The 2021-2022 Offseason Thread

[moonslav59]

Maybe he WAS asking for too much, and no one would pay it, so his agent advised him to take a deal like this one. He can opt out after 2022 and try again.

 

He was clearly asking for too much and was unwilling to drop his demands low enough to cash in on a longer term deal. $32M/yr is not chump change, but a 1 to 3 year deal is way lower than he wanted.

 

They guy has been hurt and has had two off years in his last 4 seasons. The defense is great, but guys like Story and Baez can do that and hit pretty well, too.

 

The Seager deal blew everything away, and I think it made Correa wide-eyed.

[Bellhorn04]

Bloom is one disciplined dude. Hopefully his strategy pays off.

 

I suspect there are more bits and pieces to be added.

 

I'm EXTREMELY skeptical about Story, with so many other teams in play.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Correa turned down $170 million more from Detroit. He's obviously hoping in the next three years he doesn't break a rib throwing out a runner from deep in the hole.

[Bellhorn04]

Correa turned down $170 million more from Detroit. He's obviously hoping in the next three years he doesn't break a rib throwing out a runner from deep in the hole.

 

But he can opt out after 2022, and undoubtedly will if he has a good season.

[moonslav59]

Bloom is one disciplined dude. Hopefully his strategy pays off.

 

I suspect there are more bits and pieces to be added.

 

I'm EXTREMELY skeptical about Story, with so many other teams in play.

 

Do we really know how much of Bloom's moves are related to budgetary restrictions or guidelines?

 

Give any GM $41M with 7-9 slots open on the roster, and would any spend $25-33M on one guy?

 

Now, if he really had $57M to spend, then maybe there was room for 1-2 bigger signings, and maybe Bloom signs one big name.

 

Next winter almost surely will be the "big tell."

[moonslav59]

But he can opt out after 2022, and undoubtedly will if he has a good season.

 

Agreed, but will 3 good seasons out of his last 5 really up his pay and years all that much over the current 2 our of 4 reality?

 

He'll also be a year older, and his age was one of the biggest factors in his value. (Defense being the other)

[notin]

Bloom is one disciplined dude. Hopefully his strategy pays off.

 

I suspect there are more bits and pieces to be added.

 

I'm EXTREMELY skeptical about Story, with so many other teams in play.

 

 

I might have gotten excited if the Sox signed Story, but I’m really not sure why.

 

But I do see Michael Conforto is still out there. Let the Astros and Giants fight over Story. The Red Sox need another outfielder anyway…

[Bellhorn04]

Agreed, but will 3 good seasons out of his last 5 really up his pay and years all that much over the current 2 our of 4 reality?

 

I don't know. Seager's last 4 seasons haven't been anything special either. His highest fWAR in the last 4 seasons was 3.7. Impacted by injuries obviously.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Next winter almost surely will be the "big tell."

 

Some of us have been saying "next winter" for three winters. And although there's "a lot of money coming off the books", what good is letting an Eovaldi walk if then we're scrambling to spend the savings on two or three more reclamation projects to fill in the missing innings -- a more mediocre talent level? All I'm saying is, better be prepared for all that additional payroll to be spread out on even more depth moves and AAAA players.

[notin]

Sign Conforto and Pham

 

Hernandez 2B

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3b

Martinez DH

Conforto RF

Dalbec 1B

Verdugo LF

Vazquez C

Bradley CF

 

BN: Plawecki, Arroyo, Shaw, Pham

 

SP: Eovaldi Pivetta Hill Whitlock Wacha

CL: Houck

BP: Barnes, Brasier, Robles, Taylor, Diekman, Sawamura, Strahm

 

 

DFA: Potts, Davis

[Bellhorn04]

Sign Conforto and Pham

 

Hernandez 2B

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3b

Martinez DH

Conforto RF

Dalbec 1B

Verdugo LF

Vazquez C

Bradley CF

 

BN: Plawecki, Arroyo, Shaw, Pham

 

SP: Eovaldi Pivetta Hill Whitlock Wacha

CL: Houck

BP: Barnes, Brasier, Robles, Taylor, Diekman, Sawamura, Strahm

 

 

DFA: Potts, Davis

 

As you know, Bloom never does anything any of us have in mind.

[moonslav59]

Sign Conforto and Pham

 

Hernandez 2B

Bogaerts SS

Devers 3b

Martinez DH

Conforto RF

Dalbec 1B

Verdugo LF

Vazquez C

Bradley CF

 

BN: Plawecki, Arroyo, Shaw, Pham

 

SP: Eovaldi Pivetta Hill Whitlock Wacha

CL: Houck

BP: Barnes, Brasier, Robles, Taylor, Diekman, Sawamura, Strahm

 

 

DFA: Potts, Davis

 

Conforto or Pham may be a pipedream. Both are impossible.

[Old Red]

As you know, Bloom never does anything any of us have in mind.

 

JBJ is the best example of that.

[moonslav59]

Some of us have been saying "next winter" for three winters. And although there's "a lot of money coming off the books", what good is letting an Eovaldi walk if then we're scrambling to spend the savings on two or three more reclamation projects to fill in the missing innings -- a more mediocre talent level? All I'm saying is, better be prepared for all that additional payroll to be spread out on even more depth moves and AAAA players.

 

There is only so far you can go on spending large amounts of money by spreading it as thin as you can. There are only 40 roster spots, but your point is well-taken.

 

I never expected the '19-'20 winter to be the "next winter," and I was disappointed with the '20-'21 winter, despite how well it ended up working out.

 

I did think there was a good chance we'd make 1-2 bigger moves, this winter- maybe not breaking the bank, but solid moves that helped us for 2022 and beyond. When the Lux tax line was raised, I had some renewed hopes, but those have been dashed, so far, and this whole Story signing idea perplexes me, unless the idea is to trade Bogey, which seems rather extreme, after we just lost Betts & ERod.

 

I felt we had less holes to fill, this winter, as many of are departing players looked more like additions by subtractions than serious holes to fill. I get the fact that replacing the innings from Richards and Perez would not be cheap, but I was hoping we'd spend the $45-55M on 4-6 slots and not 7-8, like we have.

 

Since many of this winter's signings are also 1 year deals, it's hard to really call this serious long term building up of team 40 man roster depth.

 

Yes, the building up of the farm will eventually spill into the 40 man roster, at a low cost (although Binales & Hamilton cost us a pretty penny.)

 

What moves have we made that improved our outlook for 2023 and beyond, except maybe the JBJ & Prospects deal?

 

Paxton (1-3 yrs)?

 

Diekman (2 yrs)?

 

Maybe the whole 40man roster depth rebuild is just a mirage, and it's really just about building the farm up.

 

[Old Red]

Conforto or Pham may be a pipedream. Both are impossible.

 

Are you getting the feeling that what you see is all you are going to get?

[moonslav59]

Are you getting the feeling that what you see is all you are going to get?

 

I'm getting the feeling some of us are becoming like Swihart's Ghost- just looking to the next shiniest piece available, even if the fit seems convoluted.

 

I'm not pessimistic about our chances in 2022. We have a solid base and some promising players who can add to what we did in 2021, but I'm not going to lie and say I'm happy with this winter's moves.

 

I'm also not optimistic about us doing anything serious in the next few days. True, I've put out some hopeful suggested trades or signings, but I fully realize the odds they happen are slim to none.

 

Maybe we make the playoffs, this year and surprise a few rounds, but if nothing serious happens, next year, I'm going to be voicing a lot more displeasure- not necessarily at Bloom, but at team ownership for shutting off the spigot.

[notin]

Conforto or Pham may be a pipedream. Both are impossible.

 

Maybe. Although Pham’s stock has plummeted like pets.com. He’s not really the 5 tool guy of 3 years ago…

[Bellhorn04]

Are you getting the feeling that what you see is all you are going to get?

 

I think there will be more moves, but nothing that's predictable.

 

One thing Bloom did show us last year is that he stays on the job, the way he did picking up Shaw and Iggy to help us at the end.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe. Although Pham’s stock has plummeted like pets.com. He’s not really the 5 tool guy of 3 years ago…

 

That was funny, even though I know nothing about pets.com.

[Old Red]

I think there will be more moves, but nothing that's predictable.

 

One thing Bloom did show us last year is that he stays on the job, the way he did picking up Shaw and Iggy to help us at the end.

 

Last year there was something to go for at the end on the year, and this year I not so sure. Other teams in the AL East have gotten better, and I’m not to sure that the Sox haven’t taken a step backward especially with Chris Frail out to start the season, and the starting staff looking iffy at best at the moment.

[a700hitter]

So we lost out to the Twinkies on Correa.

[moonslav59]

Maybe. Although Pham’s stock has plummeted like pets.com. He’s not really the 5 tool guy of 3 years ago…

 

To me, it's more about roster space (and other more pressing needs) than the money it would take to add Pham to a Conforto signing.

[moonslav59]

So we lost out to the Twinkies on Correa.

 

The one year opt out would not solve the problem the Sox have, and with Bogey balking at playing 2B or 3B, it wouldn't make sense, unless we traded Bogey to a team who lost out on Story & Correa.

 

$32M/yr also puts us over the tax line by about $16M, and for some reason, that still seems like a high priority to avoid doing that.

[Old Red]

The one year opt out would not solve the problem the Sox have, and with Bogey balking at playing 2B or 3B, it wouldn't make sense, unless we traded Bogey to a team who lost out on Story & Correa.

 

$32M/yr also puts us over the tax line by about $16M, and for some reason, that still seems like a high priority to avoid doing that.

 

Correa would have helped for this coming year, but there is no way the Sox would have paid that kind of money if even for 1 year. Bogey is not going ANYWHERE this year unless he wants to. He has a no trade, and I keep hearing all this trade Bogey talk.

[moonslav59]

Correa would have helped for this coming year, but there is no way the Sox would have paid that kind of money if even for 1 year. Bogey is not going ANYWHERE this year unless he wants to. He has a no trade, and I keep hearing all this trade Bogey talk.

 

So, we move a disgruntled Bogey to 2B for a year.

 

Yes, we are better, but at what cost?

 

We had better fitting chances with other free agents already signed elsewhere.

 

Of course, we are a better team with Correa than without, and it moves Kike to the OF- improving it on O and D.

Edited March 19, 2022 by moonslav59

[Old Red]

So, we move a disgruntled Bogey to 2B for a year.

 

Yes, we are better, but at what cost?

 

We had better fitting chances with other free agents already signed elsewhere.

 

Does Bogey have a no trade, or not? From what I read he does. I wasn’t for signing Correa at all, but I was just saying he would have helped. Pitching, pitching, pitching is, and has been the biggest need especially the starting rotation.

[Tedballgame]

Sox can always start Franchy Cordero in the OF.

[moonslav59]

Does Bogey have a no trade, or not? From what I read he does. I wasn’t for signing Correa at all, but I was just saying he would have helped. Pitching, pitching, pitching is, and has been the biggest need especially the starting rotation.

 

A no-trade clause does not mean no trade.

 

If the idea is to play him at 2B, then it may be him asking for the trade.

 

I agree on pitching. I just did not see any "wow" pitchers to overpay on. (maybe ERod)

[moonslav59]

Sox can always start Franchy Cordero in the OF.

 

No need. We have Kike, Verdugo, JBJ, Duran, JD and now Dalbec ahead of Franchy.

[harmony]

Does Bogey have a no trade, or not? From what I read he does. I wasn’t for signing Correa at all, but I was just saying he would have helped. Pitching, pitching, pitching is, and has been the biggest need especially the starting rotation.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Xander Bogaerts has "full no-trade protection after 7 years of Major League service (tracking to reach 7 years on 8/2/20)":

 

https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al-east/boston-red-sox/