harmony

The Mariners could toss Brian Johnson, Jalen Beeks and/or Mike Shawaryn on their heap of starters/long relievers who would pitch no more than four innings a game in the suggested wolf pack* approach. The problem would be finding room on the 40-man roster. The Mariners are in the market for a defensive catcher to back up Mike Zunino so Blake Swihart would not fit the bill. Seattle already has its Brock Holts in Taylor Motter, Andrew Romine and Zach Vincej. * http://m.mariners.mlb.com/news/article/257299736/dipoto-to-focus-on-pitching-during-offseason/

I doubt the Mariners have any interest in Michael Chavis, a 22-year-old fringe prospect with a 25.3 % strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate in a minor league career that has yet to reach Triple A. In July the Mariners traded away their same-age, strikeout-prone, righthand-hitting slugger in outfield prospect Tyler O'Neill, who is ranked higher than Chavis on the MLB.com prospect list: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017

That's an interesting proposal but I doubt the Mariners will trade their two most popular players. Granted, the Felix Hernandez contract is underwater with $53 million remaining over two years after the 31-year-old righthander posted only 1.4 fWAR, valued at $11.3 million, over the last two seasons. Seattle fans can pray for a Verlander-type renaissance but Steamer projects Hernandez with a modest 2018 WAR of 2.0 in 28 starts. Justin Verlander, who is three years older and who now has more MLB innings, has been a convenient comp since the righthanders signed similar same-duration extensions within weeks of each other in 2010 and again in 2013. The Seattle front office hopes to reward the iconic Hernandez for his loyalty with a postseason appearance by the Mariners. But this is the same franchise that traded away Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro and Randy Johnson. Only Nelson Cruz rivals Hernandez for a presence in the Seattle clubhouse. In the final months of 2014, Seattle signed Cruz to a four-year, $57 million contract while Boston signed Hanley Ramirez to a four-year, $88 million contract with a vesting option for a fifth year at $22 million. In the ensuing three seasons Cruz has posted 12.8 fWAR, valued at $102.4 million, while Ramirez has posted 0.6 fWAR, valued at $3.3 million. Streamer projects 2018 WAR of 2.6 for Cruz and 1.0 for Ramirez. Indeed the drop-off would be among the deal-breakers. The window may be closing for Seattle so Cruz will likely remain a Mariner in 2018. The M's may well have an interest in Jackie Bradley Jr. (and even Rick Porcello) but not at that price. I've probably written too much already.

https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2017/11/8/16626138/red-sox-prospect-daniel-flores-dies https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedSox?src=hash

I question most of these suggestions for the Red Sox: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/red-sox-free-agent-hitters-2017/ https://www.fanragsports.com/3-free-agents-red-sox-should-target-this-winter/

I don't think I've read a report that the Red Sox are interested in J.D. Martinez. I've read many reports that the Red Sox should be interested in J.D. Martinez but nothing citing a Red Sox source indicating the team is interested in Martinez.

Red Sox roundup: http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/11/boston_red_sox_looking_to_add.html http://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/boston-red-sox-notes-staying-under-luxury-tax-not-goal-2018 https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/11/06/can-alex-cora-analytics-plan-take-red-sox-next-level/mv795H1wqtWWmZ3XxQhLKK/story.html#comments

None of the Top 25 free agents will sign with the Red Sox, according to predictions from MLB.com columnist Jim Duquette: http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260157832/predicting-spots-for-top-25-mlb-free-agents/

Through his age 27 season Mike Cameron had posted 14.0 fWAR in 597 games en route to 50.7 fWAR in his MLB career. Through his age 27 season Jackie Bradley Jr. has posted 9.9 fWAR in 527 games.

Steamer projects a 2018 wRC+ of 112 for Mike Moustakas and 110 for Rafael Devers: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4892&position=3B http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=17350&position=3B

In his age 21 season Mike Moustakas posted a .322/.369/.630/.999 line (36 HR, 124 RBI) in 534 plate appearances spanning Double A and Triple A: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mousta001mik

MLB Trade Rumors offers its offseason outlook for the Red Sox: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/offseason-outlook-boston-red-sox-8.html

FanGraphs columnist Paul Swydan looks at Jackie Bradley Jr. and the 2017 dip in Red Sox hitting: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/whos-the-real-jackie-bradley-jr/

And the $5 million buyout of the 2020 team option: http://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/nl-west/san-francisco-giants/ Would the Giants need to pay the league minimum to offset the $5 million buyout?

The San Francisco Giants have retained Pablo Sandoval at the league minimum with the Red Sox on the hook for the $17.4 million balance in 2018 (and beyond). http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/06/giants-pick-up-options-on-bumgarner-moore-and-sandoval-as-they-gear-up-for-critical-offseason/

FanGraphs columnist Dave Cameron sees the Red Sox as major players this offseason: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-teams-that-will-run-the-off-season/

Teams will be reluctant to repeat that mistake.

A Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter expects Carlos Santana to receive a qualifying offer: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2017/10/cleveland_indians_free_agents.html#incart_river_index

Which is why the Red Sox may not land J.D. Martinez or Eric Hosmer.

The luxury tax implication will extend far past the reset in 2018 because by the heart of the Stanton contract the Red Sox will need funds to extend, or replace, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi, Dustin Pedroia, Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel. And then there's this Peter Gammons report: http://www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-gammons-after-due-celebration-alex-cora-will-quickly-refocus-on-boston/

Most teams can afford Giancarlo Stanton's annual salary over the duration of the contract (although interest may be limited for other reasons). The Red Sox are at a disadvantage because of the potential luxury tax implications of a $25 million AAV. Most clubs have fewer luxury tax concerns.

From an MLB Trade Rumors summary of an apparent Peter Gammons report: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/latest-on-giancarlo-stanton.html

What is frightening is that the Houston Astros flat-out released J.D. Martinez on March 22 of that year. The Tigers signed Martinez two days later and the rest is history. Imagine the 2017 Astros with J.D. Martinez.

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/bradleyjr_jackie00.html http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/george_springer_391110.html

Jackie Bradley Jr. has posted 9.9 fWAR in 527 MLB games while George Springer, who is seven months older, has posted 14.6 fWAR in 482 games. Each center fielder remains under team control for three more arbitration seasons, Bradley with a projected 2018 salary of $5.9 million and Springer with a projected 2018 salary of $8.9 million. Bradley ranked 46th and Springer 18th on the FanGraphs midseason trade value list: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-trade-value-1-to-10/ Bradley was the 40th pick and Springer the 11th pick in the June 2011 draft, Bradley out of the University of South Carolina and Springer out of the University of Connecticut.