The 2021-2022 Offseason Thread

[jacksonianmarch]

Xander is not gonna sign a home town discount again. Honestly, see what Seager signs for. Seager is not a defensive whiz in his own right but is a very similar offensive producer and a proven winner.

[Bellhorn04]

I wonder if JH decided that the 217 million for Price was the highest he ever wanted to go. When you think about it a bunch of other teams have given out contracts higher than that. Even Seattle!

 

I count 9 teams that have given out contracts higher than 217 million.

[Bellhorn04]

Xander is not gonna sign a home town discount again. Honestly, see what Seager signs for. Seager is not a defensive whiz in his own right but is a very similar offensive producer and a proven winner.

 

Seager is a fine player, obviously, but they're projecting him to get 300 million. Man, that's a lot of dough.

[Bellhorn04]

About risk factor:

 

-Carl Crawford had a much higher WAR for his age when we signed him than Seager has.

-Red Sox fans consider the Crawford signing one of the worst, if not the worst, in team history.

-Crawford's deal of 142 million is less than half of what Seager is projected to get!

[jacksonianmarch]

Seager is a fine player, obviously, but they're projecting him to get 300 million. Man, that's a lot of dough.

 

It is the market.

 

Crawford was a bad signing from the beginning because his game was all legs. You never sign a guy who steals 70 bases to a long term deal crossing their 30s unless they can do something more than steal bases. Once Crawford's legs went, he was done

[Bellhorn04]

Risk factors are everywhere.

 

Lindor signs with the Mets for 341 million and turns in a .734 OPS.

 

Mike Trout misses most of the season with a strained calf - a strained freakin' calf, on an innocent-looking play.

[sk7326]

I'm unsure. Baez is the biggest whiffer of all the big time free agent infielders, and the only one that had an attitude problem with his fans last summer. Are you sure that kind of guy will get $100+ million dollars from Chaim Bloom, who has yet to sign any Red Sox player for more than two years?

 

Well his first winter the team dealt Betts and then had a .400 win%. The second one he spent smartly because he wanted to build and wasn't sure the team was good anyway. This year there is evidence the team could/should actually be good. If you can fill the gap in with a good player at a position of need, you look at it. And I'm not advocating buying into a 33 year old or anything. Baez is a youngish free agent who can play up the middle and can be a plus shortstop if the team lands on that. And 29 is young enough to still project a little. He strikes out a lot - but in 2021 that is the least of sins. His walks are the big problem and can you increase that and the contact a little. Like, for all his warts he was still a 4-win player last season.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Well his first winter the team dealt Betts and then had a .400 win%. The second one he spent smartly because he wanted to build and wasn't sure the team was good anyway. This year there is evidence the team could/should actually be good. If you can fill the gap in with a good player at a position of need, you look at it. And I'm not advocating buying into a 33 year old or anything. Baez is a youngish free agent who can play up the middle and can be a plus shortstop if the team lands on that. And 29 is young enough to still project a little. He strikes out a lot - but in 2021 that is the least of sins. His walks are the big problem and can you increase that and the contact a little. Like, for all his warts he was still a 4-win player last season.

 

Cora may have a good rapport with Baez, and maybe already has a pro connection, similar to with other fellow countrymen in the MLB. Wonder if Baez also has a positive relationship with former teammate Schwarber, whose approach at the plate was a good influence on the Boston batting order (excluding the last three October games).

 

There's no doubt Baez is a very good player, and could give the Sox their own Arozarena-type spark. Baez stole home four times for the Cubs, which is more than the number of Red Sox with SBs of the plate that I can recall in 50 years. Sparky Anderson once said, "If you have to choose between power and speed -- and it often turns out you have to make that choice -- you've got to go for speed."

 

Then there's this: https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2021/5/27/22456548/javier-baez-pirates-steal-home-error-video

[oldtimer]

Cora may have a good rapport with Baez, and maybe already has a pro connection, similar to with other fellow countrymen in the MLB. Wonder if Baez also has a positive relationship with former teammate Schwarber, whose approach at the plate was a good influence on the Boston batting order (excluding the last three October games).

 

There's no doubt Baez is a very good player, and could give the Sox their own Arozarena-type spark. Baez stole home four times for the Cubs, which is more than the number of Red Sox with SBs of the plate that I can recall in 50 years. Sparky Anderson once said, "If you have to choose between power and speed -- and it often turns out you have to make that choice -- you've got to go for speed."

 

Then there's this: https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2021/5/27/22456548/javier-baez-pirates-steal-home-error-video

 

So, we should trade Duran.

[jacksonianmarch]

Risk factors are everywhere.

 

Lindor signs with the Mets for 341 million and turns in a .734 OPS.

 

Mike Trout misses most of the season with a strained calf - a strained freakin' calf, on an innocent-looking play.

 

Linder struggled with injury and initial poor performance, but his second half was solid. He’s poised for a huge year

[moonslav59]

How about $125M/5??

 

He's going to look for $30M x 10 and maybe settle for $28M x 8.

[moonslav59]

Linder struggled with injury and initial poor performance, but his second half was solid. He’s poised for a huge year

 

Too many judge players on small sample sizes.

[Bellhorn04]

He's going to look for $30M x 10 and maybe settle for $28M x 8.

 

Forget it then LOL

 

It's time for someone to come to their senses. 4-5 win players (in their prime) should not be getting anything like those numbers. Xander is not Mookie.

[Bellhorn04]

Too many judge players on small sample sizes.

 

I'm not judging Lindor based on one season. But I will judge that the 341 million was nuts.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Forget it then LOL

 

It's time for someone to come to their senses. 4-5 win players (in their prime) should not be getting anything like those numbers. Xander is not Mookie.

 

Neither is Baez. Let's see where the pixie dust settles after Correa and Seager sign.

[moonslav59]

Forget it then LOL

 

It's time for someone to come to their senses. 4-5 win players (in their prime) should not be getting anything like those numbers. Xander is not Mookie.

 

Mookie got much more than $28M x 8, which is the max I think Bogey could get.

[moonslav59]

I'm not judging Lindor based on one season. But I will judge that the 341 million was nuts.

 

It sure is, but I see him busting out, next year.

 

This guys is great.

[moonslav59]

Neither is Baez. Let's see where the pixie dust settles after Correa and Seager sign.

 

Baez might get $100M/5.

 

Let's not say he's near the money those others will be getting.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Baez might get $100M/5.

 

Let's not say he's near the money those others will be getting.

 

I'm not saying it, but if his contemporaries get $300 million, does anyone expect Baez to expect to settle for one-third of that? Remember, it's never about the money -- just who will give him the most respect.

[notin]

Cora may have a good rapport with Baez, and maybe already has a pro connection, similar to with other fellow countrymen in the MLB. Wonder if Baez also has a positive relationship with former teammate Schwarber, whose approach at the plate was a good influence on the Boston batting order (excluding the last three October games).

 

There's no doubt Baez is a very good player, and could give the Sox their own Arozarena-type spark. Baez stole home four times for the Cubs, which is more than the number of Red Sox with SBs of the plate that I can recall in 50 years. Sparky Anderson once said, "If you have to choose between power and speed -- and it often turns out you have to make that choice -- you've got to go for speed."

 

Then there's this: https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2021/5/27/22456548/javier-baez-pirates-steal-home-error-video

 

And Earl Weaver once said the opposite. "If a guy steals second, you have no guarantee he's going to score. But if he hits one over the fence, you know you have a run."

 

So who do you believe? Both are Hall of fame managers...

[notin]

BTV accepts a trade proposal of Franchy Cordero for Matt Boyd.

 

Boyd is a potential non-tender candidate with Detroit with only one year left before free agency. I do realize I am on a very short list of people who still have faith in him as a pitcher. I think even Mrs. Boyd dropped off that list a couple of years back...

[moonslav59]

I'm not saying it, but if his contemporaries get $300 million, does anyone expect Baez to expect to settle for one-third of that? Remember, it's never about the money -- just who will give him the most respect.

 

Yes, one-third of $300M is $100M.

 

That's what he will likely get. (Maybe a 6th year option with a $5M buyout making it $105M/5.)

[moonslav59]

BTV accepts a trade proposal of Franchy Cordero for Matt Boyd.

 

Boyd is a potential non-tender candidate with Detroit with only one year left before free agency. I do realize I am on a very short list of people who still have faith in him as a pitcher. I think even Mrs. Boyd dropped off that list a couple of years back...

 

BTV hated Boyd, then liked him, and now back to the dumps.

 

I think the Tigers hold on to him, if all they can get is Franchy- who cleared waivers.

 

He should not ne non tendered- even at a $7M arb cost.

[Bellhorn04]

And Earl Weaver once said the opposite. "If a guy steals second, you have no guarantee he's going to score. But if he hits one over the fence, you know you have a run."

 

So who do you believe? Both are Hall of fame managers...

 

Weaver's comments about baseball are the most sensible I've heard.

[moonslav59]

Weaver's comments about baseball are the most sensible I've heard.

 

He was the best of the best.

 

Sparky's comment makes sense, too, especially in an era where speed was more important- on defense and offense.

[notin]

Yes, one-third of $300M is $100M.

 

That's what he will likely get. (Maybe a 6th year option with a $5M buyout making it $105M/5.)

 

I think Baez will top $100mill. Probably not by much, but I think he can. All it takes is one crazy GM like maybe Scott Harris to go all in and overbid everyone else. Not saying it will be Scott Harris, but it will definitely be Scott Harris...

[moonslav59]

I think Baez will top $100mill. Probably not by much, but I think he can. All it takes is one crazy GM like maybe Scott Harris to go all in and overbid everyone else. Not saying it will be Scott Harris, but it will definitely be Scott Harris...

 

Maybe he gets $114M/6.

[notin]

Maybe he gets $114M/6.

 

Maybe he gets $125/5. Should the Sox be in on him then?

[moonslav59]

Maybe he gets $125/5. Should the Sox be in on him then?

 

I'd lean no, unless we trade Bogey or he readily agrees to play 2B in 2022.

 

I'd probably go $114/6.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don't know if this has been said here yet, but if the Sox commit to $25M AAV to Baez, don't they have to at least match that for Bogaerts -- if they plan to extend him? So five for $125M for Baez might turn into a minimum investment of $250M total to also keep and not disrespect Bogie... If not, 2022 could be awkward with hard feelings and a lame-duck X preparing to opt out.

 

An amicable agreement with Bogie about moving on is possible, but maybe not as much if they try to negotiate -- and fail -- on an extension this winter, at the same time they're inking Baez. And this doesn't even factor how much a longterm Devers will cost.