2023 Free Agents

[Deja Doh]

We dropped the ball this year. The top free agents are:

 

Looking at guys under 35:

 

Offense

1). Aaron Judge (by far the top player in free agency and we lack power)

2). Tre Turner (the best player in free agency and we have two shortstops)

3). Nolan Arenado (the best 3rd baseman in the league, and we have a good one)

4). Anthony Rizzo (we need a first baseman)

5). Josh Bell (about the same as Hosmer)

Pitching

1). Carlos Rodon

1). Aaron Nola

3). Jacob deGrom (injury prone)

4). Clayton Kershaw (not sure why we didn't show interest last year, he's still solid)

5). Luis Severino

 

Our FA effective guys:

Nathan Eovaldi (need to sign him)

Michael Wacha (he was a surprise)

JD Martinez (we need a DH, his power stats may be down, but he can still hit)

Chris Sale (injured)

Eric Hosmer (injured)

[sk7326]

The first step is what happens to Bogaerts. I am ambivalent about bringing him back - but bringing him back at a reasonable number is a fine move. But if the team is bullish on its internal options for SS (see Marcelo Mayer), I could see the team signing a shorter term solution at SS. I dunno.

 

The team needs a 1B in theory - but they traded for Hosmer, so we're stuck with him.

 

The team needs production from RF. Judge would be great - but even just finding a decent platoon would help.

 

I am in favor of re-signing Eovaldi, but not at a big number. Ditto for Wacha.

[Bellhorn04]

The first step is what happens to Bogaerts. I am ambivalent about bringing him back - but bringing him back at a reasonable number is a fine move. But if the team is bullish on its internal options for SS (see Marcelo Mayer), I could see the team signing a shorter term solution at SS. I dunno.

 

The team needs a 1B in theory - but they traded for Hosmer, so we're stuck with him.

 

 

Not Casas?

[mvp 78]

It's not a good FA class for what the Sox need.

[oldtimer]

I agree that the first step has to begin with Bogaerts. That impacts our decision on free agency. If we can't sign him at near fair market value, we still have Story who can move over and Arroyo who could play 2nd backed up by Kike, who we already signed. Devers is a fixture at 3rd. I don't believe we should resign JDM as he is on the decline and it will likely get more pronounced. With Verdugo an acceptable left or right fielder and Refsnyder at least a 4th outfielder, it looks like we should go for a center/right fielder and a DH who can back up at 1st base as Casas is by no means a proven commodity. McGuire at catcher needs either a back up or a first string.

 

Aaron Judge would be a great acquisition but probably the contract requirements would be so unreasonable that it would tie the Sox hands for years to come. The Rays aren't paying any one player huge money and yet remain competitive. Something to keep in mind. Huge long term contracts come with huge risks and need to be avoided.

 

I haven't looked into the best option for the outfield but would go for a young and up and coming player. For DH/1st base, I still see CJ Cron as someone we should sign. Catcher is very tricky as there are few top of the line catchers on the market.

[moonslav59]

Not saying these will be or should be Sox targets:

 

C: Contreras 31, Narvaez 31, Vaz 31

1B: Rizzo 32, Bell 30

2B: KWong 32, Frazier 30

SS: TTurner 29, Bogey 30, Correa 28, Swanson 29, Anderson 30

CF/RF: Judge 31, Nimmo 30, Kiermaier 33, Haniger 32

DH: Mancini 31 (1B/LF)

 

Other SP'er not listed: (QO Wacha or Nate?)

Bassitt 34, TAnderson 33, Manaea 31, M Perez 31, Taillon 31

 

[sk7326]

Not Casas?

 

Casas is possible, but there is the DH ... so it is sort of either/or ... fortunately finding a competent DH should be pretty easy

[moonslav59]

We could see a rotation of 1B/2B/LF depth as our DH, but not all these guys can fit on the bench, when you go with 13 pitchers:

 

Casas

Hosmer

(Dalbec-Cordero AAA?)

Arroyo

EValdez

Pham

Refsnyder

(Rafaela/Kavadas/Abreu AAA?)

[notin]

It's not a good FA class for what the Sox need.

 

Top non-pitching priorities for Boston need to be Bogaerts and Brandon Nimmo

 

Top pitching priorities need to be Wacha, Fulmer, and Rafael Montero…

[notin]

Casas is possible, but there is the DH ... so it is sort of either/or ... fortunately finding a competent DH should be pretty easy

 

Josh Bell is a good DH option. I disagree with him being a top 5 free agent.

 

Or you can always unload Hosmer for a DH another team doesn’t feel good about paying for anymore (Hunter Dozier? Marcell Ozuna? Jorge Soler?)

[Jasonbay44]

Josh Bell is a good DH option. I disagree with him being a top 5 free agent.

 

Or you can always unload Hosmer for a DH another team doesn’t feel good about paying for anymore (Hunter Dozier? Marcell Ozuna? Jorge Soler?)

 

Hopefully not Ozuna, that dude is a piece of s*** human.

[moonslav59]

As much as I've been complaining about how weak a DH rotation might look, I can't see spending very big on a DH.

 

We need:

 

1. SP (Wacha? Trade for Lopez or Beiber?)

2. SS/2B (Bogey, Swanson, K Wong?)

3. CF/RF (Nimmo?)

4. RP (several options)

[redsoxrules]

Need a corner OF with power. Also need 2 good bullpen arm along with a a starter. If Bogey leaves then they will need another infielder. Lots of work to do. They will probably go with Casas at first. If not I'd sign Rizzo as he can probably get him for a decent price

[notin]

Need a corner OF with power. Also need 2 good bullpen arm along with a a starter. If Bogey leaves then they will need another infielder. Lots of work to do. They will probably go with Casas at first. If not I'd sign Rizzo as he can probably get him for a decent price

 

Rizzo has a $16mill player option, which guarantees he will cost more and get a QO.

 

A 1b is a waste of money for a team that already has two under contract for next season and both at league minimum. Three if you count Dalbec…

[Jasonbay44]

Some targets for Bloom:

 

Mark Melancon - near 5 ERA and -1 WAR

 

TJ McFarland 7 ERA -1 WAR

 

Sergio Romo 7.55 ERA -0.8 WAR

 

All fit a Chaim bloom bullpen and I think he’ll target them all

[notin]

Some targets for Bloom:

 

Mark Melancon - near 5 ERA and -1 WAR

 

TJ McFarland 7 ERA -1 WAR

 

Sergio Romo 7.55 ERA -0.8 WAR

 

All fit a Chaim bloom bullpen and I think he’ll target them all

 

They’ll fit right in with Schreiber, Whitlock, and Houck…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They’ll fit right in with Schreiber, Whitlock, and Houck…

 

The Sox should settle on roles for Whitlock and Houck in or before Spring Training. Though both pitchers had many similar stats in '21 and '22, neither looked as consistent this year. Injuries were certainly factors, but trying to convert Whitlock into a starter, and Houck into a reliever, wasn't a total success for either.

 

If Houck is still on the team, he should return to the starting rotation. It's ok if he misses a start in Toronto, or if Boston has to rearrange its probables for a week. But the Red Sox can't pretend for another second that they're serious about being a contender in 2023 with a closer who chooses to be unavailable for entire series in a division rival's city all season.

 

The front office needs to rectify this in the offseason, for fans still contemplating investing their time and money -- and for the coaching staff and teammates caught in the middle.

[Old Red]

The Sox should settle on roles for Whitlock and Houck in or before Spring Training. Though both pitchers had many similar stats in '21 and '22, neither looked as consistent this year. Injuries were certainly factors, but trying to convert Whitlock into a starter, and Houck into a reliever, wasn't a total success for either.

 

If Houck is still on the team, he should return to the starting rotation. It's ok if he misses a start in Toronto, or if Boston has to rearrange its probables for a week. But the Red Sox can't pretend for another second that they're serious about being a contender in 2023 with a closer who chooses to be unavailable for entire series in a division rival's city all season.

 

The front office needs to rectify this in the offseason, for fans still contemplating investing their time and money -- and for the coaching staff and teammates caught in the middle.

 

Outside of the trade for JBJ the biggest problem to me going into the season was not having a plan , and , or a closer to start the season, and still don’t for that matter. Looks right right now Whitlock is the 8th inning guy, and that’s fine, but I still say a closer is need not named Houck.

[notin]

Outside of the trade for JBJ the biggest problem to me going into the season was not having a plan , and , or a closer to start the season, and still don’t for that matter. Looks right right now Whitlock is the 8th inning guy, and that’s fine, but I still say a closer is need not named Houck.

 

They had a good pen on paper to start the season. They also probably didn’t give up on Houck completely like many fans, too. But the guy was an All Star closer in 2021.

 

The biggest issue was the depth. They kept raiding what could have been a decent pen to backfill injuries in the rotation. This just lead to more injuries and missed starts…

[sk7326]

Outside of the trade for JBJ the biggest problem to me going into the season was not having a plan , and , or a closer to start the season, and still don’t for that matter. Looks right right now Whitlock is the 8th inning guy, and that’s fine, but I still say a closer is need not named Houck.

 

They wanted to see if Whitilock and Houck were starters or not - and unfortunately they both got hurt which screwed up the answer. Whitlock as a starter should still be explored - but it is possible Whitlock should just be a multi-inning relief weapon and that's great. Houck I just don't think can get lefties out (this is all eye test) at a sufficient rate longer term.

 

What I'd like to see is Whitlock and Houck being used as 6-9 out relievers ...

[notin]

I didn’t even mind the JBJ trade.

 

Sure he didn’t hit, but the Sox got him too shore up outfield defense, which he did. And when the Sox had Verdugo-Kike-JBJ in the outfield, they defended it well. Once Duran took over CF, you should have seen that outfield defense is just not a given and can be very important and difficult.

 

It’s actually weird that people bash the improvements the JBJ trade did make, but then also think Verdugo isn’t good enough for RF…

[notin]

They wanted to see if Whitilock and Houck were starters or not - and unfortunately they both got hurt which screwed up the answer. Whitlock as a starter should still be explored - but it is possible Whitlock should just be a multi-inning relief weapon and that's great. Houck I just don't think can get lefties out (this is all eye test) at a sufficient rate longer term.

 

What I'd like to see is Whitlock and Houck being used as 6-9 out relievers ...

 

To me, neither are starters and hopefully neither ever do it again…

[Hugh2]

Houck in the pen for certain, Whitlock I go rotation but don’t hate him in the pen.

[Hugh2]

Nimmo

Bogaerts/Turner

Contreras

Degrome

[Old Red]

They had a good pen on paper to start the season. They also probably didn’t give up on Houck completely like many fans, too. But the guy was an All Star closer in 2021.

 

The biggest issue was the depth. They kept raiding what could have been a decent pen to backfill injuries in the rotation. This just lead to more injuries and missed starts…

 

Good pen on paper to start the season? Outside of Whitlock going in who was their closer, and setup man. Barnes, and Robles?

[Old Red]

To me, neither are starters and hopefully neither ever do it again…

 

This we agree on.

[Old Red]

I didn’t even mind the JBJ trade.

 

Sure he didn’t hit, but the Sox got him too shore up outfield defense, which he did. And when the Sox had Verdugo-Kike-JBJ in the outfield, they defended it well. Once Duran took over CF, you should have seen that outfield defense is just not a given and can be very important and difficult.

 

It’s actually weird that people bash the improvements the JBJ trade did make, but then also think Verdugo isn’t good enough for RF…

They already knew that JBJ couldn’t hit, and you made excuses that he was on a new team facing new pitchers the year before. Don’t use Duran as an example that OF D is not a given. He’s pretty much the worst of the worst, and most ML OF can track, and catch a flyball.JBJ improved the D, but did that improve the team when you took away a 30+ HR, and 90+ RBI man? The whole OF got off to a real bad start with the bat, and so did the team, and Kike has sucked all year when he has played with the bat.

[notin]

They already knew that JBJ couldn’t hit, and you made excuses that he was on a new team facing new pitchers the year before. Don’t use Duran as an example that OF D is not a given. He’s pretty much the worst of the worst, and most ML OF can track, and catch a flyball.JBJ improved the D, but did that improve the team when you took away a 30+ HR, and 90+ RBI man? The whole OF got off to a real bad start with the bat, and so did the team, and Kike has sucked all year when he has played with the bat.

 

 

I didn’t make excuses; I suggested possibilities. And it was absolutely possible he had struggled due to being in a new league. He would not be the first player to do so.

 

Not sure why you hate Duran as an example of poor outfield D, other than it gives a very tiny reason to like something about the JBJ trade. (OMG it shows the trade might have been on to a little something!!). Whether or not Duran was the worst is immaterial; he’s the epitome of poor outfield defense, and the Sox felt they could upgrade there.

 

The outfield offense was not part of the point, and isn’t the only job of outfielders. In a post about how they tried to improve D, you keep bringing up offense. I think they were OK with somewhat of an downgrade offensively, but clearly not to what JBJ regressed to…

[notin]

Good pen on paper to start the season? Outside of Whitlock going in who was their closer, and setup man. Barnes, and Robles?

 

If Barnes came back from his bad 10 IP funk last year and pitched to his norms, you had Barnes, Houck, Whitlock, former closers Diekman and Robles, Strahm, Brasier, etc.

 

The problem is when most teams loot their bullpen for a SP, they take a guy from the backend, usually a long reliever/swing man. The Sox kept taking the late inning guys…

[Old Red]

I didn’t make excuses; I suggested possibilities. And it was absolutely possible he had struggled due to being in a new league. He would not be the first player to do so.

 

Not sure why you hate Duran as an example of poor outfield D, other than it gives a very tiny reason to like something about the JBJ trade. (OMG it shows the trade might have been on to a little something!!). Whether or not Duran was the worst is immaterial; he’s the epitome of poor outfield defense, and the Sox felt they could upgrade there.

 

The outfield offense was not part of the point, and isn’t the only job of outfielders. In a post about how they tried to improve D, you keep bringing up offense. I think they were OK with somewhat of an downgrade offensively, but clearly not to what JBJ regressed to…

 

JBJ can’t hit, because he can’t hit, and a new team, and a new league had nothing to do with it. Duran plain, and simple sucks as an outfielder, and that about as bad of an example that anyone could use. JBJ improved the D in RF, but hurt the overall team in the process, so big deal. You were one of the few who liked the JBJ trade, and good for you, but to most it was more than a head scratcher.