A Realistic View at 2021: Part I

[mvp 78]

More and more catchers will look completely inept? That's not good news.

 

Travis Shaw has played how many games at 2b?

[notin]

And what happens if you draw the sample out to 4 years? What if you only do 2 years? Looks a little better, no?

 

 

Since July 1 2019, Gary Sanchez has his .168/.275/.398 (.673 OPS) in 360 plate appearances. For some perspective, the player you are dealing away has, in that same timeframe posted a slash line .221/.272/.383 (OPS .655) in 268 PA.

 

Now it is only 360 PA, and any player can struggle, even for longer periods. But at some point, it is possible you are just replacing Michael Chavis with a more expensive and more defensively inept version Michael Chavis...

[mvp 78]

Since July 1 2019, Gary Sanchez has his .168/.275/.398 (.673 OPS) in 360 plate appearances. For some perspective, the player you are dealing away has, in that same timeframe posted a slash line .221/.272/.383 (OPS .655) in 268 PA.

 

Now it is only 360 PA, and any player can struggle, even for longer periods. But at some point, it is possible you are just replacing Michael Chavis with a more expensive and more defensively inept version Michael Chavis...

 

And you get an OFer too. I think Chavis might hit himself out of the league in a few years. I think Sanchez has a decent chance of being an All Star again as he was in 2019.

[moonslav59]

Travis Shaw has played how many games at 2b?

 

41 (36 GS'd)

[moonslav59]

And you get an OFer too. I think Chavis might hit himself out of the league in a few years. I think Sanchez has a decent chance of being an All Star again as he was in 2019.

 

Is that OF'er any better than replacement value? (I'm asking, because I really do not know.)

 

If it wasn't for the money, I'd do the trade. The fact that Sanchez could be a 2 or 3 catcher adds enough value to tilt it his way.

 

I would not take money from the pitching budget in hopes Sanchez regains his offense, although I like his chances better than Chavis.

[mvp 78]

Moustakas has over 600 innings at 2b. That's just wrong.

[mvp 78]

It was just wrong seeing Youkilis playing 2b, but it has now been normalized. Mientkiewicz too...

[Bellhorn04]

The Yankees may trade Sanchez, but it won't be to the Red Sox, and certainly not for Chavis.

[moonslav59]

Moustakas has over 600 innings at 2b. That's just wrong.

 

He's ranked 32 out of 53 2Bmen in UZR/150 from 2018-2020 (600+ innings). It's -0.9.

 

His -3 DRS ranks him 34th.

 

He's certainly not a plus on defense, at 2B, but the numbers show he's far from the worst.

 

I can't recall watching him play at 2B, at all.

 

[mvp 78]

Is that OF'er any better than replacement value? (I'm asking, because I really do not know.)

 

If it wasn't for the money, I'd do the trade. The fact that Sanchez could be a 2 or 3 catcher adds enough value to tilt it his way.

 

I would not take money from the pitching budget in hopes Sanchez regains his offense, although I like his chances better than Chavis.

 

Sanchez only made 5M last year. He's not breaking the bank.

[mvp 78]

The Yankees may trade Sanchez, but it won't be to the Red Sox, and certainly not for Chavis.

 

One for one it's an overpay by the Sox.

[mvp 78]

Side note: what has happened to my life to get me to become a Gary Sanchez truther?

[moonslav59]

Sanchez only made 5M last year. He's not breaking the bank.

 

No, but $5M, in today's depressed market can get us someone like Perez, or add to a $10M pitcher getting us a $15M one.

 

If our budget can be $19.9M over the tax line, then I['m fine with taking a few gambles. However, I think there are better ones than Sanchez out there.

[moonslav59]

Side note: what has happened to my life to get me to become a Gary Sanchez truther?

 

"Truther?" Maybe "Alt-truther" fits better. (LOL)

[notin]

And you get an OFer too. I think Chavis might hit himself out of the league in a few years. I think Sanchez has a decent chance of being an All Star again as he was in 2019.

 

I'd probably be more inclinded to make the deal if someone besides Tauchman was included. I am extremely sour on him.

 

Sanchez wouldn't be the worst addition and might be a bounceback candidate. One thing he does have going for him is that he is still only 27.

 

Of course, would the Yankees trade him to Boston? That's another matter...

[notin]

Moustakas has over 600 innings at 2b. That's just wrong.

 

I've seen worse at 2B. I'd take Moustakas over Alfonso Soriano there...

[mvp 78]

I'd probably be more inclinded to make the deal if someone besides Tauchman was included. I am extremely sour on him.

 

Sanchez wouldn't be the worst addition and might be a bounceback candidate. One thing he does have going for him is that he is still only 27.

 

Of course, would the Yankees trade him to Boston? That's another matter...

 

Loaisiga/Sanchez for Chavis/Arauz

 

I would not look forward having to spell Loaisiga though.

[notin]

Loaisiga/Sanchez for Chavis/Arauz

 

I would not look forward having to spell Loaisiga though.

 

Hey at least the Sox get back a pitcher. I'd make that deal. But would Cashman?

[mvp 78]

I've seen worse at 2B. I'd take Moustakas over Alfonso Soriano there...

 

Yes, Soriano was bad at 2b, but was good in OF.

[notin]

Loaisiga/Sanchez for Chavis/Arauz

 

I would not look forward having to spell Loaisiga though.

 

And any fan of a team that had a guy named Yastrzemski can figure out how to spell Loasigia...

[mvp 78]

Interesting that the Yankees collected some of the all time worst 2b:

Steve Sax (his only ok defensive years came with the Yanks though)

Soriano

Chuck Knoblach

[notin]

Yes, Soriano was bad at 2b, but was good in OF.

 

Actually he did well on the metrics, but he defintely had problems out there.

 

I saw him play A LOT of outfield in Chicago. In 7 years, he never learned how to play the wall at Wrigley. He had a stretch of the Yips back in 2008-2009 where he kept dropping routine pop flies. For some odd reason, he added this little hop-step as he settled under them, and timed it so poorly that he it lead to him flummoxing the whole play. It got so bad, I was at a game where he caught a routine fly ball, and the crowd gave him a mock standing ovation (which he took in stride and tipped his cap).

 

However, as he was a former shortstop in Japan, he did have a great arm. And because he had some issues fielding the ball, runners routinely challenged him, so he did rack up a decent amount of outfield assists. Of course, for every runner he gunned down, a whole bunch more made it safely...

[notin]

Interesting that the Yankees collected some of the all time worst 2b:

Steve Sax (his only ok defensive years came with the Yanks though)

Soriano

Chuck Knoblach

 

That last one was added by Keith Olberman's mom...

[mvp 78]

"YOU NEED TO BE GOOD DEFENSIVELY UP THE MIDDLE."

 

Yankees 2000-2003: Let's just throw Soriano, Bernie and Jeter out there and see what happens...

[notin]

OK I am hoping for fewer of these types of moves.

 

"The Red Sox have inked right-handed reliever Kevin McCarthy to a minor league contract, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. McCarthy will earn an $825K salary if he makes the majors in 2021. The 28-year-old appeared in the bigs with the Royals in each season from 2016-20, and despite a meager 5.63 K/9, he recorded a 3.80 ERA/4.11 FIP in 191 2/3 innings. McCarthy has three seasons of between 45 and 70 innings under his belt, but after a 2020 in which he threw a mere six frames, the Royals outrighted him."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/minor-mlb-transactions-111220.html

 

I know they are necessary, but since they were basically all Bloom did last off-season, I might like to see a few actual Major Leaguers get added at some point...

[mvp 78]

OK I am hoping for fewer of these types of moves.

 

"The Red Sox have inked right-handed reliever Kevin McCarthy to a minor league contract, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. McCarthy will earn an $825K salary if he makes the majors in 2021. The 28-year-old appeared in the bigs with the Royals in each season from 2016-20, and despite a meager 5.63 K/9, he recorded a 3.80 ERA/4.11 FIP in 191 2/3 innings. McCarthy has three seasons of between 45 and 70 innings under his belt, but after a 2020 in which he threw a mere six frames, the Royals outrighted him."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/minor-mlb-transactions-111220.html

 

I know they are necessary, but since they were basically all Bloom did last off-season, I might like to see a few actual Major Leaguers get added at some point...

 

I'm not going to get worked up over a sinkerball reliever.

[mvp 78]

I'm not going to get worked up over a sinkerball reliever.

 

Similar Pitchers through 28

Heathcliff Slocumb (990.6)

 

Well, maybe we can trade him to the Mariners!

[notin]

Similar Pitchers through 28

Heathcliff Slocumb (990.6)

 

Well, maybe we can trade him to the Mariners!

 

For a catcher and a sinkerballer reliever?

[mvp 78]

For a catcher and a sinkerballer reliever?

 

Well, maybe a starter than can be turned into a reliever and then back to a starter after a few years?

[mvp 78]

@IanCundall

I’ll have a lot more on the Red Sox fall instructs over the coming weeks, but a name to watch at the 40-man roster deadline is RHP Eduard Bazardo. Bazardo’s velocity was 93-97, up from 91-95 in 2019. He also has a plus CB with an elite spin rate of ~3000 rpm that he can command.

 

Bazardo was excellent at instructs and threw a lot, so other teams got a good look. If the Red Sox don’t protect him, there’s a good chance a team would take a shot on him in the Rule 5 draft given he has the potential for two plus pitches and at least average control.