The 2021-2022 Offseason Thread

[mvp 78]

@mlbtraderumors

Raisel Iglesias To Reject Qualifying Offer

 

We've talked about him on here, but I think his contract will be larger than Bloom wants for that position.

[notin]

Move Connor Wong in a trade? Non-tender Plawecki?

 

I could see a DFA in the very near future for both Austin Davis and Kevin Plawecki...

[moonslav59]

Yes. It would be weird to have 5 C's on the 40 man, so they either move Wong or Plawecki or don't add Cottam. I just have a funny feeling that they are going to keep Cottam.

 

The only catcher that might have no trade value is Plawecki.

 

I think we keep Wong and Hernandez or trade anyone of our others.

 

The only reason I see Cottam as a possible protectee, is that good catchers are so hard to find.

[notin]

If the Sox DFA Plawecki in the next two days - or trade Hernandez - then it starts to look more and more like the idea is to protect Cottam...

[moonslav59]

I could see a DFA in the very near future for both Austin Davis and Kevin Plawecki...

 

I see this order:

1. Plawecki

2. Potts

3. Rosario

4. Valdez

5. Arauz

6. Locastro

7T. Davis/Bazardo/Sawamura

 

[mvp 78]

I could see a DFA in the very near future for both Austin Davis and Kevin Plawecki...

 

If I was GM, I just wouldn't have taken Vaz's option.

[mvp 78]

The only catcher that might have no trade value is Plawecki.

 

I think we keep Wong and Hernandez or trade anyone of our others.

 

The only reason I see Cottam as a possible protectee, is that good catchers are so hard to find.

 

I don't think Plawecki is traded. They either keep him around for Eovaldi or they dump him.

[mvp 78]

Cottam and Wong have a similar outlook, especially since Wong no longer is seen as a UTIL guy.

[moonslav59]

I don't think Plawecki is traded. They either keep him around for Eovaldi or they dump him.

 

That's what I said- Plawecki has "NO trade value."

 

I listed him as my first DFA choice.

[moonslav59]

Cottam and Wong have a similar outlook, especially since Wong no longer is seen as a UTIL guy.

 

I suppose they may keep just one of these two, but there is also R Hernandez. One of these might get traded. (Vaz will not be traded, despite my wishes.)

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports...

 

Raisel Iglesias To Reject Qualifying Offer

 

A look at virtually any relief pitching leaderboard will show Iglesias among the leaders in most key numbers. The former Reds stopper finished eighth among 144 qualified relievers with a 37.7% strikeout rate and also posted the ninth-best walk rate at 4.4%. Only two qualified relievers, Josh Hader and Liam Hendriks, topped Iglesias’ huge 33.3 K-BB%. Beyond that, Iglesias’ 20.6% swinging-strike rate trailed only Hader, and his 2.06 SIERA was second only to Hendriks. No reliever in baseball posted a better swinging-plus-called-strike rate than Iglesias’ 36.8% mark.

 

Statcast finds Igleisas similarly dominant, rating him in the 85th percentile or better in terms of hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity and expected opponents’ batting average, slugging percentage and wOBA.

 

In terms of more traditional numbers, Iglesias tied for the fourth-most saves in Major League Baseball at 34 and finished 23rd among relievers with 70 innings pitched. That’s due largely to the Halos using him as a one-inning option, but Iglesias showed during his time with Cincinnati that he’s plenty capable of recording four-, five- and six-out saves when needed. His 2.57 ERA ranked “only” 29th among 144 qualified relievers, but as evidenced by the aforementioned SIERA, most fielding-independent marks feel he was better than that baseline ERA.

[moonslav59]

Unsurprisingly, Brandon Belt accepted his QO.

 

Still with the Giants.

[mvp 78]

That's what I said- Plawecki has "NO trade value."

 

I listed him as my first DFA choice.

 

I know.

[mvp 78]

I suppose they may keep just one of these two, but there is also R Hernandez. One of these might get traded. (Vaz will not be traded, despite my wishes.)

 

I think Cottam and Wong have a similar skillset. I think they hold onto Hernandez no matter what because his bat has a high enough ceiling that he could be moved off position.

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m really surprised we let Locastro go. Guy could fly. Then again, ACL tear in a speedster is an issue for sure

[mvp 78]

I’m really surprised we let Locastro go. Guy could fly. Then again, ACL tear in a speedster is an issue for sure

 

Well, with TJS, some guys come back throwing harder. Maybe Locastro had a surgery that could make him run faster.

[moonslav59]

Robbie Ray and Corbin Burnes win Cy Young Awards.

 

Robbie Ray, Blue Jays (207 points, 29 first-place votes)

 

Gerrit Cole, Yankees (123 points, 30 first-place votes)

 

Lance Lynn, White Sox (48 points)

 

Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox (41 points)

 

Carlos Rodon, White Sox (34 points)

 

Frankie Montas, Athletics (21 points)

 

Lance McCullers Jr., Astros (14 points)

 

Liam Hendriks, White Sox (10 points)

 

José Berríos, Twins/Blue Jays (8 points)

 

Chris Bassitt, Athletics (2 points)

 

Lucas Giolito, White Sox (1 point)

 

Raisel Iglesias, Angels (1 point)

Edited November 18, 2021 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

Rule 5 eligible players need to be placed on the 40 man roster by tomorrow.

 

We will be seeing a lot of players DFA'd today and tomorrow. Bloom is famous for snagging waived players, but we need to make room for 4-7 Rule 5 players, ourselves.

 

We may DFA a few players and claim one or two from other teams as we add our Rule 5 players to our roster. (Note" most teams are crunching their rosters, too, so trading borderline players, now, to make room on your roster is not as easy at it might seem.)

 

He is my list of DFA candidates:

 

1. Plawecki (Maybe, we trade Wong or Cottam.)

2. Potts

3. Rosario

4. Arauz (Trade?)

5. Sawamura (Trade?)

6. Locastro

7. Valdez (Trade?)

8. Davis (Trade?)

 

We could also trade a bigger name or two to clear roster space, but those trades are not common at this time of the year.

[mvp 78]

Rule 5 eligible players need to be placed on the 40 man roster by tomorrow.

 

We will be seeing a lot of players DFA'd today and tomorrow. Bloom is famous for snagging waived players, but we need to make room for 4-7 Rule 5 players, ourselves.

 

 

They only have 33 players on the 40 man roster. If they want to protect 7 guys, they don't have to make any moves.

[notin]

Rule 5 eligible players need to be placed on the 40 man roster by tomorrow.

 

We will be seeing a lot of players DFA'd today and tomorrow. Bloom is famous for snagging waived players, but we need to make room for 4-7 Rule 5 players, ourselves.

 

We may DFA a few players and claim one or two from other teams as we add our Rule 5 players to our roster. (Note" most teams are crunching their rosters, too, so trading borderline players, now, to make room on your roster is not as easy at it might seem.)

 

He is my list of DFA candidates:

 

1. Plawecki (Maybe, we trade Wong or Cottam.)

2. Potts

3. Rosario

4. Arauz (Trade?)

5. Sawamura (Trade?)

6. Locastro

7. Valdez (Trade?)

8. Davis (Trade?)

We could also trade a bigger name or two to clear roster space, but those trades are not common at this time of the year.

 

 

Mostly because 29 other teams are trying to do the same thing with their 40 man rosters...

[notin]

Well, with TJS, some guys come back throwing harder. Maybe Locastro had a surgery that could make him run faster.

 

But it was only one one knee, so he would wind up running around in circles...

[notin]

Rule 5 eligible players need to be placed on the 40 man roster by tomorrow.

 

We will be seeing a lot of players DFA'd today and tomorrow. Bloom is famous for snagging waived players, but we need to make room for 4-7 Rule 5 players, ourselves.

 

We may DFA a few players and claim one or two from other teams as we add our Rule 5 players to our roster. (Note" most teams are crunching their rosters, too, so trading borderline players, now, to make room on your roster is not as easy at it might seem.)

 

He is my list of DFA candidates:

 

1. Plawecki (Maybe, we trade Wong or Cottam.)

2. Potts

3. Rosario

4. Arauz (Trade?)

5. Sawamura (Trade?)

6. Locastro

7. Valdez (Trade?)

8. Davis (Trade?)

 

We could also trade a bigger name or two to clear roster space, but those trades are not common at this time of the year.

 

Why on Earth would the Sox DFA Sawamura?

 

He's already signed for 2022 and even has a buyout for 2023. So no chance at saving money.

 

Sure, he was no Mariano Rivera, but the Sox are not likely to find a better replacement for the $1.2mill he makes...

[moonslav59]

They only have 33 players on the 40 man roster. If they want to protect 7 guys, they don't have to make any moves.

 

If we want to claim a player or two off waivers, we do.

[moonslav59]

Mostly because 29 other teams are trying to do the same thing with their 40 man rosters...

 

Yes, but to varying degrees.

 

I'd say more teams are looking to make 2 or 3 for 1 deals and close to none are thinking the reverse, but might be talked into it with a quality offer.

[mvp 78]

@IanCundall

After those four, I think there are nine players who you could make a case for in either direction: Thaddeus Ward, Gilberto Jimenez, Ceddanne Rafaela, Victor Santos, Durbin Feltman, Zack Kelly, Frank German, Ryan Fitzgerald and Kole Cottam.

 

I wanted to highlight these 3 guys because we really haven't talked about them very much on here.

 

First, Fitzgerald is a UTIL guy. He OPS'd 862 between POR and WOO last season. Above average at short, but really can play all over (Sox MiLB defensive player of the year 2019). The only downside is that he'll be 28 next season. Do the Sox see him as a legitimate backup for 2022? If so, they'll retain him.

 

Zack Kelly was a MiLB FA last year. Sox put him in the bullpen and his stuff ticked up. He has a "heavy" fastball. WHIP of 1.08 between POR and WOO last season. Maybe not a high leverage reliever, but a guy who could stick in a MLB pen today.

 

Rafaela is only 21 and still in Low A with Jimenez. Sox MiLB defensive player of the year. UTIL guy like Fitzgerald, but further away. A more athletic version of Fitzgerald, but really too far away to have an impact on the current Sox team. I don't see them carrying him AND Jimenez on the 40 man for 2 more years until they are even close enough to contribute.

[notin]

If we want to claim a player or two off waivers, we do.

 

Or maybe they want to leave a spot open to participate in the Rule 5 draft. You are not allowed to draft anyone if the 40 man roster is full...

[moonslav59]

Why on Earth would the Sox DFA Sawamura?

 

He's already signed for 2022 and even has a buyout for 2023. So no chance at saving money.

 

Sure, he was no Mariano Rivera, but the Sox are not likely to find a better replacement for the $1.2mill he makes...

 

He was pretty far down on my list, but do you really think he is clearly better than Valdez or Davis?

 

I doubt we get below #3 or #4 on my list, anyway.

[mvp 78]

Why on Earth would the Sox DFA Sawamura?

 

He's already signed for 2022 and even has a buyout for 2023. So no chance at saving money.

 

Sure, he was no Mariano Rivera, but the Sox are not likely to find a better replacement for the $1.2mill he makes...

 

No chance Sawamura is DFA'd unless he had some offseason injury.

[mvp 78]

Or maybe they want to leave a spot open to participate in the Rule 5 draft. You are not allowed to draft anyone if the 40 man roster is full...

 

Fine, but they don't need to DFA 8 guys either.

[moonslav59]

I wanted to highlight these 3 guys because we really haven't talked about them very much on here.

 

First, Fitzgerald is a UTIL guy. He OPS'd 862 between POR and WOO last season. Above average at short, but really can play all over (Sox MiLB defensive player of the year 2019). The only downside is that he'll be 28 next season. Do the Sox see him as a legitimate backup for 2022? If so, they'll retain him.

 

Zack Kelly was a MiLB FA last year. Sox put him in the bullpen and his stuff ticked up. He has a "heavy" fastball. WHIP of 1.08 between POR and WOO last season. Maybe not a high leverage reliever, but a guy who could stick in a MLB pen today.

 

Rafaela is only 21 and still in Low A with Jimenez. Sox MiLB defensive player of the year. UTIL guy like Fitzgerald, but further away. A more athletic version of Fitzgerald, but really too far away to have an impact on the current Sox team. I don't see them carrying him AND Jimenez on the 40 man for 2 more years until they are even close enough to contribute.

 

Are these guys you think another team might select?

 

I can't see us protecting any of these promising prospects. They may not even protect the 7 we've talked mostly about.