oldtimer

If we lose Beni and Chavis in trades and JBJ goes, we still can use Verdugo in center, Munoz in left and Duran in right. That is without a trade return. I still would be looking for pitching returns first.

two on and no one out. Bogaerts, Martinez, Vaz up. All righties on a lefty with a 6.27 era. Not only do we not score, but we failed to advance a runner a single base. Pretty sad and Martinez has now fallen to a 200 BA.

I think when we have a player that is doing well at the position, others who normally fill that position become more expendable and on a shorter leash. It might come to that in a year or two with Dalbec and Casas as 1st basemen. It may come to that with 2nd base where Downs, Arroyo both could be good players but can you keep both? In the outfield we have Verdugo who has shown he is a keeper. With two positions left we have Beni, Chavis, Duran, Munoz and possibly a late Bloom adder or JBJ. One would think the leash would be shortened for guys who once given a reasonable chance, don't produce. Age, contractual cost, years of control and position flexibility might also be part of the decision. Bloom is here to improve the team and the farm. To do that he has to get rid of under-performing players and replace them with better. His main challenge will be the large number of pitching assets to sort through.

If Houck is our 5th best pitching prospect, one has to ask why haven't we seen any of these guys before? We been putting up guys who were other teams rejects instead. Does a prospect have to turn 25 to get a look in the Red Sox organization? Not a very good statement about the Red Sox development program.

I hope that you are right, but player and all the rest of us age, some faster than others. We can't have a middle of the lineup guy be that unproductive next season. We probably can't trade him so all we have is hope for a turnaround. We have both Beni and JDM in that predicament but it isn't unique to them as quite a few top hitters have had poor seasons. JDM is late on fastballs and Beni was pathetic. I hate to see us going deep in the season with either of them not hitting. Produce or find another place. It's tough love but the competitiveness of the team counts on requiring all to do their share.

g term Yes, and its an indication of the risk factor when taking on long term contracts. JDM may come back an earn his salary, but an aging player just may be facing a steep decline. Having over $40 mil tied up in a DH just limits us financially and makes the return to being competitive that much more difficult. The die may be cast with JDM and we have to hope he can recover his form in 2021 and 2022.

That is a big problem. Who would take the chance at over $20 mil for two years. We just might be stuck with an expensive player who can no longer come close to earning his keep. Don't get me wrog, He has done great things for the Sox and was worth the money in the past. He may just be aging and can't do much about it.

I would be happy to see a bit of a roster shakeup for 2021 that would make us competitive for a playoff spot (why not think positively) by bringing in some younger players and looking for some quality young starting and relief pitchers. My shakeup in the infield would be to consider moving Devers to 1st (probably won't happen) and Dalbec to third. Bogaerts is our anchor at SS, Arroyo is looking like the young 2nd baseman we've needed for the last 3 years My shakeup in the outfield would involve trading Beni, Keeping JBJ at center (probably not going to happen) and leaving Verdugo in RF. If JBJ goes I would give Duran an opportunity and use Chavis as the LF. I would use Munoz as backup in LF and RF and Lin as backup in CF. Holding out hope for another quality right handed hitting outfielder in place for Chavis. No change at catcher I would shake up the starting pitching by moving Eovaldi to a high leverage Relief role. Sale is not going anywhere but probably can't help us until June at the earliest. We have to hope E-Rod makes it back and Perez has looked like a reasonable 4th or 5th starter. We need to find at least one starter (preferrably two) from Pivetta, Houck, Mata, Seabold and Ward. . Then Bloom has to find us 2 decent quality starters. Starters aren't durable so having 6 to start with Sale returning sounds good to me. Relief pitching with Eovaldi, Barnes, Hernandez, Taylor and Valdez supplemented by two quality arms would allow for competitiveness. Brice, Brewer, Brasier and Weber as alternates would be reasonable. I look to move the rest. Our DH position has been very unproductive this year. Your value is indicated by your stats. My shakeup would be to trade Martinez and find a younger replacement. That leaves us with the thought of what to do about Downs, Potts, Casas and Groome, all of which are knocking on the ML door. Downs in particular could be ready in 2021 and will we have a slot for him. Same for Casas in 2022. It's the hard ass approach to the roster, but the management has to be willing to cut ties with unproductive players and build a team where everyone in the lineup contributes. It's not as easy as waving a magic wand, but I believe Bloom is the guy that will pursue a policy that requires performance from players

We have a shortage of Quality Outfielders. We have Verdugo and may try to keep JBJ on a team friendly contract. The question really is Beni still a quality outfielder going forward. If not, why would we want to keep him?

Maybe Arroyo is moving ahead of some of our options like Chatham, Lin and even Chavis. We need improvement in a couple of field positions such as second base and the outfield. Maybe we will find those players internally and then concentrate on pitching acquisitions this winter.

Just highlighting in red a few that may be in the 2021, But I do thing we go after at least one quality stater, convert Eovaldi to a closer and a couple of relievers and pickem from the highlighted list. With position players like Dalbec, Duran, Downs, Arroyo and Chatham possible additions to the roster in 2021 we can be a competitive team. We do need to get JDM and Beni going. A repeat of this years performance would really damage the teams chances.

I just read that about Arroyo. If he gets enough AB's to form an impression by the end of the season then we may be happily surprised. He has been injured during the last 2 years and is now healthy. I would imagine it will take time for him to get back. He was a high draft choice so there was some talent there. I would like JBJ back for a club favorable contract of 2 years. It may not work out but it should be attempted. I would give Beni a chance to prove that he can be a meaningful player but his trend line is down and Duran is knocking on the door.

The Sox will give most of the remaining reps at 2nd to Arroyo. He has been often injured in the past but has talent and is worth a good look. So far, no one else has impressed

Frame this post and lets see what Bloom really does, both prior to the season and with the mid season adjustments. The outfield is fairly fluid with JBJ possible on a team friendly contract. I see Duran being with the team out of spring training. I see Beni and JBJ being the unknowns. Second base is an unknown but I think your depiction is reasonable. For DH, JDM is with us and I hope he can regain some of his past form. A DH with a 206 average making more than $20 Mil is a major drawback for the team. Pitching is our greatest need and adding two starters while moving Eobaldi to the pen might work. I would also look for at least two capable relievers. Striking gold with pitchers is a very difficult thing to do. The process may take a year or two to form a pitching nucleus that will make us highly competitive.

Maybe we give .Devers an extension now, if he will accept it, and not let FA creep up on us

Since the hope is that Downs will fill the 2nd base position in the not to distant future, ala July of 2021, why not fill with Chavis, Chatham or Lin? I have yet to see any other, including Munoz as better option. As far as outfield, it would be a reasonable approach to sign JBJ on a team friendly contract, but that is a iffy proposition. I by no means am convinced that Beni is our outfielder of the future so I would look to fill at least one outfield slot. If Jarren is ready then he would be a good fit. Either use him or lose him. I think the Sox have seen enough to do the former and in 2021. My approach would preserve the majority of money for Pitching. At least one quality starter, a closer and several relievers.

In general, the financial state of the game next year depends on the progress made in the COVID-19 front. If a vaccine is rolled out early in 2021, and that is no certainty, then the process of vaccinating a significant portion of the population will take time. At best, the ball parks will open with reduced seating in April followed by increases as thee season progresses. How will the owners react to the diminished resources? Will they be willing to pay for huge and risky FA contracts? My guess it will be much harder for FA to move and they may have to settle for lower dollars and or shorter contracts. perhaps those with money to spend will be in the best shape for 2021. I see the Red Sox as one of those teams.

Let alone the two not yet into the majors. If Downs makes the jump in 2021 the trade will look even better.

Devers is a unique cornerstone player for the Sox. How they write a contract for him going forward will go a long way towards making and keeping the team in contention.

Maybe if the 2020 results don't fit the preferred narrative, they are deemed meaningless by some. Most players become less capable as they age. There have been a few exceptions. My view is that the question about JDM's performance is legitimate, even though the size of the 2020 sample is small. fWAR is a historical record and should be looked at in that way.

All well and good, but do past performances reflect present or future form? I have been known to place bets on horses, and that is one of the key questions in making a selection. Generally horses reach their peak at around 4 or 5 years old. They typically go through form cycles, with each cycle after their peak with a lower maximum capability. The capability of an aging player may well follow the same trajectory so past performances indicate for an aging player they will not be able to reach their best form and something less should be expected.

Looks like Peraza is a failed experiment so we need to keep looking for a placeholder at 22nd base for 2020 and early 2021.

Good job of identifying possible allowances to meet needs. Should we hold some back to meet mid season needs as they arise? Also, Bloom trades may alter the available resources and needs, so it is somewhat fluid now.

Right now, it looks like the Sox will start with a place holder at 2nd as it might be wasteful to go the FA route for a 2nd baseman only to have Downs ready in a few months. It's anyone's guess with pitching. Clearly we will need starters

I hope we can start the 2021 with 6 starters and 7 relievers on the active roster. They are not and probably can't move Sale so he will be there, although maybe not until later in the season. E-Rod is one of the better starting pitchers in the league, assuming he regains his health. The Sox won't find better in the FA or trade market. We have Perez as an innings eater with the quality of a 4th or 5th starter. We have candidates in our farm in Pivetta, Mata and Seabold. Maybe one or two of those can make the jump. Finding quality starters in the FA market will be tough as a lot of teams will want them. If we get one we are doing well, two would be outstanding but let not give away the store to get them.