2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[moonslav59]

Schreiber is like Chad Bradford, but without the effectiveness...

 

I wouldn't be surprised if he's DFA'd within a few weeks.

 

These guys are just incrementally better than the ones they replace- if that.

[Tedballgame]

We have an embarrassing of riches of PTBNL’s .

 

Former PTBNL: Scott Brosius, Coco Crisp, Marco Scutaro, Trea Turner, Michael Brantley, Moises Alou, Shoeless Joe Jackson and.....BIG PAPI!!!!!!

[moonslav59]

Former PTBNL: Scott Brosius, Coco Crisp, Marco Scutaro, Trea Turner, Michael Brantley, Moises Alou, Shoeless Joe Jackson and.....BIG PAPI!!!!!!

 

Some nice names but some long odds.

[notin]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's DFA'd within a few weeks.

 

These guys are just incrementally better than the ones they replace- if that.

 

Maybe he will be one of those guys DFA'd every week by a new team. Good enough to not get through waivers but not good enough to be added to anyone's 40 man roster...

[moonslav59]

Maybe he will be one of those guys DFA'd every week by a new team. Good enough to not get through waivers but not good enough to be added to anyone's 40 man roster...

 

He seems like that type, but who knows how Bloom values him vs Brice, Wilson, Walden or others.

[moonslav59]

Rosenthal signs with A's for $11M/1 paid over 3 years.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/athletics-sign-trevor-rosenthal.html

 

Kela signs with Padres.

[jacksonianmarch]

JBJ had a good defensive season in 2020, but he’s at the age that CFers start to lose a step. He is a good defender at this point, no longer a great one. That’s the issue for him. His bat can be carried when he’s a GG caliber CFer. But when he’s a good CFer, he needs to hit more to get paid and he just doesn’t do that well enough

[moonslav59]

JBJ had a good defensive season in 2020, but he’s at the age that CFers start to lose a step. He is a good defender at this point, no longer a great one. That’s the issue for him. His bat can be carried when he’s a GG caliber CFer. But when he’s a good CFer, he needs to hit more to get paid and he just doesn’t do that well enough

 

He's still a plus defender but not great.

 

His bat comes and goes and often has been good for long enough to not be a minus on offense. Overall, taking away his first year or two, he's been a plus on offense, too, when compared to other CF'ers.

 

He looked pretty good in 2020, but he's done that for 60 games several times in the last few years but ended up with somewhat crappy numbers compared to his prime years.

 

The three JBJs:

.548 OPS from 2013-2014 (53 OPS+)

.834 OPS from 2015-2016 (118 OPS+)

.737 OPS from 2017-2020 (94 OPS+)

 

I've already shown his defensive metrics have slipped significantly over the last 2-3 years.

 

[oldtimer]

He seems like that type, but who knows how Bloom values him vs Brice, Wilson, Walden or others.

 

Whoever we pick up, the general response seems to be negative on the site. I prefer to wait and see. They picked him up for a reason and they are reasonable baseball people. It could be a shot in the dark, it could be depth. I don't know and doubt if others here do either.

[mvp 78]

Whoever we pick up, the general response seems to be negative on the site. I prefer to wait and see. They picked him up for a reason and they are reasonable baseball people. It could be a shot in the dark, it could be depth. I don't know and doubt if others here do either.

 

I think they've made some good acquisitions this offseason:

Sawamura (might not work out, but is cheap)

Richards

Perez (not a high ceiling but is a professional pitcher)

Kiké

Renfroe (if used as a platoon)

Andriese (unspectacular but should shore up the bullpen)

Ottavino (could be the best pen arm they have)

[notin]

He's still a plus defender but not great.

 

His bat comes and goes and often has been good for long enough to not be a minus on offense. Overall, taking away his first year or two, he's been a plus on offense, too, when compared to other CF'ers.

 

He looked pretty good in 2020, but he's done that for 60 games several times in the last few years but ended up with somewhat crappy numbers compared to his prime years.

 

The three JBJs:

.548 OPS from 2013-2014 (53 OPS+)

.834 OPS from 2015-2016 (118 OPS+)

.737 OPS from 2017-2020 (94 OPS+)

 

I've already shown his defensive metrics have slipped significantly over the last 2-3 years.

 

 

HAve they?

 

His UZR/150 was about league average in 2019, but has been above in the 2-8 range since 2015. His DRS ran negative a couple years but bounced back last year in a big way. Now did that happen because he is losing a step or did it bounce back because he now has to (and clearly can?) cover more of right center since Betts was not out there for the first time in a while?

[notin]

I think they've made some good acquisitions this offseason:

Sawamura (might not work out, but is cheap)

Richards

Perez (not a high ceiling but is a professional pitcher)

Kiké

Renfroe (if used as a platoon)

Andriese (unspectacular but should shore up the bullpen)

Ottavino (could be the best pen arm they have)

 

And Franchy!!!

[mvp 78]

And Franchy!!!

 

He's basically a lottery ticket that will just disintegrate if it's too humid. I'm waiting to see the PTBNLs.

 

I also didn't include Marwin because he doesn't move the needle for me.

[notin]

He's basically a lottery ticket that will just disintegrate if it's too humid. I'm waiting to see the PTBNLs.

 

I also didn't include Marwin because he doesn't move the needle for me.

 

So Cordero is a back seat wild card, but the PTBNL's need more attention?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whoever we pick up, the general response seems to be negative on the site. I prefer to wait and see. They picked him up for a reason and they are reasonable baseball people. It could be a shot in the dark, it could be depth. I don't know and doubt if others here do either.

 

While people who post about baseball all year long may not be average fans, we may represent overall reactions. We are a spoiled lot, used to contending and winning titles this century, and often fortifying our chances with high-profile talent. The acquisitions this offseason have ranged from part-time yet versatile depth and stockpiled prospects to never-has-beens. Some of them will help and some will be beyond help.

 

Remember, this is a last place team until they're not anymore. When this administration starts adding established bonafides or even legitimates on the way up (instead of on the way back), the reactions will be more commensurate with the encouraging improvements.

[Bellhorn04]

Remember, this is a last place team until they're not anymore.

 

That may be how you see it. To me it's kind of a silly notion. If 2020 was a 162 game non-pandemic season I might give it a little more credence.

[notin]

Whoever we pick up, the general response seems to be negative on the site. I prefer to wait and see. They picked him up for a reason and they are reasonable baseball people. It could be a shot in the dark, it could be depth. I don't know and doubt if others here do either.

 

Actually I like a lot of the acquisitions. I'd just like to see Bloom spend a few extra bucks on someone like Odorizzi to make this team even better. And on a LHH outfielder, preferably Bradley.

 

The bullpen is light years ahead of last year's. The rotation is better. The 40 man roster saw about 12 names, all of whom were AAAA payers at best, removed and, in most cases, discarded. And only one AAAA player was added back on, and that was yesterday...

[mvp 78]

So Cordero is a back seat wild card, but the PTBNL's need more attention?

 

I didn't say they needed more attention. However, on how the deal was made, the PTBNL from the Mets should be a decent value since the sent Lee for him and Wickowski. It will be interesting to see who that guy is.

 

Cordero has all the talent in the world, plus a high k rate and an extensive injury history. There's a good chance we get more out of the PTBNLs than out of Cordero.

[mvp 78]

While people who post about baseball all year long may not be average fans, we may represent overall reactions. We are a spoiled lot, used to contending and winning titles this century, and often fortifying our chances with high-profile talent. The acquisitions this offseason have ranged from part-time yet versatile depth and stockpiled prospects to never-has-beens. Some of them will help and some will be beyond help.

 

Remember, this is a last place team until they're not anymore. When this administration starts adding established bonafides or even legitimates on the way up (instead of on the way back), the reactions will be more commensurate with the encouraging improvements.

 

The bonafides are 04, 07, 13 and 18.

[mvp 78]

That may be how you see it. To me it's kind of a silly notion. If 2020 was a 162 game non-pandemic season I might give it a little more credence.

 

If it was a 162 game season, they would have been a 4th place team rather than a last place team.

[Bellhorn04]

If it was a 162 game season, they would have been a 4th place team rather than a last place team.

 

No doubt. But as I've said before it was a perfect time to just flat-out tank.

[notin]

I didn't say they needed more attention. However, on how the deal was made, the PTBNL from the Mets should be a decent value since the sent Lee for him and Wickowski. It will be interesting to see who that guy is.

 

Cordero has all the talent in the world, plus a high k rate and an extensive injury history. There's a good chance we get more out of the PTBNLs than out of Cordero.

 

I wouldn't call it a good chance. Most PTBNL's fall far short of the Ortiz/Crisp/Brantley list.

 

BASed on absolutely nothing, I am going to speculate the Mets' PTBNL will be 2020 2nd rounder JT Ginn (RHP). The reason he is a PTBNL is that he has yet to actually pitch minor league ball. But he will fare well enough in A ball to be sent to Boston in that deal. Not sure who else is on the list, but I would be surprised if the Sox did not ask for Ginn or someone similar.

 

The PTBNL's from the Royals are probably much lesser players. And the one from the Phillies might wind up just being cash...

[mvp 78]

No doubt. But as I've said before it was a perfect time to just flat-out tank.

 

It was the perfect storm of a year to tank. No fans. Short season. Need to get under the cap. Still had a title in recent memory.

[notin]

No doubt. But as I've said before it was a perfect time to just flat-out tank.

 

Once Sale went down, it was no longer a choice anyway...

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't call it a good chance. Most PTBNL's fall far short of the Ortiz/Crisp/Brantley list.

 

BASed on absolutely nothing, I am going to speculate the Mets' PTBNL will be 2020 2nd rounder JT Ginn (RHP). The reason he is a PTBNL is that he has yet to actually pitch minor league ball. But he will fare well enough in A ball to be sent to Boston in that deal. Not sure who else is on the list, but I would be surprised if the Sox did not ask for Ginn or someone similar.

 

The PTBNL's from the Royals are probably much lesser players. And the one from the Phillies might wind up just being cash...

 

I'm not expecting much from the Royals or Phillies guys, but they too may have a realistic shot of being better for the Sox than Franchy. Franchy's floor is pulls hammy in ST and never plays again. His injury risk is that high. I hope Franchy is a shooting star who puts up amazing numbers for one year and the Sox deal him next offseason.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That may be how you see it. To me it's kind of a silly notion. If 2020 was a 162 game non-pandemic season I might give it a little more credence.

 

And if it was a 162-game season, the '20 Red Sox may have lost 100 games. Or Houck and Pivetta may have led them to the playoffs. But they didn't, and they didn't. All we know for sure is that Boston was the worst team in the division.

 

I'm not down on any of the offseason acquisitions. There are many players that went to other teams that I would have preferred, but by now we all understand why the Sox didn't sign them.

 

That feeling among us may change if Cora has them close to contending and Bloom doesn't add reinforcements, or if they have another losing year and don't open the wallets next winter.

[Bellhorn04]

Once Sale went down, it was no longer a choice anyway...

 

Plus E-Rod. And with our thin pen, you can even add losing D-Hern and Taylor.

 

Plus swapping Cora for Roenicke.

 

A perfect shitstorm indeed.

[Bellhorn04]

And if it was a 162-game season, the '20 Red Sox may have lost 100 games. Or Houck and Pivetta may have led them to the playoffs. But they didn't, and they didn't. All we know for sure is that Boston was the worst team in the division.

 

No, we know some other things too, that are being mentioned in this last little flurry of posts.

[mvp 78]

No, we know some other things too, that are being mentioned in this last little flurry of posts.

 

That having your two best starting pitchers out is not ideal?

[notin]

That having your two best starting pitchers out is not ideal?

 

That's such a big part of the 2020 season.

 

How do people think the 2018 season would have gone if the team got 0 IP from Sale and Price? Do people think ERod and Porcello were going to lead this team to the best record in MLB and a World Series title? Would they have even made the playoffs?