2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[jacksonianmarch]

I doubt we lose Lemahieu. We also add German and some production from Severino

[Bellhorn04]

I doubt we lose Lemahieu. We also add German and some production from Severino

 

So based on those hopes, you're feeling good about being a contender in 2021?

[Kimmi]

Unless Henry authorizes a ridiculous amount of spending, you’ll be eliminated pretty early on.

 

And to be honest, I’d love it if he did. I would love Henry to get impatient and push Bloom to alter a badly needed rebuild into a hastily built short term contender with underwater contracts

 

Henry is not going to authorize a ridiculous amount of spending. At the same time, you underestimate what can be done without having to spend a ridiculous amount of money.

[Kimmi]

I doubt we lose Lemahieu. We also add German and some production from Severino

 

By the same token, the Sox will add ERod and some production from Sale.

[jacksonianmarch]

So based on those hopes, you're feeling good about being a contender in 2021?

 

Absolutely the Yanks will be a contender. We are incomplete as is, but definitely a contender.

[notin]

By the same token, the Sox will add ERod and some production from Sale.

 

Which means jacko has undoubtedly found some equivalent or better improvements on the Baltimore roster to keep them ahead of Boston. I am aquiver in anticipation to hear about them...

[moonslav59]

I could certainly agree strong arguments could be made that 3 divisional teams looks better than us, on paper, as of right now.

 

Winter is not over, though.

 

Let's see what happens.

 

The Jays seem to be looking to improve.

The Rays may be looking more long term than short term.

The Yanks are the great unknown, right now.

 

I think the Sox will have a very active winter. What they do and the value they add may end up being fiercely debated, but I'm guessing we do more than any pther AL East team, this winter.

[Kimmi]

Which means jacko has undoubtedly found some equivalent or better improvements on the Baltimore roster to keep them ahead of Boston. I am aquiver in anticipation to hear about them...

 

LOL Yankees fans...

[Kimmi]

I could certainly agree strong arguments could be made that 3 divisional teams looks better than us, on paper, as of right now.

 

Winter is not over, though.

 

Let's see what happens.

 

The Jays seem to be looking to improve.

The Rays may be looking more long term than short term.

The Yanks are the great unknown, right now.

 

I think the Sox will have a very active winter. What they do and the value they add may end up being fiercely debated, but I'm guessing we do more than any pther AL East team, this winter.

 

Fangraphs' WAR projections currently have the Sox as #13 in projected team WAR overall, but #9 in the AL and #3 in our division, behind the Yankees and the Jays. They have the Rays ranked right below us. Currently, this leaves us in a very difficult spot to even claim a wildcard. As you stated though, the offseason is far from over. I honestly believe that we will make the playoffs this year, albeit through the wildcard.

 

[Kimmi]

To emphasize again the point made several times by many:

 

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman

 

Market moving at an alltime slow pace. Heading into the new year, of the 301 Free agents with MLB pedigree (via espn) only 31 have an MLB deal (12 more have a minors deal). That leaves 86 percent unsigned.

 

 

Chris Hatfield

@spchrishatfield

·

 

For everyone freaking out about "WHY ISN'T CHAIM BLOOM DOING ANYTHING?????"... it's because nobody is.

 

You may freak out when there's nobody left or something, but for now, patience, friends.

[notin]

To emphasize again the point made several times by many:

 

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman

 

Market moving at an alltime slow pace. Heading into the new year, of the 301 Free agents with MLB pedigree (via espn) only 31 have an MLB deal (12 more have a minors deal). That leaves 86 percent unsigned.

 

 

Chris Hatfield

@spchrishatfield

·

 

For everyone freaking out about "WHY ISN'T CHAIM BLOOM DOING ANYTHING?????"... it's because nobody is.

 

You may freak out when there's nobody left or something, but for now, patience, friends.

 

As I have said before

 

The biggest deal to date this off-season has gone to James McCann.

 

The largest AAV to date has gone to Charlie Morton.

 

These are not the names that should be in either sentence.

 

In fact, I am struggling to believe they are correct myself. That can't still be right in January...

[Bellhorn04]

To emphasize again the point made several times by many:

 

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman

 

Market moving at an alltime slow pace. Heading into the new year, of the 301 Free agents with MLB pedigree (via espn) only 31 have an MLB deal (12 more have a minors deal). That leaves 86 percent unsigned.

 

 

Chris Hatfield

@spchrishatfield

·

 

For everyone freaking out about "WHY ISN'T CHAIM BLOOM DOING ANYTHING?????"... it's because nobody is.

 

You may freak out when there's nobody left or something, but for now, patience, friends.

 

We're almost due for a Scott Boras tirade, methinks.

[notin]

We're almost due for a Scott Boras tirade, methinks.

 

Boras is pushing 70 and is worth millions. He might even retire any day now...

[Bellhorn04]

Boras is pushing 70 and is worth millions. He might even retire any day now...

 

He might be having too much fun to retire until he really has to.

[notin]

He might be having too much fun to retire until he really has to.

 

If he thinks contract negotiations are "fun", then he will be absolutely dazzled by shuffleboard...

[Bellhorn04]

If he thinks contract negotiations are "fun", then he will be absolutely dazzled by shuffleboard...

 

I'm guessing a guy like Boras would much rather negotiate than play shuffleboard.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm guessing a guy like Boras would much rather negotiate than play shuffleboard.

 

He just showed up with an entire binder of data that shows why baseball is better with him active, and how all fans should chip in to prevent him from retiring.

[Bellhorn04]

He just showed up with an entire binder of data that shows why baseball is better with him active, and how all fans should chip in to prevent him from retiring.

 

In times like these, I'm actually looking forward to his next blasting of the owners.

[notin]

I'm guessing a guy like Boras would much rather negotiate than play shuffleboard.

 

I bet he has never played shuffleboard, which actually does look like less fun than negotiating to me..

[Bellhorn04]

The only good shuffleboard is the table version you find in drinking establishments, and best played while drinking copiously.

[oldtimer]

To emphasize again the point made several times by many:

 

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman

 

Market moving at an alltime slow pace. Heading into the new year, of the 301 Free agents with MLB pedigree (via espn) only 31 have an MLB deal (12 more have a minors deal). That leaves 86 percent unsigned.

 

 

Chris Hatfield

@spchrishatfield

·

 

For everyone freaking out about "WHY ISN'T CHAIM BLOOM DOING ANYTHING?????"... it's because nobody is.

 

You may freak out when there's nobody left or something, but for now, patience, friends.

 

Our next target of interest is Sugano. I understand that decision will come by Jan 7th. The Mets are reportedly in the lead, but we are in there as well. He would fit our needs very well.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Our next target of interest is Sugano. I understand that decision will come by Jan 7th. The Mets are reportedly in the lead, but we are in there as well. He would fit our needs very well.

 

He's aggressively looming on our radar.

[notin]

He's aggressively looming on our radar.

 

I know nothng about this guy, so if the Sox don't get him I really don't care.

 

Really after Bauer there is not much. I say strengthen that bullpen! Sign Brad Hand. Sign Archie Bradley. and get another reliever like Brad Peacock, Brandon workman or Ryne Stanek. Make the bullpen the strength of the staff.

 

Get a starter via trade. There are a few uninspiring salary dumps available who might be able to hold down the fort for 5 innings before getting into the bullpen. (And yeah, being back Porcello.)

 

And maybe get Matt Boyd. Live arm, getting too pricey for Detroit. And they need bats more than arms...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I know nothng about this guy, so if the Sox don't get him I really don't care.

 

Really after Bauer there is not much. I say strengthen that bullpen! Sign Brad Hand. Sign Archie Bradley. and get another reliever like Brad Peacock, Brandon workman or Ryne Stanek. Make the bullpen the strength of the staff.

 

Get a starter via trade. There are a few uninspiring salary dumps available who might be able to hold down the fort for 5 innings before getting into the bullpen. (And yeah, being back Porcello.)

 

And maybe get Matt Boyd. Live arm, getting too pricey for Detroit. And they need bats more than arms...

 

I'm only in favor of adding bullpen men if the Sox are going to actually use them as relievers. Get those openers off my lawn! Of course, that means they'll need actual major league starters, so my priority is strike throwers who eat innings.

 

Ready for my resolution of realism? I don't care if the starters are very good -- because we all know the Red Sox aren't going to trade their best prospects or spend a lot of money on big ticket items. So if Sugano can throw strikes with a rubber arm at the MLB level, I'll take him. Strike throwers and innings eaters mean Bosox fans at least get to watch real big league baseball games this year.

[moonslav59]

I know nothng about this guy, so if the Sox don't get him I really don't care.

 

Really after Bauer there is not much. I say strengthen that bullpen! Sign Brad Hand. Sign Archie Bradley. and get another reliever like Brad Peacock, Brandon workman or Ryne Stanek. Make the bullpen the strength of the staff.

 

Get a starter via trade. There are a few uninspiring salary dumps available who might be able to hold down the fort for 5 innings before getting into the bullpen. (And yeah, being back Porcello.)

 

And maybe get Matt Boyd. Live arm, getting too pricey for Detroit. And they need bats more than arms...

 

Makes sense to me, so it probably won't happen.

[notin]

I'm only in favor of adding bullpen men if the Sox are going to actually use them as relievers. Get those openers off my lawn! Of course, that means they'll need actual major league starters, so my priority is strike throwers who eat innings.

 

Ready for my resolution of realism? I don't care if the starters are very good -- because we all know the Red Sox aren't going to trade their best prospects or spend a lot of money on big ticket items. So if Sugano can throw strikes with a rubber arm at the MLB level, I'll take him. Strike throwers and innings eaters mean Bosox fans at least get to watch real big league baseball games this year.

 

Even the "opener" strategy requires SP. Just that they throw 3-5 innings starting at the 2nd or 3rd inning. The idea is that since the closer is the best (or one of the better) relievers, when you use him as an opener, you always get to face the best hitters in the opposing lineup, rather than waiting to see who is due up in the 9th. No baseball strategy seems dumber to me than holding the best relief pitch for the 9th only to see the 7-8-9 hitters come up...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No baseball strategy seems dumber to me than holding the best relief pitch for the 9th only to see the 7-8-9 hitters come up...

 

Makes about as much sense as replacing the 8th inning guy who just mowed through the 4-5-6 hitters and you know is on and has lights-out stuff that day...

[moonslav59]

Even the "opener" strategy requires SP. Just that they throw 3-5 innings starting at the 2nd or 3rd inning. The idea is that since the closer is the best (or one of the better) relievers, when you use him as an opener, you always get to face the best hitters in the opposing lineup, rather than waiting to see who is due up in the 9th. No baseball strategy seems dumber to me than holding the best relief pitch for the 9th only to see the 7-8-9 hitters come up...

 

Another advantage might be to start a lefty for 1-2 innings, then bring in a righty for 3-5 innings- or vice versa.

[notin]

Makes about as much sense as replacing the 8th inning guy who just mowed through the 4-5-6 hitters and you know is on and has lights-out stuff that day...

 

True. I have accepted the specialized closer, but I think as more teams find starting pitching massively overpriced, we will see more committees in the bullpen and bigger overall bullpens that pitch more frequently. If nothing else, it will be done to keep salaries in check in small market clubs...

[Kimmi]

As I have said before

 

The biggest deal to date this off-season has gone to James McCann.

 

The largest AAV to date has gone to Charlie Morton.

 

These are not the names that should be in either sentence.

 

In fact, I am struggling to believe they are correct myself. That can't still be right in January...

 

Strange offseason, to say the least. It will be interesting to see if Bauer or Springer end up getting close to what they are asking for.