oldtimer
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Everything posted by oldtimer
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There is a risk for DD and the team to play the Boras's game for JD. At some point he may have to present a take it or leave it offer with a specific time limit and be ready to walk away. The alternative is to shore up 2nd base, add a less expensive power bat and use the remaining money for pitching. JD might then wind up taking less money and a shorter contract to play for a worse team. In any deal, you have to be willing to walk away.
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The Moreland move changed our ability to absorb a big bat like JD. Unless Hanley goes, which is highly unlikely, then JD would move to the outfield if we get him. That triggers a possible change with JBJ. I think most realize those implications, although may be reluctant to see JBJ go. If we don't reach agreement with JD, it would open up that money for a 2nd base strengthening, pitching and perhaps another big left handed bat to part time at DH. I guess it hinges on JD. Tough to be in this position with Boras holding the cards. You wonder when DD will walk away? The other issue is that signing JD may well tie our hands when some attractive FAs come up next year. I guess that is why DD gets the big bucks. Lets hope he earns them.
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One element of change not discussed by any here is the change in management and coaching. Of course they don't stand at the plate, but perhaps in emphasis they will have an impact. whether that is a positive or negative remains to be seen.
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I totally agree and am nervous with the lack of movement to date.
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Yes, the moves made by others have implications for our team as well. Our main needs being for a big bat, to shore up 2nd and to gain some pitching. Good luck to DD as to date his moves have been largely sub rosa.
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I agree that we need another big bat to give us a better chance of winning lower scoring games. I also believe that by signing Moreland DD has decreased his options for making a meaningful move for the following reasons. 1. With Moreland/Rameriz locked in at 1st, Devers is now certainly going to remain at 3rd. 2. Rameriz is normally going to be the DH barring injury. 3. Our most likely offensive improvement areas are for 2nd for around 1/2 of the season and possibly an outfielder/DH addition. 4. An outfielder addition might mean JBJ gets traded with a smaller net gain as a result. As a result, I see DD's choices as being JD if the price is right and a Nunez type for 2nd. I believe the addition of Moreland has taken others off the table.
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Tomorrow Machado will be taken off the offer list as no one will meet what Baltimore seems to want. Longoria and Alonso are now gone. Still waiting for a move by DD although I am beginning to wonder how serious we are. I would think we could have at the least gotten a left handed reliever by now. I still would target Nunez as he would fill a half season need and be a valuable backup for other positions this coming season. The big bat appears to only be JD at this point and it would probably only come if the deal is reasonable and probably at the expense of JBJ being traded. Inject power and lose defense. Net gain, but is it worth the contract that would be involved?
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Betts Beni Nunez JD Devers Hanley Bogey Moreland Vazquez Thats a lot of fire power but probably can't happen due to the money to get both JD and Nunez. Doesn't leave much $$$ for pitching unless JBJ trade would get someone at a decent price differential.
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Solid defensive player with an average bat and at a reasonable price. It might indicate that the chances of landing Hosmer for a reasonable contract duration and price were low. Since we missed on Santana, who was one I thought made sense for us, I prefer Moreland to Hosmer. DD can't wait forever. Now we will probably shift focus to second base, the outfield and pitching. No info is available on Pedroia's recovery but I expect nothing from him until the AS break. We need a solid backup there and maybe what we have is not enough at this point, based on not getting much lift out of 1st base. If JD is still in play, it might mean we would trade one of our outfielders so he could be fit in. Probably be JBJ but that would impact our defense. Pitching is an area we should expect some movement soon. Left hand reliever is the key need although there is a lot of uncertainty in the starter pitching depth.
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Cora has signaled that he wants to bat Betts first and Beni second for 2018. That may change as the season progresses. It sounds like JD is looking for a 7 year commitment which I hope we have the sense to avoid. Five years would be a maximum and that would include a significant risk. I would prefer 4 years. If we can't make that happen, we should let the idea drop and see if anyone else wants to go that far out on a limb for JD. Nunez and Morrison would satisfy me with the possibility of going into 2019 with a big pickup in mind.
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Interesting to look at the current published depth chart for the Sox. Lin is the first depth at SS and 2nd. Holt is on the depth chart (and high on many) for just about every position but catcher, pitcher and DH. I don't think he is that valuable myself, what with Lin, Marrero and Travis for the infield and Brentz in the outfield. Even Lin could play in the outfield as a deep backup. Holt could be traded and at least we could get a prospect and rid ourselves of $2 mil in salary.
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Maybe we can still trade Holt.
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Remind me about the Machado slide?
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No but since 2011, his first ML season he has only played in more than 120 games twice. One of those was for 123 games while the other was a full 158 games. I wouldn't expect him to be more durable as he ages.
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Agreed. If we go for $25 Mil a year for 5 years for a guy who can stay in the lineup for 120 games per year and is on the downward trajectory it is hard to support. The implication of trading JBJ to make room for him in the outfield makes the situation worse. If he can only be a DH, the salary is extremely high as it has been for Hanley. Six years would be worse.
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Possibly Chavis is our long term Pedroia replacement. He is our 2nd highest ranked prospect and may well be a second baseman who can hit. We can either get our big bat at 1st, in the OF or as DH. I don't expect Hanley to give us even 100 games at 1st or maybe for the entire season. The problem is that Stanton, Santana and Cozart are already off the targets list and we may wind up taking on JD for a longish contract at big money and only get 120 games a year from him, while giving up JBJ. My hope was for a recovered Nunez and Santana for 1st but that has gone by the boards. I wonder if DD is getting nervous, he should be. Maybe Morrison and Nunez would still work without giving up too much. We have been put into a weaker position by the serious flawed deals we made which still plague the team now. We still have a good team, so lets not repeat the mistakes of the past and instead go for improvements that don't saddle us with aging stars who can't stay in the lineup and are on the downward trajectory in performance.
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DD is still talking as though Nunez might be in the picture. With the lack of positive results to date, Nunez might fill part of the bill if he can be had under the circumstances.
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Losing the shot at Santana bothered me as I could see him where you now slot Abreu and probably at a lower cost to the organization. I also would not count on Pedey being back before the AS break and then who knows how well he will be able to play. The way it is currently going, I wouldn't count on getting more than one power bat.
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Yes, and that eliminates a direction that the Sox might well have taken. I hate to be put into a corner and be forced to take a player for a long term contract at high dollars.
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Santana to Phillies?
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Both Santana and Cozart appear to be taken further limiting the choices available.
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Martinez and Hosmer both have Boras as an agent and he no doubt is delaying for the best offer. Trouble is that we really could be caught in a trap if we wait and other potential FA's or tradeable players get scooped up. DD has already signaled that JBJ is available for the right trade. Maybe we should just try to get Santana or a slightly lesser player and let Boras play his games with others. I don't believe Machado will be traded this year nor any of the other super players so lets go with a lower cost bat and look into the BP pitching instead.
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Maybe we caan pick up Castro.
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He didn't trade Ozuna to the Red Sox, did he?
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The fact that we tried for Ozuna does indicate we were willing to modify our existing outfield which probably means trading JBJ. With Cora talking about batting Betts first and beni second, it doesn't sound like either of them would be moved. A wild thought is to move Betts to second, but that is not going to happen so I have to conclude JBJ was on the block. What might have applied to Ozuna could also apply to JD Martinez, but he might better fit as DH instead of outfield. Big bucks and probably an extended negotiation period. Can we afford to wait with Boras making the rules? Here we are getting through the winter meetings and nothing done. I had hoped for more.