A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[harmony]

Turners value is highly tied into his speed, or at least much more than Bogaerts. As they're both roughly the same age, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest Turner will decline faster than Bogaerts. Id' place my betts on Bogaerts being a better hitter in his 30's than Turner. Boagerts has also arguably been as good as Turner defensively this year, maybe even better.

 

I also think it's HIGHLY probable that Turner isn't leaving LA, I don't think LA lets him walk and I doubt he comes here over there unless we offer much more, that ton of money coming off the books goes right back on plus another 10-15 million per year when you sign Turner.

 

Also Bogaerts averages 3.87 OWar per year vs. Turner 3.45. Not much of a difference, but I think the argument could be made that Bogaerts is slightly better offensively, proven vs. AL. East pitching, and has a profile that I believe ages better. I'd take Bogaerts over Turner, and I think he will bet a little cheaper too.

FWIW this year Trea Turner has twice as many home runs as Xander Bogaerts.

 

ZiPS projects Turner with 5.5 WAR with 28 home runs in 2023 and 5.1 WAR with 28 home runs in 2024 while projecting Bogaerts with 4.5 WAR with 26 home runs in 2023 and 4.4 WAR with 26 home runs in 2024:

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/trea-turner/16252/stats?position=SS#zips-3-year-projections

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/xander-bogaerts/12161/stats?position=SS#zips-3-year-projections

[Hugh2]

FWIW this year Trea Turner has twice as many home runs as Xander Bogaerts.

 

ZiPS projects Turner with 5.5 WAR with 28 home runs in 2023 and 5.1 WAR with 28 home runs in 2024 while projecting Bogaerts with 4.5 WAR with 26 home runs in 2023 and 4.4 WAR with 26 home runs in 2024:

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/trea-turner/16252/stats?position=SS#zips-3-year-projections

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/xander-bogaerts/12161/stats?position=SS#zips-3-year-projections

 

I'm not overly concerned with Bogaerts power outage this year which is probably given Turner that very small edge via ZIPs, Id still take Bogaerts over Turner long term, also when you consider that I think Bogaerts could be had for less.

[sk7326]

Soxprospects slapped an 8 grade on him. I don't remember the last time they ever put that on an international prospect. If it wasn't Moncada then I believe it was Bogaerts.

 

Yeah - even just looking at the stats/level/age combination that is very very impressive. Devers' came on the radar simply because he smoked rookie ball as a 17 year old.

[moonslav59]

Yeah - even just looking at the stats/level/age combination that is very very impressive. Devers' came on the radar simply because he smoked rookie ball as a 17 year old.

 

He did do very well in the rookie leagues at 17, but then he did not do all that great at A and A+ ball when 18 & 19. He busted out at age 20 at AA (.944) and AAA (1.047) before joing the Sox later in the 2017 season, where he hit .820.

 

Age 17:

.858 Gulf

.984 DOSL

 

Age 18:

.773 GRE A-

(.689 in winter ball)

 

Age 19:

.779 at SAL A+

(.579 winter ball)

 

We've had plenty of players with much better numbers than these, but not so many at these ages.

[Hugh2]

Yeah - even just looking at the stats/level/age combination that is very very impressive. Devers' came on the radar simply because he smoked rookie ball as a 17 year old.

 

Interestingly enough, both players received 1.5 million dollar signing bonuses. Obviously Bleis has a long way to go with a wide range of outcomes, but if he hits all his marks, and I'm not saying it's highly probable, he could be better than Devers.

 

Sometimes guys fall short of their ceilings, actually most of the time they do, but often they still become very good players. I remember Bogey had a ceiling of being a perennial MVP candidate, he's not exactly that good.....but he's pretty damn good. I have hopes that Bleis is going to be a really good MLB player. If only he was born a few years sooner and we could actually be talking about him as an option out in CF next year.

[Hugh2]

He did do very well in the rookie leagues at 17, but then he did not do all that great at A and A+ ball when 18 & 19. He busted out at age 20 at AA (.944) and AAA (1.047) before joing the Sox later in the 2017 season, where he hit .820.

 

Age 17:

.858 Gulf

.984 DOSL

 

Age 18:

.773 GRE A-

(.689 in winter ball)

 

Age 19:

.779 at SAL A+

(.579 winter ball)

 

We've had plenty of players with much better numbers than these, but not so many at these ages.

 

Age is such a huge factor, you look at what Devers did as you've just stated and it's not insanely huge offensive output, but it was so age advanced. If Devers played ever level at an average age, he likely would put up a 1.00 ops every year.

[moonslav59]

Age is such a huge factor, you look at what Devers did as you've just stated and it's not insanely huge offensive output, but it was so age advanced. If Devers played ever level at an average age, he likely would put up a 1.00 ops every year.

 

Yes. There are a few 17 & 18 year olds in the Rookie leagues, but when Devers was hitting .773 in A_ and .779 in A+ ball, he was mostly facing 20-23 year olds- some even older, none younger.

 

Here are some comps, I pulled up...

 

Devers

Age 17:

.858 Gulf

.984 DOSL

 

Age 18:

.773 GRE A-

(.689 in winter ball)

 

Age 19:

.779 at SAL A+

(.579 winter ball)

 

Bogaerts

17

.819 DOSL Rk

18

.834 A-

19

.883 A+

.948 AA

20

.909 AA

.822 AAA

50 PAs in BOS in 2013 (.684)

 

Moncada

17

.762 Cuban League

18

.771 Cuban League

19

none

20

.817 A-

21

.923 A+

.910 AA

(.829 Fall league)

20 PAs in BOS .513

Traded

22

.823 AAA

.750 MLB

22

 

Bleis

.751 DOSL in 136 PAs

.896 in FCL in 167 PAs, so far

 

[harmony]

Yeah - even just looking at the stats/level/age combination that is very very impressive. Devers' came on the radar simply because he smoked rookie ball as a 17 year old.

Top 2022 Complex League prospects each organization

WWW.MLB.COM

---

The lowest levels of the Minor Leagues began play this week, with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex, Florida Complex and Dominican Summer leagues all kicking off Monday. While many of the players are teenagers who are at least four or five years away from being ready for the Majors, several of

[moonslav59]

It's early, but here are some small sample size numbers from the rookie leagues:

 

DSL Red

.940 Frank Aastacio (68 ABs)

.857 Axel james (85)

.855 Ronny Ramirez (67)

.734 Freili Encarnacion (121- 3 HRs)

 

DSL Blue

1.146 Anger Romero (12 ABs- love the name!)

.889 Amando Sierra (171- 5 HRs)

.791 Jose Mendez (115)

.776 Kelvin Diaz (5 HRs)

 

FCL (Overall)

.959 Lyonell James (90)

.896 Miguel Bleis (153- 5 HRs leads team)

.880 Johnfrank Salazar (101)

.838 Daniel McElveny (64)

.804 Alan Castro (99- 3HRs)

[dgalehouse]

I like Bogaerts and I think the Sox should make a serious effort to re-sign him. Trea Turner is better than Bogey and he will be paid accordingly.

[moonslav59]

I like Bogaerts and I think the Sox should make a serious effort to re-sign him. Trea Turner is better than Bogey and he will be paid accordingly.

 

The one SS I really hope we avoid going large and long on is Correa.

 

He's always hurt, and when he's healthy, he is often under .800.

 

.806 2020-2022

 

.807 2018-2022

 

He's been at .790 or lower in 3 of the last 5 seasons and under .729, twice.

 

Pass.

 

I like Swanson, but only if he comes in significantly lower than Bogey and Turner.

[mvp 78]

It's early, but here are some small sample size numbers from the rookie leagues:

 

DSL Red

.940 Frank Aastacio (68 ABs)

.857 Axel james (85)

.855 Ronny Ramirez (67)

.734 Freili Encarnacion (121- 3 HRs)

 

DSL Blue

1.146 Anger Romero (12 ABs- love the name!)

.889 Amando Sierra (171- 5 HRs)

.791 Jose Mendez (115)

.776 Kelvin Diaz (5 HRs)

 

FCL (Overall)

.959 Lyonell James (90)

.896 Miguel Bleis (153- 5 HRs leads team)

.880 Johnfrank Salazar (101)

.838 Daniel McElveny (64)

.804 Alan Castro (99- 3HRs)

 

Johnfrank was called up to Salem recently.

[Hugh2]

I like Bogaerts and I think the Sox should make a serious effort to re-sign him. Trea Turner is better than Bogey and he will be paid accordingly.

 

Turner and Bogaerts likely get very similar contracts. They've been almost identical over the years, with Bogaerts having slightly better plate discipline and Turner having better speed. This year Turn has more power, but I don't think Bogeys power outage lasts, until recently Turner had better defense as well but I'd say the last two years they've been identical there as well.

[oldtimer]

The one SS I really hope we avoid going large and long on is Correa.

 

He's always hurt, and when he's healthy, he is often under .800.

 

.806 2020-2022

 

.807 2018-2022

 

He's been at .790 or lower in 3 of the last 5 seasons and under .729, twice.

 

Pass.

 

I like Swanson, but only if he comes in significantly lower than Bogey and Turner.

 

I agree on Correa. Good but also higher risk. Not a good match for the Sox.

[oldtimer]

Johnfrank was called up to Salem recently.

 

Is there a message in the majority being Latinos? More advanced due to an emphasis on Baseball?

[notin]

I like Bogaerts and I think the Sox should make a serious effort to re-sign him. Trea Turner is better than Bogey and he will be paid accordingly.

 

Agreed.

 

The Sox have lost their focus on OBP. But having people on base does help them score.

 

Bogaerts is one of the best in MLB at getting on base…

[moonslav59]

Agreed.

 

The Sox have lost their focus on OBP. But having people on base does help them score.

 

Bogaerts is one of the best in MLB at getting on base…

 

I really don't get neglecting OBP.

 

Even the big Story signing neglected OBP. (.340 career, including .307 away from COL.)

[notin]

I really don't get neglecting OBP.

 

Even the big Story signing neglected OBP. (.340 career, including .307 away from COL.)

 

OBP is why I’m high on Nimmo as an off-season target. But reportedly the Mets want to keep him and he’s expected to receive a QO, so he’s not much more likely to be the Sox leadoff hitter than I am…

[moonslav59]

OBP is why I’m high on Nimmo as an off-season target. But reportedly the Mets want to keep him and he’s expected to receive a QO, so he’s not much more likely to be the Sox leadoff hitter than I am…

 

He might be at the age where he goes for the long term biggest contract he can get over a possible QO. He's going to be 30 on opening day, and his OBP and OPS+

numbers are significantly lower, this season.

[sk7326]

He did do very well in the rookie leagues at 17, but then he did not do all that great at A and A+ ball when 18 & 19. He busted out at age 20 at AA (.944) and AAA (1.047) before joing the Sox later in the 2017 season, where he hit .820.

 

Age 17:

.858 Gulf

.984 DOSL

 

Age 18:

.773 GRE A-

(.689 in winter ball)

 

Age 19:

.779 at SAL A+

(.579 winter ball)

 

We've had plenty of players with much better numbers than these, but not so many at these ages.

 

His numbers in Greenville and Salem were meh - but he was also the youngest player in that league at that time. That he was even average at that age was a real tell that he was a Guy

[sk7326]

Interestingly enough, both players received 1.5 million dollar signing bonuses. Obviously Bleis has a long way to go with a wide range of outcomes, but if he hits all his marks, and I'm not saying it's highly probable, he could be better than Devers.

 

Sometimes guys fall short of their ceilings, actually most of the time they do, but often they still become very good players. I remember Bogey had a ceiling of being a perennial MVP candidate, he's not exactly that good.....but he's pretty damn good. I have hopes that Bleis is going to be a really good MLB player. If only he was born a few years sooner and we could actually be talking about him as an option out in CF next year.

 

There IS a large range of outcomes ... but guys like him are the guys you bet on. It's like high school - best player on the JV team is great ... it's the 14 year old who is getting decent minutes with the varsity players who is going to be a star

[moonslav59]

There IS a large range of outcomes ... but guys like him are the guys you bet on. It's like high school - best player on the JV team is great ... it's the 14 year old who is getting decent minutes with the varsity players who is going to be a star

 

Good analogy.

 

(I wasn't dissing Devers. I loved the kid from year one. I was just saying that some other Sox prospects had similar or better numbers at those ages, especially at A- and A+ ball, and did not turn out as good.)

[moonslav59]

A look at next year's budget (Lux Tax dollars in $Millions):

 

25.6 Sale

23.3 Story

22.7 Devers (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

10.0 Paxton (Assuming we take the option)

9.4 Barnes

8.0 Pivetta (Estimate on Arb 2 or 3)

6.0 Pham (Assuming mutual option is taken)

6.0 Verdugo (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

4.7 Whitlock

3.0 Sawamura (Assuming we take option)

3.0 Brasier (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

2.0 Arroyo (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3)

1.0 McGuire (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Refsnyder (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3)

1.0 Dalbec (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Davis (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Cordero (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3, may nontender)

 

That's about $128.7M. Add $16M for player benefits and maybe $2.3M on 40 man roster players in the minors and an open 9 slots on the 26 man roster making the minimum or more. The first tax line is $232M, so it looks like we can spend $84M and stay under the tax line for those 9 slots. Some can be filled by min salary players already in the system.

 

9 roster slots on the 26 and 14 more on the 40 equals 23. Right now, those 23 might be:

Hosmer (min salary)

Houck

Schreiber

Mata

Taylor

Wong

Bello

Crawford

Winckowski

Duran

Danish

Downs

Seabold

Davis

RHern

Ort, Ja Davis, DHern

 

Rule 5

Casas

Rafaela

German

Murphy

Walter

Maybe: Paulino, Wikelman Gonzalez, Ward, Wilyer Abreu or others

[oldtimer]

A look at next year's budget (Lux Tax dollars in $Millions):

 

25.6 Sale

23.3 Story

22.7 Devers (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

10.0 Paxton (Assuming we take the option)

9.4 Barnes

8.0 Pivetta (Estimate on Arb 2 or 3)

6.0 Pham (Assuming mutual option is taken)

6.0 Verdugo (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

4.7 Whitlock

3.0 Sawamura (Assuming we take option)

3.0 Brasier (Estimate on Arb 3 of 3)

2.0 Arroyo (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3)

1.0 McGuire (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Refsnyder (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3)

1.0 Dalbec (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Davis (Estimate on Arb 1 of 3)

1.0 Cordero (Estimate on Arb 2 of 3, may nontender)

 

That's about $128.7M. Add $16M for player benefits and maybe $2.3M on 40 man roster players in the minors and an open 9 slots on the 26 man roster making the minimum or more. The first tax line is $232M, so it looks like we can spend $84M and stay under the tax line for those 9 slots. Some can be filled by min salary players already in the system.

 

9 roster slots on the 26 and 14 more on the 40 equals 23. Right now, those 23 might be:

Hosmer (min salary)

Houck

Schreiber

Mata

Taylor

Wong

Bello

Crawford

Winckowski

Duran

Danish

Downs

Seabold

Davis

RHern

Ort, Ja Davis, DHern

Rule 5

Casas

Rafaela

German

Murphy

Walter

Maybe: Paulino, Wikelman Gonzalez, Ward, Wilyer Abreu or others

 

So some notables who you have left off include Bogaerts, Eovald, Wacha, JDM. They either will need to be resigned or replaced with expensive talent if we are to become more competitive next year then we have been in 2022. We also lost a front line catcher and replaced him with a lesser player. Not easy to see a clean path to greater competitiveness, even with $84 million to spend.

 

I highlighted additional guys who could be DFA'd or traded and in my opinion, it would be addition with removal.

[moonslav59]

So some notables who you have left off include Bogaerts, Eovald, Wacha, JDM. They either will need to be resigned or replaced with expensive talent if we are to become more competitive next year then we have been in 2022. We also lost a front line catcher and replaced him with a lesser player. Not easy to see a clean path to greater competitiveness, even with $84 million to spend.

 

I highlighted additional guys who could be DFA'd or traded and in my opinion, it would be addition with removal.

 

I only posted players already under team control.

 

I don't think we need an expensive player to break even with this year's JD or even the 2020 to 2022 JD with an .804 OPS.

 

I'm not sure bringing back Nate will come close to the Nate we had for 4 years, who only has started 71 (and counting) games in 3.8 years.

 

I like Bogey and Wacha, but I'm not sure their cost will bring back the value in production.

 

The guys you highlighted as trade or DFA material are just that, and won't save us any money. Trading someone like Verdugo and Sawamura might add enough money to upgrade another high need area without downgrading the one they vacate by nearly as much, but who wants them and will give equal value back?

 

I think we may have to sacrifice some of the farm to really turn 2023 into a highly competitive season. I don't want a wholesale stripdown, but we have to give to receive- maybe Casas or Yorke, but likely teams will want Bello, Rafaela, Mayer or Bleis.

 

Also, $84M is to stay under the line. There is a chance we have a priority to stay under the second line, so $104M could be the starting point. Having a few guys like Hosmer (free) and possibly a few farm pitchers taking over key staff roles in 2013, or going light at catcher might provide enough resources to make big bangs at 2-3 slots.

 

We'll see.

[oldtimer]

I only posted players already under team control.

 

I don't think we need an expensive player to break even with this year's JD or even the 2020 to 2022 JD with an .804 OPS.

 

I'm not sure bringing back Nate will come close to the Nate we had for 4 years, who only has started 71 (and counting) games in 3.8 years.

 

I like Bogey and Wacha, but I'm not sure their cost will bring back the value in production.

 

The guys you highlighted as trade or DFA material are just that, and won't save us any money. Trading someone like Verdugo and Sawamura might add enough money to upgrade another high need area without downgrading the one they vacate by nearly as much, but who wants them and will give equal value back?

 

I think we may have to sacrifice some of the farm to really turn 2023 into a highly competitive season. I don't want a wholesale stripdown, but we have to give to receive- maybe Casas or Yorke, but likely teams will want Bello, Rafaela, Mayer or Bleis.

 

Also, $84M is to stay under the line. There is a chance we have a priority to stay under the second line, so $104M could be the starting point. Having a few guys like Hosmer (free) and possibly a few farm pitchers taking over key staff roles in 2013, or going light at catcher might provide enough resources to make big bangs at 2-3 slots.

 

We'll see.

 

I don't believe JDM will be offered as he is toward the end of his career. Eovaldi is still valuable but we will probably not want to resign him as we attempt to get younger. Paxton was probably a bad idea and cost the Sox $10 mil for nothing. Will Sale ever return any value for his Ace level salary? I wouldn't count on much there.

 

Verdugo and Arroyo are the main hitters on the team this August. They seem to have more fire than most of the others and I would keep them as building blocks. Wacha has looked good and I would try to keep him.. We need a rebuild as most of the field players have been way off. Devers is the main keeper. Hosmer is inexpensive. Bogey is probably gone and possibly Story is tradable.

 

With the season essentially over as far as making the playoffs, we should get a look at some of our prospects What is there to lose by doing it? Certainly Casas and Duran should get long looks. We have young pitchers who could get into some games. As you say, some of our prospects may be needed as trade bait for thee 2023 season. We should get a good draft selection this year.

 

 

Give Bloom the money and I recommend we go for a major rebuild and change. I know this is a bit of a Debbie owner post but the sox look like a dispirited team that needs revitalization. Go for it!

[moonslav59]

I don't believe JDM will be offered as he is toward the end of his career. Eovaldi is still valuable but we will probably not want to resign him as we attempt to get younger. Paxton was probably a bad idea and cost the Sox $10 mil for nothing. Will Sale ever return any value for his Ace level salary? I wouldn't count on much there.

 

Verdugo and Arroyo are the main hitters on the team this August. They seem to have more fire than most of the others and I would keep them as building blocks. Wacha has looked good and I would try to keep him.. We need a rebuild as most of the field players have been way off. Devers is the main keeper. Hosmer is inexpensive. Bogey is probably gone and possibly Story is tradable.

 

With the season essentially over as far as making the playoffs, we should get a look at some of our prospects What is there to lose by doing it? Certainly Casas and Duran should get long looks. We have young pitchers who could get into some games. As you say, some of our prospects may be needed as trade bait for thee 2023 season. We should get a good draft selection this year.

 

 

Give Bloom the money and I recommend we go for a major rebuild and change. I know this is a bit of a Debbie owner post but the sox look like a dispirited team that needs revitalization. Go for it!

 

I thought we should have traded all 1 year control players, even Bogey, if he agreed to waive his no-trade clause, but it is what it is.

 

I'm not excited about Hosmer, and he may end up being DFA's, next year, but he a better placeholder for Casas than the Dalbec-Cordero choice was, this year. (They both still offer depth.)

 

To me, Bloom has two very important choices to make:

 

1) Decide what positions he stays within the system. (Likely 1B- Hosmer/Casas/Dalbec, RF- Dugo/Refsnyder, LF-Pha/Duran, Pen- Houck/Whitlock/Schreiber/Taylor/Brasier/young starters converted to the pen)

 

2) Choose well when filling the others. (Likely 2B/SS, CF, SP1)

[notin]

I don't believe JDM will be offered as he is toward the end of his career. Eovaldi is still valuable but we will probably not want to resign him as we attempt to get younger. Paxton was probably a bad idea and cost the Sox $10 mil for nothing. Will Sale ever return any value for his Ace level salary? I wouldn't count on much there.

 

Verdugo and Arroyo are the main hitters on the team this August. They seem to have more fire than most of the others and I would keep them as building blocks. Wacha has looked good and I would try to keep him.. We need a rebuild as most of the field players have been way off. Devers is the main keeper. Hosmer is inexpensive. Bogey is probably gone and possibly Story is tradable.

 

With the season essentially over as far as making the playoffs, we should get a look at some of our prospects What is there to lose by doing it? Certainly Casas and Duran should get long looks. We have young pitchers who could get into some games. As you say, some of our prospects may be needed as trade bait for thee 2023 season. We should get a good draft selection this year.

 

 

Give Bloom the money and I recommend we go for a major rebuild and change. I know this is a bit of a Debbie owner post but the sox look like a dispirited team that needs revitalization. Go for it!

 

 

The Sox do NOT need a rebuild. In fact that would be the worst direction

 

If fans cannot handle one season of a team playing .500 ball amidst a cavalcade of injuries, why do they suddenly think they can handle 3-4 season of potentially .400 ball? And that’s if things work out, which they don’t in most rebuilds.

 

The Sox have a lot of money coming off the books. They’re on the hook for $88mill next season before arb raises, assuming Bogaerts leaves (which I think he will). The bulk of that money is tied up in two contracts, the larger of which is completely immovable.

 

I assume QOs go to Bogaerts and Eovaldi. Not JD and certainly not Kike. Sawamura shouldn’t have his option exercised. I’m ok with Pham’s, and Paxton was only signed for his option.

 

So get a middle infielder (Kolten Wong?), sign some relievers (Michael Fulmer? Mychal Givens? Rafael Montero? Blake Treinen?) and bring back Kike (assuming Nimmo is unavailable).

 

Trade for a RF. I’d love Ramon Laureano, but not sure how to get him.

 

Then - play ball!

[moonslav59]

The Sox do NOT need a rebuild. In fact that would be the worst direction

 

If fans cannot handle one season of a team playing .500 ball amidst a cavalcade of injuries, why do they suddenly think they can handle 3-4 season of potentially .400 ball? And that’s if things work out, which they don’t in most rebuilds.

 

The Sox have a lot of money coming off the books. They’re on the hook for $88mill next season before arb raises, assuming Bogaerts leaves (which I think he will). The bulk of that money is tied up in two contracts, the larger of which is completely immovable.

 

I assume QOs go to Bogaerts and Eovaldi. Not JD and certainly not Kike. Sawamura shouldn’t have his option exercised. I’m ok with Pham’s, and Paxton was only signed for his option.

 

So get a middle infielder (Kolten Wong?), sign some relievers (Michael Fulmer? Mychal Givens? Rafael Montero? Blake Treinen?) and bring back Kike (assuming Nimmo is unavailable).

 

Trade for a RF. I’d love Ramon Laureano, but not sure how to get him.

 

Then - play ball!

 

Add 2-3 significant players, a couple key role players and let the kids fill in the rest. We should be fine, next season, if we choose well on the 4-5 key roles we add or re-sign players to fill.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Add 2-3 significant players, a couple key role players and let the kids fill in the rest. We should be fine, next season, if we choose well on the 4-5 key roles we add or re-sign players to fill.

 

I hate to say this - esp since someone is prob ready to type they're pros! -- but Devers has to be a non-issue, one way or the other, by Opening Day 2023.

Devers' looming contract is already a big story among media and fans, and imagine after all the other Sox free agents are gone (or re-signed), when he'll be the biggest Red Sox story every single day thereafter, until he's either locked up or traded for prospects.

 

The last thing the dugout, the clubhouse and the front office needs is to begin another season with an uncertain star.