The 2023 Red Sox Budget

[Old Red]

So seriously question, how likely is it that Story plays SS next year in your opinion? and if so who replaces him at 2nd?

 

I’m not into assumptions there are plenty of others who like to do that. I don’t think Bogey will be back, but outside of that I’m not assuming, and the Red Sox have been quiet on the subject.

[Hugh2]

I’m not into assumptions there are plenty of others who like to do that. I don’t think Bogey will be back, but outside of that I’m not assuming, and the Red Sox have been quiet on the subject.

 

Quiet? they've said time and time again they want to bring him back. Perhaps that's just PR, but that's not Quiet. Others? well FA hasn't even started yet so what should we expect at this point?

 

The SS market is very robust this year. The Sox need up-the-middle players. It's a really really really good bet they're going to get one of the big four (which includes Bogey)

[Old Red]

Quiet? they've said time and time again they want to bring him back. Perhaps that's just PR, but that's not Quiet. Others? well FA hasn't even started yet so what should we expect at this point?

 

The SS market is very robust this year. The Sox need up-the-middle players. It's a really really really good bet they're going to get one of the big four (which includes Bogey)

Actions speak louder than words, and I’ve been saying that since the Red Sox made the offer to Bogey last offseason. The SS market may be robust, but will the Red Sox spend the money to get one?

[Hugh2]

Actions speak louder than words, and I’ve been saying that since the Red Sox made the offer to Bogey last offseason. The SS market may be robust, but will the Red Sox spend the money to get one?

 

Yes

[moonslav59]

To say who plays these positions before any additions are made is a useless game just like any depth charts are useless also. I’ve already stated many times since last offseason what the biggest need is, so why keep playing the game back, and forth? It’s already been answered. You led the league in scenarios, and that’s fine for you, but if you have to look at a depth chart to tell you what the biggest needs are you are in trouble to begin with, and I hope Bloom is not doing that. Being hung up on Jeter Downs will get you nowhere.

 

I'm not hung up on Jeter Downs, and like it or not, depth charts are precisely what teams use to determine where their greatest needs are, and maybe which positions they feel more comfortable doing less to upgrade or just choosing to leave as is, for now..

 

You can play musical chairs with Story and Kike and pretend they can fill 3 positions at the same time, but the rest of us know we need a serious addition at SS, 2B or CF, wherever those 2 don't play. It's as important or more so than any other slot. I happen to think it is #1 with SP as #2, RF as #3 and the pen at #4, but it's just my opinion.

[Hugh2]

Jeter Downs is on the 40 man roster, and when the Sox had both Kike, Story, and Arroyo out they called up Downs for depth. So one can not like Downs but why would anyone build a Red Sox depth chart without putting Downs on it? That's called reality.

[Old Red]

I'm not hung up on Jeter Downs, and like it or not, depth charts are precisely what teams use to determine where their greatest needs are, and maybe which positions they feel more comfortable doing less to upgrade or just choosing to leave as is, for now..

 

You can play musical chairs with Story and Kike and pretend they can fill 3 positions at the same time, but the rest of us know we need a serious addition at SS, 2B or CF, wherever those 2 don't play. It's as important or more so than any other slot. I happen to think it is #1 with SP as #2, RF as #3 and the pen at #4, but it's just my opinion.

 

I don’t think Bloom is pouring over the depth chart, and thinking if Bogey leaves we have to get someone other than Jeter Downs to take his place. If he is Bloom is even worse off than I thought. Who said anything about Kike, and Story having to cover 3 positions? No one did just your take on things. If you read the article on yahoo/ sports they talk about the 2B/ SS possibilities.

[Old Red]

Jeter Downs is on the 40 man roster, and when the Sox had both Kike, Story, and Arroyo out they called up Downs for depth. So one can not like Downs but why would anyone build a Red Sox depth chart without putting Downs on it? That's called reality.

 

Reality would be Downs not be on the 40 man at all.

[notin]

Reality would be Downs not be on the 40 man at all.

 

He is today. Check again in February and he probably won’t be.

 

Not sure how many are ahead of him in the DFA Queue. And I apparently can’t guess because I would have thought Ort was ahead of Bazardo…

[moonslav59]

I don’t think Bloom is pouring over the depth chart, and thinking if Bogey leaves we have to get someone other than Jeter Downs to take his place. If he is Bloom is even worse off than I thought. Who said anything about Kike, and Story having to cover 3 positions? No one did just your take on things. If you read the article on yahoo/ sports they talk about the 2B/ SS possibilities.

 

He's not pouring over the current depth chart, because it is etched in his brain. He knows the high need areas, and I'm pretty sure the pen is in the top 4.

[moonslav59]

IWho said anything about Kike, and Story having to cover 3 positions?

 

You said Kike or Story could.

 

I answered that it does not stop another huge hole from opening that would then be a higher need area than the pen, so nothing is really solved, until we fill one of the 3 positions: SS/2B/CF.

 

You act like the problem is solved by moving Kike or Story.

 

I've said numerous times, I'm assuming we get a SS, but it's not certain. I've mentioned Wong at 2B, and you and others poo-poo'd the idea of Story playing SS. I mentioned Kike playing SS, but I feel he is better in CF.

 

It's you who can't accept my opinion, but then act like I'm the unaccepting one.

[moonslav59]

Reality would be Downs not be on the 40 man at all.

 

I wouldn't be upset, in the least, if we traded or DFA'd him.

 

Personally, I'd give him one more year in AAA. He's a decent defender. I would not want him listed at even the 3rd slot at any position on our depth chart by opening day. That is the major reason I have SS as my highest need area.

 

It is precisely because a guy like Downs is one of the few players on our 40 that can play SS that I rank SS as our #1 high need area.

[Old Red]

You said Kike or Story could.

 

I answered that it does not stop another huge hole from opening that would then be a higher need area than the pen, so nothing is really solved, until we fill one of the 3 positions: SS/2B/CF.

 

You act like the problem is solved by moving Kike or Story.

 

I've said numerous times, I'm assuming we get a SS, but it's not certain. I've mentioned Wong at 2B, and you and others poo-poo'd the idea of Story playing SS. I mentioned Kike playing SS, but I feel he is better in CF.

 

It's you who can't accept my opinion, but then act like I'm the unaccepting one.

 

I said Kike, and Story could cover 3 positions? I also fully understand that if Kike comes into the IF where he would rather be that would mean the Red Sox would need 2 OF instead of 1. That is common sense. If Bloom is as good as you think he is he should be able via either trade or FA be able to handle that. You make it sound like it would be harder to get another OF than to get another SS. It’s not a question of accepting your opinion, but just disagreeing with it.

[Old Red]

He's not pouring over the current depth chart, because it is etched in his brain. He knows the high need areas, and I'm pretty sure the pen is in the top 4.

 

That is comforting to know that Bloom has something etched in his brain. Must have had JBJ etched in his brain last year, because of the depth chart.

[moonslav59]

I said Kike, and Story could cover 3 positions? I also fully understand that if Kike comes into the IF where he would rather be that would mean the Red Sox would need 2 OF instead of 1. That is common sense. If Bloom is as good as you think he is he should be able via either trade or FA be able to handle that. You make it sound like it would be harder to get another OF than to get another SS. It’s not a question of accepting your opinion, but just disagreeing with it.

 

No s***.

 

We all know we will fill at least these 4 slots, somehow- someway, even if it means shifting someone around.

 

You took issue with the order or the way I determined my order of priorities by basing it on what we had already. You called listing who we had already "extreme" and said I did not like people who disagreed with me.

 

Now, you claim I am sounding like it's harder to get an OF'er than a SS. What planet do you live on and what language do you speak?

 

(Don't answer. It's called a rhetorical question. Look it up in your English-Martian dictionary.)

[Old Red]

No s***.

 

We all know we will fill at least these 4 slots, somehow- someway, even if it means shifting someone around.

 

You took issue with the order or the way I determined my order of priorities by basing it on what we had already. You called listing who we had already "extreme" and said I did not like people who disagreed with me.

 

Now, you claim I am sounding like it's harder to get an OF'er than a SS. What planet do you live on and what language do you speak?

 

(Don't answer. It's called a rhetorical question. Look it up in your English-Martian dictionary.)

 

I certainly don’t live on planet Moon, and nor would I want to.

[Bellhorn04]

Paxton is exercising his player option, so add $4 mill to the payroll and pray for his health.

[Hugh2]

Reality would be Downs not be on the 40 man at all.

 

It's not like he's on the 25 man, he was a young talented prospect who provided up-the-middle depth. At this point, yeah, his days may be numbered. But how good is the 38th-40th guy on ANY teams 40 man?

[Old Red]

It's not like he's on the 25 man, he was a young talented prospect who provided up-the-middle depth. At this point, yeah, his days may be numbered. But how good is the 38th-40th guy on ANY teams 40 man?

 

This guy can’t even hit AAA pitching.

[moonslav59]

It's not like he's on the 25 man, he was a young talented prospect who provided up-the-middle depth. At this point, yeah, his days may be numbered. But how good is the 38th-40th guy on ANY teams 40 man?

 

IMO, he would be claimed by many teams, if DFA'd, but I'd be fine seeing someone else on the 40.

 

Chang v Downs? I'd go with Downs.

[moonslav59]

Paxton is exercising his player option, so add $4 mill to the payroll and pray for his health.

 

I didn't think he'd take the $4M. Maybe he'll be next year's Martiz Perez.

[mvp 78]

I wouldn't be upset, in the least, if we traded or DFA'd him.

 

Personally, I'd give him one more year in AAA. He's a decent defender. I would not want him listed at even the 3rd slot at any position on our depth chart by opening day. That is the major reason I have SS as my highest need area.

 

It is precisely because a guy like Downs is one of the few players on our 40 that can play SS that I rank SS as our #1 high need area.

 

Just because he’s here doesn’t make him a good option for anything.

[notin]

Just because he’s here doesn’t make him a good option for anything.

 

Downs looks like his ceiling is utility infielder.

 

The only reason he’s getting any mention is Soxprospects put him atop their SS depth chart, which doesn’t mean much. They did it because he’s here and on the 40 man, not because anyone - including the writers at Soxprospects - believes he will be the opening day shortstop. And it’s not like that website has any connection to the team; they’re independent and completely unaffiliated with the Sox. They also have starting lineups for the next few seasons, all of which only use players within the organization. They’re not trying to predict anything, but what they are doing is showing gaps. And right now, the Sox have one at shortstop.

 

And since no borderline sane person thinks Downs will start this year, what you can glean from this depth chart is the Sox clearly need a SS right now. They might move someone like Kike or Story there. Or they might sign a big name free agent or trade for a stopgap player to bridge to Mayer.

 

But they’re clearly going to do something. As for priority, Bloom did say multiple times Bogaerts is his top priority…

[notin]

Sox trade Easton McGee for cash.

 

It opens up a 40 man roster spot, but probably not much else…

[moonslav59]

Just because he’s here doesn’t make him a good option for anything.

 

True nuff.

 

I'm trying to see some bright sides, right now.

[harmony]

I didn't think he'd take the $4M. Maybe he'll be next year's Martiz Perez.

Perhaps James Paxton knows his health better than we do as the Scott Boras client settles for $4 million.

[moonslav59]

Perhaps James Paxton knows his health better than we do as the Scott Boras client settles for $4 million.

 

Seems that way.

[Hugh2]

This guy can’t even hit AAA pitching.

 

Yes, a lot of guys can't hit AAA pitching. THere's a whole slew of guys who can't and then figure it out and become big-league players. Downs has been around long enough to start thinking that may never happen with him but up until recently his spot on the 40 man was perfectly justified. There's literally a Jeter Downs type guy on every 40 man. If the Sox release Downs, and they probably will at some point someone is going to pick him up. As crappy as he is, he can field his position at SS and 2nd and last time I (checks notes) checked you actually need guys to play defense too. Your 40th man on the 40 man isnt' someone good enough to be a MLB player. He's someone who can come up and field the position while a guy is banged up. Sometimes guys like Downs come into their own, sometimes they do not. But you're literally complaining about the guy who may very well be the 40th man on our 40 man right now.

 

How many teams have a better 40th man? Count. I'll wait. But I won't hold my breath.

[Hugh2]

uh oh looks like the bloom crew is in town haha

[Old Red]

Yes, a lot of guys can't hit AAA pitching. THere's a whole slew of guys who can't and then figure it out and become big-league players. Downs has been around long enough to start thinking that may never happen with him but up until recently his spot on the 40 man was perfectly justified. There's literally a Jeter Downs type guy on every 40 man. If the Sox release Downs, and they probably will at some point someone is going to pick him up. As crappy as he is, he can field his position at SS and 2nd and last time I (checks notes) checked you actually need guys to play defense too. Your 40th man on the 40 man isnt' someone good enough to be a MLB player. He's someone who can come up and field the position while a guy is banged up. Sometimes guys like Downs come into their own, sometimes they do not. But you're literally complaining about the guy who may very well be the 40th man on our 40 man right now.

 

How many teams have a better 40th man? Count. I'll wait. But I won't hold my breath.

Seems like Downs is getting way to much ink for the 40th man, but to each it’s own.