2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[moonslav59]

Yates signs with Jays.

 

MLBTR also reports...

 

The Red Sox “were ready to move on” two-time AL Cy Young-winning righty Corey Kluber before he agreed to a one-year, $11MM deal with the archrival Yankees last week, but they might have wanted to structure his contract differently, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. With the Red Sox unlikely to contend in 2021, Speier suggests their preference may have been to sign Kluber to a one-year pact with an option. Kluber is a Massachusetts resident, but with New York more likely to push for a World Series in 2021, he found the Yankees to be a more appealing pick than the Red Sox.

[moonslav59]

Can we all agree, only the Jays have improved from last year in the AL East, so far?

[notin]

Can we all agree, only the Jays have improved from last year in the AL East, so far?

 

Yes.

 

But they still have not improved their biggest weakness in SP. They did at least address their second biggest in OF...

[notin]

Yates signs with Jays.

 

MLBTR also reports...

 

The Red Sox “were ready to move on” two-time AL Cy Young-winning righty Corey Kluber before he agreed to a one-year, $11MM deal with the archrival Yankees last week, but they might have wanted to structure his contract differently, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. With the Red Sox unlikely to contend in 2021, Speier suggests their preference may have been to sign Kluber to a one-year pact with an option. Kluber is a Massachusetts resident, but with New York more likely to push for a World Series in 2021, he found the Yankees to be a more appealing pick than the Red Sox.

 

It probably also helped that the conditioning coach he was working with is an employee of the Yankees....

[moonslav59]

Yes.

 

But they still have not improved their biggest weakness in SP. They did at least address their second biggest in OF...

 

Adding Yates helped, too.

[notin]

Adding Yates helped, too.

 

They still have a rotation lead by Ryu

[moonslav59]

They still have a rotation lead by Ryu

 

My guess is they sign Bauer or one of Odorizzi, Paxton or Tanaka, but even that may not be enough.

 

BTW, Ryu is not all that bad.

[notin]

My guess is they sign Bauer or one of Odorizzi, Paxton or Tanaka, but even that may not be enough.

 

BTW, Ryu is not all that bad.

 

Ryu is not bad at all, but the same can be said about ERod and Eovaldi, and the Sox still have issues atop their rotation.

 

I will predict Paxton signs with Toronto, but I am only saying that because his Canadian. And signing with Toronto would bring him a scant 2,600 miles from where he grew up...

[Bellhorn04]

Ryu is not bad at all, but the same can be said about ERod and Eovaldi, and the Sox still have issues atop their rotation.

 

I will predict Paxton signs with Toronto, but I am only saying that because his Canadian. And signing with Toronto would bring him a scant 2,600 miles from where he grew up...

 

Isn't he also on your "more likely to be a problem than a solution" list?

[notin]

Isn't he also on your "more likely to be a problem than a solution" list?

 

He is a solution if he signs with Toronto...

[moonslav59]

Ryu is not bad at all, but the same can be said about ERod and Eovaldi, and the Sox still have issues atop their rotation.

 

I will predict Paxton signs with Toronto, but I am only saying that because his Canadian. And signing with Toronto would bring him a scant 2,600 miles from where he grew up...

 

I'm thinking Bauer is 50-50 LAD or TOR.

 

It would seem like a waste for TOR to spend all this cash and not fill their biggest need.

[notin]

I am going to make a crazy prediction.

 

The Sox will trade Chavis to Pitt for Adam Frazier. Frazier is a good stopgap 2B solution, as he can hit a little, play above average defense, and, as he has some OF experience, can move into a supersub role if Jeter Downs forces the situation in 2022.

 

This deal also represents a savings of roughly $10mill for Pitt, depending on Frazier's 2022 salary. Chavis is not the primary need for Pitt, but he can help their weak 1B position as they dealt away Josh Bell, and if any GM in MLB has any faith in Chavis, it is probably Ben Cherington, the man who drafted him in the first round. Pitt probably prefers pitching, but I do not think they will get much pitching for Adam Frazier...

 

This deal does work on BTV...

[notin]

I'm thinking Bauer is 50-50 LAD or TOR.

 

It would seem like a waste for TOR to spend all this cash and not fill their biggest need.

 

It's not like they won't be bringing all these guys back in 2022. If we question whether or not Bauer represents a good value for the contract he wants, don't you think Toronto GM Ross Atkins has similar concerns?

[notin]

I'm thinking Bauer is 50-50 LAD or TOR.

 

It would seem like a waste for TOR to spend all this cash and not fill their biggest need.

 

I think the perfect fit is the Angels.

 

They need starting pitching. They have been "all in" for a couple years now and have very deep pockets. (Didn't anyone notice how they splurged for Anthony Rendon despite knowing their pitching was going to be a major obstacle in a title?)

 

And most important Trevor Bauer has expressed a strong desire to start more games, as if he was in a 4 man rotation, but he was also very clear that his extra starts not become a requirement of his teammates. So not an actual 4 man rotation. The one team where this fits perfectly is the Angels, as they have a part time SP in Shohei Ohtani who could benefit from giving up an occasional start to Bauer while allowing he rest of the rotation to stay on track. I am not suggesting Bauer take Ohtani's starts but rather he take extra ones and then Ohtani's off day could reset the pace for Bundy, Canning, Quintana and/or Heaney.

 

The injury history of a couple of those guys also makes their need for additional SP that much greater...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I am going to make a crazy prediction.

 

The Sox will trade Chavis to Pitt for Adam Frazier. Frazier is a good stopgap 2B solution, as he can hit a little, play above average defense, and, as he has some OF experience, can move into a supersub role if Jeter Downs forces the situation in 2022.

 

This deal also represents a savings of roughly $10mill for Pitt, depending on Frazier's 2022 salary. Chavis is not the primary need for Pitt, but he can help their weak 1B position as they dealt away Josh Bell, and if any GM in MLB has any faith in Chavis, it is probably Ben Cherington, the man who drafted him in the first round. Pitt probably prefers pitching, but I do not think they will get much pitching for Adam Frazier...

 

This deal does work on BTV...

 

The remaining Red Sox fans who don't post here would love us if we were in charge, because at least we'd make changes that would actually add Major League players to areas of concern on the roster.

 

Bradford actually had a really interesting column today about how people forget that Sox ownership -- and not any GM -- is to blame for everything Sox ownership complains about.... to us.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think one of the frustating angles sox fans are taking is that Bloom is being almost too patient. If you are gonna rebuild, rebuild. If you are gonna go for it, go for it. This middle ground with talented players who are playing out their time in Boston but a clear understanding that the team isnt going anywhere must be frustrating. I would say either blow up the whole damn thing or start to add. Then again, maybe that is the idea and Bloom isnt seeing the kind of returns he would like?

[notin]

I think one of the frustating angles sox fans are taking is that Bloom is being almost too patient. If you are gonna rebuild, rebuild. If you are gonna go for it, go for it. This middle ground with talented players who are playing out their time in Boston but a clear understanding that the team isnt going anywhere must be frustrating. I would say either blow up the whole damn thing or start to add. Then again, maybe that is the idea and Bloom isnt seeing the kind of returns he would like?

 

The more likely reasons are

 

1) No real rush? The bulk of the players are still out there, and so far, the only player he made an offer to that signed elsewhere was Kluber

2) No budget? Not sure how much Henry is willing to spend, even after the reset. The pandemic still has its influences here.

3) No idea about the new CBA yet? Hey when you operate close to the penalty limits, you need to know what the impact is.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think one of the frustating angles sox fans are taking is that Bloom is being almost too patient. If you are gonna rebuild, rebuild. If you are gonna go for it, go for it. This middle ground with talented players who are playing out their time in Boston but a clear understanding that the team isnt going anywhere must be frustrating. I would say either blow up the whole damn thing or start to add. Then again, maybe that is the idea and Bloom isnt seeing the kind of returns he would like?

 

Better to start starting soon. Bradford notes Toronto's signing of Springer for 6 years is an investment in long-term contention. Most here agree the cost of Springer was too steep for Boston, and that replenishing the farm is important. But so is finding solid MLB players for a last-place big league team.

 

Some hate the idea of 6-year contracts, but others may prefer stability in the line-up they root for. Does anyone think Rays' fans relish their revolving door scorecards, constantly saying good-bye to players as soon as they turn 26 years old?

[a700hitter]

Mookie got over $30 million/yr for 10 years. Springer got $25 million/yr for 6 years. I don’t think Springer’s cost was prohibitive.

[notin]

Better to start starting soon. Bradford notes Toronto's signing of Springer for 6 years is an investment in long-term contention. Most here agree the cost of Springer was too steep for Boston, and that replenishing the farm is important. But so is finding solid MLB players for a last-place big league team.

 

Some hate the idea of 6-year contracts, but others may prefer stability in the line-up they root for. Does anyone think Rays' fans relish their revolving door scorecards, constantly saying good-bye to players as soon as they turn 26 years old?

 

I don't hate the idea of 6 year contracts. I hate the idea of 6 year contracts for players over 30. Do you think Sox fans relish the idea of watching one of the highest paid teams in the league finish in last place like they saw in 2014, 2015, and 2020?

[moonslav59]

I am going to make a crazy prediction.

 

The Sox will trade Chavis to Pitt for Adam Frazier. Frazier is a good stopgap 2B solution, as he can hit a little, play above average defense, and, as he has some OF experience, can move into a supersub role if Jeter Downs forces the situation in 2022.

 

This deal also represents a savings of roughly $10mill for Pitt, depending on Frazier's 2022 salary. Chavis is not the primary need for Pitt, but he can help their weak 1B position as they dealt away Josh Bell, and if any GM in MLB has any faith in Chavis, it is probably Ben Cherington, the man who drafted him in the first round. Pitt probably prefers pitching, but I do not think they will get much pitching for Adam Frazier...

 

This deal does work on BTV...

 

I think I proposed that very trade a while back on BTV. I've suggested many trades with PIT- most involving Taillon, some 3-ways where we trade Vaz to a 3rd team and get Stallings & Taillon or Frazier.

 

Can't Frazier also play CF?

 

If yes, can he do it well?

[a700hitter]

I don't hate the idea of 6 year contracts. I hate the idea of 6 year contracts for players over 30. Do you think Sox fans relish the idea of watching one of the highest paid teams in the league finish in last place like they saw in 2014, 2015, and 2020?

And 2012

[moonslav59]

It's not like they won't be bringing all these guys back in 2022. If we question whether or not Bauer represents a good value for the contract he wants, don't you think Toronto GM Ross Atkins has similar concerns?

 

I'd think so, but it didn't bother him with Springer, who I see as possibly being the next Carl Crawford.... possibly.

[notin]

Mookie got over $30 million/yr for 10 years. Springer got $25 million/yr for 6 years. I don’t think Springer’s cost was prohibitive.

 

And yet Mookie's deal is the much better one.

[notin]

And 2012

 

Well, that team did make a significant financial dump that took that down a few pegs on the payroll scale. They gave themselves the financial flexibility to improve and did so quickly..

[moonslav59]

I think one of the frustating angles sox fans are taking is that Bloom is being almost too patient. If you are gonna rebuild, rebuild. If you are gonna go for it, go for it. This middle ground with talented players who are playing out their time in Boston but a clear understanding that the team isnt going anywhere must be frustrating. I would say either blow up the whole damn thing or start to add. Then again, maybe that is the idea and Bloom isnt seeing the kind of returns he would like?

 

I said basically this same exact thing when we blew up the 2012 team but played it "halfway."

 

What did I know?

[moonslav59]

And yet Mookie's deal is the much better one.

 

I was thinking the same thing...way better.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

And yet Mookie's deal is the much better one.

 

While I totally agree, you also know there are some here who would totally disagree. I do remember reading and maybe even discussing the idea a year ago that because the Red Sox didn't sign Mookie, they could then use all those savings the next year on guys like Springer and Bauer to stay competitive...

[Bellhorn04]

I'd think so, but it didn't bother him with Springer, who I see as possibly being the next Carl Crawford.... possibly.

 

Springer isn't a glorified platoon player like Crawford at least.

[notin]

While I totally agree, you also know there are some here who would totally disagree. I do remember reading and maybe even discussing the idea a year ago that because the Red Sox didn't sign Mookie, they could then use all those savings the next year on guys like Springer and Bauer to stay competitive...

 

Technically they can still do that with Bauer and Ozuna. But they won't.

 

Maybe Odorizzi and Ozuna?