moonslav59

I realize $25M+ for a DH and 4th OF'er seems absurd, but we have a clear spot for him at DH. HRam is supposed to be able to play 1B next year. I doubt it would hurt to get JD to play some 1B- maybe just in NL parks.

JD Martinez can DH, and HRam can play 1B. JD can play the OF when OF'ers need a rest or are injured. He would play the OF in NL parks. You don't really get into the pluses and minuses to Hosmer and Santana, which is what I expected with the title. Also, I remember all the numbers posted about AGon before we acquired him. I remember projecting 50+ HRs, since he did so well "going to LF". I'd love to see us get JD, and the age comp with EE is an important point. I think Santana makes the most sense as we need a 1Bman and could use as much spending space as possible going forwards. I'm dead set on Hosmer.

I do think 2B is Holt's best IF position. I've never liked Holt's OF defense despite those short and scattered numbers that shows he's okay. To me, Holt has been a "Jack of no trades". The only thing keeping him on the roster is that his OPS is close to .700 vs LHPs and RHPs, which is decent for a sub, and the fact that he can play so many positions at a level that is not really embarrassing. The numbers Pos inn UZR/150 (DRS) 3B 875 -11.6 (-12) 2B 869 +1.8 (+3) LF 680 -9.5 (+6) RF 464 +15.2 (+12) SS 212 +12.0 (-3) 1B 129 -8.0 (-2) CF 75.2 -33.2 (0)

I like the idea of having Swihart on the bench as our 3rd catcher and corner IF'er. I'm not sure about 2B, but we'll find out quick enough, if that's doable. Having a 3rd catcher allows us to PH for Vaz or Leon or both more easily. Vaz vs RHPs: .657 vs LHPs: .702 Leon vs RHPs: .638 vs LHPs: .744 Swihart vs RHPs: .725 vs LHPs: .673 (Note: Swihart doesn't have to be the player who PH's for Vaz or Leon. A better hitter could PH, and then Swihart catches.

I think if we were going to trade Holt, he'd already be gone, so we could protect one more Rule 5 player. I guess he could be traded after our first FA signing.

I prefer Marrero over Holt, too, but Holt can act as the 5th OF'er. (I guess Lin could, too.) I doubt we could get Marisnik for Leon, but I'd do it. I'd also trade Leon & Holt (or Brentz) for him.

Gordon is not a salary dump. I'm wondering what the offer would be without him. Also, is any money going to SF in this scenario?

Uehara was amazing with us. He should have cured any ails all by himself.

I know Swihart is pretty athletic, but I do not see him as being capable enough to play 2B. It's not really a doctor's call on 2B. I'm glad his ankle is feeling better. I hope there are no relapses. I'd like to see him get a real chance to show what he's got. It's not like trading Holt is going to upset me. It's not like keeping Lin at AAA is either. Marrero is out of options, but I'm not going worry about his future with the Sox. Marco should make the 25 man roster. It sounds like Brentz gets the 4th OF slot. The rest of the bench is wide open.

Stanton will be traded to the team who offers the most. I seriously doubt that if Jeter thinks the best offer is not good enough, he will keep Stanton. He'll take the best he can get. I don't think it will be as much as some think it will be, but I've been wrong before.

They want Stanton: they just can't afford him. They want to dump $30M a year in salary, and if they have to pay some of Stanton's deal to get a better return, they'll have to trade Gordon and/or Prado (dump). Finding a trading partner willing to take the whole contract is one choice they are looking at. They will weigh that choice vs the offers made where the Marlins pay part of Stanton's deal. I realize other teams can make better prospect offers than us, but they will want money. We don't have to ask for money. I hope we don't have to trade JBJ or Bogey for prospects to flip to Miami. I'm not sure I'd want to open new holes. I think we can offer a nice prospect package that might be good enough, assuming we take Stanton's full salary. If we agreed to take Prado, too, I feel we could get Stanton for much cheaper than many think he will cost.

It's not like a .713 OPS is horrible for a player's first 390 MLB PAs. Baseball Reference projects a .746 OPS in 2018. His last two full seasons in the minors, before his injury in 2016 and ML stint in 2015 saw some very promising offensive numbers: 2013: .794 OPS in A+ (422 PAs) 2014: .810 OPS in AA & AAA (451 PAs) Yes, his 2016-2017 numbers on the farm are far from encouraging, but he was coming off an injury and played sparingly (122 PAs in 2016 and 250 in 2017).

Not every player follows the path of recent numbers and steamer projections. I gave up on Travis Shaw based on similar numbers on the farm and some bad stretches in short stints in the bigs. I'm not very confident in Swihart's chances at making it big, but I do still see some promise. He's not going to be given a key role next year, so if he fails, it won't be a big deal, and he can be replaced. I'm hoping he does well, and I won't be surprised if he does.

I'm kind of surprised Buttrey was added. Beeks and Shepherd were predictable.

I think we could offer Chavis, Houck, Beeks and Scherff with no JBJ and no money changing hands. Maybe we have to give Groome instead of Beeks or Scherff.

My guess is they'd make the trade without Wright and no money exchanging hands. They'd flip JBJ for 2-3 more prospects and save $30M a year.

No Farrell is addition by subtraction. I'm hopeful Cora is the right guy.

Stanton already realizes going to LA, NY or Boston will quadruple his "exposure" over going to STL. He'll also have a better chance at a ring.

Yes. His elbow is magical.

Maybe they trade him to one of the 5 teams you mentioned vying for the services of the best 1Bmen. The amount of teams looking might stay the same.

I'd do it, but I think we can get him for less without getting the $15M. It seems absurd for Miami to pay Boston anything. Just give less in return.

On Stanton... There are some evaluators around MLB who believe the Marlins need a “reality check” with regards to their asking price for the slugger, Buster Olney of ESPN writes. With $295MM left on his contract and an opt-out clause after 2020 on his deal, Stanton lacks surplus value, per Olney, which jibes with a Morosi report from earlier this week. One executive told Olney that the Marlins are “not going to find teams willing to give up both the money and the prospects, and that’s why [they’ll] probably have to choose: They can either take the talent and eat some of the money, or they’ll have to prioritize the [money] savings.” _______________________________________ I think the Sox might be one of the few teams willing to take the full contract, thereby lessening the return to a point where I think some might be surprised ho little they get back.

MLBTR has a few stories on the Sox... ***One guesses the Sox protect Jaleb Beeks, Chandler Sheherd & Jake Cozart from the Rule 5 Draft. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/11/19/red-sox-mull-candidates-for-man-roster/tAcBZeJdWU7OND8AqeyjCM/story.html *** One mentions possibly going "small" and saving some money for mid season by "going after ... Jay Bruce, Hyun Soo Kim & Zach Duke." *** One mentions Bryce Brentz looking to get some playing time as the 4th OF'er and talk of lessening Sale's workload next season. They mention the fact that we have 5 more off days in next year's schedule, which will help. http://m.redsox.mlb.com/news/article/261909244/bryce-brentz-added-to-red-sox-40-man-roster/ We have 20 days off during the season, not counting the 4 day all star break. We end the season at home vs Bal for 3 (day off) then 3 at home vs the Yanks. Before those 6 games we go to NYY for 3 then CLE for 3. That's a tough last 12 games. We start the season at TBR for 4 then 2 at Miami (no days off). Then we have a day off, play vs TBR at home, another day off (a rare Friday off), 2 more at home, then another offday before playing NYY (3) and BAL (4) before a west coast road trip with no day off for travel. So, maybe we start the season like this... @TBR Sale @TBR Price @TBR Pom @TBR Porchello @MIA Wright @MIA Sale Off TBR Price +1 Off TBR Pom +2 TBR Porch +2 Off NYY Sale +2 NYY Price +1 NYY Pom BAL Porch BAL Wright +7 BAL Sale BAL Price If we pitch Sale game 2, he gets an extra day's rest before his next 2 starts.

He'd likely be traded for a player (or prospect) who has options left.

I hoping and praying Hosmer goes to one of the other 4 teams you listed. I'm glad Seattle is not contending for a 1Bman anymore. That leaves 3-4 teams looking at... Santana Reynolds & Morrison (not really "big players" but significant enough) Then the next tier... Alonso Moreland Duda Someone may trade for a 1Bman. Someone, like us, might sign Moustakas and move their 3Bman to 1B. Also, we could not even sign a 1Bman and go with Hram at 1B and sign a 4th OF'er who can DH (JD Martinez?).