In most cases, you'd be completely right. In Swihart's case, it's a little more complicated. In January of the winter after he was drafted, BA had this in his scouting report:Don't some vastly disproportionate number of players who make it to the majors play shortstop in high school? That wouldn't seem to signal very much in and of itself in Swihart's case.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2012/2612768.htmlThe Future: He has a long way to go, but Swihart has the Buster Posey starter kit. There's no reason to think Swihart can't catch, but if Boston wants to expedite his bat, he's athletic enough to play on the infield and outfield corners. After seeing time in the Florida and Dominican instructional leagues, he could jump to low Class A in his first full pro season.
Well, we know Sale likes him. There was talk last week suggesting there's 120-game-a-year potential in Vazquez. I can see Leon sticking around as the back up and Sale caddy if he's only expected to handle 45-50 games.Are we sure they still like Leon? I suppose he qualifies as a good backup, seems well-liked and good defensively, but his offense fell (back) off the cliff. I'm sure they will keep him around and see what happens but Swihart has to be a hedge against Sandy's bat being toast.
There's more details in the thread dedicated to this in the MLB forum, but teams can sign these players (and only these players) and defer their signings to next year's money. So the Red Sox could actually make an aggressive push for Maitan if they'd like.Certainly he's no replacement for Daniel Flores, but I wonder if the Sox might be able to pick up Abrahan Gutierrez, another well ranked 17 year old catcher who was just released from the Braves for their cheating.
From his chat today:Have you read Eric Longenhagen's article at Fangraphs?
Maitan still has enviable bat speed and bat control, but any team that pursues him is pursuing a talented reclamation project, not a presently enticing talent. He’s still just 17 and it’s far too early to give up on Maitan as a prospect, but unless you view him using his amateur reports as context, you might not even think he is one.
I don't know if I'd go so far as to say over correction. He was clearly trying to add a little more context to his write-up which has some fair criticisms. I'll revise my expectations downward from him receiving anywhere near the 3.5 million the Yankees or Rangers have left in their pools, but I think someone still offers him north of a million. Yeah, he's likely a 1st baseman by the time he hits the majors, but it sounds like the bat speed and power are for real. Swing mechanics can be tweaked or fixed. I'd be surprised if he's not still a top 100 prospect this winter, even if he's dropped to the back end of those lists.I don't know anything about the kid, but that seems to be an overcorrection.
They update adding people and removing people when they change teams but they are due for a periodic reranking, I believe in January, with guys like Rutherford and Groome and Maitan dropped lower because of disappointing 2017s. I think maybe they do a full rerank twice a year, January and mid-season?Edit: FWIW MLB Pipeline still has him at 38 and they update regularly, so that's likely not an outdated ranking.
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.They update adding people and removing people when they change teams but they are due for a periodic reranking, I believe in January, with guys like Rutherford and Groome and Maitan dropped lower because of disappointing 2017s. I think maybe they do a full rerank twice a year, January and mid-season?
Also it is known that Ohtani is not a big-city type of person. He is from a town of about 4,000 people which scouts says is similar to a northeastern Vermont village. He may like the thought of playing in a smaller market such as Minnesota.Holy crap. That leaves the Twins with over 6 million to offer Ohtani. Did they just become the favorites to land him? They made the playoffs and have a good young core for him to join. They don't have an obvious DH blocking Ohtani from hitting. The Rangers and the Yankees can't touch that large of an offer.
No, that $3M was already in MIN’s total, they are still a bit below TEX and NY.Holy crap. That leaves the Twins with over 6 million to offer Ohtani. Did they just become the favorites to land him? They made the playoffs and have a good young core for him to join. They don't have an obvious DH blocking Ohtani from hitting. The Rangers and the Yankees can't touch that large of an offer.
http://www.weei.com/blogs/rob-bradford/red-sox-sign-intriguing-second-base-optionWhen asked about Dustin Pedroia's return from knee surgery, Dave Dombrowski routinely cites May as a possibility. He also almost immediately surfaces Marco Hernandez's name as a logical replacement during Pedroia's absence.
But the Red Sox have now signed another second base option that might be worth keeping an eye on in spring training.
Mexican League standout Esteban Quiroz has inked a minor-league deal with the Red Sox, with an invitation to big league camp.
The 25-year-old Quiroz -- who is listed at 5-foot-7, 175 pounds -- packs some punch despite his size, as was evident in the most recent World Baseball Classic when he hit a pair of home runs for Team Mexico (one of which came off Yusmeiro Petit).
Playing in 89 games for Yucatan last season, Quiroz hit .293 with a .916 OPS and 11 homers. His best season as a professional came in 2016 when the switch hitter managed a .335 batting average with a .971 OPS an 15 homers.
Studies show it's about on par with A ball overall, but that its upper talent is AAA material. Thing is, he also played in the Mexican Winter Pro League, which is BETTER and probably closer to AA with lots of former and current ML players.Interesting acquisition. At only 25 (26 for next season) he's got a very strong stat line. Kind of surprised no club grabbed him as a mL piece last year after a .972 OPS season at 24.
Anyone know what the Mexican league compares to in terms of mL levels? Going by how Velazquez did last year it can't be way worse than AA I'd think.
I'm guessing it was a minor league deal so he'd be AAA depth. The guy also might be smaller than Dustin Pedroia.Each of those guys have some major league tools. If Hernandez is healthy, it's tough to see this guy stick.
And all 4 are on the 40 man roster, so they could replace one of them and open up a slotI would say that I'm surprised he signed with Boston. We sort of have a log jam in terms of marginal starter quality/ good depth options:
Each of those guys have some major league tools. If Hernandez is healthy, it's tough to see this guy stick.
- Marco Hernandez
- Brock Holt
- Tzu-Wei Li
- Deven Marrero
So, doing a little reading about this, the CBA is pretty specific about the particular scenarios in which pool money is no longer counted against a team's cap:So with the Twins voiding Jelfry Marte's ~$3M contract recently due to a failed physical one would think MLB would return Flores' money to Boston's pool.
It appears that the same round of initial physicals following international signing that had Minnesota void Marte's contract is the same round of physicals Flores would have just received if not for his untimely demise. It's not like the Sox were going to rescind his deal if it had been discovered, but as analogous as those two scenarios are it would only make logical sense that MLB let them have the pool money back.
Ohtani will likely be looking big picture. Endorsement revenue potential and ability of team to offer big extension, plus the teams ability to sustain a winning team by keeping its young stars , not to mention a city with a sizeable japanese community (residents and visitors) and non stop flights to JapanAlso it is known that Ohtani is not a big-city type of person. He is from a town of about 4,000 people which scouts says is similar to a northeastern Vermont village. He may like the thought of playing in a smaller market such as Minnesota.
Suffice to say, the Twin Cities (metro population 3.3 million) are not exactly a small village.During a regular season a player only spends 110 days or so in Minnesota. I think any small town desires he harbors can be met in the offseason and in retirement. The amount of bonus money is also likely to be not as important as some think it will be. More is better of course but only so long as all the other pieces fit.
Sure.Suffice to say, the Twin Cities (metro population 3.3 million) are not exactly a small village.
Yes there are pastoral suburbs but that applies to virtually every major US city.
True. Minneapolis is driveable. He could own a lakefront home and be 30 minutes from Target Field. Of course, Seattle offers the same (with slightly worse traffic).Sure.
But compared to NYC?
Cities have different feels to them.
I mean, it's a technicality, but I'm pretty sure that Flores is going to fail any physical and is definitely not eligible for a work visa.So any decision to do as much for the Red Sox would be an exception to what is listed here. Granted, it may just be that a death of this nature simply wasn't imagined as possible when this clause was being written and the league may decided this situation falls within the spirit of the rule, but a strict reading of the CBA doesn't cover this.
Edit: Image of the text pulled from here: http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/11/boston_red_sox_wont_recoup_int.html
Technically this applies to virtually every city in the US. Probably excepting New York and Los Angeles.True. Minneapolis is driveable. He could own a lakefront home and be 30 minutes from Target Field. Of course, Seattle offers the same (with slightly worse traffic).
Terrible fucking comment. Not funny in the least.I mean, it's a technicality, but I'm pretty sure that Flores is going to fail any physical and is definitely not eligible for a work visa.
But it could be a potential loophole to get that slot money back.Terrible fucking comment. Not funny in the least.
Also it is horrible that 17 year old kid dies of anything let alone cancer. Some people utilize dark humor as a coping mechanism. For someone to pass judgement because it offends their delicate sensibilities is fucking terrible.But it could be a potential loophole to get that slot money back.
I have read this a few times and am not sure if the snake is accidentally or deliberately eating its own tail.Also it is horrible that 17 year old kid dies of anything let alone cancer. Some people utilize dark humor as a coping mechanism. For someone to pass judgement because it offends their delicate sensibilities is fucking terrible.
8 pm was the deadline. Sox tendered everyone.Seeing some non tenders from other teams announced. Is midnight the deadline to tender contracts? Did everyone get offered?
I agree. To me this seems like a remembrance of how backwards the Red Sox were, rather than something that should be celebrated. Pumpsie Green, the man, should be rewarded and lauded. The debut of Pumpsie Green should only be remembered as how not to progress forward.And frankly, adding Pumpsie Green to the hall would have been a better tribute than just marking his debut as a memorable moment.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a crotchety get on my lawn speech before, but, well, you’ve got me convinced.I still think the Red Sox owe some tribute to Lorenzo "Piper" Davis, who they cut from their Eastern League (A) club in Scranton after 15 games in 1950 although he was leading the club in batting, slugging, home run at the time. He played several years with Birmingham in the Negro American League and while he played the most games at first, he did play all nine positions and managed the Black Barons and was a mentor of Willie Mays.
After the Sox released him, he played in the Mexican League and then played in the PCL and the Texas League to end his 17-year career. He also played a lot of winter ball and later scouted for some MLB teams. And because Abe Saperstein was owner of the Birmingham club as well as the Harlem Globe Trotters, Davis also played some basketball.
Allegedly, the Sox released him for "economic" reasons and didn't even give him train fare home. Supposedly, he encountered Joe Cronin wile changing trains in D.C. and told him about that with Cronin later mailing him the fare. A more full story may be found at the Buffalo Head Society.
I think I posted some of this before (renaming Yawkey Drive) but this is a good opportunity to bring it up again as he was the first Black player signed by the Red Sox system and I think they owe him some respect.