2023 Free Agents

[mvp 78]

Good thing we didn't sign Rodon

 

According to Yankees fans, this Rodon injury is both unexpected and not a big deal.

[notin]

According to Yankees fans, this Rodon injury is both unexpected and not a big deal.

 

It was definitely unexpected that Rodon would take this long to get injured…

[Bellhorn04]

It was definitely unexpected that Rodon would take this long to get injured…

 

IL Funnyman strikes again!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

According to Yankees fans, this Rodon injury is both unexpected and not a big deal.

 

If Yankee fans think losing Rodon is no big deal, they must mean that New York's budget can alway absorb taking another hit. As for the pinstripe rotation -- it's only missing Montgomery, Taillon, and a hundred percent of Cortes from the greatest first half of last season... they should consider that a big deal, even if Sevy is back.

 

I wanted Rodon over Kluber and a few others, but knew better than to hope the Sox would sign an expensive pitcher.

 

Some posters still insist that Bloom will spend big on a starter when the time is ripe, but there's absolutely no evidence for this, except that Henry used to approve of such transactions -- and then put a halt to them after getting burned too many times.

[Bellhorn04]

If Yankee fans think losing Rodon is no big deal, they must mean that New York's budget can alway absorb taking another hit. As for the pinstripe rotation -- it's only missing Montgomery, Taillon, and a hundred percent of Cortes from the greatest first half of last season... they should consider that a big deal, even if Sevy is back.

 

I wanted Rodon over Kluber and a few others, but knew better than to hope the Sox would sign an expensive pitcher.

 

Some posters still insist that Bloom will spend big on a starter when the time is ripe, but there's absolutely no evidence for this, except that Henry used to approve of such transactions -- and then put a halt to them after getting burned too many times.

 

I don't think there are actually many Yankee fans who think the injury to Rodon isn't a big deal.

 

As for Cortes, he's pitched in as many spring games as Noah Song has...

[dgalehouse]

If Yankee fans think losing Rodon is no big deal, they must mean that New York's budget can alway absorb taking another hit. As for the pinstripe rotation -- it's only missing Montgomery, Taillon, and a hundred percent of Cortes from the greatest first half of last season... they should consider that a big deal, even if Sevy is back.

 

I wanted Rodon over Kluber and a few others, but knew better than to hope the Sox would sign an expensive pitcher.

 

Some posters still insist that Bloom will spend big on a starter when the time is ripe, but there's absolutely no evidence for this, except that Henry used to approve of such transactions -- and then put a halt to them after getting burned too many times.

 

Did he really get burned so many times that it offset four championships ? Or did he just prefer to spend his dough on other things ?

[mvp 78]

If Yankee fans think losing Rodon is no big deal, they must mean that New York's budget can alway absorb taking another hit. As for the pinstripe rotation -- it's only missing Montgomery, Taillon, and a hundred percent of Cortes from the greatest first half of last season... they should consider that a big deal, even if Sevy is back.

 

I wanted Rodon over Kluber and a few others, but knew better than to hope the Sox would sign an expensive pitcher.

 

Some posters still insist that Bloom will spend big on a starter when the time is ripe, but there's absolutely no evidence for this, except that Henry used to approve of such transactions -- and then put a halt to them after getting burned too many times.

 

It's hard to see what the organizational philosophy is on acquiring pitchers. They don't draft them. The ones they sign are old and on short contracts. Where's the long term solution?

[mvp 78]

I don't think there are actually many Yankee fans who think the injury to Rodon isn't a big deal.

 

As for Cortes, he's pitched in as many spring games as Noah Song has...

 

He's still in the Garrett Whitlock live BP role. Don't worry though Aaron Boone said he's throwing the ball well. That guy is a reliable source!

[notin]

It's hard to see what the organizational philosophy is on acquiring pitchers. They don't draft them. The ones they sign are old and on short contracts. Where's the long term solution?

 

Maybe the philosophy is going to be “short terms for pitchers - always!”

 

How many Tampa starters stuck around for six years?

[mvp 78]

Did he really get burned so many times that it offset four championships ? Or did he just prefer to spend his dough on other things ?

 

He's not the only guy making the calls or holding the money. There's a push and pull in the Red Sox ownership group between spending and not spending.

 

Werner wants to spend. Henry doesn't want to spend.

[mvp 78]

Maybe the philosophy is going to be “short terms for pitchers - always!”

 

How many Tampa starters stuck around for six years?

 

Do the Sox have Tampa's developmental system?

[Bellhorn04]

It's hard to see what the organizational philosophy is on acquiring pitchers. They don't draft them. The ones they sign are old and on short contracts. Where's the long term solution?

 

I don't know. But they did tack on 2 more years of control for Whitlock, so that's a start. We'll see what they do with Bello, Houck etc.

[Bellhorn04]

He's not the only guy making the calls or holding the money. There's a push and pull in the Red Sox ownership group between spending and not spending.

 

Werner wants to spend. Henry doesn't want to spend.

 

I'd say Henry wants to spend judiciusly. Can't really fault him for that.

[mvp 78]

I'd say Henry wants to spend judiciusly. Can't really fault him for that.

 

Well, he could have signed Xander for a below market deal last offseason. That would have been fairly judicious of him.

[moonslav59]

Well, he could have signed Xander for a below market deal last offseason. That would have been fairly judicious of him.

 

While that seems true, we really don't know the lowest number and years Bogey would have accepted. We only know the Sox never met that number at any point along the way.

[Bellhorn04]

While that seems true, we really don't know the lowest number and years Bogey would have accepted. We only know the Sox never met that number at any point along the way.

 

I just don't think they were very motivated to retain him, because of his age, and the impact on future budgets.

[Hugh2]

According to Yankees fans, this Rodon injury is both unexpected and not a big deal.

 

Perhaps, but where he is hurting is what should concer them. That’s usually a precursor to major surgery. If not this season maybe next. We’ve also seen guys pitch a year injured and suck before getting the surgery the need.

 

I don’t like rooting for guys to get hurt, I really don’t, I’m sure Rodon is a nice guy that doesn’t deserve that BUT I wouldn’t complain about the Yankees wasting their money.

[Hugh2]

Well, he could have signed Xander for a below market deal last offseason. That would have been fairly judicious of him.

 

I don’t think it would have taken the SD deal to retain Bogey, but by even last offseason I think it was too late to get him under MV. He would have wanted what he perceived his market value to be.

 

I think he would have been asking for 200/8. If they want to retain guys like Bogey, they need to lock them up younger without opt outs

 

E.G. Devers.

[moonslav59]

I just don't think they were very motivated to retain him, because of his age, and the impact on future budgets.

 

I think they had a number they felt he was worth and knew it was not close to what he wanted or would get, so they barely made any effort, except in a few lame attempts to make the media believe they wanted him.

 

I'm not sure they would even have paid him what they paid Story. We may never know.

[moonslav59]

I don’t think it would have taken the SD deal to retain Bogey, but by even last offseason I think it was too late to get him under MV. He would have wanted what he perceived his market value to be.

 

I think he would have been asking for 200/8. If they want to retain guys like Bogey, they need to lock them up younger without opt outs

 

E.G. Devers.

 

They may have felt even $160M/6 was too much, so $200M/8 was never going to happen.

 

Who knows?

[Bellhorn04]

They may have felt even $160M/6 was too much, so $200M/8 was never going to happen.

 

Who knows?

 

Well, it's the Lester thing all over, because they did offer him the $160 but it was too little too late. But maybe on purpose.

 

To me it looks like they decided to choose Devers over Bogaerts as the guy to build around.

 

It's no slight on Bogaerts. He was a great Red Sox player. But the contract he got from the Padres is one of the craziest overpays yet. I think most of us figured he'd get $200 tops.

[notin]

Do the Sox have Tampa's developmental system?

 

I think that’s a goal…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Did he really get burned so many times that it offset four championships ? Or did he just prefer to spend his dough on other things ?

 

This is a good question when considering the huge amounts of money Henry spent on pitchers. Price and Lackey arguably only came through in a couple big games and were otherwise underwhelming in their Boston careers. What's not is that the Red Sox couldn't wait to unload them when they could.

 

At least Foulke, Beckett and Sale delivered a few great seasons. Someone good at numbers can probably calculate the total investments in big money pitchers that helped win World Series rings... but how many hundreds of millions makes it worth it for the brand or the value of the franchise?

 

And then it leaves fans wondering in the Bloom Era: how many Garrett Richards' type contracts of $10M apiece will it take before the Sox hit the lottery on a few longshots?

[mvp 78]

I think that’s a goal…

 

They aren’t there. Not even close. Maybe all the driveline guys they brought in will help?

[Bellhorn04]

What Henry and Bloom are trying to do is pretty obvious by now. Hopefully 2023 vindicates the approach.

[jad]

What Henry and Bloom are trying to do is pretty obvious by now. Hopefully 2023 vindicates the approach.

 

Not to me, it isn't. I admit I don't follow the FO closely, but since they never say directly 'We're doing this to save money and make Henry richer', then I can't trust what they say, and don't understand half the moves they make ( McGuire for Vaz??? Story essentially for Bogaerts?). Is the plan simple enough to articulate?

[notin]

Not to me, it isn't. I admit I don't follow the FO closely, but since they never say directly 'We're doing this to save money and make Henry richer', then I can't trust what they say, and don't understand half the moves they make ( McGuire for Vaz??? Story essentially for Bogaerts?). Is the plan simple enough to articulate?

 

 

McGuire for Vazquez worked out well. Vazquez had 2 months left and wound up costing $10mill per for 3 years. McGuire is essentially the same catcher defensively and 5 years but for just $1.2 mill and with much more team control. And in the process of that changeover, the Sox got two decent prospects ( Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez) while also unloading the unwanted Jake Diekman. Not so sure this could have worked out better.

 

The Bogaerts/Story thing I can theorize. I’d guess the idea was to improve shortstop defense. Story, like many Bloom acquisitions, seems to excel in Defensive Runs Saved. That he and Bogaerts had the same road OPS probably didn’t hurt either and might have suggested similar offensive performance…

[notin]

This is a good question when considering the huge amounts of money Henry spent on pitchers. Price and Lackey arguably only came through in a couple big games and were otherwise underwhelming in their Boston careers. What's not is that the Red Sox couldn't wait to unload them when they could.

 

At least Foulke, Beckett and Sale delivered a few great seasons. Someone good at numbers can probably calculate the total investments in big money pitchers that helped win World Series rings... but how many hundreds of millions makes it worth it for the brand or the value of the franchise?

 

And then it leaves fans wondering in the Bloom Era: how many Garrett Richards' type contracts of $10M apiece will it take before the Sox hit the lottery on a few longshots?

 

What was wrong with Wacha and Hill last year? The pair produced 4.2 bWAR and cost a total of $12mill.

 

Or the Sox could have instead spent all that money on one pitcher and matched the 3 year $36mill contracts of Anthony DesClafini and Yusei Kikuchi, who, for the same AAV, produced -0.9 and -1.1 bWAR respectively, and both signing teams are on the hook for two more seasons.

 

If the Sox worst pitching contract in the Bloom Era is a one year $10mill contract to Garrett Richards, I don’t think Henry will be too upset…

Edited March 11, 2023 by notin

[Bellhorn04]

Not to me, it isn't. I admit I don't follow the FO closely, but since they never say directly 'We're doing this to save money and make Henry richer', then I can't trust what they say, and don't understand half the moves they make ( McGuire for Vaz??? Story essentially for Bogaerts?). Is the plan simple enough to articulate?

 

Yeah, it's pretty simple.

 

1) Build up the farm.

2) Avoid having an excess number of potential albatross mega-contracts.

3) Bridge it to the youth movement with short term deals for "reasonably priced" veterans.

[notin]

Yeah, it's pretty simple.

 

1) Build up the farm.

2) Avoid having an excess number of potential albatross mega-contracts.

3) Bridge it to the youth movement with short term deals for "reasonably priced" veterans.

 

The only issue I have is the “build up the farm” process appears to be geared towards a ranking rather than producing a sustainable pipeline of minor league talent. Bloom has nearly completely avoided higher risk pitching prospects in favor or lower risk positional talent nearly every time, as if the goal was to increase the volume of Top 100 prospects over actually supporting the parent club.

 

Granted, if you have a good amount of good positional prospects, trading for arms gets much easier…