Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[mvp 78]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/job-posting-boston-red-sox-multiple-openings-2/

 

Crag posted some new opportunities for you schlubs.

[Old Red]

It wasn't the guys down at Tuffy's Bar and Grille, so you wouldn't care.

 

You’re right about about that. All I care about is that it took 4 years, and a nudge from Cora to right a wrong in hiring Bloom in the first place.🤮

[Old Red]

What if Bloom was operating under the guidelines that his job in Years 1-4 was to build the farm and cut payroll, and his job starting in Year 5 would be to shoot for a title? He sure seemed to be acting that way, especially with the lack of spending on the rotation in 2023.

 

There's a lot we don't know, obviously, and that we'll never know.

 

To me it seems odd that if the Sox were supposed to be going for a title in 2023 that the payroll would end in the middle of the pack.

 

Didn't you say something about a "sham"?

 

Was the "sham" understandable and reasonable?

 

At any rate i don’t believe any guidelines, or anything else included 3 last place finishes in 4 years.

[Bellhorn04]

At any rate i don’t believe any guidelines, or anything else included 3 last place finishes in 4 years.

 

Apparently 3 first place finishes in 4 years didn't meet the guidelines, either.

[Old Red]

Posting for the Big Yam will be on Monday, and negotiations will start on Tuesday. Do you think Brez will shut things down as quick as Bloom did with Yoshida?

[Old Red]

Apparently 3 first place finishes in 4 years didn't meet the guidelines, either.

Well said, but I think for completely different reasons.

[Bellhorn04]

Posting for the Big Yam will be on Monday, and negotiations will start on Tuesday. Do you think Brez will shut things down as quick as Bloom did with Yoshida.

 

I'm getting the feeling it would take at least $250 mill (not including the posting fee) to shut things down the way they were shut down with Yoshida.

[Old Red]

I'm getting the feeling it would take at least $250 mill (not including the posting fee) to shut things down the way they were shut down with Yoshida.

 

The projected posting fee is $35.625M for a $225M contract.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm getting the feeling it would take at least $250 mill (not including the posting fee) to shut things down the way they were shut down with Yoshida.

 

An intern just forwarded your post to Tom Werner, and he replied: "VROOM-VROOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/job-posting-boston-red-sox-multiple-openings-2/

 

Crag posted some new opportunities for you schlubs.

 

I looked hard but couldn't find the opening for Uncoordinator. Then I fell down.

[dgalehouse]

John Henry is an eccentric billionaire. An odd duck. Who knows what motivates him? You win - you get fired. You lose - you get fired. You become a great player - you get traded. He gets bored with spending and winning. He gets tired of scrimping and losing. Such is the life of the super rich. The rest of us have to keep pumping so we can afford the ever rising cost of a ticket, a beer, a hotdog and a bag of peanuts. That's life.

[moonslav59]

What if Bloom was operating under the guidelines that his job in Years 1-4 was to build the farm and cut payroll, and his job starting in Year 5 would be to shoot for a title? He sure seemed to be acting that way, especially with the lack of spending on the rotation in 2023.

 

There's a lot we don't know, obviously, and that we'll never know.

 

To me it seems odd that if the Sox were supposed to be going for a title in 2023 that the payroll would end in the middle of the pack.

 

Didn't you say something about a "sham"?

 

Was the "sham" understandable and reasonable?

 

I don't know how to answer this.

 

I did feel like the plan was a rebuild, but they just couldn't come out and say it. They tried to convince fans we would be remaining "competitive," except for the lost 2020 COVID season. That part, to me, was a sham.

 

The unexpected success of 2021 strengthened their narrative, that they did not have to spend big to be competitive, but it also stifled their choice to ever fully unload and rebuild in 2022 or 2023 (at the deadline.)

 

I admit, I fell for it. I kept expecting them to spend more and go for it, but I don't think they ever planned to do that. Even 2024 might not be "the year." The fram that was built up is due to start producing in about 2025. It won't surprise me if the "scam" goes on one more year- maybe even two. When the kids are ready, then we may go all in.

 

I've said it a few times, this fall: I'll believe it when I see it. Fool me once: shame on you! Fool me twice: shame on me. Fool me 3-4 times, go F yourself! I'm not buying it, until I see it.

 

That does not mean I have lost hope for something serious to happen in 2024. I'm just not expecting it, anymore. I thought Ben had a 5 year plan. I figured Bloom would be given 5 years. Neither made any major top prospect trades. I felt both were on the cusp of doing so, but the job was handed off to the next guy, so we'll never know.

 

I felt last winter was the time to make a serious move. I called it Bloom's "legacy winter" and "make or break" point. The prices went off the charts, but he spent on Yoshida, Duvall, Mondesi, Turner and the pen. He chose $10M for the rotation that lost Nate, Wacha and Hill. That is his legacy- not JH's or Sam's. That does not take either off the hook. They scammed us in '22 and '23. Let's see, if it continues another year or two.

[Bellhorn04]

The projected posting fee is $35.625M for a $225M contract.

 

I'll say add 10% to that, based on the big players all being involved and the overall shortage of talent in this year's free agent season.

 

So we're talking about a $300 million outlay.

[mvp 78]

Apparently 3 first place finishes in 4 years didn't meet the guidelines, either.

 

All it took was one mediocre season and two bad contracts (Sale/Price) that Henry approved of.

[moonslav59]

2016 because I trusted the good players less.

 

That said ALL of them (and I'll include 2002 who was a good team too) were teams that looked pretty solid on paper. The 2023 team was betting on the third wild card position for any sort of positivity.

 

Not a bad choice- fresh off two losing seasons in a row, but the David Price signing and Kimbrell trade were a major splash additions that previous winter.

 

We still had Papi, Betts, a JBJ in his prime, Bogey, Pedey, HRam, beni, Vaz and others. The rotation was going to be Price, Porcello, ERod, Buch, and maybe Wright/Kelly/Owens as the 5th guy.

 

Before '13, we had lost AGon, Beckett and others. We added Vic and Dempster. Our rotation was:

Lester (4.82 in '12)

Lackey (missed the 2012 season with an injury)

Dempster (4.80 in '11 and 3.38 in '12 with CHC)

Doubront (4.86 in '12)

Buccholz (4.56 in '12)

 

I don't recall anyone being excited about this rotation or the team's chances.

 

Certainly, some other teams were close.

[mvp 78]

I'll say add 10% to that, based on the big players all being involved and the overall shortage of talent in this year's free agent season.

 

So we're talking about a $300 million outlay.

 

We went from "there's so much pitching this offseason" to "the overall shortage of talent" pretty pretty quickly.

[moonslav59]

Apparently 3 first place finishes in 4 years didn't meet the guidelines, either.

 

LOL!

 

If someone could just go 2 for 4!

[moonslav59]

John Henry is an eccentric billionaire. An odd duck. Who knows what motivates him? You win - you get fired. You lose - you get fired. You become a great player - you get traded. He gets bored with spending and winning. He gets tired of scrimping and losing. Such is the life of the super rich. The rest of us have to keep pumping so we can afford the ever rising cost of a ticket, a beer, a hotdog and a bag of peanuts. That's life.

 

Exactly. For some reason, super rich team owners are expected to behave differently than those who do not own teams.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't know how to answer this.

 

I did feel like the plan was a rebuild, but they just couldn't come out and say it. They tried to convince fans we would be remaining "competitive," except for the lost 2020 COVID season. That part, to me, was a sham.

 

The unexpected success of 2021 strengthened their narrative, that they did not have to spend big to be competitive, but it also stifled their choice to ever fully unload and rebuild in 2022 or 2023 (at the deadline.)

 

I admit, I fell for it. I kept expecting them to spend more and go for it, but I don't think they ever planned to do that. Even 2024 might not be "the year." The fram that was built up is due to start producing in about 2025. It won't surprise me if the "scam" goes on one more year- maybe even two. When the kids are ready, then we may go all in.

 

Well, if they were conducting a sham, it fits with the idea that Bloom was used as a fall guy.

[moonslav59]

All it took was one mediocre season and two bad contracts (Sale/Price) that Henry approved of.

 

I think it was more about the infighting and the differing opinions on the direction the team was moving towards.

[Bellhorn04]

We went from "there's so much pitching this offseason" to "the overall shortage of talent" pretty pretty quickly.

 

There is a fair amount of pitching, but the lack of position player talent means there will be even more of a bidding war on the pitching. That's all I meant.

[moonslav59]

Well, if they were conducting a sham, it fits with the idea that Bloom was used as a fall guy.

 

I think they did give Bloom enough spending money to do better than what he did, although 2021 did redeem him to some small extent.

 

Bloom could have drafted college players and seen results during his term, here. I'm not sure how much range he had on trading top prospects, but he never did.

 

Bloom and Ben were both easy "fall guys," but I think there is more to it than just that.

 

I think they never viewed Ben or Bloom as the type of GMs to "get over the hump" with, but Ben surprised them, and Bloom nearly did in '21.

 

I honestly can't imagine DD being part of the 2020 team and budget cuts. Apparently, he was close to trading betts to LA in 2019, but we went on a winning stretch, but I doubt he felt they would never replace him, in kind, shortly after trading him. I'm not saying DD would have quit, but if there was bickering during 2019, I can imagine the escalation during 2020 and the winter before 2021.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it was more about the infighting and the differing opinions on the direction the team was moving towards.

 

And I think it was somewhere around this time that Henry really lost his way. He wanted to prove who the smart guy was and he let his ego get the better of him. And we've seen the results.

[Old Red]

There is a fair amount of pitching, but the lack of position player talent means there will be even more of a bidding war on the pitching. That's all I meant.

 

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but I’m not expecting any big signings. I don’t believe there will be any trade for Soto, or signing The Big O, or the big Yam either. Montgomery would be a good addition, but i wouldn’t call that a big signing, or signing an ace. He’s bounced around quite a bit the past few years, so the Yankees, or the Cardinals didn’t keep him either. Hope I’m shocked, but I’m not counting on it.

[moonslav59]

And I think it was somewhere around this time that Henry really lost his way. He wanted to prove who the smart guy was and he let his ego get the better of him. And we've seen the results.

 

It might have been more about his commitment to Kennedy than to DD.

 

I'm still not so sure keeping DD and forcing him to slash the budget and not make any major trades was the right choice, either.

 

We maybe assume that because DD did a good job with Philly (while spending pretty bigly,) he'd have kept us a winner through these last few years. I am highly doubtful.

 

It doesn't seem to be DD's specialty.

[Bellhorn04]

It might have been more about his commitment to Kennedy than to DD.

 

I'm still not so sure keeping DD and forcing him to slash the budget and not make any major trades was the right choice, either.

 

We maybe assume that because DD did a good job with Philly (while spending pretty bigly,) he'd have kept us a winner through these last few years. I am highly doubtful.

 

It doesn't seem to be DD's specialty.

 

Maybe trading Betts and slashing the budget were not the right ideas. We'll never know, I guess.

[moonslav59]

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but I’m not expecting any big signings. I don’t believe there will be any trade for Soto, or signing The Big O, or the big Yam either. Montgomery would be a good addition, but i wouldn’t call that a big signing, or signing an ace. He’s bounced around quite a bit the past few years, so the Yankees, or the Cardinals didn’t keep him either. Hope I’m shocked, but I’m not counting on it.

 

I'm not expecting anything big, either.

 

I'm hoping but not hopeful.

 

MLBTR projects Montgomery will make $150M/6. That would make him the biggest signing since Price. (If you count extensions, then the Devers one blows it away, but we'd have to go back to Sale to come close to $150M, but still under. (As a FA, Story got $140M/6.) I guess "big" is a relative term, and with inflation, maybe it would not be all that big.

[Bellhorn04]

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but I’m not expecting any big signings. I don’t believe there will be any trade for Soto, or signing The Big O, or the big Yam either. Montgomery would be a good addition, but i wouldn’t call that a big signing, or signing an ace. He’s bounced around quite a bit the past few years, so the Yankees, or the Cardinals didn’t keep him either. Hope I’m shocked, but I’m not counting on it.

 

If there are no big signings, it will be kind of funny, kind of sad...and one hell of a sham!

[moonslav59]

Maybe trading Betts and slashing the budget were not the right ideas. We'll never know, I guess.

 

That was rather "volatile."

 

Honestly, how would DD have handled 2020 and the offseason before 2021, which also had a rather restrictive winter spending budget?

 

I can see why DD was not viewed as the "right fit."

[Bellhorn04]

That was rather "volatile."

 

Honestly, how would DD have handled 2020 and the offseason before 2021, which also had a rather restrictive winter spending budget?

 

I can see why DD was not viewed as the "right fit."

 

What I'm saying is that the problem may have been Henry's bad decisions about the short-term direction of the team. I'm not saying DD would have fared a lot better than Bloom. As I've said, Bloom may just have been a fall guy for Henry's bad decisions.