oldtimer

Just musing, but isn't the Castillo contract complete this year. Would he be 4th outfielder material. Maybe he's too well off to take a small contract/

I didn't expect both Beni and JDM to fall flat on their faces this year either.

One way to have determined if Duran was ready was to bring him up and let him play some outfield. He was getting positive reviews at the alternate site, so I imagine they didn't bring him up to preserve his years of arbitration or something like that. They brought up Puello who I doubt will be on the roster next year instead.

The guys who may have a lasting impact brought from outside and currently on the roster include Verdugo Arroyo Munoz Pivetta Valdez The internal additions to our roster who have had an impact are Houck Dalbec That represents 7 of 26 in my book and with Mata, Downs and Duran likely to make the jump next season plus a FA starter and several FA/Trade relief pitchers, and possibly a FA outfielder, we could see more than `1/2 the team changing from the beginning of 2020.

Mata may fill a starting role as early as June, but the team needs at least 6 starting pitchers on the roster and probably more over a 162 game season. D-Hern may get a look so there are options, but we do need at least one quality SP through FA. Trust in Bloom to find him.

I agree with your thinking and it is still early to assess what Dalbec can do offensively when pitchers find weaknesses and exploit them. If he can adjust, his power will carry him forward even without a high on base percentage. There is the question of how the roster gets constructed, as it would be different with Dalbec at third and Devers at first. Just one of the dilemmas facing Bloom as the general manager.

The Sox may be playing themselves out of an early pick. Baltimore may well finish behind the Sox. Who would have thought just 2 weeks ago.

Ian Brown is raising the question of Devers defense at third and mentioning Dalbec as a solid 3rd base prospect. Clear to see his meaning. With that switch, if it were to happen, there would be no need for a left handed platoon player at 1st because Devers pat is needed in the lineup anytime he is healthy enough to play. Decisions of this sort should be made before bringing in other players.

Latest story has Duran up sometime in 2021 and the interest in making an offer to JBJ but no certainty he would take it but rather he would weigh his options. That makes sense to me as he has given good time to the sox and should see what is best for his family. There is talk of pursuing Springer if Bradley goes, but that may be a pipe dream as A) Springer will be expensive, and The Astros may decide to keep him and make an acceptable offer. The article also says Beni is entrenched, something I don't believe. we'll see on that one. Bloom has done well so far and will continue to make decisions for which will improve the club.

Don't count on it. The kid has swing and miss issues that he needs to improve on. He does have power, so there is hope. Did you see where one writer proposed using Ockimey as a platoon player with Dalbec?

The reason Lin has stayed around is he has position flexibility. Outfield, short, second and possibly third. The problem is his hitting. No power and well below average hit tool. He may be the only Taiwanese player in the league, something MLBB probably would like to encourage, but i can't see him making the roster in 2021. Chatham has position flexibility and has been talked about as being a contact hitter if not a power hitter. Just one example of another possible utility player who is already in house. Bloom probably already has a list of players who will be traded or nontendered.

I can't see leaving Houck off the list of starting pitchers after two very encouraging performances and another start to come. I would also add Valdez to the hopefuls for relief pitcher. Benintendi's end of 2019 and his short 2020 were trending down. Having him in the lineup could compromise the 2021 season. I would look for a replacement For CF, JBJ is showing an improved hitting skill and I would at least give him an option to return under a 2 year max team friendly contract. If not, look for a replacement (within or without) I think JDM is with us for 2 more years. If his skills have diminished as it seems then he could be a boat anchor holding back team competitiveness going forward. We have Mata, Downs and Duran as top 10 prospects. One would hope they would be considered. I assume that the current 40 man roster would be gutted of all those who haven't performed and hopefully we get something in return that can at least strengthen our prospect list, to go along with our young draftees.

I don't like long contracts any more than Kimmi. Between the long expensive contracts and the damage to our minors we have put ourselves in the yo-yo position. Bloom is aiming to make us more consistently good. So far, he has made mainly positive moves despite being put in a tough negotiating position. We have a solid draft position coming, we have a group of players to cherry pick from and then to try to get some value in trades of the rest and we have considerable financial resources to bring to bear. 2021 should put us in a position to compete and we may be able to become very competitive in 2022.

An outfield not including Duran would be a mistake. I assume they have held back two or three guys this year for reasons of player control and cost. Those players will be a par of spring training and some will stick.

I can see a legitimate argument for going either way with Eovaldi. Depends a lot on what kind of deal we could cut.

What kind of nonsense are you spouting. He homered against your vaunted Yankees last night. Do you feel the need to debase him?

He has glowing reports and we will need an outfielder. Why not at least give him the opportunity. Too much nay saying on the board.

I believe the goal for 2021 is to get better but I would recommend that we stay under the competitive balance tax in 2021 and save any major push to be a major playoff threat until the 2022 season.

I have thought he might act as a closer for us in 2021. We paid Kimbrel an equivalent amount and he may be able to handle 1 inning assignments and stay healthy.

How can we keep Arroyo in the lineup at 2nd in 2021 and still bring up Downs, assuming Downs continues to progress? Is it possible that we could move one of them to fill in at one of our weaker positions. Outfield or maybe 1st base if Dalbec continues to struggle? We are also weak at DH unless JDM can bounce back but that is not a place for a young player. Being creative such as moving Devers to first and Downs to third occurs to me but that may be something Devers doesn't want and we need to keep him happy. That kind of leaves the OF as a possibility. and we have several candidates for those spots plus we may well go outside the organization for an impact player or keep JBJ.

You don't believe in repealing the laws of physics?

We still have a PTBNL(Osich) and probably two draft choices to make the top 20 list, so there has been a substantial improvement in our farm already. No doubt Bloom will also trade some of our current assets for still more farm improvement so that part of the Sox team is coming along. The good news is Verdugo and Arroyo look like very good young MLs going forward. we also have Perez as a starter who looks like he belongs. Houck shows some signs of sticking. The bad news is Sale won't be back from TJS until around June, E-Rod is still iffy and in general our BP is a weakness. In addition, 1st base a nd two outfield positions are up in the air as is DH. Who on the prospect list can help us? Dalbec, Duran, Mata, Seabold or others? Will Pivetta turn into a great pickup by Bloom? What other pitchers from the existing staff can help us? D-Hern, Barnes, Brazier, Valdez, Brice, Brewer? many beneficial moves There is real hope that the 2021 version of the Sox will be much more competitive but it will require Bloom to jettison a lot of players, with some moves being unpopular. The needs are obvious as are the impediments, like contracts keeping us from making the moves that seem needed. I trust Bloom as he has already made many beneficial moves and says the right things about objectives.

Bloom did what he had to do in trading Mookie and it looks like he got real value in return. Verdugo would be a asset to any club and Jeter Downs may also make the team in later 2021. Christian Arroyo also looks like an asset so the pressure to bring Downs up early will not likely be felt.

Neither Dalbec or Duran are sure MLs at this point. I would like to think we will work with Dalbec because his power would be an important asset. Today, he struck out 4 times swinging and I don't remember him making contact, so he has a long ways to go. Casas is probably a year away so maybe we can get Dalbec to make adjustments and become an asset in 2021. All I have heard about Duran has been positive but we have to wait and see. His exceptional speed is also an asset so he is worth a look. I see Munoz as a place holder and not a great asset for the team. If the Sox can get someone like Springer for a reasonable contract, that would be a great improvement. I really don't expect that to happen but a third outfielder would have to come after filling pitching needs. I trust that Bloom has the right ideas for the club ad that he will look to secure deals that move us forward.

My response was to a poster who wanted to trade Beni and Chavis and I pointed out we will likely lose JBJ to the FA market. Since i believe our trades should focus on obtaining pitching, either starting or BP help, I identified the most likely outfield help on our roster and in the prospect list. Verdugo has played CF before coming to the Sox and is decent from what I hear. Roenicke put him there last night. Munoz is our best option and is most likely the left field candidate with Beni traded. Duran has been learning CF and was not brought up to date since they said he needed to work on going back on the ball. He does have great speed so right field at Fenway is large and would seem to me under the circumstances to be a fit. If the Sox look for a replacement outfielder instead of pitching I will be surprised, however they could try to do both since Arroyo seems to fit at second and Munoz as you say could be seen as a utility player. Dalbec is by no means a lock at 1st. I hope the kid makes it as we could use his power. Oppsing pitchers will look for weaknesses and lets hope he can make the adjustments on the fly.