In Pursuit Of Rockies' Hunter Goodman, Is Franklin Arias Too Steep Of A Price To Pay For Red Sox?

[Steve Drumwright]

 

If the Boston Red Sox are truly going to acquire controllable talent at the trade deadline instead of a two-month rental, it might hurt a little bit when it comes to prospect capital.

One area the Red Sox would love to find a long-term solution is catcher—and the most popular name when it comes to a controllable player and production is Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies.

The 26-year-old is third in MLB with 31 homers, matching his 2025 total, and has a .254/.326/.545 slash line with 60 RBIs. While some might think he is just a product of the thin air at Coors Field, 18 of Goodman's homers have come on the road. While Goodman's defense has been questioned, that is something a team can work on.

That type of right-handed power would look terrific at Fenway Park, right?

But with the Rockies turning a corner under a new front office and actually looking competent, Colorado isn't necessarily in the mood to ship off a player the team can build around. Goodman is making $810,000, just above the MLB minimum, and has three more years of club control.

So that makes the price a stiff one for competitors to pry away Goodman. Combine that with two other AL East rivals, the New York Yankees and first-place Tampa Bay Rays, also seeking a catcher before Monday's deadline, and the price increases that much more.

According to several reports, the Rockies are looking at the very top of the prospect list if they are going to surrender their young star. For the Red Sox, that begins with shortstop Franklin Arias, who was just promoted to Triple-A Worcester and homered in his first plate appearance. The 20-year-old, Talk Sox's No. 1 prospect, entered play Friday with a .307/.393/.570 slash line in 79 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year.

With a 15-game winning streak flipping the script on the Red Sox this month, would that price be worth it to not only guarantee a postseason spot but make a deep run to a World Series?

 

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[mvp 78]

1. I don't think catchers typically get better on defense after they get into MLB, especially a guy like Goodman. Saying "it's something a teams can work on" is really underselling the task.

2. Is it a one for one trade? Ok. If not, it depends on the pieces going the other way. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I've already said I won't trade Arias for Goodman. But I will give up multiple good pitching prospects, which a team that plays half its games at Coors Field can never have enough of.

[moonslav59]

If Goodman is more DH than Catcher, I'm not sure it's worth the expected cost, but a 30+ HR DH is not so bad an addition, either.

I'd rather we find a "real" and I mean all around Catcher or SS than someone we plan to DH or move to an easier position in the near future.

I was pretty high on some of these SS names being talked about, until I learned about their defensive issues.

[SoxPhan]

I don’t think Arias should be on the table for Goodman. I’m probably only dealing him for a controlled all-star calibre SS. But I would go Eyanson, Witherspoon, Gonzalez, Soto and Wong.  

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, SoxPhan said:

I don’t think Arias should be on the table for Goodman. I’m probably only dealing him for a controlled all-star calibre SS. But I would go Eyanson, Witherspoon, Gonzalez, Soto and Wong.  

From what I hear about Goodman's defense, I agree. If Goodman is going to be the DH soon, then no.

I really like Abrams, but he might be best at 2B, and I'm not sure that works for him or us.

Witt is not happening.

I think we keep Arias. I hope we keep Eyanson, too, but for the right non rental guy, I'd move him.

[drewski6]

I dont think there is a player available who I would include Arias for, even though there are a few in the league (15ish), Eyanson - the number of players I would trade him for is higher than 15, maybe 40 feels right, and ill be pumped....

Relly if they trade Arias for any of the 15 players on that list or Eyansons for the 40ish on that list Id be pumped becuase these lists are made up of mostly unobtainable players (e.g. Elly)

[JoeBrady]

I wouldn't hate it, but I wouldn't do it.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, drewski6 said:

I dont think there is a player available who I would include Arias for, even though there are a few in the league (15ish)...

You are giving the posters who claim we overhype our prospects too much ammo, here.... LOL.

Arias for 2.4 years of Abrams would be fine with me, although Abrams is not a plus defender at SS.

I might for Francisco Alvarez. We'd be set at catcher for 2.4 years.

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

You are giving the posters who claim we overhype our prospects too much ammo, here.... LOL.

Arias for 2.4 years of Abrams would be fine with me, although Abrams is not a plus defender at SS.

I might for Francisco Alvarez. We'd be set at catcher for 2.4 years.

The players namely KC, little a, and Marshmallow Man have provided the ammo, and now Arias is next in line. Stay tuned for further updates, and progress reports.

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

You are giving the posters who claim we overhype our prospects too much ammo, here.... LOL.

Arias for 2.4 years of Abrams would be fine with me, although Abrams is not a plus defender at SS.

I might for Francisco Alvarez. We'd be set at catcher for 2.4 years.

Alvarez has 3.4 years left.

The problem with Arias/Abrams is that, if you move Abrams off of SS, and you've traded Arias, then you have to pursue another SS.

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Alvarez has 3.4 years left.

The problem with Arias/Abrams is that, if you move Abrams off of SS, and you've traded Arias, then you have to pursue another SS.

Cots says 2 more arbs for F. A.

Yes, I feel the same about Abrams to 2B, and then what?

[notin]

If Colorado is interested in building a baseball team, they’re not trading Goodman.  And they do show occasional flashes of trying to build a baseball team…

[SoxDiehard]

If only we had a crystal ball!  I’ve seen Arias at Portland and most recently Worcester.  Frankly, some of our  “can’t miss” prospects over the past several years have tanked; especially when a bunch of them received budget reckless contract extensions; Bello, Campbell, Anthony and Mayer all come to mind.   So, we need to ask ourselves, do we have an internal flaw somewhere that leaves us with higher expectations than realism when it comes to the way we look at prospects?  If Arias is our best chip, then we should be absolutely certain we get the biggest bang for the buck, before we risk adding his name to those I’ve mentioned, and then like each of those, and let’s throw in Duran too, we probably couldn’t bundle three of them together now and get a player that fits now and for the future.  

[notin]

16 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

I wouldn't hate it, but I wouldn't do it.

That’s fair…

[JoeBrady]

13 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Cots says 2 more arbs for F. A.

Yes, I feel the same about Abrams to 2B, and then what?

I believe that Alvarez is Super-two.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, SoxDiehard said:

So, we need to ask ourselves, do we have an internal flaw somewhere that leaves us with higher expectations than realism when it comes to the way we look at prospects?

I think that's a fair question.  Particularly since it seems all our pitchers come up looking like pros.  Do we have better pitching coaches than hitting coaches?

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

I think that's a fair question.  Particularly since it seems all our pitchers come up looking like pros.  Do we have better pitching coaches than hitting coaches?

They traded Teel, Montgomery, Meidroth and Ehrhard. They completely whiffed on a few high draft picks (Zanetello, Anderson). 

I think they've really improved the pitching infrastructure. I think the hitting side has stayed the same. The only difference is that they get hitters to succeed at AA, but can't figure out how to bridge that gap to MLB. It could be luck. It could be their focus on hard hit rate which pumps up numbers at lower levels and then reaches a high water mark at some point. Maybe something else? 

[SoxDiehard]

I’m in total agreement with everyone that is saying that we do need to find out why so many of these “once in a lifetime” type prospects, end up flailing when they get to the show. Over the history of Major league baseball of course, there have been a lot of players who were built as the next great player, and they were brought up, and didn’t really make the grade initially. That said, however, many of them did ultimately become great players. So I’m thinking that again part of the problem here is how are these players, not inclusive of the pitchers, being managed and handled during their development?

[JAG]

Getting a right handed 26 year old PROVEN power hitter that has played in the outfield and first base as well as catcher that has 3 years of control for a player that hasn't been in the majors is a no brainer. I bought in on Roman Anthony and it has gotten us nowhere. He did have a great WBC performance though. Pull the trigger.

[SoxDiehard]

So, who are we sending to Colorado? 

[SoxDiehard]

After I read Joe Brady’s response, I think he’s on to something when he questions how good are our hitting coaches.  I’ve been paying close attention to Durans swing lately and he’s missing making contact by no less than 6, sometimes as much as 12 inches.  A good batting coach should pick this up, should be in the video room, watching JD in the cage, figuring it out and working with the player to correct what has been identified..  My gut tells me this isn’t happening, especially when you think of how Duran hit two years ago.  Granted, when a player has been in the league for a few years, the word gets around where the holes are in his swing.  Pitchers exploit those holes and that can explain why this is happening. But I agree with Joe. We don’t have a valid reason why someone isn’t addressing the issue and making adjustments.  What also makes me curious about our batting coaches is we see how great Caleb Durbin has turned himself around at the plate, yet, it’s my understanding that he is working with one of the hitting instructors that Aaron Judge turn him onto.  In and over itself that gives us a lot to think about, because if our in-house coaches are doing their job, then why would a player look for help outside of the organization. A lot to think about.!

[mvp 78]

Most MLB players have their own personal hitting coaches. I don't think that's a knock on the Sox. 

Duran has tweaked his swing over and over again ever since he got to the org. He's never stuck with a swing even when he's found success. We don't know if he's listening to coaches or just doing his own thing. All we know is that he's in a huge funk. 

[JAG]

Goodman with another multi home run performance and up to 33 HR....get this guy

[SoxDiehard]

I think it’s a reasonable idea to get him.  However, remember the ball flies out in Colorado; just look at Trevor Story’s production with the Rockies before he signed with us.  Im not saying the 33 hr thought won’t happen, if we get him we would gladly take that and more lol!   While I'm posting this we are doing nothing at all other than the Mead acquisition.  Hopefully something meaningful will materialize over the next 27 or so hours. 

[JoeBrady]

11 minutes ago, SoxDiehard said:

I think it’s a reasonable idea to get him.  However, remember the ball flies out in Colorado; just look at Trevor Story’s production with the Rockies before he signed with us.  Im not saying the 33 hr thought won’t happen, if we get him we would gladly take that and more lol!   While I'm posting this we are doing nothing at all other than the Mead acquisition.  Hopefully something meaningful will materialize over the next 27 or so hours. 

This is borderline superstition on my part, but the Raleigh collapse always pops up in the back of my mind.  

[SoxDiehard]

Oh no, I’m not the only mojo fan after all!  Lol

[moonslav59]

31 minutes ago, SoxDiehard said:

I think it’s a reasonable idea to get him.  However, remember the ball flies out in Colorado; just look at Trevor Story’s production with the Rockies before he signed with us.  Im not saying the 33 hr thought won’t happen, if we get him we would gladly take that and more lol!   While I'm posting this we are doing nothing at all other than the Mead acquisition.  Hopefully something meaningful will materialize over the next 27 or so hours. 

Yes, let's look at Story vs Goodman:

Goodman:

Career: .852 & 40 HRs Home and .768 & 38 Hrs Away

25-26: .869 & 28 HRs and .854 & 34 HRs Away

As he's matured, he's hit more dingers AWAY. He's K'd 33% Away and 27% at home- both very concerning numbers.

Story:

Career w COL: .972 & 95 HRs HOME and .752 & 63 HRs AWAY

'19-'21 w COL: .973 & 40 HRs HOME and .752 & 30 HRsAWAY

They both K way too much, but the Home & Away splits are night and day apart.

[SoxDiehard]

Great analysis!  Thank you! 

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, SoxDiehard said:

Great analysis!  Thank you! 

I remember when we got Story, I thought if we could get GG defense at SS and his .752 road OPS over a full season, it would be worth it.

Instead, we got .697 OPS, declining defense and only 361 games out of a possible 750ish.