Kike Hernandez signs 1 year extension

[oldtimer]

Bloom and Cora are busy making gratuitous promises that the Sox will be much better in 2023. The proof will be in the efforts made and the resulting record. i've heard enough of the banal comments by them this year and the result was to wind up in last place. Get with it or get out of the way!

[moonslav59]

Bloom and Cora are busy making gratuitous promises that the Sox will be much better in 2023. The proof will be in the efforts made and the resulting record. i've heard enough of the banal comments by them this year and the result was to wind up in last place. Get with it or get out of the way!

 

I think there is not doubt major moves will be made. It's just a question of them working or not.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think there is not doubt major moves will be made. It's just a question of them working or not.

 

One ex-player turned media member (cough, Merloni) says the Sox should target these guys: Cron or Abreu for RH DH/1B, Conforto and/or Nimmo (depending whether Pham returns), Rodon for top of the rotation, get a closer, and keep X and Raffy, of course.

 

If you're already over the tax limit, might as well be good.

[mvp 78]

One ex-player turned media member (cough, Merloni) says the Sox should target these guys: Cron or Abreu for RH DH/1B, Conforto and/or Nimmo (depending whether Pham returns), Rodon for top of the rotation, get a closer, and keep X and Raffy, of course.

 

If you're already over the tax limit, might as well be good.

 

Cron would have to be a trade acquisition and I mentioned him as a target midseason this year. Abreu has less HRs in 2022 than he did in 2020. I'd be wary of giving him a lot of money at 36.

 

Could they buy low on a returning Conforto? Seems like he's a better fit than Nimmo for this lineup? IDK.

 

Can you trust Rodon to stay healthy enough for a large contract? I'd rather trade for a younger guy than go the FA route.

[Bellhorn04]

Cron would have to be a trade acquisition and I mentioned him as a target midseason this year. Abreu has less HRs in 2022 than he did in 2020. I'd be wary of giving him a lot of money at 36.

 

Abreu also leads the AL in hits, has a .383 OBP and a 137 OPS+. I think he has to be a target if the price is "reasonable".

[mvp 78]

Abreu also leads the AL in hits, has a .383 OBP and a 137 OPS+. I think he has to be a target if the price is "reasonable".

 

It's the "reasonableness" that is my concern. The drop in power needs to bump the contract down a bit.

[Hugh2]

I like Nimmo over Conforto, not sure how I feel about a guy who has been sitting for a whole year. Then again, maybe he takes a one year to try and rebuild his value. Or maybe they can sign him to a low AAV contract with an opt out after 1 year.

 

But Nimmo is a guy who can lengthen your lineup, has high OBP, and can play in both CF/RF. Which this team desperately needs.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Abreu also leads the AL in hits, has a .383 OBP and a 137 OPS+. I think he has to be a target if the price is "reasonable".

 

A professional hitter once coveted by Boston, still getting it done... it would be worth it, not to have to watch him crush Red Sox pitchers any more.

[moonslav59]

I like Nimmo over Conforto, not sure how I feel about a guy who has been sitting for a whole year. Then again, maybe he takes a one year to try and rebuild his value. Or maybe they can sign him to a low AAV contract with an opt out after 1 year.

 

But Nimmo is a guy who can lengthen your lineup, has high OBP, and can play in both CF/RF. Which this team desperately needs.

 

I agree. We need to work on OBP more than power, but power is also a concern.

[mvp 78]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/jose-abreu-547989?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

 

It's weird, because his EV is still really high. That -8 run value on the 4 seamer is something of a concern. Looks like he's still hitting the ball hard but his launch angle is just lower.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I like Nimmo over Conforto, not sure how I feel about a guy who has been sitting for a whole year. Then again, maybe he takes a one year to try and rebuild his value. Or maybe they can sign him to a low AAV contract with an opt out after 1 year.

 

But Nimmo is a guy who can lengthen your lineup, has high OBP, and can play in both CF/RF. Which this team desperately needs.

 

Conforto has more to prove, but you're right; he may have to accept less to do it -- which may make him more attractive to the Boston spenders this winter.

[mvp 78]

I like Nimmo over Conforto, not sure how I feel about a guy who has been sitting for a whole year. Then again, maybe he takes a one year to try and rebuild his value. Or maybe they can sign him to a low AAV contract with an opt out after 1 year.

 

But Nimmo is a guy who can lengthen your lineup, has high OBP, and can play in both CF/RF. Which this team desperately needs.

 

I think Nimmo could be a value play because he missed the time and is coming off injury.

[Bellhorn04]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/jose-abreu-547989?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

 

It's weird, because his EV is still really high. That -8 run value on the 4 seamer is something of a concern. Looks like he's still hitting the ball hard but his launch angle is just lower.

 

Abreu's .953 OPS in 128 Fenway PA's is attractive.

[mvp 78]

A professional hitter once coveted by Boston, still getting it done... it would be worth it, not to have to watch him crush Red Sox pitchers any more.

 

111 tOPS+ vs the Sox, who are his 4th favorite AL team to play against (aside from the Tigers, Angels and Orioles).

 

He has a 119 tOPS+ at Fenway.

[Hugh2]

I agree. We need to work on OBP more than power, but power is also a concern.

 

Nimmo averages about 17 HR's per 162 games. That's not a power hitter but that's not a slouch either. That's above average.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Nimmo averages about 17 HR's per 162 games. That's not a power hitter but that's not a slouch either. That's above average.

 

The Red Sox starting outfield this year has 18 HRs... total.

[mvp 78]

Nimmo averages about 17 HR's per 162 games. That's not a power hitter but that's not a slouch either. That's above average.

 

He's only played over 100 games twice in his career so what does a 162 game average matter?

[Hugh2]

He's only played over 100 games twice in his career so what does a 162 game average matter?

 

irrelevant, point is he has decent (not great) power, if anything that's a knock on his ability to stay healthy, and while he has spent some time on the DL the major reason he hasn't played over 100 games more than twice is because he's only been an established Major leaguer for 4 seasons where he could possibly have. He was an up/down guy until 2018 and no one could have played 100 games in 2020.

[moonslav59]

He's only played over 100 games twice in his career so what does a 162 game average matter?

 

It's a gauge of how much power so meone has per a full season. If he plays 120 games, we can figure about 12-13 Hrs.

[mvp 78]

It's a gauge of how much power so meone has per a full season. If he plays 120 games, we can figure about 12-13 Hrs.

 

Should we really be looking to sign guys that can only play 120 games?

[moonslav59]

Should we really be looking to sign guys that can only play 120 games?

 

But you are saying Conforto, instead?

[mvp 78]

But you are saying Conforto, instead?

 

He played 150 games in 18 and 19 and I think you'd be buying low on him coming off the injury. I anticipate he'd get a smaller deal than Nimmo, which is the only reason I'm suggesting Conforto instead. Maybe he'd even sign a short term deal to earn his value back.

 

Both guys have similar question marks about durability IMO, similar career OPS, both LHB and played OF for the dumb Mets. I just think Conforto could be a little cheaper this offseason.

[moonslav59]

He played 150 games in 18 and 19 and I think you'd be buying low on him coming off the injury. I anticipate he'd get a smaller deal than Nimmo, which is the only reason I'm suggesting Conforto instead. Maybe he'd even sign a short term deal to earn his value back.

 

Both guys have similar question marks about durability IMO, similar career OPS, both LHB and played OF for the dumb Mets. I just think Conforto could be a little cheaper this offseason.

 

He should be cheaper and for a reason.

[mvp 78]

He should be cheaper and for a reason.

 

Because he's coming off an injury, but could still produce at the same level as Nimmo if not better.

[moonslav59]

Because he's coming off an injury, but could still produce at the same level as Nimmo if not better.

 

I'd be fine with either one, and maybe if Conforto is much cheaper, he'd be better. I think Nimmo might be a better defender in RF, but I'm not sure.

 

Nimmo's OBP? .482 career, .484 since 2018/ .377 since 2020. (17-18 HR per 162 almost any time frame.)

 

Conforto's is not bad: .356 career, .360 since '18 and .367 since 2020. (21 Hrs per 162 since 2020/28 since 2018)

[notin]

I agree. We need to work on OBP more than power, but power is also a concern.

 

Another OBP outfielder is Yelich.

 

Yelich is owed $156mill over the next years, which looked like a bargain 3 years ago whrn he was hitting 40HRs with an OPS over 1.000. The last couple years, he’s been more of a .790OPS guy with 9-12HRs.

 

The core of Milwaukee’s team that keeps them competitive is the pitching - specifically Burnes, Woodrruff, Peralta and Williams. All of them will be in various stages of arbitration in the next couple seasons.

 

Might the Brewers be open to a Yelich/Hosmer swap? Yelich plus $39mill for Hosmer, meaning Milwaukee essentially takes over Hosmer’s contract and the Sox get Yelich for an AAV of $19.1mill. Milwaukee saves $117 mill for pitching arb cases and upgrades defensively over Rowdy “Move me to DH” Tellez at 1b. The Sox get Yelich, who, despite his power struggles, still has a .360 OBP since 2019…

[moonslav59]

Another OBP outfielder is Yelich.

 

Yelich is owed $156mill over the next years, which looked like a bargain 3 years ago whrn he was hitting 40HRs with an OPS over 1.000. The last couple years, he’s been more of a .790OPS guy with 9-12HRs.

 

The core of Milwaukee’s team that keeps them competitive is the pitching - specifically Burnes, Woodrruff, Peralta and Williams. All of them will be in various stages of arbitration in the next couple seasons.

 

Might the Brewers be open to a Yelich/Hosmer swap? Yelich plus $39mill for Hosmer, meaning Milwaukee essentially takes over Hosmer’s contract and the Sox get Yelich for an AAV of $19.1mill. Milwaukee saves $117 mill for pitching arb cases and upgrades defensively over Rowdy “Move me to DH” Tellez at 1b. The Sox get Yelich, who, despite his power struggles, still has a .360 OBP since 2019…

 

How about a top pitcher and Yelich for Hosmer & a couple decent pieces with no money?

[mvp 78]

How about a top pitcher and Yelich for Hosmer & a couple decent pieces with no money?

 

BTV doesn't accept those types of deals.

 

Reality check!

You need to add at least one high-value player to the other side of this trade for it to be accepted, and make sure there’s not too many.

[mvp 78]

BTV accepted:

 

Yelich

Devin Williams

120M

 

Hosmer

Winckowski

Houck

[mvp 78]

No way does that deal get done in real life.