Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[notin]

I think we safely say Grissom will be our 2Bman on opening day. I can't see him being worse than the worst in MLB, as we were in '23 at 2B.

 

We know Story is our SS, and on paper, he's better than Kike & Co. by a long shot. It's all about health.

 

Our corner IF cannot really be any worse than 2023, either. I know you hate counting on anyone to "improve," but Casas did looks better at 1B, as the season played out. Devers is all over the place, but 2023 was one of his worst seasons. Maybe expect the same at 3B, a slight improvement at 1B, a significant improvement at 2B and a vast improvement at SS, a position that carries added weight.

 

The OG alignment is very much up in the air, and an addition might be pending. I do think, no matter what we do, Yoshida will likely see less time in LF, and that looks like a plus, by itself. Dugo was good on D in RF, last year, so whoever plays RF will have to do well to improve that slot. If Duran plays more CF than he did in 2023, it's hard to imagine a big improvement there, but it's not like Duvall was great in CF, last season. In theory, we might see this (granted- very speculative):

LF: Duran/O'Neill/Abreu> 2023 Yoshida 713, Ref 347, Duran 173, Tapia 86

CF: Rafaela/Duran> 2023 Duran 557, Duvall 478, Rafaela 117, Kike 87, Abreu 85, Ref 68

RF: O'Neill/Abreu = 2023 Dugo 1179, Duvall 180, Tapia 52

 

Catching: call it even, although catchers usually reach defensive prime after age 28.

 

 

My thoughts, the Sox most likely/frequent starting lineup:

 

C - Wong

1b - Casas

2b - Grissom

3b - Devers

SS - Story

LF - Duran

CF - Rafaela

RF - O’Neill

 

 

The defense is better than last year. I’ll stop there…

Edited January 22, 2024 by notin

[moonslav59]

Our 24 team would be decent if we had solid #1 and #2 starters.

 

Agreed. I said that day one of this winter.

 

One could stretch to say Gio is a #2, if we got a real #1.

[moonslav59]

My thoughts, the Sox most likely/frequent starting lineup:

 

C - Wong

1b - Casas

2b - Grissom

3b - Devers

SS - Story

LF - Duran

CF - Rafaela

RF - O’Neill

 

 

The defense is better than last year. I’ll stop there…

 

Last year, our D was maybe 28th to 30th. You think we get to #20 with the alignment you suggest?

 

Remember, Abreu should play quite a bit in RF, LF and maybe CF. He should be better than Duran, Ref, Duvall and Yoshida from 2023.

[vjcsmoke]

When even the media pans your chances of signing starting pitchers you know things have gone downhill in Red Sox land.

 

"Red Sox still in contact with pair of frontline starters despite pessimism."

Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-still-in-contact-with-pair-of-frontline-starters-despite-pessimism/ar-BB1h2nHy?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W099&cvid=71d13ec790e447e3af6440254d19f106&ei=19

 

Can you imagine how badly the negotiations are going with free agents right about now?

 

Red Sox: "Uh, so we'd like to sign your guy but we can offer only 2 years and half the total money that you'd normally expect."

Player's Agent: "Until you come up with a non-joke offer you can shove that deal where the sun don't shine."

Red Sox: "Uh, can we like stay in touch? We need to cut down our payroll a whole lot first and maybe we can come up a little more on our offer."

Player's Agent: "Stop wasting my time. Show my client the money or get lost!"

[vjcsmoke]

Our 24 team would be decent if we had solid #1 and #2 starters.

 

Instead the Red Sox will shop the bargain basement store for 5m to 10m dollar starters and see who sticks. Who needs talent when you can cut down your payroll?

 

Honestly that "full throttle" nonsense statement just gets WORSE over time.

 

If ownership had said, "Well we're trying to rebuild patiently and let our farm guys grow into the big league team. But don't worry we'll be back in contention soon. In the meantime to reward the fans for their patience, we're going to CUT ticket prices and cable sport package prices by 20%!"

 

But of course they would never do that. Ticket prices will be as high as ever, payroll lower than ever, and the competitiveness of the big league team will continue to suffer so that management can "punt" spending money to compete a couple of years down the road if ever.

[Elktonnick]

We’ve been at about .500 over the last 3 years, combined.

Three years ago was an eternity. Last years team won only 78 games. The team as currently constructed will struggle to win that many. Right now barring injuries they are worse than mediocre. With injuries they could be hapless.

[vjcsmoke]

Three years ago was an eternity. Last years team won only 78 games. The team as currently constructed will struggle to win that many. Right now barring injuries they are worse than mediocre. With injuries they could be hapless.

 

But don't you know, Breslow is really upbeat about our top prospects on the farm! In three more years we might be competitive again as long as the youngsters grow up big and strong and drink plenty of milk!

 

Breslow told Abraham. "But I think the reality is that it’s going to require a step forward from the young position players. It’s going to require the build-out of a talent pipeline of arms that we can acquire, we draft, and we can develop internally."

 

“And it’s going to require aggressive player development in the minor leagues and the major leagues so guys that we think are the next wave — (Marcelo) Mayer and (Roman) Anthony and (Kyle) Teel, that group — are not just big leaguers but impact big leaguers. The convergence of all those pieces is the fastest path to a World Series team.

 

Article: https://sports.yahoo.com/breslow-shares-disappointing-answer-red-203719936.html

[Dipre]

I suggest adding sit ups, push ups and plenty of juice (not that kind) to their routine.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Petition the lord with prayer.

[moonslav59]

Petition the lord with prayer.

 

Good one!

 

It may be our best chance!

[mvp 78]

When even the media pans your chances of signing starting pitchers you know things have gone downhill in Red Sox land.

 

"Red Sox still in contact with pair of frontline starters despite pessimism."

Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/red-sox-still-in-contact-with-pair-of-frontline-starters-despite-pessimism/ar-BB1h2nHy?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W099&cvid=71d13ec790e447e3af6440254d19f106&ei=19

 

Can you imagine how badly the negotiations are going with free agents right about now?

 

Red Sox: "Uh, so we'd like to sign your guy but we can offer only 2 years and half the total money that you'd normally expect."

Player's Agent: "Until you come up with a non-joke offer you can shove that deal where the sun don't shine."

Red Sox: "Uh, can we like stay in touch? We need to cut down our payroll a whole lot first and maybe we can come up a little more on our offer."

Player's Agent: "Stop wasting my time. Show my client the money or get lost!"

 

Right now, doesn't seem like a lot of offers on the table for 60% of the market?

[moonslav59]

Right now, doesn't seem like a lot of offers on the table for 60% of the market?

 

Maybe Brez will swoop in on some last minute bargains... or not.

[mvp 78]

Maybe Brez will swoop in on some last minute bargains... or not.

 

I'm sure he'll sign someone. You get what you pay for.

[moonslav59]

I'm sure he'll sign someone. You get what you pay for.

 

I'm guessing Paxton, but maybe Lorenzen or Junis gets the nod.

[mvp 78]

I'm guessing Paxton, but maybe Lorenzen or Junis gets the nod.

 

McHugh 1/3M

[moonslav59]

McHugh 1/3M

 

That's probably the right price range they are looking at. Hey, sign 2-3 like him, and maybe 1 will be trade worthy at the deadline.

[mvp 78]

That's probably the right price range they are looking at. Hey, sign 2-3 like him, and maybe 1 will be trade worthy at the deadline.

 

If you sign 3, it's kicking 2 valuable guys to AAA. I think they can really only sign one more starter for the back end of the rotation.

[mvp 78]

What’s the plan in Boston?

 

The Red Sox held their annual Winter Weekend fan event over the weekend, during which team officials made headlines by indicating the club is unlikely to match last year’s payroll in 2024 and suggesting the team doesn’t need to add another starting pitcher after swapping out Chris Sale for Lucas Giolito (despite making starting pitching a focus of the offseason). Even as club officials were downplaying expectations, local reporting indicated that the club remains in contact with free agent starters, including top-of-the-market southpaw Jordan Montgomery. There’s little question that the Red Sox, who finished 22nd in the majors last year with a 4.68 rotation ERA, would benefit from an impact addition at the top of their rotation, particularly after losing a high-upside arm like Sale, but there’s certainly question about whether they’ll actually make such a move.

 

I'd rather them just continue to not say anything and do nothing than get our hopes up and put out word that they are in on every FA.

[moonslav59]

If you sign 3, it's kicking 2 valuable guys to AAA. I think they can really only sign one more starter for the back end of the rotation.

 

Trade or DFA Mate. Trade for Slaten, so he can go to AAA. Start bernardino in AAA. 1-2 will be on the IL. Push Houck and Crawford to the pen.

 

It wouldn't hurt to start Schreiber in the AAA pen, either.

[mvp 78]

Trade or DFA Mate. Trade for Slaten, so he can go to AAA. Start bernardino in AAA. 1-2 will be on the IL. Push Houck and Crawford to the pen.

 

It wouldn't hurt to start Schreiber in the AAA pen, either.

 

Why make those moves just to add some lower end arms? Anyone you sign for 5M this offseason will be worse than Crawford.

[moonslav59]

Why make those moves just to add some lower end arms? Anyone you sign for 5M this offseason will be worse than Crawford.

 

The value of Craw in the pen is worth it, IMO.

 

If the guy sucks, DFA him and then move Craw to the rotation.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Waiting for B&B to focus on our former best pitching prospect -- and put Noah Song back on top of the Billboard 100.

[mvp 78]

The value of Craw in the pen is worth it, IMO.

 

If the guy sucks, DFA him and then move Craw to the rotation.

 

Move him from the rotation to the pen and back to the rotation where it will take him 4-5 starts to get stretched out again?

[mvp 78]

Waiting for B&B to focus on our former best pitching prospect -- and put Noah Song back on top of the Billboard 100.

 

I bet Song struggles again this season and retires.

[notin]

Trade or DFA Mate. Trade for Slaten, so he can go to AAA. Start bernardino in AAA. 1-2 will be on the IL. Push Houck and Crawford to the pen.

 

It wouldn't hurt to start Schreiber in the AAA pen, either.

 

I’m all for getting that type of flexibility out of Slaten.

 

Obviously a lot depends on a Giolito bounce back and a step forward from Bello. Neither are unreasonable asks (but that doesn’t exactly make them guarantees either).

 

Add one starter (Clevinger? Lauer?) or trade for one (Duran for?). Sign Duvall for RF. Add one bullpen arm (Peralta? A Chapman?)

 

This team would then look a lot better in my eyes…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I bet Song struggles again this season and retires.

 

Coming in on a wing and a prayer.

[mvp 78]

I’m all for getting that type of flexibility out of Slaten.

 

Obviously a lot depends on a Giolito bounce back and a step forward from Bello. Neither are unreasonable asks (but that doesn’t exactly make them guarantees either).

 

Add one starter (Clevinger? Lauer?) or trade for one (Duran for?). Sign Duvall for RF. Add one bullpen arm (Peralta? A Chapman?)

 

This team would then look a lot better in my eyes…

 

They are currently at 190M and are probably going to spend 215M or less per what ownership has stated. Clevinger, Chapman and Duvall combined would be about 25-28M. Maybe they make a scenario like that work? IDK. Not geting my hopes up.

[Old Red]

The value of Craw in the pen is worth it, IMO.

 

If the guy sucks, DFA him and then move Craw to the rotation.

 

They have enough arms in the pen with, or without Crawford in it. Rotation is where they need the most help, and whomever out of Kut Man, Wink, Houck, and Whit should be in it. The value needs to be in the rotation.

[moonslav59]

Move him from the rotation to the pen and back to the rotation where it will take him 4-5 starts to get stretched out again?

 

He'd be a 3-5 innings guy in the pen, so it's like starting, anyway.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They have enough arms in the pen with, or without Crawford in it. Rotation is where they need the most help, and whomever out of Kut Man, Wink, Houck, and Whit should be in it. The value needs to be in the rotation.

 

There are two bullpens now on most MLB rosters: the back-end -- couple set-up men (ideally, one righty, one lefty), plus closer -- and the middle inning crew of interchangeable one-time through-the-order arms and bulk guys.

 

Starting rotations of five horses, with a few call-ups in Triple A in case of injury, are so last century.

 

Today's staff that's built to last has a rotation of 10-12 men in the system always stretched out but ready to compress and throw harder than ever in shorter innings.