Will JD Martinez pick up his player option for $19.35M?

[Larry Cook]

Heyman:

 

JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

 

This is a great thing if he can have a really nice contract year season!

[moonslav59]

This is a great thing if he can have a really nice contract year season!

 

JD does not seem like the type of guy to be affected by it being a contract year, but it is nice having him in the 2022 line-up.

 

$19+M is a lot of cash, but his leadership value is hard to quantify.

[mvp 78]

This is a great thing if he can have a really nice contract year season!

 

Then we can give him a QO next offseason.

[Kimmi]

Heyman:

 

JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

 

With all the uncertainty surrounding the new CBA, this is really no surprise. I know some were hoping to free up that money, but I'm really happy that JD will be remaining with the team.

 

What I find interesting is that Bloom still sees Schwarber as a good fit.

[moonslav59]

With all the uncertainty surrounding the new CBA, this is really no surprise. I know some were hoping to free up that money, but I'm really happy that JD will be remaining with the team.

 

What I find interesting is that Bloom still sees Schwarber as a good fit.

 

I'm wondering, if Bloom is thinking of trading Renfroe (or Dalbec) to make room for Schwarber, or is okay with Kike at 2B and Verdugo in CF.

 

I hope not the latter.

[Kimmi]

I'm wondering, if Bloom is thinking of trading Renfroe (or Dalbec) to make room for Schwarber, or is okay with Kike at 2B and Verdugo in CF.

 

I hope not the latter.

 

I guess we'll see. My thought is that if Schwarber is signed, a trade would be in the works. That said, with a team that should be focusing on improving defense, I'm having a hard time seeing a fit either way. Not that I wouldn't love having Schwarber back.

[moonslav59]

I guess we'll see. My thought is that if Schwarber is signed, a trade would be in the works. That said, with a team that should be focusing on improving defense, I'm having a hard time seeing a fit either way. Not that I wouldn't love having Schwarber back.

 

I really like Schwarber. His bat. His attitude.

 

But, I agree. He does not improve the defense, and he does not fill our biggest not-pitching needs:

 

1. Defense

2. 2B (unless we move Kike to 2B and Verdugo to CF- further weakening our OF defense)

3. Catcher

 

I'd be happy, if we just sign Iggy or the like and spend the rest on pitching upgraes.

 

I think the following winter will be focused on improving defense as Vaz and Bogey are free and Devers may be moved to 1B, if he doesn't show improvement in 2022.

[Old Red]

I really like Schwarber. His bat. His attitude.

 

But, I agree. He does not improve the defense, and he does not fill our biggest not-pitching needs:

 

1. Defense

2. 2B (unless we move Kike to 2B and Verdugo to CF- further weakening our OF defense)

3. Catcher

 

I'd be happy, if we just sign Iggy or the like and spend the rest on pitching upgraes.

 

I think the following winter will be focused on improving defense as Vaz and Bogey are free and Devers may be moved to 1B, if he doesn't show improvement in 2022.

 

I think you’re pretty much going to see the same lineup that finished the playoffs with no big trades, and no big FA signed, and pretty much all the money will go towards the pitching staff.

[moonslav59]

I think you’re pretty much going to see the same lineup that finished the playoffs with no big trades, and no big FA signed, and pretty much all the money will go towards the pitching staff.

 

The same line-up includes Schwarber.

[Old Red]

The same line-up includes Schwarber.

 

That is the big question mark.

[notin]

The same line-up includes Schwarber.

 

I could see the entire off-season revolving around "getting the band back together." Bringing back ERod and Schwarber would be the highlights.

 

Soxprospects.com lists the Sox as acquiring 4 pitchers - two starters (one they name in ERod) and two relievers. But it is very likely two of these acquisitions are filled by Houck and Whitlock, both of whom they have in undetermined roles.

 

So if the starting roles are filled by Whitlock and (probably?) ERod, and Houck takes one of the reliever roles, that really just leaves one roster spot available for a new pitcher. So the notion of spening all available cash on pitching does seem a lot less likely, although certainly ERod or his replacement will take up a big chunk as well.

 

The only real question mark in the lineup is 2B. Internal candidates include Hernandez, Arroyo, Downs and possibly Bogaerts (where there were some rumors exterior to this forum that he was amenable to a change in position). The current consensus opinion is that Arroyo will be around, but cannot be counted on to play a full time starting role, and tht Downs in just not really ready. So that leaves Hernandez as an option to move in from CF or Bogaerts to move over from SS. Either way, it creates a vacancy, and the only viable option with the current players involves Dalbec at 1B, Schwarber in LF, and Verdugo in CF. Two of those moves represnt definitive drops in defense, and the thrid one can go either way but is on a pretty weak position to begin with.

 

So if we assume the Sox leave Hernandez in CF and if Schwarber returns, he plays 1B (with Dalbec), that means the Sox need to add either a 2B or a SS. 2B feels more likely to me.

 

C: Vazquez

1B: Schwarber (Dalbec)

2B: Acquisition

3B: Devers

SS: Bogaerts

LF: Verdugo

CF: Hernandez

RF: Renfroe

DH: Martinez

 

BN: Plawecki (or Wong?), Arroyo, Dalbec (Acquisition if Schwarber doesn't sign), Locastro

 

SP: Sale, ERod (Or ?), Eovaldi, Pivetta, Whitlock

RP: Houck (CL), Barnes, Brasier, Taylor, Davis, DHernandez, Sawamura, Acquisition.

 

And then adding a few arms for MiLB depth. It's nice to know who the top 5 starters are, but a team hoping to contend has to also plan for 6-10...

[notin]

Probably worth noting there is always a chance Bloom trades away a starter in a deal no one saw coming. We all saw Betts getting traded from a mile away. But who foresaw Benintendi getting moved?

 

Will there be a Benintendi this offseason?

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't be super upset if they got the band back together. They would need to think about what it would look like to replace Perez and Richards. Iggy makes too much sense to come back so we know he won't be here. I don't really see Kyle from Waltham sticking around either.

 

I do hope Whitlock is a starter and Houck is used in a fireman type role.

[mvp 78]

Probably worth noting there is always a chance Bloom trades away a starter in a deal no one saw coming. We all saw Betts getting traded from a mile away. But who foresaw Benintendi getting moved?

 

Will there be a Benintendi this offseason?

 

I could see Verdugo being dealt. More likely they move Duran.

[dgalehouse]

I think the Sox would be serious contenders in 2022 if they fielded the same team that they finished with this season. But with a better bullpen. Improving the bullpen should be a priority.

[mvp 78]

I think the Sox would be serious contenders in 2022 if they fielded the same team that they finished with this season. But with a better bullpen. Improving the bullpen should be a priority.

 

Upgrading just Perez and Richards could be fairly easy to do.

[notin]

I could see Verdugo being dealt. More likely they move Duran.

 

On the "Benintendi Surprise Scale," moving Duran simply does not register. Moving Verdugo would.

 

Maybe the "surprise" will be Duran in CF and Hernandez at 2b? That obvious plan that is sitting right there in front of both of us and would actually surprise me more than simply dealing Duran...

Edited November 11, 2021 by notin

[notin]

Upgrading just Perez and Richards could be fairly easy to do.

 

Lou Trivino is there for the taking.

 

 

Really, most teams will be focusing on SP. That is just the way of MLB. If the Sox can simply bring back ERod and move Whitlock to the rotation, they can dedicate more resources to the bullpen.

 

And then it becomes a game of depth. Depth, depth, and more depth...

[a700hitter]

On the "Benintendi Surprise Scale," moving Duran simply does not register. Moving Verdugo would.

 

Maybe the "surprise" will be Duran in CF and Hernandez at 2b? That obvious plan that is sitting right there in front of both of us and would actually surprise me more than simply dealing Duran...

The only problem being that Duran can’t hit and he is lousy in CF.

[mvp 78]

On the "Benintendi Surprise Scale," moving Duran simply does not register. Moving Verdugo would.

 

Maybe the "surprise" will be Duran in CF and Hernandez at 2b? That obvious plan that is sitting right there in front of both of us and would actually surprise me more than simply dealing Duran...

 

I'm not sure I see a "surprise" move in the future. I think it's going to be a ho hum offseason and they'll try to extend Xander.

[mvp 78]

The only problem being that Duran can’t hit and he is lousy in CF.

 

Send him back to 2b.

[mvp 78]

Lou Trivino is there for the taking.

 

 

Really, most teams will be focusing on SP. That is just the way of MLB. If the Sox can simply bring back ERod and move Whitlock to the rotation, they can dedicate more resources to the bullpen.

 

And then it becomes a game of depth. Depth, depth, and more depth...

 

Maybe the A's want to keep him around because of his cheap salary?

[harmony]

Maybe the A's want to keep him around because of his cheap salary?

The Oakland Athletics may be reluctant to keep Lou Trivino with his projected 2022 salary of $2.9 million in his first year of arbitration.

 

The A's will be an interesting team to watch this offseason.

[mvp 78]

The Oakland Athletics may be reluctant to keep Lou Trivino with his projected 2022 salary of $2.9 million in his first year of arbitration.

 

The A's will be an interesting team to watch this offseason.

 

Allocating 2.9M towards a closer seems pretty cheap to me.

[moonslav59]

Allocating 2.9M towards a closer seems pretty cheap to me.

 

They are looking to cut salary.

 

It does seem like Trivino's is no a whole lot, but their tradition is to keep finding min wage closers.

[mvp 78]

They are looking to cut salary.

 

It does seem like Trivino's is no a whole lot, but their tradition is to keep finding min wage closers.

 

If they want to get rid of salary, it's easy enough to move:

Olson 12M Arb Proj

Manaea 10M Arb Proj

Chapman 10M Arb Proj

Bassitt 9M Arb Proj

 

That's over 50% of team salary right there. Trivino isn't the problem if they're trying to make payroll.

 

I'm sure they'd love to get rid of Elvis Andrus, but that would be a harder sell for other teams. They'd have to eat most of Piscotty's salary if they moved him.

[moonslav59]

If they want to get rid of salary, it's easy enough to move:

Olson 12M Arb Proj

Manaea 10M Arb Proj

Chapman 10M Arb Proj

Bassitt 9M Arb Proj

 

That's over 50% of team salary right there. Trivino isn't the problem if they're trying to make payroll.

 

I'm sure they'd love to get rid of Elvis Andrus, but that would be a harder sell for other teams. They'd have to eat most of Piscotty's salary if they moved him.

 

It doesn't make sense to me, either. Maybe they get rid of many of those names plus Trivino.

 

Maybe they think Olsen brings fans in, but Trivino will not.

 

BTW, Montas is due a nice arb raise. That's the guy I want. He has 2 years of control- not 1 like Bassit and Manaea.

[notin]

Allocating 2.9M towards a closer seems pretty cheap to me.

 

… which is why you’re not the GM of the Oakland A’s…

[notin]

If they want to get rid of salary, it's easy enough to move:

Olson 12M Arb Proj

Manaea 10M Arb Proj

Chapman 10M Arb Proj

Bassitt 9M Arb Proj

 

That's over 50% of team salary right there. Trivino isn't the problem if they're trying to make payroll.

 

I'm sure they'd love to get rid of Elvis Andrus, but that would be a harder sell for other teams. They'd have to eat most of Piscotty's salary if they moved him.

 

Once they’ve dumped those contracts, why have even a $3mill closer?

[mvp 78]

… which is why you’re not the GM of the Oakland A’s…

 

Are they fielding a baseball team or running a Starbucks?