moonslav59

Not really, but not because of injuries, as far as I know. He was more or less platooned in MN. 1997 51 PAs (594 in minors) 1998 326 PAs (40) 1999 25 PAs (563) 2000 478 PAs (0 minors) 2001 347 PAs (58) 2002 466 PAs From 2000-2002, he never went over 478 PAs in MLB or combined. That's way better than Cordero, of course, but he was never considered FT in MN.

Neither did Papi, until he got here.

It wouldn't bother me, at all, if we signed Gardner.

Not everyone can learn a new position like Betts did. Not every decent prospect who gets called up hits like Devers, Betts and Bogey. Just because he turns 25, this season, does not mean he is ML ready, especially since last season did not help his development curve.

Well,... At the time, nobody knew he was going to age this well. I doubt he alone, or even with Scherzer staying, would have made the Tigers into contenders. They'd have had to spend more (and more).

If we don't sign a CF'er or 2Bman, I'm thinking Cordero is our CF'er. Renfroe will play FT in LF. EHern at 2B. With EHern able to play so many positions, especially CF very well, and now Gonzalez on board, we'll have a lot of flexibility to mix and match, partial platoon, and adjust as we go, based on how well certain players are doing. Cordero might be guy at the center of the cog. If he does well, there may not be much shifting around or platooning. EHern will play nearly FT at 2B and Marwin can spell players all over the diamond. If Cordero does poorly, it could get complicated, but still doable. EHern plays CF and Arroyo and or Chavis play 2B. If Arroyo or Chavis come on strong out of the gate, we could decide Cordero platoons with Renfroe in RF, and go with EHern near FT in CF. I don't really like scenarios with Verdugo in CF and Renfroe in RF, but that is an option. We may just go with the hottest hands out of these guys at 3 positions- 2B, CF, LF: EHern (2B/CF) will likely get over 600 PAs, if possible Renfroe (LF/RF) best vs LHPs Cordero (CF/RF/LF) best vs RHPs Gonzalez (L-R hitter) best if not needed at 2B or CF Arroyo (2B) sucks vs LHPs and is likely our back up SS and maybe 3Bman Chavis (1B-2B-LF?) may start in AAA AAA Duran (CF) Munoz (2B, OF, SS) not on 40 man roster Downs (2B) Puello, Gettys, Wilson (OF)

Beni +95 OPS+ from 2019-2020. People act like Beni was some sure thing bet for 2021. Sure, he has better history. He's already proven he can hit ML pitching for an extended period of time. He's a "safer bet," but what about the 2021 Red Sox screams for safety? This is the time for experimenting, finding out who is worth keeping, and plugging gaping holes until some farm hands get a chance to prove they belong (or not).

LOL. It's not like Sox pitching has been bad over Gardner's time with the Yanks. Here are his career splits (.743 OPS career) .768 at Fenway .771 at Yankee Stadium .741 v Boston pitching

I think Sox management has a better idea of when Duran is ML ready. Maybe, they think he is now or will be very soon, and that's why they are avoiding adding any true CF'er. I happen to think, since he is relatively new to playing the OF, they will give him a few months in AAA to work on his defense and add some more proof that his bat is ML ready. As of now, I think Cordero is our CF'er. Renfroe plays FT in LF. Verdugo in RF. If Cordero stumbles or gets hurt, EHerm moves to CF and Arroyo/Chavis play 2B. Duran, IMO, is not an option for opening day.

If EHern playing a lot in CF is not in the plans, then I can see looking for a LHH LF'er, but I'm still clinging to the hope we trade for a 2Bman- maybe someone like Adam Frazier. EHern plays CF. Renfroe-Cordero platoon in LF. Verdugo plays FT RF.

ftfy

To me, that's the best plan- other than trading for a 1 year 2Bman who doesn't cost much.

EHern has pretty good defensive numbers in CF. I'm thinking he's even be better than Pillar. If you look at the list of available 2Bmen (via trade), I think we can make it work.

It looks like Miller is signing for about what Marwin is getting. I don't like Marwin at 2B, either. He's not a CF'er, either. It's nice to have versatile utility players, but we keep adding players that don't address our biggest need: 2B or CF (wherever EHern is not playing.) Maybe, Bloom has a deal in the works. If we add a nice 2Bman (or CF'er), then the rest of the moves make more sense. (It also means Chavis starts in AAA- not such a bad thing.)

You mean CF or 2B. We have 26 left fielders.

Our roster is bad enough to keep both on the 26.

He's also acquired some players with high ceilings- like Codero, and beefed up the farm, more with quantity than quality, except for Downs. He's also added Verdugo, who many instantly think of as not as good as Betts, but the guy is very good and has many years of team control left. Our ML foundation is stronger. Our farm is stronger and should jump higher, after this draft. We have a bunch of short term role players biding time and maybe going on to extend or resign for a longer stint. I'm not going to lie. I expected us to pick up at least a couple players for the longer term that look better than Cordero, German, Winckowski, Whitlock. this winter. It looks like we punted, but it was a good punt- not a shank.

...and how could they afford Miggy, Verlander & Scherzer?

YES! Flexible is the right word to use. Nothing we did, this winter, ties us down long term.

I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs. My point is about many of the players we have added will not be part of the long term plan or the next team to win it all. Many are bridge players. We are waiting to find out more about Downs, Duran, Casas, Mata and a few others. We are waiting for the right time to spend big- hopefully next winter. We are waiting for Sale and ERod to show they can still pitch after major health concerns. We are going to have to decide on players with short term team control- extend them, wait it out or trade them. If we are not in the playoff hunt, and perhaps even if we are, we have to think about trading next winter's free agents (unless we extend some): ERod Ottavino Barnes Gonzalez Options for 2022 players: Garrett Vazquez Perez Andriese The free agents after 2022 are tougher calls: extend, trade or wait a while longer to decide... Bogaerts (opt out) JD Eovaldi EHern Plawecki (All the option players above that were given their 2022 options) These are the big choices. This winter, we had limited financial resources and too many holes to fill to think we were going to go all out or even sign 1-2 big name players in a rather weak at the top FA market. We added: Garrett 1-2 yrs Ottavino 1 yr EHern 2 Perez 1-2 (brought back) Renfroe (3 arbs) Gonzalez 1 Sawamuro 2 Andriese 1-2 Cordero (3 arbs) German Whitlock (rule 5) Winckowski +3 PTBNLs Last year, after the Betts> Verdugo, Downs, Wong trade and the draft, we added: Seabold Rosario Potts Wallace That's a massive turnover in a short time, and we still have a hole in CF and the bottom 5-6 slots on our 40 man roster. I'm actually more optimistic than many here, but more about the extended future than 2021.

Deep in mediocrity, wings and prayers.

Can I have what you're smoking?

Yes, I wish we had Mazza, Weber and Bozo the clown starting for us as we watched Betts being intentionally walked, all year. That would have been fun.

These deals weren't meant to get us to the top. They are all short term deals to bide time while our farm gets stronger and deeper. We may be able to deal a few of them at the deadline, of if everything gels, we make the playoffs and have some excitement as we do it allover again, next winter- hopefully with a better idea of what we have on the farm, and a lot more money to spend to the top after the cliff. Bloom has added a lot of farm pieces, a few high ceiling gambles, and some decent players that have options for 2022 and EHern signed for a whopping 2 years. If the plan is to go over the tax line, next winter- maybe by $19M, our options and choices will be way different from this winter's bridge signings. This is about being somewhat respectable, this year, while not damaging our long term outlook and even enhancing it. Some of the crap may stick, and we bring em back. Some will be gone. We'll be much better in 2022.

These are short term bridge signings to help us look near respectable as we punt the major decisions to next winter. Don't read too much into minor deals.