A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[notin]

The simple answer is that people would watch that team if it's winning games.

 

One caveat is that only 2 guys in your starting lineup have proven they can hit major league pitching.

 

 

A bit optimistic.

 

Yorke only graduated high school 2 years ago, and in 2 more years he’ll be starting in MLB? Probably not. He’s more likely to see his stock fall than rise. We all assumed Jeter Downs would have a stranglehold on 2b by 2021 at one point, too…

[jad]

Random thought...

 

If Xander opts out, Sox can get rid of $107M worth of contracts after 2022. Only Sale, Barnes and Xander contracts totaling $45+M remain for those making $5M+.

 

What I'm saying is Bloom is getting rid of long term contracts that may hinder the club.

 

We also get rid of $16M on Price's last remaining year.

 

I think that's incredible. Future liabilities are dissipating.

 

Possible lineup without major additions for 2023. Would you watch this team?

 

C Hernandez

1B Casas

2B Yorke

SS Downs

3B Devers

LF Jimenez

CF Duran

RF Verdugo

DH Dalbec

SP1 Sale

SP2 Pivetta

SP3 Houck

SP4 Whitlock

SP5 Bello

SP6 Mata

 

Bullpen TBD

 

With 5 of 9 starters I've never heard of? Oh, I'd watch. But not with much interest. And probably only if they were at Fenway, so that I could see something I'm familiar with.

[Nick]

With 5 of 9 starters I've never heard of? Oh, I'd watch. But not with much interest. And probably only if they were at Fenway, so that I could see something I'm familiar with.

 

I'm surprised you haven't heard of all nine starters.

[Nick]

The simple answer is that people would watch that team if it's winning games.

 

One caveat is that only 2 guys in your starting lineup have proven they can hit major league pitching.

 

Not three? We'll have $100M to upgrade the team in July....lol.

[jad]

I'm surprised you haven't heard of all nine starters.

 

Maybe I'm not a "true" fan. I don't really give a cr*p about players from other teams.

[Bellhorn04]

Not three? We'll have $100M to upgrade the team in July....lol.

 

I'm not counting Dalbec just yet.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe I'm not a "true" fan. I don't really give a cr*p about players from other teams.

 

All those players he listed are in our system.

[jad]

All those players he listed are in our system.

 

Ha! Fair enough. But the only players in 'our system' I'll have heard of are those playing for the SeaDogs, and even then, only when I start going back to games again.

[oldtimer]

Random thought...

 

If Xander opts out, Sox can get rid of $107M worth of contracts after 2022. Only Sale, Barnes and Xander contracts totaling $45+M remain for those making $5M+.

 

What I'm saying is Bloom is getting rid of long term contracts that may hinder the club.

 

We also get rid of $16M on Price's last remaining year.

 

I think that's incredible. Future liabilities are dissipating.

 

Possible lineup without major additions for 2023. Would you watch this team?

 

C Hernandez

1B Casas

2B Yorke

SS Downs

3B Devers

LF Jimenez

CF Duran

RF Verdugo

DH Dalbec

SP1 Sale

SP2 Pivetta

SP3 Houck

SP4 Whitlock

SP5 Bello

SP6 Mata

 

Bullpen TBD

 

Pretty tough to play without a catcher. All kidding aside, I expect we will see Casas and possibly Duran in 2023. Mayer and Yorke will probably come in during 2024. Downs and Jiminez may show enough but at this time they are not obvious MLers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yes, if Mookie is your benchmark, Renfroe is a bad defender. Of course, so are 28 other right fielders…

 

Renfroe in '21 was -0.5 dWAR... correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean -- according to this metric -- he was worse than the average replacement player?

 

In other words, the Sox would've been better off -- defensively -- if Taylor Motter was in RF all season?

[moonslav59]

Well, we don’t need McCutchen to be Dwight Evans. He just needs to be as good or better than Renfroe for, say 6 or 7 innings. When LHP start…

 

I don't disagree, but it seems like we'd just be moving sideways.

[moonslav59]

Random thought...

 

If Xander opts out, Sox can get rid of $107M worth of contracts after 2022. Only Sale, Barnes and Xander contracts totaling $45+M remain for those making $5M+.

 

What I'm saying is Bloom is getting rid of long term contracts that may hinder the club.

 

We also get rid of $16M on Price's last remaining year.

 

I think that's incredible. Future liabilities are dissipating.

 

Possible lineup without major additions for 2023. Would you watch this team?

 

C Hernandez

1B Casas

2B Yorke

SS Downs

3B Devers

LF Jimenez

CF Duran

RF Verdugo

DH Dalbec

SP1 Sale

SP2 Pivetta

SP3 Houck

SP4 Whitlock

SP5 Bello

SP6 Mata

 

Bullpen TBD

 

Bloom may get rid most or all long term deals, ut he won't stop signing 1-2 year deals, so this list is really just an in-system view.

[moonslav59]

Pretty tough to play without a catcher. All kidding aside, I expect we will see Casas and possibly Duran in 2023. Mayer and Yorke will probably come in during 2024. Downs and Jiminez may show enough but at this time they are not obvious MLers.

 

The "Hernandez" at catcher is Ronaldo Hernandez-perhaps our most promising catching prospect. Wong might have a better chance.

[notin]

I don't disagree, but it seems like we'd just be moving sideways.

 

How?

 

A Bradley-McCutchen platoon in RF is light years better defensively than Renfroe, especially since Bradley is the strong side.

 

And McCutchen should be markedly cheaper than Renfroe…

[notin]

Pretty tough to play without a catcher. All kidding aside, I expect we will see Casas and possibly Duran in 2023. Mayer and Yorke will probably come in during 2024. Downs and Jiminez may show enough but at this time they are not obvious MLers.

 

He is projecting Ronaldo Hernandez, the catcher acquired from Tampa last year for Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza, for that role…

[moonslav59]

How?

 

A Bradley-McCutchen platoon in RF is light years better defensively than Renfroe, especially since Bradley is the strong side.

 

And McCutchen should be markedly cheaper than Renfroe…

 

Cheaper?

 

JBJ+McCutchen?

 

Vs LHP, it's sideways. I thought that was implied.

 

[notin]

Cheaper?

 

JBJ+McCutchen?

 

Vs LHP, it's sideways. I thought that was implied.

 

 

But the JBJ thing is already here. If he’s the reason you think it’s a lateral move, then it’sa done deal.

 

If JBJ is playing CF with Kike at 2b then the Sox need another corner OF, and can even get a LF. But if Kike stays in CF, then Bradley will be covering RF, and, even in his best seasons, struggled vs LHP and could use a platoon partner. But if that’s the plan, what platoon partner would NOT be a lateral move?

[moonslav59]

But the JBJ thing is already here. If he’s the reason you think it’s a lateral move, then it’sa done deal.

 

If JBJ is playing CF with Kike at 2b then the Sox need another corner OF, and can even get a LF. But if Kike stays in CF, then Bradley will be covering RF, and, even in his best seasons, struggled vs LHP and could use a platoon partner. But if that’s the plan, what platoon partner would NOT be a lateral move?

 

Well, bringing up the fact that McCutchen is cheaper than Renfroe and JBJ is better defensively, but then ignoring JBJ's cost seems amiss, to me.

[notin]

Well, bringing up the fact that McCutchen is cheaper than Renfroe and JBJ is better defensively, but then ignoring JBJ's cost seems amiss, to me.

 

I think the market right e is just for the RHH corner OF. Bradley is more expensive than Renfroe may ever be, but that part of the cost is already on board. Really it’sa question of whether JBJ plays CF out RF right now.

 

I’d prefer Bradley to CF, Hernandez to 2b, Arroyo to the bench works for me. But I doubt it happens that way…

[moonslav59]

I think the market right e is just for the RHH corner OF. Bradley is more expensive than Renfroe may ever be, but that part of the cost is already on board. Really it’sa question of whether JBJ plays CF out RF right now.

 

I’d prefer Bradley to CF, Hernandez to 2b, Arroyo to the bench works for me. But I doubt it happens that way…

 

Could Kike possibly play RF?

 

JBJ is just so in tune with CF, although I'm sure he's a huge defensive up grade over Renfroe in RF.

 

Arroyo is a bit of a wild card. It is possible for him to have a fully or near fully complete season, and that could force the choices.

 

Like you, I would not count on Arroyo for jack, but he is on the roster and has skills.

 

I'm thinking McCutchen would be for LF, with Verdugo maybe playing RF when McCutchen is in LF.

[notin]

Could Kike possibly play RF?

 

JBJ is just so in tune with CF, although I'm sure he's a huge defensive up grade over Renfroe in RF.

 

Arroyo is a bit of a wild card. It is possible for him to have a fully or near fully complete season, and that could force the choices.

 

Like you, I would not count on Arroyo for jack, but he is on the roster and has skills.

 

I'm thinking McCutchen would be for LF, with Verdugo maybe playing RF when McCutchen is in LF.

 

I’m sure Kike could play RF, but JBJ has the better arm of the two, so he’s a better fit. And Fenway RF needs a player like him out there.

 

I don’t like the idea of re-arranging the entire OF just to accommodate McCutchen, who, yes, is no longer an ideal fit for the position. But since I suggested it, he’s now officially off Bloom’s radar anyway…

[moonslav59]

I’m sure Kike could play RF, but JBJ has the better arm of the two, so he’s a better fit. And Fenway RF needs a player like him out there.

 

I don’t like the idea of re-arranging the entire OF just to accommodate McCutchen, who, yes, is no longer an ideal fit for the position. But since I suggested it, he’s now officially off Bloom’s radar anyway…

 

Getting a decent 2Bman, who can back up SS, seems better than looking at RH'd OF'ers.

[notin]

Getting a decent 2Bman, who can back up SS, seems better than looking at RH'd OF'ers.

 

 

Arroyo can play SS. Really he can do just about anything in the infield except stay on it.

 

I could see getting a starting corner OF, and moving Kike to 2b. Or a starting 2b and maybe a platoon OF to partner with JBJ.

 

It doesn’t help much that the one guy the Sox are linked to plays both middle infield and corner outfield…

[Nick]

Sign Suzuki, trade Bradley for additional prospects by paying for majority of contract. Then you'll have traded Renfroe and $5M for prospects. That sounds about right.

[notin]

Sign Suzuki, trade Bradley for additional prospects by paying for majority of contract. Then you'll have traded Renfroe and $5M for prospects. That sounds about right.

 

I don’t think they traded Renfroe to acquire Bradley on the premise that he was better trade bait. Bradley will play in Boston.

[Bellhorn04]

I don’t think they traded Renfroe to acquire Bradley on the premise that he was better trade bait. Bradley will play in Boston.

 

And we'll probably be glad about that a lot of the time.

[moonslav59]

Arroyo can play SS. Really he can do just about anything in the infield except stay on it.

 

I could see getting a starting corner OF, and moving Kike to 2b. Or a starting 2b and maybe a platoon OF to partner with JBJ.

 

It doesn’t help much that the one guy the Sox are linked to plays both middle infield and corner outfield…

 

I think everyone knows my opinion on keeping Kike in the OF.

 

Getting a middle infielder who CAN stay on the filed would maximize Kike's OF playing time.

 

Getting Suzuki would be nice, but it would all but force Kike to play 2B more than I'd like.

[notin]

Apparently Suzuki was a SS/3B in Japan. A move to 2b wouldn’t surprise me.

 

If the Sox do want Hernandez in the OF, then Suzuki is the only decent free agent option for 2b. The rest are all mediocre. The Sox could try to make an deal for a 2b. The Guardians have a surplus of MIF and a shortage of outfielders. The Sox are in the opposite position. A Jarren Duran/Tyler Freeman swap works on BTV. But I think the Sox might prefer a lesser target like Andres Gimenez…

[Nick]

I don’t think they traded Renfroe to acquire Bradley on the premise that he was better trade bait. Bradley will play in Boston.

 

I was half kidding.....I'm just amazed at Bloom's ability to clean up Sox contracts. I would like to call it "he's cleaning up our balance sheet". Long term player liabilities are disappearing.

 

Curious as to what he'll do with

 

Eovaldi (maybe a 3 year deal)

Kike (another two year deal at $20M?)

Vaz (Probably won't get what he made, a one year deal with a team option)

JD (probably gone)

Xander (probably nothing)

Devers (for the sake of organization, he needs to move to another position)

Edited December 12, 2021 by Nick

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Apparently Suzuki was a SS/3B in Japan. A move to 2b wouldn’t surprise me.

 

If the Sox do want Hernandez in the OF, then Suzuki is the only decent free agent option for 2b. The rest are all mediocre. The Sox could try to make an deal for a 2b. The Guardians have a surplus of MIF and a shortage of outfielders. The Sox are in the opposite position. A Jarren Duran/Tyler Freeman swap works on BTV. But I think the Sox might prefer a lesser target like Andres Gimenez…

 

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...