mvp 78

Projections have Hanley at a higher OPS than Frazier or LoMo. Moose and Duda would be lateral moves. JD would be the only move to push the needle. That Moreland move still seems iffy to me.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mlb-payroll-might-decrease-for-first-time-in-long-time/ All of the theories about why free agency is slow are probably right. There aren’t enough teams in competitive situations; teams at the top are secure, while teams at the bottom have little reason to spend. The players in this market certainly have flaws. The new CBA has emphasized the benefits of getting under the competitive-balance tax and two massive spenders are doing it simultaneously. Maybe teams have gotten a little bit smarter. Maybe Scott Boras is still going to get owners to bid against themselves at some point. Theories are boundless, but the results are pretty close to being in. The players are about to have stagnant, at best, payroll numbers next year at a time when owners are making greater profits than ever. That’s a pretty bad look for baseball.

I just don't think the situations are familiar at all.

Opening Day Lineup: Betts RF Beni LF Xander SS Devers 3B HRam DH Moreland 1B Hernandez 2B JBJ CF Vazquez C Sale P Bench - Leon, Swihart, Brentz, Marrero SP - Pomeranz, Price, Wright and Porcello RP - Kimbrel, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Elias, Hembree, Johnson The will probably need to make a move with one or two of Elias/Hembree/Johnson because none of these guys have options and I'd rather have Scott and Workman in the pen. Holt has an option remaining so they can mess around with Brentz and Swihart before deciding if they want to dump one of them and call up Holt again.

@nickcafardo Just in case you’re moving on from the Patriots, David Price,Matt Barnes and Steven Wright were among the players working out at Jet Blue Park today. Sandy Leon also came in. A healthy Price and Wright would be a big first step for this team.

My google search failed me. It'd be easier if Mr Byrne had a twitter account.

No, but the author of the article is from Seattle.

Collusion. Duh! Honestly, there are so many unsigned players right now that could be had for decent contracts that it's weird that neither side has flinched.

Once again, it's finally truck day. Is anyone planning on going?

I think it's a safe bet.

You can't equate that to baseball since the Who don't have one club they play 50% of their shows out of where nobody else can headline.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lomo-returns-rays-continue-opportunistic-offseason/ After a dreadful April, Morrison produced a 125 wRC+, .821 OPS and 14 homers over his next 86 games until he was shut down in September with a wrist injury. 2016 was a fairly solid year once he got going. http://theprocessreport.net/tightening-up-with-logan-morrison/ This article makes the case that when LoMo doesn't swing at pitches outside the k zone, that he becomes a vastly better hitter. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9205&position=1B/OF#platediscipline You can see by the numbers that he is steadily getting better at being more patient. This is a skill that a player can learn. I'm not sure it's simply a fluke.

Bautista blossomed at the same age as LoMo. He then went on to mash for the next 5 years.

If Pedroia is ahead of schedule, would it be a waste to sign Nunez?

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia will sit out some of 2018 after undergoing left knee surgery in October, but there’s hope he won’t miss much time. As per his rehab schedule, Pedroia is lining up for a late-April or early May return, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe estimates. Pedroia told Cafado that he hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his rehab, adding that his “knee has responded well” to running and strength exercises. After roughly six more weeks of running and then, as Cafardo writes, “a period of agility work,” Pedroia will be able to start baseball activities. The 34-year-old franchise stalwart also explained to Cafardo that knee problems weighed on him both physically and mentally in 2017, when he appeared in just 105 games, but he’s currently pain-free. When do you think Pedroia will be able to return to BOS?

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/someone-should-take-a-chance-on-logan-morrison.html What does everyone think about LoMo? You could sign him for less money and less years than JD (projected 3/36). Since the second half of 2016, when he slashed .244/.352/.526 over an admittedly small number of plate appearances (91), Morrison has been one of baseball’s most formidable hitters. He proved himself on a much grander scale last year, parlaying a personal-best walk rate (13.5 percent, compared to a 10.5 percent lifetime mark) and a career-high fly ball rate (46.2 percent, up from 37.5 percent) into a .246/.353/.516 line in 601 PAs. That output led to a 3.3 fWAR and a robust 130 wRC+, which ranked 30th among big league regulars, while he finished tied for seventh in home runs (38) and 10th in isolated power (.270). Morrison’s 2017 production seemingly wasn’t just smoke and mirrors. According to Statcast, he ranked 26th in barrels per PA and 32nd in balls hit at least 95 mph. Thanks in part to his hard-hitting ability, Morrison ended the year with a .365 expected weighted on-base average that fell right in line with his real wOBA (.363). That xwOBA number placed 26th in the majors, tying him with superstar Kris Bryant and another Windy City standout, Jose Abreu. Adding to the intrigue, Morrison’s success came despite playing half his season at one of the majors’ least friendly venues for left-handed batters, according to Baseball Prospectus. And while many lefty hitters tend to fare poorly against same-handed pitchers, that hasn’t really been the case with Morrison. He posted an above-average 109 wRC+ versus southpaws in 2017 and has compiled a playable mark (95) during his career.

Years are also at issue for J.D. Martinez, Heyman explains. Red Sox president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski is not interested in offering more than five years, but Heyman suggests that agent Scott Boras could yet try to make his case at the ownership level. The “word is there are other five-year offers,” Heyman adds, though it remains hard to imagine which other reportedly interested club would be able to compete financially with the Sox for Martinez. Lapdog Heyman back at it again. Let's get this over with guys.

If Groome just pitches for a full season, it would be a success to me.

Devers vs LHP: 1.074 OPS

I too would *checks notes* platoon our best returning OPS guy from last year. WTF?

Yup, since the AFL started.

Doesn't seem like any other team has similar motivation.

As we have already seen with Espinoza...

@PeteAbe Dombrowski again acknowledged the Sox need more power. But he doesn't know how or when or if that will happen.

@EvanDrellich Dave Dombrowski says he's not sure if this winter is a one off or something we will see repeated in response to a question about whether the system needs to be changed.