2023 Free Agents

[moonslav59]

Spotrac's market value for free agent pitchers, with approx AAV:

 

Verlander and deGrom, $41M; Rodon and Kershaw @ $31M

 

Nola @ $26M, Bassitt @ $21M; Eovaldi @ $16M, Thor @ $15M

 

Taillon and Walker $14M, Tyler Anderson @ $13M; Manaea and Wacha $12M, Heaney @ $11M

 

Which guys -- if any -- make sense for Bloom?

 

The Sox really need an ace, but age and health issues make one Verlander or one deGrom less sensible than a trio of Anderson, Manaea and Wacha...

 

At those dollars, I'd look to trade for a solid pitcher.

 

If I had to, I'd sign 1-2 from...

 

1. Manaea

2. Wacha

3. Taillon

[mvp 78]

From that lot, I go with Manaea…

 

Manaea is not a Bloom guy from the looks of his Statcast page. Woof.

[notin]

Manaea is not a Bloom guy from the looks of his Statcast page. Woof.

 

But he does look like Sideshow Bob if he let himself go, and that has to count for something…

[mvp 78]

At those dollars, I'd look to trade for a solid pitcher.

 

If I had to, I'd sign 1-2 from...

 

1. Manaea

2. Wacha

3. Taillon

 

Excluding the 20M+ guys, the order of preference would be:

 

Taillon

Syndergaard

Wacha

Walker

Manaea

 

I'm not sure I'd want two of them though. They are all mid rotation guys at best.

[mvp 78]

But he does look like Sideshow Bob if he let himself go, and that has to count for something…

 

Die Wally, Die.

[redsoxrules]

Manaea at 12? He was putrid down the stretch this year.

 

I'm not sure Heaney should get a pay raise after missing half a season.

 

Walker at 14 seems like an overpay.

 

Syndergaard and Eovaldi may be worse bets than Taillon going forward.

 

Is Bassitt really a $21M guy? That seems really high. That's basically the inflated Fangraphs value of WAR.

 

Kershaw signed 1/17 last season. He's now going to get 31M AAV? These numbers seem a little high...

 

Yeah quite high. I get the season Verlander just had but no thanks on 41 for him. Degrom is in a class of his own on that one. If there was a crystal ball that would say he wouldn't get injured I would grab him. Reminds me of Pedro in the old days.

[mvp 78]

Yeah quite high. I get the season Verlander just had but no thanks on 41 for him. Degrom is in a class of his own on that one. If there was a crystal ball that would say he wouldn't get injured I would grab him. Reminds me of Pedro in the old days.

 

The fact that deGrom came back after injury and pitched great would make me tempted to give him a large contract to get him out of Queens. Mets are said to be prioritizing Nimmo and Diaz rather than deGrom.

[mvp 78]

Since the 22-23 Offseason Thread was locked, I'll just put this here:

 

@ChrisCotillo

Many key dates coming up for the Red Sox:

 

11/8-10: GM Meetings in Vegas

11/8 or 11/9: Bogaerts' opt-out decision due

11/10 or 11/11: Team options, QOs due

11/15: Rule 5 protection deadline

11/18: Non-tender deadline

11/20 or 11/21: Qo decisions due

12/5-7: Winter Meetings in SD

[harmony]

FanGraphs has ranked its Top 50 free agents with projected contracts:

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-top-50-free-agents/

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

FanGraphs has ranked its Top 50 free agents with projected contracts:

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-top-50-free-agents/

 

If fangraphs numbers materialize, would Red Sox fans rather have deGrom at 3 for $141M or Rodon at 5 for $120M? Each have injured histories and could become Sale contracts at any second.

 

If I had to choose, I'd take Rodon because of the AAV -- $24M is basically half of $47M for deGrom -- which would be a lot better for a rebuilding team's budget.

 

Also in 2023, Rodon will be 30. deGrom will be 35 -- or two years older than Nathan Eovaldi.

[notin]

If fangraphs numbers materialize, would Red Sox fans rather have deGrom at 3 for $141M or Rodon at 5 for $120M? Each have injured histories and could become Sale contracts at any second.

 

If I had to choose, I'd take Rodon because of the AAV -- $24M is basically half of $47M for deGrom -- which would be a lot better for a rebuilding team's budget.

 

Also in 2023, Rodon will be 30. deGrom will be 35 -- or two years older than Nathan Eovaldi.

 

Probably better off without either. As you said, e already have Sale at a $29mill AAV…

[Bellhorn04]

Probably better off without either. As you said, e already have Sale at a $29mill AAV…

 

$25.6 mill AAV. Just like that, you have $3.4 mill more to spend.

[notin]

If fangraphs numbers materialize, would Red Sox fans rather have deGrom at 3 for $141M or Rodon at 5 for $120M? Each have injured histories and could become Sale contracts at any second.

 

If I had to choose, I'd take Rodon because of the AAV -- $24M is basically half of $47M for deGrom -- which would be a lot better for a rebuilding team's budget.

 

Also in 2023, Rodon will be 30. deGrom will be 35 -- or two years older than Nathan Eovaldi.

 

Use free agency to build the bullpen.

 

I’ve repeatedly shilled for Montero and Fulmer. Two other intriguing names are Robert Suarez and Miguel Castro…

[notin]

$25.6 mill AAV. Just like that, you have $3.4 mill more to spend.

 

Oh f***. Is this one of those deferred money deals? How many more years?

 

This board had a ton of DD Supporters rooting for the Phillies so DD could, and I quote, “stick it to Henry.”

 

Well I think DD already did that with this Sale contract…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Probably better off without either. As you said, e already have Sale at a $29mill AAV…

 

Ya, this winter may be more important than ever for Bloom that any pitchers he acquires, actually, you know... pitch.

 

2022 pitchers starting a minimum of 25 games -- Houston: 5, Boston: 2 (Pivetta and Hill).

 

Past Red Sox rotations -- 2021: 3, 2018: 3, 2013: 4, 2007: 3, 2004: 5, 1986: 4, 1975: 3, 1967: 1 (Jim Lonborg, who started 39).

[Hugh2]

Just go Bogaerts/DeGrome/Nimmo and call it a day. If the Sox are content going over the cap then I'd offer a QO to one of Wacha/Eovaldi as well.

 

DeGrome

Sale

Wacha/Eovaldi

Bello

Pivetta

Whitlock/Crawford/Winc Hill/Paxton?

 

 

CF - Nimmo

SS - Bogaerts

3B - Devers

1B - Casas

2B - Story

CF - Kike

LF - Verdugo

DH - Hosmer/Dalbec

C - McGuire/Wong

[Larry Cook]

What would it take to sign deGrom to a three or four year deal. 140 million or 175 million? Or does degrom’s violent delivery means he will continue have arm troubles in the future?

[mvp 78]

Just go Bogaerts/DeGrome/Nimmo and call it a day. If the Sox are content going over the cap then I'd offer a QO to one of Wacha/Eovaldi as well.

 

DeGrome

Sale

Wacha/Eovaldi

Bello

Pivetta

Whitlock/Crawford/Winc Hill/Paxton?

 

 

CF - Nimmo

SS - Bogaerts

3B - Devers

1B - Casas

2B - Story

CF - Kike

LF - Verdugo

DH - Hosmer/Dalbec

C - McGuire/Wong

 

Why offer a QO to Wacha when you can sign him for 10M?

[notin]

Why offer a QO to Wacha when you can sign him for 10M?

 

A QO to Eovaldii - his other option - does make sense…

[moonslav59]

A QO to Eovaldii - his other option - does make sense…

 

I know it's just 1 year, but...

[oldtimer]

Just go Bogaerts/DeGrome/Nimmo and call it a day. If the Sox are content going over the cap then I'd offer a QO to one of Wacha/Eovaldi as well.

 

DeGrome

Sale

Wacha/Eovaldi

Bello

Pivetta

Whitlock/Crawford/Winc Hill/Paxton?

 

 

CF - Nimmo

SS - Bogaerts

3B - Devers

1B - Casas

2B - Story

CF - Kike

LF - Verdugo

DH - Hosmer/Dalbec

C - McGuire/Wong

 

You have two CFs and no right RF. I assume one of the two would play right. I can't imagine Hosmer/Dalbec as our DH's. Surely we could do better.

 

It all will hinge on what we do with Bogaerts. Until that is settled, there is not much meaningful that can be done at least with the field players as we won't know our budget flexibility nor if we need to go after a talented SS. If we have set aside a budget for pitching, we can move there although what FA's would markedly improve the staff? I don't see great alternatives.

[notin]

I know it's just 1 year, but...

 

Yes he could and very likely will get hurt. But that really also applies to all the top tier pitchers this year…

[notin]

You have two CFs and no right RF.

 

He took the banning of the shift a little too far…

[Hugh2]

Two names the Sox are reportedly looking into:

 

Seth Lugo

Andrew Heaney

[Hugh2]

They do say you need to centerfielders at Fenway. Obviously an error on my part, it might have been PTSD due to an entire outfield of left fielders last year.

[Hugh2]

Whitlock is being told to be prepared to start next year. Houck is being told the same but also be prepared to be moved to the pen.

[moonslav59]

Two names the Sox are reportedly looking into:

 

Seth Lugo

Andrew Heaney

 

Dear God, NO!

[notin]

Two names the Sox are reportedly looking into:

 

Seth Lugo

Andrew Heaney

 

Do they need someone to replace Wacha and Hill on the IL?

 

WhTs the logic here? “We need someone who makes Paxton look healthy by comparison.”

[notin]

Whitlock is being told to be prepared to start next year. Houck is being told the same but also be prepared to be moved to the pen.

 

I don’t like Houck as a starter although his career ERA in that role is like 3.68-ish. He’s had some success. But expecting 150 IP from him is probably insane at this point. I’d rather see Hill back…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Two names the Sox are reportedly looking into:

 

Seth Lugo

Andrew Heaney

 

Lugo is not lights-out, but sometimes lights-flickering (three '22 Mets postseason games: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K). At least he's a big league reliever...

 

Re. Heaney: a last-place rotation doesn't really need another #5 starter. I'd rather bring back Wacha or Eovaldi; they've both proven they can pitch in Boston, and can't cost that much more.

 

If Bloom signs Heaney, it'd better be at the same press conference that introduces Chris Bassitt.