A Realistic View at 2024: Part I

[mvp 78]

If the Red Sox sign inamanga and Seth lugo, is our starting pitching better than last year????

 

Yeah, but not good enough to be a playoff team.

[moonslav59]

Ohtani seems to be bound for the Dodgers or the Jays.

 

Both the Yankees and the Mets are reportedly all in on Moto. How the hell are the Sox going to outbid those two?

 

By bidding a couple $million more or adding length.

 

I have to think the Yanks want to extend Soto. They will have Judge, Soto and Cole on their books. I doubt they are thinking, "We will pay whatever it takes for Yamo."

 

It's hard to know how Cohen feels after getting bitch-slapped by his overpays, last winter.

 

JH has the money: it's all about the will to spend it, and where he might think the cost becomes silly.

[mvp 78]

for a team that desperately needs starting pitching, they appear to be content just sitting on the sidelines.

 

Only 3 notable starters have been signed so far.

[mvp 78]

Based on not signing Nola, Gray, ERod and Maeda?

 

If we are adding Maeda to the conversation, I guess we need to add Gibson too.

[mvp 78]

Even if said DH has a wipeout slider?

 

Is he ambidextrous?

[mvp 78]

Ohtani seems to be bound for the Dodgers or the Jays.

 

Both the Yankees and the Mets are reportedly all in on Moto. How the hell are the Sox going to outbid those two?

 

Why can't they? Yanks have some pretty large contracts on the books right now.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, but not good enough to be a playoff team.

 

Probably not, unless we add a very good 2Bman and CF/RF'er who slugs RH'd.

 

I'm not arguing I'd be happy with Imanaga and Lugo as the only starters added, but if these guys can give us 28+ GS and 160+ IP, our pen would be greatly improved, and some of our tweener pitchers would have better defined roles.

 

Let's say the two start 55 games and 340 IP combined. They could replace 16 GS'd by "openers" plus 9 by Kluber (6.26 ERA) and 19 by Paxton (4.50). Let's say Bello gives us 28 and Pivetta 27. That gives is 120 starts. Hopefully Sale can eat 20-30 of the remaining 42, leaving just 12-22 for the "tweeners:"

 

23 Crawford

21 Houck

10 Whitlock

 

These 54 could be cut drastically and added to the pen's IP.

 

If we added 3 SP'ers, add Pivetta to that list, or we can add one of these guys to a package and get a real ace via trade.

 

[moonslav59]

If we are adding Maeda to the conversation, I guess we need to add Gibson too.

 

Yes. Is anyone really torn up we missed out on these guys?

 

Sure, Nola, ERod or Gray would have been a nice signing, and I don't think any were overpaid, but the list of remaining SP'ers is better and longer.

[notin]

Why can't they? Yanks have some pretty large contracts on the books right now.

 

Because Henry?

[moonslav59]

Because Henry?

 

Yes, because JH is filthy rich.

 

If he wants Yamo, he can get silly with the bidding.

[Dipre]

Yes, because JH is filthy rich.

 

If he wants Yamo, he can get silly with the bidding.

 

He has done it before. With the current state of the product, something tells me he will spend money. It makes sense, business-wise.

[notin]

Yes, because JH is filthy rich.

 

If he wants Yamo, he can get silly with the bidding.

 

 

Can he outbid Cohen here?

 

Is Henry really going to shell out in excess of $300mill for a player with 0 MLB experience while questions still arise that he wouldn’t shell out that much for Mookie?

 

I will be shocked if the Sox sign Yamamoto…

[Dipre]

Can he outbid Cohen here?

 

Is Henry really going to shell out in excess of $300mill for a player with 0 MLB experience while questions still arise that he wouldn’t shell out that much for Mookie?

 

I will be shocked if the Sox sign Yamamoto…

 

Wouldn't busting out the cash register for Yamamoto decrease the heat from the Mookie issue instead of increasing it?

[mvp 78]

Because Henry?

 

So they COULD, they just don't might not WANT to? If that's they case they'd never be serious FA players again.

[notin]

Is he ambidextrous?

 

More. He’s quadridextrous. He can throw with his feet except that he is contractually forbidden from ever taking off his New Balances…

[notin]

So they COULD, they just don't might not WANT to? If that's they case they'd never be serious FA players again.

 

They haven’t been since 2018…

[Dipre]

They haven’t been since 2018…

 

6/140 for Story is a major deal.

[mvp 78]

Probably not, unless we add a very good 2Bman and CF/RF'er who slugs RH'd.

 

I'm not arguing I'd be happy with Imanaga and Lugo as the only starters added, but if these guys can give us 28+ GS and 160+ IP, our pen would be greatly improved, and some of our tweener pitchers would have better defined roles.

 

Let's say the two start 55 games and 340 IP combined. They could replace 16 GS'd by "openers" plus 9 by Kluber (6.26 ERA) and 19 by Paxton (4.50). Let's say Bello gives us 28 and Pivetta 27. That gives is 120 starts. Hopefully Sale can eat 20-30 of the remaining 42, leaving just 12-22 for the "tweeners:"

 

23 Crawford

21 Houck

10 Whitlock

 

These 54 could be cut drastically and added to the pen's IP.

 

If we added 3 SP'ers, add Pivetta to that list, or we can add one of these guys to a package and get a real ace via trade.

 

 

They'd be better, but it's not the FULL THROTTLE competing for a World Series trajectory that Werner and Wormtongue were talking about a few weeks ago. I don't think they are going to be WS contenders this year whatsoever, but this should be an offseason to get them on track. These aren't the moves that get them on track IMO. These are 2022 starting rotation type moves.

[Dipre]

They'd be better, but it's not the FULL THROTTLE competing for a World Series trajectory that Werner and Wormtongue were talking about a few weeks ago. I don't think they are going to be WS contenders this year whatsoever, but this should be an offseason to get them on track. These aren't the moves that get them on track IMO. These are 2022 starting rotation type moves.

 

If they sign Yamamoto and Montgomery, and get a competent bat for 2B, you can squint and see a contender.

[mvp 78]

Yes. Is anyone really torn up we missed out on these guys?

 

Sure, Nola, ERod or Gray would have been a nice signing, and I don't think any were overpaid, but the list of remaining SP'ers is better and longer.

 

ERod was potentially a candidate, but Breslow said they preferred to wait for Imanaga and Yamamoto rather than jump on ERod. Fine.

 

Gray was the only name that was a potential miss. Nola wasn't leaving PHI.

[mvp 78]

Wouldn't busting out the cash register for Yamamoto decrease the heat from the Mookie issue instead of increasing it?

 

It didn't work when he re-signed Raffy.

[Dipre]

ERod was potentially a candidate, but Breslow said they preferred to wait for Imanaga and Yamamoto rather than jump on ERod. Fine.

 

Gray was the only name that was a potential miss. Nola wasn't leaving PHI.

 

I liked Gray, a lot, but it's important to remember that he's 34, and father time is undefeated.

[Dipre]

It didn't work when he re-signed Raffy.

 

Different situations. It looked like they signed him instead of Mookie. Yamamoto is, more likely than not, a generational talent, and a highly marketable Japanese star. A blockbuster signing, if you will.

[mvp 78]

If they sign Yamamoto and Montgomery, and get a competent bat for 2B, you can squint and see a contender.

 

It's the offseason. I'm not squinting. I'd be a believer.

[mvp 78]

I liked Gray, a lot, but it's important to remember that he's 34, and father time is undefeated.

 

His contract was a 3 year deal though. That's not a large battle with Mr Time.

[Dipre]

His contract was a 3 year deal though. That's not a large battle with Mr Time.

 

I'm thinking it may have taken more years and money to bring him back to the AL East after that horrible Yankees experience, but that's just me spitballing.

[Bellhorn04]

Did you just yuck on Wacha??!?

 

Not specifically, just that grab bag as a whole. I'd be fine with Stroman or Wacha as our #2 acquisition if they come with Moto or Snell-or Monty, at least.

[moonslav59]

They'd be better, but it's not the FULL THROTTLE competing for a World Series trajectory that Werner and Wormtongue were talking about a few weeks ago. I don't think they are going to be WS contenders this year whatsoever, but this should be an offseason to get them on track. These aren't the moves that get them on track IMO. These are 2022 starting rotation type moves.

 

Yes. I'm not saying I am for the "quantity" approach. I'm actually firmly against it.

 

I do think, if we add a solid D and O 2Bman and an OF'er who hits RH'd and can hit for power (Duvall?) We can be much better than 2023 with Stroman, Lugo and Imanaga. Not sure that's "FULL THROTTLE," but it looks to beat any Bloom winter.

[moonslav59]

If they sign Yamamoto and Montgomery, and get a competent bat for 2B, you can squint and see a contender.

 

I'd say add Duvall, too.

 

(Gurriel plays LF, but he seems to be a target.)

[Bellhorn04]

Only 3 notable starters have been signed so far.

 

Yes, 3 of the original top 6, which leaves only 3.