Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[Randy Red Sox]

Maybe he plays some 2B

 

yeah he can beat up the ball.

[notin]

Maybe he plays some 2B

 

Last year, Cora said his future was in CF…

[notin]

yeah he can beat up the ball.

 

He’s talking about Rafaela…

[notin]

I'm not upset about O'Neil. It's a minor move in the big picture. I'm just generally frustrated with the state of the Sox and not feeling very confident that this offseason is going to turn out well for us.

 

It is still December 9, and the overwhelming bulk of free agents and trade targets are still available…

[FredLynn]

I'm not upset about O'Neil. It's a minor move in the big picture. I'm just generally frustrated with the state of the Sox and not feeling very confident that this offseason is going to turn out well for us.

 

A relevant team (ie a playoff team) isn't likely us next year. Its very rare to go from a last place stinker to competing for a ring. Its going to take at least a couple of years to construct a team that is a serious contender for a ring. I would settle for a decent team next year, one worth watching. Low expectations....

[notin]

No idea about Duran, but he definitely looked much more jacked in 2023, so maybe he is. I'm feeling cynical enough not to dismiss it.

 

I’m wondering of the O’Neil acquisition puts Duran (or Rafaela) on the block…

[notin]

A relevant team (ie a playoff team) isn't likely us next year. Its very rare to go from a last place stinker to competing for a ring. It’s going to take at least a couple of years to construct a team that is a serious contender for a ring. I would settle for a decent team next year, one worth watching. Low expectations....

 

Did you know the 2022 Texas Rangers were 68-94?

[Randy Red Sox]

It is still December 9, and the overwhelming bulk of free agents and trade targets are still available…

 

we said that last year and the year before that and look what happened.

[Old Red]

The move is whatever, but to see some people so upset is wild.

 

🙈🤮🤭.

[notin]

we said that last year and the year before that and look what happened.

 

So you’re saying you haven’t learned yet that this is a normal pace for an off-season?

 

It’s like this every year in which there in no early December lockout…

[notin]

The move is whatever, but to see some people so upset is wild.

 

Sometimes people don’t like to see moves outside of what they think/know the plan needs to be.

 

With the exception of me once, no one has talked about O’Neil all offseason. And even I was only lukewarm on the guy..

[FredLynn]

Did you know the 2022 Texas Rangers were 68-94?

 

Didn't say it NEVER happens. We went from last to first too. Are you expecting it for next year?

[Bellhorn04]

It is still December 9, and the overwhelming bulk of free agents and trade targets are still available…

 

And there are only a handful of meaningful targets for the Red Sox.

 

I don't expect everyone to share my pessimism.

[Old Red]

I'm not upset about O'Neil. It's a minor move in the big picture. I'm just generally frustrated with the state of the Sox and not feeling very confident that this offseason is going to turn out well for us.

 

We don’t know what the plan is for O’Neil yet to say if it’s a minor move, or not. Platoon player, or everyday starter?

[Bellhorn04]

We don’t know what the plan is for O’Neil yet to say if it’s a minor move, or not. Platoon player, or everyday starter?

 

It's minor in the sense of financial commitment.

[Old Red]

And there are only a handful of meaningful targets for the Red Sox.

 

I don't expect everyone to share my pessimism.

 

I don’t have any pessimism, because I said before the offseason Christmas wish list wasn’t that good to begin with. The Red Sox were not going in for the Big O, and the shiny pitching bauble from Japan have some big spenders willing to spend for his services, and the zRed Sox will not outspend any of them. The rest like Snell, Monty,and Gray are in demand more, or less, because there is a need, and because they are available, and lots of clubs are in need. All would help, but none will probably live up to the hype of the demands, and certainly not worth the money. Gray at age 34 got $25M/yr when he had never gotten over little over $10M before. Is he so much better now? No, but because of need, and availability he got it.

[Bellhorn04]

I don’t have any pessimism, because I said before the offseason Christmas wish list wasn’t that good to begin with. The Red Sox were not going in for the Big O, and the shiny pitching bauble from Japan have some big spenders willing to spend for his services, and the zRed Sox will not outspend any of them. The rest like Snell, Monty,and Gray are in demand more, or less, because there is a need, and because they are available, and lots of clubs are in need. All would help, but none will probably live up to the hype of the demands, and certainly not worth the money. Gray at age 34 got $25M/yr when he had never gotten over little over $10M before. Is he so much better now? No, but because of need, and availability he got it.

 

Gray has always been a very good pitcher, though, aside from his stint with the Yanks. A career 3.47 ERA in 1571 innings is pretty good.

 

Both Gray and ERod signed reasonable deals. I wonder if we'll look back in regret like we have about so much the last few years.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They wanted a RHB. O’Neill’s issues aren’t 1:1 with Verdugo’s. The prospects the Sox got back are better too. Is Duran a roider?

 

Texting him right now. Should have a reply soon... he's... still researching.

[Old Red]

Gray has always been a very good pitcher, though, aside from his stint with the Yanks. A career 3.47 ERA in 1571 innings is pretty good.

 

Both Gray and ERod signed reasonable deals. I wonder if we'll look back in regret like we have about so much the last few years.

I was for resigning ERod after the 2021 season, but not now. I’m not saying Gray isn’t a good pitcher, but only at age 34 he s not worth $25M/yr just, because he’s a FA, and there is a big need out there, and he’s never made more than $10M/yr before.

[Bellhorn04]

I was for resigning ERod after the 2021 season, but not now. I’m not saying Gray isn’t a good pitcher, but only at age 34 he s not worth $25M/yr just, because he’s a FA, and there is a big need out there, and he’s never made more than $10M/yr before.

 

Well, we need somebody.

[Old Red]

Well, we need somebody.

 

I’ve said all along Monty, Snell, and Gray would have helped the Red Sox, but they are not worth the contracts they’ll get. I’ve also said all along make some trades, and get some younger arms than these guys even if it means trading some top prospects.

[notin]

And there are only a handful of meaningful targets for the Red Sox.

 

I don't expect everyone to share my pessimism.

 

Only a handful?

 

If we were in a position where there were only a handful of players that could improve the team, that would be a GOOD thing, right?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Only a handful?

 

If we were in a position where there were only a handful of players that could improve the team, that would be a GOOD thing, right?

 

With our defense? If it was just a handful, you know we'd drop it.

 

Then again, if it was only a footful, we'd probably boot it.

[Larry Cook]

The Mets and the Yankees are slugging it out for Yamamoto! Four teams have cleared a half billion for ohtani. So four of those six teams will lose and have a ton of cash to throw at a pitcher.

Bres-slow’s path to starting pitching is in the second tier! Inanaga and Lugo and wacha!! We must have six because sale breaks down more often than a ford pinto!!!!!!

[Bellhorn04]

Only a handful?

 

If we were in a position where there were only a handful of players that could improve the team, that would be a GOOD thing, right?

 

Well, we need a #1 starter and a #2 starter, IMO. There aren't that many available. Supply is low and demand is high. I'm not sure how any of this is a good thing.

[notin]

Well, we need a #1 starter and a #2 starter, IMO. There aren't that many available. Supply is low and demand is high. I'm not sure how any of this is a good thing.

 

No.

 

You want a pitcher that you would call a #1 and #2 starter.

 

Again, Texas won 68 games in 2022 - 10 fewer than Boston.

 

Their best pitchers were Martin Perez and Jon Gray. They went out and added a clear #1 in deGrom, a borderline #2 in Eovaldi, and Andrew Heaney, a pitcher no one addicted to handing out those #1through #5 labels would assign one to.

 

And don’t argue Eovaldi is a clear #2 while saying Chris Sale doesn’t count.

 

Just because you think a pitcher does not net some role on the team doesn’t mean he can’t and won’t help…

[notin]

I’ve said all along Monty, Snell, and Gray would have helped the Red Sox, but they are not worth the contracts they’ll get. I’ve also said all along make some trades, and get some younger arms than these guys even if it means trading some top prospects.

 

I’m expecting one free agent and one trade for SP.

 

On the FA front, Montgomery is probably most likely, but I’m not justifying it. On the trade front, no idea who the leader is…

[Old Red]

Now another pitcher from Japan 22 yr old Sasaki wants to be posted. Edited December 9, 2023 by Old Red

[notin]

Now another pitcher from Japan 22 yr old Saski wants to be posted.

 

I saw.

 

Dude has a live arm. He’s easily as interesting as Yamamoto if not more…

[Old Red]

I saw.

 

Dude has a live arm. He’s easily as interesting as Yamamoto if not more…

 

He has to be posted from his team, but it hasn’t happened as of yet.