-spread interest in the sport.

 

Could not agree more. Years ago when our daughters were young we had seasons tickets to the local Carolina League Class A team. My wife and I and 5 kids would go to the game several times a month during the summer. Could never afford to do that with a major league club.