moonslav59

What is the BTV values given to Casas and Abreu?

We just don't have what it takes to win these kind of games. We are really good at coming close, but time and time again, coming close ends up in the "L" column. I guess we still have a shot, but where are the signs we want this thing? Very depressing loss.

That was a big loss. Again, we had chances and chances. Same ole- same ole.

In the make-up game, the Sox scored 6 in the 9th to win 11-4. Campbell went 2-2 and Teel 2-3. They won the short game 8-4, as Priester went 4 IP w 1 ER (4H, 1BB, 7K.) Teel homered and walked twice, Anthony 2-4 (.949) and Grissom 2-3 (.725.) Castro & Jordan 2-4. POR lost 4-3, but Wikelman did well. 5 IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 7K

I'd rather trade Casas than Campbell or Anthony, and maybe even Teel. I might give them a choice of Casas or Mayer plus secondary pieces. Maybe adding Yoshida and taking back Garver could be worked into the mix, but we cannot count on him as a real back-up catcher. Casas, Yoshida and Abreu for Miller & Garver with no money added. We move Devers to 1B and see who we can play at 3B: Campbell, Mayer, Story, Meidroth. Anthony takes RF from Abreu & Ref.

I gotta think Seattle offers the best opportunity to trade for a very good SP'er. We may not match up, in terms of what they need, and they are not the type of team that has a lot of room on their roster for a 3 forty man roster players for 1 type trade. We could try to lessen the return package by taking on some big salaries. We could part with a top 4 prospect or young players, but we can't create new holes by doing so. Here is a look at their 5 SP'ers. fWAR 4.1 Logan Gilbert (82 ERA-, 3.19 xFIP) 3 Arbs remaining (out of 4) 3.7 George Kirby (95 ERA-, 3.56 xFIP) 4 Arbs remaining (1 to 4) 2.4 Bryce Miller (83 ERA-, 3.90 xFIP) Pre-Arb ('26 is Arb 1) 2.4 Luis Castillo (95 ERA-, 3.84 xFIP) 3 yrs at $21.6M AAV w vesting option '28 2.0 Bryan Woo (62 ERA-, 3.84 xFIP) Pre-Arb ('26 is Arb 1) We would have to part with some real talent to get any of these guys. They are not in rebuild mode, but we have some ML ready prospects they may want: Anthony, Campbell, Mayer, Teel and maybe Meidroth, Fitts, Priester or Sandlin as add ons. We could offer top young players like Casas or Duran, or add to the package with guys like Abreu, DHam, Grissom or a lesser pitcher, but the larger the package, the more likely we'd have to take back a higher contract player, like... Mitch Haniger $15.5M/1 remaining or Mitch Garver $11.5M with mutual option for '26 at $12M w $1M buyout- essentially a $12.5M/1 deal. I don't think they view Castillo's deal as a drag, but they may prefer to trade him, so they can sign a FA with the savings, or maybe we could include Yoshida in a deal for him. It's hard to find a package that looks good for both teams.

In theory, we should try to ... (not in order of importance) 1. Find a taker for Yoshida with minimal payments needed going along with him. (Abreu-Ref platoon at DH w Anthony in RF or Abreu in RF and DHam/EValdez platooning with Ref at DH. 2. Find a bridge catcher to Teel. 3. Upgrade the rotation with the best pitcher we can sign or trade for, without creating a bigger issue. 4. Upgrade at closer or top set-up man and use Hendriks for the other with Slaten as the #2 set-up man. 5. Add another quality SP or RP. This is minimum and need not break the bank or empty the farm to get done.

LOL We've had numerous games, where we look beat, on paper, but win. (We also have too many games with the opposite true.)

Having one of MLB's top 20 platoon bats vs LHPs, Refsnyder, has been a major reason, he hasn't gotten a long looks vs lefties.

So, you think teams are doomed to repeat precisely what they have done since Aug 6th? How realistic is that? The fact is, this team has had many ups and downs. Maybe we are done with the ups, for the year, maybe not. Again, I see no sign of a great run coming up, but it's not unrealistic to think it might happen. Besides, with 18 games left, is it near impossible this happens? We go 3-0 v MIN and 8-7 vs the others, while MIN goes 0-3 vs us and 7-8 in the other games. It might be against the odds, but I'm not sure it is unrealistic, just yet.

Crawford needs to turn it around. Pivetta, tomorrow. Keep the mojo rising!

Yes, it's not just recency, of course, nor is it picking the exact date that things tuned badly as the defining point on just how badly we have been doing. Yes, it matters, but so does taking 2 of 3 from CWS and a big win against BAL, most recently. Sometimes, and I'm not predicting a long winning stretch, beating a bad team gets a team into a winning mojo. (I'm trying hard to stay hopeful.)

The more I think about it, the more I do not want to swap Abreu for RHB. We need pitching way more. I'm wondering how much of an upgrade we can get on Crawford by trading him and Abreu, together. Wink & Abreu for ____. Sandlin & Abreu for ____. Maybe a team who has 3 roster slots: Abreu, DHam and Crawford for ____.

I agree. The best chance we have is sweeping the Twins when we play them for 3. If we take 2 of 3, we gain just one game, and still have to win and pray they lose. The corner we backed ourselves into is very dark.

So, recency doesn't matter, then?

Agreed, but couldn't someone claim, what we have done in the last 6 games is a better example than what we did August 6th to 10th vs Aug 1st to 5th?

I do think Garver could be a fit, but I'd prefer Ref at DH vs LHP, assuming Yoshi is traded. Of course, a RF platoon with Ref and Garver at DH works better than hoping Abreu figures out LHPs, but I also think he will get a chance to do that, soon. I also think Anthony should be our FT starting RF'er by the end of April, so Abreu-Ref at DH makes the most sense. (The other is the 4th OF'er.) We could play Anthony in CF and Abreu in RF vs some tough RHPs, and give Rafaela a day off.

Selected Top OPS On the Farm 1.017 Gasper (AA>AAA) .994 Campbell (3 teams) .913 Jh Garcia (3 teams) .896 Arias (FCL>A-) .880 Anthony (AA>AAA) .862 Meidroth AAA .850 Mayer AA .845 B Gonzalez A+ .840 Romero (3 teams) .795 Teel (AA>AAA) OPS Against .411 Valera FCL>A+ (63 IP) .506 Y Ruiz DSL (47) .529 Ingrassia A- (58) .552 Dean A->A+ (80) .572 Wehunt (A->A+) 92 .580 E R-C A->A+ (90) .596 Monegro FCL>A+ (76) .601 Kirwin A- (69) .614 Dobbins AA>AAA (115)

Abreu may get a look at playing FT, and I think Anthony gets called up, the day his service time clicks to an extra year (April '25?) Campbell may also play OF, but I do not think he is ML ready for that, yet. If Rafaela move to CF, FT, like he should, and we trade Yoshi, I think Ref at DH makes a lot of sense. He's not good in RF.

Campbell is in play at 2B, too. I just see no fit for EV w BOS.

Spot on.

You see no chance he can be an acceptable LF'er, or decent enough that his bat may overcome those short-comings? (I'm not sure, at all.) I think we part ways with him. It's interesting to note, he still leads all Sox players with PAs at 2B and has an .882 OPS since June 1st. Top Sox Jun1>>> (100+ PAs) .936 Duran .930 O'Neill .899 Devers .882 Valdez .830 Abreu .790 Ref .789 Yoshi & Romy .730 Rafaela .727 Wong .668 DHam

If Ref does not retire, what are the chance Garver outhits him vs LHPs?

While I think E Valdez might end up being a good MLB hitter, and possibly a very good platoon hitter, his horrific defense makes him a 40 man roster bubble player, for us, this winter>spring. He may end up being a DH only type, and not many DH-only, platoon guys stick around for very long. I can't see him ever improving at 2B, enough to stick, there. Maybe his best shot is LF, but we are loaded there. We also have a FT DH, who bats LH'd, too. I'm thinking we trade him, if anyone gives something for him, or he gets DFA'd to make room for Rule 5's, or makes it to near opening day as the last guy to be DFA'd.

Lot's of maybes and moving parts on the farm, especially with what position many end up being best at.