A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sale, Paxton and Kluber!!

 

Snap, crackle, pop...

 

(those were not the sounds of pitches hitting catcher's mitts).

[mvp 78]

Probably Whitlock, Mayer and Casas would not be enough. Adding Bleis might not even be enough.

 

Whitlock, Mayer, Casas and Bleis for Soto?

 

Pass.

 

This move would make sense if the Sox were on the verge of a title and needed a push over the edge. This current Sox team needs young guys to provide and influx of talent. Trading them away would ruin everything that Bloom tried to build.

 

Just wait for Soto to become a FA, sign him and add him to that grouping of players who will be cheap AF on your payroll.

[mvp 78]

Snap, crackle, pop...

 

(those were not the sounds of pitches hitting catcher's mitts).

 

I'm more preferential to Snap, Crackle, Mitch and Pop.

[moonslav59]

If that's true, the Sox would be acquiring foundational starting pitching this year.

 

If not, the shades may be drawn, but no sash is raised.

 

They may trade for a Luis Castillo type at the deadline or realize they have one, already in Whitlock or Bello.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They may trade for a Luis Castillo type at the deadline...

 

You either work for the front office and have inside insight or haven't been paying attention to Chaim Bloom in the Chaim Bloom Era.

[harmony]

They may trade for a Luis Castillo type at the deadline or realize they have one, already in Whitlock or Bello.

What pitcher would be a Luis Castillo-type acquisition at this year’s trade deadline?

 

Are the Red Sox likely to be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What pitcher would be a Luis Castillo-type acquisition at this year’s trade deadline?

 

Are the Red Sox likely to be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline?

 

I'm not sure what top-of-the-rotation ace the Sox can land for bullpen pieces, Aldo Ramirez and past-their-prime vets on expiring one-year contracts.

[mvp 78]

What pitcher would be a Luis Castillo-type acquisition at this year’s trade deadline?

 

Are the Red Sox likely to be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline?

 

Neither. Sox have taken a middle road at the deadline since Bloom has come aboard. He'll make some moves, but not enough to push them over the top either way.

[moonslav59]

You either work for the front office and have inside insight or haven't been paying attention to Chaim Bloom in the Chaim Bloom Era.

 

I was fully convinced that Ben was about to make a trade or two, using prospects he had hoarded, but he was gone before he had a chance.

 

I think the same of Bloom. He's waiting for the time where he feels we are one major player away from strong "ring contention." We have not been there his whole time, here, but IMO, we are getting closer to that day.

[moonslav59]

What pitcher would be a Luis Castillo-type acquisition at this year’s trade deadline?

 

Are the Red Sox likely to be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline?

 

A. I'm not sure. It depends who is out of it.

 

B. I'm not sure, but we have saved some cash to make deadline moves and still stay under the line. It will depend on how we are looking at the deadline.

 

[moonslav59]

Neither. Sox have taken a middle road at the deadline since Bloom has come aboard. He'll make some moves, but not enough to push them over the top either way.

 

Deadline deals have been one of Bloom's brightest spots, although he has remained under the spotlight, except for maybe the Schwarber pick-up.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I was fully convinced that Ben was about to make a trade or two, using prospects he had hoarded, but he was gone before he had a chance.

 

I think the same of Bloom. He's waiting for the time where he feels we are one major player away from strong "ring contention." We have not been there his whole time, here, but IMO, we are getting closer to that day.

 

Do you honestly think Bloom will still be around when the Sox are just one player from another title?

 

Will even we be?

[mvp 78]

I was fully convinced that Ben was about to make a trade or two, using prospects he had hoarded, but he was gone before he had a chance.

 

I think the same of Bloom. He's waiting for the time where he feels we are one major player away from strong "ring contention." We have not been there his whole time, here, but IMO, we are getting closer to that day.

 

Until I see it, I don't believe it will happen.

[moonslav59]

Do you honestly think Bloom will still be around when the Sox are just one player from another title?

 

Will even we be?

 

Yes. I thought we'd be there after this winter's moves, but then the damn ceiling got blown off the roof, and the $80M we had to spend looked more like $50M.

 

I think we go over the tax line, next year, and that day might come, this coming winter.

[moonslav59]

Until I see it, I don't believe it will happen.

 

I heard that before the Story signing, too.

[notin]

What pitcher would be a Luis Castillo-type acquisition at this year’s trade deadline?[/Quote]

 

Depends on who thinks they are still in it. But two options might be Shohei Ohtani and Lucas Giolito.

 

Are the Red Sox likely to be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline?

 

Depends on how things play out between now and the deadline…

[mvp 78]

Deadline deals have been one of Bloom's brightest spots, although he has remained under the spotlight, except for maybe the Schwarber pick-up.

 

2020:

Heath/Brandon for Pivetta/Seabold

Mitch for Potts/Rosario

Pillar for Jacob Wallace

Oshit for Zach Bryant

JBJ expiring not dealt

 

2021:

Aldo for Schwarber

Robles/Davis

 

2022:

CV for Valdez Abreu

Diekman for McGuire

Northcut for Pham

Groome for Hosmer, Ferguson, Rosier

Nate not traded

JD not traded

Xander not traded

Hill not traded

Wacha not traded

 

He did well in 2020, but should have dealt JBJ. 2021 was good, but those relief pieces didn't work out. 2022 was very half-assed. Not a fan of that deadline at all. He didn't get under the luxury tax. QO compensation was worsened. The only slam dunk trades that he won was the Pivetta and Schwarber deals.

[mvp 78]

Do you honestly think Bloom will still be around when the Sox are just one player from another title?

 

Will even we be?

 

C'mon...

[mvp 78]

I heard that before the Story signing, too.

 

Story's deal isn't THAT big.

[moonslav59]

Story's deal isn't THAT big.

 

It was bigger than some thought would ever happen.

 

It was the 4th largest FA signing is Red Sox history and $2.1M from being the 3rd largest.

[moonslav59]

 

He did well in 2020, but should have dealt JBJ. 2021 was good, but those relief pieces didn't work out. 2022 was very half-assed. Not a fan of that deadline at all. He didn't get under the luxury tax. QO compensation was worsened. The only slam dunk trades that he won was the Pivetta and Schwarber deals.

 

It's one of his "brightest spots," because the other spots are shady or in the dark.

 

I'd say the Diekman dump was a good one.

 

I think the Vaz trade will work out.

 

Robles did pretty well for us.

 

Iggy & Shaw were not technically "deadline deals," but both worked out well.

 

Bloom's area grades:

 

A Rule 5

B Draft, IFA signings & Deadline deals (not including deals not made)

C Economical Free Agents

D High end FAs & Winter trades

F Deadline/in-season deals not made, Negotiations with homies

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

C'mon...

 

A lot of tombstones of Sox fans from last century that never saw one championship...

[mvp 78]

It was bigger than some thought would ever happen.

 

It was the 4th largest FA signing is Red Sox history and $2.1M from being the 3rd largest.

 

It shows more about where FA is heading and about how the Red Sox have played FA recently. The fact that Story's contract is remotely close to Manny's deal says a lot about the state of the game.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Deadline deals have been one of Bloom's brightest spots, although he has remained under the spotlight, except for maybe the Schwarber pick-up.

 

Ok, but this narrative just shifted from a Luis Castillo type blockbuster -- which would include trading several top prospects -- which Bloom has never made in Boston.

[mvp 78]

A lot of tombstones of Sox fans from last century that never saw one championship...

 

You said "being one player away." I would assume the teams that made the WS in 67, 75, 86 could have won if given one specific player if we played fantasy GM.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You said "being one player away." I would assume the teams that made the WS in 67, 75, 86 could have won if given one specific player if we played fantasy GM.

 

Don't assume -- it's almost guaranteed that it any of those had . one. more. top quality impact pitcher

[moonslav59]

It shows more about where FA is heading and about how the Red Sox have played FA recently. The fact that Story's contract is remotely close to Manny's deal says a lot about the state of the game.

 

...and inflation.

 

I'm fine with the direction of signing multiple moderate contracts over Price-like ones. I don't think we acquire our next ace via free agency. Like Pedro, Schilling, Beckett, Sale and to some extent Porcello and Eovaldi, I think we will trade for him, and hopefully extend him.

[moonslav59]

Ok, but this narrative just shifted from a Luis Castillo type blockbuster -- which would include trading several top prospects -- which Bloom has never made in Boston.

 

Certainly, Bloom may never make such a deal. I'm not sure we can believe anything any Sox rep says, but Bloom did say this, this winter...

 

"I actually think the trade market could be a really good route to adding impact to our club... We are looking (into) a lot of significant moves there as long as we can do it in a way that isn’t just robbing Peter to pay Paul, that’s actually moving us forward in 2023 and giving us a chance to make a significant step forward from where we sit today.”

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You said "being one player away." I would assume the teams that made the WS in 67, 75, 86 could have won if given one specific player if we played fantasy GM.

 

On the mound in Game 7s for the Red Sox, I'll take Lolich in '67, Fingers in '75 (in the 7th, 8th and 9th) and Mike Scott in '86...

[moonslav59]

You said "being one player away." I would assume the teams that made the WS in 67, 75, 86 could have won if given one specific player if we played fantasy GM.

 

Maybe add 2003 or even 2021.