Kike Hernandez signs 1 year extension

[Jasonbay44]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34531836/sources-boston-red-sox-reach-1-year-extension-enrique-hernandez

 

$10 million for the 2023 season.

 

I’m fine with it, he’s solid, and seems like great clubhouse guy.

[moonslav59]

Wow!

 

I love it!

[notin]

Nice.

 

CF taken care of.

 

Now lock up Bogaerts and Devers…

[vegasbob]

One chess piece off the board of uncertainty at an expected range price. So you can say that 3B, CF, 2b or SS are locked in with Verdugo as well, if not traded. The other positions ( C, DH, 2B/SS, 1B, 2 OF'ers are less certain and will be in flux over the winter.)

[Oscars]

Wow!

 

I love it!

 

Excellent move by Bloom.

He has a lot more to accomplish before next season starts……

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Mmmm... wondering if Kike is also SS insurance if X opts out and leaves. Cora has played both Kike and Arroyo at short -- and not Story -- when Bogey rested.

 

With Kike in CF and Verdugo in RF, the free agent budget could also be used for two more bats -- LF and DH. Then the rest of the spending can be devoted to pitching, pitching, pitching.

 

Two reasonably priced candidates may be Brantley and Haniger. Mancini, as a RH-hitting 1B option, as well as part-time LF, more-time DH, would be ideal... except his price tag may be a lot higher, and it's doubtful Houston would let two starters go to Boston.

[Old Red]

Mmmm... wondering if Kike is also SS insurance if X opts out and leaves. Cora has played both Kike and Arroyo at short -- and not Story -- when Bogey rested.

 

With Kike in CF and Verdugo in RF, the free agent budget could also be used for two more bats -- LF and DH. Then the rest of the spending can be devoted to pitching, pitching, pitching.

 

Two reasonably priced candidates may be Brantley and Haniger. Mancini, as a RH-hitting 1B option, as well as part-time LF, more-time DH, would be ideal... except his price tag may be a lot higher, and it's doubtful Houston would let two starters go to Boston.

 

1. Cora came out, and said before the season even started, that Story would not be playing SS when Bogey didn’t, so don’t look at others playing SS as meaning anything. If Bogey isn’t resigned it remains to be seen who goes to SS, or 2B.

 

2. Dugo needs to go back to LF, and a RF would be more of a priority.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1. Cora came out, and said before the season even started, that Story would not be playing SS when Bogey didn’t, so don’t look at others playing SS as meaning anything. If Bogey isn’t resigned it remains to be seen who goes to SS, or 2B.

 

2. Dugo needs to go back to LF, and a RF would be more of a priority.

 

1. Story's staying at second. If Bogey leaves, it doesn't make sense for a guy like Bloom to pay big money for a new shortstop, when his top prospect can be a minimum wage fixture there in a year or two. Stop-gaps will be used in the meantime: Kike, Arroyo ("his bat plays"), Iglesias, etc...

 

It's just like first base and Casas. Young player, minimum wage. How many times does Bloom have to say any moves "have to make cents for the franchise."

 

2. Verdugo stays in RF, unless Henry sells a fleet of yachts and signs Judge. Verdugo has proven he has the arm and can play RF in Fenway. A free agent power hitter can learn the Wall in LF.

Edited September 6, 2022 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[notin]

1. Story's staying at second. If Bogey leaves, it doesn't make sense for a guy like Bloom to pay big money for a new shortstop, when his top prospect can be a minimum wage fixture there in a year or two. Stop-gaps will be used in the meantime: Kike, Arroyo ("his bat plays"), Iglesias, etc...

 

It's just like first base and Casas. Young player, minimum wage. How many times does Bloom have to say any moves "have to make cents for the franchise."

 

 

 

Certainly Story could remain at 2b, but you have to think part of the reason he was signed was just in case Bogaerts wasn’t. I really doubt Marcelo Mayer has any impact made on 2023 decisions, and I don’t think he should. Maybe the Sox go short term at 2b (Kolten Wong? Adam Frazier) and move Story to shortstop, and stop worrying about Mayer until he has some success in AA first.

 

Or maybe the Sox use the Enmanuel Valdez/Christian Arroyo platoon and sign no one for the position.

 

This might mean all they need is a RF…

Edited September 6, 2022 by notin

[jacksonianmarch]

Kike is an elite CFer defensively and Bloom took advantage of his down year to get him on the cheap for one season. That being said, Kike isn’t exactly an iron man out there. You better have a reliable 4th OFer

[notin]

Kike is an elite CFer defensively and Bloom took advantage of his down year to get him on the cheap for one season. That being said, Kike isn’t exactly an iron man out there. You better have a reliable 4th OFer

 

Rob Refsnyder, front and center.

 

But normally we want a lineup before we worry about who backs it up…

[notin]

2. Verdugo stays in RF, unless Henry sells a fleet of yachts and signs Judge. Verdugo has proven he has the arm and can play RF in Fenway. A free agent power hitter can learn the Wall in LF.

 

I like Verdugo in RF and don’t see the issues everyone else sees.

 

And I would only send him back to LF if the Sox acquired a better defensive RF. For example, Ramon Laureano, whose arbitration eligibility makes him available, should certainly prompt a return of Verdugo to LF if he were acquired…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Certainly Story could remain at 2b, but you have to think part of the reason he was signed was just in case Bogaerts wasn’t. I really doubt Marcelo Mayer has any impact made on 2023 decisions, and I don’t think he should. Maybe the Sox go short term at 2b (Kolten Wong? Adam Frazier) and move Story to shortstop, and worry about Mayer if and when he has some success in AA…

 

You don't think the front office has whiteboards in their conference room with projected starting line-ups for the next five years?

 

That doesn't mean they won't maybe trade Mayer in a package for Tatis, with the intent of moving him back to shortstop for the next decade, as long as he agrees to a contract amendment not to ride dirt bikes when infected with ringworm. But I hope not.

[Hugh2]

1. Story's staying at second. If Bogey leaves, it doesn't make sense for a guy like Bloom to pay big money for a new shortstop, when his top prospect can be a minimum wage fixture there in a year or two. Stop-gaps will be used in the meantime: Kike, Arroyo ("his bat plays"), Iglesias, etc...

 

It's just like first base and Casas. Young player, minimum wage. How many times does Bloom have to say any moves "have to make cents for the franchise."

 

2. Verdugo stays in RF, unless Henry sells a fleet of yachts and signs Judge. Verdugo has proven he has the arm and can play RF in Fenway. A free agent power hitter can learn the Wall in LF.

 

Obviously, not every team operates the same but as a general rule, you don't plan the big league roster on guys below AA. So much can happen between now and then and guys can always move off the position. The SS/3B tandem of Bogaerts/Devers could easily be 3B/1B in a few years. Mayer may lose a step and be better suited for 3B/2B too for all we know. Things don't always work out this way but generally speaking up the middle players are the most versatile on your roster. Mookie Betts was a 2B by trade but moved off position because he was blocked. Unless the guy is knocking on the door in AAA I don't think you worry about that, we could really use another bat to lengthen the lineup. Just think about how much better the offense has been with Kike/Story back. You take that away and shorten the lineup if you don't replace Bogey's bat.

 

Verdugo has the arm for RF, and he's not bad there but I don't think he's great either. I'd still like the Sox to go after a CF/RF type. I don't want another LFer.....we have 10,000 LFer on this team haha.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rob Refsnyder, front and center.

 

But normally we want a lineup before we worry about who backs it up…

 

With Kike penciled in as your starting CFer, you need to worry about who backs him up

[Hugh2]

I like Verdugo in RF and don’t see the issues everyone else sees.

 

And I would only send him back to LF if the Sox acquired a better defensive RF. For example, Ramon Laureano, whose arbitration eligibility makes him available, should certainly prompt a return of Verdugo to LF if he were acquired…

 

I like this, I'm ok with Verdugo in RF but I think the team is much better if you upgrade in RF and put Verdugo in LF. This team desperately needed two outfielders always, Kike is 1/2 the puzzle for 2023....and that's assuming he can stay healthy.

 

Not sure how great of a depth option Franchy/Duran is at this point. You hope Duran can take a step forward and maybe at least be a replacement next year, or maybe the bat develops to make up for subpar defense. But I never want to see him in CF/RF again. So if Kike goes down and and Verdugo slides to RF I still want a good CF/RF on this team. Which is why a guy like Nimo still makes sense if you ask me.

[notin]

You don't think the front office has whiteboards in their conference room with projected starting line-ups for the next five years?

 

That doesn't mean they won't maybe trade Mayer in a package for Tatis, with the intent of moving him back to shortstop for the next decade, as long as he agrees to a contract amendment not to ride dirt bikes when infected with ringworm. But I hope not.

 

No.

 

You do?

[Hugh2]

No.

 

You do?

 

They may, maybe not exactly how GG is envisioning it but I think they have a vision of what the roster could look like. But I don't think they plan as much based off of that because they know so much can happen, which is why I said in a previous comment, I don't think teams make roster decisions based on guys below AA.

[notin]

I like this, I'm ok with Verdugo in RF but I think the team is much better if you upgrade in RF and put Verdugo in LF. This team desperately needed two outfielders always, Kike is 1/2 the puzzle for 2023....and that's assuming he can stay healthy.

 

Not sure how great of a depth option Franchy/Duran is at this point. You hope Duran can take a step forward and maybe at least be a replacement next year, or maybe the bat develops to make up for subpar defense. But I never want to see him in CF/RF again. So if Kike goes down and and Verdugo slides to RF I still want a good CF/RF on this team. Which is why a guy like Nimo still makes sense if you ask me.

 

A Verdugo-Kike-Nimmo outfield who’d make so happy my bellybutton would squirt jelly…

[Hugh2]

A Verdugo-Kike-Nimmo outfield who’d make so happy my bellybutton would squirt jelly…

 

Especially if Kike stays healthy and you get the 2021 Kike. That outfield would be pretty damn good.

[notin]

They may, maybe not exactly how GG is envisioning it but I think they have a vision of what the roster could look like. But I don't think they plan as much based off of that because they know so much can happen, which is why I said in a previous comment, I don't think teams make roster decisions based on guys below AA.

 

 

I would think even two years out was impossible, and ultimately useless. By the time that gets relevant, half the names could be injured.

 

Soxprospects tries to do it one year in advance, and has shown it to be highly inaccurate ad yield any information beyond the intuitively obvious.

 

And that’s one year. What would a 5 year one look like? The only current starters that might still be with the team are Story and Casas. And Casas just made that list this weekend…

[Hugh2]

I would think even two years out was impossible, and ultimately useless. By the time that gets relevant, half the names could be injured.

 

Soxprospects tries to do it one year in advance, and has shown it to be highly inaccurate ad yield any information beyond the intuitively obvious.

 

And that’s one year. What would a 5 year one look like? The only current starters that might still be with the team are Story and Casas. And Casas just made that list this weekend…

 

They still do projections out to 2027 actually. But it comes with this disclaimer

 

This Future Projected Rosters page is NOT intended to reflect our actual roster projections for future years. These rosters only include players who are under team control for the respective future seasons, and do not account for trades, free agent signings, re-signings, future draft picks, or other acquisitions. These projections only include players under team control for future years (even if in some cases that control is subject to a player option). This page will be updated on a monthly basis.

 

https://soxprospects.com/future.htm

[Bellhorn04]

A Verdugo-Kike-Nimmo outfield who’d make so happy my bellybutton would squirt jelly…

 

Please refrain from such images.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

No.

 

You do?

 

If not, it's on somebody's clipboard. It would be irresponsible and unbelievable if a front office just built teams year to year and didn't consider who was projected to join a roster and even start in the near future... especially with an eye on the budget.

 

As many posters continually point out here, GMs can't just throw bundles of cash at players every time they need to fill positions... particularly not if there's a cheaper alternative coming soon. The Sox re-signed Kike for just one more year. Does that in any way imply he'll be part of Bloom's "core of sustained contenders?" Or might he be using Kike to keep the position warm for Cedanne Rafaela?

[Bellhorn04]

If not, it's on somebody's clipboard. It would be irresponsible and unbelievable if a front office just built teams year to year and didn't consider who was projected to join a roster and even start in the near future... especially with an eye on the budget.

 

They probably have an Excel spreadsheet or two...

[moonslav59]

Mmmm... wondering if Kike is also SS insurance if X opts out and leaves. Cora has played both Kike and Arroyo at short -- and not Story -- when Bogey rested.

 

With Kike in CF and Verdugo in RF, the free agent budget could also be used for two more bats -- LF and DH. Then the rest of the spending can be devoted to pitching, pitching, pitching.

 

Two reasonably priced candidates may be Brantley and Haniger. Mancini, as a RH-hitting 1B option, as well as part-time LF, more-time DH, would be ideal... except his price tag may be a lot higher, and it's doubtful Houston would let two starters go to Boston.

 

I really would prefer Dugo in LF, and since Pham and Refsnyder both bat righty, it's hard to work out a platoon for LF or RF. (I'm not counting lefty Duran in the OF mix, except as minor league depth.)

 

If we can find steep upgrades at SP & Pen, and someone close to Bogey's production at 2B or SS, I guess I'd be okay with ...

 

LF: Pham

CF: Kike

RF: Dugo

 

or

 

LF: Dugo

CF: Kike

RF: Refsnyder

 

Pham & Ref might end up being part of a rotating DH slot, along with Arroyo/EValdez and one from Hosmer, Dalbec or Cordero.

[Old Red]

I really would prefer Dugo in LF, and since Pham and Refsnyder both bat righty, it's hard to work out a platoon for LF or RF. (I'm not counting lefty Duran in the OF mix, except as minor league depth.)

 

If we can find steep upgrades at SP & Pen, and someone close to Bogey's production at 2B or SS, I guess I'd be okay with ...

 

LF: Pham

CF: Kike

RF: Dugo

 

or

 

LF: Dugo

CF: Kike

RF: Refsnyder

 

Pham & Ref might end up being part of a rotating DH slot, along with Arroyo/EValdez and one from Hosmer, Dalbec or Cordero.

Dugy needs to go back to LF, and the Ref is nothing more than a journeyman 4th/5th OF. I don’t even count Duran as even minor league depth anymore, and same with Franchy. I’ve seen enough of both in the field, and at bat.

[Hugh2]

Dugy needs to go back to LF, and the Ref is nothing more than a journeyman 4th/5th OF. I don’t even count Duran as even minor league depth anymore, and same with Franchy. I’ve seen enough of both in the field, and at bat.

 

Some of those guys are fine depth options or might end up being a good platoon/4th outfielder type. But how many of those do you need on your roster? sure if a guy has options you can keep him in AAA, but this team obviously still needs another CF/RF type for next year.

[Old Red]

Some of those guys are fine depth options or might end up being a good platoon/4th outfielder type. But how many of those do you need on your roster? sure if a guy has options you can keep him in AAA, but this team obviously still needs another CF/RF type for next year.

 

Agree 100%.

[Bellhorn04]

Dugy needs to go back to LF, and the Ref is nothing more than a journeyman 4th/5th OF. I don’t even count Duran as even minor league depth anymore, and same with Franchy. I’ve seen enough of both in the field, and at bat.

 

Ref is a journeyman who seems to have become a pretty decent player. Hopefully he's back.