The 2025 postseason, post-Red Sox

[notin]

4 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Correct on the locks (5 starting bats). For the other 4, theres 2 to be filled internally and 2 externally (to me)

Mayer is most likely (considerably) to nab one of those internal openings.

Our only disagreement is I really want Schwarber and im not going to let yoshida be the reason why i give alonso 200m when i could have schwarber at closer to 100m.

If those contracts meet in the middle (they both get 150m) - im more okay with going alonso over schwarber

Im not paying alonso 2x when hes not as good of a hitter because he plays a bad 1b. Are you sure schwarber cant be as good at first?

If Schwarber can for 4 years, does anyone think Philly lets him walk?  Last time he signed for only 4 years, he was coming off a season in which he was non-tendered by the Cubs and missed the some time due to injury.  (Remember he was on the IL when the Sox acquired him?)

This year he put up MVP numbers and has established himself among the best sluggers in the game.

Chances are good his contract demands have adjusted accordingly…

[Hitch]

 

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Im thinking Story is one IF, dont need an OF or C. 3 infield openings and DH.  Is how I arrived at 4 openings.
 

If we have a fixed winter budget, we won't get 4 highly talented players. I'd rather we narrow it to 2-3, and if we trade for 1, adding 2 at about $45M might be enough to get what we need.

The 4th slot will have to be a dice roll on in-house options like 2B/3B (Mayer) DH (Yoshida/Romy/Duran/Campbell/Garcia) or 1B (Casas/Romy/Campbell or convert Duran/Yoshida)

[drewski6]

4 hours ago, notin said:

If Schwarber can for 4 years, does anyone think Philly lets him walk?  Last time he signed for only 4 years, he was coming off a season in which he was non-tendered by the Cubs and missed the some time due to injury.  (Remember he was on the IL when the Sox acquired him?)

This year he put up MVP numbers and has established himself among the best sluggers in the game.

Chances are good his contract demands have adjusted accordingly…

yes, but i wonder if he'll be viewed through the lens of a DH and therefore the market wont be as robust as for Alonzo or Breg is my theory.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

yes, but i wonder if he'll be viewed through the lens of a DH and therefore the market wont be as robust as for Alonzo or Breg is my theory.

I do think that lowers his cost, but he's a better batter than Alonso and a way better one than Bregman and Bo.

It's his age that will limit the years and amount by maybe as much as the position.

Even the Story deal, the longest FA contract signed since Price had an opt out, and Price was traded well before his last contract year.

Maybe JH is poised to do one large and long, and the fact that Schwarber might get or take a 4 year deal could be the deciding factor in who JH splurges on (if any.)

I seriously doubt we go L & L on 2 guys. Maybe two 3 or 4 year deals could occur, and those guys will be older, like Suarez, M Kelly and or Polanco.

[Kimmi]

23 hours ago, drewski6 said:

You know, me, you (and moonslav) are not that far apart.  The RS have 4 non locked down positions in 1b, 2b, 3b, DH.  You stated last week that you hope that 2 of mayer, campbell, casas come back and stay healthy and productive. You even said you would make an offer to schwarber but would much prefer to keep it to 3 years.

I agree with remaining hopeful on 2 internal guys mayer, campbell, casas (but i would include yoshida in that because i know people hate it but i would not count against him being fine defensively at 1b).  So 2 out of these 4. I love that you target schwarber. Hes proved he can produce here, and hes a really really good hitter.

We only really disagree on that last spot, where i would prefer going external. Maybe bregman maybe someone in a trade.

I am not necessarily opposed to going external for that last spot.  I'm just opposed to going big and long on any contract.  If it comes down to a choice between going too large for a free agent or filling the spot internally, I'll choose the latter.

Fair point about Yoshida.  There is no reason for him not to take some reps at first base.  He could be a good depth option there, if nothing else.

[Kimmi]

20 hours ago, jad said:

Of course.  You can have a great series on the high school level.  But you won't see Mookie, or Shohei, or Yamamota.   Btw, I aagree entirely about the stress of watching--I knew by the third inning there was NO WAY I wanted to go through that.  I went to sleep.  LAD was no worse off by virtue of me sleeping through it, but I was MUCH better off.

Can you imagine what the Blue Jays fans felt like after the series?  Not only losing that excruciating 18 inning game, but then losing Game 7 when they were so close to wrapping it up.  

Actually, you probably can imagine.  Red Sox fans have had their share of heartbreak.

[drewski6]

5 hours ago, notin said:

If Schwarber can for 4 years, does anyone think Philly lets him walk?  Last time he signed for only 4 years, he was coming off a season in which he was non-tendered by the Cubs and missed the some time due to injury.  (Remember he was on the IL when the Sox acquired him?)

This year he put up MVP numbers and has established himself among the best sluggers in the game.

Chances are good his contract demands have adjusted accordingly…

Chances are good that this Schwarber fan has biases baked in to his belief that we'll be able to get him and still have money left over 

[drewski6]

41 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I do think that lowers his cost, but he's a better batter than Alonso and a way better one than Bregman and Bo.

It's his age that will limit the years and amount by maybe as much as the position.

Even the Story deal, the longest FA contract signed since Price had an opt out, and Price was traded well before his last contract year.

Maybe JH is poised to do one large and long, and the fact that Schwarber might get or take a 4 year deal could be the deciding factor in who JH splurges on (if any.)

I seriously doubt we go L & L on 2 guys. Maybe two 3 or 4 year deals could occur, and those guys will be older, like Suarez, M Kelly and or Polanco.

Suarez is a about the age when Justin Turner couldnt play 3b everyday anymore, and its a concern for me.  I dlive with it, dont get me wrong.....but ball comes at you fast in hot corner and you have to be twitchy with good reaction time and you gotta be able to hit the dirt (and then get up)

Mid 30s, it starts becoming a bit much for the aging body.

I also dont trust Suarez bat to not regress after a career year in his mid 30s.

But i understand that bregman plus one of shcwarber and alonso is asking a lot.

I dont hate the trade for Marte idea (mayer would go to third), but hes gotta be available.  And if we are trying for him, its not like we couldnt trade for a diff infielder.  Prob is thats less chips to trade for a pitcher.

[notin]

1. Sign Bichette (8 yrs $XXX Million)

2. Trade LHSP Kyle Harrison to Tampa for 1b Yandy Diaz

3.Sign Michael King for 3 years $YY million)

4. Trade Duran to LAD for C Dalton Rushing and RHP Emmet Sheehan

 

Yes this plan involves acquiring TWO BC alumni..

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Chances are good that this Schwarber fan has biases baked in to his belief that we'll be able to get him and still have money left over 

It looks like we can spend near $45M and not go over the tax line. It will be year 2, but going up to line 2 would not be a severe penalty, but let's assume $45M. We could offer Schwarber one more year than everyone else, in the form of an option with a decent buyout, and that would lower the AAV. Differed money could, too.

Let's say his AAV is $30M. We might get Suarez, Polanco or M kelly for $15M AAV (maybe needing to get creative with their deals, too.)

3B Suarez & Schwarber DH would be a huge boost to the offense. It would mean an in house solution at 1B (Romy/Duran? Romy/Masas or trade for one.) and 2B (Mayer/Romy)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, notin said:

1. Sign Bichette (8 yrs $XXX Million)

2. Trade LHSP Kyle Harrison to Tampa for 1b Yandy Diaz

3.Sign Michael King for 3 years $YY million)

4. Trade Duran to LAD for C Dalton Rushing and RHP Emmet Sheehan

 

Yes this plan involves acquiring TWO BC alumni..

SIGN ME UP! 

I'll even throw Hamilton in either trade package.

And count me out on including Early in any deal for a so-called Number Two. His left-handed stuff and poise kinda reminds me of another young southpaw when he first came up... although it took this guy from the Boston area about 100 starts before he became a Cy Young Hall of Famer.

[notin]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

yes, but i wonder if he'll be viewed through the lens of a DH and therefore the market wont be as robust as for Alonzo or Breg is my theory.

His fielding has never earned him accolades.   And at some point, even DHs are desirable…

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

SIGN ME UP! 

I'll even throw Hamilton in either trade package.

And count me out on including Early in any deal for a so-called Number Two. His left-handed stuff and poise kinda reminds me of another young southpaw when he first came up... although it took this guy from the Boston area about 100 starts before he became a Cy Young Hall of Famer.

Michael King slots into the 2 spot.  Sox hold Early in this scenario.  
 

Hamilton has options and sticks around.   Might even be a bench guy….

[moonslav59]

On the Merloni interview I saw, he mentioned how much the Sox loved the high swing and miss rates on balls in the K zone and that was why they wanted Ryan, but he also mentioned Cease fits that profile, too.

Maybe Cease not King? One site has Cease getting $25M x 5 at age 29. That seems doable if someone twists JH's arm.

[Hitch]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

On the Merloni interview I saw, he mentioned how much the Sox loved the high swing and miss rates on balls in the K zone and that was why they wanted Ryan, but he also mentioned Cease fits that profile, too.

Maybe Cease not King? One site has Cease getting $25M x 5 at age 29. That seems doable if someone twists JH's arm.

Cease scares the hell out of me. And our record shows long term contracts to pitchers in their 30's (Cease is about to be) are not really this organisation's way of doing things.

[Hitch]

12 hours ago, notin said:

Michael King slots into the 2 spot.  Sox hold Early in this scenario.  
 

Hamilton has options and sticks around.   Might even be a bench guy….

King is more a good 3 to me, but I like him. Would rather Ryan and spend prospect capital. That's what it's there for. 

[moonslav59]

59 minutes ago, Hitch said:

King is more a good 3 to me, but I like him. Would rather Ryan and spend prospect capital. That's what it's there for. 

Agreed.

I still have great hopes for Campbell and Garcia, but one will likely be part of any trade for a solid #2 SP'er. We'll probably have to give Early up, too and maybe Arias.

Maybe Campbell, Clarke, Arias & Sandlin. Only two need 40 man roster status.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

Cease scares the hell out of me. And our record shows long term contracts to pitchers in their 30's (Cease is about to be) are not really this organisation's way of doing things.

Cease either wants a very high AAV short term deal or a very long term one. I'm not a fan either. 

23-25

6th highest BB rate qualified starters.

304 BABIP

69.3 LOB% 12th worst

 

[moonslav59]

51 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cease either wants a very high AAV short term deal or a very long term one. I'm not a fan either. 

23-25

6th highest BB rate qualified starters.

304 BABIP

69.3 LOB% 12th worst

 

What do you think of Merloni's point about the Sox loving high swing and miss rates in the K zone by Ryan and Cease?

[drewski6]

18 hours ago, notin said:

1. Sign Bichette (8 yrs $XXX Million)

2. Trade LHSP Kyle Harrison to Tampa for 1b Yandy Diaz

3.Sign Michael King for 3 years $YY million)

4. Trade Duran to LAD for C Dalton Rushing and RHP Emmet Sheehan

 

Yes this plan involves acquiring TWO BC alumni..

And much more importantly to me, one Hendricken High School alumni

Hendricken HS in warwick , RI about 10 mins from where i sit right now. Baldelli went there also.

[drewski6]

boston celtics head coach mazzula also went hendricken high school

[notin]

3 hours ago, Hitch said:

King is more a good 3 to me, but I like him. Would rather Ryan and spend prospect capital. That's what it's there for. 

So what exactly is the difference between a #2 and a #3 starting pitcher?

[notin]

31 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

And much more importantly to me, one Hendricken High School alumni

Hendricken HS in warwick , RI about 10 mins from where i sit right now. Baldelli went there also.

King was teammates there with former Blue Jay/Brewer Tom Pannone…

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

What do you think of Merloni's point about the Sox loving high swing and miss rates in the K zone by Ryan and Cease?

Cease may have a high swing and miss, but it's not because he stays in the zone. He has an 80% chase rate and he pitches only 46% in zone, worse than Bello. Ryan is a much better fit for the Sox's model IMO (55% in zone, better than Crochet). 

[harmony]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

boston celtics head coach mazzula also went hendricken high school

Jesuit High School in Portland/Beaverton, Oregon, produced NBA head coaches Erik Spoelstra (Miami) and David Adelman (Denver) as well as Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, harmony said:

Jesuit High School in Portland/Beaverton, Oregon, produced NBA head coaches Erik Spoelstra (Miami) and David Adelman (Denver) as well as Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Weirdest thing about this....You bring up Jesuit High School because it has a lot of alums that have gone on to have great success in pro-sports, when I was talking about a High School near me that has crazy success in getting players/coaches to pros.

David Adelman (jesuit) replaced Malone who also went to hendricken, and i almost edited my mazzula comment to also include a reference to malone. Crazy!

So I mention one high school (Hendricken) produced 2 NBA head coaches! Crazy.  You point out a different HS across the country (Jesuit) produced 2 NBA head coaches (also crazy, props).  And one of those coaches happened to be a direct replacement for one of the Hendricken alums as Denver Head Coach.

I didnt go to Hendricken.  Its Catholic and all boys. Im Jewish and would never let parents send me to all boys when i was in HS (not like they would have sent me there). But its 10 mins away from cranston where im born , raised, and currently live

I did do drivers ed in hendricken and drive by it at least once a week. Usually on my way to Iggys (best chowder in RI) in oakland beach (warwick, ri)

[drewski6]

Just now, drewski6 said:

Weirdest thing about this....You bring up Jesuit High School because it has a lot of alums that have gone on to have great success in pro-sports, when I was talking about a High School near me that has crazy success in getting players/coaches to pros.

David Adelman (jesuit) replaced Malone who also went to hendricken, and i almost edited my mazzula comment to also include a reference to malone. Crazy!

So I mention one high school (Hendricken) produced 2 NBA head coaches! Crazy.  You point out a different HS across the country (Jesuit) produced 2 NBA head coaches (also crazy, props).  And one of those coaches happened to be a direct replacement for one of the Hendricken alums as Denver Head Coach.

I didnt go to Hendricken.  Its Catholic and all boys. Im Jewish and would never let parents send me to all boys when i was in HS (not like they would have sent me there). But its 10 mins away from cranston where im born , raised, and currently live

I did do drivers ed in hendricken and drive by it at least once a week. Usually on my way to Iggys (best chowder in RI) in oakland beach (warwick, ri)

My friend matt was on rocco baldellis volleyball team.  My friend Pat lost his starting job on hendricken baseball team to baldelli. Same guy pat was also pants'd by future NFL cornerback will blackmon at hendricken high school

My friend sully played basketball at hendricken with mazzula.

I dont have mutual freinds that i know of with king or mike malone.  But Im sure I know somebody who knows them because its RI

I do have a mutual friend with noel acciari (also hendricken) who plays in nhl but they met at providence college.

[mvp 78]

I used to take my lunch break down in Oakland Beach when I worked in Warwick. Too long of a commute for me now though. 

Hendricken is right by the duckpin bowling alley in Warwick. We had a few fundraisers there. 

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cease may have a high swing and miss, but it's not because he stays in the zone. He has an 80% chase rate and he pitches only 46% in zone, worse than Bello. Ryan is a much better fit for the Sox's model IMO (55% in zone, better than Crochet). 

I get that, and maybe Merloni is not in tune with the full Sox thinking. Yes, they like swing and miss in K zone rates, but they also value being in the K zone more often than Cease is.

(I'm not for signing Cease. I am for trading for Ryan, within reason.)