A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[Hugh2]

That may be true but who is keeping there.

 

It's not like they have options in the outfield. At best somebody gives you something marginally better.

[Hugh2]

Players do change positions all the time in the minors and even in the majors.

 

Bloom did keep Duran on the OF, but one reason to do it is the Sox system is completely devoid of outfield talent above A ball, with only Rafaela Cedane as the exception due to a recent promotion to Portland.

 

So if they put Duran back at 2b - not the worst idea - who plays CF?

 

The last time everyone complained about no talent in the outfield was literally a year before we got the Benintendi/JBJ/Betts outfield that was outstanding. Things could look very different out there in two years, still, I don't see anything in the pipeline, we need at least one major upgrade out there to come from a trade/FA

[Old Red]

It's not like they have options in the outfield. At best somebody gives you something marginally better.

 

ABD. Anybody but Duran. What do you think the pitching staff think about him playing out there?

[Hugh2]

ABD. Anybody but Duran. What do you think the pitching staff think about him playing out there?

 

I think they're scared to death of him out there. Perhaps the better question is, who should our centerfielder be? We had one, but we DFA'd him because he couldn't hit, now we're stuck with a guy who can't hit or field. I'd take JBJ of Duran right now.

[Old Red]

I think they're scared to death of him out there. Perhaps the better question is, who should our centerfielder be? We had one, but we DFA'd him because he couldn't hit, now we're stuck with a guy who can't hit or field. I'd take JBJ of Duran right now.

Agree 100% on JBJ

[notin]

The last time everyone complained about no talent in the outfield was literally a year before we got the Benintendi/JBJ/Betts outfield that was outstanding. Things could look very different out there in two years, still, I don't see anything in the pipeline, we need at least one major upgrade out there to come from a trade/FA

 

The most obvious trade target to me is Oakland’s Ramon Laureano, who played CF and RF ( not at the same time; but that’d be cool) and has probably the best arm in MLB. He’s second year arb, meaning trade bait in Oakland. Lately Dave Forst was trading for quantity over quality, like with Chapman and Olson. But he did go for quality with Montas. BTV accepts Yorke and Duran, but I doubt Boston parts with Yorke. Bello and Duran, whose speed in a spacious Oakland OF helps in the corners and whose salary fits their books, is more likely. Pending approval of Forst, of course…

[Old Red]

The most obvious trade target to me is Oakland’s Ramon Laureano, who played CF and RF ( not at the same time; but that’d be cool) and has probably the best arm in MLB. He’s second year arb, meaning trade bait in Oakland. Lately Dave Forst was trading for quantity over quality, like with Chapman and Olson. But he did go for quality with Montas. BTV accepts Yorke and Duran, but I doubt Boston parts with Yorke. Bello and Duran, whose speed in a spacious Oakland OF helps in the corners and whose salary fits their books, is more likely. Pending approval of Forst, of course…

Like I said before BTV is useless if it accepted Duran for anything. Yorke status has taken a big hit downward this your too not in the BTV world.

[Hugh2]

The most obvious trade target to me is Oakland’s Ramon Laureano, who played CF and RF ( not at the same time; but that’d be cool) and has probably the best arm in MLB. He’s second year arb, meaning trade bait in Oakland. Lately Dave Forst was trading for quantity over quality, like with Chapman and Olson. But he did go for quality with Montas. BTV accepts Yorke and Duran, but I doubt Boston parts with Yorke. Bello and Duran, whose speed in a spacious Oakland OF helps in the corners and whose salary fits their books, is more likely. Pending approval of Forst, of course…

 

WOuldn't mind Laureano, I don't think hes going to cost a lot either, I also wouldn't mind signing judge and running with Verdugo/Laureano/Judge. Resign Bogaerts and Vasquez and now you have a lineup you can believe in.

[Old Red]

WOuldn't mind Laureano, I don't think hes going to cost a lot either, I also wouldn't mind signing judge and running with Verdugo/Laureano/Judge. Resign Bogaerts and Vasquez and now you have a lineup you can believe in.

 

What about Raffy?

[notin]

Agree 100% on JBJ

 

Hey he’s still available. So in defensive specialist/offensive non-entity Lorenzo Cain…

[notin]

What about Raffy?

 

What about him?

[Old Red]

What about him?

 

He wasn’t mentioned in being resigned.

[Old Red]

Hey he’s still available. So in defensive specialist/offensive non-entity Lorenzo Cain…

 

Like I said earlier. ABD.

[notin]

Like I said before BTV is useless if it accepted Duran for anything. Yorke status has taken a big hit downward this your too not in the BTV world.

 

I didn’t know Dave Forst gave you power of attorney.

 

I actually doubt Yorke’s status has taken as much of a hit. Scouts still love his advanced approach and overall hit tool, and one season won’t immediately change that, especially for a 20yo. Plenty of guys his age struggle as sophomores in college but go on to get drafted early…

[Hugh2]

What about Raffy?

 

He's not a free agent this offseason, if they can sign him to an extension great, if they can't he's still on this team.

[Old Red]

He's not a free agent this offseason, if they can sign him to an extension great, if they can't he's still on this team.

 

If you signed Judge, and Bogey again there would not be much money left over.

[Old Red]

I didn’t know Dave Forst gave you power of attorney.

 

I actually doubt Yorke’s status has taken as much of a hit. Scouts still love his advanced approach and overall hit tool, and one season won’t immediately change that, especially for a 20yo. Plenty of guys his age struggle as sophomores in college but go on to get drafted early…

Play with BTV all you want, but my opinion is that it may be a fun toy, but still useless to me.

[notin]

He wasn’t mentioned in being resigned.

 

Probably because he’s not a free agent yet. The post only appeared to discuss positions in question in 2023. And not even all of them (DH?)

[Old Red]

Probably because he’s not a free agent yet. The post only appeared to discuss positions in question in 2023. And not even all of them (DH?)

 

So wait until 2024 to resign him? Raffy’s contract situation will have a big say in what happens in 2023.

[Hugh2]

If you signed Judge, and Bogey again there would not be much money left over.

 

Well then you run Duran/Phem/Verdugo in your outfield, and that's a good awful outfield and I believe at some point the Sox need to be willing to go over the luxury tax for a few years and compete. That time is or at least SHOULD be on the horizon. That's also a problem for 2024, we have no idea how things play out and how much Bogaerts signs for.

[Hugh2]

Or maybe we can run Franchy out there, or Dalbec, or give Duran more of a chance. The lineup can use a boost, and we need an outfielder and we always complain about not having enough star power in the lineup, why wouldn't we want to go after Judge?

[Bellhorn04]

Or maybe we can run Franchy out there, or Dalbec, or give Duran more of a chance. The lineup can use a boost, and we need an outfielder and we always complain about not having enough star power in the lineup, why wouldn't we want to go after Judge?

 

I would prioritize keeping Devers ahead of pursuing Judge.

 

Judge is having a phenomenal season but he's also over 30.

[notin]

So wait until 2024 to resign him? Raffy’s contract situation will have a big say in what happens in 2023.

 

No idea.

 

To be honest, signing Bogaerts and Judge while extending Devers seems unlikely and prohibitive

[notin]

I would prioritize keeping Devers ahead of pursuing Judge.

 

Judge is having a phenomenal season but he's also over 30.

 

And he’s rarely as healthy as he’s been this year…

[notin]

Or maybe we can run Franchy out there, or Dalbec, or give Duran more of a chance. The lineup can use a boost, and we need an outfielder and we always complain about not having enough star power in the lineup, why wouldn't we want to go after Judge?

 

 

I doubt the Sox even have a chance to pursue Judge. Especially if he sets the AL home run record this year…

[moonslav59]

Let's keep it "realistic."

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

If extending Devers and and acquiring Judge means the SOX can't extend Bogey, sign me up. Of course, the odds of the SOX acquiring Judge are about 4 hundred million to one. Edited August 9, 2022 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[notin]

If extending Devers and and acquiring Judge means the SOX can't extend Bogey, sign me up. Of course, the odds of the SOX acquiring Judge are about 4 hundred million to one.

 

If it came down to a choice between Judge and Bogaerts, Judge by virtue of being an outfielder makes more sense.

 

But it’s Bogie. I just like him better than that pinstriped Frankenstein monster…

[Old Red]

I doubt the Sox even have a chance to pursue Judge. Especially if he sets the AL home run record this year…

 

I don’t care if Judge hits 70 this year. It looks good, but what are the changes that he has a year like this again let alone stay healthy as he gets older. To me not worth the money, or length of a contract he will get. Raffy to me is a lot better option, and safer bet.

[Hugh2]

We don’t want to sign Judge because he’s 30, yet Xander is 6 months younger. Judge has a track record and fills an immediate need.

 

Signing a big contract shouldn’t exclude the Sox from signing others. Despite various claims, the Sox are consistently one of the biggest spenders.

 

It’s even more justified to spend when you’re going for it. We’ve built the farm back up and reset the lux tax last year, if you plan on staying over you have a LOT of money to spend until you reach the next threshold.