moonslav59

The Beni call seems right, but I don't see Beni playing RF, so that's why Renfroe gets more than the short split half usually would get, but maybe EHern plays more CF and hence Verdugo more RF. (That would mean Arroyo/Chavis gte more at 2B, at the expense of PAs by Renfro vs LHPs and Beni vs LHPs.) Maybe: Beni 550 Renfroe 450 (not 550) Arroyo 450 (not 350) EHern still 650 but with 450 in CF and just 200 at 2B. I tried to stay away from adding projections from others, but surely some will get some PAs, and maybe even serious amounts. We will likely add an everyday player that will take 50-200+ PAs- a CF'er or 2Bman. Chavis may even start in AAA. I don't think Casas is acalled up, this year. Downs maybe in Sept. Duran maybe earlier, depending on who we add as an OF'er before opening day. We may add two or end up adding an OF'er and 2Bman, so EHern squeezes out chances for Duran to play in 2021.

I'd like to see us add a SP, two RP'ers and a 2B or CF'er or maybe both. That's 5, tops. My guess is we will add 2 maybe 3 tops. I think there may be some real bargains to have, and maybe some of the players we sign could be traded at the deadline to bolster our farm, or we keep them and actually try and make the playoffs. It's not like we have major roster crunch issues. We've already discussed how the bottom of our 40 man roster easily has 6-10 players that are replaceable. The 26 man roster may have more issues, especially when players start returning from the IL, but we may see more going to the IL than returning, so maybe the won't be an issue. Chavis still has options, so we could add a 2Bman and not lose him as AAAA depth. Arroyo is out of options. The pitching staff has some issues, such as Whitlock needed to stay on the ML roster all year, and Pivetta, Ottavino, Andriese & Brice being out of options, but DFA'ing or trading Brice does not bother me. All these pitchers still have options: Houck, Dhern, Brasier, Taylor, Valdez, Seabold, Mazza, Brewer, Springs Barnes, too, but he won't be sent down.) Sale will start on the IL, likely the 60 day, and ERod may start on the IL, too. Assuming both do, our opening 13 man MLB staff could be: Eovaldi, Richards, Perez, Pivetta, FA Barnes, Ottavino, Brasier, DHern, Whitlock, Andriese, FA, FA or Brice This does leave room for 5 additions, without major roster moves beyond losing Brice. SP RP RP 2B OF This would strengthen our farm by adding Houck, Valdez, Taylor, Chavis and Puello/Gettys to AAA. When Sale & ERod return, or Houck is called up, we'll decide who goes or is demoted. I don't think we should miss out on bargains just to keep Brice and maybe even guys like Andriese.

I had him as my sleeper prospects, years ago, so I'm clinging to my slim chance, "I told you so". vs RHPs .898 in 2019 AAA .968 in 2018 AA/ .783 AAA .817 in 2017 AA/.844 A+ .831 in 2016 A .825 in 2015 A- In total, he has 45 HRs in his last 781 ABs in the minors (v R & v L combined).

Well, the trades that involved Vaz & Beni had Fowler & Bader coming to the Sox.

MLB cancelled their season?

Ockimey has killer numbers in splits, but only in the minors. I would not write him off, just yet.

Let's say we add no more players, could this be how the 700 PAs per position are divided? C: Vaz 550/ Plawecki 150 1B: Dalbec 550/Chavis 150 2B: EHern 300/Arroyo 300/Chavis 100 3B: Devers 650/Dalbec 50 SS: Bogey 650/Arroyo 50 LF: Beni 550/ Renfroe 150 CF: Verdugo 350/EHern 350 RF: Verdugo 300/Renfroe 400 DH: JD 650/Chavis 50 Total: 650: Bogey, Devers, JD, Verdugo, EHern 600: Dalbec 550: Vaz, Beni, Renfroe 350: Arroyo 300: Chavis 150 Plawecki (Of course, injuries will force more names on this list, but this may be a "template" of how playing time might be divided.) Anybody see any major changes they think may be part of the "plan?"

Another muscle bound player. To me, other than steroid-enhanced Bonds, it's the big muscle (or fat) guys that get hurt a lot as they age. Many are out of MLB before age 32 or 34. It's the little guys who stick around, especially those who are great defensively- like Betts!

I had suggested a few deals with STL involing Fowler and cash or a prospect. Some involved Beni or Vaz for more pieces.

They knew the Betts contract time was coming up. They chose to spend on other players, instead. Sure, none of them got an 8 to 12 year contract, and maybe that is precisely the type of deal Henry wants to avoid going forward. Maybe David Price is the last of our 7 or longer year contracts, especially to anyone 30 or older. That was December, 2015. Chris Sale got only 5 years (with an option). JD got 5. Hell, we extended Bogey for 6 years, but he got an opt out, and the first year of his deal began at age 27!

Hammerin' Hank and Willie Mays were mammoth guys!

I've never seen any evidence to back up the claim that smaller guys age poorly. I'd easily change my opinion, if I see it. Betts has some unique talents that I doubt anybody has ever studied- let alone how they do as they age. I've heard Betts has amazing "twitch reflexes." How does that ability age? I sure as hell don't know. First, what percentage of MLB players are categorized as "small" or "like Betts?" Then, is that percent about the same or worse among the best players beyond ages 32 or so? This may not mean jack, but here are the top fWAR players from ages 32-36 since 1970: 41 Bonds 32 Schmidt 32 McGwire 29 E Martinez 29 Rose 29 Edmonds 27 O Smith 27 A Beltre 27 Kent 26 Suzuki & C Jones 24 Stargell, L Gonzalez & Larkin 23 Morgon, Bagwell, Palmeiro, Walker, Whitaker & T Phillips 22 Molitar, D Evans, G Brett, D Jeter 21 B Williams & J Cruz 20 ARod, Hendu, B Giles Ages 37-41(which is actually beyond the years of the Betts contract) 39 Bonds 19 Aaron 15 Da. Evans 15 E Martinez 13 Papi & M Alou 12 W Mays, B Boone & J Morgan 11 C Fisk. Yaz & B Downing 10 O Smith, W Boggs 9 O Vizquel, S Finley, A Beltre, D Lopes, C Jones, P Rose 8 N Cruz, Hendu, J Kent One could argue the second list blows your argument out of the water.

Let's just say over 240.

Top 10 remaining FAs per MLBTR... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/top-10-remaining-free-agents-8.html

Dexter Fowler + almost $13M to Angels in trade. He's owed $16.5M/1. I'm not sure what is going to STL, but Fowler for less than $4M/1 seems pretty good.

Really? Me? The biggest Sox fan in the universe? Really?

Nick, you missed the context of my post. I was saying DD is 99.9% at fault for our current predicament, but I'm okay with where we're at. In no way am I blaming Bloom. I'm one of his biggest supporters. I'm thrilled we won in 2018. I'm fine with where we are now, but I'm not going to sugar coat the reality of our little "cliff."

I understand the thinking. There is a lot of merit to the idea of spreading out the risk. I just can't get over a top spending team like the Sox not being able to afford a once in a lifetime player like Mookie.

Yes, and as much as people are complaining about not spending a lot, this winter, we've actually spent more this winter than most teams. Can I ask you something? Doesn't it suck being a top 3 spending team and sucking, while having a below average farm, at best?

Our defense is lacking at many positions- actually all but maybe one position. Our pitching is anywhere between a big question mark and crap.

Did we not sign Richards, Hernandez & Ottavino (okay add Renfroe, too) with the budget space left open by the loss of the Betts contract? The reality is doom & gloom. This is the cliff you and many of us knew was coming. Why sugar coat it now? That being said, I do think "the cliff" is not as bad as I thought it would be. I see us with an outside chance at making the playoffs, especially if we add a few more low cost pieces, but are the players we just added what you had in mind as what we'd be replacing Betts with? I expected better, but I aslo expected us going over the tax line, this year. I can understand pushing it back a year, but I wasn't expecting this, when we traded Betts.

Yes, 99.9% because of the situation Dave left us in. I get the fact that this is a year after the reset, but we are still spending more than 27 teams, have no farm help for 2020 and would have to go $30M over the lux line to even be the third most favorite team in MLB. You can say that's on Henry, because he is refusing to spend. I say, had Dave left us with a better roster or a better budget, we'd be spending, right now. 99.9% on DD. Don't take that to mean I hate what DD did. I'm thrilled with 2018 and 3 straight AL East fist place finishes. This down time is worth it. That doesn't change whose fault it is.

The truth hurts, sometimes.

Not many repeat names on this list. That being said, I think Betts will age very well. I would have signed him to 12 years.

I can agree to 99.9%.