A Realistic View at 2022: Part I

[Nick]

Let's try to sign Iglesias who is an unrestricted FA. He is 30 and may pull down $12 per for 3 years. Getting rid of Perez and Richards would cover it.

 

Getting rid of Marwin almost covers it....$4M vs $3M.....

[moonslav59]

Let's try to sign Iglesias who is an unrestricted FA. He is 30 and may pull down $12 per for 3 years. Getting rid of Perez and Richards would cover it.

 

I doubt he gets that much for playing well for a few weeks.

 

He got $6M/2 his last deal, and he's older now.

[moonslav59]

Who was the clown who kept insisting we bring Schwarber back?

 

Fess up!

[Bellhorn04]

Now that Schwarber appears to be settling in at first, the solution seems to be:

 

-Sign Schwarber to play first.

-Trade Dalbec.

[Bellhorn04]

E-Rod vs. Stroman:

 

Based on my new favorite stat-fWAR per 175 innings:

 

Stroman 3.27

E-Rod 2.98

 

Stroman has pitched 9.5% better.

E-Rod is about 23 months younger and has pitched about one season less in innings.

[sk7326]

Now that Schwarber appears to be settling in at first, the solution seems to be:

 

-Sign Schwarber to play first.

-Trade Dalbec.

 

Dalbec is still on a rookie deal. Trading him is not a bad idea if you get something - but as a platoon bat who can back up both corners, that's not a bad option to have. And i don't see any reason Dalbec couldn't play the OF corners.

[sk7326]

The QO would be fair for Rodriguez. If they could lock him up for the Eovaldi deal, I'd do it without any real misgivings. But we'll see.

[Bellhorn04]

Dalbec is still on a rookie deal. Trading him is not a bad idea if you get something - but as a platoon bat who can back up both corners, that's not a bad option to have. And i don't see any reason Dalbec couldn't play the OF corners.

 

All true.

[moonslav59]

E-Rod vs. Stroman:

 

Based on my new favorite stat-fWAR per 175 innings:

 

Stroman 3.27

E-Rod 2.98

 

Stroman has pitched 9.5% better.

E-Rod is about 23 months younger and has pitched about one season less in innings.

 

I could be way off. I'm bad at predicting contracts for FAs, but my guess is Stroman gets a deal 20% or more larger and longer than ERod.

[moonslav59]

Now that Schwarber appears to be settling in at first, the solution seems to be:

 

-Sign Schwarber to play first.

-Trade Dalbec.

 

He seems to be learning the position pretty quickly.

 

Great attitude, too.

[mvp 78]

Now that Schwarber appears to be settling in at first, the solution seems to be:

 

-Sign Schwarber to play first.

-Trade Dalbec.

 

Why trade Dalbec? I don't think he has a high trade value. He's cheap, so I'd rather keep him as a bench option and see if he can fill in at a few positions.

[mvp 78]

I could be way off. I'm bad at predicting contracts for FAs, but my guess is Stroman gets a deal 20% or more larger and longer than ERod.

 

He deserves it IMO.

[moonslav59]

The QO would be fair for Rodriguez. If they could lock him up for the Eovaldi deal, I'd do it without any real misgivings. But we'll see.

 

Seems like more posters are warming up to the QO offer idea for ERod.

 

Just 2 games.

[sk7326]

Why trade Dalbec? I don't think he has a high trade value. He's cheap, so I'd rather keep him as a bench option and see if he can fill in at a few positions.

 

Down the stretch he showed some value as a platoon bat. I have no doubt he could play the OF corners if he were asked. With Verdugo, Devers and Schwarber at those positions - there are platoon at-bats available across those areas.

[mvp 78]

Seems like more posters are warming up to the QO offer idea for ERod.

 

Just 2 games.

 

Even if he pitched just ok, it is a smart move. He either takes it and stays another year or the Sox can go out and grab another QO guy without losing a pick.

[sk7326]

Seems like more posters are warming up to the QO offer idea for ERod.

 

Just 2 games.

 

If you are realistic about the market for starters at his age with some actual upside, $18.6 is fair. It's not a screaming bargain - but it's fair.

[Bellhorn04]

Why trade Dalbec? I don't think he has a high trade value. He's cheap, so I'd rather keep him as a bench option and see if he can fill in at a few positions.

 

Yes, I'm fine with that.

[Maxbialystock]

Who was the clown who kept insisting we bring Schwarber back?

 

Fess up!

 

I was one of them. To me Schwarber in 2021 is a dead ringer for JDM in 2018. He's made everyone in the Sox lineup better, especially in the postseason. Alternating at the top spot with Kike has, I think, really helped Kike. But it's more than that. Against righties JDM is batting freaking 6th with an OPS of 1.310.

 

The other thing is that, while hitters definitely can have up and down seasons, on the Sox they are usually more consistent than Sox pitchers, especially the expensive ones. Sale comes to mind on the current team, and even Barnes, who went into a tailspin almost immediately after getting that new two year raise in pay. Price, of course, who is still on the payroll.

[Bellhorn04]

If E-Rod pitches well in whatever postseason innings he has left-not assuming anything-there's no way he accepts a QO. As sk7326 suggested, an Eovaldi-type deal seems realistic.

[Maxbialystock]

Seems like more posters are warming up to the QO offer idea for ERod.

 

Just 2 games.

 

You've been one of his stoutest defenders. My view is a QO is OK, but not for a lot. Maybe $10M. Tonight he did well without his good changeup and without many sliders or curves. Mostly he threw three kinds of fastballs.

[Bellhorn04]

You've been one of his stoutest defenders. My view is a QO is OK, but not for a lot. Maybe $10M. Tonight he did well without his good changeup and without many sliders or curves. Mostly he threw three kinds of fastballs.

 

Sorry Max, the QO is a fixed amount. It'll be about $19 mill.

[notin]

It was nice seeing him in the dugout.

 

I thinkhe'll be back, next year.

 

Iglesias might even be available ona minor league deal.

 

He was released from a one year $3.5 mill contract this year, and is now a year older. He might have added something with his performance down the stretch for the Sox, but he is also one year older and is not the player teams used to pay to play stellar defense.

 

I still think Semien/Baez type makes sense for the Sox. Both have plenty of experience at 2B and can play that position for one season until the Bogaerts situation is resolved. If Bogaerts extends or chooses not to opt out, then status quo going forward. If X leaves, Semien/Baez can return to SS and then the Sox try to fill 2B again, and possibly Jeter Downs can get himself back on track. Or they look externally if he doesn't. Either way, it buys a year to fill 2B. Arroyo lacks the durability to start every day but is a terrific bench option who has experience at 2b/3B/SS. His experience at 1B need never be repeated. But his presence makes it tough to justify a major league contract for Iglesias.

 

Despite his massive slam last night, Schwarber is probably gone. JD has a year left. The Sox have Dalbec and Casas for 1B. And the OF is already too crowded with players under control for next season...

[Maxbialystock]

Why trade Dalbec? I don't think he has a high trade value. He's cheap, so I'd rather keep him as a bench option and see if he can fill in at a few positions.

 

I would agree unless the Sox get a good offer for him. If you want to keep him as a bench option, you are declaring you don't think much of him, so why not trade him if he can help bring in someone who can contribute?

[Bellhorn04]

Despite his massive slam last night, Schwarber is probably gone. JD has a year left. The Sox have Dalbec and Casas for 1B. And the OF is already too crowded with players under control for next season...

 

If they sign Schwarber, he could play first next year, and transition to DH in 2023.

[notin]

You've been one of his stoutest defenders. My view is a QO is OK, but not for a lot. Maybe $10M. Tonight he did well without his good changeup and without many sliders or curves. Mostly he threw three kinds of fastballs.

 

I think a QO for ERod makes a ton of sense.

 

The Sox have two returning SP next season. If ERod accepts, they have 3. If he declines, they can still sign him, and possibly for less since he his market will shrink slightly. And if they fail, then they get a late first round pick. What is the downside here? And this is coming for someone who is not exactly enamored with ERod...

[Maxbialystock]

Iglesias might even be available ona minor league deal.

 

He was released from a one year $3.5 mill contract this year, and is now a year older. He might have added something with his performance down the stretch for the Sox, but he is also one year older and is not the player teams used to pay to play stellar defense.

 

I still think Semien/Baez type makes sense for the Sox. Both have plenty of experience at 2B and can play that position for one season until the Bogaerts situation is resolved. If Bogaerts extends or chooses not to opt out, then status quo going forward. If X leaves, Semien/Baez can return to SS and then the Sox try to fill 2B again, and possibly Jeter Downs can get himself back on track. Or they look externally if he doesn't. Either way, it buys a year to fill 2B. Arroyo lacks the durability to start every day but is a terrific bench option who has experience at 2b/3B/SS. His experience at 1B need never be repeated. But his presence makes it tough to justify a major league contract for Iglesias.

 

Despite his massive slam last night, Schwarber is probably gone. JD has a year left. The Sox have Dalbec and Casas for 1B. And the OF is already too crowded with players under control for next season...

 

Forget the massive slam. Schwarber's real value is that, as JDM did in 2018, he makes the whole lineup better, which is something neither Dalbec nor Casas can do. If neither of them is valuable as trade bait, keep them and wait a year because then the Sox have the option on keeping or not keeping JDM.

[notin]

If they sign Schwarber, he could play first next year, and transition to DH in 2023.

 

And do what with Dalbec, whose OPS was over .900 since mid-June?

 

They could re-sign him, but 1B might not be enough of a priority to justify him over the 2b/SS/Bogaerts situation.

 

Schwarber is having a career year, although a normal season from him at the plate is actually still very good. One thing to his credit is, he certainly plays a lot for a player normally associated with a sketchy injury history.

 

THere are certainly reasons to bring him back, but the big question to me is - is he the best option going forward? Are the Sox better off filling actual potential gaps or just re-arranging the bats they want?

 

There is also the possibility that Schwarber prefers playing the OF or simply prefers not being a DH (and maybe prefers the NL?) But while it is a consideration, I can't really speak to that matter for him...

[Maxbialystock]

Sorry Max, the QO is a fixed amount. It'll be about $19 mill.

 

Seriously? Wow. That's more than he's made in his entire Sox career.

[notin]

Forget the massive slam. Schwarber's real value is that, as JDM did in 2018, he makes the whole lineup better, which is something neither Dalbec nor Casas can do. If neither of them is valuable as trade bait, keep them and wait a year because then the Sox have the option on keeping or not keeping JDM.

 

It really comes down to - should the Sox spend this off-season to fill a potential shortstop vacancy in 2023 or a potential DH vacancy in 2023?

 

The DH position is typically the easier one to fill, but there are arguments for both sides....

[Maxbialystock]

And do what with Dalbec, whose OPS was over .900 since mid-June?

 

They could re-sign him, but 1B might not be enough of a priority to justify him over the 2b/SS/Bogaerts situation.

 

Schwarber is having a career year, although a normal season from him at the plate is actually still very good. One thing to his credit is, he certainly plays a lot for a player normally associated with a sketchy injury history.

 

THere are certainly reasons to bring him back, but the big question to me is - is he the best option going forward? Are the Sox better off filling actual potential gaps or just re-arranging the bats they want?

 

There is also the possibility that Schwarber prefers playing the OF or simply prefers not being a DH (and maybe prefers the NL?) But while it is a consideration, I can't really speak to that matter for him...

 

You have a point about Schwarber, but he reminds me of David Ortiz, who didn't do squat for the Twins but blossomed with the Sox because it was a better lineup, which he made even better, especially in the postseasons of 2004, 2007, and 2013.