Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[Nick]

There's some crazy talk about Anthony making his major league debut in 2024. Pretty unreal but hope it happens.

[mvp 78]

There's some crazy talk about Anthony making his major league debut in 2024. Pretty unreal but hope it happens.

 

He's already in AA. If he plays out of his mind next season like we've seen from some AA guys, it's not out of the realm of possibility. I think Teel and Anthony are most likely early/mid 2025 guys.

[moonslav59]

Alfaro's carrying tool was supposed to be his bat. Not sure what Scott's is.

 

I trust the Sox management to know, if he can be a decent back-up catcher (3rd string in AAA, apparently.)

 

He had a decent year, on paper, but he only became a FT catcher in 2022, so maybe his defense is not where it needs to be for the big club in 2024.

 

If they don't think he could play MLB catcher in 2024, then don't protect him and hope nobody nabs him.

 

We do have Teel on his heel.

 

(Like that?)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There's some crazy talk about Anthony making his major league debut in 2024. Pretty unreal but hope it happens.

 

Trout, Soto, Harper did damage in the bigs when they were 19. Devers and Bogaerts made it when they were 20.

 

Anthony will be 20 next May; he was born in 2004... born under a good sign, with a red moon in his eyes. Got himself a bat.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We do have Teel on his heel.

 

(Like that?)

 

Yes -- and when he does make it, the Sox definitely need to change the color of their socks on their city connect unis.

[dgalehouse]

Trout, Soto, Harper did damage in the bigs when they were 19. Devers and Bogaerts made it when they were 20.

 

Anthony will be 20 next May; he was born in 2004... born under a good sign, with a red moon in his eyes. Got himself a bat.

 

Watching Sopranos reruns lately ?

[moonslav59]

I was going off what Cora said about Abreu in the spring. Maybe I'm bit too optimistic. I just don't see much difference (offensively) between Verdugo and Abreu.

 

One has proven he can hit about .775 every year: the other has not.

 

I'm not trying to rain on your parade. I really like Abreu (and Rafaela, too,) but I'm not handing him a FT slot on the 2024 team. I'm fine with setting it up where he and or Rafaela can earn a FT slot, but that means keeping Verdugo or Duran around or adding Duval. I suppose we could trade Refsnyder, but our RHB situation is suspect, right now.

 

I could see going into the season thinking...

 

1. Rafaela and Abreu, combined, cover the CF slot.

2. Dugo plays RF vs RHPs and Abreu plays RF vs LHPs and some CF vs RHPs with Rafaela.

3. Duvall plays RF (Dugoo traded) with Abreu as his back up/semi platoon, while also being Rafaela's back-up or platoon mate.

4. Trade Duran and have Abreu platoon with Ref in LF and be the back up in CF to Rafaela and RF to Dugo (maybe Duvall too.)

 

If we end up with too many OF'ers all doing well, trade one at the deadline, or before.

[moonslav59]

I was going off what Cora said about Abreu in the spring. Maybe I'm bit too optimistic. I just don't see much difference (offensively) between Verdugo and Abreu.

 

You can probably find quotes on all our good young players that sound very optimistic.

[Nick]

You can probably find quotes on all our good young players that sound very optimistic.

 

Well if you put it that way....I think I remember Cora saying Kike will be fine at short.

[moonslav59]

Well if you put it that way....I think I remember Cora saying Kike will be fine at short.

.

...and the "best defensive 2Bman in MLB."

 

Cora also raved about Rafaela.

 

A manager can't really say bad things about a prospect. He wants to show confidence and hope it rubs off.

[Duran Is The Man]

Yes -- and when he does make it, the Sox definitely need to change the color of their socks on their city connect unis.

 

yeah, change 'em back to the regular unis. i hate those damn things.

[Elktonnick]

You can probably find quotes on all our good young players that sound very optimistic.

I must say I agree with you. It is extremely rare for any Major League manager to give a completely honest appraisal of a young player publicly.

[notin]

Well if you put it that way....I think I remember Cora saying Kike will be fine at short.

 

And Kike was fine. As long as nothing got hit to him…

[moonslav59]

And Kike was fine. As long as nothing got hit to him…

 

...or pitched to him.

[Hugh2]

He's already in AA. If he plays out of his mind next season like we've seen from some AA guys, it's not out of the realm of possibility. I think Teel and Anthony are most likely early/mid 2025 guys.

 

Yea this. Even with his helium I wouldn’t pencil him in as a possible everyday player until 2025. But if I was a betting man, I might be inclined to wager he’s up in Boston by next August. Who knows, he might even contribute in October

[notin]

He's already in AA. If he plays out of his mind next season like we've seen from some AA guys, it's not out of the realm of possibility. I think Teel and Anthony are most likely early/mid 2025 guys.

 

“In the year 2025…”

[Larry Cook]

He's already in AA. If he plays out of his mind next season like we've seen from some AA guys, it's not out of the realm of possibility. I think Teel and Anthony are most likely early/mid 2025 guys.

 

When you watch how Anthony approaches his at bats and his bat to ball skills, it is easy to see he is bogey special. I see him in Worcester by June 1st. Come September or injuries, he could be Boston by the end of the year.

 

I think he is elite

[moonslav59]

When you watch how Anthony approaches his at bats and his bat to ball skills, it is easy to see he is bogey special. I see him in Worcester by June 1st. Come September or injuries, he could be Boston by the end of the year.

 

I think he is elite

 

I think the ranking services will agree with you on their winter ranking lists.

[Nick]

Good read on Boston Globe as season winds down.

 

Bello has been our most consistent starter, only pitcher to log 150+ innings. Obviously he's hit a wall.

Globe pencils him in as #3 starter. Noting Sox needs to find #1 and #2 via free agency or trade.

 

Globe thinks Pivetta is a keeper as our #5 noting his resurgence after getting demoted. His big plus is his ability to eat up innings.

 

Globe thinks Verdugo will be gone. His lack of production after the All Atar break, his lack of effort on a consistence basis and finally the fact that he is set to become a free agent in 2025.

 

Globe is very high on Abreu. Cora loves his swing and his hustle.

 

Lastly Globe wants the team to figure out what they have in Houck. Starter or reliever. Cora thinks he knows the answer but no one has asked.

[moonslav59]

Good read on Boston Globe as season winds down.

 

Bello has been our most consistent starter, only pitcher to log 150+ innings. Obviously he's hit a wall.

Globe pencils him in as #3 starter. Noting Sox needs to find #1 and #2 via free agency or trade.

 

Globe thinks Pivetta is a keeper as our #5 noting his resurgence after getting demoted. His big plus is his ability to eat up innings.

 

Globe thinks Verdugo will be gone. His lack of production after the All Atar break, his lack of effort on a consistence basis and finally the fact that he is set to become a free agent in 2025.

 

Globe is very high on Abreu. Cora loves his swing and his hustle.

 

Lastly Globe wants the team to figure out what they have in Houck. Starter or reliever. Cora thinks he knows the answer but no one has asked.

 

They plagiarized my posts.

 

 

[Duran Is The Man]

They plagiarized my posts.

 

 

 

i think they did. it all sounds very very familiar.

[illinoisredsox]

Good read on Boston Globe as season winds down.

 

Bello has been our most consistent starter, only pitcher to log 150+ innings. Obviously he's hit a wall.

Globe pencils him in as #3 starter. Noting Sox needs to find #1 and #2 via free agency or trade.

 

Globe thinks Pivetta is a keeper as our #5 noting his resurgence after getting demoted. His big plus is his ability to eat up innings.

 

Globe thinks Verdugo will be gone. His lack of production after the All Atar break, his lack of effort on a consistence basis and finally the fact that he is set to become a free agent in 2025.

 

Globe is very high on Abreu. Cora loves his swing and his hustle.

 

Lastly Globe wants the team to figure out what they have in Houck. Starter or reliever. Cora thinks he knows the answer but no one has asked.

 

Verdugo’s decline (and seeming not give a s$!t) second half coincided with the Sox apparently having no interest in extending him. All indications were that he really liked playing in Boston. Seems like a bit of a chicken-egg thing.

[illinoisredsox]

Well the 'color commentator' on NESN said "he looks like an everyday player to me" after his second dinger in September.

 

I have no doubt Abreu will hit 20+ home runs.

 

Just for comparison of September call up numbers;

 

GP AB R Hits 2B HR RBI BA OPS

27 76 11 15 01 05 12 .197 .766 Casas

22 58 09 21 05 02 11 .362 .983 Abreu

 

I can make a stronger case that Abreu belongs more than Casas as of 10/4 And he can't play much worse defense, no?

 

Nice job by Bloom for getting Abreu from the Astros for 2 month rental of Vaz (he didn't even start for them)

 

Outside of the fact that they play different positions, you’re going to ignore Casas’ previous 3-4 months?

[Nick]

I am talking about Casas on 10/4/22 vs Abreu on 10/4/23.

 

Do u not see the stat line for each on Sept call up?

[a700hitter]

Well if you put it that way....I think I remember Cora saying Kike will be fine at short.

Kike was fine, but the team wasn’t fine with him at SS.

[Bellhorn04]

At this moment in time I feel somewhat pessimistic about 2024, because I don't think our core is as strong as some other folks seem to think it is. Here are the fWAR's for position players:

 

Devers 3.3

Duran 2.4

Verdugo 2.2

Duvall 1.9

Casas 1.7

Turner 1.3

Wong 0.7

Yoshida 0.5

 

The only way this team is going to be good in 2024 is with additions from outside and advances from inside.

[notin]

At this moment in time I feel somewhat pessimistic about 2024, because I don't think our core is as strong as some other folks seem to think it is. Here are the fWAR's for position players:

 

Devers 3.3

Duran 2.4

Verdugo 2.2

Duvall 1.9

Casas 1.7

Turner 1.3

Wong 0.7

Yoshida 0.5

 

The only way this team is going to be good in 2024 is with additions from outside and advances from inside.

 

Per MLBTR, the Padres might have to deal Juan Soto to cut payroll.

 

I know the thought is often “But every team in the league will make better offers.” Will they? I think we all know from experience that one year of an expensive superstar doesn’t necessarily garner all that many offers…

[Hugh2]

I am talking about Casas on 10/4/22 vs Abreu on 10/4/23.

 

Do u not see the stat line for each on Sept call up?

 

Casas has turned into one of the best hitters in all of baseball the last 3-4 months. I get what you're saying, that at that point in time Abreu looks as good stat-wise, but if that's the bar for Abreu then people should be prepared to be severely disappointed.

 

We don't know how he will look when the scouting book comes out on him, what type of adjustments he can or can't make. At the end of the day he just doesn't have the raw talent Casas has, and while he still might shatter expectations he could just another guy who comes up and looks good for a few months and falls off a cliff.

 

There are way more Will Middlebrooks, and Blake Swiharts (and those guys were top prospects) than Tristan Casas out there.

 

I like Abreu, I think he's something in between. There's a MLBer in there, but I'm not convinced he's a first-division starter in Boston.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Per MLBTR, the Padres might have to deal Juan Soto to cut payroll.

 

I know the thought is often “But every team in the league will make better offers.” Will they? I think we all know from experience that one year of an expensive superstar doesn’t necessarily garner all that many offers…

 

Have you been talking to the special assistant to the GM in LA? He just said this about something similar that happened in Boston, back in the Bloom Era: "Mookie, they offered him a nice contract and he turned it down. He wanted a number I guess they didn’t feel comfortable with. To lose Mookie and not get anything for him would have been pretty tough."

 

(preceding brought to you by Ron Roenickie, a guy fans neither cheered nor jeered when mouths couldn't move on cardboard cutouts from the stands)

[moonslav59]

I am talking about Casas on 10/4/22 vs Abreu on 10/4/23.

 

Do u not see the stat line for each on Sept call up?

 

Why do tiny, initial stat lines matter?

 

They prove nothing. If they did, Dalbec would be an allstar.