A Realistic View at 2021: Part II

[notin]

His point is to DFA struggling players who have options.

 

Nobody would make a big deal out of someone saying Cordero and Dalbec should be demoted to AAA.

 

Why DFA players with options? One of the reasons to DFA players is to send them down after they clear waivers, but players with options need not clear waivers before being sent down. If he is using the DFA process them from the 40 man roster, the options become irrelevant (except that they make a player a more attractive claim candidate for another team)..

 

The goal is probably to maintain some control of as many players as possible, but if Bloom wants to promote someone on the 40 man roster, he needs to clear a space and in that case, he would have to DFA a player he feels is likely to clear or does not mind losing altogether. Marcus Wilson is probably the most likely candidate to clear waivers. Even Brice or Brewer would probably get claimed, as young, cheap pitchers with a couple years control and MLB experience are not likely to clear waivers.

 

Not that I would mind losing Brice or Brewer.

 

That said, releasing Brice and promoting Brewer is also not the worst idea. I just don't see what he sees in Brice...

[moonslav59]

You think the trade for Ottavino is what prompted the trade of Beni?

 

Maybe they went hand in hand, but if we don't add Ottavino's $9M to the books, there was no urgency to save anything on Beni.

 

I think Sox brass decided to cut ties with Beni, regardless. We'd probably have traded him somewhere.

 

The one wild card in the Ottavino deal is German. Maybe Bloom really loves him, and that's what the deal was mainly about.

 

Almost every move Bloom made added something to our extended future or was a bridge move designed to help us be respectable in 2021 without hurting our chances beyond 2021.

[moonslav59]

And how does that matter to anything?

 

Only to those bitching about trading Beni and bitching about Cordero's slow start.

[moonslav59]

Why DFA players with options? One of the reasons to DFA players is to send them down after they clear waivers, but players with options need not clear waivers before being sent down. If he is using the DFA process them from the 40 man roster, the options become irrelevant (except that they make a player a more attractive claim candidate for another team)..

 

The goal is probably to maintain some control of as many players as possible, but if Bloom wants to promote someone on the 40 man roster, he needs to clear a space and in that case, he would have to DFA a player he feels is likely to clear or does not mind losing altogether. Marcus Wilson is probably the most likely candidate to clear waivers. Even Brice or Brewer would probably get claimed, as young, cheap pitchers with a couple years control and MLB experience are not likely to clear waivers.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I wasn't agreeing with the ghost. I was just stating his continuous point.

 

No way we DFA Cordero. We probably won't even DFA Brice, who has no options, just to keep another hope in the system.

[notin]

Exactly.

 

I wasn't agreeing with the ghost. I was just stating his continuous point.

 

No way we DFA Cordero. We probably won't even DFA Brice, who has no options, just to keep another hope in the system.

 

If the Sox do anything to the pen, far more likely they demote one or more of Valdez, Hernandez or Taylor, although Taylor appears to be redeeming himself a little.

 

I’d just assume call up Houck, who could have a good career as a relief pitcher, but I don’t think that’s the plan. So who would they call up? The most realistic candidates on the 40 man roster are Bazardo and Brewer. Groome isn’t likely.

 

Not they could put Mata on the 60 day injured list, right? That would create an opening for anyone else. But there aren’t a slew of other candidates. The best options from the rest might be Walden, Gossett, McCarthy or long shot Caleb Simpson. Not necessarily much improvement...

[moonslav59]

If the Sox do anything to the pen, far more likely they demote one or more of Valdez, Hernandez or Taylor, although Taylor appears to be redeeming himself a little.

 

I’d just assume call up Houck, who could have a good career as a relief pitcher, but I don’t think that’s the plan. So who would they call up? The most realistic candidates on the 40 man roster are Bazardo and Brewer. Groome isn’t likely.

 

Not they could put Mata on the 60 day injured list, right? That would create an opening for anyone else. But there aren’t a slew of other candidates. The best options from the rest might be Walden, Gossett, McCarthy or long shot Caleb Simpson. Not necessarily much improvement...

 

If Houck is not starting, and why should he, I'd bring up Bazardo. Brewer could be a choice.

 

I'd send Taylor down, despite his most recent 2-3 outings without incident.

 

Valdez has not pitched in a while, so maybe he heads to the IL.

 

DHern has struggled but has avoided the wrath of this board, so far.

[notin]

If Houck is not starting, and why should he, I'd bring up Bazardo. Brewer could be a choice.

 

I'd send Taylor down, despite his most recent 2-3 outings without incident.

 

Valdez has not pitched in a while, so maybe he heads to the IL.

 

DHern has struggled but has avoided the wrath of this board, so far.

 

DHern and Valdez seem to have fallen out of trust or are having issues physically. If that’s the case, why keep them up? Both have optic and this bullpen has no shortage of mop up guys...

[notin]

Also, is Mata still on the 40 man? He’s not going to pitch this year, so moving him to the 60 day IL would free up a spot to add a waiver claim. Hey, Tanner Roark needs work. When you get released in the middle of a lucrative contract, you might not get so picky about bullpen jobs.

 

Although MLB has too many pitchers named “Tanner” as it is. Not sure any team should have two...

[mvp 78]

Also, is Mata still on the 40 man? He’s not going to pitch this year, so moving him to the 60 day IL would free up a spot to add a waiver claim. Hey, Tanner Roark needs work. When you get released in the middle of a lucrative contract, you might not get so picky about bullpen jobs.

 

Although MLB has too many pitchers named “Tanner” as it is. Not sure any team should have two...

 

He gets put on the IL when Santana is ready.

[moonslav59]

Mata is on the 40 man roster. My guess is, they are waiting to put him on the 60-day IL until they are ready to add someone.

 

The immediate choice seems to be Santana, since his opt out is due any day, now.

 

They may also be able to add Seabold to the 60 day IL retroactively, but I'm not sure he'll be out that long.

 

Other players perhaps worthy of adding to the 40 man roster besides or after Santana:

 

Munoz

Duran

Arauz

Downs

Herrmann

Puello

Gettys

Ockimey

Casas (later on)

 

Gossett

Weber

Walden

Hart

Schreiber

Simpson

Ort, Poyner, Hall

 

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

One wonders if the Red Sox will summon Chavis from Worcester. Phillips Valdez hasn't been used in a game since April 24, and the Sox have been running shorthanded on the position side.

 

And no word on Valdez, Alex?

[Maxbialystock]

This team was projected to be about a .500 team. How is going 9 and 10 all that dismaying?

 

I get that many of the losses were to bad teams, but to me, the 9 game winning streak was more dismaying.

 

We will lose some games to good and bad teams. We will have a nice winning stretch, again- maybe several. The team will likely end up with 80-86 wins.

 

After how bad we were, last year, and having a restricted winter spending budget, I'm actually thrilled we got to where we are, right now. The team has over achieved, but from the sound of several posters, we are bums. Management sucks from top to bottom. Our saviors were being held back at the alt site, and now should be called up after 2 live games.

 

Yes, we have a weak defense. Is that a newsflash?

 

Yes, our pen has sprung some leaks, but for the love of God, they have carried this team beyond anyone's expectations, and now after about a week of struggles, the sky is falling.

 

Our rotation has been solid, especially for 5 innings. With 9 pen arms, of which 7 have done well, you'd think that would be enough for a team leading the league in runs scored.

 

We won some tough games a few weeks back: now, we are losing some.

 

It sucks. No doubt, but the weaknesses we all saw and wrote about, this past winter, are still there, but don't expect us to spend big, both in cash or in prospects, to plus the holes that have been known to be there for at least a couple years.

 

Our defense will lose us more games.

Our pen will be far from perfect.

A starter or two will struggle or get hurt.

Our offense, unbalanced as it is, will keep scoring more than most teams, but with such a weak bottom 3-4 slots, it's hard to expect consistency. When Cora tries to lengthen the line-up by slotting someone else in the top 4 slots, he's crucified.

 

Cora and Bloom are just what this team needed as they bridge to future greatness. It will take time, but patience is no longer a virtue, these days.

 

Well said. Jacksonianmarch has a point, but your corrective is the right realistic view of 2021.

[notin]

He gets put on the IL when Santana is ready.

 

That’s very likely...

[notin]

Mata is on the 40 man roster. My guess is, they are waiting to put him on the 60-day IL until they are ready to add someone.

 

The immediate choice seems to be Santana, since his opt out is due any day, now.

 

They may also be able to add Seabold to the 60 day IL retroactively, but I'm not sure he'll be out that long.

 

Other players perhaps worthy of adding to the 40 man roster besides or after Santana:

 

Munoz

Duran

Arauz

Downs

Herrmann

Puello

Gettys

Ockimey

Casas (later on)

 

Gossett

Weber

Walden

Hart

Schreiber

Simpson

Ort, Poyner, Hall

 

 

I feel you might be very liberal with your use of the word “worthy”...

[mvp 78]

Arauz is already on the 40 man.

[mvp 78]

@SPChrisHatfield

The Red Sox are 0.5 GB of MLB's best record, but roster needs some work. Bloom needs to decide how many chips to push in on this year.

Good: Core bats (JDM, X, Devers, Verdugo), SP, Barnes, health!

Bad: 1B, LF, RP depth

Internal options Santana, Munoz are getting healthy after April injuries. Chavis is Chavis. Try internal options 1st, but they need to continue to be on lookout for RP options.

Get Bazardo up btw. He can help right now. And get Chavis up while Arroyo is dinged up at least

[moonslav59]

Arauz is already on the 40 man.

 

Indeed.

[notin]

Someone named Brandon Brennan is also on the 40 man roster...

[mvp 78]

@TomCaron

The Red Sox will have to make a roster move, both as protection from players nursing injuries and to jump-start the back end of the lineup. The Sox are 30th in OPS from the 7th spot, 29th in the 9th spot. Far too many strikeouts in the bottom third of the order.

 

We've been saying!

[mvp 78]

Someone named Brandon Brennan is also on the 40 man roster...

 

A reliever they claimed from SEA.

[moonslav59]

Danny Santana just homered.

 

Times up.

 

Call him up.

[notin]

Danny Santana just homered.

 

Times up.

 

Call him up.

 

 

The Sox just gave up 25 runs in 28 innings to the worst offense in MLB. Santana, while versatile, is not going to fix their biggest weakness...

[moonslav59]

The Sox just gave up 25 runs in 28 innings to the worst offense in MLB. Santana, while versatile, is not going to fix their biggest weakness...

 

No, but we got no pitchers to call up with a much better outlook, unless we can talk Bloom into cutting Brice loose.

[notin]

No, but we got no pitchers to call up with a much better outlook, unless we can talk Bloom into cutting Brice loose.

 

What’s his Twitter handle?

[jad]

Only to those bitching about trading Beni and bitching about Cordero's slow start.

 

I don't think questioning why a guy who was 0-25 is starting games is accurately described as 'bitching'! But hey, as long as he gets 3 hits a game, and doesn't misplay balls in the field, I have no complaints.

[Swiharts Ghost]

The Sox just gave up 25 runs in 28 innings to the worst offense in MLB. Santana, while versatile, is not going to fix their biggest weakness...

 

Notin I agree with you uncomfortably often ...with that said you are batshit crazy to think Pitching is the teams issue .

[moonslav59]

Pitching is every team's issue.

[notin]

Notin I agree with you uncomfortably often ...with that said you are batshit crazy to think Pitching is the teams issue .

 

The Sox have 9 relief pitchers. I trust 4 of them to varying levels. Barnes, Whitlock, Andriese, Sawamura. The rest? They make me squirm, and not in a good way...

[oldtimer]

The Sox have 9 relief pitchers. I trust 4 of them to varying levels. Barnes, Whitlock, Andriese, Sawamura. The rest? They make me squirm, and not in a good way...

 

I got the feeling the Tigers knew what was coming. They scored against most of our pitchers

[notin]

I got the feeling the Tigers knew what was coming. They scored against most of our pitchers

 

That can be interpreted two ways, one of which is possibly a serious accusation, depending on how it’s done. (And given Detroit’s season-long offensive struggles, it probably isn’t being done.)

 

But the other one is on the Sox pitching staff...