Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If Snell signs soon, presumably not with us, then we're sort of in "Waiting for Yamamoto" mode. That might not be much fun, because what are the odds we're going to outbid all the other high rollers?

 

Even other factors may tip the scales...

 

West Coast: warm weather, close to home, happy faces

 

vs.

 

East Coast: crap weather, far from home, scowls for wearing your pants too high

[mvp 78]

If Snell signs soon, presumably not with us, then we're sort of in "Waiting for Yamamoto" mode. That might not be much fun, because what are the odds we're going to outbid all the other high rollers?

 

They need one of the top 5 guys. If they get shut out, I don't think fans will be happy even if they sign 2 lesser guys.

[mvp 78]

so draft more shortstops, right?

 

Even if they overload their draft with shortstops, do they have the right infrastructure to develop IFA guys into SP's? I'm not sure.

[moonslav59]

They need one of the top 5 guys. If they get shut out, I don't think fans will be happy even if they sign 2 lesser guys.

 

Agreed. Even the best 2 of the second tier would not make me happy.

 

We are not getting Ohtani (who won't pitch in 2024, so he does not count) or Nola, so that leaves Yamo, Monty, Gray and Snell. If Gray sings with STL, we are left with some really big spenders drooling over those last 2.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They need one of the top 5 guys. If they get shut out, I don't think fans will be happy even if they sign 2 lesser guys.

 

Enough of lesser. Lesser is worser. Lesser is valued below a replacement vowel -- an O away from Losser... and if you lose an S, it's just Loser.

[mvp 78]

Enough of lesser. Lesser is worser. Lesser is valued below a replacement vowel -- an O away from Losser... and if you lose an S, it's just Loser.

 

Disagree. Add a B and replace the R with a D and you get BLESSED. Sox could have a BLESSED Rotation.

[Old Red]

According to Ken Rosenthal Sonny Gray gets 3 yr/$75M from Cardinals.

[notin]

Not if he starts trading prospects... which is the only alternative for upgrades, unless the owners let him SPEND, as promised...

 

There are other alternatives. Bauer, for example. Or even less polarizing ones like Imanaga, Stroman, Clevinger, Flaherty, Mahle, or Turnbull…

[Bellhorn04]

According to Ken Rosenthal Sonny Gray gets 3 yr/$75M from Cardinals.

 

Quite reasonable IMHO.

[Bellhorn04]

There are other alternatives. Bauer, for example. Or even less polarizing ones like Imanaga, Stroman, Clevinger, Flaherty, Mahle, or Turnbull…

 

Flaherty?

[mvp 78]

Flaherty?

 

Turnbull?????

[Bellhorn04]

As far as "potentially disastrous moves by a new CBO", I think Bauer is right up there. Not happening, no way, no how.

[mvp 78]

According to Ken Rosenthal Sonny Gray gets 3 yr/$75M from Cardinals.

 

That's a good deal. Sox need to sign one of those at some point.

 

FULL THROTTLE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Turnbull?????

 

He had me at Flaherty.

[mvp 78]

As far as "potentially disastrous moves by a new CBO", I think Bauer is right up there.

 

Showcase him at Winter Fest and see how it goes! Have him only take questions from women, because he has a wonderful history online of being a weirdo when speaking to women (even if we simply ignore the assault stuff). People talk about Stroman as being a headcase. Bauer is just unstable.

[mvp 78]

He had me at Flaherty.

 

Collecting guys coming off TJS like Mahle would be fun!!!

[mvp 78]

And Clevinger seems to be a garbage human being too from what we've heard.

 

Can they just sign someone normal who is a great pitcher?

[Bellhorn04]

Showcase him at Winter Fest and see how it goes! Have him only take questions from women, because he has a wonderful history online of being a weirdo when speaking to women (even if we simply ignore the assault stuff). People talk about Stroman as being a headcase. Bauer is just unstable.

 

IIRC, the Matt Dermody Experience didn't play very well this year. Bauer would be like an early Christmas present to Shaughnessy and the gang.

[notin]

Quite reasonable IMHO.

 

But a $25mill AAV isn’t chump change!

 

Last 3 years:

 

Gray: 3.30ERA / 3.34 FIP, 130ERA+, 439IP

Stroman: 3.45ERA / 3.60FIP, 122ERA+, 454IP

 

Stroman isn’t that much worse. He’s more than a reasonable Plan B…

[Bellhorn04]

And Clevinger seems to be a garbage human being too from what we've heard.

 

Can they just sign someone normal who is a great pitcher?

 

Yes, hands off Clevinger too.

[notin]

Turnbull?????

 

Are they upgrades or not?

[Bellhorn04]

Are they upgrades or not?

 

On what planet does Flaherty look like an upgrade right now?

[mvp 78]

IIRC, the Matt Dermody Experience didn't play very well this year. Bauer would be like an early Christmas present to Shaughnessy and the gang.

 

Regardless of how people feel about Bauer, the media is going to explode the day he signs, when he reports to camp, when he first pitches and when he first pitches during the regular season. It's just not worth it in a big market like Boston. He should sign a short term deal with the Rockies or some chump franchise and play good boy scout (he can't) for a little while.

[moonslav59]

According to Ken Rosenthal Sonny Gray gets 3 yr/$75M from Cardinals.

 

I thought someone would give him 4- maybe at $23-25M per year.

[mvp 78]

But a $25mill AAV isn’t chump change!

 

Last 3 years:

 

Gray: 3.30ERA / 3.34 FIP, 130ERA+, 439IP

Stroman: 3.45ERA / 3.60FIP, 122ERA+, 454IP

 

Stroman isn’t that much worse. He’s more than a reasonable Plan B…

 

And if you do only two years, Gray looks much better... Gray has a ceiling that is a notch above Stroman. Gray can give you ace-type performances and is a high K guy. That's why he's going to get paid more.

[mvp 78]

Are they upgrades or not?

 

Turnbull is not.

[notin]

On what planet does Flaherty look like an upgrade right now?

 

Any planet that values FIP, in which he was better than Bello, Crawford and Houck…

[notin]

Turnbull is not.

 

Turnbull is an unknown at worst given his recent injury history. But he was absolutely a good pitcher prior. Do the Dox have 5 better reliable starters?

[mvp 78]

Are they upgrades or not?

 

Flaherty is a lateral (maybe) move for Pivetta or Houck. If they sign him, he's a 5th starter. They need a #1 and a #3 at least.

[notin]

And if you do only two years, Gray looks much better... Gray has a ceiling that is a notch above Stroman. Gray can give you ace-type performances and is a high K guy. That's why he's going to get paid more.

 

Gray is also a year and a half older. I liked Gray more, but Stroman is certainly a good Plan B.