A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[notin]

IDK, Texas grabbed Semien AND Seager last season.

 

It just takes one owner to want to take their club out of irrelevancy. These people have the money, they just don't always want to spend it.

 

I think Diaz is the LEAST likely FA for the Sox. That guy isn't leaving NY.

 

Diaz is certainly on the “highly unlikely” list, but Judge would be my choice for Least Likely. The Yankees certainly can’t afford the PR snafu of letting Judge go to Boston. Cashman would be fired before the ink dried, and then repeatedly hired and fired multiple times over the next week just to drive the point home. Followed by being burned in effigy.

 

Hopefully in effigy. The other way might not be legal.

 

Now not to mention having to outbid the Dodgers. Judge’s chances of manning RF in Fenway next year are roughly the same as mine…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That is encouraging and seems like a fair offer... maybe they can get him to take $200M/8.

 

The offer the Red Sox made last spring that both sides confirmed was comparable to Matt Olson's $168M for 8.

 

If they're doubling that offer, Devers will be making over $40M AAV...

[Old Red]

That is encouraging and seems like a fair offer... maybe they can get him to take $200M/8.

 

There is conflicting reports out there, so I’m not encouraged at all until I see a signature on the dotted line.

[moonslav59]

There is conflicting reports out there, so I’m not encouraged at all until I see a signature on the dotted line.

 

Well, we were discouraged when reports said we low-balled him, too.

[moonslav59]

The offer the Red Sox made last spring that both sides confirmed was comparable to Matt Olson's $168M for 8.

 

If they're doubling that offer, Devers will be making over $40M AAV...

 

It could be near double the money but over more years- something like $320M/10 or even 11 or 12 to bring the AAV down.

[mvp 78]

There is conflicting reports out there, so I’m not encouraged at all until I see a signature on the dotted line.

 

Quite the high bar there.

[moonslav59]

Quite the high bar there.

 

Seemed like he totally believed the low-ball offer reports.

[oldtimer]

I saw a media source in the DR state that the Sox have reached out to him about a 7 year extension and want it done soon.

 

Devers is one of those natural hitters who also has power. His defense has improved. He is young and athletic for his size. Those are all plusses. He does chase out of the zone and could improve if he chases less. What is he worth on the market and to the Red Sox? Hope those two are similar.

 

The Sox need to decide what type of team they want to become. The Astros would be a good team to emulate. Good at developing players and recognizing talent, especially pitching. Very good defensively by signing players who have shown to be very good defenders. Professional hitters who can grind out at bats and who typically swing and miss at a lower rate than average.. When they get a player that fits their framework, they ink a contract early before reaching FA's.

 

To me, the Sox have to improve their talent recognition and development process. Too few ML players coming out of the minors in the past. Sure, Casas an Bello look like they will make it and perhaps Rafaela for next season. We will need to bring up a few ML capable players per year to have a consistently good team going forward.

 

We are coming off a period of unwise signings. Price will be off the books. Sale's signing has been a disaster. Can he have a couple of good years to finish it up or will it be one of the worst signings in Sox history. What's done is done. The thing is to recognize if a signing will move the Sox toward the kind of team that can consistently be winners. Signings of Devers, Bogaerts, Wacha and Eovaldi have to be looked at in that light.

 

That we didn't reset in 2022 is evidence the current management has not acted wisely and with a plan going forward. That too needs to change and if not, we need to find management that can deliver and not just talk a good game. It's like AAA, first you have to admit you have a problem before fixing it. A last place finish should be enough of a dose of realism to drive the point home. Act wisely and act decisively.

[Old Red]

Seemed like he totally believed the low-ball offer reports.

 

And you didn’t?

[moonslav59]

And you didn’t?

 

About the same as these reports.

[Old Red]

About the same as these reports.

 

There wasn’t conflicting reports on the lowball offer like there is now.

[notin]

There wasn’t conflicting reports on the lowball offer like there is now.

 

There are conflicting reports?

[mvp 78]

There wasn’t conflicting reports on the lowball offer like there is now.

 

The conflicting reports are Sox waterboys Speier/Cotillo saying that Romero just happens to be in DR 3 hours out of his way to have cake with Devers, while the DR source says that Devers camp told him that they've been discussing an extension. Which is more plausible. 3 hour drive for cake or 3 hour drive to talk about a contract at least briefly.

[notin]

The conflicting reports are Sox waterboys Speier/Cotillo saying that Romero just happens to be in DR 3 hours out of his way to have cake with Devers, while the DR source says that Devers camp told him that they've been discussing an extension. Which is more plausible. 3 hour drive for cake or 3 hour drive to talk about a contract at least briefly.

 

What kind of cake?

[Old Red]

The conflicting reports are Sox waterboys Speier/Cotillo saying that Romero just happens to be in DR 3 hours out of his way to have cake with Devers, while the DR source says that Devers camp told him that they've been discussing an extension. Which is more plausible. 3 hour drive for cake or 3 hour drive to talk about a contract at least briefly.

 

I’ll go with the cake. Amazing if the reports are from people not liked like Shaugnessy, or Speier in this case they must be wrong. Like I said earlier I’ll believe when I see a signature on a dotted line.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Old Red

[notin]

I’ll go with the cake.

 

Even if it’s a Bundt cake?

[mvp 78]

I’ll go with the cake. Amazing if the reports are from people not liked like Shaugnessy, or Speier in this case they must be wrong. Like I said earlier I’ll believe when I see a signature on a dotted line.

 

How many other birthday parties will the Sox front office be going to this offseason? Many?

[moonslav59]

There wasn’t conflicting reports on the lowball offer like there is now.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/details-on-spring-extension-talks-between-red-sox-rafael-devers.html

 

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/red_sox_reportedly_offered_3b_rafael_devers_200m_contract_extension_all_star_wants_over_300m/s1_13132_37399059

[Old Red]

How many other birthday parties will the Sox front office be going to this offseason? Many?

 

Theo went to Thanksgiving with Schilling. Probably had pie then.

[mvp 78]

What kind of cake?

 

Conflicting reports!

 

1. Yellow Cake Chocolate Frosting

2. Junior's Cheesecake

3. Cookie Puss

[mvp 78]

Theo went to Thanksgiving with Schilling. Probably had pie then.

 

Just to eat dinner or because he wanted to get Schilling on board with coming to the Sox?

[Old Red]

Just to eat dinner or because he wanted to get Schilling on board with coming to the Sox?

 

Ended up being both.

[mvp 78]

Ended up being both.

 

No s***, huh? Probably like what the Devers meeting is right now then, not just cake.

[moonslav59]

No s***, huh? Probably like what the Devers meeting is right now then, not just cake.

 

It's all so conflicting.

[Old Red]

No s***, huh? Probably like what the Devers meeting is right now then, not just cake.

 

You believe what you want to believe, and I’ll believe what I want to believe, which is I only believe a signature on a dotted line.

[notin]

Conflicting reports!

 

1. Yellow Cake Chocolate Frosting

2. Junior's Cheesecake

3. Cookie Puss

 

If it was Cookie Puss, I shudder at the thought of a 3 hour drive…

[mvp 78]

If it was Cookie Puss, I shudder at the thought of a 3 hour drive…

 

The Sox weren't bringing the cake. They were mooching.

[notin]

The Sox weren't bringing the cake. They were mooching.

 

At least it want Fudgie the Whale…

[mvp 78]

At least it want Fudgie the Whale…

 

We had a Carvel cake in the freezer at my old house when our fridge died. We put it on the front porch for a few hours as it was late November and thought the cake would last a little while. The damn thing stained the s*** out of the concrete and it never came off even after it was power washed. This was in MA not FL obviously.

[moonslav59]

If we are looking for a DH and a boost in team OBP, what about Michael Brantley?