Spring Training game thread: Week of Feb 21

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Not loving IKF as our starting 2nd baseman, but yeah, I've no problem with Mayer starting in AAA. He has a lot to prove right now.

But this is almost certainly the starting lineup with 2nd up for grabs.

Maybe not.

We are set to lose this AAV after 2026:

$21M Gray (and we'll need another top SP'er to replace him)

$9.1M Sandoval

$6M IKF

That's $36M AAV

We could judge to let Houck & his $4.1M arb in '26 walk, or we could trade Bello $9.2M, K Campbell $7.5M or Duran who is looking at his last arb contract or over $10M.

They may also look at the fact that Yoshida's deal is over after 2027, so the long term aspect of a Skubal deal could be partially covered by his loss.

There would likely be no "big bat" plus Skubal, unless we trade for one.

 

45 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Might have to dump a few contracts to bring him over.

 

[Duran Is The Man]

55 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Might have to dump a few contracts to bring him over.

i can think of $18 million right off the bat.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i can think of $18 million right off the bat.

We'd still have to pay him all or most of it.

[mvp 78]

49 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i can think of $18 million right off the bat.

Roman and Romy? 

[JoeBrady]

58 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

There would likely be no "big bat" plus Skubal, unless we trade for one.

Our payroll is only $116M for 2028.  That accounts for 3 OFs, DH (Duran), catcher, one IF, and 3 SPs.  We'd need a 1B, 2 IFs, 2 SPs, and a closer.  Internal options:

• 1B-Casas
• 2 IF Mayer & Arias
• 2 SPs Early & Tolle
• Closer-Whitlock
• Other 'names' include Crawford & Romy

So imo, we can sign Skubal for ~$50M, blow thru the cap in 2027, duck under the cap in 2028, and still have funds to fill in elsewhere.  Wise or not, I don't know.  But it could be done.  And the ancillary benefit would be the howling and screaming that all we added was Skubal.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Our payroll is only $116M for 2028.  That accounts for 3 OFs, DH (Duran), catcher, one IF, and 3 SPs.  We'd need a 1B, 2 IFs, 2 SPs, and a closer.  Internal options:

• 1B-Casas
• 2 IF Mayer & Arias
• 2 SPs Early & Tolle
• Closer-Whitlock
• Other 'names' include Crawford & Romy

So imo, we can sign Skubal for ~$50M, blow thru the cap in 2027, duck under the cap in 2028, and still have funds to fill in elsewhere.  Wise or not, I don't know.  But it could be done.  And the ancillary benefit would be the howling and screaming that all we added was Skubal.

Contreras has a 2027 contract year at $21.3M, of which STL pays $4M.

It's 2028 that is the option at $17.5M with a $5M buyout.

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Duran Is The Man said:

i can think of $18 million right off the bat.

BTV accepts taking on Yoshidas contract if the Sox also throw in first round draft pick #4 ranked Kyson Witherspoon and #9 ranked Marcus Phillips in exchange for taking on Yoshidas contract. 

We mine as well hold onto to him in case someone gets hurt in camp. 

[moonslav59]

$50M for Skubal minus $36M for Gray, Sandoval and IKF. 

Trade Duran ($9M) and Bello ($9M) for a cheap big bat and we have a lower AAV in 2027.

We'd have lost Gray, Bello & Sandoval and added one SP'ers, so we'd be counting on Tolle, Early and Crawford to take up the slack in the rotation.

Skubal

Crochet

Suarez

Tolle

Early

Oviedo/Crawford

Uberstine/Bennett

Witherspoon/Phillips/Eyanson/Holobetz/Mullins/Valera/Ziehl

[Hugh2]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

$50M for Skubal minus $36M for Gray, Sandoval and IKF. 

Trade Duran ($9M) and Bello ($9M) for a cheap big bat and we have a lower AAV in 2027.

We'd have lost Gray, Bello & Sandoval and added one SP'ers, so we'd be counting on Tolle, Early and Crawford to take up the slack in the rotation.

Skubal

Crochet

Suarez

Tolle

Early

Oviedo/Crawford

Uberstine/Bennett

Witherspoon/Phillips/Eyanson/Holobetz/Mullins/Valera/Ziehl

But why would a team trade away a good bat during spring training? any team that's looking to compete isn't going to trade away a legit MLB piece like that and teams are pretty set heading into camp. 

It ain't happening....this is our team for the next few months. 

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

But why would a team trade away a good bat during spring training? any team that's looking to compete isn't going to trade away a legit MLB piece like that and teams are pretty set heading into camp. 

It ain't happening....this is our team for the next few months. 

I'm talking about signing Skubal, next winter. Same with the trade.

[Hugh2]

7 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm talking about signing Skubal, next winter. Same with the trade.

That makes more sense......if theres a season. 

[mvp 78]

43 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts taking on Yoshidas contract if the Sox also throw in first round draft pick #4 ranked Kyson Witherspoon and #9 ranked Marcus Phillips in exchange for taking on Yoshidas contract. 

We mine as well hold onto to him in case someone gets hurt in camp. 

If JH can't willingly go over budget for Skubal, he'll never go over budget. I won't want to hear "aggressive" or "uncomfortable" from them again if they try to get Skubal, but can't get it over the finish line. 

[Duran Is The Man]

51 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts taking on Yoshidas contract if the Sox also throw in first round draft pick #4 ranked Kyson Witherspoon and #9 ranked Marcus Phillips in exchange for taking on Yoshidas contract. 

We mine as well hold onto to him in case someone gets hurt in camp. 

yeah, i wouldn't give up those guys to get rid of him. better to just pay someone to take him.

[Duran Is The Man]

50 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

$50M for Skubal minus $36M for Gray, Sandoval and IKF. 

Trade Duran ($9M) and Bello ($9M) for a cheap big bat and we have a lower AAV in 2027.

We'd have lost Gray, Bello & Sandoval and added one SP'ers, so we'd be counting on Tolle, Early and Crawford to take up the slack in the rotation.

Skubal

Crochet

Suarez

Tolle

Early

Oviedo/Crawford

Uberstine/Bennett

Witherspoon/Phillips/Eyanson/Holobetz/Mullins/Valera/Ziehl

Yoshida $18

Gray $21

Bello $9

Sandoval $13

that's $61 million. and should be close enough.

[Hugh2]

9 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

yeah, i wouldn't give up those guys to get rid of him. better to just pay someone to take him.

And at that point you're not really saving on payroll at all.   Mine as well hold onto him thru camp at a minimum.

I do think a day comes where he is either traded or just DFA'd. 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Contreras has a 2027 contract year at $21.3M, of which STL pays $4M.

It's 2028 that is the option at $17.5M with a $5M buyout.

You are correct.  That makes it easier since the net $17.3 was already included in my number.

[JoeBrady]

27 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If JH can't willingly go over budget for Skubal, he'll never go over budget. I won't want to hear "aggressive" or "uncomfortable" from them again if they try to get Skubal, but can't get it over the finish line. 

Going over the budget won't be the issue.  Out-bidding LA, NY, NY, TO & Philly will be the issue.

[moonslav59]

41 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If JH can't willingly go over budget for Skubal, he'll never go over budget. I won't want to hear "aggressive" or "uncomfortable" from them again if they try to get Skubal, but can't get it over the finish line. 

If the whole Juan Soto offer was for real, then JH should be willing to go super large and long on a guy like Skubal. Having Skubal, Crochet & Suarez locked up for 5+ years would be awesome!

[drewski6]

I feel like we have plenty of time between now and when these decisions need to be made.  Personally, for example, I think we will be #1 in starters ERA and it will be like a situation where Gray gets hurt, Tolle comes in and pitches very well.  I think , right now, we have more than 5 very good pitchers.

I think it will feel weird to go out and give the biggest contract in RS history to a pitcher, when the team even without said pitcher, has the best pitching in baseball.  That feels off to me.  

Right now, I wouldnt give Skubal a 50m contract.  I think hes unneeded.  I think enough with the freaking pitching.  Id rather use the money to extend Duran.

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I feel like we have plenty of time between now and when these decisions need to be made.  Personally, for example, I think we will be #1 in starters ERA and it will be like a situation where Gray gets hurt, Tolle comes in and pitches very well.  I think , right now, we have more than 5 very good pitchers.

I think it will feel weird to go out and give the biggest contract in RS history to a pitcher, when the team even without said pitcher, has the best pitching in baseball.  That feels off to me.  

Right now, I wouldnt give Skubal a 50m contract.  I think hes unneeded.  I think enough with the freaking pitching.  Id rather use the money to extend Duran.

Agree on Skubal, and it’s not even a pipe dream once he hits FA. NO on Duran. I don’t see any extension in his Red Sox future.

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I feel like we have plenty of time between now and when these decisions need to be made.  Personally, for example, I think we will be #1 in starters ERA and it will be like a situation where Gray gets hurt, Tolle comes in and pitches very well.  I think , right now, we have more than 5 very good pitchers.

I think it will feel weird to go out and give the biggest contract in RS history to a pitcher, when the team even without said pitcher, has the best pitching in baseball.  That feels off to me.  

Right now, I wouldnt give Skubal a 50m contract.  I think hes unneeded.  I think enough with the freaking pitching.  Id rather use the money to extend Duran.

Next winter, Gray and Sandoval are out of team control, but your point is still a good one.

I would not extend Duran, unless it's a team friendly deal, and I might want to see how 2026 goes, first.

FAs in 2027:

SP: Skubal, Guasman, Perlata, Woodruff, Bieber and more

3B: Bichette (opt out) & Bohm

2B: Hoerner, Chisholm & Torres

SS: JP Crawford (move Story to 2B?)

C: Ryan Jeffers & Tyler Stephenson

OF: Acuna, Springer, Arozarena, Grisham

 

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

BTV accepts taking on Yoshidas contract if the Sox also throw in first round draft pick #4 ranked Kyson Witherspoon and #9 ranked Marcus Phillips in exchange for taking on Yoshidas contract. 

We mine as well hold onto to him in case someone gets hurt in camp. 

More likely, we'd trade Masa, Mullins & Cespedes and hope someone pays half his contract. (Getting nothing in return.)

[moonslav59]

Ranger Suarez starts today!

The line-up:

Anthony LF

Story SS

Duran DH

Contreras 1B

Abreu RF

Durbin 3B

Rafaela CF

IKF 2B

Wong C

(I think the first 6 might be the template for the 2026 season.)

[mvp 78]

44 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Going over the budget won't be the issue.  Out-bidding LA, NY, NY, TO & Philly will be the issue.

It's the same thing IMO.

[mvp 78]

30 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Right now, I wouldnt give Skubal a 50m contract.  I think hes unneeded.  I think enough with the freaking pitching.  Id rather use the money to extend Duran.

Yeah, instead of getting the greatest pitcher in the game, let's worry about extending a fringe top 50 offensive guy whose main tool is speed. 🤪

[drewski6]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yeah, instead of getting the greatest pitcher in the game, let's worry about extending a fringe top 50 offensive guy whose main tool is speed. 🤪

Not a fringe top 50 offensive guys vs righties and im pro platoon

[drewski6]

he hit 2 balls right on the screws, in ONE game.  Cooperstown bound

[drewski6]

31 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Ranger Suarez starts today!

The line-up:

Anthony LF

Story SS

Duran DH

Contreras 1B

Abreu RF

Durbin 3B

Rafaela CF

IKF 2B

Wong C

(I think the first 6 might be the template for the 2026 season.)

go go power rangers

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Not a fringe top 50 offensive guys vs righties and im pro platoon

He's equivalent to Brendan Donovan vs RHP in OPS. 🫠

Sox should have found a trade like that. 

47th wRC+ vs RHP in '25. 

[mvp 78]