rkarp1

I would think after the B's and C's finish embarrassing themselves, and after the NFL draft, interest will pick up.

usually tall LHP take some time to find themselves. too many examples to name. 24 years old and healthy, no way have I given up on Owens, nor Johnson/Ball (similarly tall)

I prefer my best hitter in the #2 hole, and at this moment I think that would be Betts Pedroia Betts Boegarts Hanley Bennitendi Young/Moreland Sandoval Vaz JBJ

I post here every now an then. I am over on the other forum, where Pumpsie and I have private conversations

isn't the DL now 10 days?

it is a long season, and TT and Smith will contribute at some points in season. this is a deep and talented pen, with Barnes, Kelley and Hembree all capable, along with Ross. I also like what I see from Callahan. championships are won on the field, not in the off season. Price and Pomm will also be healthy and contribute before long. It is going to take a 32-33 player roster, I like the RS chances

all that being said above, I would not mind one bit if he opts out when his first chance comes about. lets get the 3 years from him, and move on. year 1, inconclusive? nice peripherals, but not the results anyone expected? is he capable of more? or have we seen the best of Price and its in another teams uni?

Law also listed his top 10 by position, with Benni #1, Groome #1 lefty, Koepech #1 righty, Devers #1 3B (over Moncada)...Travis #4 1B

I am struggling having 2 4A catchers on your major league roster as "depth". Or maybe we can say the team has depth but no starter? I could agree that Hern may be better than Holt if we were talking inf defense. I dont think Rutledge makes this team out of ST. I like Young and view him as a semi regular due to his presumed DH duties. I also like him in the OF My point on "depth" was more so needing someone to play every day due to inevitable injury. If the need arises to play someone 1-2 months, there is nothing in Pawtucket on the field or on the mound. I would assume a search for the next Aaron Hill would commence. If Benni ...gasp....struggled, would Swi be moved to the OF? Would Brentz be summoned? Lets face it there is no Bogey or Benni or Moncada just about ready to plug in. I would assume there is no rush to rush Devers or Groome.

Yes, I understand, and many agree with you. However, I am not completely sold on Leons outlier 1.5 months. I also have to see more from Vaz. I do think Swihart will be great, but maybe not quite this year Rutledge and Hern for me are 4A players Young IMO is our DH while Moreland is depth/defensive replacement Travis in June if Moreland is a K machine I was not counting pitching

seems I am in the minority on the pen. I think it will be a strength for the team. I am still 100% on board with Kimbrel and think if healthy, he is going to be great I also like Kelly, Barnes and Hembree is that 7-8 area. all touch 95 plus and I much prefer hard throwers in middle relief. I have not seen much of Thornberg so cannot comment Smith seems likely an after the AS break reinforcement Could Wright also augment this group? My concern is with team depth. Injuries will happen. Young seemingly is a semi regular. After Holt, I see 4A guys with nothing imminent in the minors

yeah. who was Toronto negotiating against at that cost? he has some pretty doable incentives that could make this a 3 year deal. I had no interest going there. 1 year at say $10 would have been interesting... did the RS jump on Moreland too soon?

not sure why this is news? much ado about nothing

it is fair to point to Bautista's OPS...but it was .817 in an injury season. Moreland's was .720 in a healthy season I also understand you would not pay a great amount for him..but he is available at this time. what would you pay for him? and would he be an upgrade?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al-east/boston-red-sox/

perhaps I am under estimating Moreland and over estimating Bautista. Moreland was able to post only a .7 WAR last season in spite of some reasonable fielding numbers. Bautista only able to produce a 1 war, but coming off 5.1 and 6.1 seasons.

all good points, but no one is discussing numbers by all accounts the salary cap thresh hold for 2017 is $195m. the RS per Spotrac sit at $168M (after Bucholz) perhaps the RS have an internal budget that is not related to the salary cap however, paying another player upwards of $10m does not put them in salary cap hell, not really even close if they are "all in" they need another bat imo, with it being "risky" to assume Hanley will not show some regression based on his prior 5-6 year record, Benni might show some growing pains, Young's splits. and it is not only Ortiz numbers that concern me; I do expect Benni over a full year to progress I do expect Boegardts to show some increased power numbers I would be surprised if Betts had a BETTER year, and would be thrilled if he remained the same I would have to say the same regarding JBJ I feel Pedroia had his best season in quite some time, and regression should be expected I also feel Hanley will show some regression When available, Young played VERY well. Regression to norm should be expected Who knows what Panda, Leon or Vaz will have to offer offensively If a bat is available for $10m that is an upgrade, I am all for it....so the question put forth, what do you think Bautista signing price will be? is he an upgrade?

is anyone intrigued by the thought of having a knucklehead available for multiple innings every day in that 6/7/8 area as needed? Price/Wright/Kimbrell would seem to keep most any line up off balance with in a game. I would not want a knucklehead coming in with runners on base, ut if a guy like Pomm is going to be very effective at that 90 pitch count, why not have a guy like Wright available at any time? I also agree that this is a season ERod shows huge progression.

what is the thought on what it would take to sign Bautista? would 2/$18 with the 2nd year a club option do it? if this version of the RS are in a "win now" mode, does this great pitching staff have the support of enough offense? I am intrigued with Moreland, but no where ready to cede 500 PA's to him. Hanley seemingly was very healthy last year compared to so many prior seasons. Is anyone ready to say that Benni is 1000% ready to come in with out any set backs? Swihart might be an answer. Young should stay healthy, but his splits still scream manage his PA's. why not bring Bautista in at the right price and let him play 120 games at DH. potential 1B/LF options? This keeps Hanley as your full time 1B with some DH rotation/rest, and Moreland also in that 1B/defensive replacement/DH rotation.

All backup catcher are in the "defense first" category. And a lot of them are now used to handle one starter and give the regular catcher a break from squatting all day. I thought Hannigan was average and think defensively both Vaz and Leon are an upgrade...perhaps offensively as well

looking at Holt/Young/Vaz as the first 3 off the bench, with the DH also able to play 1B this season. I think the 7-10 spots are pretty solidly wrapped up once Smith returns (June?) 6-Wright 7-Kelly/Barnes/Hembree/Ross 8-Thornburg 9-Smith 10-Kimbrell

agree 100%. but if Swi is raking in AAA I expect him back June 1

I think Plouffe is a player that could help in that Aaron Hill look role. What's the thought here on Brock? 5th OF? Back up SS/2B? 3rd DH? I like what Brock brings to the table and agree with the "over use" tag. But having someone like Plouffe in the fold really limits Brock's games at 3B/1B, no?

I don't think Swihart is in the "he'll never learn" category. I think he is in the "he needs more games as a catcher" category. I have no doubts he will be good enough defensively, and if his bat forces him onto the field sooner than later, that is fine with me. I am also comfortable with the back up C being defense first, with the back up having a "special" relationship with a starting P and catching him every start. I have no feeling either way for Vaz or Leon, but do think Vaz has more upside defensively than Leon, and also has the opportunity to offer more slugging upside

RS are now a fly ball pitching team and having an OF trio like they currently have is of too much value. Conforto is still a ? for me. Bruce is too poor a defender to play RF or LF imo. I am content to stand pat and see how the team comes out of ST healthy or not, and again see how things play out to the trade dead line. I also see Swi, Travis in the not so distant future getting PA's.