A Realistic View at 2021: Part I

[kenmeister]

Assuming we get a low-end starter for Beni, I wonder if that pitcher will be any better a prospect than Houck or Pivetta. I'm much more interested in seeing the Sox get a closer, a quality starter (Kluber/Odorizzi), a center fielder, a second baseman etc. With Beni gone, Verdugo must be lonely out there.

[moonslav59]

Assuming we get a low-end starter for Beni, I wonder if that pitcher will be any better a prospect than Houck or Pivetta. I'm much more interested in seeing the Sox get a closer, a quality starter (Kluber/Odorizzi), a center fielder, a second baseman etc. With Beni gone, Verdugo must be lonely out there.

 

If we trade Beni, it seems obvious that Bloom has plans to fill the 2-3 open OF slots by opening day.

 

I'm not one who thinks 2B is a top priority, but certainly we may sign a 2Bman. We could fill the 2B/ 4th OF'er role by signing someone who can play both (E Hernandez) or by trading for one.

 

I agree: a solid SP'er and a Closer are our top 2 priorities, in terms of needing high-quality players, but OF may have a couple gaping holes, if Beni is dealt.

[mvp 78]

Assuming we get a low-end starter for Beni, I wonder if that pitcher will be any better a prospect than Houck or Pivetta. I'm much more interested in seeing the Sox get a closer, a quality starter (Kluber/Odorizzi), a center fielder, a second baseman etc. With Beni gone, Verdugo must be lonely out there.

 

I heard that it was more like a Beni for prospects trade. I don't think they expect to get MLB talent back.

[cp176]

There looks to be more people looking forward to a trade of Benintendi for who knows what than there were when the Sox traded the other two for Chris Sale. It is just interesting. For the record, i was opposed to seeing Moncada moved. If I had had to choose it would have been Benintendi. When i saw him play in Portland, i just didn't see someone big enough to be very successful long term. He was just an absolutely pure hitter though at every level that he had played at. He got bigger and subsequently slower and here we are today. i'm not sure that it is a good idea to trade him but I think that it goes without saying that Bloom knows things that we don't to go along with the fact that he knows what he is doing.

[mvp 78]

There looks to be more people looking forward to a trade of Benintendi for who knows what than there were when the Sox traded the other two for Chris Sale. It is just interesting. For the record, i was opposed to seeing Moncada moved. If I had had to choose it would have been Benintendi. When i saw him play in Portland, i just didn't see someone big enough to be very successful long term. He was just an absolutely pure hitter though at every level that he had played at. He got bigger and subsequently slower and here we are today. i'm not sure that it is a good idea to trade him but I think that it goes without saying that Bloom knows things that we don't to go along with the fact that he knows what he is doing.

 

I can't say I'm looking forward to a trade. I'd rather keep him than dump him at his lowest value.

[notin]

I heard that it was more like a Beni for prospects trade. I don't think they expect to get MLB talent back.

 

There has been discussion for deals involving prosepcts, but per MLBTR yesterday

 

"One of those clubs “has discussed trading big-league pitching depth for Benintendi,” Speier writes." (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/red-sox-discussing-andrew-benintendi-in-trade-talks.html)

 

Now whatever anyone means by "big league pitching depth" is up for interpretation...

[notin]

I can't say I'm looking forward to a trade. I'd rather keep him than dump him at his lowest value.

 

At this point, a trade just appears to mean "Hey!! We're not standing still here!!" Because right now, it is January 13th and all the Sox have added is Hunter Renfroe and Matt Andriese. We need something to make sure this season will be worthwhile for fans...

[mvp 78]

There has been discussion for deals involving prosepcts, but per MLBTR yesterday

 

"One of those clubs “has discussed trading big-league pitching depth for Benintendi,” Speier writes." (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/red-sox-discussing-andrew-benintendi-in-trade-talks.html)

 

Now whatever anyone means by "big league pitching depth" means is up for interpretation...

 

I hadn't heard that. I'd be surprised if Beni brought back something that was more of an upgrade over Pivetta. Maybe just a few young relievers? IDK.

[mvp 78]

At this point, a trade just appears to mean "Hey!! We're not standing still here!!" Because right now, it is January 13th and all the Sox have added is Hunter Renfroe and Matt Andriese. We need something to make sure this season will be worthwhile for fans...

 

It's like all the talk of "well, the Sox did reach out to the FA that just signed!" Until something happens, it's going to be a boring offseason of just speculation and wondering how low they'll keep the payroll. Can't say Andriese and Renfroe move the meter at all.

[Bellhorn04]

At this point, a trade just appears to mean "Hey!! We're not standing still here!!" Because right now, it is January 13th and all the Sox have added is Hunter Renfroe and Matt Andriese. We need something to make sure this season will be worthwhile for fans...

 

What happened to 'only a tiny % of free agents have signed'?

[notin]

I hadn't heard that. I'd be surprised if Beni brought back something that was more of an upgrade over Pivetta. Maybe just a few young relievers? IDK.

 

Well if we like BTV for values, he is worth Vince Velasquez, who is essentially a Nick Pivetta with a better fastball...

[notin]

What happened to 'only a tiny % of free agents have signed'?

 

Still true, but does it make anything I said false?

 

Don't forget, free agency also has a PR component to it...

[Bellhorn04]

Still true, but does it make anything I said false?

 

Maybe.

[mvp 78]

Still true, but does it make anything I said false?

 

Don't forget, free agency also has a PR component to it...

 

Gotta feed that monster!

[moonslav59]

I can't say I'm looking forward to a trade. I'd rather keep him than dump him at his lowest value.

 

I'm not a huge Beni fan, but I agree.

 

I think he'll hit fine in 2021. Maybe trading him at the deadline would bring back more.

[mvp 78]

Well if we like BTV for values, he is worth Vince Velasquez, who is essentially a Nick Pivetta with a better fastball...

 

I wouldn't do that deal. I'd just keep Beni.

[notin]

Maybe.

 

Noncommittal and yet still incorrect

[moonslav59]

Well if we like BTV for values, he is worth Vince Velasquez, who is essentially a Nick Pivetta with a better fastball...

 

Another idea might be to trade Beni & Pivetta for someone better than Velazquez.

[notin]

Another idea might be to trade Beni & Pivetta for someone better than Velazquez.

 

Or just go all in and trade Jeter Downs. Not like he was the original plan, anyway...

[notin]

I wouldn't do that deal. I'd just keep Beni.

 

Yeah I think anyone who wants Velasquez might find him easier to get. This deal would be two teams selling low.

 

Now also on BTV, the Sox could deal Benintendi to Miami for Cory Dickerson and Elieser Hernandez. Hernandez is one of those guy I listed way back when as an undervalued starter who could break out in a big way. That deal I would I jump at.

 

Of course, Miami might value Hernandez even more than I do.

 

Thje White Sox might be the best place to look as they have a surplus of starting pitching and Adam Engel slated to play LF. And Reynaldo Lopez is another pitcher who could and should break out soon and is not even in their opening day rotation...

[moonslav59]

Or just go all in and trade Jeter Downs. Not like he was the original plan, anyway...

 

Unless we trade a top prospect for someone who has not reached prime age and has 4+ years of team control, I'm not really interested.

[mvp 78]

Or just go all in and trade Jeter Downs. Not like he was the original plan, anyway...

 

I think it was telling that they said he would be good when the lights are on. The feeling is he doesn't take practice serious enough. Maybe he'll never make that next jump?

 

If he was traded, I wouldn't jump out the window.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I can't shake the feeling that Chaim Bloom won't stop until he strips this roster of most of the 2018 world champions.

 

I just sense he's on a mission to prove that he can build a winner of his own; it's why I predict JBJ, Beni, Vaz and Eovaldi will all be gone this year. It's why they didn't welcome Holt back when he was cut by Milwaukee or why they won't resign Moreland or Porcello. I also think if the Sox suck again and anyone even sniffs that Bogaerts is unhappy, he'll also be dealt off.

 

Devers could be, too, especially if he doesn't get his act together at third. No Red Sox could fetch more prospects than Rafie, and you'd better believe Bloom is well aware of that.

 

I have no proof nor evidence of any of this post -- it's just speculation that we're all forced to type while waiting for any real moves to happen.

[mvp 78]

I can't shake the feeling that Chaim Bloom won't stop until he strips this roster of most of the 2018 world champions.

 

I just sense he's on a mission to prove that he can build a winner of his own; it's why I predict JBJ, Beni, Vaz and Eovaldi will all be gone this year. It's why they didn't welcome Holt back when he was cut by Milwaukee or why they won't resign Moreland or Porcello. I also think if the Sox suck again and anyone even sniffs that Bogaerts is unhappy, he'll also be dealt off.

 

Devers could be, too, especially if he doesn't get his act together at third. No Red Sox could fetch more prospects than Rafie, and you'd better believe Bloom is well aware of that.

 

I have no proof nor evidence of any of this post -- it's just speculation that we're all forced to type while waiting for any real moves to happen.

 

I can't say I'm on board with your logic after only 1.5 offseasons.

[moonslav59]

Yeah I think anyone who wants Velasquez might find him easier to get. This deal would be two teams selling low.

 

Now also on BTV, the Sox could deal Benintendi to Miami for Cory Dickerson and Elieser Hernandez. Hernandez is one of those guy I listed way back when as an undervalued starter who could break out in a big way. That deal I would I jump at.

 

Of course, Miami might value Hernandez even more than I do.

 

Thje White Sox might be the best place to look as they have a surplus of starting pitching and Adam Engel slated to play LF. And Reynaldo Lopez is another pitcher who could and should break out soon and is not even in their opening day rotation...

 

Even teams with "surplus" pitching don't usually look to trade it away, but they are more likely to part with one over teams looking to strengthen their staff.

 

Teams looking to trade for Beni or Vaz will not likely give back good ML level talent, unless they are overloaded at a position we need.

 

I know 3 team deals are rarer than a perfect game (OK, maybe not), but that type of trade makes more sense to me.

 

A team like PIT wants young talent & prospects. They have a good catcher, a 2Bman (Frazier) they want to trade, who can also play OF and pitchers they seem willing to part with (Musgrove and/or Taillon). If we can get a 3rd team to give them prospects, we can get what we need from PIT and give Vaz and or Beni to that 3rd team. We can even add smaller pieces, if needed (like Chavis).

[mvp 78]

Yeah I think anyone who wants Velasquez might find him easier to get. This deal would be two teams selling low.

 

Now also on BTV, the Sox could deal Benintendi to Miami for Cory Dickerson and Elieser Hernandez. Hernandez is one of those guy I listed way back when as an undervalued starter who could break out in a big way. That deal I would I jump at.

 

Of course, Miami might value Hernandez even more than I do.

 

Thje White Sox might be the best place to look as they have a surplus of starting pitching and Adam Engel slated to play LF. And Reynaldo Lopez is another pitcher who could and should break out soon and is not even in their opening day rotation...

 

Isn't Jiminez their LF?

[moonslav59]

I can't say I'm on board with your logic after only 1.5 offseasons.

 

Agreed. I think Bloom sees a lot of talent in the Sox system, he'd like to keep around. Maybe he is willing to trade Devers, but I don't see it as part of some idea to put his stamp on this team.

 

Also, Bloom did re-sign Moreland in Jan 2020. He chose to bring back a player from the previous era.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I can't say I'm on board with your logic after only 1.5 offseasons.

 

I never said I was logical.

[a700hitter]

Depth= 5th or 6th starter.

Oooh , like a maybe a Jason Vargas type. Start printing the playoff tickets.

[a700hitter]

What happened to 'only a tiny % of free agents have signed'?

all the big names are still on the board.