A Realistic View of the 2025 Red Sox: Part II

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think he gets promoted, soon, despite how good Alcara & Murphy have looked.

I'm not one to put much stock in one game, but Houck looked pretty good, last night with WOO. 4.1 IP (76 pitches) and just 3 hits, 2BBs, 6 Ks and 1 ER. If he has one more good game like that, he may get the call, 4-5 days later.

It took him 26 pitches to get through the 1st inning. Rochester is 19th out 20 teams in the Int'l League in OPS.  

[notin]

5 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I've been wrong many times, but I doubt we ever see the 5'8" Yoshida at 1B

But he towers over 4’3” Andrew Vaughn!

[notin]

5 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I've been wrong many times, but I doubt we ever see the 5'8" Yoshida at 1B

But he towers over 4’3” Andrew Vaughn!

[Hugh2]

3 hours ago, Hitch said:

Not a cat's chance in hell that Duran gets it done for Ryan. We'd have to tag on quite a bit more.

BTV accepts. 

Duran/Arias/Sandlin for Joe Ryan

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It took him 26 pitches to get through the 1st inning. Rochester is 19th out 20 teams in the Int'l League in OPS.  

Wow, he musta done pretty well over the next 3.1 IP, then.

[Hugh2]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It took him 26 pitches to get through the 1st inning. Rochester is 19th out 20 teams in the Int'l League in OPS.  

I haven't given up on Houck yet, I'm hoping his problem is more mechanical than talent. 

I'm also not convinced that his best position might still be in the bullpen opposed to starting. 

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts. 

Duran/Arias/Sandlin for Joe Ryan

I'd do this and maybe sub Early or Perales for Sandlin or add Mullins or Monegro.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts. 

Duran/Arias/Sandlin for Joe Ryan

Fine.

[moonslav59]

Just now, Hugh2 said:

I haven't given up on Houck yet, I'm hoping his problem is more mechanical than talent. 

I'm also not convinced that his best position might still be in the bullpen opposed to starting. 

I think Houck has proven he has the "talent." Or "had" the talent, if something physically has happened to change that forever.

He had very "nasty stuff" for years. If he can regain that form, he might be the 2nd or 3rd best starter or RP'er.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'd do this and maybe sub Early or Perales for Sandlin or add Mullins or Monegro.

Ah, the prospect potpourri! 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Ah, the prospect potpourri! 

I know my tendency is to just make the list longer or choice orientated, and teams prefer quality over quantity, but guys like Monegro and Mullins are not really chump change. Perales and Early would be coveted by every MLB team, but Perales needing to be on the 40 creates issues for many teams.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I know my tendency is to just make the list longer or choice orientated, and teams prefer quality over quantity, but guys like Monegro and Mullins are not really chump change. Perales and Early would be coveted by every MLB team, but Perales needing to be on the 40 creates issues for many teams.

Monegro is injured for the year (TJS). Nobody is trading for him. I don't think anyone is trading for Perales until he's actually pitching in games.

[cp176]

Lots of talk here about who to trade, positions of weakness and how to fill them.  I’m not sure that I would trade anybody for anybody right now.  Personally I don’t any problem at all with the way first base is being covered and I certainly don’t see a backup catcher as a need at all.  Wong is fine.  Pitching I guess so.  Everybody could use pitching.  I like both Duran and Abreu in Red Sox uniforms as well next year.  I also am anxious to see Dobbins again hopefully soon.  I’m beginning to like this team and hope we don’t get fleeced in any deals that might be made.  Some times the best trade is no trade at all.  Cora is making good money to figure out how to get these players playing time.

[mvp 78]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Wow, he musta done pretty well over the next 3.1 IP, then.

Against a poor hitting AAA team. Color me unimpressed. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, cp176 said:

Lots of talk here about who to trade, positions of weakness and how to fill them.  I’m not sure that I would trade anybody for anybody right now.  Personally I don’t any problem at all with the way first base is being covered and I certainly don’t see a backup catcher as a need at all.  Wong is fine.  Pitching I guess so.  Everybody could use pitching.  I like both Duran and Abreu in Red Sox uniforms as well next year.  I also am anxious to see Dobbins again hopefully soon.  I’m beginning to like this team and hope we don’t get fleeced in any deals that might be made.  Some times the best trade is no trade at all.  Cora is making good money to figure out how to get these players playing time.

I think at the very least, they'll trade some potential Rule 5 guys to acquire some relief help like they did last season, similar to the Garcia trade last year. 

Castro

Hoppe

Jordan

Mullins

Paez

Sandlin

Uberstine

[mvp 78]

Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! 

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

The Schwarber and Eovaldi deals were completely fine. Nobody was upset at the time. Neither was a top 20 prospect or had that upside. 

Bolivar is a guy nobody was tracking. Portes was an exciting pitcher, but still years and years away. Portes is still in Low A right now. 

The buzz around Espinoza was crazy high when he was traded. Using him on Pomeranz was the problem. Should have just got a better arm for him.

I really don't think there was anything better available at the time.  I'm sure DD called around a bit.  It was mid-season.  

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Monegro is injured for the year (TJS). Nobody is trading for him. I don't think anyone is trading for Perales until he's actually pitching in games.

They both have trade value, but keeping them probably makes more sense.

Early, Paez, Wehunt and the like could be substituted. They won't be deal makers, but on close balanced trades, they might entice a yes.

[cp176]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I think at the very least, they'll trade some potential Rule 5 guys to acquire some relief help like they did last season, similar to the Garcia trade last year. 

Castro

Hoppe

Jordan

Mullins

Paez

Sandlin

Uberstine

I think so as well.  We know we have an outfield that is slightly over crowded but unlike most teams, it looks crowded with really good players.  Relief help makes sense.  The only quality player that I guess I could see dangled out there might be Chapman.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, cp176 said:

I think so as well.  We know we have an outfield that is slightly over crowded but unlike most teams, it looks crowded with really good players.  Relief help makes sense.  The only quality player that I guess I could see dangled out there might be Chapman.

I think Bregman and Gio could get nice returns.

Wilson, Refsnyder and Buehler not so much.

If we trade Chapman, we might as well trade all FAs-to-be plus maybe Duran and players like DHam, Grissom and Eatone, even if the latter are for meager returns.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think Bregman and Gio could get nice returns.

Wilson, Refsnyder and Buehler not so much.

If we trade Chapman, we might as well trade all FAs-to-be plus maybe Duran and players like DHam, Grissom and Eatone, even if the latter are for meager returns.

They have a lot of guys that could get nice returns. I wonder how they will approach the idea of buying and selling. My guess is that they do a little of both. If so, Breggie will be here through Sept. More likely that they deal from the OF crunch. Probably keep Chapman too in case they do make a playoff push.

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They have a lot of guys that could get nice returns. I wonder how they will approach the idea of buying and selling. My guess is that they do a little of both. If so, Breggie will be here through Sept. More likely that they deal from the OF crunch. Probably keep Chapman too in case they do make a playoff push.

I think we will try very hard to avoid this deadline looking like a punt on 2025. That means keeping Bregman, Chapman and Giolito. If we can somehow trade Duran or Abreu for MLB talent, then it won't be punting. (Perhaps we trade an OF'er for prospects, but then also trade some prospects for a player equal to the traded OF'er's value to balance it out.)

I hope we don't make major prospect trades for rentals, but I'm fine with trading some mid levels for rentals, like the Nate & Schwarber deals from past deadlines- hopefully not like the Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims and Urias deals from recent seasons.

I keep mentioning Joe Ryan, but someone like him would be a major score. Trading the farm away for Gallen & Suarez would not be my idea of a good idea. We'd have to win a ring, this year to make it work, and it still could come back to bite us, later on.

Trade Duran or Abreu.

Add or trade separately players like Wong, Grissom, DHam, Eaton, Toro, Kelly, Guerrero and maybe Buehler, but more to just make roster room than to get something useful in return.

Add or trade separately some mid level prospects like Arias (top end) or Romero (not both), Bleis, Cespedes, Jordan, Castro, Jordan and prospect pitchers like Sandlin, Early, Paez and Mullins. If guys like Perales and Monegro have little trade value due to injury issues, keep them.

In short, I'd try to keep the rookies, Tolle, Garcia, Clarke and Valera, unless we get something more than a rental. (I'm not sure I want to trade Arias for just a rental, either, but maybe if we can get Gallen & Suarez as part of a big package of mis prospects + Duran/Abreu.)

[mvp 78]

29 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

In short, I'd try to keep the rookies, Tolle, Garcia, Clarke and Valera, unless we get something more than a rental. (I'm not sure I want to trade Arias for just a rental, either, but maybe if we can get Gallen & Suarez as part of a big package of mis prospects + Duran/Abreu.)

Don't Trade:

Tolle

Depends on the Trade:

Arias, Jhostynxon, Clarke, Early, Valera, Sandlin, Soto, Gonzales, Romero

Unload:

Everyone else

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Don't Trade:

Tolle

Depends on the Trade:

Arias, Jhostynxon, Clarke, Early, Valera, Sandlin, Soto, Gonzales, Romero

Unload:

Everyone else

I'm assuming "everyone" is only with prospects.

IMO, if we keep Arias, Romero can be traded.

Sandlin is borderline.

[drewski6]

Duran is the leader on this team.  Hes not worth ANY pitcher.  Hes our energy, our leader in the weight room, our leader of sh*t-talking.  The playoffs have a lot of energy, intimidation, psychology.  Duran is the right type of crazy (these days). You cant give that up.

Abreu - I like him too much but can be talking into flipping for a pitcher, but I like him too much.

I dont think the need for a starter is as dire as most.  And Im focused on 2025.

I think we shouldnt even be thinking about selling right now.  Or buying AND selling.  Only buy. This team is really good (as long as Crochet is healthy, knock on wood).

[drewski6]

There isnt a pitcher on the planet I trade Duran for.

[Hitch]

3 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts. 

Duran/Arias/Sandlin for Joe Ryan

I do that. I don't think the Twins do.

[drewski6]

I want Duran staring down opposing pitchers with crazy eyes.  Getting the crowd into games.  Reeking havoc on the basepaths.  Talking sh*t through the media.  Harassing opposing fans. Flipping off opposing managers. Just being a pest. Psyching our guys up.  Pushing our guys to work out more.

We need Duran if we are going to go anywhere this year.  More than we need a #2 IMO.  

[drewski6]

If the Red Sox trade Duran, we're too chill.  And if Im an opposing team, there is nothing stopping me from pitching inside.  From spiking you dudes on a slide.  Duran is the enforcer. Hes scary. We need his scary. In the playoffs, this stuff matters.

We need Duran for his fight.

[notin]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! 

Not until he fixes that sweet spot problem…