A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[moonslav59]

Ken Rosenthal says that he expects the Red Sox to improve at the catching position, mentions Sean Murphy, Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno as options.

 

Murphy will be too expensive IMO.

 

If we make the deal I'm hoping we do with the Marlins for a good SP'er, I wonder if we try to get Jacob Stallings included, the guy we tried to trade for before 2022.

[mvp 78]

If we make the deal I'm hoping we do with the Marlins for a good SP'er, I wonder if we try to get Jacob Stallings included, the guy we tried to trade for before 2022.

 

Reporters never really know at this point anyway.

[notin]

If we make the deal I'm hoping we do with the Marlins for a good SP'er, I wonder if we try to get Jacob Stallings included, the guy we tried to trade for before 2022.

 

Stallings is basically a fatter, right-handed Reese McGuire…

[notin]

Ken Rosenthal says that he expects the Red Sox to improve at the catching position, mentions Sean Murphy, Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno as options.

 

Murphy will be too expensive IMO.

 

 

But he’s also the only one from outside the AL East.

 

I see the Sox improving at catcher, but Omar Navraez is 1000x more likely than any of the Jays…

[Bellhorn04]

Astros to sign Jose Abreu. Rich get richer.

[Old Red]

Astros to sign Jose Abreu. Rich get richer.

 

Looks like a 3 yr deal. Not worth it to me. Somewhere around $50M.

Edited November 28, 2022 by Old Red

[notin]

Looks like a 3 yr deal. Not worth it to me. Somewhere around $50M.

 

Latest updates have it at 3 years $60mill.

[mvp 78]

Latest updates have it at 3 years $60mill.

 

If the Sox did that deal, I'd be worried.

[Old Red]

If the Sox did that deal, I'd be worried.

 

Agree, but you would rather have Abreu, or Bobby D/ Hosmer as the DH?

Edited November 28, 2022 by Old Red

[mvp 78]

Agree, but would rather have Abreu, or Bobby D/ Hosmer as the DH?

 

None of the above.

[moonslav59]

Stallings is basically a fatter, right-handed Reese McGuire…

 

He is supposed to be the defensive whiz behind the plate.

[Old Red]

None of the above.

 

Agree, and I’m not big on the Bobby D/ Hosmer combo except that they’re cheap.

[moonslav59]

Agree, but you would rather have Abreu, or Bobby D/ Hosmer as the DH?

 

At that money, and how it would affect who else we can sign for 3 years, Bobby D-Hosmer & Co. (Refsnyder, Arroyo and maybe later, EValdez)

[notin]

Agree, but you would rather have Abreu, or Bobby D/ Hosmer as the DH?

 

Brandon Belt…

[notin]

He is supposed to be the defensive whiz behind the plate.

 

He was posting DRS at an unholy rate prior to 2022. 42 DRS total in 2019-2021, with 21 of them coming in 2021.

 

Last year he went the other way with -9…

[moonslav59]

He was posting DRS at an unholy rate prior to 2022. 42 DRS total in 2019-2021, with 21 of them coming in 2021.

 

Last year he went the other way with -9…

 

I'm not sure what happened in 2022. His offense went over a cliff, too.

 

I'm not saying he's an upgrade, but Bloom did want him, last winter, so I threw that name out there.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Abreu's a guy you sign if you have one hole at a position and you're already a good team (or world champ). He's a veteran MVP bat that lengthens the line-up -- but not a core guy to build around.

 

Boston's already got a young guy to play first base, and DH is not a priority... but the starting rotation, the bullpen, at least one outfield position, and probably catching and shortstop are.

 

Hopefully, the latter two or three will also fill the Red Sox' needs for a leadoff hitter and/or a new heart of the order.

[notin]

I'm not sure what happened in 2022. His offense went over a cliff, too.

 

I'm not saying he's an upgrade, but Bloom did want him, last winter, so I threw that name out there.

 

I think McGuire filled the void in his heart for a defense-oriented catcher making low arbitration money…

[moonslav59]

Abreu's a guy you sign if you have one hole at a position and you're already a good team (or world champ). He's a veteran MVP bat that lengthens the line-up -- but not a core guy to build around.

 

Boston's already got a young guy to play first base, and DH is not a priority... but the starting rotation, the bullpen, at least one outfield position, and probably catching and shortstop are.

 

Hopefully, the latter two or three will also fill the Red Sox' needs for a leadoff hitter and/or a new heart of the order.

 

At that money and for 3 years, I'd expect him to be a "core guy-" maybe not to "build around" due to his age, bt that's a lot of money and years for a role player.

 

He may also be taking some of Brantley's place in the line-up (not just Gurriel's) as Alvarez plays more LF than DH, next year. Talk is, the Astros still want Gurriel back, but in a part time role at 1B and DH. They may "rest" Abreu at DH, some games, and maybe in years 2 and 3, more so.

Edited November 28, 2022 by moonslav59

[moonslav59]

I think McGuire filled the void in his heart for a defense-oriented catcher making low arbitration money…

 

Probably, so.

 

So, if we go out and get someone who makes McGuire our next Plawecki and Leon, that moves Wong back to AAA and probably means RHern is DFA'd.

[Bellhorn04]

At that money and for 3 years, I'd expect him to be a "core guy-" maybe not to "build around" due to his age, bt that's a lot of money and years for a role player.

 

Not sure why you see Abreu as a role player. He played 157 games this year.

[moonslav59]

Not sure why you see Abreu as a role player. He played 157 games this year.

 

I said I expect him to be a "core player" at that money- not a role player, but I could have worded it better.

 

I meant to make the a point to 5G, saying if he's not core, that's a lot to pay a role player.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I said I expect him to be a "core player" at that money- not a role player, but I could have worded it better.

 

I meant to make the a point to 5G, saying if he's not core, that's a lot to pay a role player.

 

Abreu may be the best piece that completes the Astros line-up, but a mid-30s hitter who just saw a dip in power numbers isn't the kind of guy a bad team with so many needs like Boston should invest in to build around.

 

The Red Sox have too many other pressing priorities to address first. They definitely need more consistent offensive contributors, but we all know the main focus should be on securing the services of the best possible pitching options while there are legitimately good ones still available.

 

Waiting until Spring Training to pick up mound leftovers isn't going to work this year.

[Bellhorn04]

I have this disturbing vision of Bloom and his minions swamped in spreadsheets, hunting for value plays, shocked by the prices for top talent, and slightly paralyzed by all they have to do and all that's against them.

[Old Red]

I have this disturbing vision of Bloom and his minions swamped in spreadsheets, hunting for value plays, shocked by the prices for top talent, and slightly paralyzed by all they have to do and all that's against them.

 

Sad, bad, and probably true.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I have this disturbing vision of Bloom and his minions swamped in spreadsheets, hunting for value plays, shocked by the prices for top talent, and slightly paralyzed by all they have to do and all that's against them.

 

That's a great summary in one sentence and it's giving me a headache, because it probably is a daymare -- an intern checking off task X-Y-Z: acquire Joely, Crook and Ho Park...

 

When did you join Old Red's gym? Ha... we should all be disturbed -- Sam Kennedy told us we're allowed to be.

 

Bloom and the boys just can't try to get away with stopgaps and taking fliers on pick-ups this winter. Can we all agree to that?

 

And before anyone reposts lists of all the great values Bloom found the past three years, let's not forget waiting until mid-March last year when he signed Diekman and Hansel Robles to address the bullpen.

 

New market prices are being established for actual talent, and the Red Sox need to operate in the same milieu as the other 29 franchises.

[Bellhorn04]

I said I expect him to be a "core player" at that money- not a role player, but I could have worded it better.

 

I meant to make the a point to 5G, saying if he's not core, that's a lot to pay a role player.

 

Maybe "complementary piece" would be a good description.

 

If you plug Abreu into the 2022 Astros you get these fWAR numbers for position players:

 

Alvarez 6.6

Altuve 6.6

Bregman 5.5

Tucker 4.7

Abreu 3.9

Pena 3.4

McCormick 2.0

[moonslav59]

Abreu may be the best piece that completes the Astros line-up, but a mid-30s hitter who just saw a dip in power numbers isn't the kind of guy a bad team with so many needs like Boston should invest in to build around.

 

The Red Sox have too many other pressing priorities to address first. They definitely need more consistent offensive contributors, but we all know the main focus should be on securing the services of the best possible pitching options while there are legitimately good ones still available.

 

Waiting until Spring Training to pick up mound leftovers isn't going to work this year.

 

I agree. While I do think DH could use an upgrade, and 1B is still not a sure bet, we have other much more pressing needs.

 

If we do seek a DH upgrade, it won't be anywhere near $19.5M x 3.

[Bellhorn04]

That's a great summary in one sentence and it's giving me a headache, because it probably is a daymare -- an intern checking off task X-Y-Z: acquire Joely, Crook and Ho Park...

 

When did you join Old Red's gym? Ha... we should all be disturbed -- Sam Kennedy told us we're allowed to be.

 

Of course my inner pom-pom waver clings to the hope that Bloom will soon make my nightmare look silly.

[Old Red]

That's a great summary in one sentence and it's giving me a headache, because it probably is a daymare -- an intern checking off task X-Y-Z: acquire Joely, Crook and Ho Park...

 

When did you join Old Red's gym? Ha... we should all be disturbed -- Sam Kennedy told us we're allowed to be.

 

Bloom and the boys just can't try to get away with stopgaps and taking fliers on pick-ups this winter. Can we all agree to that?

 

And before anyone reposts lists of all the great values Bloom found the past three years, let's not forget waiting until mid-March last year when he signed Diekman and Hansel Robles to address the bullpen.

 

New market prices are being established for actual talent, and the Red Sox need to operate in the same milieu as the other 29 franchises.

 

Having Bloom in charge is just not a comforting feeling to me. I can’t see the Red Sox outbidding other teams for anyone either.