2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[Kimmi]

Nothing hang’em Chaim has done to date says we should trust him implicitly. He has not won squat, as a matter of fact, just the opposite!

 

And while he has made some small steps in the right direction, to think that he has the ship turned around, is pure speculation!

 

This offseason, with a few strategic acquisitions, we could be a playoff tram again, at that point he will have coins deposited in the trust bank with me.

 

Besides having a great track record with the Rays, Bloom has made some very good moves in his short time with the Sox.

 

I trust him until he gives me a reason not to.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Besides having a great track record with the Rays, Bloom has made some very good moves in his short time with the Sox.

 

I trust him until he gives me a reason not to.

 

I think everyone is looking forward to Bloom acquiring better pitchers this offseason. How he goes about it matters a lot to him and the franchise, but not as much to fans expecting (and a few demanding) improvement...

[moonslav59]

Besides having a great track record with the Rays, Bloom has made some very good moves in his short time with the Sox.

 

I trust him until he gives me a reason not to.

 

I feel the same way. It's not a blind trust. It's based on Bloom's previous record and the decent job he has done building up our farm in just one year. He still has a way to go, and his next moves will have to work better than Peraza and the long list of marginal pitchers he added that didn't amount to squat.

 

To those bashing the trust we are showing, I'd ask, what is it about Bloom that makes you now trust him? Our 60 game record?

 

Really?

[moonslav59]

I think everyone is looking forward to Bloom acquiring better pitchers this offseason. How he goes about it matters a lot to him and the franchise, but not as much to fans expecting (and a few demanding) improvement...

 

Agreed.

 

He has a decent winter spending budget to work with, so the pressure is on. I'm not expecting a 2021 miracle, but I'm hopeful our farm continues to improve and some of the new additions look like winners. I'm thinking we might squeak into the playoffs, but my real hopes are for 2022 and beyond with an entertaining 2021 along the way.

[Kimmi]

I think everyone is looking forward to Bloom acquiring better pitchers this offseason. How he goes about it matters a lot to him and the franchise, but not as much to fans expecting (and a few demanding) improvement...

 

It will be interesting to see what moves for pitching Bloom makes this offseason. I really don't expect him to sign Bauer or any other big free agent contracts, and I don't think he should. Despite the lack of any splashy moves, I am confident that we will have a very good team in 2021.

[Kimmi]

I feel the same way. It's not a blind trust. It's based on Bloom's previous record and the decent job he has done building up our farm in just one year. He still has a way to go, and his next moves will have to work better than Peraza and the long list of marginal pitchers he added that didn't amount to squat.

 

To those bashing the trust we are showing, I'd ask, what is it about Bloom that makes you now trust him? Our 60 game record?

 

Really?

 

I think some of the criticism of Bloom supporters comes from that long list of marginal pitchers that you referred to, which contributed to our 60 game record. The problem with that criticism is that Bloom's hands were tied. He did not have any money to spend.

[moonslav59]

I think some of the criticism of Bloom supporters comes from that long list of marginal pitchers that you referred to, which contributed to our 60 game record. The problem with that criticism is that Bloom's hands were tied. He did not have any money to spend.

 

The only pitcher he signed for more than near minimum was Perez, and he did fine.

 

The rest were all minor league types.

 

A few might stick: Valdez, Mazza and maybe 1 or 2 others.

[notin]

The only pitcher he signed for more than near minimum was Perez, and he did fine.

 

The rest were all minor league types.

 

A few might stick: Valdez, Mazza and maybe 1 or 2 others.

 

And even then, some might stick with the organization, but that doesn't necessarily men they stick with the MLB roster...

[moonslav59]

And even then, some might stick with the organization, but that doesn't necessarily men they stick with the MLB roster...

 

or even end up being a plus in any way, but maybe one or two will.

 

I'm looking at this winter as the "real start" of Bloom's legacy.

[notin]

or even end up being a plus in any way, but maybe one or two will.

 

I'm looking at this winter as the "real start" of Bloom's legacy.

 

Well, yes. Last off-season he was charged with cutting payroll. This offseason he might actually get to spend on some players...

[moonslav59]

Well, yes. Last off-season he was charged with cutting payroll. This offseason he might actually get to spend on some players...

 

Perez, Plawecki, Valdez, Munoz and a couple others look like good additions, considering he had such a tiny spending budget.

[mvp 78]

or even end up being a plus in any way, but maybe one or two will.

 

I'm looking at this winter as the "real start" of Bloom's legacy.

 

IDK, I think adding Verdugo and Downs could be a big part of his legacy.

[moonslav59]

IDK, I think adding Verdugo and Downs could be a big part of his legacy.

 

Of course, and losing Betts, but I think trading Betts and Price was forced on him.

[notin]

Perez, Plawecki, Valdez, Munoz and a couple others look like good additions, considering he had such a tiny spending budget.

 

A back end starter, a backup catcher and a utility infielder?

 

I'd be a bit hesitant to get excited about Valdez, who can easily turn into Marcus Walden 2.0...

[mvp 78]

Of course, and losing Betts, but I think trading Betts and Price was forced on him.

 

And now that he has lux tax space, there shouldn't be any more strings from ownership.

[Bellhorn04]

Of course, and losing Betts, but I think trading Betts and Price was forced on him.

 

I think you can take that to the bank.

[jacksonianmarch]

2021 will be an addition of talent year. I think you will see the sox add some talent, spend some money, but I doubt they try or even come close to the Yanks, Jays or Rays in the division. I think some of that will be by design. I would anticipate Bloom will further sell off some short term assets and deepen the pool of talent in the system. Some of that should grow into starting roles by 2022, when I would expect more money to fall off the table and more dead weight to be cut. THAT is the time you will see Bloom pounce. As by then, the Yanks will have some difficult decisions to make, the Rays will have dealt away a lot of their now talent and the Jays will be coming into their own. That is the year to target, and one I think Henry is targeting as well. I highly, highly doubt the sox are even playoff contenders next year. Trust the process here. Bloom is the right guy

[mvp 78]

2021 will be an addition of talent year. I think you will see the sox add some talent, spend some money, but I doubt they try or even come close to the Yanks, Jays or Rays in the division. I think some of that will be by design. I would anticipate Bloom will further sell off some short term assets and deepen the pool of talent in the system. Some of that should grow into starting roles by 2022, when I would expect more money to fall off the table and more dead weight to be cut. THAT is the time you will see Bloom pounce. As by then, the Yanks will have some difficult decisions to make, the Rays will have dealt away a lot of their now talent and the Jays will be coming into their own. That is the year to target, and one I think Henry is targeting as well. I highly, highly doubt the sox are even playoff contenders next year. Trust the process here. Bloom is the right guy

 

Until the Jays get some sort of pitching rotation, they'll be closer to .500 over the course of 162 games. Right now, their rotation is Ryu, Roark (yuck), Anderson (go back to the Brewers) and nobody (if Pearson doesn't pan out). They need to sign 2 FA starters. Maybe they splurge for Bauer or bring Stroman back?

 

This year, TOR's OPS+ was 108, Sox were 107 (with dreadful years for Beni, Devers, JD). I think these two teams are closer than you think.

[Thunder]

Blue Jays offense also won't consistently rake like that over a 162 game season

[Bellhorn04]

Blue Jays offense also won't consistently rake like that over a 162 game season

 

The Three Sons are pretty good, though.

[moonslav59]

And now that he has lux tax space, there shouldn't be any more strings from ownership.

 

We don't know what limits Henry has placed on future spending. For all we know, Bloom not be able to go over the tax line, again, this year or be limited to not going more than $20M over.

 

If the plan is to start being serious contenders in 2022 and beyond, it might make sense to make 2022 year one of the tax and "splurge" next winter not this one.

[moonslav59]

A back end starter, a backup catcher and a utility infielder?

 

I'd be a bit hesitant to get excited about Valdez, who can easily turn into Marcus Walden 2.0...

 

He had to start somewhere with such a limited budget, and our 40 man roster was only about 18 players deep, when he took over.

 

Let's see what he does with the larger spending budget, this winter.

 

BTW, with all the trades and free agents to be, we're still only about 18 deep on our 40 man. Further deeping our 40 man roster might be the main task for this winter, while improving quality might be next winter's main task.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Three Sons are pretty good, though.

 

Yup, and the brother; the BJs have some of the most coveted young hitters in the game. Whether any of them can find defensive positions they're good at remains to be seen.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We don't know what limits Henry has placed on future spending. For all we know, Bloom not be able to go over the tax line, again, this year or be limited to not going more than $20M over.

 

If the plan is to start being serious contenders in 2022 and beyond, it might make sense to make 2022 year one of the tax and "splurge" next winter not this one.

 

I think that splurge is coming, but on a star position player or two. Here's why: the top starting pitchers slated for free agency after next season are Noah Syndergaard, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke... the first one is coming off major surgery and the others can't be trusted by anyone who grew up in the 1960s.

[mvp 78]

I think you can take that to the bank.

 

Henry for sure did.

[mvp 78]

The Three Sons are pretty good, though.

 

Bo is really, really good. I'm not entirely sold on Cavan yet.

[mvp 78]

We don't know what limits Henry has placed on future spending. For all we know, Bloom not be able to go over the tax line, again, this year or be limited to not going more than $20M over.

 

If the plan is to start being serious contenders in 2022 and beyond, it might make sense to make 2022 year one of the tax and "splurge" next winter not this one.

 

I'm also not sure that they available guys warrant a splurge this year.

[Bellhorn04]

Bo is really, really good. I'm not entirely sold on Cavan yet.

 

Cavan's offensive numbers look pretty solid.

[jacksonianmarch]

Cavan, Gurriel, Bo, and Vlad are really, really good and a hell of a building block for the future. Ryu is a good #2. I definitely, 100% think the Jays are the dark horse for Bauer. They are a starter and a closer away from making some real noise

[moonslav59]

I'm also not sure that they available guys warrant a splurge this year.

 

So true.

 

A splurge may not be on 1-2 studs, though. I could see us getting 1-2 mid-ranged players, this winter and 3-5 next winter. Spending a lot but not on just 1-2 guys.