notin

I do struggle to believe both Rafaela and Abreu are starting in the Boston outfield in April (barring injuries). If only one, it still complicates things. If it’s Rafaela, who plays RF? If it’s Abreu, does Duran start the season in CF?

That guy. Organizational depth move…

Forcing a platoon is the correct use of the 40 man roster?

That means nothing concerning Duran. We also heard Tony Blanco would be an elite hitter and that never happened. Based on that, we trade Roman Anthony?

None this matters. “Outhit” doesn’t mean “outplayed.” Why does Refsnyder have to platoon with Duran? He can pinch hit, sun vs LHP for Verdugo, Yoshida, etc.? It’s not like his defense is needed. Ever.

That’s fine, too. And he doesn’t need to be in a platoon. If Cora wants to get Refsnyder’s bat into the lineup vs LHP, Duran isn’t the only lefty on the roster….

I think none of us expected him…

Duran is never going to hit LHP if he’s limited to 40PA per year…

Duran looked exciting in 2023, but didn’t look like a Major Leaguer in 2022 (and Sean McDonough said so on air). If he can be the 2023 Duran, screw platooning - play him full time. (His 120 career PA vs LHP have spread out over 3 years and therefore don’t tell us anything.)

We’d be getting an upgrade. The term “ace” is meaningless until someone comes up with an actual meaning…

Yeah but someone like Anthony would probably appeal to them much more. How many years will Duran have left while they are replacing Keller and Bednar?

What teams actually make sense for Verdugo and/or Duran? St. Louis has an overcrowded outfield already. They’ve been shopping Carlson and O’Neill (who is a very smart option for Boston). Milwaukee has Yelich for a few more years and has a slew of younger outfielders already (Mitchell, Frelick, Wiemer, etc.) Those teams are almost definitely not going to want the Sox outfielders. I would guess the most likely destinations for Verdugo are teams that think they have a chance in 2024 but need another outfielder. Seattle, Houston, Cleveland, and Miami all make sense, along with probably a few others. Duran might appeal to any team that needs OF help thanks to his control and salary. But some of these rebuilding teams like the White Sox probably prefer the higher potential guys. I don’t see Duran as a key piece for Cease. It’s probably safe to assume Cease is off the table until Roman Anthony is placed on it (at a minimum). The Pirates also are probably not going to break up their current rotation for an MLB player with a ticking clock.

Comparing the K and BB of starters to relievers isn’ta good reason. 4.8 BB/9 is awful, but I don’t see anyone shying away from Blake Snell or Charlie Morton. I’m not sold on Cabrera, but I’m also not sold on Duran. He was great in 2023, at least as a hitter. His fielding did improve, but it honestly had to considering how utterly pathetic he was in 2022. And it doesn’t appear you’re all that sold on Duran since he’s always a platoon player. It’s not hard to find a lefty hitter that struggles against lefties; he’d be easy to replace in that regard…

Like Matt Chapman?

No. I just didn’t describe how MLB.com scribes like Ian Browne thinks trades still work. (Not to mention it’s nothing like what Bloom did ever.) Most trades are done about money. Most teams “rebuild the farm” while simultaneously shedding salary, and they are NOT doing it because of the untapped potential on the farm. Cheap salaries matter. Apparently I have to be VERY EXPLICIT and say they are NOT the only thing that matters, but they absolutely matter. As for Breslow, maybe he should make a deal or two beyond signing a former Twin OF with a career .441 OPS before we evaluate him either way.

I absolutely do not think teams value prospects higher than established major leaguers solely because of the unlimited ceiling. Context. Try it…

I think he’s over valued and Cabrera is undervalued on BTV. Both Steamer and FDGC project Cabrera for 1.7 fWAR next year, which is more than either projects for Duran. Given the equal money situation for both, it’s actually a fair deal regardless of what BTV says. Of course if Breslow thought of moving Duran back to second base, that’s another thing. But if his role is strong side of a corner OF platoon while providing mediocre defense, the Sox would probably be better off with a starting pitcher…

Not remotely true. Saying teams don’t trade for prospects because they believe some have unlimited potential is not the same as saying they’re all the same. Not even remotely….

I doubt the ceilings and floors have anything to do with it. Do not underestimate the impact of a minimum wage salary.

I get not being high on Cabrera, but I have some pretty mixed emotions about Duran, who’s about a year and a hdd as LF older and whose career is actually less impressive to date…

You do realize the Sox are t (and shouldn’t) have that many platoons. It’s also a bit confusing that you think Duran is a platoon player but still isn’t worth trading for a 25 yo pitcher who was only worth 0.3 bWAR less last year (in only 99 IP) and has the same years of control remaining…

I’m torn. The thing is, I just don’t see where Duran fits into the Sox defense. Especially if they try to get a right-handed bat. In that case, it only works out with Duran in LF and the RHH in RF. The Sox could (against my wishes) put Duran in CF. Not good defensively, but Cora did play him there a lot last year…

WAR is just performance. And only applicable for one year…

They use some sites with multiyear projections, but it’s basically projected WAR (converted to USD) minus projected salary…

Reminds me of a funny story I read in some baseball book in my youth (and may have told before) and seen in several sources since Back in 1933, Dodger second baseman Fresno Thompson was pushed into a starring role at third base due to a glut of injuries in a game against the Cardinals. Hall of Famer Chick Hafey, a notorious pull hitter, came up and ripped a hard line drive to third that cracked Thompson in the knee (or shin in some versions) and deflected into left field for a double. The next time Hafey came up, Thompson positioned himself in shallow left field. Hafey overlooked the situation and dropped a bunt down the third base line on the first pitch. After the inning, Thompson returned to the dugout and sought out the batboy. Fresco confronted him and asked him if he had a dime. Upon being assured he had one, Thompson instructed him “go to the concession stand and get an ice cream, preferably strawberry, and deliver it to Chick Hafey with my compliments. “And be sure to tell him if he bunts again, he’ll get another one.”