A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[moonslav59]

Wonder what Iglesias wants to finish his playing days in Boston and transition to a coach -- which is basically what happened last September and October. Joe Churches seemed to love both Beantown experiences and may even make a good organizational mentor for Marcelo Mayer...

 

I'd be happy, if we brought back Iggy.

 

He shouldn't cost too much, either.

 

I'm not expecting the 2021 offense, again, but he's a solid defender and good clubhouse influence.

[notin]

Wonder what Iglesias wants to finish his playing days in Boston and transition to a coach -- which is basically what happened last September and October. Joe Churches seemed to love both Beantown experiences and may even make a good organizational mentor for Marcelo Mayer...

 

 

You are going to have to be willing to accept that the Jose Iglesias you get for 2022 will very likely not be the one from late last season. It took a .915 OPS just to get him up to a 90OPS+. So if he’s not hitting - and the Angels didn’t release him because he was hitting too much - what have you got? His defense has declined and defense is needed less and less at 2b anyway, since shifts usually work the other way. Mentoring is fine, but probably a bit overrated. Should the ALCS runner up be taking on washed up players to mentor people in A ball in place of actual MLB talent that can help get them to the next level? And if they should, why do we have coaches in A ball?

[moonslav59]

You are going to have to be willing to accept that the Jose Iglesias you get for 2022 will very likely not be the one from late last season. It took a .915 OPS just to get him up to a 90OPS+. So if he’s not hitting - and the Angels didn’t release him because he was hitting too much - what have you got? His defense has declined and defense is needed less and less at 2b anyway, since shifts usually work the other way. Mentoring is fine, but probably a bit overrated. Should the ALCS runner up be taking on washed up players to mentor people in A ball in place of actual MLB talent that can help get them to the next level? And if they should, why do we have coaches in A ball?

 

Iggy is Major League talent.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Iggy is Major League talent.

 

It's so obvious Jose just likes East Coast cooking better: .356/.915 in '21 for Boston, .373/.956 in '20 in Baltimore... compared to his time last year in LA of .259/.670. Not all ballplayers like constant warm and sunny weather (I just don't know them).

 

But even when he wasn't playing in the postseason, Iglesias looked like he enjoyed being in the dugout, cheering guys on; Arroyo even credited Jose with a bunting tip -- which ultimately helped win the ALDS. Those are the kind of guys a well-rounded roster craves. Maybe he'll even make a good MLB coach someday.

[notin]

It's so obvious Jose just likes East Coast cooking better: .356/.915 in '21 for Boston, .373/.956 in '20 in Baltimore... compared to his time last year in LA of .259/.670. Not all ballplayers like constant warm and sunny weather (I just don't know them).

 

But even when he wasn't playing in the postseason, Iglesias looked like he enjoyed being in the dugout, cheering guys on; Arroyo even credited Jose with a bunting tip -- which ultimately helped win the ALDS. Those are the kind of guys a well-rounded roster craves. Maybe he'll even make a good MLB coach someday.

 

So you’re saying it’s definitive that Iglesias was better in Boston because he prefers East Coast teams and not because he only had 64 player appearances in Boston as opposed to 447 in Anaheim?

 

His stretch in Baltimore was only 150 PA, giving him all of 214 PA on the East Coadt over multiple seasons, still far less than he had in Anaheim…

[moonslav59]

So you’re saying it’s definitive that Iglesias was better in Boston because he prefers East Coast teams and not because he only had 64 player appearances in Boston as opposed to 447 in Anaheim?

 

His stretch in Baltimore was only 150 PA, giving him all of 214 PA on the East Coadt over multiple seasons, still far less than he had in Anaheim…

 

Iggy has far more than 64 PAs in Fenway.

 

He's a career .700 OPS guy.

 

.798 at Fenway in 252 career PAs

.800 at Camden Yards (163 career PAs)

.767 at Yankee Stadium

 

[notin]

I'd be happy, if we brought back Iggy.

 

He shouldn't cost too much, either.

 

I'm not expecting the 2021 offense, again, but he's a solid defender and good clubhouse influence.

 

He also has a history for not being a good teammate.

 

It’s certainly possible they bring him back, but he’s far from my first choice and is getting towards the end of good career. If he was a placeholder for some stud prospect who we could expect to see come July, that’s one thing. But I don’t think Jeter Downs is that guy, and Yorke is off on the distant horizon…

[moonslav59]

He also has a history for not being a good teammate.

 

It’s certainly possible they bring him back, but he’s far from my first choice and is getting towards the end of good career. If he was a placeholder for some stud prospect we could expect to see come July, that’s one thing. But I don’t think Jeter Downs is that guy, and Yorke is off on the distant horizon…

 

He'd just be given a 1or 2 year deal. (Likely, 1 with a club option and buy out.)

 

I'm not saying he's the best choice out there, but he may be one of the best choices in his price range, and I'd be happy seeing him on our roster.

[Tedballgame]

The Red Sox selected 2 pitchers in the Rule 5 draft and they both look like they might be able to stick. Austin Lambright and Brian Keller. Keep an eye on them.

[notin]

The Red Sox selected 2 pitchers in the Rule 5 draft and they both look like they might be able to stick. Austin Lambright and Brian Keller. Keep an eye on them.

 

 

Minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Chances are good neither ever sees Worcester…

[moonslav59]

Minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Chances are good neither ever sees Worcester…

 

Ort made AAA and even got a very brief ML call-up in 2021.

 

T Reed did well in AA, this year. He may make AAA, next year.

 

It's rare, but one might surprise.

[notin]

Ort made AAA and even got a very brief ML call-up in 2021.

 

T Reed did well in AA, this year. He may make AAA, next year.

 

It's rare, but one might surprise.

 

It’s very rare. Usually when articles are written about the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, they have to go all the way back to Alexi Ogando to name an example that mattered.

 

Keller had a good fastball, but no control. He’s like 27 or 28. Nothing there I am excited about, except that we pried him out of the Yankees organization…

[mvp 78]

You are going to have to be willing to accept that the Jose Iglesias you get for 2022 will very likely not be the one from late last season. It took a .915 OPS just to get him up to a 90OPS+. So if he’s not hitting - and the Angels didn’t release him because he was hitting too much - what have you got? His defense has declined and defense is needed less and less at 2b anyway, since shifts usually work the other way. Mentoring is fine, but probably a bit overrated. Should the ALCS runner up be taking on washed up players to mentor people in A ball in place of actual MLB talent that can help get them to the next level? And if they should, why do we have coaches in A ball?

 

The current backup has a career 75 WRC+ and I bet Iggy's glove is at least as good. Iggy's coming to be the backup. Arroyo will still be the starting 2b until he reaches the IL on 5/1.

[mvp 78]

Minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Chances are good neither ever sees Worcester…

 

Ort was in AAA last season.

 

Keller spent the previous 2 years in AAA.

 

Lambright is an injury reclamation project. Not sure how much he's thrown or when he'll be ready.

[mvp 78]

It’s very rare. Usually when articles are written about the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, they have to go all the way back to Alexi Ogando to name an example that mattered.

 

Keller had a good fastball, but no control. He’s like 27 or 28. Nothing there I am excited about, except that we pried him out of the Yankees organization…

 

I would say it's rare that they mattered, but fairly likely that they make AAA at some point in their career.

[moonslav59]

It’s very rare. Usually when articles are written about the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, they have to go all the way back to Alexi Ogando to name an example that mattered.

 

Keller had a good fastball, but no control. He’s like 27 or 28. Nothing there I am excited about, except that we pried him out of the Yankees organization…

 

I'm not excited, either. I'm not even hopeful on either of these two.

 

I do think Ort might pitch more in 2022.

 

T Reed looked good, last year.

[Tedballgame]

I predict that Keller will be with the Sox all year, like Whitlock was. Spot starter and long reliever. They didn't draft him for nothing.

[mvp 78]

I predict that Keller will be with the Sox all year, like Whitlock was. Spot starter and long reliever. They didn't draft him for nothing.

 

They drafted him for minor league depth. They have no obligation to put him on the 40 man/active roster like they did with Whitlock.

[oldtimer]

Whenever this work stoppage ends, I am hopeful the Sox will sign Suzuki to 5 year, $55 mil contract (or thereabouts). The risk is that the transition from Japanese Baseball to the major leagues will not be smooth. The advantage is that we get a good defensive right fielder who can hit and is in his prime years. That move is in keeping with Blooms stated goal of making the team consistently better. The price in salary cap would not be exorbitant. Let others sign Correa for big long term contracts, they rarely work out.

[moonslav59]

They drafted him for minor league depth. They have no obligation to put him on the 40 man/active roster like they did with Whitlock.

 

Yes, he is a very big long shot to make the 26 man roster, this year.

 

He is minor league depth.

 

Maybe people are confusing this draft with the ML Rule 5 Draft.

[moonslav59]

Whenever this work stoppage ends, I am hopeful the Sox will sign Suzuki to 5 year, $55 mil contract (or thereabouts). The risk is that the transition from Japanese Baseball to the major leagues will not be smooth. The advantage is that we get a good defensive right fielder who can hit and is in his prime years. That move is in keeping with Blooms stated goal of making the team consistently better. The price in salary cap would not be exorbitant. Let others sign Correa for big long term contracts, they rarely work out.

 

I'd rather we spend on pitching, but this looks like a good chance at a decent player at a reasonable cost.

[notin]

I predict that Keller will be with the Sox all year, like Whitlock was. Spot starter and long reliever. They didn't draft him for nothing.

 

Whitlock was from the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Very different altogether.

 

The minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft typically just lets career minor leaguers continue their careers with different minor league teams…

[moonslav59]

It's hard enough for a ML Rule 5 guy to amount to anything very positive. These minor league picks are hardly worth thinking about.

[notin]

It's hard enough for a ML Rule 5 guy to amount to anything very positive. These minor league picks are hardly worth thinking about.

 

Exactly, which is why when I made my post about Keller after he was drafted I said it would probably be his only mention on this forum. Which has now turned out to be incorrect…

[mvp 78]

Exactly, which is why when I made my post about Keller after he was drafted I said it would probably be his only mention on this forum. Which has now turned out to be incorrect…

 

https://twitter.com/FarmToFame_/status/1468663742942617600

[moonslav59]

Exactly, which is why when I made my post about Keller after he was drafted I said it would probably be his only mention on this forum. Which has now turned out to be incorrect…

 

The lack of fodder is extreme.

[mvp 78]

Sox still need an OF bat, 2B/SS backup and a few pitchers.

 

Here's who I would target:

 

McCutchen 1/7

Iggy 2/8

Mychal Givens 1/3

Ottavino 1/5

McHugh 1/3

[mvp 78]

I'm terrible at contract amounts, but those are my WAGS.

[harmony]

I'm terrible at contract amounts, but those are my WAGS.

FWIW their 2021 salaries:

 

McCutchen $20 million

Iglesias $3.5 million

Givens $4.05 million

Ottavino $9 million

McHugh $0

[notin]

Sox still need an OF bat, 2B/SS backup and a few pitchers.

 

Here's who I would target:

 

McCutchen 1/7

Iggy 2/8

Mychal Givens 1/3

Ottavino 1/5

McHugh 1/3

 

If Iglesias is the backup 2b/SS, who’s the starter? Arroyo?