moonslav59

I'm not defending the Yanks not spending like the Dodgers, but they have not for a long time, now.

Looks right. I'd protect Wikelman for 2 reasons. 1. We have plenty of room on the 40 man roster, even if we add 5-6 FAs. 2. He will be added to the 40, at some point, so we should not risk someone taking him. I thought the 26th man of the roster might mean more Rule 5 picks, but that didn't really happen, last year.

Covering all the bases, but you can't trust any poster who started in 2008.

Maybe- emphasis on maybe- Houck can be a reliable lockdown closer, but he has not proved he can, just yet. He may very well be handed the job on day one, though, but it is not a "sure bet," IMO. I like Whitlock better than Houck for the closer role, but I also think Whitlock would make a better starter, so I think that's what he'll be in 2023.

One reason I am not so sure Houck has been annointed the closer, already. We may also go with 2 "relief aces" and mix and match who pitches in the traditional closer, ninth inning role.

So, notin sounded like he thought Houck would be a sure bet good closer, when he added "No prediction on if he loses it…?" I'm not sure how anyone can interpret that as a yes. Again, I think notin is wrong to say Houck will certainly be the closer, but that is all he said.

This winter's Rule 5 eligible players: Enmanuel Valdez (Minor League FA- if signed to a minor league deal, he'd be Rule 5.) Wilyer Abreu Dan Altavilla Angel Bastardo Brock Bell Royman Blanco Brainer Bonaci Zach Bryant Cameron Cannon Brendan Cellucci Felix Cepeda Kole Cottam Wil Dalton Joe Davis Osvaldo De La Rosa Luis De La Rosa Tyler Dearden Nick Decker Jonathan Diaz Alex Erro Tyler Esplin Albert Feliz Durbin Feltman Ryan Fernandez Ryan Fitzgerald Feleipe Franks Grant Gambrell Rio Gomez Wikelman Gonzalez Bryan Gonzalez Devlin Granberg David Hamilton Gabriel Jackson Axel James Gilberto Jimenez Christian Koss Austin Lambright Dominic LoBrutto Eduardo Lopez Bryan Lucas Naysbel Marcano Elih Marrero Chris Murphy Brendan Nail Andres Ortuno Yusniel Padron-Artiles Eddinson Paulino Aaron Perry AJ Politi Ceddanne Rafaela Jose Ramirez Oscar Rangel Tyreque Reed Carlos Reyes Jorge Rodriguez Giancarlos Santana Victor Santos Stephen Scott Cody Scroggins Chase Shugart Nick Sogard Noah Song Dylan Spacke Luis Talavera Jake Thompson Freddy Valdez Michael Valera Eduardo Vaughan Jacob Wallace Brandon Walter Thaddeus Ward Alex Zapete Ryan Zeferjahn

I'd like to see how those who feel Bloom has done a terrible job with his choices would grade these moves. Here's mine: Red= Good Blue= Bad Black= middle or jury still out Cordero, Winckowski, L de la Rosa, F Valdez & G Gambrell for Beni Renfroe signed for $3.1M/1 (2 arbs left) Kike signed for $14M/2 Richards signed for $10M/1 Barnes extended for $18.8M/2- jury may still be out, but he'd have to be great in '23. Whitlock drafted Rule 5 and extended $18.8M/4 Schreiber selected off waivers JBJ, Bineles & Hamilton for Renfroe Paxton signed for $10M/1 w option Wacha signed for $7M Story signed for $140M/6 Moderate Moves: Pivetta & Seabold for Workman & Hembree Arroyo acquired off waivers R Hernandez for Springs & Mazza I guess RHern could surprise us, but... Marwin Gonzalez signed for $3M/1 Ottavino & German acquired in trade. M Perez signed for $5M/1 Rich Hill signed for $5M/1 worth $5M Diekman signed for $8M/2 McGuire for Diekman Strahm signed for $3M/1 Refsnyder signed as minor league FA Hosmer + cash, Ferguson & Rosier for Groome E Valdez & W Abreu for Vazquez Minor Moves that are noteworthy: Moreland for J Rosario & H Potts Pillar for J Wallace Sawamura signed $3M/2 Andriese signed for $2.1M/1 Robles for Alex Scherff (signed for $2.3M/1) Austin Davis for Chavis (signed for $720K) Y Rios acquired for cash K Ort Minor League Rule 5 draftee T Pham for Northcut Z Kelly signed as minor league FA Danish signed as minor league FA

I don't disagree, but if the Yanks keep a tight budget, like they have for a few years, now, at what cost does Judge become a determent to the rest of the roster? The Yanks do not have a bad farm system, so they should be able to handle one bloated contract, but if Cole starts dropping off and DJ and Stanton do, too, his big contract will prevent paying for some FA plug-ins where and when needed.

I think there will be interest, but when you say "looks like..." it sounds like there is a report that he is about to sign with the Sox.

I don't even agree with notin's position. I was just explaining it to you. Man, you have serious comprehension issues.

I know what Red is saying. I know what notin is saying. I actually disagree with notin that the closer role is a "sure bet" to be Houck's on opening day. I was just correcting what I feel was Red's misinterpretation of notin's statement.

I didn't realize this site was for exclusive one on one conversations, and nobody ever chimes in with their 2 cents. Once again, I apologize for going against your rules of engagement. Notin clearly stated it was not a "sure bet" Houck would be or would not be a successful closer by saying "nor prediction on if he loses it." You are free to have wrong interpretations, but expect to be called out on them.

Boone returning certainly means Cashman, too.

Why does it "look like" that?

He responded to your "safe bet" statement, I don’t believe there is any kind of bet especially a safe one that they know who the closer is going to be,... By adding... No prediction on if he loses it…, which clearly in dicates he does not know if Houck is a safe bet to be good, only a safe bet to be the closer when the season starts, but of course, you have your alternative meanings for words shared by none.

I think he means a safe bet he is slotted as our closer- not that it's safe he will do well.

My guess is they go with Houck as the opening day closer, agreed, assuming healthy. They will likely put Whitlock in the rotation, so they can not have to spend big on 2 SP'ers, either in money or by trade capital. SP1 _____ SP2 Sale SP3 Whitlock SP4 Pivetta SP5 Bello SP6 Crawford, Winckowski, Mata, Walter, Seabold, TWard, Murphy Closer Houck RP2 _____ RP3 _____ RP4 Schreiber RP5 Barnes RP6 Kelly RP7 (SP6) Taylor, Brasier, Danish, McGee, Reed, German, Ort I'd like to see us add 4 solid pitchers, but my guess is we go with 3. If it means 3 much better pitchers than the 4 they might have added, I'd be fine with that. I hope we trade for a #1/2 SP'er and try to hard sign Montero and Fulmer or someone just as promising. Trading for a SP'er would also leave enough money to fill the SS and RF holes to the point of an overall, combined projected improvement. We may stick with what we have at C (McGuire), 1B (Casas) and DH (Hosmer/Dalbec). The bench would be Wong, Arroyo, Refsnyder and Dalbec/Hosmer (whichever is not DHing.)

Agreed. Minimum and healthy. Assuming 100% health in 2022, we might have had 9: Sale Eovaldi Wacha Pivetta Hill/Paxton combined Whitlock Houck Schreiber (was supposed to be Taylor) Barnes

Did I miss anything?

There is a $4M player option, so they must view that has his negative value. If he takes it and gives us nothing, he's worth -$4M. He had -$6M, this season.

I know. To say Duran is our 8th most valuable vet is a pretty blatant mistake, IMO. I guess they still see offensive promise.

BTV updated their player values for the winter. Here are the Sox numbers: MLB Level 39 Casas 34 Whitlock 33 Bello 29 Devers 24 Schreiber 19 Houck 7 McGuire 6 Duran 3 Winckowski, Hosmer, Seabold, Verdugo 2 Taylor, Wong, German Minors: 55 Mayer 15 Rafaela 14 Bleis 12 Yorke 9 Romero 7 W Gonzalez, Coffey 6 Lugo, Walter 5 Jordan 4 Mata 3 Murphy, Paulino, McDonough, Bonaci 2 RHern, Jimenez, Abreu, Anthony, Rosier, Drohan, Hickey, Rodriguez-Cruz, Chacon, Hamilton The Negatives -37.4 Story -27.4 Sale -7.8 barnes -4 Paxton -0.6 Arroyo

We certainly may see a surprise like that. With OF being a high need area, I'm not so sure about this time, though. If they think someone like EValdez can play LF, or Rafaela will be ML ready sooner than we think, maybe. BTV has Verdugo worth 2.6- the same as Bonaci and close to RHern and McDonough. (I think he's worth more than that, but maybe they expect him to get hefty arb raises.)

I have to think the Mets will make a strong push, too. The Yanks will have to pay a lot to keep him.