Red Sox Sign Enrique Hernandez

[a700hitter]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/red-sox-enrique-hernandez-progressing-toward-deal.html

[a700hitter]

7:24pm: It’s a two-year, $14MM pact for Hernandez, Feinsand reports. As Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com points out, this is the biggest free-agent deal chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has given out since he took over Boston’s front office last offseason.

Overpriced

[notin]

That’s more than I thought he’d get.

 

Hopefully the Sox are not sticking to staying under the tax limit. They still need a SP, RP (CL?) and a CF...

[Larry Cook]

Why? 14 million for a 240 hotter? Has Hang’em chaim been drinking?

[jad]

Oh yeah! And to think, if they'd made the mistake of signing that scrub Mookie, there would have been no money available for these deals!

[a700hitter]

Brock Holt’s career OBP is 25 points higher and he probably would cost $1-1.5 million for one season. I am not getting this move.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

EHern led all NL second basemen last year in Range Factor, per b-ref. In his career he's played more games in the outfield than infield, with over half of those in centerfield. His versatility could keep Verdugo in right and Beni in left, while keeping center warm for Duran or Jiminez.

 

At $7M per, it's the costliest signing of the Bloom Era -- but justifiable as a two-for-one investment in both a second baseman and centerfielder. If the Sox keep Beni, this may be the last position player acquisition (unless they add a really cheap outfield glove).

 

Bloom should focus the rest of the payroll on pitching... where KeyKay is only 0-1 lifetime with an 81.00 ERA.

[oldtimer]

EHern led all NL second basemen last year in Range Factor, per b-ref. In his career he's played more games in the outfield than infield, with over half of those in centerfield. His versatility could keep Verdugo in right and Beni in left, while keeping center warm for Duran or Jiminez.

 

At $7M per, it's the costliest signing of the Bloom Era -- but justifiable as a two-for-one investment in both a second baseman and centerfielder. If the Sox keep Beni, this may be the last position player acquisition (unless they add a really cheap outfield glove).

 

Bloom should focus the rest of the payroll on pitching... where KeyKay is only 0-1 lifetime with an 81.00 ERA.

 

And if the Sox trade away Beni, the payroll is flat and the payroll can either go to prospects with the remainder available to go toward a quality outfielder. Looks like a reasonable move although Sox fans tend to be hyper critical. Do they want top dollar stars no w? It won't happen.

[Bellhorn04]

Rosenthal says some of the money is deferred, which would lower the AAV a bit.

[mvp 78]

Overpriced

 

I agree. Where’s the down market?

[mvp 78]

EHern led all NL second basemen last year in Range Factor, per b-ref. In his career he's played more games in the outfield than infield, with over half of those in centerfield. His versatility could keep Verdugo in right and Beni in left, while keeping center warm for Duran or Jiminez.

 

At $7M per, it's the costliest signing of the Bloom Era -- but justifiable as a two-for-one investment in both a second baseman and centerfielder. If the Sox keep Beni, this may be the last position player acquisition (unless they add a really cheap outfield glove).

 

Bloom should focus the rest of the payroll on pitching... where KeyKay is only 0-1 lifetime with an 81.00 ERA.

 

Is he Buggs Bunny? He can play 2 positions at once?

[Bellhorn04]

I agree. Where’s the down market?

 

But would you call it a thriving market, with 60% of free agents unsigned on Jan. 23?

[Thunder]

We're becoming a team full of old Dodger bench warmers

[Bellhorn04]

We're becoming a team full of old Dodger bench warmers

 

Hernandez actually played a lot the last few seasons.

[mvp 78]

But would you call it a thriving market, with 60% of free agents unsigned on Jan. 23?

 

Slow to develop market.

 

The money is there.

[mvp 78]

We're becoming a team full of old Dodger bench warmers

 

Verdugo started until he had his back issue.

[mvp 78]

Brock Holt’s career OBP is 25 points higher and he probably would cost $1-1.5 million for one season. I am not getting this move.

 

He was horrible in 2020.

[mvp 78]

Holt: 91 OPS+

Kiké: 98 OPS+

 

Kiké is an upgrade over Brock Holt.

[Bellhorn04]

slow to develop market.

 

The money is there.

 

tbd

[Kimmi]

EHern led all NL second basemen last year in Range Factor, per b-ref. In his career he's played more games in the outfield than infield, with over half of those in centerfield. His versatility could keep Verdugo in right and Beni in left, while keeping center warm for Duran or Jiminez.

 

At $7M per, it's the costliest signing of the Bloom Era -- but justifiable as a two-for-one investment in both a second baseman and centerfielder. If the Sox keep Beni, this may be the last position player acquisition (unless they add a really cheap outfield glove).

 

Bloom should focus the rest of the payroll on pitching... where KeyKay is only 0-1 lifetime with an 81.00 ERA.

 

I think Kike is a nice addition. Maybe he's a little costlier than we would have liked, but it's a very short term deal, which is key. Kike's versatility was surely a huge factor. And we needed some help defensively.

 

I would still like to add a defensive CFer, but I am more comfortable with out OF situation now than I was before.

 

A starting pitcher is coming.

[Bellhorn04]

I think Kike is a nice addition. Maybe he's a little costlier than we would have liked, but it's a very short term deal, which is key.

 

Looking forward to seeing how much the deferred money lowers the AAV.

 

Which is a little sick, I know.

[Kimmi]

And if the Sox trade away Beni, the payroll is flat and the payroll can either go to prospects with the remainder available to go toward a quality outfielder. Looks like a reasonable move although Sox fans tend to be hyper critical. Do they want top dollar stars no w? It won't happen.

 

I think most fans want a big name signing. As I've posted before, if they are looking for Dombrowski type moves this year, they are going to be disappointed.

 

Kike offers not only a solution to who plays 2B, but he also provides depth at other positions.

 

My preference is still to not trade Beni. In fact, I would like to add another OFer to the mix. But having Kike would make it a little easier to trade him if the right deal comes along.

[Kimmi]

Looking forward to seeing how much the deferred money lowers the AAV.

 

Which is a little sick, I know.

 

If some of the money is deferred, then even better.

 

I don't get the criticism over this move. I really don't.

[Kimmi]

I am reading that former Dodger teammates, Verdugo and Kike, playing together will provide a good spark and a positive vibe to the team and for the fans.

 

Another plus.

[Bellhorn04]

If some of the money is deferred, then even better.

 

I don't get the criticism over this move. I really don't.

 

I think the only meaningful criticism is that it seems like an overpay in annual salary. But Profar got 3 @ $7 mill. Certain profiles get paid better some years. Supply and demand stuff, I guess.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Is he Buggs Bunny? He can play 2 positions at once?

 

Nope, he's better; he's a platoon player... the Rays Ox love guys like him.

[notin]

He was horrible in 2020.

 

For a bench player, I'd rather have Holt. But of the two if I need a starting 2B, I would take Hernandez...

[notin]

If some of the money is deferred, then even better.

 

I don't get the criticism over this move. I really don't.

 

The criticism is that while Hernandez can play a lot of positions, he cannot pitch. And that is the Sox biggest need.

 

 

I don't mind the move. Hernandez was not my top choice for 2B, but he was on my list. But I would like to the Sox sign a starting pitcher, which would bump Tanner Houck or (better yet) Nathan Eovaldi back into the bullpen, thus fixing two holes at once. And I prefer that SP not be named Garrett Richards, as he will in time just create another hole no matter how he is used....

[a700hitter]

Holt: 91 OPS+

Kiké: 98 OPS+

 

Kiké is an upgrade over Brock Holt.

a $12 million upgrade? I don’t think so. I would have rather redeployed some of that money to other needs. It’s an overpay IMO. Edited January 23, 2021 by a700hitter

[a700hitter]

I will be more disappointed if Semien goes for around the same price.