The 2021-2022 Offseason Thread

[Bellhorn04]

Suzuki to Cubs, as some have said.

Schwarber close with Philadelphia.

 

Correa and Freeman are running out of options…

 

Correa will likely go back to Stros and Freeman to Dodgers.

[notin]

You are judging what’s normal, and sane? Why didn’t you correct the fist statement Matt Olson to the Braves? Everyone knew it was a trade, so if everyone knew it was a trade then everyone knew that wanted to know the contract signed was after a trade. You just think you did some great thing in saying it wasn’t a FA signing. EVERYONE already knew that wanted to know. I’ll ask again who didn’t already know on here?

 

Most of all I’m not mad just, because you thought you had to clarify something. I have seen enough on here to know that things sometimes words have to be worded just right , or some go in a tizzy. The best example of that is Moon’s legendary head scratcher that some went on, and on about for sometime, so think I’m mad all you want, but it would have to be a more important source than you to do that, and even then it wouldn’t happen especially about the trivial subject that you thought you was correcting an injustice. Laughable at best.

 

For someone who’s not mad about a simple clarification, you sure are dedicating a lot of time and energy (and rationalizations where you speak for other people) to why it was so unnecessary.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think they will need to if they are just signing McHugh and Suzuki.

 

And they're probably signing neither.

 

As expected.

[Old Red]

For someone who’s not mad about a simple clarification, you sure are dedicating a lot of time and energy (and rationalizations where you speak for other people) to why it was so unnecessary.

 

Tell me who didn’t already know Olson had been traded who wanted to know?

[notin]

Correa will likely go back to Stros and Freeman to Dodgers.

 

Possible.

 

Of the two, I’d prefer Correa. But I can see Boston passing on both.

 

The more exciting fallout would come from signing Freeman, as it might mean a bigger follow up by dealing JD or a blockbuster by dealing Casas…

[Bellhorn04]

Possible.

 

Of the two, I’d prefer Correa. But I can see Boston passing on both.

 

The more exciting fallout would come from signing Freeman, as it might mean a bigger follow up by dealing JD or a blockbuster by dealing Casas…

 

Yay, we can at least have fun with hypotheticals.

[Bellhorn04]

Suzuki seemed like a halfway sensible signing. But I guess even 5/70 is too much for us.

[mvp 78]

https://twitter.com/dril/status/549425182767861760?lang=en

[Old Red]

Schwarber, and the Phillies have a deal meaning a FA signing. YABBA DABBA DOO Fred Flintstone Schwarber is gone too.

[mvp 78]

Suzuki seemed like a halfway sensible signing. But I guess even 5/70 is too much for us.

 

He was SOFT. He needed to play in a warm climate closer to his home like Chicago.

[Old Red]

Suzuki seemed like a halfway sensible signing. But I guess even 5/70 is too much for us.

 

Back to Bloom’s drawing board.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yay, we can at least have fun with hypotheticals.

 

Bloom is very protective of his hypotheticals. With Spring looming, he'll need them to help strip the plastic sheeting off the hoop houses on the farm... then Sam Kennedy can put good use to all that fertilizer spouting out of his mouth this week.

[Bellhorn04]

I'd say it's official - the Sox are not all in on 2022.

[Old Red]

He was SOFT. He needed to play in a warm climate closer to his home like Chicago.

 

Maybe he didn’t think he could crack the Red Sox outfield, and beat out Bloom’s high priced talent like JBJ.

[Old Red]

I'd say it's official - the Sox are not all in on 2022.

 

Do I need to go back to the year end press conference at last seasons end again? Bloom, and Kennedy told you what they were going to do, which was following last years plan, which to me meant more bargain basement shopping, which they have done, and no big FA signings, and not even there own in Bogey, and Raffy.

[Old Red]

Schwarber, and the Phillies have a deal meaning a FA signing. YABBA DABBA DOO Fred Flintstone Schwarber is gone too.

 

4 yr FA deal just under $20M per.

[a700hitter]

Suzuki to Cubs, as some have said.

Schwarber close with Philadelphia.

 

Correa and Freeman are running out of options…

Both to the Yankees?

[mvp 78]

Both to the Yankees?

 

Freeman, maybe? Correa, no.

[Nick]

Blue Jays trade for Matt Chapman: Boston Red Sox AL East rival continues to improve roster, adding All-Star (report)

 

The 28-year-old Chapman, a three-time Gold Glove winner, had a down year offensively in 2021. He batted .210 with a .314 on-base percentage, .403 slugging percentage, .716 OPS, 27 homers, 15 doubles, three triples, 75 runs and 72 RBIs in 151 games (622 plate appearances).

 

Toronto signed starter Kevin Gausman who posted a 2.81 ERA in 33 starts for the Giants last year and finished sixth for the NL Cy Young.

 

The Jays also inked lefty Yusei Kikuchi earlier this week. He had a 4.41 ERA in 29 innings for the Mariners last year.

 

BUT

 

The Jays lost stars Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray in free agency. Those were significant losses after Ray won the 2021 AL Cy Young and Semien finished third in the 2021 AL MVP voting.

 

Tell me again how the Jays just improved their roster from year ago?

[moonslav59]

Lots of shoes dropped, this morning, and none to the Sox.

 

I'm disappointed but not surprised. I get the stinginess with the prospects, but we had enough cash to spend and still stay under the tax line to get at least one really nice player for more than a one year deal. I get the uncertainty about so many of our players with opt-outs and reaching free agency, after this year, but we knew a few things for sure:

 

1) We know we need another solid SP'er for 2022 and beyond.

2) We know we need an OF'er for 2022 and beyond, even if Duran does well.

3) We know we need a 2Bman, if Kike is slated for the OF for his last year of team control.

4) We know we need a catcher for 2023.

 

We did nothing to solve any of these known problem areas- NOTHING!

 

It's frustrating watching our off-seasons, and I wonder what will happen at the deadline and next winter, when so many of our blue-chippers hit the open market.

[moonslav59]

Freeman, maybe? Correa, no.

 

Yanks just signed Rizzo, so Freeman to LAD?

[Bellhorn04]

Blue Jays trade for Matt Chapman: Boston Red Sox AL East rival continues to improve roster, adding All-Star (report)

 

The 28-year-old Chapman, a three-time Gold Glove winner, had a down year offensively in 2021. He batted .210 with a .314 on-base percentage, .403 slugging percentage, .716 OPS, 27 homers, 15 doubles, three triples, 75 runs and 72 RBIs in 151 games (622 plate appearances).

 

Toronto signed starter Kevin Gausman who posted a 2.81 ERA in 33 starts for the Giants last year and finished sixth for the NL Cy Young.

 

The Jays also inked lefty Yusei Kikuchi earlier this week. He had a 4.41 ERA in 29 innings for the Mariners last year.

 

BUT

 

The Jays lost stars Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray in free agency. Those were significant losses after Ray won the 2021 AL Cy Young and Semien finished third in the 2021 AL MVP voting.

 

Tell me again how the Jays just improved their roster from year ago?

 

The only thing I would add is that they have Berrios for a full season.

[moonslav59]

4 yr FA deal just under $20M per.

 

As much as I liked Schwarber, and we'd have to do positional cartwheels to get him FT play, that's too much to spend for a guy who would have been our DH for 3 of those 4 seasons.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

Tell me again how the Jays just improved their roster from year ago?

 

My response is that the Jays have solidified their roster by targeting and investing in starting pitchers in their primes, like Gausman and Berrios. They have a good young core of regulars, and should be able to contend for years with their rotation. Barring injury, the Jays won't have to worry about scouring scrap-heaps to give them innings.

 

No one can predict injuries, of course, but the young and strong are usually better bets than the old and brittle. This is why I'll never say We're just not good enough yet to spend, maybe next year...

 

The Sale contract is officially a disaster today: damaged goods when he signed, but a guy about to turn 33 who breaks a rib throwing a pitch can never be relied upon again. At least his new IL will save the Sox the utter embarrassment of their unvaxxed $30 million dollar a year ace being banned from the Toronto series in April.

[Old Red]

As much as I liked Schwarber, and we'd have to do positional cartwheels to get him FT play, that's too much to spend for a guy who would have been our DH for 3 of those 4 seasons.

 

I know he batted higher in the order, but he’s still not a run producer like JD.

[Old Red]

Lots of shoes dropped, this morning, and none to the Sox.

 

I'm disappointed but not surprised. I get the stinginess with the prospects, but we had enough cash to spend and still stay under the tax line to get at least one really nice player for more than a one year deal. I get the uncertainty about so many of our players with opt-outs and reaching free agency, after this year, but we knew a few things for sure:

 

1) We know we need another solid SP'er for 2022 and beyond.

2) We know we need an OF'er for 2022 and beyond, even if Duran does well.

3) We know we need a 2Bman, if Kike is slated for the OF for his last year of team control.

4) We know we need a catcher for 2023.

 

We did nothing to solve any of these known problem areas- NOTHING!

 

It's frustrating watching our off-seasons, and I wonder what will happen at the deadline and next winter, when so many of our blue-chippers hit the open market.

 

I think you pretty much nailed it, but I just think we need more than just 1 solid SP. I still say it makes it look worse now that ERod was not resigned, but like you I’m not surprised at all that things have gone down the way things have.

[moonslav59]

Do I need to go back to the year end press conference at last seasons end again? Bloom, and Kennedy told you what they were going to do, which was following last years plan, which to me meant more bargain basement shopping, which they have done, and no big FA signings, and not even there own in Bogey, and Raffy.

 

No, you don't need to go back, again. You've made this point dozens of times. We all know what was said, and what little has been done.

 

We express our hopes, knowing full well, that is all they are.

 

We continue to build our depth and farm. We make no long term commitments. It's a slow and methodical approach that frustrates anxious fans. I still think a "pounce" will happen at some point. I had hoped we'd pounce one one players, this winter, but I never expected it to happen. It did appear we tried to make competitive offers to a small few FAs, like Suzuki, Baez and maybe a couple more, so I'm not sure there is a firm "low long term commitment plan" in place, but the limits Bloom puts on valuing players seems to be just low enough to never win a significant bid. We've ended up with one-year scraps, in which very few have worked out as well as the Rays seemed to have done under Bloom's watch with them.

 

He's built the farm and lower portion of the 40 man roster very well, but other than Whitlock and Kike, the striking gold at the top of the 40 man has been pretty abysmal.

(Rounded lux tax numbers)

$14M/2 Kike

$12M JBJ ($8M buyout for 2023)

$10M Richards

$10M Paxton (Multi options)

$9M Ottavino

$8M/2 Diekman

$7M Wacha

$7M Vaz option

$5M Hill

$6M Perez I

$5M Perez II

$4M Pillar

$3M Renfroe

$3M Strahm

$3M Marwin

$3M Moreland

$3M Peraza

$3M/2 Sawamura (+ arbs)

$2M Andriese

$1.5M Lucroy

 

(Whitlock on Rule 5)

 

Not very impressive for upper level acquisitions.

 

I realize with the money spent, and nobody getting anywhere near a big contract, that we got what we paid for. I get the Bloom had too many slots to fill with a limited budget, but his M.O was "finding diamonds in the rough," and he's largely struck out doing that with the Sox.

 

That being said, I'm still happy we have Bloom as our GM. He is what we needed for a GM under these tight restrictions. He built the farm, with DD's help, up much more quickly than I could have ever imagined. He built up the bottom 10-14 slots on the 40 man roster faster and better than I expected, but those top 26 slots have been hard to improve upon.

 

Hey, we did very well, last year, so I'm happy with the final results, but the outlook for 2023 looks a bit gloomy. My optimism, last year, hinged on the fact that no AL team looked dominant, and previously good AL team made major improvements. That is not true, this winter. The Yanks and Jays are better. Some bad an okay teams got better (Rangers and others) while only the A's got worse.

 

Hitting 90 wins, this year will be a challenge. The expanded playoffs might help us make it into the dance, again, but as of now, I don't view us as a top 4 contender in the AL. To improve in the next week, we'd have to trade prospects, and I don't see that happening. There are no realistic free agents left that could boost us into the top 4, and no sign Bloom is poised to sign any of them. (Freeman is not coming here.)

 

I'm trying to stay optimistic, but with Sale now starting the year on the IL, it's hard.

 

[moonslav59]

I know he batted higher in the order, but he’s still not a run producer like JD.

 

You have to have runners on in front of you to drive them in, but yes, JD has been better at it that Schwarber.

 

JD is a pretty high bar to set, and he's getting older and is more expensive than Schwarber just signed for.

 

2021 Men on Base

 

.302/.369/.506/.875 (83 RBI in 302 PAs) JD

 

.275/.385/.531.917 (51 RBI in 192 PAs) Schwarber

 

It looks like Schwarber walked more with men on base, which is not a bad thing, and he hit for more power, but JD has a better BA.

 

As for RBIs per PA with men on base in 2021:

 

.275 JD

.266 KS

 

Pretty close, but yes, JD is better.

 

[Old Red]

You have to have runners on in front of you to drive them in, but yes, JD has been better at it that Schwarber.

 

JD is a pretty high bar to set, and he's getting older and is more expensive than Schwarber just signed for.

 

2021 Men on Base

 

.302/.369/.506/.875 (83 RBI in 302 PAs) JD

 

.275/.385/.531.917 (51 RBI in 192 PAs) Schwarber

 

It looks like Schwarber walked more with men on base, which is not a bad thing, and he hit for more power, but JD has a better BA.

 

As for RBIs per PA with men on base in 2021:

 

.275 JD

.266 KS

 

Pretty close, but yes, JD is better.

 

 

The Sox have had the DH position pretty well locked up the last 20 years with Ortiz, and JD, so now maybe it is time not to have a full time DH, and spread the AB around. Of course you have to have the bats first to do that.

[dgalehouse]

Chaim Bloom is a genius. He is cleverly allowing other teams to decimate their farms and blow up their payrolls in a quest for glory , while he slowly restocks our farm , saves money and rebuilds a team that four years ago was one of the best , if not the best, ever. Simply brilliant.