Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[moonslav59]

I Don know how good an OF Teoscar is, but I would take him over the others as a RHB.

 

If Duvall can play CF or RF better than Teoscar, I'm fine with signing him, instead.

 

Maybe we trade for a RH'd CF/RF'er who can hit well and play average or better D.

[moonslav59]

Chapman can pick it at 3B, so that would make the infield D better, but he strikes out a ton. I just can’t see the Sox making all those drastic moves.

 

It would improve our D at 3B and 1B, but I doubt we make 3 moves with one signing.

[Bellhorn04]

Over his career, Chapman has averaged 4.77 fWAR per 150 games.

 

He hasn't had a bad season yet and he's been very durable.

[Bellhorn04]

Senga has had a pretty decent season for the Mets.

 

Another of those medium range SP contracts that the Sox would have benefited from.

[Old Red]

Over his career, Chapman has averaged 4.77 fWAR per 150 games.

 

He hasn't had a bad season yet and he's been very durable.

 

Of course a big question would be what would it take, and for how long to sign him. He’s a Boras guy too.

[notin]

Chapman can pick it at 3B, so that would make the infield D better, but he strikes out a ton. I just can’t see the Sox making all those drastic moves.

 

It’s not that drastic. Moving Devers to 1b is definitely in his future anyway.

[moonslav59]

I know a lot of people will hate this idea, and I am extremely hesitant to trade such a promising hitter, but if we sign Chapman and move Devers to 1B and Yoshida to DH, thereby improving 3 positions on defense, we could make Casas the centerpoint to a trade that brings us a top young pitcher with several years of team control.

 

I got no names, but Casas has a lot of value.

 

Again, I'm not for trading Casas, and don't say I want to dump him, but I realize we will have to give up a lot to get a top young pitcher in return.

 

Duran or Dugo won't get us one.

 

Rafaela plus Yorke won't get us one.

 

[Old Red]

It’s not that drastic. Moving Devers to 1b is definitely in his future anyway.

Probably, but I just don’t see it happening now, and especially with Casas there. Yes I understand neither one is good on D, but I just don’t see it happening next year, and sign Chapman too.

[moonslav59]

It’s not that drastic. Moving Devers to 1b is definitely in his future anyway.

 

It also moves Casas to DH and keeps Yoshida in LF. Yoshida in LF might force Duran and Ref to play CF/RF more than we'd like to see happen.

[moonslav59]

Probably, but I just don’t see it happening now, and especially with Casas there. Yes I understand neither one is good on D, but I just don’t see it happening next year, and sign Chapman too.

 

I'd say the chances are less than a half a percent we sign Chapman and start a domino fall.

[Old Red]

I know a lot of people will hate this idea, and I am extremely hesitant to trade such a promising hitter, but if we sign Chapman and move Devers to 1B and Yoshida to DH, thereby improving 3 positions on defense, we could make Casas the centerpoint to a trade that brings us a top young pitcher with several years of team control.

 

I got no names, but Casas has a lot of value.

 

Again, I'm not for trading Casas, and don't say I want to dump him, but I realize we will have to give up a lot to get a top young pitcher in return.

 

Duran or Dugo won't get us one.

 

Rafaela plus Yorke won't get us one.

 

 

I wouldn’t hate the idea if they could get some young top pitching, but I just don’t see Bloom trading someone who has come with such hype, and promise, and is still cheap, and under team control for a few years yet before he starts getting more expensive if he produces.

[moonslav59]

I wouldn’t hate the idea if they could get some young top pitching, but I just don’t see Bloom trading someone who has come with such hype, and promise, and is still cheap, and under team control for a few years yet before he starts getting more expensive if he produces.

 

I can see why it's hard to imagine Bloom trading any highly regarded prospect or young player, and similar things were said about Ben, before DD took over. I'm not so sure we can assume it is a rock solid tenant of Bloom's philosophy on roster building or has just been a strategy put in place to get us to a point, where the priorities can change and so do the strategies to meet the new circumstances.

 

I have no basis for this belief, but I think Bloom will eventually be open to making a big trade, or he may be steered into doing one from above, but the timing of such a trade would likely only happen when the organization believes at least two things are in place, and I'm not sure now is that time:

1. We have a major league roster foundation set where only 1-2 major additions are needed to open a highly competitive window of at least 2-3 years.

2. We have a farm system set up that can afford to part with a package big enough to land a top player but still remain strong enough to promise continued infusions of talent to the big club.

 

I'm not sure we can ever get to this point, but personally, I think we are close, now. A third aspect to the 2 major points above might be that the budget is set up where there is very little deadwood, and going over the tax line is possible due to the previous season being under the tax line. (This looks okay, now.)

 

To get a major young pitcher, I have to think it would take Casas or Mayer. Trading Bello defeats the purpose of improving the rotation. Anthony's stock is on the rise, so maybe he could be a centerpiece. I would not be for trading 2 of the 3, and that might be what a team would demand, but I'd say no to that.

 

We aren't getting a top pitcher by trading 5 second tier prospects or young players from this list: Duran, Bleis, Houck, Yorke, Rafaela, Crawford, Perales or Wikelman.

 

Here are the values given by BTV:

59 Mayer

47 Casas

41 Anthony

40 Devers

39 Bello

29 Bleis

27 Houck

25 Duran

19 Yorker (perhaps over-valued)

17 Crawford

13 Yoshida (likely over-valued)

10 Verdugo

7 Screiber

6 Rafaela (likely underrated)

6 Wink

5 Drohan

4 Perales, Wikelman, Wong & Romero

3 Meidroth, Walter, E R-C, Abreu, Urias & Alcantara

2 Pivetta, Cespedes, Bastardo, Monegro, Mata, Murphy, Castro, Hickey, Brannon & Bonaci

 

[notin]

I'd say the chances are less than a half a percent we sign Chapman and start a domino fall.

 

They really should do it. And move Duran for a pitcher. I’ve thrown out Braxton Garrett due to similar trade values on BTV. But a more likely scenario is a first or second year arb-eligible pitcher. Or a third year arb guy, like Brandon Woodruff.

 

It’s far more likely than thinking the Sox will outbid the pack for Yamamoto…

[moonslav59]

They really should do it. And move Duran for a pitcher. I’ve thrown out Braxton Garrett due to similar trade values on BTV. But a more likely scenario is a first or second year arb-eligible pitcher. Or a third year arb guy, like Brandon Woodruff.

 

It’s far more likely than thinking the Sox will outbid the pack for Yamamoto…

 

I'm not against the idea.

 

I do wonder about the Sox not wanting to move Casas to DH, so early in his journey. I know you are not arguing the Sox will do this but only that they should, and I'm liking the idea more and more, as I think about it.

[notin]

Probably, but I just don’t see it happening now, and especially with Casas there. Yes I understand neither one is good on D, but I just don’t see it happening next year, and sign Chapman too.

 

Please name one Bloom acquisition you saw coming…

[moonslav59]

Please name one Bloom acquisition you saw coming…

 

Kluber, once we struck out on Eflin.

[oldtimer]

I know a lot of people will hate this idea, and I am extremely hesitant to trade such a promising hitter, but if we sign Chapman and move Devers to 1B and Yoshida to DH, thereby improving 3 positions on defense, we could make Casas the centerpoint to a trade that brings us a top young pitcher with several years of team control.

 

I got no names, but Casas has a lot of value.

 

Again, I'm not for trading Casas, and don't say I want to dump him, but I realize we will have to give up a lot to get a top young pitcher in return.

 

Duran or Dugo won't get us one.

 

Rafaela plus Yorke won't get us one.

 

Casas has been our best OBP guy and is only in his first full year. The promise is there for 30 HR in future years and probably his fielding will improve, particularly if he can take off 10 pounds. Who is to say that Devers can really be any better at first defensively. For those reasons I would keep Casas and I know you are not advocating trading him but instead looking for any solution to the improving the 2024 Sox. I too with be fine with keeping Duvall as either a RF or CF in future.

 

We should seriously look at our leadership going forward. Have we really improved much in the last 3 years?

[moonslav59]

Casas has been our best OBP guy and is only in his first full year. The promise is there for 30 HR in future years and probably his fielding will improve, particularly if he can take off 10 pounds. Who is to say that Devers can really be any better at first defensively. For those reasons I would keep Casas and I know you are not advocating trading him but instead looking for any solution to the improving the 2024 Sox. I too with be fine with keeping Duvall as either a RF or CF in future.

 

We should seriously look at our leadership going forward. Have we really improved much in the last 3 years?

 

For the same reasons you and I really like Casas, other GMs do, too.

 

I am 100% convinced Devers would be better on D at 1B, in maybe 1 month. It's not like 1B defense is at the top of the priority list, but improving the D at 1B and 3B would be a significant plus.

 

I'm not fine with Duvall in CF or RF. He's best in LF, which is position we are already overloaded. If we traded Duran or Dugo, then maybe...

[notin]

For the same reasons you and I really like Casas, other GMs do, too.

 

I am 100% convinced Devers would be better on D at 1B, in maybe 1 month. It's not like 1B defense is at the top of the priority list, but improving the D at 1B and 3B would be a significant plus.

 

I'm not fine with Duvall in CF or RF. He's best in LF, which is position we are already overloaded. If we traded Duran or Dugo, then maybe...

 

Duvall did win a Gold Glove in RF 2 years ago over some defensive whiz kid on the Dodgers…

[Bellhorn04]

Kluber, once we struck out on Eflin.

 

There wasn't much left by the time we signed Kluber. We were so desperate by then that we had to like it.

[Bellhorn04]

And next year it will be a 10+ fWAR, so what's your point?

 

Do you think it's unfair to suggest that maybe all of the contracts of Devers, Story and Yoshida will be bad ones?

 

I like Raffy a lot, trust me. But it's hard to dispute that they gave the big money to the wrong guy (instead of Betts).

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Do you think it's unfair to suggest that maybe all of the contracts of Devers, Story and Yoshida will be bad ones?

 

I like Raffy a lot, trust me. But it's hard to dispute that they gave the big money to the wrong guy (instead of Betts).

 

I said this was guaranteed when they traded Mookie. I didn't think the guy would be Raffy, but I knew they'd eventually give Mookie's money to someone else not as good... because very few have been as good -- in the history of baseball.

[Old Red]

Do you think it's unfair to suggest that maybe all of the contracts of Devers, Story and Yoshida will be bad ones?

 

I like Raffy a lot, trust me. But it's hard to dispute that they gave the big money to the wrong guy (instead of Betts).

 

Time will tell, and there is plenty of time left on all of them.

[Bellhorn04]

I said this was guaranteed when they traded Mookie. I didn't think the guy would be Raffy, but I knew they'd eventually give Mookie's money to someone else not as good... because very few have been as good -- in the history of baseball.

 

That fact was simply too obvious for Henry. The moment when he decided to give up on keeping Betts may be looked back on as his moment of fatal hubris. Maybe he figured the fact he'd produced 4 rings with a changing cast of CBO's and managers showed that he was the real brains behind it all and he could do anything, including dump a Hall of Famer in his prime.

[Old Red]

That fact was simply too obvious for Henry. The moment when he decided to give up on keeping Betts may be looked back on as his moment of fatal hubris. Maybe he figured the fact he'd produced 4 rings with a changing cast of CBO's and managers showed that he was the real brains behind it all and he could do anything, including dump a Hall of Famer in his prime.

Was JH seen when Mookie was in town, or was he hiding out on his yacht?

[Bellhorn04]

Was JH seen when Mookie was in town, or was he hiding out on his yacht?

 

He knows how to keep a low profile.

 

No one will be surprised if he has to miss the next Winter Weekend due to an unspecified health issue.

[moonslav59]

Duvall did win a Gold Glove in RF 2 years ago over some defensive whiz kid on the Dodgers…

 

I still think he’s best in LF but better than Teoscar in RF.

[moonslav59]

Do you think it's unfair to suggest that maybe all of the contracts of Devers, Story and Yoshida will be bad ones?

 

I like Raffy a lot, trust me. But it's hard to dispute that they gave the big money to the wrong guy (instead of Betts).

 

Not unfair at all, although the Raffy one hadn’t even started. I have no issues with Raffy’s money if he plays 1B, either. Certainly all 3 look bad or questionable, right now. I’ve never had issues with criticising Bloom on things he is responsible or largely responsible for.

 

Have at it, please.

[Randy Red Sox]

There wasn't much left by the time we signed Kluber. We were so desperate by then that we had to like it.

 

Wacha was still out there I believe

[Bellhorn04]

Wacha was still out there I believe

 

I think that's correct.