A Realistic View at 2023: Part I

[Old Red]

You're right about the bullpen. Very big priority. If Bloom doesn't upgrade it significantly I'll be pissed too.

 

Need a reliable closer to start with, and then go from there.

[notin]

Need a reliable closer to start with, and then go from there.

 

I imagine Houck is in the mix for that, unless 1) his back is still an issue or 2) he gets traded. Schreiber and Whitlock are also internal candidates. And I suppose Barnes if he gets his shot together, but I think that would only happen well into the season after he’s finally proven he’s somewhat back where he was…

[mvp 78]

Need a reliable closer to start with, and then go from there.

 

FA Options (reliability may vary):

Jansen

Robertson

Treinen (option probably gets picked up)

Colomé

Kimbrel

Montero

[notin]

No Fulmer?

[Bellhorn04]

No Fulmer?

 

Add him to the list.

[Old Red]

I imagine Houck is in the mix for that, unless 1) his back is still an issue or 2) he gets traded. Schreiber and Whitlock are also internal candidates. And I suppose Barnes if he gets his shot together, but I think that would only happen well into the season after he’s finally proven he’s somewhat back where he was…

 

NONE of these guys have a track record as a reliable closer for to long a time,and you don’t really know what to expect from any of them going into next year. Whitlock, and Houck are coming off injuries. Is Schreiber all of a sudden a reliable setup man, or a one hit wonder? Barnes who knows. Got to get a proven commodity if possible.

[dgalehouse]

Add him to the list.

 

FA Options (reliability may vary):

Jansen

Robertson

Treinen (option probably gets picked up)

Colomé

Kimbrel

Montero

 

I think Kimbrel and Jansen are both past their prime. You don't have to get a big name guy anyway. But I would want a high velocity , triple digit arm who can take the daily pressure that goes with the job. I don't know if Houck or Schreiber can do it. Whitlock is probably better off in the starting rotation , working on a regular schedule. But there are plenty of young guns out there . And you need more than a closer. You need a few good arms in the bullpen.

[Old Red]

I think Kimbrel and Jansen are both past their prime. You don't have to get a big name guy anyway. But I would want a high velocity , triple digit arm who can take the daily pressure that goes with the job. I don't know if Houck or Schreiber can do it. Whitlock is probably better off in the starting rotation , working on a regular schedule. But there are plenty of young guns out there . And you need more than a closer. You need a few good arms in the bullpen.

Jansen would have been alright for this year, but risky for the money going forward. I agree you need more than a closer, but to me a closer is where you start.

[dgalehouse]

Jansen would have been alright for this year, but risky for the money going forward. I agree you need more than a closer, but to me a closer is where you start.

 

No doubt it starts with the closer. And you build around that.

[mvp 78]

I think Kimbrel and Jansen are both past their prime. You don't have to get a big name guy anyway. But I would want a high velocity , triple digit arm who can take the daily pressure that goes with the job. I don't know if Houck or Schreiber can do it. Whitlock is probably better off in the starting rotation , working on a regular schedule. But there are plenty of young guns out there . And you need more than a closer. You need a few good arms in the bullpen.

 

I like Whitlock in the rotation too. Houck and Schreiber are both good late inning arms. Trading for a young closer usually costs a lot in prospect capital. We haven't seen a trade like that from Bloom yet. Would be interesting to see what he'd be willing to part with.

[harmony]

FA Options (reliability may vary):

Jansen

Robertson

Treinen (option probably gets picked up)

Colomé

Kimbrel

Montero

Is Edwin Diaz out of the Red Sox reasonable reach?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/can-edwin-diaz-get-a-record-breaking-contract.html

[mvp 78]

No Fulmer?

 

I hesitated in putting him on the list. I didn't remember that he had 14 saves last year.

[mvp 78]

Is Edwin Diaz out of the Red Sox reasonable reach?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/can-edwin-diaz-get-a-record-breaking-contract.html

 

It's more likely they bring Kimbrel back IMO.

[notin]

Is Edwin Diaz out of the Red Sox reasonable reach?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/can-edwin-diaz-get-a-record-breaking-contract.html

 

Diaz will likely stay with the Mets. His trumpet player might be available…

[dgalehouse]

Is Edwin Diaz out of the Red Sox reasonable reach?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/can-edwin-diaz-get-a-record-breaking-contract.html

 

I don't think the Sox are willing to outbid the Mets.

[moonslav59]

I don't think the Sox are willing to outbid the Mets.

 

I don't think any team will, especially a team that does not pay large for closers.

[notin]

It's more likely they bring Kimbrel back IMO.

 

But Kimbrel really isn’ta Closer any more…

[moonslav59]

But Kimbrel really isn’ta Closer any more…

 

He might for us.

[Yaz Fan Since 67]

Out on Kimbrell. He can't be counted on at this point.

 

I'm also growing tired of all of our hot prospects arriving at the show and not doing dick. There, I said it.

[mvp 78]

No, Kimbrel stinks. Was just saying it’s more likely than Diaz.

[Old Red]

No, Kimbrel stinks. Was just saying it’s more likely than Diaz.

 

Old friend Daniel Bard would be better, and a big no on Kimbrel. Kimbrel was just taken out of the closer role by the Dodgers, who may regret come postseason they did not resign Jensen.

[notin]

Old friend Daniel Bard would be better, and a big no on Kimbrel. Kimbrel was just taken out of the closer role by the Dodgers, who may regret come postseason they did not resign Jensen.

 

Jansen hasn’t been that much better than Kimbrel, and the Dodgers have pulled him from the closer role in the postseason before, too…

[Maxbialystock]

He might for us.

 

Well, he certainly has the temperament for closing, which Barnes has seemed to lack until very recently.

 

I never liked Kimbrel, primarily because he stunk--ERA 5.92--in the 2018 postseason. So right now, assuming Houck and Whitlock come back healthy and are assigned to the bullpen, I like what I see for 2023. I think Schreiber, Houck, Whitlock, and Barnes can all close and/or pitch well in late and close games. Strahm and maybe 1 or 2 others can do good spot relieving. I would not spend big on a closer. The Rays have the 4th best ERA, 3.38, in MLB and 43 saves, but no one on that team has more than 8 saves.

[notin]

Well, he certainly has the temperament for closing, which Barnes has seemed to lack until very recently.

 

I never liked Kimbrel, primarily because he stunk--ERA 5.92--in the 2018 postseason. So right now, assuming Houck and Whitlock come back healthy and are assigned to the bullpen, I like what I see for 2023. I think Schreiber, Houck, Whitlock, and Barnes can all close and/or pitch well in late and close games. Strahm and maybe 1 or 2 others can do good spot relieving. I would not spend big on a closer. The Rays have the 4th best ERA, 3.38, in MLB and 43 saves, but no one on that team has more than 8 saves.

 

I don’t get why people don’t like the Houck/Whitlock/Schreiber combo either. And I don’t see the Sox wasting time with Kimbrel or Jansen. Maybe Robertson.

 

And this bullpen itself would have been a helluva lot better if they just kept it out of the rotation. Barnes bouncing back would be nice, but I think his All Star form from 2021 is probably gone forever for some reason…

[Old Red]

I don’t get why people don’t like the Houck/Whitlock/Schreiber combo either. And I don’t see the Sox wasting time with Kimbrel or Jansen. Maybe Robertson.

 

And this bullpen itself would have been a helluva lot better if they just kept it out of the rotation. Barnes bouncing back would be nice, but I think his All Star form from 2021 is probably gone forever for some reason…

 

You really want to come back with the same combo next year? Houck, and Whitlock are coming off injuries, and you want to count on Schreiber being as good next year after being so, so in his career? Also to count on Barnes. Doesn’t sound like good baseball strategy to me if you want to get better.

[notin]

You really want to come back with the same combo next year? Houck, and Whitlock are coming off injuries, and you want to count on Schreiber being as good next year after being so, so in his career? Also to count on Barnes. Doesn’t sound like good baseball strategy to me if you want to get better.

 

That’s not what I said at all. Not even remotely.

 

I said I liked that combo. I won’t speak for their health next season. And I think Houck, if healthy, is a likely trade candidate…

[Old Red]

That’s not what I said at all. Not even remotely.

 

I said I liked that combo. I won’t speak for their health next season. And I think Houck, if healthy, is a likely trade candidate…

A closer is the #1 need for the BP. Period! And from Nobody on the staff now. I understand what you don’t understand.

Edited September 24, 2022 by Old Red

[harmony]

Old friend Daniel Bard would be better, and a big no on Kimbrel. Kimbrel was just taken out of the closer role by the Dodgers, who may regret come postseason they did not resign Jensen.

Would the Red Sox want Daniel Bard's two-year, $19 million contract through 2024?

 

That's a smidgen more than the two-year contract for Matt Barnes through 2023.

[notin]

A closer is the #1 need for the BP. Period! And from Nobody on the staff now. I understand what you don’t understand.

 

For someone who really tells everyone about the right he has to his opinion, you sure as Hell like to go out of your way to squelch anyone else’s.

 

As for the closer, Houck (if healthy) was fine in that role. Schreiber has pitched almost exclusively in high leverage situations (which does mean even if he steps back he still can very likely pitch in regular middle relief roles) and Whitlock if healthy is just a flat out outstanding reliever. There’s no reason to believe any of them are worse options than aging and declining players like the list of free agent closers from earlier in this thread.

 

The Sox need to as good bullpen arms. I’ve been hyping and overhyping Michael Fulmer and Rafael Montero (both of whom have closer experience) for weeks now (including Fulmer at the deadline).

[Old Red]

Would the Red Sox want Daniel Bard's two-year, $19 million contract through 2024?

 

That's a smidgen more than the two-year contract for Matt Barnes through 2023.

 

I’m not saying Bard is the best option, but the contract is not all that bad. Like I keep saying the BP will not get better without a reliable closer.