Red Sox Starting Rotation 2023

[Bellhorn04]

He'll be Boston-bound. You can bet the farm on that.

 

I'm glad I don't have a farm.

[moonslav59]

Once more I have to day that no one reading this thread can think you guys have any hopes whatsoever for 2023. And I find that astounding because right now I think the Sox pitching looks better than 2021 and as good as 2019. As moonslav has pointed out, with the return of Sale, Whitlock, and Houck (now delayed until 21 August so he can start), Cora has good starters, long relievers, and short relievers.

 

Of course there are concerns--Bello's possible fatigue, Sale's history of injuries, etc--but at least a whole bunch of these guys are present for duty.

 

And, if the Story and Duvall of yesterday's game--combined with the Turner we've seen all season and the possibility that Reyes can hit (but I now have my doubts about Refsnyder)--the Sox just might have some good righty bats to go with all those lefty (Casas, Devers, Yoshida, Duran, Dugo) bats.

 

Seriously, if I'm anywhere near right, shouldn't we pay just a little bit of attention to this year's team?

 

What have I said that hints we don't have a chance.

 

I have said several times, even lately, "I like our chances," despite fangraphs saying we have about a 15% chance of making the playoffs.

 

We have done well vs good teams. Once Houck returns, we will be as healthy as we have been in a very long time. (knock on wood)

 

[moonslav59]

I'm glad I don't have a farm.

 

Not having one makes it easier to bet it against Dipre.

[mvp 78]

What have I said that hints we don't have a chance.

 

I have said several times, even lately, "I like our chances," despite fangraphs saying we have about a 15% chance of making the playoffs.

 

We have done well vs good teams. Once Houck returns, we will be as healthy as we have been in a very long time. (knock on wood)

 

 

It's a healthy team full of guys that find themselves often getting injured. I wouldn't bet on them staying healthy.

[moonslav59]

It's a healthy team full of guys that find themselves often getting injured. I wouldn't bet on them staying healthy.

 

Agreed, but I'm glad we seem to have everyone healthy, now than in April-May.

[mvp 78]

Agreed, but I'm glad we seem to have everyone healthy, now than in April-May.

 

As long as the games aren't on Peacock or Apple, it will be more fun for Red Sox Nation in the short term.

[Dipre]

I'm glad I don't have a farm.

 

All Canadians have a farm and consume copious amounts of maple syrup and poutine.

[Larry Cook]

I think we need two free agent starters. But we should be looking at guys that will accept one year offers.

[vegasbob]

We don't know, if it will change, but I do think the budget will grow, next year, and not the pen seems all set, and the everyday player slots seem filled, as well as having some depth, so what is left to spend on?

 

C: Wong, McGuire and a solid farm of catchers (Scott, Teel, Hickey, Brannon, RHern...)

1B: Casas (Dalbec, Jordan...)

2B: urias, Reyes (EValdez, Yorke...)

SS: Story, Reyes (Mayer, DHam...)

3B: Devers Reyes (Meidroth, Bonaci...)

LF: Duran, Yoshida, Refsnyder (Rosier...)

CF: Rafaela, Duran

RF: Dugo, Abreu

DH: Yoshida, Refsnyder (Dalbec, Meidroth, Kavadas...)

 

I'd be fine without adding a single everyday player or pen arm. I know losing Turner and Duvall will probably mean we add one piece, but we don't HAVE to do it.

 

This is not to say I think JH and Bloom will spend mostly on the rotation. I never know what they will do.

 

 

Regarding losing Duvall and Turner, which well may happen, I think this group does need at least 1 or 2 mature , professional hitters, like Turner, to balance the roster of streaky youngsters, including Devers. I hope Turner stays for next year though he could move on for a 2 year deal.

 

It's also time to drop Dalbec from the list of possibilities. He may have had a great year at WooSox but the lack of serious interest by any other team tells a lot . Overage/Underperformed, time to drop off the 40 post season or sooner. Nice guy, maybe he can coach 1B.

[moonslav59]

Regarding losing Duvall and Turner, which well may happen, I think this group does need at least 1 or 2 mature , professional hitters, like Turner, to balance the roster of streaky youngsters, including Devers. I hope Turner stays for next year though he could move on for a 2 year deal.

 

It's also time to drop Dalbec from the list of possibilities. He may have had a great year at WooSox but the lack of serious interest by any other team tells a lot . Overage/Underperformed, time to drop off the 40 post season or sooner. Nice guy, maybe he can coach 1B.

 

I still think our need for SP'ing is so extreme, it outweighs every other need.

We should have enough resources to add two solid SP'ers and a bat or two, but who knows what the budget will be.

 

I'm not sure we will ever make another top prospect for a stud pitcher trade, again, despite them all working, in the past. (Pedro, Schilling, Beckett, Porcello)

[Duran Is The Man]

I still think our need for SP'ing is so extreme, it outweighs every other need.

We should have enough resources to add two solid SP'ers and a bat or two, but who knows what the budget will be.

 

I'm not sure we will ever make another top prospect for a stud pitcher trade, again, despite them all working, in the past. (Pedro, Schilling, Beckett, Porcello)

 

 

 

my greatest fear this offseason is Bloom sitting on his hands, waiting til the last minute as the SP free agent corpse gets picked over until there is nothing left but scraps, to sign some oft-injured, aging veteran.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

my greatest fear this offseason is Bloom sitting on his hands, waiting til the last minute as the SP free agent corpse gets picked over until there is nothing left but scraps, to sign some oft-injured, aging veteran.

 

Don't be scared... it's the plan.

[moonslav59]

my greatest fear this offseason is Bloom sitting on his hands, waiting til the last minute as the SP free agent corpse gets picked over until there is nothing left but scraps, to sign some oft-injured, aging veteran.

 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if we don't go for and get Y.Y. from Japan and/or Urias as a FA, I'm not sure I want Bloom spending large & long on a 30+ pitcher- just pull the plug on a big trade, involving a top prospect or two, and maybe more for a younger top SP'er with 3_ years of team control.

[moonslav59]

Don't be scared... it's the plan.

 

What's the definition of "is?"

[notin]

my greatest fear this offseason is Bloom sitting on his hands, waiting til the last minute as the SP free agent corpse gets picked over until there is nothing left but scraps, to sign some oft-injured, aging veteran.

 

Gee, mine is heights…

[Duran Is The Man]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if we don't go for and get Y.Y. from Japan and/or Urias as a FA, I'm not sure I want Bloom spending large & long on a 30+ pitcher- just pull the plug on a big trade, involving a top prospect or two, and maybe more for a younger top SP'er with 3_ years of team control.

 

that's what he should do. he really really needs two top pitchers. if he does that, i don't see how we don't make the playoffs next year.

[notin]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if we don't go for and get Y.Y. from Japan and/or Urias as a FA, I'm not sure I want Bloom spending large & long on a 30+ pitcher- just pull the plug on a big trade, involving a top prospect or two, and maybe more for a younger top SP'er with 3_ years of team control.

 

More likely the Sox deal an OF for a SP. Who was the last big contract SP that Boston signed who worked out? Lackey? I suppose if your criteria for “worked out” is a 5 year deal where he was average the first year, horrible the second, didn’t pitch the third and bounced back in the fourth…

[moonslav59]

that's what he should do. he really really needs two top pitchers. if he does that, i don't see how we don't make the playoffs next year.

 

I'm almost certain they won't get two solid, new SP'ers. They will count on Crawford or Houck and even Sale.

 

I won't get it.

 

I can understand thinking 2024 is the year to pounce. I had hoped 2023 was, but if they keep putting it off, or worse yet, never pounce, I'll be on the criticism highway.

 

To me, our pen would be freaking awesome, if we kept all our proven "long men" in the pen. It might even be revolutionary.

 

Whitlock

Houck

Crawford

Pivetta

Murphy

and even Wink can go 2.

 

Add Jansen, Marin and Schreiber and that's 9 solid pen pieces for an 8 man pen. (Joely & Bernardino makes it 11.)

 

That leaves just Bello and Sale, with Sale being so unreliable, I'm not sure mentioning his name is worth it. No way we get 3-4 solid SP'ers, so we know we will be working backwards:

Pivetta to rotation: Murphy makes the pen.

Houck to the rotation: Joely or Bernardino makes the pen.

 

IMO, that's as far as we should go, and that leaves 2 slots, with Sale still being discounted.

 

SP1 _______

SP2 Bello

SP3 _______

SP4 Pivetta

SP5 Houck

SP6 Sale

 

Closer Jansen

RP2 Martin

RP3 Wink

RP4 Schreiber

RP5 Whitlock

RP6 Crawford

RP7 Murphy

RP8 Joely/Bernardino

 

I'd be fine, if we spent all our money on jsut those two slots and rolled the dice with our everyday players, as they are, now (minus Turner, Duvall), but in reality, we should have enough to pay for or trade for...

 

2 SP'ers and 1 decent bat who plays 2B or CF/RF.

 

KIt's been years, since I have felt like we are down to just 3 significant holes.

 

[Maxbialystock]

that's what he should do. he really really needs two top pitchers. if he does that, i don't see how we don't make the playoffs next year.

 

Really? Right now the biggest problem is with the hitting, and that's despite the fact that all the so-called good bats--Story, Duvall, Turner, Devers, Casas, Dugo, Reyes, Duran, Yoshida--are active and healthy, but can't seem to score any freaking runs. Over the last 18 games they've scored 62 runs, including some unearned runs, for an average of 3.44 runs per game. Story, Duvall, Devers, Dugo, and now Duran and Yoshida are all disappointments for various reasons. Plus Casas and Duran can't hit lefty pitchers.

[notin]

Really? Right now the biggest problem is with the hitting, and that's despite the fact that all the so-called good bats--Story, Duvall, Turner, Devers, Casas, Dugo, Reyes, Duran, Yoshida--are active and healthy, but can't seem to score any freaking runs. Over the last 18 games they've scored 62 runs, including some unearned runs, for an average of 3.44 runs per game. Story, Duvall, Devers, Dugo, and now Duran and Yoshida are all disappointments for various reasons. Plus Casas and Duran can't hit lefty pitchers.

 

And I’ll go another direction - the biggest problem is the defense. (Sox rank 26th in DRS, 30th in OAA)

 

I’m hoping the off-season includes the following:

 

1. Trade Duran for a controllable SP. A deal for Miami LHSP Braxton Garrett makes sense for both teams.

2. Sign Matt Chapman

3. Move Devers to 1b. Casas to DH.

4. Extend Verdugo.

5. Put Rafaela in CF.

6. Live with Yoshida in LF as the sole defensive weakness…

Edited August 17, 2023 by notin

[mvp 78]

Freddie Freeman was terrible early on. If Casas can put the work in, he should get better. We have zero idea if Raffy can pick it at 1b.

[notin]

Freddie Freeman was terrible early on. If Casas can put the work in, he should get better. We have zero idea if Raffy can pick it at 1b.

 

He can alternate in there with Casas and get acclimated…

[moonslav59]

And I’ll go another direction - the biggest problem is the defense. (Sox rank 26th in DRS, 30th in OAA)

 

I’m hoping the off-season includes the following:

 

1. Trade Duran for a controllable SP. A deal for Miami LHSP Braxton Garrett makes sense for both teams.

2. Sign Matt Chapman

3. Move Devers to 1b. Casas to DH.

4. Extend Verdugo.

5. Put Rafaela in CF.

6. Live with Yoshida in LF as the sole defensive weakness…

 

Dugo is not that great on D.

 

Another idea might be to put Duran in LF and Yoshida at DH.

Hope Casas can improve at 1B.

Rafaela in CF would be a bg boost.

Trade Dugo and others for a SP'er and find a RF'er who can play D and has a strong and accurate arm.

 

What's with our farm system producing 1Bmen that seem okay on D in the minors but suck once they reach the bigs?

 

I think Dalbec won defensive player of the year, once. Was that award a prank?

 

[mvp 78]

He can alternate in there with Casas and get acclimated…

 

If they are going to move someone and want to have Devers play 1B long term, it makes more sense to package Casas in a deal for a pitcher. He has a much higher trade value.

[moonslav59]

If they are going to move someone and want to have Devers play 1B long term, it makes more sense to package Casas in a deal for a pitcher. He has a much higher trade value.

 

Like Casas and Walter for Keller (PIT)?

[mvp 78]

Like Casas and Walter for Keller (PIT)?

 

I'd prefer someone with more than 2 years of control, but something similar.

[notin]

Dugo is not that great on D.

 

Another idea might be to put Duran in LF and Yoshida at DH.

Hope Casas can improve at 1B.

Rafaela in CF would be a bg boost.

Trade Dugo and others for a SP'er and find a RF'er who can play D and has a strong and accurate arm.

 

What's with our farm system producing 1Bmen that seem okay on D in the minors but suck once they reach the bigs?

 

I think Dalbec won defensive player of the year, once. Was that award a prank?

 

 

Verdugo is the Sox second best defensive outfielder. Cora has repeatedly praised his defense. And he’s the only OF capable of playing RF.

 

That said, he’s still probably the most likely trade candidate…

[notin]

If they are going to move someone and want to have Devers play 1B long term, it makes more sense to package Casas in a deal for a pitcher. He has a much higher trade value.

 

Devers at 1b, (the untraded) Duran in LF, Yoshida at DH? There is some hope there.

 

But offensively I greatly prefer Casas over Duran as my keeper…

[Randy Red Sox]

Has everyone on here not figured out yet that this the way Bloom/Henry are building this team? Bloom has convinced Henry { or vice-versa} that the way to do it is through the farm system and sprinkled with some Bloom 1-2 yr FA signings on veteran players to keep the team competitive.

[notin]

Has everyone on here not figured out yet that this the way Bloom/Henry are building this team? Bloom has convinced Henry { or vice-versa} that the way to do it is through the farm system and sprinkled with some Bloom 1-2 yr FA signings on veteran players to keep the team competitive.

 

Story and Yoshida signed 1-2 year deals?