2023 Prospects

[mvp 78]

It's a very small sample size, but it's one that is congruent with the scouting on him. Leading one to believe that the scouting and more advanced pitching at a higher level may be starting to adjust.

 

The past week he's batting .208 with 6 K's and 1 BB in 24 at bats. No extra base hits.

 

Again, still a very small sample size, but regardless he's struggling to improve his plate approach in such a way that would make MLB success much more likely.

 

Once he's in MLB, the pitchers will just not throw him a strike. He'll still make contact, but the contact will be weaker than what we've seen in MiLB. I don't believe he'll ever improve with his pitch recognition.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

With only one year left, Verdugo might not bring back much in trade…

 

Maybe Bloom will go against his plan and actually trade a guy in time for optimal return. He may not have enough job security to pull another Beni deal, waiting years for lower level prospects to make it.

 

As for re-upping Duvall, when has Bloom ever re-signed a player he recruited on a one-year? I've got Martin Perez on the mound, but no position players... Kike was brought back, but his initial contract was for two years.

[Dipre]

Maybe Bloom will go against his plan and actually trade a guy in time for optimal return. He may not have enough job security to pull another Beni deal, waiting years for lower level prospects to make it.

 

How do you know what the plan is, or what's the status on his job security?

 

As for re-upping Duvall, when has Bloom ever re-signed a player he recruited on a one-year? I've got Martin Perez on the mound, but no position players... Kike was brought back, but his initial contract was for two years.

 

So Bloom will never ever re-sign anyone he's brought on a one-year deal. Alrighty then.

[moonslav59]

With only one year left, Verdugo might not bring back much in trade…

 

Not a solid and durable SP'er, unless we luck into it.

[moonslav59]

Maybe Bloom will go against his plan and actually trade a guy in time for optimal return. He may not have enough job security to pull another Beni deal, waiting years for lower level prospects to make it.

 

As for re-upping Duvall, when has Bloom ever re-signed a player he recruited on a one-year? I've got Martin Perez on the mound, but no position players... Kike was brought back, but his initial contract was for two years.

 

That seems to be his M.O.

 

When the one year guy sucks, we move on.

 

When they do well, the move on.

 

He will try and find the next Duvall, or Renfroe, or hopefully not Marwin.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

How do you know what the plan is, or what's the status on his job security?

 

 

 

So Bloom will never ever re-sign anyone he's brought on a one-year deal. Alrighty then.

 

You're right; just because our CBO has never done something in four years doesn't mean it was intentional. Maybe he keeps making mistakes.

 

And maybe when a poster types maybe or may or may not, he's just speculating on a forum of speculation.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

That seems to be his M.O.

 

When the one year guy sucks, we move on.

 

When they do well, the move on.

 

He will try and find the next Duvall, or Renfroe, or hopefully not Marwin.

 

When you type seems, how do we know you're making a reasonable assumption, instead of a spelling mistake? Maybe you really meant the homophone: seams... and your post is a two-seamer, cutting into the hands of righty typists, and away from lefties.

[mvp 78]

You're right; just because our CBO has never done something in four years doesn't mean it was intentional. Maybe he keeps making mistakes.

 

And maybe when a poster types maybe or may or may not, he's just speculating on a forum of speculation.

 

I know that my entire family has been sick this week and that my throat was a little sore this morning, but this post makes my brain swim.

[moonslav59]

When you type seems, how do we know you're making a reasonable assumption, instead of a spelling mistake? Maybe you really meant the homophone: seams... and your post is a two-seamer, cutting into the hands of righty typists, and away from lefties.

 

What about two finger typists?

[notin]

You're right; just because our CBO has never done something in four years doesn't mean it was intentional. Maybe he keeps making mistakes.

 

And maybe when a poster types maybe or may or may not, he's just speculating on a forum of speculation.

 

But you provided two examples of him doing it. And how one year deal players did he let walk that he shouldn’t have?

[moonslav59]

But you provided two examples of him doing it. And how one year deal players did he let walk that he shouldn’t have?

 

Wacha?

Strahm?

Do half year players like Schwarber count?

[notin]

Wacha?

Strahm?

Do half year players like Schwarber count?

 

So… fungible left-handed relievers and injury-prone starters are at risk…

[moonslav59]

Drohan got drilled again. What a rise and fall- all in one season!

Chang went 4-4

Rafaela & DHam 2-5

RHern homered (16th)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

So… fungible left-handed relievers and injury-prone starters are at risk…

 

(direct quote from Chaim Bloom's ad on the Help Wanted page in the Classified section of the Boston Globe)

[moonslav59]

Gambrell with a nice start for WOO. How high will he rise in the next rankings?

5.2 IP, 2H, 0ER, 4BB, 5K

3-5 Rafaela w two 2Bs

2-3 Kavadas w HR & BB

2-4 Chang

1-4 EValdez w 2B & BB

 

POR won big. Coffey went

7.0 IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 9K

1-4 Jordan w HR

2 hits by Bonaci, Yorke, Meidroth, Hickey (tw 2Bs), Dearden & McDonough.

 

GRE lost 4-3

Perales 5IP, 2H, 0ER, 3BB, 5K

Paulino & Ferguson homered.

 

SAL won 5-0

2-4 Salazar and Yuten

[moonslav59]

My projection for SP's next rankings list: (previous rank)

1, Mayer (1)

2. Anthony (2)

3. Teel (5)

4. Rafaela (4)

5. Bleis (3)

6. Yorke (6)

7. Wikelman (8)

8. Perales (7)

9. Zanetello (9)

10. Cespedes (15)

11. Romero (10)

12. Bonaci (12)

13. Walter (13)

14. Castro (20)

15. Abreu (23)

16. Monegro (29)

17. Hickey (18)

18. Meidroth (16)

19. Gambrell (43)

20. EValdez (17)

21. Drohan (11)

22. Joh Garcia (14)

23. Rosier (56)

24. Mata (21)

25. Jordan (19)

26. Anderson (26)

27. E R-C (25)

28. S Scott (41)

29. Yuten (44)

30. Guerrero (31)

Dropped from top 30: Paulino, DHam, Fernandez, Alcantara, C Coffey

 

 

 

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm high on Abreu. I like his plate discipline, he takes walks, and he should be above average defensively. I'm not saying he is a future HOFamer, but I would expect him to be a quality starting player. No reason to keep Verdugo next year. Even if Abreu sucks next season, the Red Sox can figure out the starting OF with Yoshida, Duran, and Rafeala. It would be shocking to see Verdugo on the team next year.

 

I wonder if the Red Sox can find a team that has enough starting pitchers but needs an OF. It would be even better if one of the SPs is a free agent after 2024, just like Verdugo. That would be the basis of a trade that would help both teams.

[moonslav59]

I'm high on Abreu. I like his plate discipline, he takes walks, and he should be above average defensively. I'm not saying he is a future HOFamer, but I would expect him to be a quality starting player. No reason to keep Verdugo next year. Even if Abreu sucks next season, the Red Sox can figure out the starting OF with Yoshida, Duran, and Rafeala. It would be shocking to see Verdugo on the team next year.

 

I wonder if the Red Sox can find a team that has enough starting pitchers but needs an OF. It would be even better if one of the SPs is a free agent after 2024, just like Verdugo. That would be the basis of a trade that would help both teams.

 

We also have Refsnyder in the OF mix, so I agree.

 

My concern is that if Abreu and Rafaela struggle, we'll have lost our two best defensive OF'ers from 2023: Duvall & Dugo, at a time when we sorely need to improve our D.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We also have Refsnyder in the OF mix, so I agree.

 

My concern is that if Abreu and Rafaela struggle, we'll have lost our two best defensive OF'ers from 2023: Duvall & Dugo, at a time when we sorely need to improve our D.

 

I see your point, but sometimes teams have to ride the roller coaster growing pains of youngsters adapting to the bigs. It's in chapter 4 of Theo Epstein's manual that was on the Chicago Tribune's best-seller list for five years: "Rebuilding a Bridge Too Czar"

[moonslav59]

I see your point, but sometimes teams have to ride the roller coaster growing pains of youngsters adapting to the bigs. It's in chapter 4 of Theo Epstein's manual that was on the Chicago Tribune's best-seller list for five years: "Rebuilding a Bridge Too Czar"

 

I remember thinking Casas was going to be a big upgrade over Dalbec, Hosmer & Co, on both O and D. We got the O, but the D has been very disappointing.

 

I'm not saying we will be let down by Rafaela or Abreu's D, but there is a chance their O suffers through year 1.

 

I like our OF outlook, even without D & D.

 

Keeping Duran in LF is a must. Refsnyder, too, as much as possible. A few games here and there, okay.

 

I still think we trade Dugo but add some veteran OF depth.

[Larry Cook]

The more I see A Castro swing the bat, the more I think he has a future in Boston.

[moonslav59]

Dalbec is 4 for 4 with a homer, triple and 2 singles. (.971)

Rafaela is 1-4 with a homer and BB. (.993)

Chang is 2-4 w HR and BB (.942)

Scott is 1-3 w 2BB (.948)

Kavadas cleared the bases with a 2B. 1-3 w BB.

Walter had a good day. 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 6K

WOO up 12-1 in the 8th.

 

POR won game one 5-1

Wikelman 5IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BB, 6K

Yorke 2-4

Sikes homered

Bonaci & Meidroth 1-3 w BB

Rosier 1-1 w BB & HBP

 

GRE up early as Campbell is 2 for 2.

 

 

[Hugh2]

The more I see A Castro swing the bat, the more I think he has a future in Boston.

 

I really like him too, the scouting says he has platoon concerns, but I'm not too worried as he's a 20 year old in high A. Even if those problems are never remedied I still think he could easily be a platoon or 4th outfield type.

 

It seems all his tools are average to better, none of them screaming but not none of them really lacking either.

 

Now they say that swing isn't as nice from the left side, but his OPS vs. RHP this year is .813/.832. If that represents a real change he could potentially be a starting corner outfielder one day.

[Larry Cook]

I really like him too, the scouting says he has platoon concerns, but I'm not too worried as he's a 20 year old in high A. Even if those problems are never remedied I still think he could easily be a platoon or 4th outfield type.

 

It seems all his tools are average to better, none of them screaming but not none of them really lacking either.

 

Now they say that swing isn't as nice from the left side, but his OPS vs. RHP this year is .813/.832. If that represents a real change he could potentially be a starting corner outfielder one day.

 

Maybe he becomes the one prospect Hang’em Chaim trades away???? Ha ha

[Hugh2]

Maybe he becomes the one prospect Hang’em Chaim trades away???? Ha ha

 

Bloom has traded away many prospects.

 

I know. I know what you meant. He hasn't traded away anything big, which to be fair is probably the only part of his "plan" he's executed wisely. However, there's a time and place for everything, and at some point, it makes sense to trade away prospects.

 

Maybe it's still a year too early for that, but at some point you should get something rather than nothing, a stacked farm system will eventually start getting guys picked off to the rule 5.

[moonslav59]

Bloom has traded away many prospects.

 

I know. I know what you meant. He hasn't traded away anything big, which to be fair is probably the only part of his "plan" he's executed wisely. However, there's a time and place for everything, and at some point, it makes sense to trade away prospects.

 

Maybe it's still a year too early for that, but at some point you should get something rather than nothing, a stacked farm system will eventually start getting guys picked off to the rule 5.

 

I think Aldo Ramirez was the top prospect he has traded in almost 4 years. (Schwarber)

[Hugh2]

I think Aldo Ramirez was the top prospect he has traded in almost 4 years. (Schwarber)

 

Was he really considered a "top prospect" though? he was a good prospect, but he wasn't anything that would be in this top ten.

 

As far as I can remember, he's the highest-ranked prospect Bloom ever traded. That proves he doesn't trade prospects.

 

What I want to see, is if that philosophy changes once the big league team is better and talent is overflowing in the system. However, that day may never come, either due to underperformance or Bloom being canned.

 

But...maybe?

[moonslav59]

Was he really considered a "top prospect" though? he was a good prospect, but he wasn't anything that would be in this top ten.

 

As far as I can remember, he's the highest-ranked prospect Bloom ever traded. That proves he doesn't trade prospects.

 

What I want to see, is if that philosophy changes once the big league team is better and talent is overflowing in the system. However, that day may never come, either due to underperformance or Bloom being canned.

 

But...maybe?

 

I think he might have reached 8th or 9th on SPs, but I never considered him a "top prospect."

 

I was convinced Ben was going to pull the trigger on a big prospect deal or two, before he was replaced by DD, and I think Bloom will, at some point. The question is, when not if, to me.

 

IMO, we just went through a 5 year rebuild, without anyone in management saying it. All the telltale signs are there.

 

No top prospects dealt.

Almost every deal that brought us a vet had a prospect attached to it.

No long term deals for almost 3 years (until Story in March '22,) and that goes back to the spring 2019 extensions to Sale, Bogey and Nate.

A ton of one year deals.

 

It wasn't a full blown teardown rebuild, of course, but it seems obvious, to me, the number one priority has been to build up the farm.

 

That begs the question, "For what?"

 

I honestly think the plan has been to wait to splurge and go for it all, again, until they think the farm is set up where we already have some young players who recently graduated and also a pretty well set up expected pipeline of incoming prospects. Are we there yet?

 

I do think we have the graduated core in place: Casas, Duran, Bello, Crawford, Houck, Winckowski & Whitlock, (Urias & Devers are younger than Whitlock), and to me, we have a pretty nicely set up stream of projected prospects being called up:

 

Now to 2024: Rafaela, Abreu, Bernardino, Kelly, Murphy, Walter, EValdeez, DHam and maybe Mayer, Wikelman, Yorke, Mata, Drohan or Guerrero.

 

We also have a very nice looking set of prospects due to join the club between 2025 and 2026 and another set is 2026 or beyond.

 

I'd say, we have arrived, but I'm not sure JH, Bloom & Co. agree.

 

I'd like to see us pull of one major prospect trade for a solid SP'er who is 27 or younger and has 3+ years of control. Then, sign Urias or YY from Japan. Add some OF and MI depth and we can be a solid contender in 2024.,

[mvp 78]

If they don't start dealing some prospects, the FO will just lose more and more of them to the Rule 5 draft. At some point, it does become a bit of a numbers game and you just can't keep all of them.

[moonslav59]

If they don't start dealing some prospects, the FO will just lose more and more of them to the Rule 5 draft. At some point, it does become a bit of a numbers game and you just can't keep all of them.

 

I don't disagree, but there should not be a rule 5 issue, this winter.

 

We currently have 45 guys on the 40, counting the 5 guys on the 60 day IL (Kluber, Mondesi, Mills, Kelly and Ort.)

 

Assuming we don't bring back Paxton, Kluber, Mondesi, Duvall and Turner, we are not down to 40.

 

Obvious DFA candidates are

Ort

Weiss

Barraclough

Llovera

Garza

Jacques

That's 6 slots for FA signings and Rule 5 protectees.

 

We could possible non tender, not take the option or trade:

"Bubble List"

Joely

Mills

DHam

Walter

EValdez

Murphy

Mata

Kelly

But I doubt we lose more than 1-2 from here....

 

Let's work with 7-8 slots:

FA1: SP

FA2: SP

FA3: MI/CF depth

 

and 4-5 Rule 5's:

Wikelman- for sure

Perales- for sure

S Scott- I'd protect him

Gambrell- I'd protect

Drohan?

Allan Castro?

 

Who gets picked off?

Paulino?

Bonaci?

Fernandez?

Lugo?

B Gonzalez?

Angel Bastardo?

Luis de la Rosa?

J Salazar?

Song?

 

If you think any of these guys are better than on the "bubble list," then swap 'em out or trade a couple bubble guys, assuming someone wants them.