Sox to not sign Seiya Suzuki

[moonslav59]

The Google translation of one paragraph from the Nikkan Sports report dated January 26:

 

https://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/news/202201250000540.html?mode=all

 

I'm not saying the reports were true.

 

I'm just saying there were some reports the Sox were at the top of the list over 2 weeks ago.

 

This is not "new" news, and the news has since changed to reflect we are not the front-runners (and maybe never were.)

[harmony]

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham weighs in on the Seiya Suzuki market:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/seiya-suzuki-rumors-padres-cubs-giants-mariners-finalists.html

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/29/sports/data-rules-election-david-ortiz-hall-fame-is-victory-eye-test/

[moonslav59]

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham weighs in on the Seiya Suzuki market:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/seiya-suzuki-rumors-padres-cubs-giants-mariners-finalists.html

 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/29/sports/data-rules-election-david-ortiz-hall-fame-is-victory-eye-test/

 

...or not.

[notin]

I have nothing against Seiya Suzuki, but I can’t get excited about him just yet, so it’s hard to get frustrated if he goes to San Francisco.

 

If the Sox give Duran a chance in the outfield, possibly with a platoon partner (McCutchen? Pham?), it might work out even better…

[moonslav59]

I have nothing against Seiya Suzuki, but I can’t get excited about him just yet, so it’s hard to get frustrated if he goes to San Francisco.

 

If the Sox give Duran a chance in the outfield, possibly with a platoon partner (McCutchen? Pham?), it might work out even better…

 

It would have made more sense had we traded for a RH'd JBJ.

[notin]

It would have made more sense had we traded for a RH'd JBJ.

 

And put Duran in CF? Didn’t we have enough problems with outfield defense last year?

[moonslav59]

And put Duran in CF? Didn’t we have enough problems with outfield defense last year?

 

No. That would not be needed.

 

vs RHP

LF Duran

CF Kike

RF Verdugo

 

 

vs LHP

LF: RH'd OF'er acquired instead of JBJ

CF: Kike

RF: Verdugo

 

If the RH'd bat could hit RHPs, too, Kike could play some 2B.

[notin]

No. That would not be needed.

 

vs RHP

LF Duran

CF Kike

RF Verdugo

 

 

vs LHP

LF: RH'd OF'er acquired instead of JBJ

CF: Kike

RF: Verdugo

 

If the RH'd bat could hit RHPs, too, Kike could play some 2B.

 

If the Sox wanted a RHH corner outfielder, they would have simply kept Renfroe.

 

It is getting close to time to accept Kike will not be the primary CF anymore. That’s what Bradley is for…

[Bellhorn04]

If the Sox wanted a RHH corner outfielder, they would have simply kept Renfroe.

 

It is getting close to time to accept Kike will not be the primary CF anymore. That’s what Bradley is for…

 

For the second year in a row, Bloom is befuddling us with his outfield construction...

[moonslav59]

If the Sox wanted a RHH corner outfielder, they would have simply kept Renfroe.

 

It is getting close to time to accept Kike will not be the primary CF anymore. That’s what Bradley is for…

 

Had we gotten a RH'd hitting superb defender, the Duran platoon (not in CF) would have been possible.

 

You keep skirting around the point I made.

 

There are RH'd hitting CF'er who can defend well.

 

I get the idea about wanting Kike at 2B not CF, but they guy can play CF very well, and playing him there vs RHPs would work well for our overall defense.

 

I seriously doubt a major reason we got JBJ was to prevent Kike from playing in the OF. We might very well see an OF of Kike, JBJ and Verdugo more often than you think.

 

(BTW, many poo-poo'd my comments, last winter, about playing Kike more in CF than 2B. How did that work out?)

[moonslav59]

For the second year in a row, Bloom is befuddling us with his outfield construction...

 

If we sign Suzuki, then much of the OF problems go away, assuming he plays well, but it would make the JBJ trade even less understandable, since JBJ and Duran both hit left-handed, and a L-R platoon would make more sense.

 

Maybe trading Duran is in the works, then it would/could be a L-R platoon between Kike and JBJ in CF and a R-R platoon at 2B between Kike and Arroyo.

[Old Red]

Had we gotten a RH'd hitting superb defender, the Duran platoon (not in CF) would have been possible.

 

You keep skirting around the point I made.

 

There are RH'd hitting CF'er who can defend well.

 

I get the idea about wanting Kike at 2B not CF, but they guy can play CF very well, and playing him there vs RHPs would work well for our overall defense.

 

I seriously doubt a major reason we got JBJ was to prevent Kike from playing in the OF. We might very well see an OF of Kike, JBJ and Verdugo more often than you think.

 

(BTW, many poo-poo'd my comments, last winter, about playing Kike more in CF than 2B. How did that work out?)

I

 

I don’t think they got JBJ to be a fourth outfielder, or to be in any kind of platoon, and if they did the trade is worse then it looks, and the Sox could have spent his $10+M on better pitching than Whacka. I also at this point don’t think Duran is in any part of their plans unless he has a bang out Spring Training if there is one. Kike did a good job in CF, and JBJ could just as easily play RF. Of course if JBJ can’t hit his weight then it’s a wasted $20+M on his contract, and changes will have to be made. If Suzuki is signed then JBJ goes to CF, and KIke goes to 2B.

[Bellhorn04]

Duran is an X factor, and it makes sense for them not to count on him, but at the same time to give him a chance.

 

Or, as others have suggested, they might trade him.

[moonslav59]

I don’t think they got JBJ to be a fourth outfielder, or to be in any kind of platoon, and if they did the trade is worse then it looks, and the Sox could have spent his $10+M on better pitching than Whacka. I also at this point don’t think Duran is in any part of their plans unless he has a bang out Spring Training if there is one. Kike did a good job in CF, and JBJ could just as easily play RF. Of course if JBJ can’t hit his weight then it’s a wasted $20+M on his contract, and changes will have to be made. If Suzuki is signed then JBJ goes to CF, and KIke goes to 2B.

 

I don't disagree. I do think they got JBJ to play FT-most likely CF, but maybe a little RF.

 

It may end up evolving into a platoon or 4th OF'er role, if things go South with JBJ (Can't go much further South than his 2021.)

 

I also agree with notin, if we sign Suzuki, Kike will be penciled in as the FT 2B, barring injury or some complete meltdown by JBJ and Duran.

 

This all does not have to be something I agree with. I can state what I think should happen, and that's what I did.

 

I like Kike in CF. I also like Arroyo at 2B, knowing full well his health issues may prevent that from happening.

 

On a 2021 team that showed horrific defense, most of the season, it makes little sense to move our best defender off the position he defends better than he does 2B. This also does not mean I'm bashing Bloom and Cora. I know they know more about baseball than I do. I respect and admire both of them, but on this issue, I disagree.

 

Even if JBJ hits well enough to play FT, we still have a serious OF issue, unless Duran shows some life. Kike may still end up in the OF, unless we add a solid OF'er.

[moonslav59]

Duran is an X factor, and it makes sense for them not to count on him, but at the same time to give him a chance.

 

Or, as others have suggested, they might trade him.

 

Agreed. While I talk of trading him, a lot, I never suggest trading him for peanuts. I think he has a lot of potential value and think several GMs agree.

 

His defense still scares me, but I like Verdugo in RF, so if we can "hide" his defense in LF, and he can hit well, then we found a solution.

[Old Red]

I don't disagree. I do think they got JBJ to play FT-most likely CF, but maybe a little RF.

 

It may end up evolving into a platoon or 4th OF'er role, if things go South with JBJ (Can't go much further South than his 2021.)

 

I also agree with notin, if we sign Suzuki, Kike will be penciled in as the FT 2B, barring injury or some complete meltdown by JBJ and Duran.

 

This all does not have to be something I agree with. I can state what I think should happen, and that's what I did.

 

I like Kike in CF. I also like Arroyo at 2B, knowing full well his health issues may prevent that from happening.

 

On a 2021 team that showed horrific defense, most of the season, it makes little sense to move our best defender off the position he defends better than he does 2B. This also does not mean I'm bashing Bloom and Cora. I know they know more about baseball than I do. I respect and admire both of them, but on this issue, I disagree.

 

Even if JBJ hits well enough to play FT, we still have a serious OF issue, unless Duran shows some life. Kike may still end up in the OF, unless we add a solid OF'er.

 

 

Seems like a lot of ifs as things stands today. If JBJ can hit, if Duran can hit, and if Arroyo could stay healthy. Tough way to do business.

[Bellhorn04]

Seems like a lot of ifs as things stands today. If JBJ can hit, if Duran can hit, and if Arroyo could stay healthy. Tough way to do business.

 

Sure. But on the flip side, the 2021 team was expected to be about a .500 team or a little better, and they came close to the World Series.

 

So maybe we should accept that Bloom has a clue what he's doing.

[jad]

Sure. But on the flip side, the 2021 team was expected to be about a .500 team or a little better, and they came close to the World Series.

 

So maybe we should accept that Bloom has a clue what he's doing.

 

But then, 'expectations' is a slippery concept. the only way to judge GMs on a quantitative basis would be by comparing results against available financial resources, no? (And that would take a few years of his tenure to determine.)

[dgalehouse]

Sure. But on the flip side, the 2021 team was expected to be about a .500 team or a little better, and they came close to the World Series.

 

So maybe we should accept that Bloom has a clue what he's doing.

Expectations for the 2021 team were probably unreasonably low due to too much weight being given to the abbreviated and rather bizarre 2020 season. There was still a lot of talent on the team. The smart money should have seen a bounce back coming. Likewise , it is highly likely that JBJ will bounce back this season. For whatever reason , it just didn't work out in Milwaukee.

[Bellhorn04]

But then, 'expectations' is a slippery concept. the only way to judge GMs on a quantitative basis would be by comparing results against available financial resources, no? (And that would take a few years of his tenure to determine.)

 

True. To narrow it down a bit, going into 2021 there was a lot of head-scratching and skepticism about acquisitions like Kike, Pivetta and Renfroe, but they outperformed expectations and helped the team get as far as they did.

[notin]

Sure. But on the flip side, the 2021 team was expected to be about a .500 team or a little better, and they came close to the World Series.

 

So maybe we should accept that Bloom has a clue what he's doing.

 

What? Bloom knows more than us?

 

Blasphemer!!

[Old Red]

Expectations for the 2021 team were probably unreasonably low due to too much weight being given to the abbreviated and rather bizarre 2020 season. There was still a lot of talent on the team. The smart money should have seen a bounce back coming. Likewise , it is highly likely that JBJ will bounce back this season. For whatever reason , it just didn't work out in Milwaukee.

 

Well said, and very true. JD had the worst season of his career in 2020. JD could bounce back, but how far? It’s not like he hasn’t hit below 200 before last year, and has been in the 220’s, and 230’s also, so what will be good enough? I’m sure Bloom isn’t done tinkering with the roster, but as things stand right now I don’t think the team is as good as the team that finished 2021.

[moonslav59]

Seems like a lot of ifs as things stands today. If JBJ can hit, if Duran can hit, and if Arroyo could stay healthy. Tough way to do business.

 

I would not bet on any of those 3 "what ifs," but JBJ will be given a chance to hit, Arroyo will be given a chance to play and Duran will be given a shot, if he can hit. (Yes, perhaps a big if.)

 

My guess is Kike will end up playing at 2B, CF or even RF depending on the answers to these what ifs.

 

Personally, I want Kike in CF as much as possible, but I realize it may not happen, especially with so many moving parts, including the possibility we add a solid OF/er by opening day.

 

[Old Red]

Well said, and very true. JD had the worst season of his career in 2020. JBJ could bounce back, but how far? It’s not like he hasn’t hit below 200 before last year, and has been in the 220’s, and 230’s also, so what will be good enough? I’m sure Bloom isn’t done tinkering with the roster, but as things stand right now I don’t think the team is as good as the team that finished 2021.[/quote

Edited January 31, 2022 by Old Red

[notin]

Seems like a lot of ifs as things stands today. If JBJ can hit, if Duran can hit, and if Arroyo could stay healthy. Tough way to do business.

 

It’s still January. Every team has lots of “ifs” in January, even during off-seasons without lockouts…

[Tedballgame]

For the second year in a row, Bloom is befuddling us with his outfield construction...

 

Its hard to assess anything with the lockout. There is a lot of time to do things once it ends. The outfield as of now isn't necessarily what its going to be on opening day.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Its hard to assess anything with the lockout. There is a lot of time to do things once it ends. The outfield as of now isn't necessarily what its going to be on opening day.

 

Hopefully, the same can be said about the rotation and bullpen...

[mvp 78]

For the second year in a row, Bloom is befuddling us with his outfield construction...

 

We were waiting for another shoe to drop last offseason, but it never fell. I hope this year's OF isn't such a question mark.

[mvp 78]

Seems like a lot of ifs as things stands today. If JBJ can hit, if Duran can hit, and if Arroyo could stay healthy. Tough way to do business.

 

If Verdugo can repeat his 2020 performance.

 

If Kiké can repeat his 2021 performance.

 

If Eovaldi can stay healthy.

 

If Sale can get his stuff back.

 

If Casas can crank through AAA and take over at 1b...

 

There's always a lot of ifs.

 

However, I think we can say for sure that Arroyo can't stay healthy. Seems to be an impossibility.

[mvp 78]

If the Sox wanted a RHH corner outfielder, they would have simply kept Renfroe.

 

It is getting close to time to accept Kike will not be the primary CF anymore. That’s what Bradley is for…

 

I think Kiké will spend a lot of time between CF and 2b, but primarily CF. JBJ is the 4th OFer IMO.