Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[Old Red]

According to Alex Speier, the Red Sox are making Mayer, Anthony and Teel off-limits in trade talks. (Duran, Rafaela, Bleis, Houck and others are not off-limits.)

 

Helps explain why no blockbuster trade is happening.

 

Oh no say it ain’t so.🙈

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@tylermilliken_

More from @alexspeier... doesn't look like the Red Sox have changed their stance on Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, or a rental like Corbin Burnes.

 

"While it hasn’t been ruled out entirely, sources continue to characterize the Sox as unlikely to make the sort of deep-end, long-term plunge needed to land lefthanders Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, the top two free-agent starters left on the market... The Sox are open to deal-making, but there’s little sense they’ll push in the chips to land an established top-of-the-rotation starter either via trade or free agency. Further additions appear more likely to the middle or back of the rotation to improve depth and reliability."

 

Last line left off a few words: "Further additions appear more likely to the middle or back of the rotation to BEFUDDLE FANS' depth PERCEPTIONS and EXPLOIT THEIR GULLIBILTY."

[mvp 78]

Jordan Luplow is another RHH outfield option that excites no one (but he does excel at hitting LHP).

 

The Sox could platoon Luplow in LF with Yoshida and platoon Refsnyder with Enmanuel Valdez at DH…

 

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Jordan Luplow is another RHH outfield option that excites no one (but he does excel at hitting LHP).

 

 

Luplow riled up Todd, who always gave his sister Lisa noogies on Saturday Night Live.

[Bellhorn04]

Last line left off a few words: "Further additions appear more likely to the middle or back of the rotation to BEFUDDLE FANS' depth PERCEPTIONS and EXPLOIT THEIR GULLIBILTY."

 

Yep, they're punting like Ray Guy, and we just have to get used to the idea somehow.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yep, they're punting like Ray Guy, and we just have to get used to the idea somehow.

 

It would be easier if they'd admit they won't Pay Guys.

 

It has to be better PR if a team is honest with its fans. Moon once noted even the Houston Astros leveled with fans back when they were, uh... armor-plating their team bus. And everyone survived.

 

Massachusetts doesn't even have open carry...

[mvp 78]

Yep, they're punting like Ray Guy, and we just have to get used to the idea somehow.

 

Only the best punts!

[mvp 78]

It would be easier if they'd admit they won't Pay Guys.

 

It has to be better PR if a team is honest with its fans. Moon once noted even the Houston Astros leveled with fans back when they were, uh... armor-plating their team bus. And everyone survived.

 

Massachusetts doesn't even have open carry...

 

Without ownership accountability, it just makes the whole situation worse. No amount of PR is going to fix this.

[harmony]

Should the Red Sox invest more in the international market?

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2024-international-prospect-rankings-and-scouting-reports/

[moonslav59]

Fire Sale!

[cp176]

Fire Sale!

 

They already traded him! lol

[moonslav59]

They already traded him! lol

 

LOL!

 

Deadline sale:

Jansen

Martin

Giolito

O'Neill

Pivetta

McGuire

Refsnyder, if wanted

Yoshida

(Story?)

 

 

[Hugh2]

According to Alex Speier, the Red Sox are making Mayer, Anthony and Teel off-limits in trade talks. (Duran, Rafaela, Bleis, Houck and others are not off-limits.)

 

Helps explain why no blockbuster trade is happening.

 

I wouldn’t trade those top three for a rental either.

 

Apparently no other GM will either.

[Old Red]

LOL!

 

Deadline sale:

Jansen

Martin

Giolito

O'Neill

Pivetta

McGuire

Refsnyder, if wanted

Yoshida

(Story?)

 

 

 

Once again talking about a fire sale before the season even starts. What’s the sense in even playing🙈?

[Old Red]

I wouldn’t trade those top three for a rental either.

 

Apparently no other GM will either.

 

No one has even talked about trading the top three for just a RENTAL anyway.

[moonslav59]

I wouldn’t trade those top three for a rental either.

 

Apparently no other GM will either.

 

If it's for Luzardo or Garrett, I'd consider Mayer + others.

 

(Trading Bleis, at this point in his value curve, makes little sense to me.)

 

It does make me wonder what we can get for a package of Duran, Yorke, Houck plus any 1 or 2 from ...

 

Perales

Wikelman

Meidroth

Castro

Hickey

Jordan

Paulino

Mata

DHam

[moonslav59]

I wouldn’t trade those top three for a rental either.

 

Apparently no other GM will either.

 

Why trade even guys with 2-3 years of control for a rental?

 

We aren't going anywhere near the playoffs, even if we added Burnes.

[Hugh2]

Why trade even guys with 2-3 years of control for a rental?

 

We aren't going anywhere near the playoffs, even if we added Burnes.

 

Exactly.

 

If this was a .500 team, and we were expecting more from the youth movement going into 2024 I’d say trade for an ACE and buy one. But at this point it feels like you’re cashing in all your chips to get to .500

 

Let’s face it. We suck.

[Bellhorn04]

Exactly.

 

If this was a .500 team, and we were expecting more from the youth movement going into 2024 I’d say trade for an ACE and buy one. But at this point it feels like you’re cashing in all your chips to get to .500

 

Let’s face it. We suck.

 

We suck because they won't spend enough on the areas of need. They could easily do it. It's a deliberate choice on their part.

[moonslav59]

Exactly.

 

If this was a .500 team, and we were expecting more from the youth movement going into 2024 I’d say trade for an ACE and buy one. But at this point it feels like you’re cashing in all your chips to get to .500

 

Let’s face it. We suck.

 

I like the foundation for 2025 and 2026, but I agree.

 

We suck for 2024, unless near 30 out of about 32 things go right, this year. (I'll name those 32, at some point.)

[moonslav59]

We suck because they won't spend enough on the areas of need. They could easily do it. It's a deliberate choice on their part.

 

I agree.

 

SP1 ___________________

SP3 (Gio)

2B (Grissom)

OF/RH Power Bat ___________

 

Just 2 more big adds coulda put us in the conversation.

 

It's the big Turtle Sham.

[Bellhorn04]

I agree.

 

SP1 ___________________

SP3 (Gio)

2B (Grissom)

OF/RH Power Bat ___________

 

Just 2 more big adds coulda put us in the conversation.

 

It's the big Turtle Sham.

 

They've got a lot of balls trying to pull it off, I must say. Especially with the other high market value teams going in the other direction and spending more.

[FredLynn]

We suck because they won't spend enough on the areas of need. They could easily do it. It's a deliberate choice on their part.

 

We such because NOT ONLY has Henry turned cheapskate but also because our farm system has not produced any pitchers of note (aside from Bello) for years. Can't win without good pitching. Its going to be another stinker of a year and the worst part is that there is no end in sight.

Edited January 12, 2024 by FredLynn

[moonslav59]

We such because NOT ONLY has Henry turned cheapskate but also because our farm system has not produced any pitchers of note (aside from Bello) for years. Can't win without good pitching. Its going to be another stinker of a year and the worst part is that there is no end in site.

 

I totally agree. One without the other, and maybe we could get by, but both together puts a death grip on our necks.

 

I do think Houck, Crawford, Whitlock and Winckowski along with Bello might be the best 5 pitching prospects we've seen in a long time, so it's not just Bello, but such a long stretch before these 5, and it looks like another long stretch after them falls way short of helping much.

 

(Whit and Wink were not full Sox prospects, but they were acquired as prospects, so I counted them.)

[Hugh2]

We suck because they won't spend enough on the areas of need. They could easily do it. It's a deliberate choice on their part.

 

They don’t want to spend in areas of need because they see the need to big. They will spend when they think the team is worth investing in.

 

The team is not worth investing in because they have sucked at building one.

 

It’s a vicious cycle of suck.

[moonslav59]

They don’t want to spend in areas of need because they see the need to big. They will spend when they think the team is worth investing in.

 

The team is not worth investing in because they have sucked at building one.

 

It’s a vicious cycle of suck.

 

They've given up on all pretenses of trying to be competitive through the rebuild.

 

That is the noticeable difference about this winter- aside from the "full throttle" comment.

[FredLynn]

I totally agree. One without the other, and maybe we could get by, but both together puts a death grip on our necks.

 

I do think Houck, Crawford, Whitlock and Winckowski along with Bello might be the best 5 pitching prospects we've seen in a long time, so it's not just Bello, but such a long stretch before these 5, and it looks like another long stretch after them falls way short of helping much.

 

(Whit and Wink were not full Sox prospects, but they were acquired as prospects, so I counted them.)

 

I was more referring to SPing, but you are right: those relievers are certainly decent. That said, RPs are a dime a dozen out there. We have Bello as a good SP. Beyond that there is basically no one dependable. And I don't see us getting anyone this year=we will suck again and finish in LAST PLACE AGAIN. Henry needs to sell the team. Its obvious that his commitment to winning is gone.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

They don’t want to spend in areas of need because they see the need to big. They will spend when they think the team is worth investing in.

 

The team is not worth investing in because they have sucked at building one.

 

It’s a vicious cycle of suck.

 

And I disagree with posters who convince themselves any certain offseason is devoid of talent, and the Sox must be waiting for a better crop to choose from, next winter.

 

This Boston roster is so bad -- and has been on the pitching staff since Bloom took over -- that every offseason has players available that can help improve the Red Sox. They just choose not to invest.

 

As far as pretending a window for contention will open as soon as the mighty prospects arrive in '25 or '26... is it really reasonable to expect Teel to instantly become a Rutschman-type leader behind the plate? Mayer to morph into Corey Seager his first year? Anthony to duplicate Bellinger's rookie stardom?

 

All three may become or surpass such comps, but it may take half a decade for any of them to mature into stars (by then, maybe for other teams).

[FredLynn]

And I disagree with posters who convince themselves any certain offseason is devoid of talent, and the Sox must be waiting for a better crop to choose from, next winter.

 

This Boston roster is so bad -- and has been on the pitching staff since Bloom took over -- that every offseason has players available that can help improve the Red Sox. They just choose not to invest.

 

As far as pretending a window for contention will open as soon as the mighty prospects arrive in '25 or '26... is it really reasonable to expect Teel to instantly become a Rutschman-type leader behind the plate? Mayer to morph into Corey Seager his first year? Anthony to duplicate Bellinger's rookie stardom?

 

All three may become or surpass such comps, but it may take half a decade for any of them to mature into stars (by then, maybe for other teams).

 

Even if they do mature into stars we STILL don't have the SPing nor, apparently, the will and the wallet to correct that. The only language Henry will understand is EMPTY SEATS at the park. When Fenway starts to look like the Trop as far as attendance goes he will get it.

[Old Red]

And I disagree with posters who convince themselves any certain offseason is devoid of talent, and the Sox must be waiting for a better crop to choose from, next winter.

 

This Boston roster is so bad -- and has been on the pitching staff since Bloom took over -- that every offseason has players available that can help improve the Red Sox. They just choose not to invest.

 

As far as pretending a window for contention will open as soon as the mighty prospects arrive in '25 or '26... is it really reasonable to expect Teel to instantly become a Rutschman-type leader behind the plate? Mayer to morph into Corey Seager his first year? Anthony to duplicate Bellinger's rookie stardom?

 

All three may become or surpass such comps, but it may take half a decade for any of them to mature into stars (by then, maybe for other teams).

 

Agree with this. Some on here are expecting all the hyped prospects to live up to that hype, and then everything will be alright, and talk about some kind of foundation. The foundation should have been Mookie, Bogey, and Raffy, and then pieces added to that.You should never give away years, because you will never get them back hoping for the Calvary to come that may not be as good as you hope for when they get there.

Edited January 12, 2024 by Old Red