Corey Kluber

[Red Foreman]

This is Bloom's Hail Mary to improve the team?

[moonslav59]

This is Bloom's Hail Mary to improve the team?

 

If he is signed, he should not be the centerpiece of the winter.

 

God, I hope not.

[SCM33]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/11/red-sox-rumors-boston-interested-in-corey-kluber-after-failed-pursuits-in-last-two-winters-report.html

[moonslav59]

He's not the pitcher he used to be, and hasn't been all that great in the last 2 years:

 

47 GS/244 IP

15-13 4.17

92 ERA+

3.66 FIP

1.254 WHIP

4.1 K/BB

[Red Foreman]

If he is signed, he should not be the centerpiece of the winter.

 

God, I hope not.

 

I hope I am wrong but three years of Bloom have shown settling for lesser players and dumpster diving. Maybe he is constricted but he has made a lot of bad decisions.

[moonslav59]

I hope I am wrong but three years of Bloom have shown settling for lesser players and dumpster diving. Maybe he is constricted but he has made a lot of bad decisions.

 

He did not choose to have a tight budget, and many roster slots to fill that dumpster diving had to be part of his actions.

 

When you dumpster dive and settle for lower paid FAs, one shouldn't expect many productive signings.

 

Some of the good:

 

Pivetta trade

Renfroe & Kike signings

Wacha, Strahm and Hill signing

Arroyo, Schreiber, Refsnyder, Kelly signings and waiver claims

McGuire trade

Farm building trades (TBD)

 

How Story turns out might be what most defines Bloom- that and this winter's moves.

[notin]

This is Bloom's Hail Mary to improve the team?

 

Yes. It’s the only move he will make. This is it. End of off-season.

 

Unless he also trades Devers a gallon of fudge. Without walnuts, of course…

[Deja Doh]

Not inspiring.

[moonslav59]

Not inspiring.

 

Correa, Nimmo, Fulmer and Kluber would be inspiring.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Correa, Nimmo, Fulmer and Kluber would be inspiring.

 

Kluber -- at his age and salary-level -- is exactly the type of pitcher that would appeal to Chaim Bloom. Remember, unless you're truly aiming for first place, modern mound plans are to assemble a clique de sore arms and hope your savvy veterans can give you five frames maybe half the time, and then patch in with bullpen match-ups in a slog towards a wild card.

 

As for Correa, it's great he has no QO, but does anyone have any evidence from Bloom's entire tenure in Boston that he's on the verge of paying $35 million dollars a year for any ballplayer in the world? That would be bigger news than even the Padres trading their farm for Juan Soto.

 

MLB offseason articles the past two years always listed the Red Sox as one of many teams "interested" in lots of big name free agents or available star players. Not this year; so far, the only good player Boston has been linked to is Bogaerts, and that just may be obligatory regency.

[notin]

Kluber -- at his age and salary-level -- is exactly the type of pitcher that would appeal to Chaim Bloom. Remember, unless you're truly aiming for first place, modern mound plans are to assemble a clique de sore arms and hope your savvy veterans can give you five frames maybe half the time, and then patch in with bullpen match-ups in a slog towards a wild card.

 

As for Correa, it's great he has no QO, but does anyone have any evidence from Bloom's entire tenure in Boston that he's on the verge of paying $35 million dollars a year for any ballplayer in the world? That would be bigger news than even the Padres trading their farm for Juan Soto.

 

MLB offseason articles the past two years always listed the Red Sox as one of many teams "interested" in lots of big name free agents or available star players. Not this year; so far, the only good player Boston has been linked to is Bogaerts, and that just may be obligatory regency.

 

 

So back to Tampa North I see.

 

Probably worth noting that for all the Fear of Tampa North and the “what works in Tampa won’t work in Boston” rhetoric I see on this board, Tampa has made the postseason each of the last 4 seasons. Four years (and counting) in row of postseason play.

 

Know when the last time Boston made the postseason 4 years in a row? NEVER!

 

Despite being 94 years younger, the Rays have a streak that the Sox never have had. And yet I still see on this board and multiple other forums (notably MLBTR) that Bloom needs to stop running this team like it’s the Rays. And that he has a budget now. And what worked in Tampa blah blah blah. Well, what’s been working in stamps is still working.

 

So my question is - do Boston fans want a team that wins or a team that just spends? I do think a lot of fans forget about the winning much faster they forget about the not spending. And why exactly do we NOT want to be Tampa North? Fenway gets too cold after the first week of October?

[Bellhorn04]

I'll reserve my complaints until we actually sign someone LOL

[notin]

I'll reserve my complaints until we actually sign someone LOL

 

But what if you like the signing?

 

You’ll have wasted your opportunity to complain!!!

[cukes]

So back to Tampa North I see.

 

Probably worth noting that for all the Fear of Tampa North and the “what works in Tampa won’t work in Boston” rhetoric I see on this board, Tampa has made the postseason each of the last 4 seasons. Four years (and counting) in row of postseason play.

 

Know when the last time Boston made the postseason 4 years in a row? NEVER!

 

Despite being 94 years younger, the Rays have a streak that the Sox never have had. And yet I still see on this board and multiple other forums (notably MLBTR) that Bloom needs to stop running this team like it’s the Rays. And that he has a budget now. And what worked in Tampa blah blah blah. Well, what’s been working in stamps is still working.

 

So my question is - do Boston fans want a team that wins or a team that just spends? I do think a lot of fans forget about the winning much faster they forget about the not spending. And why exactly do we NOT want to be Tampa North? Fenway gets too cold after the first week of October?

 

Plain and simple, we want good baseball and we are not going to win every year but can be respectable, we have taken over the honor of worse team in the division while others have improved and passed us, Tampa has a better scouting system and much better all around management and a smaller budget and no excuses, they get the most out of what they have to work with, their weakness is a lousy fan base Tampa is not a baseball town

[Tedballgame]

Can you say John Smoltz?

[Bellhorn04]

Kluber was pretty solid last year. I'd like the signing, if the price is right.

[notin]

Plain and simple, we want good baseball and we are not going to win every year but can be respectable, we have taken over the honor of worse team in the division while others have improved and passed us, Tampa has a better scouting system and much better all around management and a smaller budget and no excuses, they get the most out of what they have to work with, their weakness is a lousy fan base Tampa is not a baseball town

 

So which team has a track record of good baseball and being respectable recently?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Maybe some people are just too obsessed with Tampa. Face it, the Rays just have better prices, much more affordable for fans paying to attend games, and for the front office paying guys to play games. They even have better weather sometimes, and when there are hurricanes or high fly balls crushed by Devers, they have a dome to protect everyone.

 

And please stop with the Chaim Bloom comps -- the only thing Tampa has in common with Boston is Christian Arroyo, who the Rays once stole from the Giants as part of a 4-for-1 trade for a third baseman under contract for market value. But the AL East really likes Arroyo.

[moonslav59]

 

As for Correa, it's great he has no QO, but does anyone have any evidence from Bloom's entire tenure in Boston that he's on the verge of paying $35 million dollars a year for any ballplayer in the world? That would be bigger news than even the Padres trading their farm for Juan Soto.

 

 

Yes, I do. Before the Story signing, he had never come close to such a deal. The step from Story to Correa is less than the step he just took with Story.

 

It's hard to know what Bloom will do when handed $80-90M to spend and only have 5-6 significant holes to fill- 2 of which are usually inexpensive RP roles.

 

He's never been given this much, so we can't know what or how he will do.

 

Here's the barrier: He can't spend $85M on 12 slots, b ecause we don't have that many roster slots to fill. He has to go quality over quantity, this year- a first for him.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yes, I do. Before the Story signing, he had never come close to such a deal. The step from Story to Correa is less than the step he just took with Story.

 

It's hard to know what Bloom will do when handed $80-90M to spend and only have 5-6 significant holes to fill- 2 of which are usually inexpensive RP roles.

 

He's never been given this much, so we can't know what or how he will do.

 

Here's the barrier: He can't spend $85M on 12 slots, b ecause we don't have that many roster slots to fill. He has to go quality over quantity, this year- a first for him.

 

I'm with you, but will believe it when I see it.

[notin]

I'm with you, but will believe it when I see it.

 

You’ve seen Friedman do all that and more, and he is Bloom’s mentor.

 

Do you honestly think Henry is saying “Chaim, you have $110mill to spend in the budget for next year.” And Bloom is replying “I only want $30mill”?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You’ve seen Friedman do all that and more, and he is Bloom’s mentor.

 

Do you honestly think Henry is saying “Chaim, you have $110mill to spend in the budget for next year.” And Bloom is replying “I only want $30mill”?

 

None of us know exactly what Henry's personal budget is, just the official number that will hit the tax line. You don't honestly think every MLB owner spends precisely up to the league's imposed penalty threshold every year.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You’ve seen Friedman do all that and more, and he is Bloom’s mentor.

 

Do you honestly think Henry is saying “Chaim, you have $110mill to spend in the budget for next year.” And Bloom is replying “I only want $30mill”?

 

None of us know exactly what Henry's personal budget is, just the official number that will hit the tax line. You don't honestly think every MLB owner spends precisely up to the league's imposed penalty threshold every year.

 

And please, no more past references to a franchise that someone once worked for at the bottom of the country. This is Boston, Mass...

[Hugh2]

This is Bloom's Hail Mary to improve the team?

 

Why do people assume because there’s a rumor attached to a guy that A.) The Sox are very interested B. The Sox will sign them C. If the former is true it’s somehow their priority.

 

The Sox have a 40 man roster to fill, and people act like every move that isn’t an all star is a horrible one or the roster has to be filled out top to bottom with stars first.

 

Look, it’s well within the rights of fandom to critique ownership, but this line of thinking is just stupid. The winter meetings have not even taken place yet. Just stop with the stupidity please people.

[Hugh2]

None of us know exactly what Henry's personal budget is, just the official number that will hit the tax line. You don't honestly think every MLB owner spends precisely up to the league's imposed penalty threshold every year.

 

And please, no more past references to a franchise that someone once worked for at the bottom of the country. This is Boston, Mass...

 

This is fair, but when is the last time the Sox went significantly under? It’s a fair assumption they will spend close to the tax line

[notin]

None of us know exactly what Henry's personal budget is, just the official number that will hit the tax line. You don't honestly think every MLB owner spends precisely up to the league's imposed penalty threshold every year.

 

 

Not what I asked. Not even close…

[notin]

None of us know exactly what Henry's personal budget is, just the official number that will hit the tax line. You don't honestly think every MLB owner spends precisely up to the league's imposed penalty threshold every year.

 

And please, no more past references to a franchise that someone once worked for at the bottom of the country. This is Boston, Mass...

 

Welcome to Boston, 5Gold. Can we all assume this means you’ve finally left Tampa North?

[notin]

Why do people assume because there’s a rumor attached to a guy that A.) The Sox are very interested B. The Sox will sign them C. If the former is true it’s somehow their priority.

 

The Sox have a 40 man roster to fill, and people act like every move that isn’t an all star is a horrible one or the roster has to be filled out top to bottom with stars first.

 

Look, it’s well within the rights of fandom to critique ownership, but this line of thinking is just stupid. The winter meetings have not even taken place yet. Just stop with the stupidity please people.

 

Heck, why does anyone assume there’s interest at all? I’m sure the overwhelming bulk of MLB off-season rumors are just click bait to connect a key player and a team in a Google search. Or they’re just based on passing conversation and played up like negotiations have reached Stage 3. (That’s where the player’s wife looks into local schools.)

 

There’s a reason the sites that inform carry names like MLBTradeRumours.com and not MLBTradeSolidFacts.com

[Hugh2]

Heck, why does anyone assume there’s interest at all? I’m sure the overwhelming bulk of MLB off-season rumors are just click bait to connect a key player and a team in a Google search. Or they’re just based on passing conversation and played up like negotiations have reached Stage 3. (That’s where the player’s wife looks into local schools.)

 

There’s a reason the sites that inform carry names like MLBTradeRumours.com and not MLBTradeSolidFacts.com

 

Also everyone is interested in everyone at this point. Depending on the price does anyone doubt the Sox wouldn’t bring back Bogaerts? Or depending on the price take Correa over Bogaerts? You also never know who you may be trading for mid season. Teams talk to players to build rapport.

 

Everyone talks to everyone

[moonslav59]

Some of the cheap teams will never ask about a few higher priced players.

 

Some higher spending teams may not inquire about a few good players that just don’t fit their roster.