Red Sox Sign 3B, 2B, SS, Isiah Kiner-Falefa

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

Absolutely not if he is the back up. In fact I think it's a great move if that's the case. I am nervous it is not.

That's what I said yesterday, he's fine as an EXPENSIVE backup. He's a good defender that can play 2b/SS/3b which nobody else on the 40 man can do reliably. They have Story, Mayer and a big question mark at 2b. Signing IKF is fine as insurance. If he's starting 100+ games and that was the plan? Yuck! 

Right now, the move pushes Hamilton to AAA and has IKF platooning with Romy. Ok? I'd rather bring in Paredes and push Eaton to AAA as well. That would have Romy and IKF as the bench guys.

[mvp 78]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

We can't afford to trade for Seager or Buxton, and injury issues are concerning.

Muncy?

Wood?

Chisholm?

"None of the above" - Monty Brewster

[notin]

10 hours ago, drewski6 said:

Me.  Bello and Cedanne for Brent Rooker , who says no?

I think the Athletics might not mind Bello and Rafaela, but I’m not sure what you bring to the party.

Plus we’d miss you.

Weird timing since Boston finally got that DH you wanted…

 

[moonslav59]

I don't think we should be dismissing the chances a February deal gets made. There is a chance Brez already has an agreement in place, but is trying to get a better deal or work a deal with another team he'd prefer.

Of course, maybe not, too.

I haven't heard his say he's "working the phones" or the like.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

I think the Athletics might not mind Bello and Rafaela, but I’m not sure what you bring to the party.

Plus we’d miss you.

Weird timing since Boston finally got that DH you wanted…

 

A's are probably happy with Denzel Clarke TBH.

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I don't think we should be dismissing the chances a February deal gets made. There is a chance Brez already has an agreement in place, but is trying to get a better deal or work a deal with another team he'd prefer.

Of course, maybe not, too.

I haven't heard his say he's "working the phones" or the like.

That would be really silly. What if another team came in and got the guy that you had an agreement in place for? The second that story leaked it would be all over for Craig.

[Hugh2]

I wonder if people would look at this deal differently if the Sox signed or traded for a better 2B first and then signed IKF?  If he was perceived as the utility type that he should be (hopefully is) then it's actually a great signing. 

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I wonder if people would look at this deal differently if the Sox signed or traded for a better 2B first and then signed IKF?  If he was perceived as the utility type that he should be (hopefully is) then it's actually a great signing. 

Yeah, good deal in a vacuum, but we live in a world where people make duck boat jokes about MiLB signings. 🫠

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I don't think we should be dismissing the chances a February deal gets made. There is a chance Brez already has an agreement in place, but is trying to get a better deal or work a deal with another team he'd prefer.

Of course, maybe not, too.

I haven't heard his say he's "working the phones" or the like.

If Brez had an agreement in place I think it would have been done already. All the rumored  names had been out there all offseason as had IKF, and now IKF is here.

[Hugh2]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, good deal in a vacuum, but we live in a world where people make duck boat jokes about MiLB signings. 🫠

It's all the internet. 

These types of moves never really got reported on back in the 90's but they happened.  Today, everything is front and center and in your face with how quickly information spreads with Twitter, the internet, etc.  

So people see that story posted about the Sox adding a guy in the minor league rule 5 that years ago they never even would have heard of. 

I mean, I get it, but it's a little frustrating to see people undermine such moves.  You have to field a minor league roster.  Franklin Arias has to throw the ball to someone at 1B down in Portland, Payton Tolle has to pitch the ball to someone in AAA, etc etc etc.  

Someone might call them suspects, but we all know that some of those "suspects" are going to bloom into studs.....and I think it's important to have good people around them while these kids are developing. 

I just never get worked up over such moves. 

IKF is fair game, because at this point we just don't know what he is.  Starting second baseman? or infield utility guy?

[notin]

32 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

A's are probably happy with Denzel Clarke TBH.

Can you blame them?   He was so good in Training Day

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, notin said:

Can you blame them?   He was so good in Training Day

You're thinking of Ethan Hawke? 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

That would be really silly. What if another team came in and got the guy that you had an agreement in place for? The second that story leaked it would be all over for Craig.

You don't think GM have talks where they are thinking, "I'll make this deal being offered, but I'm first going to try and improve on it or see how this other deal is moving along that I like better."

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, notin said:

I think the Athletics might not mind Bello and Rafaela, but I’m not sure what you bring to the party.

Plus we’d miss you.

Weird timing since Boston finally got that DH you wanted…

 

Ima check out Moons sick place, but I need to be outta the southwest by summer, not a heat guy.

[Old Red]

9 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You don't think GM have talks where they are thinking, "I'll make this deal being offered, but I'm first going to try and improve on it or see how this other deal is moving along that I like better."

It’s possible, but right now I’m going by what’s on the team at the moment. Could Brez pull out a surprise? Also possible.

[moonslav59]

52 minutes ago, Old Red said:

If Brez had an agreement in place I think it would have been done already. All the rumored  names had been out there all offseason as had IKF, and now IKF is here.

Why do some assume this?

GMs have multiple talks going on at once, as they seek the best one they can make. They also might be haggling about who gets added onto a deal, but have a solid framework already worked out.

I'm not saying the odds are high for a February trade, but there are a few teams with a surplus of infielders, and we have a surplus of SP'er depth many teams would die for. We also have 4 FT OF'ers and Masa at DH making $18M x 2.

Granted, I'd put the odds at under 50% and maybe even under 33% a major deal gets done, but here are some past FEB deals by the Sox:

2024: Schreiber for Sandlin (a roster numbers move)

2023: (Jan 30) Barnes for Blier

2021: Beni for Wink, Franchy and others- plus- Springs & Mazza for Ro. Hernandez & Sogard (depth deal)

2020: Betts & Price for Verdugo, Downs & Wong (We are 2 days from the anniversary of that infamous deal.)

Agreed, this list does not support the idea that big additions via FEB trades are common, but the need is present.

 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Old Red said:

It’s possible, but right now I’m going by what’s on the team at the moment. Could Brez pull out a surprise? Also possible.

I'm guessing nothing major or significant happens, but I'm going to wait until opening day to judge the winter as a whole. (As of now, it looks like a C or C-, since we failed to add a top quality 3B/2Bman and did not really get a great middle order bat. (Contreras is good but not great.)

Adding Paredes, Hoerner or Shaw brings us to the plus side- like a B+ to B.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Why do some assume this?

GMs have multiple talks going on at once, as they seek the best one they can make. They also might be haggling about who gets added onto a deal, but have a solid framework already worked out.

I'm not saying the odds are high for a February trade, but there are a few teams with a surplus of infielders, and we have a surplus of SP'er depth many teams would die for. We also have 4 FT OF'ers and Masa at DH making $18M x 2.

Granted, I'd put the odds at under 50% and maybe even under 33% a major deal gets done, but here are some past FEB deals by the Sox:

2024: Schreiber for Sandlin (a roster numbers move)

2023: (Jan 30) Barnes for Blier

2021: Beni for Wink, Franchy and others- plus- Springs & Mazza for Ro. Hernandez & Sogard (depth deal)

2020: Betts & Price for Verdugo, Downs & Wong (We are 2 days from the anniversary of that infamous deal.)

Agreed, this list does not support the idea that big additions via FEB trades are common, but the need is present.

 

I’m just going by what’s on the roster at the moment. That’s not assuming anything.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm guessing nothing major or significant happens, but I'm going to wait until opening day to judge the winter as a whole. (As of now, it looks like a C or C-, since we failed to add a top quality 3B/2Bman and did not really get a great middle order bat. (Contreras is good but not great.)

Adding Paredes, Hoerner or Shaw brings us to the plus side- like a B+ to B.

As I keep asking. How did we get into the situation in the first place of especially needing a 3B? 2B has been an ongoing problem for some time now. I’m only interested in the final grade that will come out in October, and not what it looks like now.

[mvp 78]

22 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You don't think GM have talks where they are thinking, "I'll make this deal being offered, but I'm first going to try and improve on it or see how this other deal is moving along that I like better."

Maybe earlier in the offseason. To do it on Feb 6th when time is running out seems foolhardy TBH.

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Why do some assume this?

GMs have multiple talks going on at once, as they seek the best one they can make. They also might be haggling about who gets added onto a deal, but have a solid framework already worked out.

I'm not saying the odds are high for a February trade, but there are a few teams with a surplus of infielders, and we have a surplus of SP'er depth many teams would die for. We also have 4 FT OF'ers and Masa at DH making $18M x 2.

Granted, I'd put the odds at under 50% and maybe even under 33% a major deal gets done, but here are some past FEB deals by the Sox:

2024: Schreiber for Sandlin (a roster numbers move)

2023: (Jan 30) Barnes for Blier

2021: Beni for Wink, Franchy and others- plus- Springs & Mazza for Ro. Hernandez & Sogard (depth deal)

2020: Betts & Price for Verdugo, Downs & Wong (We are 2 days from the anniversary of that infamous deal.)

Agreed, this list does not support the idea that big additions via FEB trades are common, but the need is present.

 

If he's had multiple deals going on, why are the over the 2nd CBT and have no 2b right now? It makes no sense. 

Two of the deals you mention are straight salary dumps. Maybe that is what he has planned. Oh boy. 

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm guessing nothing major or significant happens, but I'm going to wait until opening day to judge the winter as a whole. (As of now, it looks like a C or C-, since we failed to add a top quality 3B/2Bman and did not really get a great middle order bat. (Contreras is good but not great.)

Adding Paredes, Hoerner or Shaw brings us to the plus side- like a B+ to B.

If nothing significant is going to happen, why say Breslow has multiple fires going right now? 

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, Old Red said:

 That’s not assuming anything.

I thought this was an assumption (or opinion) :

If Brez had an agreement in place I think it would have been done already.

[Old Red]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

If nothing significant is going to happen, why say Breslow has multiple fires going right now? 

Brez pulled the fire alarm yesterday when he signed IKF.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

If he's had multiple deals going on, why are the over the 2nd CBT and have no 2b right now? It makes no sense. 

Two of the deals you mention are straight salary dumps. Maybe that is what he has planned. Oh boy. 

Well, we could trade a $7.75M Duran or $9.3M Bello for someone like Shaw and get under the 2nd line.

We might also be seeking to just stay under the 3rd line, and many deals could meet that limit.

[moonslav59]

Just now, Old Red said:

Brez pulled the fire alarm yesterday when he signed IKF.

But that's not an assumption, right?

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

I thought this was an assumption (or opinion) :

If Brez had an agreement in place I think it would have been done already.

The roster as is today is what’s not assuming.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Old Red said:

As I keep asking. How did we get into the situation in the first place of especially needing a 3B? 2B has been an ongoing problem for some time now. I’m only interested in the final grade that will come out in October, and not what it looks like now.

I'm 100% on asking this same question.

It seems so obvious to everyone. I'm hopeful Brez is thinking the same way.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

But that's not an assumption, right?

No he actually signed IKF. Assuming must be you new hang up word flavor of the week.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm 100% on asking this same question.

It seems so obvious to everyone. I'm hopeful Brez is thinking the same way.

I think it’s pretty obvious why we need a 3B.