Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros Engaging in Trade Talks

[JoeBrady]

14 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

HOU felt extremely uneasy with Altuve in LF, last year, but they might reluctantly try it again, this year.

My guess is that this is posturing.  The problem is that Altuve has been kind of a defensive wreck everywhere, for a few years.  Their situation is identical to ours.  They can move around their excess IFs, or they can trade one of them.  And it doesn't get mentioned by anyone but Moon, but Houston needs to start thinking about getting Matthews some playing time.

And it would be a heck of a long-shot, but I'd ask about Cam Smith with the possibility of moving him back to 3rd.

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

My guess is that this is posturing.  The problem is that Altuve has been kind of a defensive wreck everywhere, for a few years.  Their situation is identical to ours.  They can move around their excess IFs, or they can trade one of them.  And it doesn't get mentioned by anyone but Moon, but Houston needs to start thinking about getting Matthews some playing time.

And it would be a heck of a long-shot, but I'd ask about Cam Smith with the possibility of moving him back to 3rd.

Cam Smith and his 87 OPS+ would go to AAA

[UtahSox]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Duran’s .335 wOBA for Paredes .353 wOBA isnt such the dropoff, is it?

Not a massive drop off at all, but Duran is currently going to be primarily DH. So the real comp is Duran vs his DH replacement if he isn’t here (traded).
 

I personally would like to see them add one more bat before spring training, and a good one…. Not this Otto Lopez bull sh*t…….. my hope would be trade a pitcher or 2. See how the lineup shakes out into may and June then go get a rental. Or best case scenario get serious now, and go get the best second baseman in baseball for Hell’s sakes. 

[JoeBrady]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Cam Smith and his 87 OPS+ would go to AAA

If you believe that 87 is his ceiling.  Houston didn't see any need to demote him last year.

[UtahSox]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If you believe that 87 is his ceiling.  Houston didn't see any need to demote him last year.

They felt the need to go trade back for Correa. He’s still very young, and very well could play at a much higher level. There is a lot of risk in Cam, and if we are playing for October, which all indications are yes. Then Cam Smith is this probably not the answer.

[JoeBrady]

6 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

So the real comp is Duran vs his DH replacement if he isn’t here (traded).

And that would be Yoshi.  I am more apt to retain Duran now that we acquired Suarez.  But we almost cannot carry both Duran and Yoshi.

[JoeBrady]

1 minute ago, UtahSox said:

They felt the need to go trade back for Correa.

I believe Correa was acquired to replace Paredes.  And I am not super-high on Smith, but he (and almost everyone else) should be considered.

[drewski6]

10 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

If you believe that 87 is his ceiling.  Houston didn't see any need to demote him last year.

When he proves he can hit, he can join us.  Im not trading one of our like 3 MLB proven hitters for a child.

[mvp 78]

41 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

My guess is that this is posturing.  The problem is that Altuve has been kind of a defensive wreck everywhere, for a few years.  Their situation is identical to ours.  They can move around their excess IFs, or they can trade one of them.  And it doesn't get mentioned by anyone but Moon, but Houston needs to start thinking about getting Matthews some playing time.

And it would be a heck of a long-shot, but I'd ask about Cam Smith with the possibility of moving him back to 3rd.

12 DRS in RF. Why move him back to 3B? Scouts already said that his home was going to be COF.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree. It amazes that people don’t want to give up the likes of Duran, or Abreu. Saying he’ll get more AB against LHP doesn’t mean he’ll do well against them. Neither Duran, nor Abreu are going to make, or break the Red Sox season.

...and you have to look at who takes their place in the line-up and field.

Anthony will play LF or RF, depending on which one we trade, but the line-up slot will likely be this:

Duran does not DH, if we trade Abreu or Duran is traded and whoever we DH is who replaces Duran/Abreu's bat.

Both Duran and Abreu look to give us a .775 to .825 OPS. Duran brings speed into the offense, which should not be overlooked and undervalued.

Th offense would be to sub Duran/Abreu with Yoshida L/Romy R/Campbell R/Casas L. If you figure some sort of platoon between these 4 guys over the full season, what might you guess their OPS would total? Maybe .750 to .800? Maybe .775 to .825 without the speed?

[notin]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

12 DRS in RF. Why move him back to 3B? Scouts already said that his home was going to be COF.

I don’t see Houston moving off the 2024 first round pick after one season in which he was rushed to MLB, especially since they already have a fairly weak OF…

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Cam Smith and his 87 OPS+ would go to AAA

Cam Smith is not part of their infield logjam:

1B: Walker/Paredes

2B: Altuve/Paredes (or Altuve to LF)

SS: Pena/Correa

3B: Correa/Paredes

Their DH is set with Yordan, but he could play LF and DH Altuve.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Cam Smith is not part of their infield logjam:

1B: Walker/Paredes

2B: Altuve/Paredes (or Altuve to LF)

SS: Pena/Correa

3B: Correa/Paredes

Their DH is set with Yordan, but he could play LF and DH Altuve.

Walker/Altuve/Pena/Correa would be an old IF. If not old in age, old in spirit. 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

I don’t see Houston moving off the 2024 first round pick after one season in which he was rushed to MLB, especially since they already have a fairly weak OF…

And I assume a trade return for Smith would be HIGHER than a return for Paredes. 

Not sure they'd do Abreu for Smith. 

[FredLynn]

3 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Generally you dont trade your best offensive players when you seek to fix the offense.

Nope. Not unless you can package one good offensive player with other players and draft picks to get an upgrade. We have too many OF. Who would you trade to make the necessary offensive upgrades? As you know, to get quality we need to give someone significant up. Marte for Hicks isn't an example of that happening.

[FredLynn]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think I can safely say that the Sox won't be trading with HOU this offseason if it hasn't happened by now. 

I'd go a step further: I think I can safely say that despite our "interest" in quality players we won't be getting any of them if it hasn't happened by now.

[drewski6]

22 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Nope. Not unless you can package one good offensive player with other players and draft picks to get an upgrade. We have too many OF. Who would you trade to make the necessary offensive upgrades? As you know, to get quality we need to give someone significant up. Marte for Hicks isn't an example of that happening.

Duran and Abreu are 2 of our top 4 offensive players, I wouldnt trade them in an attempt to improve the offense

Id trade pitching. 

[mvp 78]

31 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Duran and Abreu are 2 of our top 4 offensive players, I wouldnt trade them in an attempt to improve the offense

Id trade pitching. 

I'd trade Abreu for Paredes because Isaac is better offensively and plays a position the Sox need to fill. 

[Old Red]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd trade Abreu for Paredes because Isaac is better offensively and plays a position the Sox need to fill. 

I agree the Red Sox need a 3B/2B more than they need 4 OF. Like it, or not Masa will DH until he isn’t.

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, FredLynn said:

I can safely say that despite our "interest" in quality players we won't be getting any of them if it hasn't happened by now.

I'd gladly take that bet.  I am willing to bet that either our starting 2B or our starting 3B, will be someone not currently on our 40-man roster.  A signature wager perhaps?

[moonslav59]

38 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I agree the Red Sox need a 3B/2B more than they need 4 OF. Like it, or not Masa will DH until he isn’t.

Do you think, if not trade is made, Masa DHs over Duran?

The only way Masa starts over Duran is if an OF'er is hurt or Rafaela is at 2B.

[moonslav59]

49 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I'd trade Abreu for Paredes because Isaac is better offensively and plays a position the Sox need to fill. 

It's really...

3B Paredes & DH Masa/Romy/Casas

vs

RF Abreu & DHam/Romy at 2B (No Masas at DH, as Duran DHs)

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

It's really...

3B Paredes & DH Masa/Romy/Casas

vs

RF Abreu & DHam/Romy at 2B (No Masas at DH, as Duran DHs)

Option 2 just doesn't make sense as a roster. 

Option 1, Romy can platoon with Mayer at 2b. Masa can get majority of DH AB's. If Casas mashes at AAA, he can be called up and make a future Masa decision.

[Old Red]

47 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Do you think, if not trade is made, Masa DHs over Duran?

The only way Masa starts over Duran is if an OF'er is hurt or Rafaela is at 2B.

The only thing I’ve heard Cora say is that Story will be the SS. Con Man will most likely play the most at 1B, but outside of that I don’t know what the Alignment will be. If Masa is on the Roster, and that could be a if he’ll be the DH. He’s no use as a bench guy. I don’t really care what happens to Duran, or Abreu for that matter.

[drewski6]

3 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Cam Smith is not part of their infield logjam:

1B: Walker/Paredes

2B: Altuve/Paredes (or Altuve to LF)

SS: Pena/Correa

3B: Correa/Paredes

Their DH is set with Yordan, but he could play LF and DH Altuve.

Christian Walker is washed up, but I think theres a younger 2b that they want to work in.

[FredLynn]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd gladly take that bet.  I am willing to bet that either our starting 2B or our starting 3B, will be someone not currently on our 40-man roster.  A signature wager perhaps?

I only bet on sure things. Getting “someone” not currently on the roster is irrelevant. What we need is to get someone who will have a major impact on our ability to score runs-someone with a career OPS of .820 or so or better. I’d take that bet. You know-someone like Alonso or Schwarber, the guys Henry was too cheap to pay. Let’s do a small donation to the winners charity, say $100. Deal?

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, JoeBrady said:

I'd gladly take that bet.  I am willing to bet that either our starting 2B or our starting 3B, will be someone not currently on our 40-man roster.  A signature wager perhaps?

After Fred declines, this bet will be open to anyone else.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

And I assume a trade return for Smith would be HIGHER than a return for Paredes. 

Not sure they'd do Abreu for Smith. 

I wouldn't think so either.  But he would still be on my list.  He might be worth more to us as a 3B than to Houston as a RF.  And if the rumors are true that they are interested in Abreu, where would they play Smith?

[FredLynn]

13 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

After Fred declines, this bet will be open to anyone else.

I didn’t decline. I changed the terms to make it relevant. Get some dumpster product and you would still win. Not falling for that.

After Brady declines I’ll offer the bet to anyone else here.

[JoeBrady]

5 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

After Fred declines, this bet will be open to anyone else.

Change this to "now that Fred declined" (as I knew he would).

Anyone else interested?