Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[Hugh2]

Yuck.

 

I'd hate it less if he was more of a DH, maybe that's why he had a really good season last year. He was primarily a DH. If you get that version Soler, he's a better bat than Teoscar.

 

Not saying I love it.

[mvp 78]

Probably not a ton of Red Sox fans today broken up that Teoscar chose LA over Boston. There's still a major void in the batting order for right-handed power in Fenway, but few on the forum will miss seeing another mediocre fielder with a 35% K-rate.

 

What should be of concern are reports that THern took a one-year deal for almost as much as the Sox offered him for two years. The Dodgers are clearly the definition of "all-in" this winter; Tom and Sam take note. Playing in better weather for a winner may not matter to players as much as some posters would like, but those factors can't hurt, either.

 

Are you suggesting the Sox move the team?

[Hugh2]

(assuming the Soler deal happens) I love how the Sox address atrocious offense by going out and adding horrible defenders.

 

I think Grissom actually has the ability to turn into a good defender at second. But still, it's the same old same old IF, MAYBE, COULD, we tell ourselves every year with this team.

[Hugh2]

We should also find out who we came in second place to for the Imanaga sweepstakes any day now.

[Old Red]

Are you suggesting the Sox move the team?

 

No! He just saying what I’ve been asking. What’s the lure of playing in Boston?

[mvp 78]

I'd hate it less if he was more of a DH, maybe that's why he had a really good season last year. He was primarily a DH. If you get that version Soler, he's a better bat than Teoscar.

 

Not saying I love it.

 

In '22, he struggled with back issues all year causing him to miss a lot of time. With KC in '21, he just had bad BABIP luck. He's been decent aside from those two stretches. However, I'd be worried about the back issues as he missed a little time last year with the same thing. I'm not sure that's a problem that is going to get better as he gets older regardless if he's playing LF or not.

[mvp 78]

We should also find out who we came in second place to for the Imanaga sweepstakes any day now.

 

“Barring a last-minute reversal, a league source said Chicago is not seen as a likely landing spot for Shota Imanaga, the Japanese pitcher who will likely receive a contract worth at least $100 million, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.”

 

Sox really going to give this guy 100M?

[Hugh2]

In '22, he struggled with back issues all year causing him to miss a lot of time. With KC in '21, he just had bad BABIP luck. He's been decent aside from those two stretches. However, I'd be worried about the back issues as he missed a little time last year with the same thing. I'm not sure that's a problem that is going to get better as he gets older regardless if he's playing LF or not.

 

To me, that's 100% a strength and conditioning issue, not that I'm downplaying it, but I'd feel a lot better about him if he's DHing more and not playing the field.

[mvp 78]

To me, that's 100% a strength and conditioning issue, not that I'm downplaying it, but I'd feel a lot better about him if he's DHing more and not playing the field.

 

Hard to pair Masa and Soler on the same team IMO. My guess is that they miss out on Soler and I'm not all that upset about it. I mean, you were just complaining earlier about them adding offensive guys with bad gloves. This is a move that does just that.

[Old Red]

If the Red Sox could field a team of interest they would have a vastly improved team. Unfortunately claiming to to be interested in a player doesn’t land them. Good for conversation though.

[mvp 78]

Instead of Soler, they could go after Hoskins who could also fill in at LF/1B here and there.

 

Hoskins has a higher career wRC+. Consistently is a 2 fWAR guy, unlike the rollercoaster Soler. Similar batting profiles.

[Hugh2]

Hard to pair Masa and Soler on the same team IMO. My guess is that they miss out on Soler and I'm not all that upset about it. I mean, you were just complaining earlier about them adding offensive guys with bad gloves. This is a move that does just that.

 

 

Not if you view Soler as a DH mostly type of guy. However, I thought the Sox didn't want to approach the DH position like that anymore and that also means Masa is a full time LFer. Which isn't highly improbable. They also could be looking to Trade Masa as you said.

 

Who the eff knows. They haven't even signed him.

[Elktonnick]

If the Red Sox could field a team of interest they would have a vastly improved team. Unfortunately claiming to to be interested in a player doesn’t land them. Good for conversation though.

 

I have long since discounted any reports about the Red Sox being interested in any particular player. I will believe it when I see it.

[mvp 78]

Not if you view Soler as a DH mostly type of guy. However, I thought the Sox didn't want to approach the DH position like that anymore and that also means Masa is a full time LFer. Which isn't highly improbable. They also could be looking to Trade Masa as you said.

 

Who the eff knows. They haven't even signed him.

 

I just don't think Masa should be out in LF as much as he was last year. 84 GS was clearly too much for him. If they sign Soler, he'd have to play even more LF than before if Soler is fulltime DH.

[mvp 78]

I have long since discounted any reports about the Red Sox being interested in any particular player. I will believe it when I see it.

 

I discount them being interested in retaining fans at this point.

[Hugh2]

I have long since discounted any reports about the Red Sox being interested in any particular player. I will believe it when I see it.

 

THere's also how us fans take these reports. Often agents leak interest to build up price but often time there is no real interest. Teams check in on players all the time and then fans go rabbid rabbid because they "lost out again" I'm sorry, but I just get a laugh when someone thinks we lost out on SETH LUGO.

 

The reports are we are heavily into talks with Soler, to me that's different. I still don't think it means we sign him, but I think the probability that we do is much higher. Lets just remember this if they actually do sign him.

 

THere's a difference between checking in and genuine interest....the Boston sports media will never differentiate between the two.

[notin]

No! He just saying what I’ve been asking. What’s the lure of playing in Boston?

 

They have open MLB jobs, some of which are available for starters with significant playing time…

[Hugh2]

I just don't think Masa should be out in LF as much as he was last year. 84 GS was clearly too much for him. If they sign Soler, he'd have to play even more LF than before if Soler is fulltime DH.

 

I mean....I PERSONALLY don't want to see either one of them in the outfield.

[notin]

I mean....I PERSONALLY don't want to see either one of them in the outfield.

 

 

The Sox could go with Duran-Rafaela-O’Neill or O’Neill-Duran-Abreu or maybe even O’Neill-Rafaela-Abreu. Not like they need another outfielder. All of these combinations are defensively superior to any arrangement that includes Jorge Soler…

[Hugh2]

The Sox could go with Duran-Rafaela-O’Neill or O’Neill-Duran-Abreu or maybe even O’Neill-Rafaela-Abreu. Not like they need another outfielder. All of these combinations are defensively superior to any arrangement that includes Jorge Soler…

 

They could, and I don't hate that, but trying to read in between the tea-leaves here it really doesn't look like they're starting the season with both Abreu and Rafaela on the roster, Rafaela likely in AAA. Solers best fit is as a DH.

[mvp 78]

The Sox could go with Duran-Rafaela-O’Neill or O’Neill-Duran-Abreu or maybe even O’Neill-Rafaela-Abreu. Not like they need another outfielder. All of these combinations are defensively superior to any arrangement that includes Jorge Soler…

 

Soler is fine, but they are boxed in with Masa on the roster.

[mvp 78]

THere's also how us fans take these reports. Often agents leak interest to build up price but often time there is no real interest. Teams check in on players all the time and then fans go rabbid rabbid because they "lost out again" I'm sorry, but I just get a laugh when someone thinks we lost out on SETH LUGO.

 

The reports are we are heavily into talks with Soler, to me that's different. I still don't think it means we sign him, but I think the probability that we do is much higher. Lets just remember this if they actually do sign him.

 

THere's a difference between checking in and genuine interest....the Boston sports media will never differentiate between the two.

 

Seth Lugo came up just because nothing else was going on then IMO. Teoscar was a clear need and the Sox were noted to have been in discussions with him. Same with Yamamoto. I think the only other FA's that the Sox expressed interest in were ERod and Maldonado. Guys left on the board that the Sox have expressed interest in are Paxton, Imanaga, Soler, Merrifield and Snell (maybe?).

[mvp 78]

Speier characterizes the Red Sox as “lurking” on Imanaga but indicates they may not be among the most involved suitors.

 

[Hugh2]

Seth Lugo came up just because nothing else was going on then IMO. Teoscar was a clear need and the Sox were noted to have been in discussions with him. Same with Yamamoto. I think the only other FA's that the Sox expressed interest in were ERod and Maldonado. Guys left on the board that the Sox have expressed interest in are Paxton, Imanaga, Soler, Merrifield and Snell (maybe?).

 

I haven't heard anything on Snell, but I easily could have missed something. I just question how much they're really interested in all these guys.

 

Odds are they saw the decline in Teoscars bat, and didn't want to go 4 years like he wanted and probably didn't want to go more than 12-14 a year. Teoscar took the one year deal I think because it had a much higher AAV than what he was being offered and figured he could make more money in the long run. Pure conjecture on my part here.

 

Remember, Teoscar is horrible on defense as well. Strike out, doesn't walk a lot. Soler is just a Teoscar with slightly worse defense a little less average but more walks. If we WERE talking about a DH position, I actually think you could make the argument for Soler.

 

Personally, I don't really want either.

[Old Red]

They have open MLB jobs, some of which are available for starters with significant playing time…

 

The good ones will get significant playing time no matter where they go.

[Hugh2]

The good ones will get significant playing time no matter where they go.

 

The significanly high amount of free agents go to where they're paid the most. No matter how much their fans think the teams sucks.

[Old Red]

The significanly high amount of free agents go to where they're paid the most. No matter how much their fans think the teams sucks.

 

Some have come to Boston, because of the money like Yoshida, Story, Price, and probably Gio, but the good ones today are getting many suitors, and get to pick, and choose where they want to go, and the money is all near the same.

[mvp 78]

The significanly high amount of free agents go to where they're paid the most. No matter how much their fans think the teams sucks.

 

It's a combination of money, team quality and location. Money is most often the significant factor in the decision.

[mvp 78]

Some have come to Boston, because of the money like Yoshida, Story, Price, and probably Gio, but the good ones today are getting many suitors, and get to pick, and choose where they want to go, and the money is all near the same.

 

Sox could always spend more since their fans have to spend more?

[Hugh2]

Some have come to Boston, because of the money like Yoshida, Story, Price, and probably Gio, but the good ones today are getting many suitors, and get to pick, and choose where they want to go, and the money is all near the same.

 

Look, Red you make a lot of good points around here and don't get enough credit for it.

 

This is not one of them.

 

Don't try to rewrite history.

 

Everyone knows the vast majority of free agents follow the money. Does it not happen that way sometimes? of course, but lets call a duck a duck here.

 

Unless of course John Henry isn't a cheapskate after all. He offers the most money and everyone just turns him down.