A Realistic View at 2021: Part I

[notin]

I am not giving up on Beni. My call would be not to trade him.

 

Why trade him?

 

Most teams are not looking for slumping outfielders on the IL. And it's not like the Sox have a littany of minor league outfield talent ready to step in. With Bradley likely on the move after the season, are the Sox going to position themselves to get two outfielders, a second baseman, maybe a DH, and as many pitching arms as Bloom (thinks he) can salvage?

[mvp 78]

My wife is legally blind. She uses a product called ZoomText, which magnifies the monitor image (so you only see a small portion of the monitor image at a time). For me, it's very frustrating when it's on to use the computer, but she is very adept at using it, although it might have taken some time. You can also change other viewing functions beyond magnification, including color, cursor size, and focus.

 

Zoomtext also has functions where you can have the website read to you, and gives you a few options for the voice.

 

https://www.zoomtext.com/

 

If anyone is ever using a voice option to read my posts, please only use the Mandy Patinkin from Princess Bride voice.

[mvp 78]

Why trade him?

 

Most teams are not looking for slumping outfielders on the IL. And it's not like the Sox have a littany of minor league outfield talent ready to step in. With Bradley likely on the move after the season, are the Sox going to position themselves to get two outfielders, a second baseman, maybe a DH, and as many pitching arms as Bloom (thinks he) can salvage?

 

Beni is out "indefinitely." Who would trade for that during a playoff run?

[notin]

Beni is out "indefinitely." Who would trade for that during a playoff run?

 

While it has happened (Jake Peavy was traded to the White Sox while on the IL), it's typically done by seller teams looking for buy low options. The Red Sox would be in a better position to trade for a player like Beni than to trade one away...

[notin]

If anyone is ever using a voice option to read my posts, please only use the Mandy Patinkin from Princess Bride voice.

 

My wife has you set to Gilbert Gottfried...

[mvp 78]

My wife has you set to Gilbert Gottfried...

 

Not even close... Ugh.

[notin]

Not even close... Ugh.

 

Would you prefer I had her change it to James Earl Jones, Patrick Warburton, or Kristen Schaal?

[mvp 78]

Would you prefer I had her change it to James Earl Jones, Patrick Warburton, or Kristen Schaal?

 

Schaal 100%. I don't want to be Darth Vader or Brock Samson.

[notin]

Schaal 100%. I don't want to be Darth Vader or Brock Samson.

 

Something wrong with Brock Samson? The Venture Brothers was a great show...

[mvp 78]

Something wrong with Brock Samson? The Venture Brothers was a great show...

 

I don't vibe with him. The Monarch? Yes. Dean? Yes. Dr Mrs The Monarch? Yes. Henchmen 21? Fine.

 

Hank? No. Rusty? No. Brock? No.

 

Quizboy? Maybe.

[notin]

I don't vibe with him. The Monarch? Yes. Dean? Yes. Dr Mrs The Monarch? Yes. Henchmen 21? Fine.

 

Hank? No. Rusty? No. Brock? No.

 

Quizboy? Maybe.

 

The Monarch has to be the best supervillain ever...

[mvp 78]

The Monarch has to be the best supervillain ever...

 

Rusty isn't the villain?

[notin]

Rusty isn't the villain?

 

More of an anti-hero. If he was the villain, that would make the Monarch the hero. Come on!!

[mvp 78]

More of an anti-hero. If he was the villain, that would make the Monarch the hero. Come on!!

 

Monarch's not the hero? We were watching a different show maybe?

[oldtimer]

Why trade him?

 

Most teams are not looking for slumping outfielders on the IL. And it's not like the Sox have a littany of minor league outfield talent ready to step in. With Bradley likely on the move after the season, are the Sox going to position themselves to get two outfielders, a second baseman, maybe a DH, and as many pitching arms as Bloom (thinks he) can salvage?

 

Yes! The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.

[notin]

Yes! The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.

 

Trading players because they’re struggling is how you build a failing franchise...

[moonslav59]

Trading players because they’re struggling is how you build a failing franchise...

 

Also, trading players that are doing well.

[notin]

Also, trading players that are doing well.

 

Well, unless they have one year left and won’t extend...

[oldtimer]

Also, trading players that are doing well.

 

By the way, many of our position players have struggled this year. Take away Verdugo, Bogaerts and Moreland and you have a little from JBJ, Vaz early, Pillar and Arauz. Beni, Devers, Chavis and JDM are way off. Not much power in the lineup in a year when the ball is leaving the park. Got to wonder when an opener and a bevy of relief pitchers can hold us to 3 hits in a night. Is our coaching partly at fault here? I am all for trading off those who won't help us in 2021 but not for a wholesale dump. The difficulty is in knowing which players cannot help us.

[Kimmi]

By the way, many of our position players have struggled this year. Take away Verdugo, Bogaerts and Moreland and you have a little from JBJ, Vaz early, Pillar and Arauz. Beni, Devers, Chavis and JDM are way off. Not much power in the lineup in a year when the ball is leaving the park. Got to wonder when an opener and a bevy of relief pitchers can hold us to 3 hits in a night. Is our coaching partly at fault here? I am all for trading off those who won't help us in 2021 but not for a wholesale dump. The difficulty is in knowing which players cannot help us.

 

Our team looks horrible this year because so many of the position players are under performing. Not saying that anyone is, but one should not let the poor play of the team this year make them think that this team needs to get rid of those players or that this team will not compete next year. No fire sales. We still have a solid core to build off of for next year.

 

IMO, the offense will work itself out. Strengthen the pitching and we could be competitive next year. Bloom might trade some players, but he is looking for returns that will strengthen us "for 2021 and beyond". He is not punting next season.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

2021 starting staff:

E-Rod

T.Bauer Free Agent

Eovaldi

Perez

Pivetta/Houck battle for 5th spot

 

w/ C. Sale returning.

 

If things go right, you can win with that starting staff.

 

C.Wong starting C? (if they trade Vazquez)

J.Downs starting 2b?

J.Duran starting CF?

 

AAA SP depth:

Mata

Groome

Edited August 28, 2020 by Fan_since_Boggs

[mvp 78]

2021 starting staff:

E-Rod

T.Bauer Free Agent

Eovaldi

Perez

Pivetta/Houck battle for 5th spot

 

w/ C. Sale returning.

 

If things go right, you can win with that starting staff.

 

C.Wong starting C? (if they trade Vazquez)

J.Downs starting 2b?

J.Duran starting CF?

 

AAA SP depth:

Mata

Groome

 

I don't think Houck has a shot at SP. Maybe with an opener? I think Pivetta/Seabold are better bets at this point.

[moonslav59]

So, Bloom's "major" acquisitions:

Verdugo- Trade

Downs- Trade

Wong- Trade

Potts- Trade

Rosario- Trade

Pivetta- Trade

Seabold- Trade

Springs- Trade

Matt Hall- Trade

A Bautista- Trade

M Perez- FA

K Pillar- FA

J Peraza- FA

Moreland- FA

Arauz- Rule 5

Yorke- Draft

Jordan-Draft

Drohan- Draft

Wu-Yelland- Draft

Miguel Betts- IFA

Enderso Lira- IFA

Luis Ravelo- IFA

Chih-Jung Liu IFA

J Osich- Waivers

 

Am I missing any big names? (Some of these are far from "big.")

[moonslav59]

Here's a look at the Sox players with 3 or more years of team control by age:

 

31

Sale

Walden

 

29

Weber

 

28

P Valdez

 

27

Bogey

Taylor

Pivetta

Brewer

Hart

Springs

 

26

Lin

 

25

Dalbec

Chatham

 

24

Verdugo

Chavis

Wong

Seabold

Houck

 

23

Devers

D Hernandez

Downs

Ward

Song

Duran

M Wilson

Feltman

 

22

Groome

Murphy

Zefrjahn

Cannon

 

21

Mata

H Potts

Arauz

Bello

Liu

 

20

Casas

Jimenez

J Rosario

Decker

J Rodriguez

 

19

Lugo

A Ramirez

A Flores

 

18

Yorke

Bonaci

 

17

Jordan

 

[moonslav59]

So, we added a couple players-to-be-named later to our farm- probably not anything great, but sometimes baby steps turn to giant ones.

 

soxprospects.com has this as out 2021 roster:

 

SP1 ____________

SP2 Eovaldi

SP3 ERod

SP4 Perez

SP5 Pivetta/Godley

 

Closer ____________

RP2 Barnes

RP3 D Hernandez

RP4 Taylor

RP5 Valdez

RP6 Brice

RP7 Brasier/Brewer/Walden

 

C Vazquez/Plaecki

1B Dalbec/Chavis

2B Peraza/Chatham

3B Devers

SS Bogaerts

LF Benintendi

CF Duran/Lin

RF Verdugo

DH Martinez

 

Borderline Pitchers: Hall, Covey, Springs, Triggs

 

Notable Minor Leaguers

SP Mata, Ward, Seabold, Hart

RP Houck, Poyner, Mazza, Shawaryn, Bazardo, Feltman

C Wong (Rei AA)

1B Ockimey (Casas AA)

2B Downs (Netzer AA)

3B de la Guerra (Howlett AA)

SS Arauz (Williams AA)

LF Puello (Brannen AA)

CF Matheney (Jimenez AA)

RF Wilson (Decker AA)

DH Castellanos (AA)

 

[notin]

This off-season should see more activity, and presumably the Sox should have a better idea about ERod and whether or not he can return. As of now

 

C: Vazquez

1b: Dalbec? Chavis?

2b: ?????

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Benintendi

CF: Duran? Bradley? Other?

RF: Verdugo

DH: Martinez?

 

SP: ERod?

SP: Perez

SP: Eovaldi

SP: Pivetta

SP: Seabold? (Place holder for Sale?)

 

RP: Barnes

RP: Brasier

RP: Taylor

RP: Hernandez

RP: Valdez?

RP: McHugh?

RP: Walden?

 

BN: Chavis

BN: Peraza

BN: Plawecki

BN: Lin? Munoz? Chatham? Arauz? Other?

 

There are some gaps to fill, mostly big gaps.

 

(Starting pitchers just listed in the order I thought them up.)

 

Players we hopefully never see again: Mazza, Brewer, Weber, Hall, Springs, Covey.

 

On the fence: Brice, Leyer, Stock, Godley.

[mvp 78]

No big names on the CF market this offseason.

 

They need to decide if they want to bring JBJ back on a one year deal or bring up Duran. 2B? God knows what they'll do there. Too many mediocre options.

[notin]

No big names on the CF market this offseason.

 

They need to decide if they want to bring JBJ back on a one year deal or bring up Duran. 2B? God knows what they'll do there. Too many mediocre options.

 

Springer? Re-unite him with Matt Barnes?

 

Bradley? Pillar? Back for another year.

 

Or maybe a stopgap 1-2 year solution like Michael Taylor? A very good defensive OF with good RHH pop but an inconsistent bat. The only 2 years he got semi-regular playing time, he posted a .730 OPS with 25 HRs in 850 PAs in a rather cavernous statdium.

 

If the Sox go stopgap at 2B, I still like Schoop as an option...

[mvp 78]

Springer? Re-unite him with Matt Barnes?

 

Bradley? Pillar? Back for another year.

 

Or maybe a stopgap 1-2 year solution like Michael Taylor? A very good defensive OF with good RHH pop but an inconsistent bat. The only 2 years he got semi-regular playing time, he posted a .730 OPS with 25 HRs in 850 PAs in a rather cavernous statdium.

 

If the Sox go stopgap at 2B, I still like Schoop as an option...

 

I was thinking of him as a RFer. Do you think they pony up cash for 31 year old Springer?

[Bellhorn04]

I was thinking of him as a RFer. Do you think they pony up cash for 31 year old Springer?

 

I think any ponying up has to go toward pitching.