sk7326

That would make sense. That said, while the package for Lee should not be as steep as one for Hamels (older, less control) Philadelphia will want to be able to show results for the deal - and the Red Sox have a genuine surplus of assets enough to justify a mild overpay. I'd think Lee for Victorino, some close to the bigs prospect (Johnson, Barnes, Cecchini flavor) and some lower level lottery ticket (Ball, one of the 2014 draftees though he'd be a PTBNL if a deal happened now) would be reasonable. Now Vasquez might be part of the former - but that is a decision the front office has to make. Could something more be added (Rodriguez, Margot, Devers) - maybe, if some of the financial burden is alleviated, but I'd be reluctant in any other circumstance.

I am somewhat ambivalent about Hamels - I don't think it'd be a disaster, and Philly is probably right to want one of those top two guys - and the Red Sox are reasonable for balking at the price. But Lee is a guy with a better track record and without a long haul. In either case Amaro will probably want somebody who can impact 2015, although that might be a lower ceiling guy for Lee

Nothing is impossible - but if he is ready for Portland by the end of the year, this is an unqualified success.

Where is this that Moncada can play any infield position? He can today, that's it. Hanley was such a virus in the Red Sox system that the Red Sox dealt him for a 25 year old World Series MVP. The only bad thing one can say about Ramirez (and if you are holding him to what he was in his early 20s, I am sorry for you) is that he has shown to be brittle. I saw the chicken and beer which derailed our playoffs for ONE WHOLE SEASON ...

Shows how stupid the bonus pool is - at least one that is not truly mandatory. Talent costs money - full stop.

I take Cherington at his word that the Red Sox are done shopping for now - makes more sense for the trade market to open up instead of being wed to Hamels (or anybody else) right now. Both Castillo and Betts have options, so the team can either A) start with one of them in AAA or only bring 11 pitchers up north if none of the outfielders get moved in the spring. (Obviously Bradley has options too, but I am assuming he is not a part of the big league picture for now) The willingness to move Swihart will be dependent on the usual things - how desperate they are as shoppers, how well Swihart plays and how well Vasquez plays. I mean, if Swihart crushes AAA and Vasquez delivers a .600 OPS sort of season, the front office will have to make a real decision about where the future is. That might involve taking a plunge with a guy you have not seen in the bigs - that is why Cherington gets the big bucks, to make such a leap. Very clearly, Cecchini, Bradley, Merrero, Coyle and the middle class pitchers are the first batch of trade fodder the Red Sox will offer. Very clearly a team with an asset like the Phils will be looking at the Sox Top 100 entrants. To me, it is clear there is a position player surplus - enough of one that solving that represents an optimal use of resources.

It's about what the top pick in the draft would get if the players and owners did not agree to keep their bonuses down. If Moncada delivers 3 decent seasons before arbitration, it's paid for itself.

There is just more to know. Obviously when the term got popular, things like plate patience and such were the main fruit. (and if you want, you can trace back "analytics" as far back as Earl Weaver if you want to assign full credit) And the World Series had two teams who were very much dependent on that sort of research, especially in the area of defense. The interesting areas now - and the stuff you read about teams working on - is batted ball analysis. That is, we take it as an article of faith that BABIP is hard to control - it's not 100%, but it's not 0 either. There is evidence of pitchers who have consistently low BABIPs, and hitters (although fewer) who have consistencies in this area. So figuring out stuff about the nature of contact and what hitters can actually do is becoming more important (especially as the game has shifted towards pitchers again). It is possible that this sort of stuff helped the case to sign Sandoval - who if nothing else is a very high contact hitter.

You don't sacrifice big league wins at the prices they are charging us. This is not license to be dumb, but no reason to act like we don't have more poker chips than other people. I'd like to hold on to the every kid I think can be a superstar. I'm not even advocating moving Devers (heavens no) or Margot. But you don't make big league decisions on something 3 years away - not unless you are in an actual teardown. If the right piece is there (quality + control), you have to look at your "I love them but they haven't even left Salem yet" kids and make the calculation.

Clearly it's money and stadium - PawSox don't own McCoy - they'd own the new place, I think it's probably that simple. Well, the Sox (aside from Lucchino) do not own the team, they do have an agreement with them to provide players. I am sure those agreements include some standard share of stuff. If the Sox had a big issue, they could easily switch to another franchise when the affiliation agreement ends. That said, I think this move is just the new owners wanting to make the franchise more valuable by owning the stadium and all related revenue.

Even if Betts and Swihart are still off limits - this move likely puts Devers or Margot into play as a sweetener for a deal that might have less high end big league ready prospect stuff.

The two headed SS monster in 2013 was not at all bad either

Less sure than with Dice-K ... since after all, they did not give Moncada a big league deal.

BTW: I agree with you. I just am more uncertain about the ability of this management to be strong when putting the kiddos into the show. There is some reactiveness which is alarming.

Oh I wouldn't be surprised if Bogaerts is in talks now - this management seems itchy about these sorts of things, when kids do not do exactly what they dreamed of immediately.

Even 2B will be a distant memory - those aren't generally positions you see strong safeties playing. But if you project him to something realistic - 3B/RF ... it means the system has four serious 3B (including Sandoval) ... so you figure that is part of the trade inventory. Let's put it this way - I hope Cecchini is ready to move.

In theory it allows them to talk Betts. And I think the Phillies, for giving up 3 years of control of a good pitcher at a reasonable contract, want to come away with at least one real guy.

Easy there. Kid is 210 lbs already - chances of sticking at SS are very low. Also he's 19. I imagine the Sox - given he is not on a major league deal - will start him in Greenville. You have all season to move him up to Portland if he crushes the levels. But it clearly gives them an embarassment of position prospects which has not been the case in a while.

Question is whether they will put him in extended spring and then wait and start him in Lowell or something ... or do you go right to Greenville. If he can smash his way through full season ball as a 19 year old, that is plenty to get excited about. If he gets to Portland this year - then that is something to really really crow about. (of course this assumes the age is accurate)

It's a good signing. Even with the crazy overinflation of Cuban prospects, this seems like a premium one.

I've read right field is a reasonable projection for him. 6'0" 210 as a 19 year old makes it very possible he will outgrow the position quickly - but apparently the tools and bat project anywhere

It will be interesting - Moncada from what I have read yes is a SS, but given his size and age, almost no chance of staying there. But the bat could/should still be plenty good for RF.

Except the 4 seasons they missed the playoffs were very very different seasons. Nobody wants to repeat 2012 and 2014. But 2010 and 2011 were still a lot of wins.

Pitch clock would not be a bad idea. The measures introduced will help a bit. The batters box thing is the most sensible of them clearly. I am amazed that they did not mandate that the second visit from the mound be eliminated. The manager has a phone, the bullpen has a phone - there is no reason to delay a pitching change. Of course the most important measure would be automating balls and strikes - that is the hugest driver to slow games.

It is the reason more than anything Farrell (even with the questions one can have) got extended, and why Maddon, Francona have been such desirable managers (and why someone like Gabe Kapler seemed so sensible on TV compared to Joe Morgan). Understanding both the old timey baseball things as well as the analytics and being able to work with them both. It is a hard skill set to find these days. And certainly bridging the gap between the analytics types and players is key for success with this stuff.