A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[notin]

I wouldn't just dump him, but I could see him being used in a package to get a big piece.

 

That applies to every player on the team…

[notin]

If Dalbec hits well, Verdugo is too good to ride the bench.

 

He's worth more to another team as a starter than to us as a 4th OF'er.

 

I got that reasoning from you.

 

I still think he’s a starter in Boston.

 

The Schwarber/Martinez element is far from settled. While some are posting contingencies for how to squeeze both into the lineup, there is also a chance the Sox enter 2022 with neither.

 

Until JD exercises his option, there is a possibility that he simply does not. There are certainly reasons he should, but also reasons he shouldn’t.

 

And Schwarber, as much as we all want him back, is extremely unlikely to exercise his half of the mutual option. He’s having his best season since 2018 and could finish with his best season of his career.

 

And that begs another question fir Bloom - should he pursue Schwarber in free agency after a potential career best season?

[mvp 78]

That applies to every player on the team…

 

Have you seen this roster? There's a few guys that can be unloaded without issue.

[mvp 78]

I still think he’s a starter in Boston.

 

The Schwarber/Martinez element is far from settled. While some are posting contingencies for how to squeeze both into the lineup, there is also a chance the Sox enter 2022 with neither.

 

Until JD exercises his option, there is a possibility that he simply does not. There are certainly reasons he should, but also reasons he shouldn’t.

 

And Schwarber, as much as we all want him back, is extremely unlikely to exercise his half of the mutual option. He’s having his best season since 2018 and could finish with his best season of his career.

 

And that begs another question fir Bloom - should he pursue Schwarber in free agency after a potential career best season?

 

I'm not sure "neither" is the worst case scenario that some would make it out to be. My preference would be for them to have one of those two guys. Maybe Schwarber as he should be cheaper and could play more positions in the field.

[notin]

I'm not sure "neither" is the worst case scenario that some would make it out to be. My preference would be for them to have one of those two guys. Maybe Schwarber as he should be cheaper and could play more positions in the field.

 

IMO the most likely scenario is the Sox have JD and Schwarber moves on…

[mvp 78]

IMO the most likely scenario is the Sox have JD and Schwarber moves on…

 

Yes, I don't believe JD will opt out. I think they'll use "Schwarber money" on pitching.

[notin]

Yes, I don't believe JD will opt out. I think they'll use "Schwarber money" on pitching.

 

I’m 60/40 on JD staying but I think 0% Schwarber exercises his part of the option…

[mvp 78]

What I would do:

 

1. Move Xander to 2B.

2. Sign Simmons.

3. Sign Stroman.

4. Sign Alex Wood.

5. Sign Familia.

6. Sign Neris.

 

Former friends that are upcoming FA:

Robbie Ross

Fernando Abad

Steven Wright

Jonathan Lucroy

Matt Andriese

Brad Peacock (former?)

Delino Deshields

Chris Owings

Sandy Leon

Jed Lowrie

Brock Holt

Mitch Moreland

Rich Hill

Collin McHugh

Jon Lester

Anthony Rizzo

Andrew Miller

[mvp 78]

I’m 60/40 on JD staying but I think 0% Schwarber exercises his part of the option…

 

The only way he comes back is through FA. No chance in hell will he pick up the option. If he does, I won't post all offseason until Opening Day of 2022.

[moonslav59]

The only way he comes back is through FA. No chance in hell will he pick up the option. If he does, I won't post all offseason until Opening Day of 2022.

 

He could extend before free agency.

[notin]

I think Oakland will be a prime trading partner.

 

After this season, the following Oakland players are due for raises in arbitration: Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Ramon Laureano, Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, and Chad Pinder, and Lou Trivino and a few others.

 

No way they can keep them all, and probably a huge factor in why they acquired short term money in Starling Marte at the deadline.

 

I figure they could easily reach agreements with Bassitt and Pinder and will desperately try to work something out with Chapman. But they might be trading some/all of the rest for financial reasons.

 

Since Marte (and Mark Canha!) will obviously be moving on, and Laureano might as well, a Jarren Duran/Frankie Montas deal in some form might make sense for both teams. (They are unlikely to be as interested in Verdugo over Duran, since Verdugo is also arbitration-eligible.)

[notin]

He could extend before free agency.

 

Why would he?

[mvp 78]

I think Oakland will be a prime trading partner.

 

After this season, the following Oakland players are due for raises in arbitration: Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Ramon Laureano, Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, and Chad Pinder, and Lou Trivino and a few others.

 

No way they can keep them all, and probably a huge factor in why they acquired short term money in Starling Marte at the deadline.

 

I figure they could easily reach agreements with Bassitt and Pinder and will desperately try to work something out with Chapman. But they might be trading some/all of the rest for financial reasons.

 

Since Marte (and Mark Canha!) will obviously be moving on, and Laureano might as well, a Jarren Duran/Frankie Montas deal in some form might make sense for both teams. (They are unlikely to be as interested in Verdugo over Duran, since Verdugo is also arbitration-eligible.)

 

Laureano would be great here in RF.

[mvp 78]

Why would he?

 

There's a better chance that he picks up the option.

[Bellhorn04]

Why would he?

 

If he likes the offer.

[mvp 78]

If he likes the offer.

 

I would say that it's highly unlikely that the Sox work up something that quickly.

[notin]

Laureano would be great here in RF.

 

But as we already have Verdugo and Renfroe, not sure corner OF is the Sox biggest need.

 

Now maybe they could acquire him for CF. It really comes down to the immediate future plans for Kike and Arroyo, although Arroyo has a nasty habit of taking himself out of those types of equations with his frequent IL trips…

[Hugh2]

If he likes the offer.

 

I always view the people who sign before-the-free-agent market as people who either really want to stay or people who feel like they're getting market value now. Market value now as in....you're paying the "buy it now" price. Odds are if you're signing Schwarber to a deal before free agency he wants you to pay the "buy it now" price which doesn't necessarily mean it's that high of a price but I think we as fans have a tendency to all too often assume everyone is going to sign early and cut deals to play for us because we're so amazingly awesome and who wouldn't want to take less money to play here so we can sign more superstars and win the Superbowl every freaking year.

 

This is just a very long way of saying it's much more likely than not he goes to free agency.

[moonslav59]

I think Oakland will be a prime trading partner.

 

After this season, the following Oakland players are due for raises in arbitration: Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Ramon Laureano, Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, and Chad Pinder, and Lou Trivino and a few others.

 

No way they can keep them all, and probably a huge factor in why they acquired short term money in Starling Marte at the deadline.

 

I figure they could easily reach agreements with Bassitt and Pinder and will desperately try to work something out with Chapman. But they might be trading some/all of the rest for financial reasons.

 

Since Marte (and Mark Canha!) will obviously be moving on, and Laureano might as well, a Jarren Duran/Frankie Montas deal in some form might make sense for both teams. (They are unlikely to be as interested in Verdugo over Duran, since Verdugo is also arbitration-eligible.)

 

He probably shouldn't. I was just pointing our a possible scenario.

[moonslav59]

I always view the people who sign before-the-free-agent market as people who either really want to stay or people who feel like they're getting market value now. Market value now as in....you're paying the "buy it now" price. Odds are if you're signing Schwarber to a deal before free agency he wants you to pay the "buy it now" price which doesn't necessarily mean it's that high of a price but I think we as fans have a tendency to all too often assume everyone is going to sign early and cut deals to play for us because we're so amazingly awesome and who wouldn't want to take less money to play here so we can sign more superstars and win the Superbowl every freaking year.

 

This is just a very long way of saying it's much more likely than not he goes to free agency.

 

Kinda the same as the first FA to sign. If it's with the same team, it's basically an extension, but he did hear out other teams, first, I guess.

[Hugh2]

Kinda the same as the first FA to sign. If it's with the same team, it's basically an extension, but he did hear out other teams, first, I guess.

 

Well it's true if you're the "first to sign" you don't have anything to compare yourself to, that year at least, but you still do have every other team bidding on you or at least the ability to do so.

[mvp 78]

But as we already have Verdugo and Renfroe, not sure corner OF is the Sox biggest need.

 

Now maybe they could acquire him for CF. It really comes down to the immediate future plans for Kike and Arroyo, although Arroyo has a nasty habit of taking himself out of those types of equations with his frequent IL trips…

 

It might not be a great fit, but he'd look great in RF.

[MADSTORK]

Motter did get 2 hits, but apparently that did not outweigh his defense.

 

I guess it's easier for us to let stud offensive players off the hook on D, than guys like Motter.

 

Fabio is a joke!

Don't forget he got picked off the day before with schwarber at the plate

 

Orlando continues to amaze me, bargain basement shopping in sept when Lopez was just fine defensively at 2B

 

Now Enrique Iglesias ? Priceless

[Larry Cook]

Very odd that our team is among the leaders this year in outfield assists, yet leading the league in errors! Sorry hang’em Chaim but the baby is ugly!

 

So much for building a championship team with pitching, defense and timely hitting!

[notin]

Jack Lopez started 5 games for the Sox. The team went 4-1 in those games.

 

Coincidence?

 

Yeah, probably. That would explain it. I mean, the guy did have a .564 OPS…

[Hugh2]

Very odd that our team is among the leaders this year in outfield assists, yet leading the league in errors! Sorry hang’em Chaim but the baby is ugly!

 

So much for building a championship team with pitching, defense and timely hitting!

 

The baby is premature and still in NICO. Still plenty of life left and too soon to call it ugly.

[moonslav59]

The Rays are uncatchable. The wild card winning team will almost surely face them.

 

As for the WC, we are still 1/2 behind the Yanks, who are keeping pace with our losing.

 

TOR is 2 back but tied in the loss column.

 

SEA is 3 back, and the A’s 3.5 back.

[Bellhorn04]

The Rays are uncatchable. The wild card winning team will almost surely face them.

 

As for the WC, we are still 1/2 behind the Yanks, who are keeping pace with our losing.

 

TOR is 2 back but tied in the loss column.

 

SEA is 3 back, and the A’s 3.5 back.

 

This 'wild card race' is pretty ugly. So is the winner's prize of playing the Rays LOL

[notin]

The Rays are uncatchable. The wild card winning team will almost surely face them.

 

As for the WC, we are still 1/2 behind the Yanks, who are keeping pace with our losing.

 

TOR is 2 back but tied in the loss column.

 

SEA is 3 back, and the A’s 3.5 back.

 

The Yankees have what should be an easy stretch coming up after today's game with Toronto. They have 3 atthe Mets, Minnesota for 1 game, 3 at Baltimore, and then 3 against Cleveland and Texas each at home. The Baltimore games might be the toughest, as the Yankees are only 9-7 against them this season...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Yankees have what should be an easy stretch coming up after today's game with Toronto. They have 3 atthe Mets, Minnesota for 1 game, 3 at Baltimore, and then 3 against Cleveland and Texas each at home. The Baltimore games might be the toughest, as the Yankees are only 9-7 against them this season...

 

The "race" may come down to which Covid-ravaged rival -- New York or Boston -- survives to get expunged by Toronto, a city in a country where, not coincidentally, protocols are more strict or may be taken more seriously.