Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[notin]

Sox are now putting their attention towards Garrett Cooper as a platoon bat.

 

Garrett Cooper is a good hitter…

[Bellhorn04]

That's not exactly saying there's a budget though. There's a difference between we can't spend, and then we won't spend. If the Sox set their budget at 215 million and are sitting at 200, does that mean they have to go out and spend that 215 just because that's their budget?

 

I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume their self imposed budgetary constraints could lay higher than what they actually spend. For example, they might be perfectly willing to sign Jordan Montgomery to a 4/90 dollar deal, but that's not going to happen so they "probably" won't be spending that extra 22.5 million. It's sort of a different way of being cheap.

 

The crazy thing is, Hugh, that on Winter Weekend Kennedy said they do have a set budget number, and Werner said that they don't.

 

Kennedy:

“We do have a set budget that we don’t talk about publicly, as to not tip our hand to our competitors.

 

Werner:

“In the end, we don’t have a line in terms of our payroll that we look at as much as trusting that Craig (Breslow) is going to deliver on his assurance that we’re going to be competitive.”

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The crazy thing is, Hugh, that on Winter Weekend Kennedy said they do have a set budget number, and Werner said that they don't. I don't have the energy to dig up the quotes right now, but that's absolutely what the two said.

 

Man, they weren't confused -- just overly enthused!

 

oh man, don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning... dig how beautiful it is out here... say something righteous and hopeful... it looks like we're gonna find ourselves another bridge... have a little faith, baby

 

(why did they call that guy Oddball?)

[moonslav59]

They needed a backup RHB at 1B. It's fine. Who backs up 3B. Reyes?

 

Must be- short term. (Maybe Casas in a pinch.)

 

Long term? Meidroth? DHam? Jamie Westbrook?

[Hugh2]

The crazy thing is, Hugh, that on Winter Weekend Kennedy said they do have a set budget number, and Werner said that they don't.

 

Kennedy:

“We do have a set budget that we don’t talk about publicly, as to not tip our hand to our competitors.

 

Werner:

“In the end, we don’t have a line in terms of our payroll that we look at as much as trusting that Craig (Breslow) is going to deliver on his assurance that we’re going to be competitive.”

 

I don't think that's crazy at all.

[Old Red]

Must be- short term. (Maybe Casas in a pinch.)

 

Long term? Meidroth? DHam? Jamie Westbrook?

 

Casas is not a backup 3B just like Raffy is not a backup 1B.🤭🙈

[mvp 78]

When was the last time anyone from the front office discussed payroll accurately?

 

???

[mvp 78]

Garrett Cooper is a good hitter…

 

Yes, it's fine for a cheap, short term option. Better than Dalbec.

[mvp 78]

Must be- short term. (Maybe Casas in a pinch.)

 

Long term? Meidroth? DHam? Jamie Westbrook?

 

Hamilton doesn't have the arm for 3B. Meidroth still hasn't really hit above high A.

 

Yorke?

[mvp 78]

Casas is not a backup 3B just like Raffy is not a backup 1B.

 

In 9 pro appearances at 3b (18-19), he has 3 errors.

[moonslav59]

In 9 pro appearances at 3b (18-19), he has 3 errors.

 

He'd just be the emergency back-up, in case reyes covered 3B and got hurt in the same game.

[mvp 78]

He'd just be the emergency back-up, in case reyes covered 3B and got hurt in the same game.

 

Like Greenwell playing C or Vaz playing 2B?

[Old Red]

He'd just be the emergency back-up, in case reyes covered 3B and got hurt in the same game.

 

And then who plays 1B? Casas is either a 1B, or DH. If the season started today I think Bobby D would be the backup 1B/3B. Not a good option, but a cheap option.🙈

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think that's crazy at all.

 

You don't see a contradiction in one saying they have a set budget and one saying they don't?

[mvp 78]

You don't see a contradiction in one saying they have a set budget and one saying they don't?

 

Werner is a minority opinion who is put in front of the camera. There are many voices in the org, Werner's is one that gets drowned out. As I've said for a long time, Werner WANTS to spend. Henry does not. Werner will continue to advocate for spending. Right now, Henry has been able to shuffle the CBO's enough where nobody has been able to convince him to spend since DD in the afterglow of the WS.

[Hugh2]

You don't see a contradiction in one saying they have a set budget and one saying they don't?

 

I do see it as a contradiction.

[moonslav59]

Like Greenwell playing C or Vaz playing 2B?

 

Kinda, but Casas did play 72 innings at 3B in the minors.

[Old Red]

Kinda, but Casas did play 72 innings at 3B in the minors.

 

You want to make Casas a backup 3B, and Raffy a backup 1B. No, and No! Both need to get better with where they are at if anything.🙈🤭

[Hugh2]

I think there's a difference between being the back up and then being the emergency (said position). I don't see a problem with a guy like Casas being the emergency 3B, but honestly he shouldn't getting more than 9 innings in that role a year. Ideally you have someone coming off the bench who can also play multiple positions doing that. You got 4 guys on the bench, right now that projects as McGuire/Reyes/Dalbec/Refsnyder. Thats' fine, but a guy like Cooper to replace Dalbec makes sense, and he's your back up first baseman. Reyes is your back up 3B. I have crazy speculations about a guy like Grissom possibly playing some 3B, maybe not in 2024 but if a guy like Yorke pans out or Mayer is up soon and Story is good/healthy you can get creative on getting guys at bats. Or not.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Werner is a minority opinion who is put in front of the camera. There are many voices in the org, Werner's is one that gets drowned out. As I've said for a long time, Werner WANTS to spend. Henry does not. Werner will continue to advocate for spending. Right now, Henry has been able to shuffle the CBO's enough where nobody has been able to convince him to spend since DD in the afterglow of the WS.

 

According to WEEI breaking news today, Henry IS spending -- but on the PGA instead.

 

Figures are reportedly in the billions -- that's with a "B" and an "S" -- said the Red Sox fans (some of whom might go golfing this summer instead of to Fenway).

[jad]

Like Greenwell playing C or Vaz playing 2B?

 

Greenwell at C was one of the GREAT moments in RS history! And the bastuds bunted on him.

[Old Red]

I think there's a difference between being the back up and then being the emergency (said position). I don't see a problem with a guy like Casas being the emergency 3B, but honestly he shouldn't getting more than 9 innings in that role a year. Ideally you have someone coming off the bench who can also play multiple positions doing that. You got 4 guys on the bench, right now that projects as McGuire/Reyes/Dalbec/Refsnyder. Thats' fine, but a guy like Cooper to replace Dalbec makes sense, and he's your back up first baseman. Reyes is your back up 3B. I have crazy speculations about a guy like Grissom possibly playing some 3B, maybe not in 2024 but if a guy like Yorke pans out or Mayer is up soon and Story is good/healthy you can get creative on getting guys at bats. Or not.

 

When you are pinching pennies Cooper makes no cents as a backup.

[mvp 78]

According to WEEI breaking news today, Henry IS spending -- but on the PGA instead.

 

Figures are reportedly in the billions -- that's with a "B" and an "S" -- said the Red Sox fans (some of whom might go golfing this summer instead of to Fenway).

 

Fenway Saudi Group

[mvp 78]

When you are pinching pennies Cooper makes no cents as a backup.

 

He makes more sense than bringing Duvall back, honestly.

[Old Red]

He makes more sense than bringing Duvall back, honestly.

 

Cents was the key word, and not sense. Outside of that I agree.

[notin]

He makes more sense than bringing Duvall back, honestly.

 

I would argue Duvall makes more sense, as he can be a starting RF. Cooper is a weak OF and probably best limited to backup 1b/DH duty. And it's not like they are going to platoon him with Casas. Maybe Yoshida, but Refsnyder can also do that...

[Old Red]

I would argue Duvall makes more sense, as he can be a starting RF. Cooper is a weak OF and probably best limited to backup 1b/DH duty. And it's not like they are going to platoon him with Casas. Maybe Yoshida, but Refsnyder can also do that...

 

Cooper would not be brought in for any kind of OF time, and 1B/DH would be his calling card.

[moonslav59]

Polanco traded to Mariners.

[moonslav59]

I think there's a difference between being the back up and then being the emergency (said position). I don't see a problem with a guy like Casas being the emergency 3B, but honestly he shouldn't getting more than 9 innings in that role a year. Ideally you have someone coming off the bench who can also play multiple positions doing that. You got 4 guys on the bench, right now that projects as McGuire/Reyes/Dalbec/Refsnyder. Thats' fine, but a guy like Cooper to replace Dalbec makes sense, and he's your back up first baseman. Reyes is your back up 3B. I have crazy speculations about a guy like Grissom possibly playing some 3B, maybe not in 2024 but if a guy like Yorke pans out or Mayer is up soon and Story is good/healthy you can get creative on getting guys at bats. Or not.

 

Indeed. Being an emergency back-up is not the same as being a back-up.

 

Every team has a 3rd catcher on the 26, even if the guy never played catcher.

 

The idea of casas as an emergency 3Bman was based on the idea that Cooper was added to back up 1B.

 

Reyes would be the back-up 3Bman, and Casas might be the emergency guy at 3B.

 

Yes, big difference..

[Old Red]

Indeed. Being an emergency back-up is not the same as being a back-up.

 

Every team has a 3rd catcher on the 26, even if the guy never played catcher.

 

The idea of casas as an emergency 3Bman was based on the idea that Cooper was added to back up 1B.

 

Reyes would be the back-up 3Bman, and Casas might be the emergency guy at 3B.

 

Yes, big difference..

Cooper would be two expensive just to be a backup, and that’s why I said if the season started today I believe Bobby D would be the backup at 1B/3B. A cheap option at that.