2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[mvp 78]

Speier:

 

The Richards option for 2022 is for $10M. It includes escalators that would increase both the option salary and the cost of the buyout.

[a700hitter]

Red Sox 2021: the walking dead

a Depth signing for the DL. DL rotation looks strong.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

30M - 7 Kiké - 10 Richards = 6M reliever + 3M reliever + 4M CF/2B

 

Even if you subtract Beni's 6.5, there wouldn't be enough for Ozuna (plus, Bloom isn't going four years on anyone, except maybe Juan Soto... in four years).

 

Best case scenario at this point -- if Beni is moved for prospects -- may be Rosario, Marisnick and a bullpen arm.

[moonslav59]

Best case scenario at this point -- if Beni is moved for prospects -- may be Rosario, Marisnick and a bullpen arm.

 

We could move Beni for a near min wage closer or CF'er and fill a slot without opening a new one, as Renfroe could play LF FT or platoon with Chavis.

 

That frees up about $6M to add to further signings or additions while shrinking the amount of slots we need filled.

[a700hitter]

Even though Benintendi has been disappointing, he is a much superior offense player to Kiki Hernandez. It isn’t even close. And his contract is less expensive. I don’t see the big rush to send him out the door.

[harmony]

Even though Benintendi has been disappointing, he is a much superior offense player to Kiki Hernandez. It isn’t even close. And his contract is less expensive. I don’t see the big rush to send him out the door.

Steamer and ZiPS project Andrew Benintendi with 2021 WAR of 1.5 in 134 games and 1.5 in 135 games while projecting Kiki Hernandez with 2021 WAR of 0.8 in 89 games and 1.2 in 89 games.

 

Hernandez is guaranteed $14 million over two years while Benintendi, with a 2021 salary of $6.6 million, is likely to equal or top that over two years unless he is non-tendered.

Edited January 23, 2021 by harmony

[mvp 78]

Renfroe only makes sense when platooning with Beni. Just sign a cheap CFer and 2 relievers.

[mvp 78]

Speier:

 

Some have asked why Richards (1/$10M) and not Kluber (1/$11M). As I wrote below, Sox were interested in something other than a clean one-year deal with Kluber. Almost every free agent deal Bloom has reached has included additional year(s) of control

That structure reflects what the Sox have acknowledged - they’re thinking of impact beyond the immediate season at hand.

That control has been either option years, additional arb-eligible years, or with Hernández, a second year. (Exceptions - Pillar and McHugh - signed during spring training last year, when there were needs and almost no unsigned alternatives.)

Additionally, Kluber had great reason to prefer the Yankees on a straight one-year deal for comparable dollars, given the chance to work with Eric Cressey in NY, and the greater chance of competing for a title.

[a700hitter]

Steamer and ZiPS project Andrew Benintendi with 2021 WAR of 1.5 in 134 games and 1.5 in 135 games while projecting Kiki Hernandez with 2021 WAR of 0.8 in 89 games and 1.2 in 89 games.

 

Hernandez is guaranteed $14 million over two years while Benintendi, with a 2021 salary of $6.6 million, is likely to equal or top that over two years unless he is non-tendered.

There is no reason to get rid of him in a cheap contract year.

[mvp 78]

There is no reason to get rid of him in a cheap contract year.

 

If he tops 6M, it’s good for the Sox as it means Beni played well. It doesn’t make any sense to move him.

[dgalehouse]

Richards can be a nice addition to the rotation if he can stay healthy. But with his track record, that is a very big " IF " . Definitely taking a gamble here.

[gojohn99]

It's going to be another long season.... Kiki Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, Martin Perez maybe Garret Richards I see we are bargain shopping again

 

We also heard they had interest in Garrett Richards.

[gojohn99]

So Bloom and the owners say "hey that's our guy!"

 

Richards hasn’t thrown more than 76 Innings in a season since 2015

[harmony]

If he tops 6M, it’s good for the Sox as it means Beni played well. It doesn’t make any sense to move him.

Salaries rarely drop in arbitration.

 

Andrew Benintendi will be working off his 2021 salary of $6.6 million when he enters his final year of team control in 2022. A modest salary increase to $7.4 million -- a low-end hike of about 12 percent -- would bring Benintendi up to Kiki Hernandez's two-year total of $14 million.

 

Despite a disappointing 2020 season, outfielder Kyle Schwarber was projected to earn between $7.01 million and $9.3 million in his final arbitration season working off his 2020 salary of $7.01 million. Of course Schwarber was non-tendered and signed for one year at $10 million.

[harmony]

MLB Trade Rumors churns out trade rumors about Pittsburgh righthander Jameson Taillon, an occasional target of forum posters:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/could-jameson-taillon-be-the-next-pirates-player-on-the-block.html#respond

 

A trade of outfielder Gilberto Jimenez and righthanders Bryan Mata and Ryan Zeferjahn for Taillon, second baseman Adam Frazier and reliever Richard Rodriguez would be perfectly balanced, according to Baseball Trade Values.

 

Those Red Sox prospects are precisely the types the Pirates would target ... and precisely the prospects the Red Sox can ill-afford to lose as the Sox restock the farm system.

 

On the plus side, Taillon, Frazer and Rodriguez are projected to earn only a combined $7 million this year.

Edited January 23, 2021 by harmony

[Bellhorn04]

30M - 7 Kiké - 10 Richards = 6M reliever + 3M reliever + 4M CF/2B

 

The puzzle is how we can be one of the teams still linked to Ozuna, if JH doesn't want to go over the $210 M.

[jad]

Garrett Richards, baby!!! 2-2, coming off an ACL injury. Doesn't get any better than that! We may as well start resting players for the post season now!

[notin]

The puzzle is how we can be one of the teams still linked to Ozuna, if JH doesn't want to go over the $210 M.

 

Maybe they will go over?

 

Also we don’t know what was deferred on Kike’s deal...

[harmony]

Maybe they will go over?

 

Also we don’t know what was deferred on Kike’s deal...

The deferred money should not impact the luxury tax calculation.

 

It's the guaranteed money divided by the guaranteed years (adjusted later if options are exercised).

[moonslav59]

MLB Trade Rumors churns out trade rumors about Pittsburgh righthander Jameson Taillon, an occasional target of forum posters:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/could-jameson-taillon-be-the-next-pirates-player-on-the-block.html#respond

 

A trade of outfielder Gilberto Jimenez and righthanders Bryan Mata and Ryan Zeferjahn for Taillon, second baseman Adam Frazier and reliever Richard Rodriguez would be perfectly balanced, according to Baseball Trade Values.

 

Those Red Sox prospects are precisely the types the Pirates would target ... and precisely the prospects the Red Sox can ill-afford to lose as the Sox restock the farm system.

 

On the plus side, Taillon, Frazer and Rodriguez are projected to earn only a combined $7 million this year.

 

I must have suggested two dozen trades on BTV involving the Sox and Pitt- most involving Taillon- many with Frazier or Stallings with a third team involved and Vaz going there.

[moonslav59]

The puzzle is how we can be one of the teams still linked to Ozuna, if JH doesn't want to go over the $210 M.

 

Maybe we trade Beni and go over by a little.

 

Maybe we trade Beni & Eovaldi or Vaz.

 

Maybe the rumors are wrong.

[jacksonianmarch]

Hate this signing as a Yankee fan. Richards is a good pitcher who made terrible decisions. He tore his UCL, opted against surgery, did the PRP route, wasted a year then got TJS, had some complications and finally came back chucking heat last year. This guy has as good a chance as any to be healthy and dominate. This is a good move, and the option for 22 will allow the Sox to keep him if it works out and utilize him when they might be better

[Nick]

Maybe we trade Beni and go over by a little.

 

Maybe we trade Beni & Eovaldi or Vaz.

 

Maybe the rumors are wrong.

 

Payroll looks inflated due to $30M in TWO non performing contracts. It jumps to $55M if you throw in Chris Sale. I'm always optimistic but for Sale, I'll believe it when I see it approach. Who really know? He could suffer one set back that will push him back 4 weeks. At that point you have to ask if it's worth it to jeopardize 2022 season and beyond.

 

I rather always throw little more money for shorter years.

 

There's no point in going over by 'little'. Might as well be $19,999.999 over the limit.

[harmony]

I must have suggested two dozen trades on BTV involving the Sox and Pitt- most involving Taillon- many with Frazier or Stallings with a third team involved and Vaz going there.

One or two years of Christian Vazquez probably does not fit within Pittsburgh's dreamed-for competitive window. The Pirates would likely target the top prospects in a pedestrian Red Sox farm system.

 

Too steep a price.

 

Or not.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The puzzle is how we can be one of the teams still linked to Ozuna, if JH doesn't want to go over the $210 M.

 

Ozuna made $18 million last year when he led the NL in HRs, RBIs and hit .338. After a season like that -- and after Springer just signed for $25M per -- it's more than impractical to imagine Bloom burning up so much Mookie money on basically a DH... especially one who wants a four-year deal.

 

If Boston inked Marcell Ozuna for One Hundred Million Dollars -- or even 4 years for $80 million -- this forum would implode.

[harmony]

Hate this signing as a Yankee fan. Richards is a good pitcher who made terrible decisions. He tore his UCL, opted against surgery, did the PRP route, wasted a year then got TJS, had some complications and finally came back chucking heat last year. This guy has as good a chance as any to be healthy and dominate. This is a good move, and the option for 22 will allow the Sox to keep him if it works out and utilize him when they might be better

jacksonianmarch nails it.

[a700hitter]

It's going to be another long season.... Kiki Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, Martin Perez maybe Garret Richards I see we are bargain shopping again

Bloom’s off-season has been a step above Dumpster Diving, at full retail prices.

[harmony]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee: "Another source said Profar’s choices had been narrowed to the Padres and Red Sox before he made the decision to return to San Diego."

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2021-01-22/padres-jurickson-profar-free-agent

[notin]

Ozuna made $18 million last year when he led the NL in HRs, RBIs and hit .338. After a season like that -- and after Springer just signed for $25M per -- it's more than impractical to imagine Bloom burning up so much Mookie money on basically a DH... especially one who wants a four-year deal.

 

If Boston inked Marcell Ozuna for One Hundred Million Dollars -- or even 4 years for $80 million -- this forum would implode.

 

Not me.

 

Now if they signed him for 6 years $150 mill, I’d call Bloom on it....

[mvp 78]

The puzzle is how we can be one of the teams still linked to Ozuna, if JH doesn't want to go over the $210 M.

Good question.