2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[mvp 78]

1. You know I am aware of that site.

 

2. How is it relevant to my point?

 

I think he's just agreeing that other teams would be more apt to go for Contreras than Vazquez so that it would be harder to move Vazquez.

[mvp 78]

So are you saying that Phillips Valdez isn't more appealing than pre-2020 BA #18 Luis Patino?

 

This was 100% on Bloom. Just because you're armed with a cap gun in your duel with a man armed with a rifle is no reason to not pull the trigger...

 

I heard that BOH is calling all the shots and Bloom is just a fall guy.

[Bellhorn04]

Bauer is reportedly looking for 5-6 years at $36 mill per year.

 

Maybe part of the reason things are going slowly is that most players are expecting to get the same kind of deals they would get in a 'normal' offseason.

[mvp 78]

Bauer is reportedly looking for 5-6 years at $36 mill per year.

 

Maybe part of the reason things are going slowly is that most players are expecting to get the same kind of deals they would get in a 'normal' offseason.

 

If the Sox signed him for that, I'd have to go throw up in a trash can.

[notin]

I think he's just agreeing that other teams would be more apt to go for Contreras than Vazquez so that it would be harder to move Vazquez.

 

I can’t say Contreras is the preferred target, but having him out there certainly cuts into Vazquez’ appeal.

 

But I don’t think the Sox are positioned as they once were to deal Vazquez, and his replacement is even foggier.

 

I suppose the Sox could over complicate things and try to acquire via trade someone like Austin Hedges or Tucker Barnhart, as both teams are clearly cutting costs...

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox are just not good enough to get any good players yet. When they're better in a few years they'll be able to get better players. No sense in adding star players now, when they're not going anywhere. Fans would rather watch a last place team slowly improve to fourth place this year, then third place, and finally contend in three or four seasons. And only then should Boston spend resources on really good baseball players... unless one becomes great, then we'll all be rooting to dump the guy for prospects so we can enjoy another rebuild.

 

Stop.

[Kimmi]

2021 is a season of flux. You’ve got to see what you have in Beni after a horrible 2020. Does JDM rebound? ERod is coming off heart inflammation, and after what happened to the Florida basketball player, I’m sure they’re gonna be handling him with kid gloves. Plus, you only have a year of control for him. Sale is gonna start the year on the IL and likely won’t be himself again (if himself still exists) until September. There is zero point in investing heavily in 2021 with so much in the air on an otherwise terrible team.

 

The Sox will be contenders in 2021, flux season or not.

[Kimmi]

Rolling towards 40k high quality posts. No filler here!

 

You crack me up.

 

You are on a roll though!

[Kimmi]

The national media had fun blasting Boston for trading Betts, but I don't recall any poster here calling John Henry "cheap". However, any diehard Sox fan would be myopic if he or she hasn't noticed a drastic change in the last two offseasons, compared to the rest of this century. You can't keep saying "we're still going to be one of the biggest spenders" without any evidence.

 

There is evidence, though, that MLB drafts are less reliable than signing or trading for bonafide big leaguers. The Red Sox tanked to get that vaunted #4 overall pick next summer; here is over half a century's data of players chosen in that slot: 2 Hall of Famers -- Winfield and Larkin; 3 ace pitchers -- Kevin Brown, Kerry Wood, Alex Fernandez; 1 All-Star closer -- Gregg Olson; 4 All-Star batters -- Ryan Zimmerman, Dimitri Young, Jeffrey Hammonds, Thurman Munson. The highest the Sox ever picked was #3 in 1967, when they chose righty Mike Garman. The #4 guy was the one that got away -- Jon Matlack -- who became a lefty stud for the Mets for five years.

 

That's 11 stars in 55 years from the #4 pick. Most of the others didn't make the majors or stay very long. But at least a 1 in 5 shot at a star gives us a 20% chance at having another top player someday (if we can sign him).

 

Here's the link (obviously, some picks from the last decade still have long careers ahead):

https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-history/mlb-draft-database/#/?pick=4

 

Henry has been one of the biggest spenders since he bought this team, even in the so called drastic change of the last two years. That is proof enough. Big spending teams have to reset payroll now and then to avoid the huge tax penalties. That's just a fact of life. Currently, the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season is keeping most teams from investing in huge contracts. Henry will continue to be one of the top spending owners. I have no doubt in my mind.

[Kimmi]

Are they doing a sell off like the Cubs? If not, they are going for it. They have a high payroll already.

 

Also, the offseason is far from over. I still don't expect a huge contract signing, but Bloom is not finished yet.

[mvp 78]

Also, the offseason is far from over. I still don't expect a huge contract signing, but Bloom is not finished yet.

 

Like has been mentioned elsewhere, nearly 75% of the FA market remains unsigned. There's a long way to go for this offseason. We haven't even begun to fight about the Carlos Hi Ho Silvas of the world yet!

 

My guess is Bloom signs 4 more MLB contract guys (CF, SP, 2 RPs) and 5 more MiLB contract guys.

[harmony]

1. You know I am aware of that site.

 

2. How is it relevant to my point?

In the words of a wise man: "Sorta makes it harder to deal Vazquez..."

 

Or not.

[notin]

Stop.

 

I think he is being sarcastic. Web forums are not the best medium for that, however...

[mvp 78]

I think he is being sarcastic. Web forums are not the best medium for that, however...

 

Need to add the /s or

[notin]

Like has been mentioned elsewhere, nearly 75% of the FA market remains unsigned. There's a long way to go for this offseason. We haven't even begun to fight about the Carlos Hi Ho Silvas of the world yet!

 

My guess is Bloom signs 4 more MLB contract guys (CF, SP, 2 RPs) and 5 more MiLB contract guys.

 

 

I'm on board. Although I think he signs a 2B in there somewhere, especially given the abundance on the market.

 

And hopefully the relievers are Bradley and Hand...

[notin]

Bauer is reportedly looking for 5-6 years at $36 mill per year.

 

Maybe part of the reason things are going slowly is that most players are expecting to get the same kind of deals they would get in a 'normal' offseason.

 

Of course he wants $36 mill per year. He cannot sign for a lower AAV than his arch-rival Gerrit Cole.

 

I think the Sox should offer him 2 years $74mill. Just to see how petty he is...

[Bellhorn04]

I'm on board. Although I think he signs a 2B in there somewhere, especially given the abundance on the market.

 

And hopefully the relievers are Bradley and Hand...

 

We may have to settle for just Bradley Hand.

[mvp 78]

I'm on board. Although I think he signs a 2B in there somewhere, especially given the abundance on the market.

 

And hopefully the relievers are Bradley and Hand...

 

They won't sign Bradley or Hand. Maybe they sign a 2b. If they do, it's someone who can also play OF (Profar/Gordon).

[mvp 78]

Of course he wants $36 mill per year. He cannot sign for a lower AAV than his arch-rival Gerrit Cole.

 

I think the Sox should offer him 2 years $74mill. Just to see how petty he is...

 

s***, sign him for 3. That's a lot moolah though.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We may have to settle for just Bradley Hand.

 

Mr. Hand ate Spicoli's pizza in Social Studies class.

[notin]

Mr. Hand ate Spicoli's pizza in Social Studies class.

 

Incorrect.

 

He made Spicoli share it...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Incorrect.

 

He made Spicoli share it...

 

What a dick.

[moonslav59]

They won't sign Bradley or Hand. Maybe they sign a 2b. If they do, it's someone who can also play OF (Profar/Gordon).

 

Hernandez can play CF, too.

[moonslav59]

Like has been mentioned elsewhere, nearly 75% of the FA market remains unsigned. There's a long way to go for this offseason. We haven't even begun to fight about the Carlos Hi Ho Silvas of the world yet!

 

My guess is Bloom signs 4 more MLB contract guys (CF, SP, 2 RPs) and 5 more MiLB contract guys.

 

Would you be happy with...

 

Odorizzi (SP)

Hernandez (2B/CF)

Hand & Bradley (RP)?

 

(I would, especially if we were able to then trade Arauz for Kiermaier & Fleming.)

 

Sale, Eovaldi, Odorizzi, ERod, Pivetta/Fleming/Houck

Hand, Bradley, Barnes, Brasier, D Hern, Taylor, Brice/Whitlock/Andriese/Valdez

Vazquez, Plawecki

Dalbec, Chavis

Hernandez, Arroyo (Downs)

Devers (Munoz)

Bogaerts (Chatham)

Beni/Renfroe

Kiermaier (Duran)

Verdugo (Puello/Gettys)

Martinez

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Would you be happy with...

 

Odorizzi (SP)

Hernandez (2B/CF)

Hand & Bradley (RP)?

 

(I would, especially if we were able to then trade Arauz for Kiermaier & Fleming.)

 

 

I'm in on all these guys. The problem (with the pitchers especially) now is that Bauer is shooting for the pre-pandemic moon, and a lot of players and agents -- and GMs -- are probably content to wait and see how his actual ceiling affects market rates for the next tier down.

[mvp 78]

(I would, especially if we were able to then trade Arauz for Kiermaier & Fleming.)

 

Not going to happen.

[moonslav59]

Not going to happen.

 

Maybe Arauz & Bello for Kiermaier & Fairbanks might work.

[moonslav59]

I'm in on all these guys. The problem (with the pitchers especially) now is that Bauer is shooting for the pre-pandemic moon, and a lot of players and agents -- and GMs -- are probably content to wait and see how his actual ceiling affects market rates for the next tier down.

 

Waiting too long has its risks as well.

 

I'm hoping some good players wait too long, and Bloom swoops in to snag some real good bargains.

[harmony]

Maybe Arauz & Bello for Kiermaier & Fairbanks might work.

Certainly does not work for the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays.

 

According to SoxProspects, Brayan Bello and Jonathan Arauz are ranked No. 22 and No. 25 in an undistinguished Red Sox farm system.

 

Arauz is an unlikely trade target for the Rays who currently have middle infielders Wander Franco, Vidal Brujan and Xavier Edwards ranked No. 1, No. 41 and No. 67 overall at MLB Pipeline:

 

Top 100 Baseball Prospects | MLB.com

WWW.MLB.COM

---

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

Edited December 30, 2020 by harmony

[notin]

They won't sign Bradley or Hand. Maybe they sign a 2b. If they do, it's someone who can also play OF (Profar/Gordon).

 

Profar can play OF but his 2b skills have come into question.

 

Why do you suppose they avoid Bradley and Hand? Bloom is far better known for strengthening bullpens over rotations...