Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[vegasbob]

Other than the corner infield duo, who else do the Sox have best suited to be a DH?

 

Assuming no Turner nor Duvall, and excluding Casas/Devers, there are not many choices. If Duran could maintain his 2023 production, he could be an oddball type for DH bringing speed. Refsnyder and Yoshida could make a platoon DH ( forget the contract)

[moonslav59]

Other than the corner infield duo, who else do the Sox have best suited to be a DH?

 

Well that’s two, but also EValdez. Refsnyder on a platoon, and maybe even Duran, but I’m fine with him in LF.

[oldtimer]

...and if we take back $25-30M of contracts in return, maybe there might be more takers, or pitch in $15-25M.

 

Yoshida just doesn't fill a need on the team. He is slow, a below average fielder and is possibly a decent hitter, but left handed and with average power or less. It looks like we have a lot of good outfield candidate and would like to have a right handed power hitter take most of the PT at DH. To me if we can avoid paying the majority of his remaining contract it would amount to addition by subtraction. He still might have value to another team as a DH and part time utility outfielder, just not the Sox in future.

[moonslav59]

Yoshida just doesn't fill a need on the team. He is slow, a below average fielder and is possibly a decent hitter, but left handed and with average power or less. It looks like we have a lot of good outfield candidate and would like to have a right handed power hitter take most of the PT at DH. To me if we can avoid paying the majority of his remaining contract it would amount to addition by subtraction. He still might have value to another team as a DH and part time utility outfielder, just not the Sox in future.

 

I hope you are wrong, but nothing seems encouraging about his first season in MLB.

[notin]

Well that’s two, but also EValdez. Refsnyder on a platoon, and maybe even Duran, but I’m fine with him in LF.

 

 

Refsnyder isn’t a DH. He’s a role player with a singular solid driving skill. Valdez is only a DH on a small market team. In Boston, he’s a bench bat at best.

 

If the Sox ignore my plan - very likely, although who knows since we don’t know who will be in charge - and leave Casas and Devers as is, then really Yoshida is the only DH on this roster. The Sox have a very likely CF in Rafaela, a couple guys capable of handling RF at Fenway passably in Verdugo and Abreu. And a decision to make on Gold Glover Duvall. And Duran, who can be an adventure in CF and is probably a risk in LF at Fenway. But if they keep him, he’ll play one of those spots…

[moonslav59]

Refsnyder isn’t a DH. He’s a role player with a singular solid driving skill. Valdez is only a DH on a small market team. In Boston, he’s a bench bat at best.

 

If the Sox ignore my plan - very likely, although who knows since we don’t know who will be in charge - and leave Casas and Devers as is, then really Yoshida is the only DH on this roster. The Sox have a very likely CF in Rafaela, a couple guys capable of handling RF at Fenway passably in Verdugo and Abreu. And a decision to make on Gold Glover Duvall. And Duran, who can be an adventure in CF and is probably a risk in LF at Fenway. But if they keep him, he’ll play one of those spots…

 

They are better at DH than at a position. I count 5.

Yoshida

Casas

Devers

Refsnyder platoon (top 30 batter vs LHPs over last 2 yrs)

Duran, maybe

 

I did not say they would be great DHs.

[notin]

They are better at DH than at a position. I count 5.

Yoshida

Casas

Devers

Refsnyder platoon (top 30 batter vs LHPs over last 2 yrs)

Duran, maybe

 

I did not say they would be great DHs.

 

When you look at it that way, every team has a bunch of them. I mean, you’re counting bench guys who rarely play.

 

Bottom line is this isn’t a team sucked with DH only types. If they keep Yoshida, he’s probably the DH and they continue with the weak corner infield defense. And they build an OF, probably with Duran-Rafaela-Verdugo or maybe Abreu.

 

Really depends who the new boss is; he might be a big Verdugo fan and extend him immediately…

[notin]

Yoshida just doesn't fill a need on the team. He is slow, a below average fielder and is possibly a decent hitter, but left handed and with average power or less. It looks like we have a lot of good outfield candidate and would like to have a right handed power hitter take most of the PT at DH. To me if we can avoid paying the majority of his remaining contract it would amount to addition by subtraction. He still might have value to another team as a DH and part time utility outfielder, just not the Sox in future.

 

 

Lots of love for a guy playing in his first 162 game season in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language.

 

Let’s review what we saw today

 

Masataka Yoshida - .640 OPS in August/September. His subtraction would be a positive

Justin Turner - .712 OPS in August/September. TEAM MVP!!!

[Randy Red Sox]

I hope you are wrong, but nothing seems encouraging about his first season in MLB.

 

thanks Chaim

[moonslav59]

Lots of love for a guy playing in his first 162 game season in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language.

 

Let’s review what we saw today

 

Masataka Yoshida - .640 OPS in August/September. His subtraction would be a positive

Justin Turner - .712 OPS in August/September. TEAM MVP!!!

 

Yoshida did have a pretty long stretch, where people were thinking, Hmmm, maybe he was a good signing, then...

 

POOF!

 

Maybe, he can get that back and keep it going for a full season, while relaxing on the bench as a DH.

[Bellhorn04]

Lots of love for a guy playing in his first 162 game season in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language.

 

Let’s review what we saw today

 

Masataka Yoshida - .640 OPS in August/September. His subtraction would be a positive

Justin Turner - .712 OPS in August/September. TEAM MVP!!!

 

Turner is having a brutal finish too.

 

As for Yoshida, I think signing a DH for 5 years and 90 (+15) mill is especially questionable when the first of those years has to be treated as an "adjustment year"...

[notin]

Assuming no Turner nor Duvall, and excluding Casas/Devers, there are not many choices. If Duran could maintain his 2023 production, he could be an oddball type for DH bringing speed. Refsnyder and Yoshida could make a platoon DH ( forget the contract)

 

Duvall isn’t a DH. He’s a Gold Glove winning outfielder.

 

If the Sox move Verdugo, they need (100% need) to bring Duvall back. If they do bring back Verdugo, they could still use Duvall but it gets less dire…

[notin]

Turner is having a brutal finish too.

 

As for Yoshida, I think signing a DH for 5 years and 90 (+15) mill is especially questionable when the first of those years has to be treated as an "adjustment year"...

 

That’s fine, but you’re also treating the entire 5 years like it’s just going to be the Goat year over and over. You’ve seen multiple times in the past that isn’t always the case…

[mvp 78]

Other than the corner infield duo, who else do the Sox have best suited to be a DH?

 

1. Masa

2. Devers

3. Casas

 

That would be the order. I think Casas still has time to fix his glove and was better in the 2nd half.

[mvp 78]

Well that’s two, but also EValdez. Refsnyder on a platoon, and maybe even Duran, but I’m fine with him in LF.

 

Valdez is ok, but I'm not sure his bat is worthwhile enough for the squad. He's a bubble 40 man guy to me.

[mvp 78]

Lots of love for a guy playing in his first 162 game season in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language.

 

Let’s review what we saw today

 

Masataka Yoshida - .640 OPS in August/September. His subtraction would be a positive

Justin Turner - .712 OPS in August/September. TEAM MVP!!!

 

I think Masa should be better next season. He played in the WBC and the first season was always going to be a big adjustment for a guy coming over from Japan.

 

Matsui 2003: 788 OPS

Matsui 2004: 912 OPS

 

Suzuki 2022: 770 OPS

Suzuki 2023: 842 OPS

 

Yoshida 2023: 781 OPS

Yoshida 2024: ???

[notin]

1. Masa

2. Devers

3. Casas

 

That would be the order. I think Casas still has time to fix his glove and was better in the 2nd half.

 

 

One would hope Casas can. He’s also sometimes a poor decision maker…

[mvp 78]

Duvall isn’t a DH. He’s a Gold Glove winning outfielder.

 

If the Sox move Verdugo, they need (100% need) to bring Duvall back. If they do bring back Verdugo, they could still use Duvall but it gets less dire…

 

Since his GG season:

-3 DRS in 22

-4 DRS in 23

[mvp 78]

One would hope Casas can. He’s also sometimes a poor decision maker…

 

Poor decisions can get fixed with good coaching.

[Old Red]

Turner is having a brutal finish too.

 

As for Yoshida, I think signing a DH for 5 years and 90 (+15) mill is especially questionable when the first of those years has to be treated as an "adjustment year"...

 

Yoshida has pretty much turned out to be a drain clogger, and an expensive one at that. A year ago the Red Sox needed another OF, and a bat, but now thy have an abundance of OF, and Yoshida is not that good anyway. Pretty expensive for a DH too.

[Old Red]

Poor decisions can get fixed with good coaching.

 

You mean the Red Sox don’t have good coaching?

[notin]

Poor decisions can get fixed with good coaching.

 

Depends on how instinctive they are…

[moonslav59]

Since his GG season:

-3 DRS in 22

-4 DRS in 23

 

He's not great anymore, but he should not have been paying CF.

[mvp 78]

You mean the Red Sox don’t have good coaching?

 

I didn't say that. Young players sometimes take a little longer to develop their fielding. See: Duran, Jarren 2023.

Edited September 28, 2023 by mvp 78

[moonslav59]

Valdez is ok, but I'm not sure his bat is worthwhile enough for the squad. He's a bubble 40 man guy to me.

 

I'm far from sure, too, but his D is so bad, his best slot might be DH. That was my point.

 

It is rare for a team to platoon DH, unless bot can play other positions, as back-up well enough to not be a drain of 2 roster slots.

 

That being said, an EValdez/Refsnyder platoon rates to hit better than Yoshi, IMO.

[Old Red]

I didn't say that. Young players sometimes take a little longer to develop their field. See: Duran, Jarren 2023.

 

I saw Casas at least twice this year reach, and stretch forward for a ball that went sailing over his head. That is just bad footwork to begin with.

[mvp 78]

I saw Casas at least twice this year reach, and stretch forward for a ball that went sailing over his head. That is just bad footwork to begin with.

 

Ok?

[mvp 78]

I'm far from sure, too, but his D is so bad, his best slot might be DH. That was my point.

 

It is rare for a team to platoon DH, unless bot can play other positions, as back-up well enough to not be a drain of 2 roster slots.

 

That being said, an EValdez/Refsnyder platoon rates to hit better than Yoshi, IMO.

 

Yeah, Valdez has a horrible glove. The Sox tried moving him all over the place when he first got to WOO, but they decided to leave him at 2B because he was just terrible everywhere. His bat needs to carry that glove and it's a good bat, but not a great one.

[Old Red]

Ok?

 

So why hasn’t he been taught?

[mvp 78]

So why hasn’t he been taught?

 

He is probably in the process of being taught and it takes time?