The 2021-2022 Offseason Thread

[notin]

100%. I think Davis has some value for 2022. I think Potts has to repeat AA again this season (where he's played since 2019).

 

I also put Plawecki up there, because if the Sox keep Cottam, that's just too many catchers on the 40 man roster. Plawecki is a fine backup catcher, but so are a lot of players. And I think Connor Wong could easily be among them...

[moonslav59]

I'm often wrong on who I think the first to be DFA'd will be, but I'm pretty certain it will be one or two from thse 3:

 

Plawecki

Potts

Rosario

 

I'd put Arauz next, but including him in a pool of 4 makes sense, too.

 

I could be wrong, but isn't it pretty rare to protect a Rule 5 kid, then DFA him for a FA signing or Waiver/Rule 5 draftee?

 

[notin]

Right now, I'd go:

 

Downs - 40

Bello - 40

Winckowski - 40

Crawford - 40

Santos - 40

Kelly - 40

German - 40

 

Potts - DFA

 

Sox would have one open slot for Rule 5 pick.

 

Kelly over Feltman?

 

They had very similar years, but Kelly was an unknown and Feltman has been a disappointment since draft day. Still, just because Feltman never lived up to the hype doesn't make his Zack Kelly-esque numbers last year worse than Kelly's...

[moonslav59]

I also put Plawecki up there, because if the Sox keep Cottam, that's just too many catchers on the 40 man roster. Plawecki is a fine backup catcher, but so are a lot of players. And I think Connor Wong could easily be among them...

 

I think Wong has trade value, but who is looking to add borderline roster players, right now?

 

Nobody!

[mvp 78]

Sure but what if Downs is still batting .370 in July and Arroyo injures himself, probably by brushing his teeth too aggressively. He might get a call, but that was not my point. My point was Downs, call-up or not, is ahead of Fitzgerald in Bloom's cyber-Rolodex. And also in the alphabet.

 

The thing about Arauz is he cna go back and forth between Boston and Worcester. Iglesias is not a replacement for Arauz; he would be a replacement for Arroyo...

 

Iggy would be the backup for Arroyo and Xander. Arauz wouldn't be as necessary.

[mvp 78]

I also put Plawecki up there, because if the Sox keep Cottam, that's just too many catchers on the 40 man roster. Plawecki is a fine backup catcher, but so are a lot of players. And I think Connor Wong could easily be among them...

 

I feel like they'll keep Plawecki and not protect Cottam. 4 catchers is still a large number for the 40 man.

[moonslav59]

Iggy would be the backup for Arroyo and Xander. Arauz wouldn't be as necessary.

 

That's how I see it, and if reports are true, we are looking at Baez or Taylor, it's hard to imagine us missing out on the two and not signing someone else to play 2B/SS (Iggy?)

 

I think Arauz may be DFA'd, soon.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sure but what if Downs is still batting .370 in July and Arroyo injures himself, probably by brushing his teeth too aggressively. He might get a call, but that was not my point. My point was Downs, call-up or not, is ahead of Fitzgerald in Bloom's cyber-Rolodex. And also in the alphabet.

 

The thing about Arauz is he cna go back and forth between Boston and Worcester. Iglesias is not a replacement for Arauz; he would be a replacement for Arroyo...

 

What -- no Jack Lopez? He was an unsung hero of Covid week!

 

Seriously, about a possible Downs call-up, we shouldn't expect the Sox to rule out promoting players of any age if they deem them good enough to contribute. Of course, few farms ever produce youngsters as good as Soto or Franco at age 20, but even before Bloom, the Sox didn't blink when they brought up Bogaerts and Devers at age 20. There's nothing more cost efficient than homegrown reinforcements. Or homedeveloped acquired prospects...

[mvp 78]

Kelly over Feltman?

 

They had very similar years, but Kelly was an unknown and Feltman has been a disappointment since draft day. Still, just because Feltman never lived up to the hype doesn't make his Zack Kelly-esque numbers last year worse than Kelly's...

 

There are concerns that Feltman's stuff is still trending down.

 

Kelly's 13.9 k/9 is pretty good.

 

One thing that is interesting to me is Feltman had 8 inherited runners last year, but Kelly had 24 in fewer innings. Seems like they put Kelly in some tougher spots throughout the year.

[mvp 78]

That's how I see it, and if reports are true, we are looking at Baez or Taylor, it's hard to imagine us missing out on the two and not signing someone else to play 2B/SS (Iggy?)

 

I think Arauz may be DFA'd, soon.

 

I think they'd hold onto Arauz until both guys are signed. I still don't see the Sox signing Baez though. His high k rate is scary for this lineup.

[notin]

I'm often wrong on who I think the first to be DFA'd will be, but I'm pretty certain it will be one or two from thse 3:

 

Plawecki

Potts

Rosario

 

I'd put Arauz next, but including him in a pool of 4 makes sense, too.

 

I could be wrong, but isn't it pretty rare to protect a Rule 5 kid, then DFA him for a FA signing or Waiver/Rule 5 draftee?

 

 

From the same year? No, those Rule 5 guys get returned all the time.

[mvp 78]

What -- no Jack Lopez? He was an unsung hero of Covid week!

 

Seriously, about a possible Downs call-up, we shouldn't expect the Sox to rule out promoting players of any age if they deem them good enough to contribute. Of course, few farms ever produce youngsters as good as Soto or Franco at age 20, but even before Bloom, the Sox didn't blink when they brought up Bogaerts and Devers at age 20. There's nothing more cost efficient than homegrown reinforcements. Or homedeveloped acquired prospects...

 

Bogaerts and Devers were tearing through MiLB pitching. Downs had significant struggles in AAA last year. That's a big difference IMO.

[notin]

What -- no Jack Lopez? He was an unsung hero of Covid week!

 

Seriously, about a possible Downs call-up, we shouldn't expect the Sox to rule out promoting players of any age if they deem them good enough to contribute. Of course, few farms ever produce youngsters as good as Soto or Franco at age 20, but even before Bloom, the Sox didn't blink when they brought up Bogaerts and Devers at age 20. There's nothing more cost efficient than homegrown reinforcements. Or homedeveloped acquired prospects...

 

Lopez might not even be with the Sox organization come March...

[mvp 78]

From the same year? No, those Rule 5 guys get returned all the time.

 

2021 was unique in that there were some really good Rule 5 pickups. Usually, the draft isn't all that important.

[notin]

Bogaerts and Devers were tearing through MiLB pitching. Downs had significant struggles in AAA last year. That's a big difference IMO.

 

Neither Bogaerts nor Devers ever had a missed minor league season due to a pandemic...

[mvp 78]

Lopez might not even be with the Sox organization come March...

 

He's not even in the org today. He's a MiLB free agent.

[mvp 78]

Neither Bogaerts nor Devers ever had a missed minor league season due to a pandemic...

 

There were a whole shitload of guys that missed 2020. A lot of guys just kept rolling. Not sure why Downs would be given an exemption.

[mvp 78]

He's not even in the org today. He's a MiLB free agent.

 

Minor League Free Agents

 

Pos. Player Level Signed With

RP José Adames AAA

C/3B/2B Roldani Baldwin AA

RP Seth Blair AAA

RP Colten Brewer MLB

RP Matt Carasiti AAA

RP/SP Enman. De Jesus AA

2B C. De La Guerra AA

RP José De León MLB

RP Jose Disla AA

RP Jose Espada A+

SP Raynel Espinal AAA

RP/CF/RF Michael Gettys AAA

RP/SP Steph. Gonsalves AAA

SP Daniel Gossett AAA

RP Zac Grotz AAA

C Chris Herrmann AAA

SS/2B José Iglesias MLB

RP/SP Matt Kent AAA

2B/IF/OF Jack López MLB

CF/RF/LF Tate Matheny AAA

3F/1B/LF Joey Meneses AAA

RF/LF Johan Mieses AAA

3B/IF/OF Yairo Muñoz MLB

1B Josh Ockimey AAA

RP Tyler Olson AA

RP Yorvin Pantoja A+

SP/RP Brad Peacock MLB

C/1B Jhonny Pereda AAA

RP/SP Denyi Reyes AA

RP Yacksel Rios MLB

SS/IF/OF Jeremy Rivera AAA

[notin]

There were a whole shitload of guys that missed 2020. A lot of guys just kept rolling. Not sure why Downs would be given an exemption.

 

And a lot of guys had massive setbacks in 2021 as well. Just because not everyone was affected doesn't mean no one was.

 

Even you pointed out Downs didn't get going until July, and has been doing very well in the AFL lately...

[notin]

Minor League Free Agents

 

Pos. Player Level Signed With

RP José Adames AAA

C/3B/2B Roldani Baldwin AA

RP Seth Blair AAA

RP Colten Brewer MLB

RP Matt Carasiti AAA

RP/SP Enman. De Jesus AA

2B C. De La Guerra AA

RP José De León MLB

RP Jose Disla AA

RP Jose Espada A+

SP Raynel Espinal AAA

RP/CF/RF Michael Gettys AAA

RP/SP Steph. Gonsalves AAA

SP Daniel Gossett AAA

RP Zac Grotz AAA

C Chris Herrmann AAA

SS/2B José Iglesias MLB

RP/SP Matt Kent AAA

2B/IF/OF Jack López MLB

CF/RF/LF Tate Matheny AAA

3F/1B/LF Joey Meneses AAA

RF/LF Johan Mieses AAA

3B/IF/OF Yairo Muñoz MLB

1B Josh Ockimey AAA

RP Tyler Olson AA

RP Yorvin Pantoja A+

SP/RP Brad Peacock MLB

C/1B Jhonny Pereda AAA

RP/SP Denyi Reyes AA

RP Yacksel Rios MLB

SS/IF/OF Jeremy Rivera AAA

 

Still listing Gettys as an outfielder, I see ...

[mvp 78]

And a lot of guys had massive setbacks in 2021 as well. Just because not everyone was affected doesn't mean no one was.

 

Even you pointed out Downs didn't get going until July, and has been doing very well in the AFL lately...

 

I never pointed that out. He sucked in July. He started off with a 730 OPS through June. He was terrible in July with 390 OPS that also carried through the most of August. It was a brutal two month stretch. He didn't really play well again until about 8/25.

[mvp 78]

Still listing Gettys as an outfielder, I see ...

 

He's going to be high A Ohtani this year.

[notin]

I never pointed that out. He sucked in July. He started off with a 730 OPS through June. He was terrible in July with 390 OPS that also carried through the most of August. It was a brutal two month stretch. He didn't really play well again until about 8/25.

 

I mistook the dates. The bottom line is it took him a long time to get going, but he did get going...

[notin]

He's going to be high A Ohtani this year.

 

Think he still gets to play OF?

[mvp 78]

I mistook the dates. The bottom line is it took him a long time to get going, but he did get going...

 

The 745 OPS is basically what he had through 6/30. He had a JBJ slump without the molten hot peak.

[mvp 78]

Think he still gets to play OF?

 

Maybe? I haven't seen many reports about how his transition to pitching went.

[mvp 78]

@masslivesports

Report: Red Sox showing interest in free agent Chris Taylor, who was All-Star for Dodgers in 2021

 

Filled under bored reporters.

[harmony]

And a lot of guys had massive setbacks in 2021 as well. Just because not everyone was affected doesn't mean no one was.

 

Even you pointed out Downs didn't get going until July, and has been doing very well in the AFL lately...

Thanks to a high walk rate and five homers, Jeter Downs ranks 28th in OPS among 72 hitters in the Arizona Fall League:

 

Arizona Fall League Statistics | MLB.com

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Hitting and Pitching Statistics for the Arizona Fall League

[moonslav59]

From the same year? No, those Rule 5 guys get returned all the time.

 

No, I meant it is rare to add your own Rule 5 eligible player to your 40 man roster, then DFA him shortly afterwards.

[moonslav59]

There were a whole shitload of guys that missed 2020. A lot of guys just kept rolling. Not sure why Downs would be given an exemption.

 

Missing a whole season would likely affect some players more thaan others, but it's hard to know if that was a major reason for his early and mid season struggles.

 

I think it has to be a possibility, right?