A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[Deja Doh]

If I'm the GM I want to buy wins. They need to make a run after Freddie Freeman, Corey Seager, and Kris Bryant.

[Deja Doh]

If I'm the GM I want to buy wins. So need to make a run at Freddie Freeman, Corey Seager, and Kris Bryant.

[moonslav59]

If I'm the GM I want to buy wins. So need to make a run at Freddie Freeman, Corey Seager, and Kris Bryant.

 

We need pitching more than anything.

[Hugh2]

We also don't need to throw 30 million dollars per annum contracts at players who are playing the position our best players/top prospects play at.

 

Unless of course Devers or Casas is headling a package for a true TOTRS to pair with Sale, then it makes sense.

[Bellhorn04]

Spin rate is down for a lot of pitchers.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Folty was Spidering up the ball. But a lot of pitchers on the market will be.

 

Like I said, at best he is a candidate for MiLB contract. I would have no problems with that...

 

"Spidering the ball" - I like it.

[notin]

We also don't need to throw 30 million dollars per annum contracts at players who are playing the position our best players/top prospects play at.

 

Unless of course Devers or Casas is headling a package for a true TOTRS to pair with Sale, then it makes sense.

 

 

But for those type, we need a new thread called “A Fantasy Look at 2022 - Part I”…

[mvp 78]

Spin rate is down for a lot of pitchers.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Folty was Spidering up the ball. But a lot of pitchers on the market will be.

 

Like I said, at best he is a candidate for MiLB contract. I would have no problems with that...

 

I think Folty is a unique case. He really only had one good season. His whiff rate percentile dropped to bottom 3%! His FB spin rate was 70% percentile in 2018, but dropped to 25% this season. If everyone else dropped at a similar rate, he'd still be closer to 70th percentile. It's the percentile drop that stands out. Maybe he was using spider tack in 2018. Why did he drop off in 2019? Did he stop using it then? When you look at statcast, he's a well below average pitcher for every season but 2018. Sometimes guys just have one good season and disappear. I think that's what happened to Folty. I'm not sure I'd even want him wasting a AAA spot.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sox aren't spending big on any free agent position players or big money pitchers. Even if they blow the budget on expensive guys, there's no guarantee they'll even advance to the LCS again soon (right, Yankees, Padres, Angels, etc?). Henry admitted this month the club is in the middle of a rebuild and "ahead of schedule". They're waiting on a future infield of Casas-Yorke-Mayer-Jordan. Hopefully, Bloom will add proven pitchers, but certainly expect him to continue to stockpile young arms to finally create an actual MLB bullpen.

[mvp 78]

Sox aren't spending big on any free agent position players or big money pitchers. Even if they blow the budget on expensive guys, there's no guarantee they'll even advance to the LCS again soon (right, Yankees, Padres, Angels, etc?). Henry admitted this month the club is in the middle of a rebuild and "ahead of schedule". They're waiting on a future infield of Casas-Yorke-Mayer-Jordan. Hopefully, Bloom will add proven pitchers, but certainly expect him to continue to stockpile young arms to finally create an actual MLB bullpen.

 

I don't believe they are waiting on 2025. I believe they are waiting on 2022/2023.

[Nick]

Sox aren't spending big on any free agent position players or big money pitchers. Even if they blow the budget on expensive guys, there's no guarantee they'll even advance to the LCS again soon (right, Yankees, Padres, Angels, etc?). Henry admitted this month the club is in the middle of a rebuild and "ahead of schedule". They're waiting on a future infield of Casas-Yorke-Mayer-Jordan. Hopefully, Bloom will add proven pitchers, but certainly expect him to continue to stockpile young arms to finally create an actual MLB bullpen.

 

Part of building a strong core is to make sure the players you're talking about arrives at about same time. It would seem Casas is way ahead of say Mayer from being major league ready. Not to say it won't happen.

 

If that is the plan then Devers should be traded for high end starting pitcher who is under team control for 4+ years. Unless of course Sox consider him to be the cornerstone of future in which case Devers should be extended.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Personally, I'd like to see the Sox add or develop some contact hitters that thrive on line drives. The grand salamis have been fun to watch this October, but a lineup that relies on scoring over 80% of its runs on HRs can predictably crash hard -- as we've seen this week. Lately, we're really no different than the Yankees' batting order, which failed and had fans bemoaning all season.

 

The Sox need more swings like Verdugo's last night. If his opposite-field laser hadn't missed the chalk by half a foot, it's an easy leadoff double in a 1-0 game.

[Nick]

This has been an amazing year and it's not over.

 

It's been a learning year for Sox operations people. They were able to play several players that may or may not be here next year.

 

Schwarber....I want him back but not as 1B. You gotta make simple plays. Too many ball chances at first. He's performed well as a non 1B, but not as a 1B.

 

Houck/Whitlock....If I had to pick, Whitlock would start and Houck stay in the bullpen. Bellhorn asked what the hell does it mean to be a shut down pitcher? Well, I would trust Houck for 9th inning more than I would Whitlock. But I would trust Whitlock to go 6 or 7 innings more than I would Houck. Just my eyes....no analytics.

 

Devers....you give him what he wants. You build the future around him. But you only get one of those. Don't negotiate with Xander. It's still a defensive position. Go with gut.

 

Dalbec...he can hold down 1B until Casas, then he can split time between 1B, 3B and DH.

 

For 2022, JD, Vaz, Dalbec, Arroyo, Xander, Devers, Verdugo, Kike and Renfroe. Strengthen pitching staff.

[mvp 78]

My current wants for 2022:

 

Renfroe/Verdugo platoon in RF

Baez for 2b

Stroman

Re-sign Schwarber

[notin]

I don't believe they are waiting on 2025. I believe they are waiting on 2022/2023.

 

Stop ruining his Tampa Rays North Conspiracy Theory!!!

[notin]

My current wants for 2022:

 

Renfroe/Verdugo platoon in RF

Baez for 2b

Stroman

Re-sign Schwarber

 

I do have my doubts they go all in for for Schwarber, Baez and Stroman, who could tack on an annual AAV of $60 mill or so.

 

I think the best case scenario might be Stroman and one of the two. Of course, a lot depends on how Bloom evaluates Stroman vs other FA options...

[moonslav59]

Sox aren't spending big on any free agent position players or big money pitchers. Even if they blow the budget on expensive guys, there's no guarantee they'll even advance to the LCS again soon (right, Yankees, Padres, Angels, etc?). Henry admitted this month the club is in the middle of a rebuild and "ahead of schedule". They're waiting on a future infield of Casas-Yorke-Mayer-Jordan. Hopefully, Bloom will add proven pitchers, but certainly expect him to continue to stockpile young arms to finally create an actual MLB bullpen.

 

I'm not sure we know the winter spending budget (limit), but in my opinion, we only have 3-5 openings on the 40 man roster for additions. That is assuming we protect 4-5 Rule 5 eligible players. Last winter we spent about $43M on ...

 

$10M Richards

$8M Ottavino

$7M Kike (x 2)

$6M Perez

$3M Renfroe

$3M Marwin

$3M Andriese

$1.5M Sawamura

$1.5M Santana

 

For argument's sake, let's say we have the same winter budget. $43M into 3-5 players, not 9 like last winter, allows us to get higher paid and hopefully higher quality players by spending an average of $8-14M per player as compared to $4.5 per player, last winter.

 

I agree, I doubt we spend $30M on 1 player, but the money could be there to spend $30M, $5M, $4M & $4M on 4 players.

 

More likely, we'll spend something like $14M, $10M, $8M, $7M & $4M on 5 players. Even this should bring us much better quality than last winter.

 

We could also trade for a low cost addition.

[moonslav59]

I do have my doubts they go all in for for Schwarber, Baez and Stroman, who could tack on an annual AAV of $60 mill or so.

 

I think the best case scenario might be Stroman and one of the two. Of course, a lot depends on how Bloom evaluates Stroman vs other FA options...

 

If we added those three, we'd almost certainly have to trade Bogey and or JD.

[notin]

If we added those three, we'd almost certainly have to trade Bogey and or JD.

 

I think the idea of signing someone like Baez or Semien is a saeguard against Bogaert opting out, which makes sense as he is very likely to. However, there still does remain the extremely slim possibility that he doesn't, and the more possible scenario that he extends.

 

If they eschew looking at major investments in middle infielders, I can understand that. I would have zero problem with the Sox gong forward with Bogaerts and doing whatever it takes to maintain that status quo beyond 2022.

 

Get a 2B who is more durable than Arroyo, and give Jeter Downs another year in Pawtucket to bounce back...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Stop ruining his Tampa Rays North Conspiracy Theory!!!

 

Your words. What's more likely this winter: more small moves like Bloom has made ever since he dumped Mookie and Price, or spending big money on free agent contracts of three or more years -- which Bloom has never done in Boston?

[moonslav59]

I think the idea of signing someone like Baez or Semien is a saeguard against Bogaert opting out, which makes sense as he is very likely to. However, there still does remain the extremely slim possibility that he doesn't, and the more possible scenario that he extends.

 

If they eschew looking at major investments in middle infielders, I can understand that. I would have zero problem with the Sox gong forward with Bogaerts and doing whatever it takes to maintain that status quo beyond 2022.

 

Get a 2B who is more durable than Arroyo, and give Jeter Downs another year in Pawtucket to bounce back...

 

I agree, but getting Baez/Semien plus Schwarber & Stroman would make the need to shed salary somewhere else almost mandatory.

[moonslav59]

Your words. What's more likely this winter: more small moves like Bloom has made ever since he dumped Mookie and Price, or spending big money on free agent contracts of three or more years -- which Bloom has never done in Boston?

 

Bloom was given a roster with 10-15 holes to fill, and there were over 10, last winter. It made sense to go small on multiple deals.

 

This winter is different. We may only have about 4-5 open slots, so going larger contracts is a real possibility. How long they are remains to be seen.

 

[notin]

Your words. What's more likely this winter: more small moves like Bloom has made ever since he dumped Mookie and Price, or spending big money on free agent contracts of three or more years -- which Bloom has never done in Boston?

 

And how many blank checkbooks has he been handed?

 

Don't forget when he took over, the Sox had some $300 million tied up in Price, Sale and Eovladi, and the oft-injured Eovaldi was looking like the healthiest of the three. Not to mention the whole Betts situation, where he was reportedly adamant aboiut not signing any extension that didn't break some sort of record. And after all that, there were still 21 (now 22) other roster spots to fill. And all this for a team that won 84 games and missed the post-season. (And was only 6 games better than Cherington's last place 2015 team.)

 

Was he supposed to keep pumping money into it and hope it all somehow came together?

 

Not to mention, the whole narrative of "he has only managed small market teams and doesn't know how to manage big ones" is patently false. Not one small market GM in MLB history has gone to a large market team and kept his small market budget (without being told to do so). When Dan Duquette came over from Montreal, did he keep spending like he still ran the Expos? (If anything, one could argue that what Duquette did not know how to do was spend responsibly.)

[mvp 78]

Bloom was given a roster with 10-15 holes to fill, and there were over 10, last winter. It made sense to go small on multiple deals.

 

This winter is different. We may only have about 4-5 open slots, so going larger contracts is a real possibility. How long they are remains to be seen.

 

 

Vaz - C

1b - ?

2b - ?

SS - X

3B - Devers

RF - Betts

CF - JBJ

LF - Beni

DH - JD

Bench - Chavis

SP1 - Sale

SP2 - Eovaldi

SP3 - Price

SP4 - ERod

SP5 - ?

CL - Workman

RP - Barnes

RP - Brasier

RP - Taylor

RP - Hembree

RP - DHern

RP - Weber

 

That's 19 roster spots taken up by "DD" guys. Are you referring to 15 openings on the 40 man?

[mvp 78]

Not to mention, the whole narrative of "he has only managed small market teams and doesn't know how to manage big ones" is patently false.

 

Sox are at the lux tax line and made it to the ALCS. Seems like he's a good big market GM.

[notin]

Vaz - C

1b - ?

2b - ?

SS - X

3B - Devers

RF - Betts

CF - JBJ

LF - Beni

DH - JD

Bench - Chavis

SP1 - Sale

SP2 - Eovaldi

SP3 - Price

SP4 - ERod

SP5 - ?

CL - Workman

RP - Barnes

RP - Brasier

RP - Taylor

RP - Hembree

RP - DHern

RP - Weber

 

That's 19 roster spots taken up by "DD" guys. Are you referring to 15 openings on the 40 man?

 

It is possible that a roster spot can be considered a "hole" despite having a player occupying said role. JBJ has been frequently called such by a lot of fans. Chavis always really deserved that title as well.

 

You listed Ryan Weber, for example. I would argue all day that is a hole in the roster right there...

[notin]

Sox are at the lux tax line and made it to the ALCS. Seems like he's a good big market GM.

 

But he didn't go drop $18mill on a closer!!!

[mvp 78]

It is possible that a roster spot can be considered a "hole" despite having a player occupying said role. JBJ has been frequently called such by a lot of fans. Chavis always really deserved that title as well.

 

You listed Ryan Weber, for example. I would argue all day that is a hole in the roster right there...

 

It's a hole that Bloom didn't address then? In fact, he PUT WEBER IN A STARTING PITCHING ROLE.

[mvp 78]

But he didn't go drop $18mill on a closer!!!

 

Well, he's "good" but not "great" yet.

[notin]

It's a hole that Bloom didn't address then? In fact, he PUT WEBER IN A STARTING PITCHING ROLE.

 

Yes, he put that deck chair on a part of the Titanic with a better view of the iceberg.

 

But then, once Sale and ERod went down, that was for our benefit as fans. After all, what better way to make a 60 game season feel like a full 162 than to subject us to more Ryan Weber?

[mvp 78]

Yes, he put that deck chair on a part of the Titanic with a better view of the iceberg.

 

But then, once Sale and ERod went down, that was for our benefit as fans. After all, what better way to make a 60 game season feel like a full 162 than to subject us to more Ryan Weber?

 

And he knew we'd luck into getting the best prospect in the draft. A veritable coup for a team on it's way to the ALCS.