A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Exactly, and in some ways, we got weaker at the top of the 40man roster (ERod/Schwarber/Ottavino/Renfroe) while just replacing the bottom 40 with similar player profiles.

 

I knew we might be frugal for another season, but this is a disappointing, so far.

 

Adding Story would change the narrative, but it creates too many issues with team harmony, positional concerns and the future budget. It would also end the Bogey era in Boston, either by forcing a trade or watching him walk, next winter.

 

 

I'm no longer interested in purported interests in the best interests of a club that's really not interested in signing any of them.

[moonslav59]

I'm no longer interested in purported interests in the best interests of a club that's really not interested in signing any of them.

 

I do wonder, if it's all been a smoke screen to feign seriousness about improving to the Sox fans and media. Throw a tid-bit here and there, but in reality, I think it just frustrated the more interested and attentive fans.

 

How many big to somewhat big names were we seriously linked to? (And I'm not even sure how "serious" they really got.)

 

Baez

Suzuki

Story

Steven Matz

 

Maybe false links?

Semien

Freeman

Chris Taylor

Schwarber

 

I would not be surprised to find out we never came close, in our final offers, to any of these, and likely did not even make actual offers to some or most of these guys.

[moonslav59]

I'm no longer interested in purported interests in the best interests of a club that's really not interested in signing any of them.

 

Like Lester redux. Make a final offer you know will not be taken.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I do wonder, if it's all been a smoke screen to feign seriousness about improving to the Sox fans and media. Throw a tid-bit here and there, but in reality, I think it just frustrated the more interested and attentive fans.

 

How many big to somewhat big names were we seriously linked to? (And I'm not even sure how "serious" they really got.)

 

Baez

Suzuki

Story

Steven Matz

 

Maybe false links?

Semien

Freeman

Chris Taylor

Schwarber

 

I would not be surprised to find out we never came close, in our final offers, to any of these, and likely did not even make actual offers to some or most of these guys.

 

That's a good point. In the past, it seems like often some national reporter would publish actual monetary offers by true finalists for big name free agents. Is is coincidence there have never been any literal numbers discussed in the media about all the guys that Bloom was interested in but just missed?

[moonslav59]

That's a good point. In the past, it seems like often some national reporter would publish actual monetary offers by true finalists for big name free agents. Is is coincidence there have never been any literal numbers discussed in the media about all the guys that Bloom was interested in but just missed?

 

I'm not sure I've even read that the Sox made an offer, even with no money mentioned.

[notin]

I'm not sure I've even read that the Sox made an offer, even with no money mentioned.

 

 

It might not even be a Bloom’s smokescreen. The best guys writing these stories stand to benefit more than Bloom does…

[moonslav59]

It might not even be a Bloom’s smokescreen. The best guys writing these stories stand to benefit more than Bloom does…

 

True, and maybe Bloom did make some calls to these agents but hung up once he heard the asking price without ever even vocalizing a ball park figure.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It might not even be a Bloom’s smokescreen. The best guys writing these stories stand to benefit more than Bloom does…

 

Yup. On the surface, to me, Freeman made no sense, adding Correa and/or Story would just cause issues, Schwarber was redundant... but Suzuki or Bryant filled a need, as did Castellanos to a lesser extent, and any good starting pitchers who were young enough to become dependable rotation pieces for the next several years. No thanks to expensive relievers, because they all fluctuate year-to-year (though Dombro signed Familia and Hand for less combined than Jansen).

[moonslav59]

It might not even be a Bloom’s smokescreen. The best guys writing these stories stand to benefit more than Bloom does…

 

One question remains for me. Is this a result of strict guidelines from Henry, or is this who Bloom is?

 

I think next winter will answer that question.

[moonslav59]

Yup. On the surface, to me, Freeman made no sense, adding Correa and/or Story would just cause issues, Schwarber was redundant... but Suzuki or Bryant filled a need, as did Castellanos to a lesser extent, and any good starting pitchers who were young enough to become dependable rotation pieces for the next several years. No thanks to expensive relievers, because they all fluctuate year-to-year (though Dombro signed Familia and Hand for less combined than Jansen).

 

Suzuki and Baez, who was fine with playing 2B, despite being a better defensive SS than Bogey, made the most sense to me.

 

Of course, signing a better pitcher made the most sense, but I really didn't see a "wow" name out there to go large and long on, so I give Bloom a pass there- for this winter only.

[Bellhorn04]

One question remains for me. Is this a result of strict guidelines from Henry, or is this who Bloom is?

 

I think next winter will answer that question.

 

It looks like Henry has authorized Bloom to spend up to the 230 mill mark.

 

I think the overall strategy is all Bloom's though.

[Bellhorn04]

Of course, signing a better pitcher made the most sense, but I really didn't see a "wow" name out there to go large and long on, so I give Bloom a pass there- for this winter only.

 

I wouldn't have minded a guy like Gausman for 5/110. Who are we going to go large and long on?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

I think the overall strategy is all Bloom's though.

 

He's never gone out of character since he's been in Boston. Some posters used to compare Bloom with Henry's purse to Friedman in LA, but that's never been anything but a fantasy. Bloom keeps spending, but always on piles of rocks looking for hidden gems, the once-weres and never-has-beens. It's time to just accept this is who is, and why he was hired.

[notin]

I wouldn't have minded a guy like Gausman for 5/110. Who are we going to go large and long on?

 

Hopefully Bogaerts and Devers…

[moonslav59]

It looks like Henry has authorized Bloom to spend up to the 230 mill mark.

 

I think the overall strategy is all Bloom's though.

 

So, maybe he signs Conforto and saves the rest for the deadline, like he did when we were able to add Schwarber and others in 2021.

 

The interesting thing will be, if we are out of contention at the deadline or hanging close to being on the outside, with little hope of advancing in the playoffs, if we squeak in.

 

Will we see a fire sale that would surely add to our promising longer term outlook?

 

Trade Bogey, Eovaldi, JD, Vaz and Kike- maybe even guys like Barnes (assuming he's doing well). (I won't talk about trading Devers, because it would sicken me.)

[notin]

True, and maybe Bloom did make some calls to these agents but hung up once he heard the asking price without ever even vocalizing a ball park figure.

 

Probably but unless money is involved, he did nothing by checking in. Sportswriters, on the other hand, can throw “Red Sox Interested” in a headlines and get in on some Google searches and much sought-after clicks…

[moonslav59]

I wouldn't have minded a guy like Gausman for 5/110. Who are we going to go large and long on?

 

Like I said, I didn't see anybody, this winter.

 

While $21M is not bank-breaking, the 5 years is a big risk for a guy with just a 106 ERA+ since 2017.

 

Okay, 111 since 2018 is pretty darn good, but not really something where I say, this is "the guy" we should break the pattern with and go large and long on. Plus, he's 31.

 

Gun to me head, the best SP'er contracts I saw this winter were:

 

$15.4M x 5 ERod

$14M x 4 Jon Gray

$20M/1 Morton (not "long")

 

But, even these look scary.

[moonslav59]

Probably but unless money is involved, he did nothing by checking in. Sportswriters, on the other hand, can throw “Red Sox Interested” in a headlines and get in on some Google searches and much sought-after clicks…

 

Exactly, and that is likely all it was.

 

Bloom did nothing to refute the reports, but then again, why should he?

[Bellhorn04]

Like I said, I didn't see anybody, this winter.

 

While $21M is not bank-breaking, the 5 years is a big risk for a guy with just a 106 ERA+ since 2017.

 

Okay, 111 since 2018 is pretty darn good, but not really something where I say, this is "the guy" we should break the pattern with and go large and long on. Plus, he's 31.

 

Gun to me head, the best SP'er contracts I saw this winter were:

 

$15.4M x 5 ERod

$14M x 4 Jon Gray

$20M/1 Morton (not "long")

 

But, even these look scary.

 

Maybe they're all scary.

[notin]

I wouldn't have minded a guy like Gausman for 5/110. Who are we going to go large and long on?

 

If you don’t count 2020, Gausman is a 30yo pitcher with 1 really good season. Beyond that, he’s a older and more expensive Pivetta…

[Bellhorn04]

If you don’t count 2020, Gausman is a 30yo pitcher with 1 really good season. Beyond that, he’s a older and more expensive Pivetta…

 

That's kind of silly. Gausman has a career fWAR of 19.9. He has averaged about 3 fWAR per 175 innings.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If you don’t count 2020, Gausman is a 30yo pitcher with 1 really good season. Beyond that, he’s a older and more expensive Pivetta…

 

We didn't even add any Pivettas this winter.

[Bellhorn04]

We didn't even add any Pivettas this winter.

 

If Bloom can find one Pivetta, he can find others.

[notin]

If Bloom can find one Pivetta, he can find others.

 

 

Rich Hill is old, but the dude has been really good the past few years…

[notin]

We didn't even add any Pivettas this winter.

 

I think Bloom felt Wacha had some Pivetta in him…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think Bloom felt Wacha had some Pivetta in him…

 

Wacha had a good last month for the Rays, who then decided to start three rookies in the ALDS instead. Maybe it was all about the match-ups; Cashy looked justified after the Sox lit up Wacha in relief for a 20.25 ERA... which Bloom chose to ignore in his signing. "Hey," said someone in the analytics dept., "his metrics are bound to improve, now that he doesn't have to face us."

[notin]

Wacha had a good last month for the Rays, who then decided to start three rookies in the ALDS instead. Maybe it was all about the match-ups; Cashy looked justified after the Sox lit up Wacha in relief for a 20.25 ERA... which Bloom chose to ignore in his signing. "Hey," said someone in the analytics dept., "his metrics are bound to improve, now that he doesn't have to face us."

 

 

Hey Wacha pitched 5 games against the Yankees and only alllowed a .458 OPSA

[Nick]

Can someone post a top 10 Sox relievers as of now? Assume one of Whitlock/Houck is starting.

[notin]

Can someone post a top 10 Sox relievers as of now? Assume one of Whitlock/Houck is starting.

 

The other Houck/Whitlock

Taylor

Barnes

Brasier

Sawamura

Diekman

Robles

Strahm

Davis

D Hernandez

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The other Houck/Whitlock

Taylor

Barnes

Brasier

Sawamura

Diekman

Robles

Strahm

Davis

D Hernandez

 

Whitlock

Pivetta, wired

Eovaldi, tired

Sale, mired

Porcello, retired

Price, fired