Corey Kluber signs with Red Sox

[Old Red]

Yes, that's the stat that brought Corey and his 88 MPH FB to Boston.

 

And the price tag.

[Bellhorn04]

And the price tag.

 

$10 million for 9 s***** starts, great investment, huh?

[mvp 78]

$10 million for 9 s***** starts, great investment, huh?

 

Bloom has had a few swing and misses since coming here. Richards comes to mind.

[Bellhorn04]

Bloom has had a few swing and misses since coming here. Richards comes to mind.

 

Richards didn't bother me that much because at the time dumpster diving seemed to make sense. But I didn't realize at the time these are the only kind of starting pitcher signings Bloom will make.

[notin]

Yes, that's the stat that brought Corey and his 88 MPH FB to Boston.

 

Well, most likely it was his willingness to accept a one year deal while Wacha probably prefer something longer…

[notin]

Bloom has had a few swing and misses since coming here. Richards comes to mind.

 

What GM doesn’t?

[notin]

Sounds like a good reason not to add him.

 

I mention Marquez because he might be in line for one of those injury deals, like he gets a 2 year $20mill contract that pays $5mill for the first year in which he recovers and watches lots of baseball. And then pays $15mill as his one year pillow contract to rebuild some value.

 

And if he gets a deal like that, certainly Boston is a candidate to offer it.

 

But I think - despite not bringing in as many ex-Tampa players as I thought he would - Bloom will target Blake Snell if he goes for any of the better pitchers in free agency…

[Bellhorn04]

Well, most likely it was his willingness to accept a one year deal while Wacha probably prefer something longer…

 

And Bloom loves to shop at the 5 and 10 (million) store for starting pitchers...

[Bellhorn04]

I mention Marquez because he might be in line for one of those injury deals, like he gets a 2 year $20mill contract that pays $5mill for the first year in which he recovers and watches lots of baseball. And then pays $15mill as his one year pillow contract to rebuild some value.

 

And if he gets a deal like that, certainly Boston is a candidate to offer it.

 

But I think - despite not bringing in as many ex-Tampa players as I thought he would - Bloom will target Blake Snell if he goes for any of the better pitchers in free agency…

 

Get ready for a lot more Reported Interest culminating in another $10 million, one year signing. Assuming Bloom is still here.

[Dipre]

I still find it hard to accept the Sox missed out on both Eflin and Eovaldi apparently because they wouldn't cough up a little extra dough. We're not even talking about big amounts of money compared to what we've blown on other players. Too much attention paid to a strict budget, and it's proving costly.

 

I wasn't big on Eflin, but he's proven me wrong so far, even outpitching his FIP instead of pitching below its levels. Some of it probably has to do with the Rays' coaching staff, but still.

[Duran Is The Man]

Bloom has had a few swing and misses since coming here. Richards comes to mind.

 

maybe he needs to lay off the fWAR and stick with bWAR.

[notin]

Get ready for a lot more Reported Interest culminating in another $10 million, one year signing. Assuming Bloom is still here.

 

I don’t think they’re going to fire Bloom while the team is winning. You do realize the Sox have a winning record, right?

 

Kluber didn’t work out, but that’s not exactly trailblazing in MLB. He’s actually not much off the pace of Nate Eovaldi in 2019 (5.99 ERA), but he doesn’t have the additional years attached…

[notin]

I still find it hard to accept the Sox missed out on both Eflin and Eovaldi apparently because they wouldn't cough up a little extra dough. We're not even talking about big amounts of money compared to what we've blown on other players. Too much attention paid to a strict budget, and it's proving costly.

 

With Eflin, it reportedly wasn’t the money; a huge factor was the Orlando native wanting to go back home.

 

I heard he basically had his agent take Boston’s offer to Tampa and ask them to match it. If that’s true, do you think upping the offer mattered?

[Bellhorn04]

I don’t think they’re going to fire Bloom while the team is winning. You do realize the Sox have a winning record, right?/QUOTE]

 

Yes, but I also realize we're out of a playoff spot and projections have us remaining that way.

[Dipre]

With Eflin, it reportedly wasn’t the money; a huge factor was the Orlando native wanting to go back home.

 

I heard he basically had his agent take Boston’s offer to Tampa and ask them to match it. If that’s true, do you think upping the offer mattered?

 

Probably. Most of the time. Home is a factor, but enough money on the table can buy out that factor. Not every time though.

[Bellhorn04]

With Eflin, it reportedly wasn’t the money; a huge factor was the Orlando native wanting to go back home.

 

I heard he basically had his agent take Boston’s offer to Tampa and ask them to match it. If that’s true, do you think upping the offer mattered?

 

These are all niceties. The fact is that Kluber was the only signing of a starting pitcher in this much-anticipated offseason for Bloom.

[Bellhorn04]

I do find it comical when people say "Just because Bloom hasn't signed a starter to a long-term deal yet, it doesn't mean he won't in the future."

 

Henry didn't guarantee him a 10 year run, folks.

[mvp 78]

Richards didn't bother me that much because at the time dumpster diving seemed to make sense. But I didn't realize at the time these are the only kind of starting pitcher signings Bloom will make.

 

His "dumpster diving" contract was 1/10. In the inflated 2022/23 offseason, that's the same contract Kluber got.

[mvp 78]

I do find it comical when people say "Just because Bloom hasn't signed a starter to a long-term deal yet, it doesn't mean he won't in the future."

 

Henry didn't guarantee him a 10 year run, folks.

 

Well, it's a true statement that it doesn't mean that he won't, but it's also a statement that has very little utility.

[mvp 78]

With Eflin, it reportedly wasn’t the money; a huge factor was the Orlando native wanting to go back home.

 

I heard he basically had his agent take Boston’s offer to Tampa and ask them to match it. If that’s true, do you think upping the offer mattered?

 

If they upped it enough, sure.

[Bellhorn04]

His "dumpster diving" contract was 1/10. In the inflated 2022/23 offseason, that's the same contract Kluber got.

 

My expectations were a little higher this offseason, especially after Bloom made his remarks about getting a starter who would provide "innings, leadership and upside". He talked the talk and didn't walk the walk.

[mvp 78]

My expectations were a little higher this offseason, especially after Bloom made his remarks about getting a starter who would provide "innings, leadership and upside". He talked the talk and didn't walk the walk.

 

He really suck-diddly-ucked. It's been horrible.

[moonslav59]

My expectations were a little higher this offseason, especially after Bloom made his remarks about getting a starter who would provide "innings, leadership and upside". He talked the talk and didn't walk the walk.

 

He clearly chose to spend elsewhere, and most of those moves looks good near the 1/3 mark, but yes, he relied too much on long shots like Paxton & Sale and pen to rotation moves like Houck & Whitlock.

 

Up until the Story signing, he had budget excuses. Noe anymore.

[notin]

My expectations were a little higher this offseason, especially after Bloom made his remarks about getting a starter who would provide "innings, leadership and upside". He talked the talk and didn't walk the walk.

 

Well, Kluber did pitch 164 IP last year, and had better peripherals than Wacha and Eovaldi. Bloom simply gambled he could provide innings and upside.

 

I have no idea if he provides leadership or not…

[moonslav59]

Well, Kluber did pitch 164 IP last year, and had better peripherals than Wacha and Eovaldi. Bloom simply gambled he could provide innings and upside.

 

I have no idea if he provides leadership or not…

 

You rarely hear of "leadership" on a struggling player.

 

As far as $10M/1 pitchers go, Kluber looked like as good a gamble as anyone else.

 

When Eflin's name was mentioned as a possible get, I don't recall much jumping for joy. There was banter about us being outbid by the cheap Rays, but not much about missing out on a great signing.

 

Most were thrilled to see Perez finally let go after 2021.

 

It's really a long shot at $10M.

 

IMO, he should have made a trade, but as someone said, "easier said than done."

[notin]

You rarely hear of "leadership" on a struggling player.

 

As far as $10M/1 pitchers go, Kluber looked like as good a gamble as anyone else.

 

When Eflin's name was mentioned as a possible get, I don't recall much jumping for joy. There was banter about us being outbid by the cheap Rays, but not much about missing out on a great signing.

 

Most were thrilled to see Perez finally let go after 2021.

 

It's really a long shot at $10M.

 

IMO, he should have made a trade, but as someone said, "easier said than done."

 

 

Jason Heyward on the 2016 Cubs…

[moonslav59]

Jason Heyward on the 2016 Cubs…

 

Okay, 7 years ago is rare, right?

[Bellhorn04]

You rarely hear of "leadership" on a struggling player.

 

As far as $10M/1 pitchers go, Kluber looked like as good a gamble as anyone else.

 

When Eflin's name was mentioned as a possible get, I don't recall much jumping for joy. There was banter about us being outbid by the cheap Rays, but not much about missing out on a great signing.

 

Most were thrilled to see Perez finally let go after 2021.

 

It's really a long shot at $10M.

 

IMO, he should have made a trade, but as someone said, "easier said than done."

 

Anything he did would be risky, I think we all get that.

 

I just don't think if we miss the playoffs there will be many pats on the back for doing his best and running into bad luck and all that.

 

The Rays are happy they got Eflin, the Rangers are happy they got Eovaldi, we got Kluber...them's the breaks.

[moonslav59]

Anything he did would be risky, I think we all get that.

 

I just don't think if we miss the playoffs there will be many pats on the back for doing his best and running into bad luck and all that.

 

The Rays are happy they got Eflin, the Rangers are happy they got Eovaldi, we got Kluber...them's the breaks.

 

True. It is just barely 1/3 of a season, but the results seem to be in on Kluber, already.

 

Nate's big if was mostly about going 28+ starts. That remains to be seen.

 

Eflin looks like a steal- perhaps one of the best per dollar, this past winter. It's a tiny bit heartening to know Bloom wanted him, just it is, to me anyway, that his take on Martin Perez seemed more like a timing miss than a talent miss. Call kit bad luck or whatever, but we agree: this is totally on Bloom.

 

A big percent of his other moves look good at the 1/3 mark, but pitching should have been the focus- and not just the pen.

 

Bloom rolled the dice on hopes we could find 5 keepers from

Sale, Kluber & Paxton

Whitlock, Houck & Bello

Wink, Crawford and maybe one from Mata, Walter and Murphy

 

It's taken a third of a season to begin to feel okay with Sale, Bello, Houck and Paxton, but the long experiments with Kluber & Pivetta have knocked us into a hole we may not recover from, even if we find our 5th starter, soon (Whitlock?)

 

We still have 110+ games to go, and I fully believe Bloom's legacy and maybe his job are on the line.

[Old Red]

Another good outing today by Wacha at the stadium. 7 IP/5 H/ 2 ER.