Sox sign James Paxton

[vegasbob]

The business of both who to sign and for how much is definitely two edged . The Sox made it to the ALCS in 2021 with a hodge podge of pitching, missing Sale for the majority of the year , but getting a full (non-injury) season out of Eovaldi. Found a gem in Whitlock cheap, potential in Houck, and a wasted $10M in Richards. So why go long for the big money names on 3-5 year deals ?

 

T o compete in 2022 at a high competitive level , fans expect at least one upper level market signing , now more essential since Erod went to Detroit . Not to mention the bullpen issues. I get Moon's observation that Bloom (& Henry et al) may be still laying in a transition year looking to 2023/24 with the " new" Red Sox. Alternatively, why not play 162 games in '22 with a mind to win it all ? At my age , it's hard to see too far over the horizon. Not expecting any real action until late February/early March, when one side or the other gives in ( or both) on the new deal, whatever it turns out to be. Will those with patience get rewarded ??

[mvp 78]

2nd rinse cycle.

 

We get it.

[moonslav59]

The business of both who to sign and for how much is definitely two edged . The Sox made it to the ALCS in 2021 with a hodge podge of pitching, missing Sale for the majority of the year , but getting a full (non-injury) season out of Eovaldi. Found a gem in Whitlock cheap, potential in Houck, and a wasted $10M in Richards. So why go long for the big money names on 3-5 year deals ?

 

T o compete in 2022 at a high competitive level , fans expect at least one upper level market signing , now more essential since Erod went to Detroit . Not to mention the bullpen issues. I get Moon's observation that Bloom (& Henry et al) may be still laying in a transition year looking to 2023/24 with the " new" Red Sox. Alternatively, why not play 162 games in '22 with a mind to win it all ? At my age , it's hard to see too far over the horizon. Not expecting any real action until late February/early March, when one side or the other gives in ( or both) on the new deal, whatever it turns out to be. Will those with patience get rewarded ??

 

I wonder, if we had sucked in 2021, would we be spending large and long, this winter?

[Old Red]

And what's the point of that point? We have no idea if other teams were in on Paxton. We only find out who actually signed him.

 

Do you really think that Paxton, and Whack a were in great demand from other clubs, and would even be on the Sox wish list if Bloom had a big allowance to spend?

[Bellhorn04]

Do you really think that Paxton, and Whack a were in great demand from other clubs, and would even be on the Sox wish list if Bloom had a big allowance to spend?

 

I think if we didn't sign them, someone else would have.

 

The other question is irrelevant.

[notin]

Do you really think that Paxton, and Whack a were in great demand from other clubs, and would even be on the Sox wish list if Bloom had a big allowance to spend?

 

Do you really think none of the 29 other teams were interested in either player?

[a700hitter]

Do you really think none of the 29 other teams were interested in either player?

Probably not at $7 million and $10 million. That’s why they signed with the Red Sox.

[notin]

Probably not at $7 million and $10 million. That’s why they signed with the Red Sox.

 

Well, I think we can safely assume that every player who has signed so far hasn’t gotten a bigger offer from another team…

[moonslav59]

Well, I think we can safely assume that every player who has signed so far hasn’t gotten a bigger offer from another team…

 

I can't believe we even have to say this.

 

And really? The Sox are the only team looking at pitchers in the $7-10M range?

 

What is happening here?

[Old Red]

Probably not at $7 million and $10 million. That’s why they signed with the Red Sox.

 

Some people think they actually stole Whack a, and Paxton from all the other teams.

[Bellhorn04]

Some people think they actually stole Whack a, and Paxton from all the other teams.

 

Yeah, I'll bet no one actually said that.

[Old Red]

Yeah, I'll bet no one actually said that.[/quote

 

Are you saying yes, but they didn’t actually say it? Ok I’ll say that it was my opinion either way.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, I'll bet no one actually said that.

 

Or, think that.

 

Other teams were likely interested. Some may have made offers. We may never know.

 

I'm trying to be hopeful these two do better than Richards, Perez & Andriese. It shouldn't be too hard.

[Bellhorn04]

Are you saying yes, but they didn’t actually say it? Ok I’ll say that it was my opinion either way.

 

Now I have no idea what you're trying to say.

[moonslav59]

Now I have no idea what you're trying to say.

 

I'm not alone.

[Old Red]

Or, think that.

 

Other teams were likely interested. Some may have made offers. We may never know.

 

I'm trying to be hopeful these two do better than Richards, Perez & Andriese. It shouldn't be too hard.

 

Sounds like your critical of Bloom for those signings.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think anyone is thrilled about these signings. But I appreciate that Bloom is working with a tight budget and it's not easy to get quality starters without shelling out a lot of money.

[Old Red]

I don't think anyone is thrilled about these signings. But I appreciate that Bloom is working with a tight budget and it's not easy to get quality starters without shelling out a lot of money.

 

I’m not thrilled either, and I don’t blame Bloom for having to work with a smaller spending account than a lot of the other teams do. I would, and I assume others would to like to know what that budget is..

[Bellhorn04]

I’m not thrilled either, and I don’t blame Bloom for having to work with a smaller spending account than a lot of the other teams do. I would, and I assume others would to like to know what that budget is..

 

The budget is something only the front office knows.

 

But we will still have one of the highest payrolls in baseball.

[Nick]

The budget is something only the front office knows.

 

But we will still have one of the highest payrolls in baseball.

 

I don't mean to be sarcastic and thank you for stating the obvious.

 

We're still wrapped up in Price contract for $16M. That would have paid for E. Rod perhaps.

 

It really is about choices we've made in the past and we are paying for bad contracts in some cases.

 

Realistically, I just don't see the Sox able to retain Devers. There needs to be plan B.

 

I think Bloom is doing what he can to put a team out there in April that can compete.

 

If season started tomorrow,

 

C Vaz

1B Dalbec

2B Arroyo

SS Xander

3B Devers

LF Verdugo

CF Kike

RF Renfroe

DH JD

 

Not horrible...You have about $80M tied up with possibility of $56M coming off the books (Vaz, Xander, Kike and JD)

 

SP1 Sale

SP2 Eovaldi

SP3 Pivetta

SP4 Wacha

SP5 Whitlock

 

RP1 Barnes

RP2 Houck

RP3 Sawamura

RP4 Brasier

RP5 Darwinzon

RP6 Taylor

RP7 Davis

RP8 Valdez

 

It's not the worst lineup. Maybe we can get help from our farm system when it comes to relievers.

 

Show me a trade that upgrades the team but still stay within the budget. Cot's had us $22.5M under the tax limit before the Paxton deal.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Nick

[moonslav59]

I don't think anyone is thrilled about these signings. But I appreciate that Bloom is working with a tight budget and it's not easy to get quality starters without shelling out a lot of money.

 

It is what it is.

 

It looks like the budget is tight again, but I'm still a little baffled by the strong interest in Baez.

 

Maybe it's more about just not liking who is out there or valuing them at significantly less than what they ended up getting and not about severe spending limits.

 

I guess we may find out when the next signing session opens up, and we know what the CBA is.

 

I can't say I'm happy with Paxton and Wacha, but I'm hopeful Bloom knows what he's doing. The Richards & Perez signings raise some doubts, but it's hard to find fault with a GM that helped build the farm back up to respectability much more quickly than I ever imagined (kudos to DD, too) and got us making a strong run at the AL Championship during a "rebuild year."

 

I'm going trust he knows how to spend with a limited budget. I'm hopeful the budget will be expanded at some point- hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

I'm pretty sure Bloom is not done, so I think I'll wait to pass judgment, but it's awfully hard to get excited over just the recent moves.

 

[moonslav59]

I don't mean to be sarcastic and thank you for stating the obvious.

 

We're still wrapped up in Price contract for $16M. That would have paid for E. Rod perhaps.

 

It really is about choices we've made in the past and we are paying for bad contracts in some cases.

 

Realistically, I just don't see the Sox able to retain Devers. There needs to be plan B.

 

I think Bloom is doing what he can to put a team out there in April that can compete.

 

If season started tomorrow,

 

C Vaz

1B Dalbec

2B Arroyo

SS Xander

3B Devers

LF Verdugo

CF Kike

RF Renfroe

DH JD

 

Not horrible...You have about $80M tied up with possibility of $56M coming off the books (Vaz, Xander, Kike and JD)

 

SP1 Sale

SP2 Eovaldi

SP3 Pivetta

SP4 Wacha

SP5 Whitlock

 

RP1 Barnes

RP2 Houck

RP3 Sawamura

RP4 Brasier

RP5 Darwinzon

RP6 Taylor

RP7 Davis

RP8 Valdez

 

It's not the worst lineup. Maybe we can get help from our farm system when it comes to relievers.

 

Show me a trade that upgrades the team but still stay within the budget. Cot's had us $22.5M under the tax limit before the Paxton deal.

 

The line-up is the same as 2021 (pre-Schwarber).

 

Replacing ERod remains the biggest challenge, but staying even with last year is usually not a winning strategy for any team.

 

I'm wondering if the idea is more about the long term than 2022. The Paxton move supports that idea, but I doubt Bloom is done.