Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[Old Red]

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

 

I’m not say there will not be moves, but just not of the Soto, Big O, or Yam types. To much competition, which will lead to to much money would have to be spent.

[moonslav59]

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.

 

I get what you said. It was a questionable choice. To me, the choice was made after 2018, when we did not bring back Kimbrell or Kelly or anyone near their skill levels.

 

As fans, it was a "bad decision," but it's a business, too. JH felt the mega spending had gone on long enough, and was starting to move to the down cycle, IMO. That sucked for us Sox fans, especially losing Betts, but JH has done this before and we came back to win again, so I'm hesitant to say "bad."

[moonslav59]

I’m not say there will not be moves, but just not of the Soto, Big O, or Yam types. To much competition, which will lead to to much money would have to be spent.

 

Is there a dollar amount you don't think we'll go over?

 

Would Snell or Nola be "big?"

[notin]

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.

 

… except that’s probably not the case…

[Old Red]

Is there a dollar amount you don't think we'll go over?

 

Would Snell or Nola be "big?"

 

I don’t have a dollar amount, but I just don’t see the Red Sox spending upwards of $300M for Yam, or even a lot more than that for Soto, or O. Snell, Monty, or Nola would definitely be an improvement, but i wouldn’t necessarily call them big if only, because they are FA.Monty, and Snell turn 31 next month, and Nola is 30. 6 years through their mid 30’s could be more expensive, because of the number of teams needing pitching. I would rather see some trades for some younger pitching myself whatever is out there even if it takes some prospects.

[Old Red]

… except that’s probably not the case…

 

Yea you’re probably right when Cora had his meeting at the end of the year with JH, and Tom when they told him as he said he was safe to come back as manager next year, and he told them he was not ready to move in to the FO that Cora said he would only come back next year only under one condition, and that was only if his good buddy Bloom was coming back too.🙈🤭🤫.

[dgalehouse]

If you are a fan who likes Cora and also likes Bloom, you probably like to think that Cora and Bloom like each other as well. It can be hard to accept that maybe they didn't.

[sk7326]

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.

 

Entering 2016 (which is the benchmark here)

 

There was no Benintendi yet

Hanley Ramirez was one of the worst regulars in the league the year before

Bradley was promising

Rotation was interesting. But the team was coming off of two losing seasons, so the burden of proof was higher.

 

2013 - at least for me was a case of a bunch of good players who had been good - just needing to get healthy or return to form. Lester had a bad 2012 but there was reason to believe it was an outlier ... and it was. John Lackey was coming off of TJS, so there was risk - but there was a good pitcher there. Buchholz ditto. Dempster I expected Pivetta-esque performance.

 

For me, I looked at the 2011 team - and the major reason for the collapse was injuries. 2012 collapsed because of injuries - the bad vibes was a bonus. If the group could only stay healthy, they were going to be pretty good.

[sk7326]

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.

 

Bloom was sacrificed due to public displeasure. That's really been the common thread with Henry's actions with the baseball operation. If people watch less NESN then somebody has to get fired. The biggest reason Bloom is not here to see his work through is that fans didn't like him. (and some of that was self inflicted)

[moonslav59]

I don’t have a dollar amount, but I just don’t see the Red Sox spending upwards of $300M for Yam, or even a lot more than that for Soto, or O. Snell, Monty, or Nola would definitely be an improvement, but i wouldn’t necessarily call them big if only, because they are FA.Monty, and Snell turn 31 next month, and Nola is 30. 6 years through their mid 30’s could be more expensive, because of the number of teams needing pitching. I would rather see some trades for some younger pitching myself whatever is out there even if it takes some prospects.

 

Fair enough.

 

I'd like to see us trade for a younger SP'er, then maybe go for Gray, since he will take a shorter deal. Otherwise, I see us getting Montgomery, who is borderline "big,"

but after inflation factoring, maybe less than Story cost us.

 

I'm not counting on anything more than maybe something like a Seth Lugo, Duvall and Flaherty.

[moonslav59]

Entering 2016 (which is the benchmark here)

 

There was no Benintendi yet

Hanley Ramirez was one of the worst regulars in the league the year before

Bradley was promising

Rotation was interesting. But the team was coming off of two losing seasons, so the burden of proof was higher.

 

2013 - at least for me was a case of a bunch of good players who had been good - just needing to get healthy or return to form. Lester had a bad 2012 but there was reason to believe it was an outlier ... and it was. John Lackey was coming off of TJS, so there was risk - but there was a good pitcher there. Buchholz ditto. Dempster I expected Pivetta-esque performance.

 

For me, I looked at the 2011 team - and the major reason for the collapse was injuries. 2012 collapsed because of injuries - the bad vibes was a bonus. If the group could only stay healthy, they were going to be pretty good.

 

Price and Kimbrell added from 2015 to 2016 made it more promising in my book, but it was close. I was bummed about our FA selections, that winter before 2013. That was a big ding to my personal expectations for the season.

[Old Red]

If you are a fan who likes Cora and also likes Bloom, you probably like to think that Cora and Bloom like each other as well. It can be hard to accept that maybe they didn't.

 

I don’t think Cora liked what Bloom gave him to work with in some of his roster builds.

[moonslav59]

I don’t think Cora liked what Bloom gave him to work with in some of his roster builds.

 

Bloom extended the "best defensive 2Bman in the league," according to Cora.

 

[Old Red]

Bloom extended the "best defensive 2Bman in the league," according to Cora.

 

 

To bad he got the worst SS who couldn’t hit instead.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Does anyone seriously think Alex Cora was happy to see Xander Bogaerts leave, so he could play his favorite binky at shortstop? Or maybe he had no other choices, when the replacements his inept CBO recruited kept turning out to be damaged goods...

[Old Red]

Does anyone seriously think Alex Cora was happy to see Xander Bogaerts leave, so he could play his favorite binky at shortstop? Or maybe he had no other choices, when the replacements his inept CBO recruited kept turning out to be damaged goods...

I’m sure Cora would have wanted both Bogey, and Mookie on the team. Cora only played his favorite binky at SS, because Story got injured, and it seemed like the best option at the time with what Cora had to work with.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I’m sure Cora would have wanted both Bogey, and Mookie on the team. Cora only played his favorite binky at SS, because Story got injured, and it seemed like the best option at the time with what Cora had to work with.

 

He also tried the ghost of Mondesi, but every grounder went right through him...

[Old Red]

He also tried the ghost of Mondesi, but every grounder went right through him...

 

Some people see ghost, but Mondesi was never seen. The Legend of Mondesi.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yamamoto gets posted Monday. If Breslow sees early on that other big markets are sending Brinks Truck convoys to Uber him, I'd like to see the Sox swing immediate side deals.

 

When everyone else is busy falling all over themselves for a guy who has never thrown an MLB pitch, Brez should swoop in with a big Burnes trade and make Montgomery an offer he can't refuse. Let's GO.

[Old Red]

Yamamoto gets posted Monday. If Breslow sees early on that other big markets are sending Brinks Truck convoys to Uber him, I'd like to see the Sox swing immediate side deals.

 

When everyone else is busy falling all over themselves for a guy who has never thrown an MLB pitch, Brez should swoop in with a big Burnes trade and make Montgomery an offer he can't refuse. Let's GO.

 

If the Red Sox aren’t willing to pony up $250M-$300M with the posting fee then don’t bother at all. The rest sounds like a plan.

[sk7326]

I’m sure Cora would have wanted both Bogey, and Mookie on the team. Cora only played his favorite binky at SS, because Story got injured, and it seemed like the best option at the time with what Cora had to work with.

 

All of the ideas for SS were bad - and let's face it if Kike hit, they could have held their noses some. But Kike turning back into a pumpkin after 2021 offensively combined with THAT defense was ho-ho-horrendous.

[sk7326]

Yamamoto gets posted Monday. If Breslow sees early on that other big markets are sending Brinks Truck convoys to Uber him, I'd like to see the Sox swing immediate side deals.

 

When everyone else is busy falling all over themselves for a guy who has never thrown an MLB pitch, Brez should swoop in with a big Burnes trade and make Montgomery an offer he can't refuse. Let's GO.

 

I do think there is a both/and aspect to this. The league is falling over themselves for a 25 year old free agent, which is just something that doesn't happen. But yeah the Red Sox need to explore all avenues. They have to end up with at least 2 reliable starters from this.

[moonslav59]

I’m sure Cora would have wanted both Bogey, and Mookie on the team. Cora only played his favorite binky at SS, because Story got injured, and it seemed like the best option at the time with what Cora had to work with.

 

I'm pretty sure Bloom wanted Betts and Bogey on the 26, too.

[moonslav59]

I do think there is a both/and aspect to this. The league is falling over themselves for a 25 year old free agent, which is just something that doesn't happen. But yeah the Red Sox need to explore all avenues. They have to end up with at least 2 reliable starters from this.

 

It's the 25 year old aspect of this target that makes him so unique. He should only get better.

 

I seriously think he is going to get more than MLBTR's projection of $225/9 contract (not counting the $35M posting fee.)

 

[notin]

All of the ideas for SS were bad - and let's face it if Kike hit, they could have held their noses some. But Kike turning back into a pumpkin after 2021 offensively combined with THAT defense was ho-ho-horrendous.

 

As much as he actually provided some excitement, the Sox (re:Bloom) should have passed on Adam Duvall, kept Kike in CF, and acquired an uninjured shortstop (Andrus?)…

[Bellhorn04]

It's the 25 year old aspect of this target that makes him so unique. He should only get better.

 

I seriously think he is going to get more than MLBTR's projection of $225/9 contract (not counting the $35M posting fee.)

 

 

I think he'll get more than projected too.

 

With regard to his age, the only cautionary thing is that the Japanese teams seem to really work their pitchers hard. I think Yamamoto threw 138 pitches in one of his last games this year.

[sk7326]

As much as he actually provided some excitement, the Sox (re:Bloom) should have passed on Adam Duvall, kept Kike in CF, and acquired an uninjured shortstop (Andrus?)…

 

They should have passed on Yoshida, signed Duval to play LF and then did the SS thing you advise.

[sk7326]

It's the 25 year old aspect of this target that makes him so unique. He should only get better.

 

I seriously think he is going to get more than MLBTR's projection of $225/9 contract (not counting the $35M posting fee.)

 

 

I kind of expect some deal like 9/270 with an optout after year 5 or 6. If Yamamoto is good, he will want at least one other huge payday.

[Bellhorn04]

They should have passed on Yoshida, signed Duval to play LF and then did the SS thing you advise.

 

Bloom might still be employed if he went that way. Would have had a few more bucks for a starting pitcher, too.

[Bellhorn04]

I kind of expect some deal like 9/270 with an optout after year 5 or 6. If Yamamoto is good, he will want at least one other huge payday.

 

With the posting fee, that would make his cost about the same as Cole's current record-setter. And the opt-out would add to the risk.