A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[moonslav59]

It would be reasonable for the Sox to add another left handed bat to their roster, and his blazing speed would also be a plus

 

That is all I'm saying.....make the roster little stronger....Hey he may not work out but at least give it a chance...

 

They will give it a chance at exactly the right moment in time.

[mvp 78]

Makes me think they must view Duran as being very very close to being "ML ready" as many here have felt he is. (Some feel he is past his ML ready date.)

 

Speier is saying that a callup is not imminent. The Sox just wanted the flexibility to make a move if they wanted to.

[moonslav59]

Speier is saying that a callup is not imminent. The Sox just wanted the flexibility to make a move if they wanted to.

 

I get that, but this shows they know he is ready or very close to being ready.

[mvp 78]

I get that, but this shows they know he is ready or very close to being ready.

 

It shows they want to keep their options open in case of injury at least.

[Swiharts Ghost]

It shows they want to keep their options open in case of injury at least.

 

What if Kris Bryant is available or Rizzo ? Story ? Just a thought .I would think he would be the centerpiece with maybe a Chavis as filler .I personally would love either Cub at Fenway but don’t know a lot about Story .

[Swiharts Ghost]

A kris Bryant Verdugo Kike OF is solid A story upgrade at second may be worth it ? Rizzo would be an enormous upgrade at 1b .

[moonslav59]

It shows they want to keep their options open in case of injury at least.

 

True. At least.

[moonslav59]

IMO, our “deadline deals” will be Sale, Houck, Brasier and a minor deal fora RPer and or 1Bman- nothing that forces us to give up any important prospect or two.

[Elktonnick]

IMO, our “deadline deals” will be Sale, Houck, Brasier and a minor deal fora RPer and or 1Bman- nothing that forces us to give up any important prospect or two.

 

That is the way I see it.

[Maxbialystock]

IMO, our “deadline deals” will be Sale, Houck, Brasier and a minor deal fora RPer and or 1Bman- nothing that forces us to give up any important prospect or two.

 

About it.

[Nick]

IMO, our “deadline deals” will be Sale, Houck, Brasier and a minor deal fora RPer and or 1Bman- nothing that forces us to give up any important prospect or two.

 

Yep and I like it.

 

It'll give us another year of draft picks to improve our minor league teams.....playing the way we did last year didn't hurt me none, especially with Sale not playing.

 

To me, it will always be a cheap World Series ring.

[Nick]

Trevor Bauer put on administrative leave

 

“The Dodgers were made aware of the allegations against Trevor Bauer late this afternoon and immediately contacted Major League Baseball, which will be handling this matter. The Dodgers take any allegations of this nature very seriously, but will have no further comment at this time.”

 

Placement on administrative leave is not a pronouncement of guilt.

 

Bauer is under investigation following assault claims from a woman who alleges that the pitcher got physical with her during recent encounters. The Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department has opened a criminal investigation, and the alleged victim was granted a temporary ex parte restraining order.

 

Looks like he may be out for while. Hearing is scheduled for July 23rd.

 

8-5 2.59 ERA 17 GS 107.2 IP 1.00 WHIP

Edited July 2, 2021 by Nick

[Nick]

Speaking Of Trevor Bauer, he signed for 3 years $102M. He has the option to opt out this year and next year.

 

I like it that he went for a short term deal even though he's only 30 years old.

[Nick]

Posted earlier....Bloom can tweak it....lol

 

SP1 Sale (>E Rod)(4 yrs team control)

SP2 Eovaldi (1 yr team control)

SP3 Piveta (3yrs team control)

SP4 Whitlock (>Richards) (5 yrs team control)

SP5 Houck/Perez (5/1 yrs team control)

 

BP1 Sawamura (2yrs team control)

BP2 Taylor (4 yrs team control)

BP3 Darwinzon (4 yrs team control)

BP4 Houck? (5 yrs team control)

BP5 Seabold (6 yrs team control)

BP6 Brasier (2 yrs team control)

BP7 Bello (6 yrs team control)

BP8 Ort (6 yrs team control)

BP9 Bazardo (6 yrs team control)

 

C_Vaz, backup

1B Dalbec/Cordero

2B Arroyo/Kike

SS Xander/Arroyo

3B Devers/Dalbec

LF Verdugo/Cordero

CF Kike/Duran

RF Renfroe/Verdugo

DH JD

 

If we go with 12 position players, I'd go to war with the group above (ok, a small war)....they'll score some runs....we've cut out $30M plus $14M for Pedey.....

 

Houck/Seabold/Bello can all start. Maybe our most urgent need is a closer. (no way I pay anyone $18M per year though)

I believe how many of the teams set up the bullpen. Young, hard throwers, some will be starter.

 

Bloom's approach is always look at internal options, look for stop gap players on a short, reasonable contract.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Nick

[moonslav59]

Here's how I'd simplify the 2022 roster:

 

The 26

 

SP1 Sale

SP2 __FA__

SP3 Eovaldi

SP4 Pivetta

SP5/6 Perez/Whitlock

RP1 __FA__ (Barnes?)

RP2 __FA__ (Ottavino?)

RP3 Houck

RP4 Sawamura

RP5 DHernandez

RP6 Brasier

RP7 Taylor

C Vazquez/Plawecki

1B Dalbec/Cordero

2B Kike/Arroyo

3B Devers

SS Bogey

LF Verdugo

CF Duran

RF Renfroe

DH Martinez

 

The 40 (14 not on 26)

Valdez

Bazardo

Mata

Seabold

Groome

Wong

R Hernandez

Rosario

Duran- Rule 5

Downs- Rule 5

Bello- Rule 5

Jimenez- Rule 5

Winckowski- Rule 5

 

+ 1 from the Bubble:

TWard- Rule 5

Ort- Rule 5

T Reed- Rule 5

Arauz

Potts

Rios

FGerman- Rule 5

DFeltman- Rule 5

 

Gone:

Erod, Barnes, Ottavino, Richards, Marwin

Chavis (maybe traded this summer), Workman, M Wilson, Santana, Andriese

 

[moonslav59]

Toronto is looking like they might give the Rays a run for the money.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Thanks, good stuff on the 2022 Red Sox roster. As far as the 2022 starting staff goes, this is what I see:

 

Sale

Eavoldi

Houck

Whitlock

Pivetta

E-Rod

 

That's 6 starters, but I think you always plan for 6, knowing that injuries are inevitable. I would resign E-Rod, I've been saying that all along even when he had a 6.00 ERA. The Red Sox might be able to resign him at a lower cost and I believe he has some good years in front of him.

 

In Triple A, the Red Sox would have tremendous SP depth:

Seabold

Winckowski

Bello

 

Accordingly, the Red Sox don't need to bring in new starting pitchers--they already have what they need going forward, they only need to resign E-Rod. This is a really good thing, since the free agent market is rather thin when it comes to starting pitchers. When it comes to M.Perez, I would either not pick up the option or I would pick up the option and trade him.

 

As far as the bullpen goes, yeah, this will need significant attention with Barnes and Ottavino as free agents. That's two key relief arms, and I don't know if Bloom has the appetite for signing relief pitchers to big contracts, that wasn't (and couldn't be) his style with Tampa Bay. I would like to see K.Ort get a shot this season so that the Red Sox have a better idea of what they have with him going forward.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[moonslav59]

Thanks, good stuff on the 2022 Red Sox roster. As far as the 2022 starting staff goes, this is what I see:

 

Sale

Eavoldi

Houck

Whitlock

Pivetta

E-Rod

 

That's 6 starters, but I think you always plan for 6, knowing that injuries are inevitable. I would resign E-Rod, I've been saying that all along even when he had a 6.00 ERA. The Red Sox might be able to resign him at a lower cost and I believe he has some good years in front of him.

 

In Triple A, the Red Sox would have tremendous SP depth:

Seabold

Winckowski

Bello

 

Accordingly, the Red Sox don't need to bring in new starting pitchers--they already have what they need going forward, they only need to resign E-Rod. This is a really good thing, since the free agent market is rather thin when it comes to starting pitchers. When it comes to M.Perez, I would either not pick up the option or I would pick up the option and trade him.

 

As far as the bullpen goes, yeah, this will need significant attention with Barnes and Ottavino as free agents. That's two key relief arms, and I don't know if Bloom has the appetite for signing relief pitchers to big contracts, that wasn't (and couldn't be) his style with Tampa Bay. I would like to see K.Ort get a shot this season so that the Red Sox have a better idea of what they have with him going forward.

 

I don't think they re-sign ERod, as of now.

 

The Perez option looks better.

[Larry Cook]

Is houck starter material?

[iortiz]

Is houck starter material?

 

He deserves to be considered at very least considering what he showed last year.

 

He looks like RH-Sale type of pitcher to me.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think they re-sign ERod, as of now.

 

The Perez option looks better.

 

E-Rod is starting to look like the real E-Rod again.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Toronto is looking like they might give the Rays a run for the money.

 

... you mean Red Sox? The trade deadline will be interesting in the AL East, when GMs have to determine which clubs are aspiring or expiring...

[Kimmi]

They have a -42 run differential, which ranks them 21st.

 

Their 43-39 record ranks them 12th, so yes, they are one of the luckiest teams in MLB.

 

Exactly. They are also 18-7 (.720) in one run games (unsustainable) and 6-17 (.261) in blowouts. That tells you pretty much everything you need to know.

[Kimmi]

Thanks Dave!

 

Ha. Seriously, I intended to post "Thanks Dave!" at the end of that post, but I forgot.

 

I have always defended Dave for this extension, outside of it being a year too long, which is my feeling about most contracts. I do not have a whole lot of issues with Dombrowski's moves post 2017.

[Bellhorn04]

Ha. Seriously, I intended to post "Thanks Dave!" at the end of that post, but I forgot.

 

I have always defended Dave for this extension, outside of it being a year too long, which is my feeling about most contracts. I do not have a whole lot of issues with Dombrowski's moves post 2017.

 

Yes, I know you have. You are very fair.

[Kimmi]

We are now approaching the trade deadline (jul 30th) and I wonder what if any action the Sox may take. Some of the factors involve may include:

 

1. Exceeding CBT limits

2. Clearing space on the 40 man roster

3. Who are the Sox willing to lose?

4. Is the Sox management thinking they can be a real contender this year?

 

1. If the Sox are unwilling to exceed the CBT, going after starting pitching or people like Starling Marte are probably off the table.

2. Clearing space on the 40 man to add trade assets or players like Duran means trading or dropping others. Some of the potential names in my view are Santana, Rosario, Cordero, Potts, Chavis, Arauz, Workman and Andriese.

3. I listed some assets from the 40 man the Sox might be willing to lose in trades. Are there others not on the 40 man?

4.. It's hard to read if the Sox management believes they have a shot to go all the way this year. So far, management actions have been subdued. The trade deadline should provide a clearer indication.

 

I really don't think we are going to see any big deals before the deadline.

 

Sale and Houck will be our starting pitching acquisitions.

 

Duran will likely be called up at some point, but it doesn't seem as imminent now as it sounded a few days ago.

 

IMO, we add a reliever and maybe a left handed bench or platoon type player.

 

I can't see them exceeding the luxury tax limit or trading away prospects unless they find a player that not only makes sense for this year, but also for several years more years. Any big moves will be made only if they make sense for the long term goals.

[Kimmi]

With a negative 42 run differential the Seattle Mariners have a Pythagorean record of 37-45 (Pythagorean hurts the Yankees as well with a 40-40 record). The Mariners are 12-6 against the AL East.

 

AL East teams have improved to 47-56 in head-to-head competition against the AL West (after recently being 10+ games below .500).

 

The AL East drew the easier interleague matchup this year with a 36-19 record against the NL East while the AL West is 22-33 against the loaded NL West

 

The AL West has the Astros. Outside of that, the AL East > the AL West. I will grant you the tougher competition against the NL West than against the NL East. OTOH, it could be said that the NL West looks so strong because they have such weak competition against the AL West.

[Kimmi]

It would be reasonable for the Sox to add another left handed bat to their roster, and his blazing speed would also be a plus

 

That is all I'm saying.....make the roster little stronger....Hey he may not work out but at least give it a chance...

 

It has been pointed out that our OF defense is really very good. Messing with a good thing in an attempt to improve it could end up backfiring.

 

Believe me, I understand the desire to improve. But I also believe in the mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" when things are going so well.

[Kimmi]

IMO, our “deadline deals” will be Sale, Houck, Brasier and a minor deal fora RPer and or 1Bman- nothing that forces us to give up any important prospect or two.

 

100% agree, unless there is something that comes along that makes sense for the long term as well. A big deal will not be made in terms of improving for this year only.

[Kimmi]

E-Rod is starting to look like the real E-Rod again.

 

ERod has never pitched as poorly as his ERA suggests. It was only a matter of time before the results starting gelling with his performance.