2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[notin]

$43M to spend, instead of $30M could be the difference maker.

 

Or not.

 

I’d say it’s more likely to be a difference maker for Dombrowski....

[cp176]

I’d say it’s more likely to be a difference maker for Dombrowski....

 

... bang bang bang goes the never ending drumbeat

[moonslav59]

I’d say it’s more likely to be a difference maker for Dombrowski....

 

That may be true, but if Bloom is allowed to spend to the tax line and does, the difference doesn't really matter.

 

This won't happen, so this whole talk is questionable.

[jad]

I've suggested this before, but now with just one year left at $12M, Pedey should retire, and then we re-sign him at $3M a year x 5 years as a consultant or coach.

 

 

Yes you have suggested that before. And all this scheme depends on to work is for the other 31 teams and the Players Union (with all their lawyers) not being as clever as your basic TalkSox poster. Why not save more millions by 'restructuring' Castillo's salary to pay him the minimum while slipping him $10million or so to be a scout?

[jacksonianmarch]

I've suggested this before, but now with just one year left at $12M, Pedey should retire, and then we re-sign him at $3M a year x 5 years as a consultant or coach.

 

 

You can’t do that. There are provisions against monkeying with the Lux tax and the cap in this very way. That came to light on this very forum when I recommended the same thing for ARod in his final year. There’s a clause about converting a salary from a playing salary to a coaching or FO salary.

[Bellhorn04]

You can’t do that. There are provisions against monkeying with the Lux tax and the cap in this very way. That came to light on this very forum when I recommended the same thing for ARod in his final year. There’s a clause about converting a salary from a playing salary to a coaching or FO salary.

 

There's a general clause about not structuring things to avoid the tax. This would be an obvious attempt to do so.

[oldtimer]

The Rays won another with very good pitching and good clean defense. The bombers are not winning against them, at least not as yet. I'm expecting Bloom to reflect the Rays success in the moves he makes this offseason.

 

Get rid of the weak sisters on the club. (lot of those)

 

Enhance the BP and starting pitching through trades and FA

 

Start to use capable young players from the prospect list. One doesn't have to be 25 to make the team.

 

Look hard for solutions with players who are error prone. One error last night would have sunk the Rays

 

Draft well and make only moves which make the team better on a consistent and long term basis.

[moonslav59]

Possible 40 man roster casualties to rule 5 and free agent additions:

 

60 Day IL:

Pedey

Sale

ERod

 

First to go:

Peraza (arb/non tender?)

Kickham (Out of options)

Lin (out of options)

Brice (no options)

Godley (no options)

Springs

Triggs

Stock

Hall

 

 

Borderline/Trade?:

Wilson (assuming we add 2 OF'ers)

Hart

Aybar

Walden

 

Likely to stay, but...

Chatham

Arauz

Leyer

Covey

Tapia

Brewer

Puello (assuming we add 2-3 OF'er)

[mvp 78]

Pedroia has not been on the 40 man roster since April of 2019, other than a brief obigatory add last off-season...

 

And the point is you don't want him on the 40 man this offseason as it limits your moves.

[mvp 78]

Yes you have suggested that before. And all this scheme depends on to work is for the other 31 teams and the Players Union (with all their lawyers) not being as clever as your basic TalkSox poster. Why not save more millions by 'restructuring' Castillo's salary to pay him the minimum while slipping him $10million or so to be a scout?

 

Castillo's deal is done. There is no more obligation to him as he's a FA.

[mvp 78]

Possible 40 man roster casualties to rule 5 and free agent additions:

 

60 Day IL:

Pedey

Sale

ERod

 

First to go:

Peraza (arb/non tender?)

Kickham (Out of options)

Lin (out of options)

Brice (no options)

Godley (no options)

Springs

Triggs

Stock

Hall

 

 

Borderline/Trade?:

Wilson (assuming we add 2 OF'ers)

Hart

Aybar

Walden

 

Likely to stay, but...

Chatham

Arauz

Leyer

Covey

Tapia

Brewer

Puello (assuming we add 2-3 OF'er)

 

I think Puello, Chatham, Leyer, Covey, Tapia are more likely to be gone than not. There have been a lot of people that think Springs is very likely to stay. I would probably keep Stock too (at least over Hart, Aybar, Walden, Leyer and Tapia).

[Bellhorn04]

I've suggested this before, but now with just one year left at $12M, Pedey should retire, and then we re-sign him at $3M a year x 5 years as a consultant or coach.

 

 

What's the worst that could happen, right?

 

Well, maybe they look at it the same way they did with the IFA penalties we were hit with, which was all about behind the scenes handshake deals, IIRC.

 

So they could penalize us, and we would then be the MLB team most frequently penalized for cheating, I think...

[mvp 78]

What's the worst that could happen, right?

 

Well, maybe they look at it the same way they did with the IFA penalties we were hit with, which was all about behind the scenes handshake deals, IIRC.

 

So they could penalize us, and we would then be the MLB team most frequently penalized for cheating, I think...

 

I think the Sox could just say to Pedey "look, we know you aren't going to play this year and we need your roster spot over the offseason. We either have to waive you or figure something else out. We really want you to retire as a Red Sox." Maybe they think it's more worthwhile to maintain the good relationship and keep him on payroll to just let him be on the bench in a player/coach role? IDK.

[notin]

I think Puello, Chatham, Leyer, Covey, Tapia are more likely to be gone than not. There have been a lot of people that think Springs is very likely to stay. I would probably keep Stock too (at least over Hart, Aybar, Walden, Leyer and Tapia).

 

I agree on most of those names - maybe not Chatham - as being gone. One guy I think very likely to stay is Matt Hall. He was acquired for his outstanding spin rate and I doubt they give up on him after only 8 innings...

[Nick]

There's a general clause about not structuring things to avoid the tax. This would be an obvious attempt to do so.

 

Yep, let's play by the rules. His injury was unpredictable. Not everything in life is fair.

 

Celtics 1st round pick dying without ever playing.....Miami Marlins player dying in boat accident....Pedey getting injured is not the worst thing in life.

 

I just hope he's able to function normally. I'd hate for him to suffer....

[Tedballgame]

I think Puello, Chatham, Leyer, Covey, Tapia are more likely to be gone than not. There have been a lot of people that think Springs is very likely to stay. I would probably keep Stock too (at least over Hart, Aybar, Walden, Leyer and Tapia).

 

Every one of those guys are horrible and should not be in the major leagues.

[Tedballgame]

Castillo's deal is done. There is no more obligation to him as he's a FA.

 

Thank you Ben Cherrington for that signing. Horrible.

[Tedballgame]

And the point is you don't want him on the 40 man this offseason as it limits your moves.

 

That is why the NFL with non-guaranteed contracts makes so much more sense than MLB.

[Tedballgame]

No player is going to retire when they are owed 12 million dollars.

[Bellhorn04]

Yep, let's play by the rules. His injury was unpredictable. Not everything in life is fair.

 

Celtics 1st round pick dying without ever playing.....Miami Marlins player dying in boat accident....Pedey getting injured is not the worst thing in life.

 

I just hope he's able to function normally. I'd hate for him to suffer....

 

Great post.

[mvp 78]

I agree on most of those names - maybe not Chatham - as being gone. One guy I think very likely to stay is Matt Hall. He was acquired for his outstanding spin rate and I doubt they give up on him after only 8 innings...

 

If they cared about Chatham, he would have been up in 2020. He's on his way out IMO.

[mvp 78]

Every one of those guys are horrible and should not be in the major leagues.

 

I think you don't realize how many AAAA retreads get bounced around the league. Just wait until they add 2 more teams and more roster spots!

[mvp 78]

That is why the NFL with non-guaranteed contracts makes so much more sense than MLB.

 

Never going to happen with the CBA.

[notin]

If they cared about Chatham, he would have been up in 2020. He's on his way out IMO.

 

He has options.

 

Right now, all he takes up a 40 man roster spot, which plenty of other expendables do as well. Now he might be dealt, but I don’t think his departure is imminent just yet...

[notin]

No player is going to retire when they are owed 12 million dollars.

 

Except Ryan Dempster and Gil Meche, who both did....

[harmony]

He has options.

 

Right now, all he takes up a 40 man roster spot, which plenty of other expendables do as well. Now he might be dealt, but I don’t think his departure is imminent just yet...

What are the chances C.J. Chatham is claimed in the Rule 5 draft if left unprotected the month he turns 26 years old?

[mvp 78]

What are the chances C.J. Chatham is claimed in the Rule 5 draft if left unprotected the month he turns 26 years old?

 

They have to DFA him to get him off the 40 man, right? More likely he gets picked up then.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What are the chances C.J. Chatham is claimed in the Rule 5 draft if left unprotected the month he turns 26 years old?

 

Only by someone who thinks they can teach a seven-year professional ballplayer with a decent bat to finally generate some power. He's 6'4... I know, Mark Belanger was also tall for his era, but he may have been the best defensive shortstop in baseball history.

[mvp 78]

Only by someone who thinks they can teach a seven-year professional ballplayer with a decent bat to finally generate some power. He's 6'4... I know, Mark Belanger was also tall for his era, but he may have been the best defensive shortstop in baseball history.

 

Chatham is a slightly worse version of Christian Arroyo. Arroyo was DFA'd and unclaimed this year. I can't imagine teams would claim Chatham.

[moonslav59]

And the point is you don't want him on the 40 man this offseason as it limits your moves.

 

Normally, yes, but with a 40 man roster that includes about 17-21 replacement-level players or worse, it shouldn't be a concern in 2021.

 

Just keep him on the 60 day IL, and he takes up no space on the 40 man.