A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Arroyo is 6'1"

 

Bloom is about the same or maybe an inch or two taller from what I've seen online.

 

What, you didn't think Bloom would get a perfect exchange, like with all his other trades?

[moonslav59]

I think I'm at a solid 4.5 out of 10 on the excitement level.

 

I'm at about a 7.

 

I can't wait to watch Bello & Casas, and hope it ends up being fun.

 

I can't wait to watch McGuire "expose himself" as the catcher of our future and to show fans just how much catcher intangibles matter.

 

I can't wait to see what SS we acquire this winter.

 

I can't wait to to see if Arroyo can play 80+ games.

 

I can't wait to see how well Devers plays after inking a massive extension.

 

I can't wait to see Red wiggle out of his Yoshida doubt comments.

 

I can't wait to see Story and Kike have healthy and productive seasons.

 

I can't wait to see Turner make us all say, "JD Schwarber who?"

 

I can't wait to see Dugo traded for a real RF'er.

 

I can't wait to see Whitlock prove himself to be a solid #2 SP'er.

 

I can't wait to see Kluber give us 160+ solid IP.

 

I can't wait to see our pen be a solid plus for the first time in years.

 

I can't wait to see Kelly and or German shine.

 

I can't wait to see 4-5 of our 10 upcoming prospects win a few meaningful roles by season's end.

 

I can't wait to see how many times Cora gets bashed in game threads.

[mvp 78]

The former.

 

Hanley and Panda 2.0.

[oldtimer]

I'm at about a 7.

 

I can't wait to watch Bello & Casas, and hope it ends up being fun.

 

I can't wait to watch McGuire "expose himself" as the catcher of our future and to show fans just how much catcher intangibles matter.

 

I can't wait to see what SS we acquire this winter.

 

I can't wait to to see if Arroyo can play 80+ games.

 

I can't wait to see how well Devers plays after inking a massive extension.

 

I can't wait to see Red wiggle out of his Yoshida doubt comments.

 

I can't wait to see Story and Kike have healthy and productive seasons.

 

I can't wait to see Turner make us all say, "JD Schwarber who?"

 

I can't wait to see Dugo traded for a real RF'er.

 

I can't wait to see Whitlock prove himself to be a solid #2 SP'er.

 

I can't wait to see Kluber give us 160+ solid IP.

 

I can't wait to see our pen be a solid plus for the first time in years.

 

I can't wait to see Kelly and or German shine.

 

I can't wait to see 4-5 of our 10 upcoming prospects win a few meaningful roles by season's end.

 

I can't wait to see how many times Cora gets bashed in game threads.

 

You are easily excited.

[mvp 78]

You are easily excited.

 

What do you mean?

 

These aren't exciting to you?

 

I can't wait to to see if Arroyo can play 80+ games.

 

I can't wait to see Dugo traded for a real RF'er.

 

I can't wait to see Kelly and or German shine.

 

I can't wait to see how many times Cora gets bashed in game threads.

[moonslav59]

You are easily excited.

 

I know this one excites many, here...

 

I can't wait to watch McGuire "expose himself" as the catcher of our future and to show fans just how much catcher intangibles matter.

[mvp 78]

I know this one excites many, here...

 

I can't wait to watch McGuire "expose himself" as the catcher of our future and to show fans just how much catcher intangibles matter.

 

There are some people on here that can't stop thinking about this.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR just reported, a Devers' deal is done!

 

$332M/11

 

Includes a $20M signing bonus that greatly improves the true value of the deal.

 

The is not a no trade clause.

[moonslav59]

I certainly feel a lot better about this winter, now.

 

It looks like a team-friendly deal, especially in light of the recent mega deals just signed.

 

It's no longer a dream...

 

DEVERS FOREVERS !!!!

 

[moonslav59]

Since the Devers extension kicks in, next year, we might be at about $17M under the 2023 tax line.

 

That could probably be just enough to add Andrus and Fulmer.

[moonslav59]

Trade Dugo, Duran, Dalbec, Arroyo & Murphy for AGarcia, Luzardo, Wendle & Rojas and call it a winter.

[Nick]

Titles won

2000's 2

2010's 2

 

We still have 8 years to win 2 in 2020's. And we will have Devers for 8 years along wit Bello, Whitlock and Casas for 6 at the least.

[enlightened]

Thank you. I honestly don't know enough about soccer/football and only retain very little when I hear about it.

 

No problem - I'm British and living in the UK so have an advantage in that respect. There are 5 or 6 football clubs in the UK (of which Liverpool is one) that have the support and the money to ensure that relegation should never be something they have to contend with. You'd run rings round me on baseball stuff ... although I'm learning fast.

[Nick]

We need for Sale, Story and Yoshida to earn their pay.

 

I anxiously wait for

[Nick]

Mata and Rafaela to be called up in 23.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Sox are rebuilding. They’re not really going for it in 23. I still stand by that because Devers is now gonna be around for awhile and may just be entering his prime. This means he should be a force as the Sox enter their window again. It never made sense for them to over extend for Bogey. They’re not in window and by the time the Sox get into window, Bogey may be on the decline

[notin]

The Sox are rebuilding. They’re not really going for it in 23. I still stand by that because Devers is now gonna be around for awhile and may just be entering his prime. This means he should be a force as the Sox enter their window again. It never made sense for them to over extend for Bogey. They’re not in window and by the time the Sox get into window, Bogey may be on the decline

 

Sticking to this?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

While I don't have a lot of confidence that the projected starting rotation will catapult Boston back into contention (or even stay together for six months), the one it's replacing finished in dead last place. I also wonder if Turner or Story or Casas can give Raffy enough protection so that anyone will throw him a fastball for a strike before 2024.

 

However, the Devers signing makes the '23 Red Sox already so much better than the '22 squad. All the big-time question mark players are now gone: Bogey, JD, Vaz, Nate -- great Red Sox champions -- but no more clubhouse distractions, worries, wondering, reporter queries, deadline doom, etc., etc.

Here I go, playing the star again. There I go, turn the page.

[moonslav59]

While I don't have a lot of confidence that the projected starting rotation will catapult Boston back into contention (or even stay together for six months), the one it's replacing finished in dead last place. I also wonder if Turner or Story or Casas can give Raffy enough protection so that anyone will throw him a fastball for a strike before 2024.

 

However, the Devers signing makes the '23 Red Sox already so much better than the '22 squad. All the big-time question mark players are now gone: Bogey, JD, Vaz, Nate -- great Red Sox champions -- but no more clubhouse distractions, worries, wondering, reporter queries, deadline doom, etc., etc.

Here I go, playing the star again. There I go, turn the page.

 

Of all the Sox free agents, Devers was "THE ONE" to bring back, especially if more than 2-3 years.

 

He's the only one that should get better in 2023.

 

We have a very solid line-up. Our D should be improved, despite some issues at corner OF. Our pen is vastly improved.

 

The rotation is filled with questions and uncertainty, but we can't just focus on losing 69 starts, basically 2 FT SP'ers like Nate, Wacha and Hill, but also replacing the 34 starts from Wink, Crawford, Seabold and Davis.

 

I'm optimistic that the increase from 20 GS'd to maybe 60 from Bello + Whitlock can be a big help in replacing about 40 of those 69 GS'd. Kluber can fill in the rest and help upgrade over those 34 starts by sketchy depth.

 

We also have Mata and Walter to add to the mix. Counting on more than 2 GS from Sale + Paxton might be the biggest area of concern, but we almost replaced all the missing GS'd before we even reach these two + Mata/Walter/Murphy and the returning Wink/Craw/Seab.

 

I'm not all that optimistic about the rotation, but there is some reason to think it might not be as bad as many seem to think it will/should be.

[mvp 78]

Mata and Rafaela to be called up in 23.

 

Mata should be on the roster by June. Rafaela should be on the roster after the trade deadline if he's learned more plate discipline.

[Hugh2]

Devers got what?... $30 million more than Bogaerts in total? a little more AAV but in the back half of the deal the Sox are paying for his age 32-36 seasons, so that's like paying him another 5/$156 after his age 31 season, after his age 32 season SD is paying Bogaerts 9/$229 until he is 41 catching that back half at ages 37-41.

 

This is why you don't put the opt-outs in. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but maybe that's how teams save in the short run. I hope the Sox do a better job from here on out identifying young players who would be willing to take deals early in their professional careers.

[mvp 78]

Devers got what?... $30 million more than Bogaerts in total? a little more AAV but in the back half of the deal the Sox are paying for his age 32-36 seasons, so that's like paying him another 5/$156 after his age 31 season, after his age 32 season SD is paying Bogaerts 9/$229 until he is 41 catching that back half at ages 37-41.

 

This is why you don't put the opt-outs in. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but maybe that's how teams save in the short run. I hope the Sox do a better job from here on out identifying young players who would be willing to take deals early in their professional careers.

 

It makes the Bogey contract look bad for sure.

[moonslav59]

It makes the Bogey contract look bad for sure.

 

It certainly make signing Devers large and long vs Bogey look like the right choice from day one.

 

Of course, signing both looked like the top choice, and budget wise, it seems we could have done that, especially had we locked up Bogey a year or two ago, but maybe the plan all along was Devers over Bogey, and Bogey stays only if he accepts a lower deal than he'd ever agree to.

[notin]

It certainly make signing Devers large and long vs Bogey look like the right choice from day one.

 

Of course, signing both looked like the top choice, and budget wise, it seems we could have done that, especially had we locked up Bogey a year or two ago, but maybe the plan all along was Devers over Bogey, and Bogey stays only if he accepts a lower deal than he'd ever agree to.

 

I’m not so certain they viewed Bogaerts as a big part of the future, especially as a shortstop. Bloom has spent all of his top picks on middle infielders, including two shortstops. Sure you take best available and work positions out later. But MI is also a clear focus, presumably as he searches for the next Wander Franco…

[mvp 78]

I’m not so certain they viewed Bogaerts as a big part of the future, especially as a shortstop. Bloom has spent all of his top picks on middle infielders, including two shortstops. Sure you take best available and work positions out later. But MI is also a clear focus, presumably as he searches for the next Wander Franco…

 

I had assumed that they could transition Xander to LF at some point. I know everyone thought he'd just move to 3b, but I figured LF could be a good landing point.

[mvp 78]

Cedanne Rafaela is posting cryptically on Twitter and people are believing that a Marlins trade is currently in the works today.

[notin]

Cedanne Rafaela is posting cryptically on Twitter and people are believing that a Marlins trade is currently in the works today.

 

Rafaela and Houck for Pablo Lopez?

[moonslav59]

I’m not so certain they viewed Bogaerts as a big part of the future, especially as a shortstop. Bloom has spent all of his top picks on middle infielders, including two shortstops. Sure you take best available and work positions out later. But MI is also a clear focus, presumably as he searches for the next Wander Franco…

 

I think they wanted Bogey at a lower price than he'd ever accept, and maybe part of the reason was they did not see him as our SS for much longer.

 

[moonslav59]

Rafaela and Houck for Pablo Lopez?

 

2 years of control really bothers me. I'd rather have 5 years of Houck and 6 for Rafaela.

 

I'd trade Rafaela, Murphy (Dalbec?) and Dugo for Luzardo & Rojas.

[notin]

I had assumed that they could transition Xander to LF at some point. I know everyone thought he'd just move to 3b, but I figured LF could be a good landing point.

 

The one thing we don’t know is how Bogaerts felt about this. The bat plays. The glove likely works in LF. But that doesn’t mean he will be a good soldier and just move out there. (Certainly he might have.)

 

It’s possible that he wouldn’t, which would explain why the Sox moved on to Yoshida as Plan B once they knew no deal was feasible…