Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[mvp 78]

The Price signing was not business as usual, not was the Devers extension due to the amount of money given out.

Previously, we had extended AGon to $154M/7, and that was the largest extension.

 

The Price signing broke the apparent no 30+ pitcher rule, like letting Lester walk.

 

The contract dwarfed any FA signing before or afterwards:

 

$217M/7 Price

 

(Manny $160M/8 was not under JH)

 

$142M/7 Crawford

$140M/6 Story (after Price)

$110M/5 JD (after Price)

$95M/5 Pablito

$88M/4 HRam

 

It was shocking to the nation, IMO.

 

It "dwarfed" a FA deal from 15+ years before. Don't all large FA deals do that? You can't compare FA deals from one decade to the next. The prices keep going up and up. For example, the Crawford deal was a HUGE splash, but the Story deal is almost an afterthought.

[mvp 78]

Low info Heyman:

 

@redsoxstats

Heyman in MLBN says the Sox are in on Yamamoto, Montgomery, Imanaga, Giolito. He’s guessing NY or LA for Yamamoto, but says not to rule out the Red Sox. He thinks Montgomery could get $160M (yikes). Imanaga will get more than expected. He guessed Giolito signs with the Sox.

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats

Speier on MLBN says Shōta Imanaga “is of considerable interest to the Red Sox.” They are fascinated with his pitch metics, track record, and obviously no draft pick for him.

 

All reasons why I’ve been penciling him into the Sox rotation since October. He makes a lot of sense.

[moonslav59]

@redsoxstats

Speier on MLBN says Shōta Imanaga “is of considerable interest to the Red Sox.” They are fascinated with his pitch metics, track record, and obviously no draft pick for him.

 

All reasons why I’ve been penciling him into the Sox rotation since October. He makes a lot of sense.

 

I'd be more than fine with Monty and Imanaga

[Old Red]

Low info Heyman:

 

@redsoxstats

Heyman in MLBN says the Sox are in on Yamamoto, Montgomery, Imanaga, Giolito. He’s guessing NY or LA for Yamamoto, but says not to rule out the Red Sox. He thinks Montgomery could get $160M (yikes). Imanaga will get more than expected. He guessed Giolito signs with the Sox.

 

As the Yam Man’s price tag keeps rising, so does Snell’s, and Monty’s. There will be no mark down for Christmas.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@redsoxstats

Speier on MLBN says Shōta Imanaga “is of considerable interest to the Red Sox.” They are fascinated with his pitch metics, track record, and obviously no draft pick for him.

 

All reasons why I’ve been penciling him into the Sox rotation since October. He makes a lot of sense.

 

And they are fascinated he'll only cost a fraction of his elusive countryman...

[moonslav59]

As the Yam Man’s price tag keeps rising, so does Snell’s, and Monty’s. There will be no mark down for Christmas.

 

Thus spoke Ebenezer.

[mvp 78]

As the Yam Man’s price tag keeps rising, so does Snell’s, and Monty’s. There will be no mark down for Christmas.

 

Monty is 7/170 now. FanGraphs had him projected at 5/105.

[mvp 78]

I'd be more than fine with Monty and Imanaga

 

As the booby prize, it's fine. Anything less than that is not ok.

[mvp 78]

And they are fascinated he'll only cost a fraction of his elusive countryman...

 

@tylermilliken_

3 minutes and 11 seconds of Shota Imanaga carving up hitters last season.

 

His 68% strike rate would have been tied for 5th-best in the majors with Spencer Strider in 2023. Had the best Stuff+ of any pitcher in the WBC.

 

24 GS (159 IP), 2.66 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 7.8 H/9, 1.0 HR/9.

 

https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1732919700718256523 Nice easy delivery.

[Old Red]

Monty is 7/170 now. FanGraphs had him projected at 5/105.

 

As I’ve been saying right along it’s his availability, and the big need for pitching out there, and there are many shoppers with money to spend. I would rather have Monty than Snell.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@tylermilliken_

3 minutes and 11 seconds of Shota Imanaga carving up hitters last season.

 

His 68% strike rate would have been tied for 5th-best in the majors with Spencer Strider in 2023. Had the best Stuff+ of any pitcher in the WBC.

 

24 GS (159 IP), 2.66 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 7.8 H/9, 1.0 HR/9.

 

https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1732919700718256523 Nice easy delivery.

 

Like it -- and the Sox should've already signed Imanaga AND Montgomery FIRST (like I said over a month ago), instead of waiting for a yes or no from the great Sawamura Award winner...

 

... because once he says yes to another club, all the other runners-up will be doing the same big overbidding and waiting for the consolation guys (I know: some agents prob forbid their aces from signing early, but some didn't)

[Dipre]

@tylermilliken_

3 minutes and 11 seconds of Shota Imanaga carving up hitters last season.

 

His 68% strike rate would have been tied for 5th-best in the majors with Spencer Strider in 2023. Had the best Stuff+ of any pitcher in the WBC.

 

24 GS (159 IP), 2.66 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 7.8 H/9, 1.0 HR/9.

 

https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/1732919700718256523 Nice easy delivery.

 

Would Montgomery and Imanaga do it for you? The more I research him, the more intrigued I am.

[Dipre]

Like it -- and the Sox should've already signed Imanaga AND Montgomery FIRST (like I said over a month ago), instead of waiting for a yes or no from the great Sawamura Award winner...

 

... because once he says yes to another club, all the other runners-up will be doing the same big overbidding and waiting for the consolation guys (I know: some agents prob forbid their aces from signing early, but some didn't)

 

This is a damn good take. If they were going for Imanaga because of the way the Yamamoto market was developing, they should have pounced.

[moonslav59]

As the booby prize, it's fine. Anything less than that is not ok.

 

I agree, that is the floor, for me.

 

Even if we go big at 2B and maybe add a catcher or RF'er, I'd still be disappointed with anything less than Monty and Imanaga.

[moonslav59]

This is a damn good take. If they were going for Imanaga because of the way the Yamamoto market was developing, they should have pounced.

 

I think all these pitchers were waiting for Ohtani and Yamo to "reset the market" for them.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This is a damn good take. If they were going for Imanaga because of the way the Yamamoto market was developing, they should have pounced.

 

Thanks. What I hope it doesn't mean is that the Sox are really only willing to spend big on one good pitcher, and if they don't get Yama, they'll then shift to Monty, and if they don't get him, they'll settle for Imanaga (someone without a QO attached).

 

We all know Boston needs more than one good starting pitcher... and that Giolito or Flaherty will just be someone's Garrett Richards at this point -- bounce-back candidates, but not reliable rotation mainstays on clubs with true contention intentions.

 

I eventually just expect a Manaea, someone with Bailey connections...

[notin]

Like it -- and the Sox should've already signed Imanaga AND Montgomery FIRST (like I said over a month ago), instead of waiting for a yes or no from the great Sawamura Award winner...

 

... because once he says yes to another club, all the other runners-up will be doing the same big overbidding and waiting for the consolation guys (I know: some agents prob forbid their aces from signing early, but some didn't)

 

Were either of them so eager to sign a month ago? Especially Montgomery, after his postseason made him one of the top prizes this off-season?

[moonslav59]

Thanks. What I hope it doesn't mean is that the Sox are really only willing to spend big on one good pitcher, and if they don't get Yama, they'll then shift to Monty, and if they don't get him, they'll settle for Imanaga (someone without a QO attached).

 

We all know Boston needs more than one good starting pitcher... and that Giolito or Flaherty will just be someone's Garrett Richards at this point -- bounce-back candidates, but not reliable rotation mainstays on clubs with true contention intentions.

 

I eventually just expect a Manaea, someone with Bailey connections...

 

Sometimes, a pitcher being connected to someone does not mean it's in a good way.

 

Maybe, Bailey did not like what he saw in Manaea and will push for a pass on him.

[notin]

Monty is 7/170 now. FanGraphs had him projected at 5/105.

 

What was Fangraphs thinking predicting Jordan Montgomery in free agency would only get a Joe Musgrove contract extension?

[moonslav59]

What was Fangraphs thinking predicting Jordan Montgomery in free agency would only get a Joe Musgrove contract extension?

 

I'd say if yamo gets $300M/10, Snell will get $200M/7, Monty should get $180/7 and Imanaga $150M/7 or more.

[mvp 78]

As I’ve been saying right along it’s his availability, and the big need for pitching out there, and there are many shoppers with money to spend. I would rather have Monty than Snell.

 

Me too.

[mvp 78]

Like it -- and the Sox should've already signed Imanaga AND Montgomery FIRST (like I said over a month ago), instead of waiting for a yes or no from the great Sawamura Award winner...

 

... because once he says yes to another club, all the other runners-up will be doing the same big overbidding and waiting for the consolation guys (I know: some agents prob forbid their aces from signing early, but some didn't)

 

Maybe they have the conversation this weekend and then make the decision to do just that? No clue. They are clearly making their bed in a similar manner to previous offseasons.

[notin]

I'd say if yamo gets $300M/10, Snell will get $200M/7, Monty should get $180/7 and Imanaga $150M/7 or more.

 

I’ll take the under on Imanaga there.

 

One thing to keep in mind is Ohtani might not be the market setter. Aaron Nola (7yr/$172mill) is just as relevant.

 

I can see Yamamoto and (maybe) Snell exceeding his deal. Montgomery? Certainly in the neighborhood. It’s tough to see Imanaga in that neighborhood given that he has no MLB track record and simply is not as young as Yamamoto. Plus apparently several talking heads see him as a reliever at some point. (No idea if scouts or MLB execs do, but unlike me some of these talking heads have actually seen him pitch.)

[mvp 78]

Would Montgomery and Imanaga do it for you? The more I research him, the more intrigued I am.

 

It'd be a consolation prize. I wouldn't be over the moon per se.

[mvp 78]

Thanks. What I hope it doesn't mean is that the Sox are really only willing to spend big on one good pitcher, and if they don't get Yama, they'll then shift to Monty, and if they don't get him, they'll settle for Imanaga (someone without a QO attached).

 

We all know Boston needs more than one good starting pitcher... and that Giolito or Flaherty will just be someone's Garrett Richards at this point -- bounce-back candidates, but not reliable rotation mainstays on clubs with true contention intentions.

 

I eventually just expect a Manaea, someone with Bailey connections...

 

I think I could be sold on a Giolito bounce back if the got Yamamoto, otherwise it has to be to really top guys.

[notin]

It'd be a consolation prize. I wouldn't be over the moon per se.

 

It would make the Sox rotation - much like their lineup - very left-handed…

[mvp 78]

What was Fangraphs thinking predicting Jordan Montgomery in free agency would only get a Joe Musgrove contract extension?

 

Have you compared the two?

[mvp 78]

I’ll take the under on Imanaga there.

 

One thing to keep in mind is Ohtani might not be the market setter. Aaron Nola (7yr/$172mill) is just as relevant.

 

I can see Yamamoto and (maybe) Snell exceeding his deal. Montgomery? Certainly in the neighborhood. It’s tough to see Imanaga in that neighborhood given that he has no MLB track record and simply is not as young as Yamamoto. Plus apparently several talking heads see him as a reliever at some point. (No idea if scouts or MLB execs do, but unlike me some of these talking heads have actually seen him pitch.)

 

I haven't heard that Imanaga will wind up as a reliever.

[mvp 78]

It would make the Sox rotation - much like their lineup - very left-handed…

 

Devilry.