mvp 78

The info coming out of AZ is all over the place. Some people saying they've offered 5 years and close to what Sox have reportedly offered. Others have said they've only offered a short term deal. Maybe just more Boras smoke screen to scare BOS?

@PeteAbe Mookie Betts arriving at JetBlue Park today. #RedSox #SpringTraining2018

Very questionable...

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/560389/Boras-met-with-D-Backs-owner-on-J.D.-Martinez Of course Boras is now pulling the "go directly to the owner to get the deal done" route.

So then, when was the last time the Sox had leadership?

@PeteAbe Andrew Benintendi arrived at #RedSox camp today.

And the 2016 unit was basically the same roster except for Papi. Were they functioning "more as a unit" because Papi was the leader? How is that even determined? Seems to me more of a personal perception thing than anything else.

I agree with the take that most of the fault is due to the CBA and that Boras should figure out that maybe the money just isn't there right now.

Another LoMo post: https://www.overthemonster.com/2018/2/12/17003232/red-sox-logan-morrison-jd-martinez Morrison is coming off a phenomenal season at the plate and if he can repeat that performance he would be the power bat so many want to see in the middle of Boston’s lineup. In 2017, the former Ray, Mariner and Marlin had the best year of his career hitting .246/.353/.516 for a 130 wRC+ with 38 home runs. He’s never going to impress with his batting average, but he has increased his walk rate in each of the last three years and showed a huge power outburst with some improvements to back it up. Specifically, he has become one of the poster boys of the so-called “Flyball Revolution,” as he upped his flyball rate by 11.5 percentage points from 2016 to 2017. That’s all very good, and has people understandably excited... Even with all of that in mind, though, I’m not sure how much sense Morrison would make as an alternative. For one thing, the fit is not ideal on this Red Sox roster. Part of the reason that Martinez is an attractive target is that, while he’ll mostly serve as a designated hitter, he can also become the fourth outfielder... Morrison, meanwhile, would be simply a DH or first baseman. That’s a fine and relatively common profile, but it’s also one that the Red Sox already have... The counterargument would be that they could try to offload Ramirez or simply cut him, but I would definitely not do the latter and I’m not sure they’d realistically be able to do the former. It’s not only the fit that has me worried about Morrison, either. Although he was outstanding in 2017 and there were real tangible changes in his game to lead to that breakout, I’m still not 100 percent sold that he is this kind of hitter now. For one thing, I have no idea how the juiced balls — or whatever you think is behind the sudden home run explosion around the league — affected his numbers. Furthermore, even with the increased flyball rate it seems his home run total involved plenty of luck. His home-run-to-flyball-rate came in at 22.5 percent, ten percentage points higher than his previous career-high. I’m skeptical that’s sustainable in a vacuum, never mind for a pull-oriented left-handed hitter coming to Fenway Park. To me, if it's a short term deal, it's worth a shot if JDM won't sign.

“They’re not likable!” Don’t remember people saying this when AJ Pierzinski(sp?) was on the club.

You never said s*** about the Travis trade. Get out of here.

Good thing you root for someone else.

Darvish 6/126 to Cubs

Why offer 3/87 when you’ve already offered 5/110 (22 AAV)? Why increase the AAV by 7 just to reduce the years by 2? They’d only be paying 88 over the first 4 years of the deal to begin with.

Lauber lumps LoMo and Duda in with Carlos Gonzalez for some reason. Yuck. Before someone @'s me, CarGo's OPS+ in COL 127, away from COL 73.

http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/53896/what-should-boston-do-if-j-d-martinez-really-is-fed-up-with-the-red-sox What to do if JD is really fed up? 1. Do Nothing 2. Wait for Deadline 3. Sign Moose 4. Trade JBJ 5. Sign JD I'm not a Scott Lauber guy.

Did we give up draft picks to sign Hanley and Pablo?

Need to know who to send the Valentines to.

Why? Hanley sucked vs LHP last year.

I can't hear you over the flapping of the past two division title banners! Since 2001: Red Sox 3-0 in the World Series Yankees 1-2 in the World Series Now they can't even win the division anymore. What a sad time to be a Yankee fan. I expect to see even more empty luxury seats in the Bronx next year!

That's Boras' go to move, call up the owner and convince them to override the GM.

You know who hits lefties really well? OH s***, THAT'S BRYCE BRENTZ'S MUSIC!!!!

@Gambo987 The report that the Dbacks are willing to give JD Martinez a 5-year deal for $100 million is TOTALLY INACCURATE. There is no truth to it. Just Scott Boras spreading rumors - Heyman, please get your lips off of Boras' ass...

Just saw this now. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/mlb-rumors-jd-martinez-diamondbacks-yu-darvish-brewers.html J.D. Martinez’s name has been connected more with the D-backs in recent days, though Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic posits that it’s difficult to envision the Diamondbacks finding a way to fit Martinez, Zack Greinke and Paul Goldschmidt all on the same payroll, should the team ultimately extend Goldschmidt beyond his current contract (which runs through 2019). That said, Piecoro notes that Martinez loved his time in Arizona, bonded with teammates and likes the upward trajectory of the team. Piecoro also points out that the D-backs hired one of Martinez’s personal hitting coaches, Robert Van Scoyoc, and appointed him to the newly created position of “hitting strategist” within the organization. A reunion with the D-backs could be a stretch financially, but FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes that agent Scott Boras has met with D-backs managing partner Ken Kendrick on multiple occasions this offseason. How aggressive Boras can push Kendrick to be remains to be seen; Heyman notes that Arizona has “signaled a willingness” to go to five years and more than $100MM, though John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona Sports tweets that, to the contrary, the D-backs aren’t willing to go to that length to retain the slugger. Funny that the Boras stooge Heyman says the DBags can go to 5 years... Also: Logan Morrison is on the Red Sox’ radar as a potential backup option should they not sign Martinez, per Heyman. The 30-year-old would be a considerably more affordable source of power to slot into the DH spot in the lineup (presumably with some occasional time at first base to give Mitch Moreland a break, or in the event of a Moreland injury). It’s been fairly quiet on Morrison for much of the offseason despite the fact that he’s run up a 130 wRC+ over his past 900 big league plate appearances. MLBTR’s Connor Byrne recently took a lengthier look at Morrison’s merits. I'd rather underpay LoMo at this point if indications are that JD doesn't want to come here unless he's massively overpaid.

Bye Felicia. He's prepared to go into the season with Hanley as DH if he has to. At worst, he'll go back to Cleveland and talk more about EE.