The safest guideline seems to be fewest years.
Even Eovaldi is straight up Recency Effect. His 2019 was awful. He was good in 2020, but he was limited to 9 starts and 48 IP. Not really the best year to evaluate anybody. (Even you, JD.)
And he was outstanding in 2021.
So at what point did he become “excellent”? For one season plus 88 IP on a 4 year deal?
And if he was excellent, why only 4 years? This is his last real contract. What if he wants six?
And Sale produced great on the seasons the Sox traded him for. His 5 year extension has been a complete payroll albatross…
So - ghost runner.
Also I would think intentional pass is it own answer now that they no longer go through the dog and pony show of actually throwing the pitches. I mean, without 4 balls, is it still a walk?
Ok so if you look up all the waits a batter (yes, batter) can reach first base, most sites list 7 ways. And one of them is “defensive indifference.”
Not sure I can think of how DI can be used to reach first base…
The problem with free agent starters is never the salary as much as it is the years. As a free agent, the goal of starting pitcher (and his agent) is to get a contract that pays you for more years than you have left as a good starter.
If Eovaldi is the rare commodity of a decent SP, why do people think he will settle for 4 years? He’s peak marketable right now.
If the Sox go crazy spending, go get Edwin Diaz. Closers/high leverage relief arms rarely (re: never) command 6 or 7 year deals…
And he can take the spot Price vacates right next to Sale on the IL. By the way, what makes anyone think 4 years is even an option for the “best pitcher each of the last 3 years”? What if he wants 5? Or 6?
Maybe free agency isn’t the best place to get SP. A bullpen? A closer if you prefer? Absolutely.
Are the Red Sox doing so well that you need to find other subjects to troll on?
Either do your trolling right or don’t do it at all!!!
The hitters can’t hit. The bullpen pitchers can’t pitch. And now even the trolls can’t troll. Truly a snake it season…
He actually might be a close fit as an overall player, but he will never hit like Bogaerts. That he was signed at all might be an indication of what was expected in negotiations with Bogaerts…
It really does. Most pitchers throw about 600 IP before a second TJ. Very very few have taken Eovaldi’s career and peaked after the second one.
There are absolutely exceptions, notably Adam Wainwright. But while his career was certainly long, he has not been as dominant. And roughly 3 years and just over those 600 IP after missing a season for TJ, he had his scheduled “missed season” where he threw just 28 IP…
1. Doubtful the Sox go into a prolonged rebuild, just like the Yankees didn’t after being deadline sellers in 2016.
2. Rebuilding teams still have to sign marquee names when they’ve available.
3. Teams that do go into prolonged rebuilds are usually driven by finances. The Sox have resources and things can turn around fast in MLB since the difference between the best winning percentage and the worst winning percentage is only around 20%…
I really did miss my calling as an agent. “My client has earned $300 million and he wants that in his next contract, and he doesn’t want $3,000 per year for the next 100,000 years. Absolutely not. But hey, if that’s all you can afford…
I didn’t answer, but I didn’t want to give him the current contact because of his frequent health issues. Another four years is asking for trouble. Especially since Sale is going to be paid $55mill over the next two seasons and is very likely to have multiple stretches of time off to recover…
I think he wants $300mill. I would imagine $30mill for 10 years is the most preferable option, with $3,000 for 100,000 years ranking closer to the bottom…
The Padres would have no interest in Bogaerts. They have so many shortstops now that they’re playing them all over the field.
St. Louis makes more sense. Ditto Philadelphia (unless they’re selling too), and maybe Miami if the Sox eat some cash.
If Boston is a seller and tries to deal Bogaerts, the good news is there won’t be a glut of talented shortstops up for sale…
The Sox tried to get Jason Stallings last off-season. Maybe Carson Kelly will be the next target. (The rapid rise of Alek Thomas has pushed Daulton Varsho out of CF and back behind the plate.)