Third Baseman Ketel Marte Is On the Boston Red Sox's Radar

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

With a painful prospect cost and concerns about Marte's character and age of attrition (or attrition from aging), the better pivot for acquiring an infielder with an All-Star bat would be to just spend money on Bichette.

But of course, the Boston Red Sox are one of only two clubs in the 30-team MLB this winter NOT to sign a single free agent. 

They haven't even signed a married one.

[Hugh2]

The options are concerning. 

Both Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman have very poor bat speed.  Bregman in the 30% precentile and Bo in the 12th. 

Typically, players with poor bat speed do not age well.  These are the guys, who when they have other elite talent play well in their 20's but then fall off a cliff. 

Another argument against trading Mayer for Marte is because if you do trade for Marte perhaps Mayer is your better option at 3B moving forward.   That leaves 1B.  I like a Contreras trade, I also could get on board with an Okamoto signing. 

Mayer/Story/Marte/Okamoto.  Or Mayer/Story/Marte/Contreras. 

[moonslav59]

26 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If Casas could go on April 1, sure. I think they need to sign a cheap 1B option in case of an emergency though that can platoon with Masa at DH.

Too bad both Romy and Campbell are RHBs.

[Hitch]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

If the medicals say Casas will start sometime in April, then we have to go with Casas.

I'll be worried about it, but it's looking the most likely course of action. I'm good with Romy starting there against lefties for sure.

[Hitch]

8 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

The options are concerning. 

Both Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman have very poor bat speed.  Bregman in the 30% precentile and Bo in the 12th. 

Typically, players with poor bat speed do not age well.  These are the guys, who when they have other elite talent play well in their 20's but then fall off a cliff. 

Another argument against trading Mayer for Marte is because if you do trade for Marte perhaps Mayer is your better option at 3B moving forward.   That leaves 1B.  I like a Contreras trade, I also could get on board with an Okamoto signing. 

Mayer/Story/Marte/Okamoto.  Or Mayer/Story/Marte/Contreras. 

Did not know that about Bo. He's been my kind of no1 want. But that certainly puts a worry in my mind.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Too bad both Romy and Campbell are RHBs.

Campbell is apparently a gong show at 1B because they sent him off to LF until further notice. If Campbell was ready, we wouldn't be having these concerns most likely.

Romy is fine enough at 1B, but we want to upgrade right? I think Romy is more likely the backup at 2B or a fill in bench guy rather than platoon 1B. 

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Did not know that about Bo. He's been my kind of no1 want. But that certainly puts a worry in my mind.

Neither did I, I just recently look at the statcast page.  Marte on the other hand, despite being older still has elite bat speed.  

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Did not know that about Bo. He's been my kind of no1 want. But that certainly puts a worry in my mind.

To me, there was no slam dunk must have guy this offseason. A lot of them have things I like and things I don't. Can make a case for most everyone from Tucker through Hoskins and make a case for not signing them as well. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Neither did I, I just recently look at the statcast page.  Marte on the other hand, despite being older still has elite bat speed.  

Elite? 

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Elite? 

I suppose that may be a little too over zealous on my part.  I’m not sure what’s considered elite but maybe above 90%%%
 

Marte is in the 85%

so let’s critique my statement and say he has well above average batting average speed

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I suppose that may be a little too over zealous on my part.  I’m not sure what’s considered elite but maybe above 90%%%
 

Marte is in the 85%

so let’s critique my statement and say he has well above average batting average speed

When was he 85th percentile for bat speed? 

 

[mvp 78]

Nevermind. I'm distracted today because the auditors are here. 🤪

[drewski6]

17 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

If the medicals say Casas will start sometime in April, then we have to go with Casas.

They dont. No timeline, no timetable.  I think its still very unknown what (if anything) we are going to get from him.  So COntreras can make some sense here (if BLoom is willing to eat a little more money, and Contreras can still catch some if Casas returns late).  Geno also.  Maybe even Bellinger

The common denominator is positional versatility

[drewski6]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nevermind. I'm distracted today because the auditors are here. 🤪

uh oh

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

14 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

When was he 85th percentile for bat speed? 

 

Aren't starlings those birds that fly in a huge flock to make designs in the sky and distract drivers?

We want to call the ketel marte.

[notin]

14 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nevermind. I'm distracted today because the auditors are here. 🤪

Make sure to show them the red ledgers.  Not the blue ones with all “mistakes” in them.

 

The RED ones…

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Aren't starlings those birds that fly in a huge flock to make designs in the sky and distract drivers?

We want to call the ketel marte.

I'm actually reading this book right now which is why my brain may have broken for a second.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/starlings-mike-stark/1145569803?ean=9781496242020

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, notin said:

Make sure to show them the red ledgers.  Not the blue ones with all “mistakes” in them.

 

The RED ones…

Mistakes? I think it's clear from this thread that I would never make mistakes! Maybe some happy accidents. 

[mvp 78]

17 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

uh oh

It's what I get for being an auditor for 7 busy seasons. 

[Hugh2]

To be fully transparent at some point this offseason I mixed up my Martes as well

[notin]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

To be fully transparent at some point this offseason I mixed up my Martes as well

Ketel is the only One True Marte.

Starlin is an aging poser. And nobody love Noelvi or Jose. Especially not Jose…

[drewski6]

36 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nevermind. I'm distracted today because the auditors are here. 🤪

Ive done it.  Its because of a few things. One: Starling has had a fantastic career himself, so hes likely to pop up when you google marte (i think starling is the current active leader in stolen bases). Also, ketel is a switch hitter, and im very use to seeing s marte (as in switch hitting ketel marte, which makes it even more confusing)

S marte can be either Switch hitting ketel marte or Starling Marte

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

To me, there was no slam dunk must have guy this offseason. A lot of them have things I like and things I don't. Can make a case for most everyone from Tucker through Hoskins and make a case for not signing them as well. 

Yes, I feel the exact same way. 

[drewski6]

15 minutes ago, notin said:

Ketel is the only One True Marte.

Starlin is an aging poser. And nobody love Noelvi or Jose. Especially not Jose…

We traded renteria for Andy Marte (RIP) and then flipped Andy in a package for Cocoa who is a personal favorite of mine due to his down to earth personality, willingness to throw a punch, willingness to bury the hatchet and become good friends with people who were on the receiving end of said punch (granted whiff).

I dont recall how much of the value going the other way in the trade that got us Cocoa was from Andy Marte, but I think enough for me to make this post.

[Hitch]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Neither did I, I just recently look at the statcast page.  Marte on the other hand, despite being older still has elite bat speed.  

Marte is still my no1 choice in a vacuum, but all depends on what we have to give up.

Which sounds hefty right now.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Marte is still my no1 choice in a vacuum, but all depends on what we have to give up.

Which sounds hefty right now.

We aren't signing Tucker and trading 2 OF'er.

Bregman and Bichette will cost a ton of money and would be sideways moves- still better than nothing.

Suarez might be a shorter term deal, but is 34.

K Marte is our best option for the bat and position we need most.

[drewski6]

17 minutes ago, notin said:

Ketel is the only One True Marte.

Starlin is an aging poser. And nobody love Noelvi or Jose. Especially not Jose…

TY for giving your fan(s) what they want and bringing back the pic you had on boston.com in 2007.  The passage of time sucks.  Thank you for allowing me to pretend its 2007.  I can now pretend both grandmothers are still with us, my dad has many good years left, my beloved basset hound is still alive,  and I have hair on my head.

Also, Im excited for this season.  This rookie we got coming up, Dustin Pedroia, looks like he's going to really contribute this year!

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

We aren't signing Tucker and trading 2 OF'er.

Bregman and Bichette will cost a ton of money and would be sideways moves- still better than nothing.

Suarez might be a shorter term deal, but is 34.

K Marte is our best option for the bat and position we need most.

But as we mentioned in the other thread. It HAS to be - Marte and another. Has to be.

[drewski6]

5 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Marte is still my no1 choice in a vacuum, but all depends on what we have to give up.

Which sounds hefty right now.

Harrison, Dobbins, and a random name off sox prospects whom I didnt know was even a person until yesterday isnt enough?

You breaking my heart.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

But as we mentioned in the other thread. It HAS to be - Marte and another. Has to be.

Now Im tempted to start dreaming about packages that get us Corbin Carroll and K. Marte again, but I wont because I want to spare people from never going to happen fantasy trades that involve fleecing Arizona for a player who is 0.0005% likely to be available (Carroll).