A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[mvp 78]

Rafaela and Houck for Pablo Lopez?

 

Trade would probably include Rojas or Wendle too just to wrap up the MIF drama.

[mvp 78]

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…

 

Cora knows these guys. I'm sure FO asked Cora about it. Cora stated that he wanted Raffy here long term and that he's ready to be the team leader. Well, now Raffy's the leader.

[mvp 78]

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.

 

Murphy has 6 years of control though?!?!?!?!

[moonslav59]

Murphy has 6 years of control though?!?!?!?!

 

That's one plus for the Marlins to accept the offer.

 

There is a chance Houck is better than Pablo over the next 2 years, alone. I'd bet on Lopez, but it is no slam dunk.

 

I'd rather have 4 years of Luzardo, even if his upside is lower.

 

BTV accepts: Dugo & Murphy for Luzardo, Garcia & Rojas.

 

No Houck. No Rafaela.

 

Would you trade Houck and Rafaela for Luzardo, Rojas and Bleier? (BTV accepted)

[jacksonianmarch]

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.

 

Devers signing does not make the Sox better in 23 at all. He was there in 22. He was going to be there in 23 barring a trade. This makes the Sox better in 24 and beyond

[notin]

Devers signing does not make the Sox better in 23 at all. He was there in 22. He was going to be there in 23 barring a trade. This makes the Sox better in 24 and beyond

 

But it kills the “not spending” rhetoric. Although they’ve really been spending all along…

[Bellhorn04]

Devers signing does not make the Sox better in 23 at all. He was there in 22. He was going to be there in 23 barring a trade. This makes the Sox better in 24 and beyond

 

5 Gloves's point is that this removes a lot of negativity and distractions for the 2023 team. Not to mention the possible loss of Devers via trade.

[mvp 78]

5 Gloves's point is that this removes a lot of negativity and distractions for the 2023 team. Not to mention the possible loss of Devers via trade.

 

It removes the BIGGEST distraction for sure.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I knew a couple Red Sox fans -- and not a Yankee visitor just browsing -- would understand my post entirely

[moonslav59]

But it kills the “not spending” rhetoric. Although they’ve really been spending all along…

 

Where do we rank, now in 2023 salary?

[moonslav59]

But it kills the “not spending” rhetoric. Although they’ve really been spending all along…

 

What about the narrative that nobody will want to sign or extend with the Sox anymore?

 

That Devers and Bogey were close friends, and losing Bogey meant RD was all but out the door?

 

That we are Tampa Bay North?

 

I could list more.

[Bellhorn04]

What about the narrative that nobody will want to sign or extend with the Sox anymore?

 

That Devers and Bogey were close friends, and losing Bogey meant RD was all but out the door?

 

That we are Tampa Bay North?

 

I could list more.

 

A lot of narratives smashed in one fell swoop.

[Hugh2]

It makes the Bogey contract look bad for sure.

 

To be fair, we won't have a good ideal for a few years.

[moonslav59]

A lot of narratives smashed in one fell swoop.

 

Thankfully, yes.

 

To me, many were false narratives fueled by emotions and anger to begin with.

 

I'm glad we have something to be positive about. The pessimism, here was nearing something I don't even have a name for. It seemed like it was getting worse than the 30+ years of no rings I went through, and many more years for older fans than I.

 

I get the frustration. I get the blame games, oversimplifications and the reasons for increased pessimism. I wasn't happy, either, and I still have deep criticisms on why we chose to spend such a big chunk of our winter budget on two guys best suited for DH, and who's secondary positions are LF (Yoshida) and 3B/1B (Turner)- all positions way down on my highest needs list. However, I felt the downward spiral was too extreme and fatalistic for my liking. I realize I am in a small minority in a few areas, and I'm not trying to preach that my way is better, or that I am a better fan, although I do apologize for coming across like that, at times.

 

We are all Sox fans and want us to do well. To me, I think being a fan is to be as supportive or players and leaders, as much as possible, within reason. We disagree on the extent of what is reasonable and what expectations should be or should have been, but we all want the Sox to improve.

[moonslav59]

To be fair, we won't have a good ideal for a few years.

 

That's what I keep saying. Sure, almost all of us think locking him up at $170M/6 would have been great, and it was a mistake, if we could have but never offered that, but even that seemingly "good deal" may not look all that great 4, 5 or 6 years, from now.

 

I would not bet against Bogey, but it's all speculation, right now, and we don't even know if he'd have taken $170M/6.

[moonslav59]

Hoy Park and Tommy La Stella were DFA'd.

[Bellhorn04]

Hoy Park and Tommy La Stella were DFA'd.

 

The Hoy Park saga just doesn't end.

[mvp 78]

Hoy Park and Tommy La Stella were DFA'd.

 

Park was DFA'd a few days ago. He passed through waivers and was outrighted to AAA today.

[notin]

The Hoy Park saga just doesn't end.

 

Also

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/reds-release-mike-moustakas.html

[moonslav59]

The soxprospects.com podcast talked about the Sox working on trading away a couple players to avoid having to DFA anyone. Brasier, Dalbec and Ort's names came up, a lot.

 

We still need to add Kluber and Turner to the 40, and a couple 2 for 1 trades would work, nicely, if one was a SS and the other a SP or RF'er, but most teams are probably not looking to add to their 40, unless they are better players than those 3.

 

Duran & Ort for M Rojas works for me.

 

Dalbec and Brasier for Michael A Taylor, anyone?

[mvp 78]

Rumor is that the Sox are signing Yuli Guriel.

[notin]

Rumor is that the Sox are signing Yuli Guriel.

 

Why?

[notin]

The Hoy Park saga just doesn't end.

 

 

He’s got nothing on Lewin Diaz…

Edited January 5, 2023 by notin

[Bellhorn04]

He’s got nothing on Lewin Diaz…

 

But MLBTR is making Park a star...

[Bellhorn04]

Some truly insane Red Sox fans will be following the careers of both Hoy Park and Inmer Lobo from here on out.

 

(Yes, you're right. One might be me.)

[Nick]

I support Bloom but I have been critical of the fact that Sox went over the tax line by mere $5M.

 

Our 73rd and 74th picks turned into 131st and 132nd picks.

[moonslav59]

I support Bloom but I have been critical of the fact that Sox went over the tax line by mere $5M.

 

Our 73rd and 74th picks turned into 131st and 132nd picks.

 

That was unforgivable for me, too, but I'm not sure that was Bloom's doing. I'm thinking that was on JH & Co.

[notin]

That was unforgivable for me, too, but I'm not sure that was Bloom's doing. I'm thinking that was on JH & Co.

 

I would normally be upset, but we all know he was going to take players ranked around 131 and 132 with those picks in the 70s anyway…

[Nick]

I would normally be upset, but we all know he was going to take players ranked around 131 and 132 with those picks in the 70s anyway…

 

Funny

[moonslav59]

I would normally be upset, but we all know he was going to take players ranked around 131 and 132 with those picks in the 70s anyway…

 

It's the lost bonus slot money that matters more.