How Should Breslow/Cora Fit Anthony Onto the Boston Red Sox?

[notin]

12 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Whole different ballgame this year compared to last year. If a Story had been hurt this year to you think RAF Man would have been moved to SS, and yes the Red Sox most likely will keep your inferior Story at SS just like they did Bogey. You worry about D at SS, but Campbell wasn’t all that great at 2B, and who knows how good he would be a 1B just like Raffy. If I was going to worry about the D I would worry about all the positions, and not move a bunch of guys around out of position like Campbell moving to 1B. Moving Campbell around to me is just seeing if something by chance will stick.

They’re not exactly loaded with options.  It’s easy to say “they should have another 1b in the system.”  But that’s not a practical answer to anything, just looking for blame.

After all what were the options to get a backup 1b in the system? Sign a guy to a minor league deal?  That’s how they got Toro, and he is fairly typical of minor league signings.  After all, there’s a reason he  didn’t get a major league deal.  Having a prospect is another possibility, but no one can guarantee what prospects will be ready when you need them.  Some just don’t pan out at the right time.  The Sox drafted 1b Blaze Jordan back in 2020, and he still is looking mediocre in AA five years later.  It’s nice to have prospects you can count on, but there’s no guarantee they are ready when you need them. 

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Whole different ballgame this year compared to last year. If a Story had been hurt this year to you think RAF Man would have been moved to SS, and yes the Red Sox most likely will keep your inferior Story at SS just like they did Bogey. You worry about D at SS, but Campbell wasn’t all that great at 2B, and who knows how good he would be a 1B just like Raffy. If I was going to worry about the D I would worry about all the positions, and not move a bunch of guys around out of position like Campbell moving to 1B. Moving Campbell around to me is just seeing if something by chance will stick.

I'm not for moving everyone around. I just presented a non Devers to 1B option.

I do worry about defense, and focus on SS, a lot. I'm not sure what Campbell not looking all that good on D at 2B, out of the gate has to do with my ideas and opinions.

We are in a jam with the Casas injury. I prefer the Campbell to 1B option over Devers to 1B, but both idea have flaws. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Moving the ultimate team player, Devers, to 1st isn't gonna happen, so it's a wasted vote.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm not for moving everyone around. I just presented a non Devers to 1B option.

I do worry about defense, and focus on SS, a lot. I'm not sure what Campbell not looking all that good on D at 2B, out of the gate has to do with my ideas and opinions.

We are in a jam with the Casas injury. I prefer the Campbell to 1B option over Devers to 1B, but both idea have flaws. 

The idea of Devers to 1st base isn't flawed; Devers is flawed.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The idea of Devers to 1st base isn't flawed; Devers is flawed.

...

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

The idea of Devers to 1st base isn't flawed; Devers is flawed.

That's a flaw, nonetheless.

Anthony and Ref at DH is not ideal, either.

I'm not arguing against the idea, unless it is to make room for Yoshida to DH (although he just went to the 60.) I'm not happy with the way he's pulling Cora's strings and not vice versa, at all.

This is not what this team needs. We have been teetering on mediocrity for many years, and finally made some moves that gave us some hope we could take a meaningful step up, and distractions or worse, like this is a big bummer.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That's a flaw, nonetheless.

Anthony and Ref at DH is not ideal, either.

I'm not arguing against the idea, unless it is to make room for Yoshida to DH (although he just went to the 60.) I'm not happy with the way he's pulling Cora's strings and not vice versa, at all.

This is not what this team needs. We have been teetering on mediocrity for many years, and finally made some moves that gave us some hope we could take a meaningful step up, and distractions or worse, like this is a big bummer.

When I said Devers was flawed, I wasn't referring to his ability to play 1st, I was referring to his attitude. Devers is a Ken.

 

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

When I said Devers was flawed, I wasn't referring to his ability to play 1st, I was referring to his attitude. Devers is a Ken.

 

Yes, I know and knew that. It's still a "flaw,"

[jdc69]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Well, unlike us, Cora never really gave much of an opinion on Devers at 1b.  He certainly never said Devers COULDN’T handle the position.  It’s possible (and very possible at that) that he simply doesn’t want to ask Devers to change roles again, given that it didn’t go over so well the first time and it wasn’t that long ago.  As you said, he knows Devers better than we do.  Maybe what he knows is that Devers is overly obstinate or overly sensitive…

It was a complete cluster *beep* from the very beginning. Once they knew they were going to get Bregman, they should've immediately called Devers and offered him 1st. Yes we had Casas at the time but the FO, knowing Devers wants to play on the field, should've done it as a gesture of goodwill, and loyalty. Casas would've gotten over playing DH and if not, oh well. They literally chose rookie Casas over veteran Devers. Its just bad. I also remember some talk of Bregman playing 2nd or SS when they first signed him. Devers might have never have wanted it but I don't think he was asked or we would have heard about it. And to top it off, it unnecessarily leaves Yoshida in limbo. 

[harmony]

6 hours ago, jdc69 said:

Rafaela and Yoshida for SP

FWIW Baseball Trade Values assigns Masataka Yoshida a negative value of $39.3 million and Ceddanne Rafaela a surplus value of only $6.6 million.

 

 

[iortiz]

To me is quite easy. Call him up already and put pressure and competitiveness to Abreu, Rafaela and even Duran. Give him ABs in a regular basis and see what happens. There’s nothing better than internal competition. The same goes for Mayers. 

[iortiz]

2 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

When I said Devers was flawed, I wasn't referring to his ability to play 1st, I was referring to his attitude. Devers is a Ken.

 

He’s a f***ing diva.

[jdc69]

2 hours ago, harmony said:

FWIW Baseball Trade Values assigns Masataka Yoshida a negative value of $39.3 million and Ceddanne Rafaela a surplus value of only $6.6 million.

 

 

Ok but even with those figures, the lowest innings eating pitcher of a blow out is better than a non-existent batter. 

[mvp 78]

This guy doesn't even want to be promoted! Just wants to hang in AAA like Manny Ramirez did!!!

 

[harmony]

7 hours ago, jdc69 said:

Ok but even with those figures, the lowest innings eating pitcher of a blow out is better than a non-existent batter. 

Wby would a trade partner deal "the lowest innings eating pitcher of a blow out" for the underwater contract of Masastaka Yoshida and a "non-existent batter" in Ceddanne Rafaela?

Using Baseball Trade Values figures*, would anyone trade Yoshida, Rafaela and $42 million to the Colorado Rockies for 30-year-old right-hander Antonio Senzatela? In early April BTV, assigned a $9.2 million surplus value to Senzatela, who has a 6.34 ERA in 10 starts this year. Senzatela is under contract through the 2026 at an annual salary of $12 million with a $14 million team option for 2027.

Instead of Senzatela, the Red Sox could target 30-year-old Colorado right-hander German Marquez, a one-time All Star who is in the final year of a contract that pays $10 million this season. This month BTV assigned a negative $500,000 value to Marquez, who has 7.66 ERA in 10 starts this season.

Which all points up the difficulty of acquiring value in a trade of Yoshida.

* Baseball Trade Values recently assigned Rafaela and Yoshida values of $6.6 million and a negative $39.3 million, respectively

 

 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

16 hours ago, Old Red said:

I know pretty much everyone disagrees, but I’m with Cora on this one, and Cora knows Raffy better than Anyone. I also agree with Raffy that Brez should learn his job, and get an actual 1B. The fact that the Red Sox are still using the likes of Toro, Romy, and Sogard, after going the the likes of Franchy, Arroyo, and Schwaber in past years is now All on Brez. Most on here thought no doubt, but not Cora, and it looks like it’s his say.

Exactly who are the 1B that brez should "go get"?

[Hugh2]

16 hours ago, Old Red said:

I know pretty much everyone disagrees, but I’m with Cora on this one, and Cora knows Raffy better than Anyone. I also agree with Raffy that Brez should learn his job, and get an actual 1B. The fact that the Red Sox are still using the likes of Toro, Romy, and Sogard, after going the the likes of Franchy, Arroyo, and Schwaber in past years is now All on Brez. Most on here thought no doubt, but not Cora, and it looks like it’s his say.

Does Cora really not want Raffy at 1B? If Devers was open and willing to move to 1B would Alex Cora be against that? I don't think he would have a problem with it. 

 

Also the whole "brez do his job" well he did his job, Sox had a young player regarded with a lot of potential in Casas but he got hurt. Most teams in Brez's position would either call next man up (Toro), trade for a guy, or move someone on the roster to 1B. 

Can he really trade for a guy? we seem to go through this EVERY YEAR, not me and you just the fanbase in general, but we always want trades to happen in May and they just almost never do.  Most teams are still trying to figure out if they're buyers or sellers and will likely wait until July to do so.  I'm not really sure what more Brez could do other than grossly overpay for someone, and even then who knows what is out there. 

[Hugh2]

6 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Exactly who are the 1B that brez should "go get"?

At this time of year no one is selling yet, he had one and he went down for injury.  Most G.M.s in this position would ask their Raffy Devers equivalent to move.  

As I said earlier I'm not going to berate him, people are who they are and he certainly makes up with it with the bat.  Buts' it's disappointing, I think If Devers truly understood the nature of things and wanted him and his team mates to win he'd give 1B a shot.  But I just don't think Devers is very interested, he's kind of just a let me get up go to work and I'll do my job leave me alone kind of guy. 

[Hugh2]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

This guy doesn't even want to be promoted! Just wants to hang in AAA like Manny Ramirez did!!!

 

Back in April I put the over/under on an Anthony promotion at may 28th....I think.  Anthony strikes me as the type of guy who is going to catch on quick. 

[jdc69]

1 hour ago, harmony said:

Wby would a trade partner deal "the lowest innings eating pitcher of a blow out" for the underwater contract of Masastaka Yoshida and a "non-existent batter" in Ceddanne Rafaela?

Using Baseball Trade Values figures*, would anyone trade Yoshida, Rafaela and $42 million to the Colorado Rockies for 30-year-old right-hander Antonio Senzatela? In early April BTV, assigned a $9.2 million surplus value to Senzatela, who has a 6.34 ERA in 10 starts this year. Senzatela is under contract through the 2026 at an annual salary of $12 million with a $14 million team option for 2027.

Instead of Senzatela, the Red Sox could target 30-year-old Colorado right-hander German Marquez, a one-time All Star who is in the final year of a contract that pays $10 million this season. This month BTV assigned a negative $500,000 value to Marquez, who has 7.66 ERA in 10 starts this season.

Which all points up the difficulty of acquiring value in a trade of Yoshida.

* Baseball Trade Values recently assigned Rafaela and Yoshida values of $6.6 million and a negative $39.3 million, respectively

 

 

I guess I'm saying we would also pay his contract because right now we are just paying him and getting nothing in return. I wasn't being completely serious but as things are going, it may be the only alternative. 

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

17 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

At this time of year no one is selling yet, he had one and he went down for injury.  Most G.M.s in this position would ask their Raffy Devers equivalent to move.  

As I said earlier I'm not going to berate him, people are who they are and he certainly makes up with it with the bat.  Buts' it's disappointing, I think If Devers truly understood the nature of things and wanted him and his team mates to win he'd give 1B a shot.  But I just don't think Devers is very interested, he's kind of just a let me get up go to work and I'll do my job leave me alone kind of guy. 

Exactly. The people who say "go get a 1B" act like brez can just go to Walmart and find one on the middle shelf on aisle three.

I think raffy is just a self centered, selfish guy.

[harmony]

5 hours ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Exactly who are the 1B that brez should "go get"?

Perhaps the most logical target is first baseman Nathaniel Lowe of the Washington Nationals, who have less than a 2 percent chance of advancing to the postseason. Lowe, who turns 30 in July, earns $10.3 million this year and remains under team control through 2026.

Speculation has mentioned first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is off to a hot start for a Milwaukee club that has about a 14 percent chance of advancing to the postseason. The 32-year-old Hoskins has a 2025 salary of $18 million with a $4 million buyout of an $18 million team option for 2026.

Intradivisional trades are rare but the Baltimore Orioles could make Ryan O'Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle available while Tampa Bay could market an aging Yandy Diaz, who turns 34 in August.

 

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Back in April I put the over/under on an Anthony promotion at may 28th....I think.  Anthony strikes me as the type of guy who is going to catch on quick. 

The OF being crowded isn't the worst problem in the world. However, with the Sox not meeting expectations, I believe out of the box thinking could get Anthony on the squad. He has a higher ceiling than Duran, Rafaela or Abreu. 

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Exactly who are the 1B that brez should "go get"?

The only guys out there will be like 2024's Cooper and Smith. We got kinda lucky with Smith, so maye we can't count on that to continue.

Hey, we already traded for a 1Bman,

[TheSplinteredSplendor]

5 minutes ago, harmony said:

Perhaps the most logical target is first baseman Nathaniel Lowe of the Washington Nationals, who have less than a 2 percent chance of advancing to the postseason. Lowe, who turns 30 in July, earns $10.3 million this year and remains under team control through 2026.

Speculation has mentioned first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is off to a hot start for a Milwaukee club that has about a 14 percent chance of advancing to the postseason. The 32-year-old Hoskins has a 2025 salary of $18 million with a $4 million buyout of an $18 million team option for 2026.

Interdivisional trades are rare but the Baltimore Orioles could make Ryan O'Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle available while Tampa Bay could market an aging Yandy Diaz, who turns 34 in August.

 

This early in the season teams don't typically trade much

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

This early in the season teams don't typically trade much

Scrub-like 1bmen are sometimes the first to be traded, but I doubt we find anyone much better than Campbell, Ryan Noda, Grandal or Romy-Toro-Sogard-Wong.

Maybe, we should have kept Gasper or tried to sub someone else for Meidroth in the Crochet trade.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Scrub-like 1bmen are sometimes the first to be traded, but I doubt we find anyone much better than Campbell, Ryan Noda, Grandal or Romy-Toro-Sogard-Wong.

Maybe, we should have kept Gasper or tried to sub someone else for Meidroth in the Crochet trade.

Depressing that Meidroth is a better SS than Story this year. 

[Nick]

I voted Other

Campbell to 1B. (I'd go with this until Casas returns)(also assuming he's not hitting .100 or becomes a defensive liability at 1B)

Rafaela to 2B/SS

Refsnyder can fill in/semi platoon for Abreu in right. 

Mayer at SS/2B

Trade Story, pick up some money.

 

[drewski6]

20 hours ago, notin said:

Outside of because everyone wants to see this kid play,  why would the Sox promote him?

Abreu, Rafaela and Duran rank 4, 4, and 6 on this team in bWAR.  These guys really are not creating the problem the Sox need to make this move.

Meanwhile, the team is getting nothing out of 1b and the last prospect they inserted into the lineup is also struggling.  Oh and the starters keep getting hurt and the bullpen has been overworked and exposed.  How is the solution “GET ANOTHER OUTFIELDER!”?

 

Play any of em at 1b. I care not who.

[drewski6]

20 hours ago, Old Red said:

The Red Sox already made things not only easier, but better by moving Raffy to DH. I’ve been consistently against Raffy moving to 1B from the beginning, and I believe Cora has too. Brez it seems most likely wants Raffy at 1B, but to make things easier doesn’t mean it will be better. I don’t think Raffy would be a good fit at 1B anyway. I know Mayer, and Anthony are burning a hole in everyone’s pocket they just have to get up to Boston, but at the moment it looks like Brez will have to find another way especially after JH rose to the occasion, and at least soothed Raffy’s feelings. Brez, and Cora’s feelings may be a different story.

Disagree with the bold, agree with the rest.  Why do people want Devers to play 1B?  Because its an easy position to play, and Devers is not a D-first player.  But it doesnt have to be him.  It can be literally anybody except the guys who are out there because of their D (Cedanne, Narvaez). It doesnt need to be Raffy and if Raffy is slugging , I agree leave him be.  Put anyone there.  Roman? Fine. Campbell? Fine. Story? Fine. Mayer? Fine. Bregman? Fine. Trottsynixon Garcia? Fine.

People want Devers because everyone else is too good defensively to waste at 1b and I think thats a mistake. We arent trying to have the most ideal defensive alignment possible.