He said side kick, not side pieceIsn't Wally already banging Tessie?
He said side kick, not side pieceIsn't Wally already banging Tessie?
After Kennedy made the statement about payroll being lower he also said this:Sam Kennedy said this at the Winter Weekend two weeks ago, and it was covered extensively:
And Tom Werner backed him up:
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/01/red-soxs-sam-kennedy-2024-payroll-expected-to-be-lower-than-it-was-in-2023.html
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/kennedy-red-sox-not-likely-to-match-last-years-payroll.html
Beyond that, there's been lots of reporting to this effect. A report claimed that the Red Sox told a free agent they had to cut payroll before pursuing him aggressively:
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2023/12/with-chris-sale-traded-whats-next-for-red-sox-more-subtraction-possibly.html?utm_campaign=masslivesports&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
Two Sox reporters did a long podcast about this strategy and why the Sox are clearly trying to shed payroll:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-the-red-sox-actually-cutting-payroll-plus/id1508374572?i=1000640566034
I have a Romy Gonzalez autographed rookie card buried so deep in my "Trade" box it might actually be in the compost bin.Any time you can give 3B at-bats to a 64 OPS+ player, (especially if it's the same position as your franchise player) you gotta do it.
I guess I don’t see “probably “ lower or “ similar to last” as cutting payroll. Especially when some decent free agents are still available and that comment could have been thrown out to agents.It was literally less than two weeks ago when Sam Kennedy was quoted by various media outlets to the gatherers at the Sox Winter Carnival (per the Globe and Alex Speier) "CEO/president Sam Kennedy turned heads with his acknowledgment at Winter Weekend that the Sox are likely to carry a smaller payroll in 2024 than they did while finishing last in 2023 — particularly after they likewise trimmed payroll from $232.8 million in 2022 to $225.7 million in 2023."
It doesn't get more clear than that.
EDIT: or what JJ Evans' catchphrase said.
How is "smaller payroll in 2024 than they did in 2023" not "cutting payroll"? Like if your boss said, "JB, your paycheck this year is going to be smaller than last year's" you wouldn't think you got a raise, would you? I suppose you can read the sentiment however you see fit but I don't think that the Sox are playing 4D chess with agents, they're telling us exactly what they're doing.I guess I don’t see “probably “ lower or “ similar to last” as cutting payroll. Especially when some decent free agents are still available and that comment could have been thrown out to agents.
I do think those comments are almost as dumb as the full throttle.
I thought she was his sister. Is the franchise moving to Alabama? Is that what this crazy offseason has actually been all about?Isn't Wally already banging Tessie?
We definitely agree they should just stfu.How is "smaller payroll in 2024 than they did in 2023" not "cutting payroll"? Like if your boss said, "JB, your paycheck this year is going to be smaller than last year's" you wouldn't think you got a raise, would you? I suppose you can read the sentiment however you see fit but I don't think that the Sox are playing 4D chess with agents, they're telling us exactly what they're doing.
And I agree, these comments are incredibly dumb and worse than that, depressing.
Because while season tickets were for sale, they were telling people they were going full throttle. Now they are trying to blame the market because they know every agent on Earth is going to use the National Media to slam FSG for their grift.Not sure why they couldn’t say our original projections were higher but the market changed and we may not be able to acquire assets that maximize investments that help reach our strategic goals… that include competing for championships.
That would make a great prize for some sort of SoSH contest.I have a Romy Gonzalez autographed rookie card buried so deep in my "Trade" box it might actually be in the compost bin.
Now I need to dig it out, as clearly he's on his way to the Hall of Fame, and becoming my not-yet-conceived grandchild's favorite player ever.
I think the trick is upgrading what we have at this point, not finding the perfect complimentary piece. Say, essentially replacing Refsnyder with Duvall or the like. (Duvall can also play 1B, FWIW.) Or hypothetically moving Yoshida which would allow you to take on a similar RHH bat-first player.My lingering concern is that I agree with you that we seem to have enough guys to play each position, it's just that when you look at the sum total the result is a resounding shrug. Which, as you said, is less a matter of looking to plug a true hole than hoping to upgrade mediocrity.
I still think that they need a power hitting RH. I was looking at Turner in part because I have zero faith in Bobby D. and there really isn't any organizational depth at 3B beyond him. With Turner off the board, I have taken a deep breath and realized that if Devers is out any length of time we won't be able to replace his production, and we will just park Reyes there.
Looking as to where we could still add a power RHer, I agree that OF is the place. I addition, it would be nice if that person could also play 1B 15-20 games to give Casas some time off. Which means that I am looking to replace Refsynder with someone who can hit RH pitching good enough to become a full time player when one of the other outfielders goes down. Otherwise they would be platooned with Abreu, getting some other spot starts in the OF, and taking 40-50 games at DH.
Barring trading one of Duran or Abreu in a package for pitching, Duvall may be the best option still out there to fill those needs. I would prefer Soler's bat, but he is essentially a DH these days.
In an interview with KNBR 680, Giants GM Bob Melvin mentioned the club is looking to sign another free agent or two, but explained why the free agency period has been at a stalemate.
“Well with Scott [Boras], sometimes it takes a little while and the fact that he has basically all the cards at this point with the highest profile guys still out there,” Melvin explained. “You’d hate to think it goes into spring training, but it has before ... So we’re still looking at all of those guys basically to see if we can sign one of them.”
I'm definitely not holding by breath but I do hope a big reason they're not really going after Montgomery/Snell is because they plan to make a strong push for Fried and/or Burnes. They are far superior pitchers. Far more consistent and dependable than Snell, more dominant than Montgomery. No serious injury concerns with either. Fried missed some time this year with a forearm strain, but he came back and was immediately the same guy. I believe that's been his only arm injury since he's come up (he had TJ as a 20 year old prospect).As of now that does not seem true at all. Wheeler, Burnes and Fried are all legit #1s. If Montgomery is your game 1 starter you are not looking great. I am not even sure I would want 5 playoff innings of Montgomery over Pivetta. I am also very pro signing Pivetta to some 3/45ish extension right now.I assume Wheeler stays in Philly plus he will be 34. But still I would unload some money on Fried and Burnes
But if Montgomery's contract is considerably less, as it should be, that changes the argument.I'm definitely not holding by breath but I do hope a big reason they're not really going after Montgomery/Snell is because they plan to make a strong push for Fried and/or Burnes. They are far superior pitchers. Far more consistent and dependable than Snell, more dominant than Montgomery. No serious injury concerns with either. Fried missed some time this year with a forearm strain, but he came back and was immediately the same guy. I believe that's been his only arm injury since he's come up (he had TJ as a 20 year old prospect).
I think both have as good a shot as any to age gracefully, but especially Fried. Doesn't rely on throwing hard, his fastball velo is typically ~50th percentile, but he has three plus to elite secondary pitches he commands very well. Zero platoon split /equally effective against righties and lefties. Doesn't walk anyone. Doesn't allow homers. Strikes guys out at a decent rate but relies more on limiting hard contact at an elite level. His EV/hard hit rates are insane over the last four years. Not shown below but he's also consistently around the 90th percentile in GB%.
View attachment 77509
But I think my favorite thing about Max Fried though is this (career numbers):
Compare that to Snell:
- 1st time thru order: 3.26 FIP
- 2nd time thru order: 3.18 FIP
- 3rd time thru order: 3.11 FIP
Any ways he'll be 30 going on 31 next offseason so they probably won't be the highest bidders on either Fried or Burnes, but you can't come up with non-age related baseball excuses for not signing either to a humongous contract like you can for Montgomery and Snell.
- 1st time: 2.61 FIP
- 2nd time: 3.95 FIP
- 3rd time: 4.30 FIP
Blah blah blah. This is the same stuff from when they bought in to Liverpool 15 years ago. They run a diversified portfolio of businesses and have investors to answer to. It’s not a hobby.Because while season tickets were for sale, they were telling people they were going full throttle. Now they are trying to blame the market because they know every agent on Earth is going to use the National Media to slam FSG for their grift.
Look the right to run the PGA tour for a couple of years and buy off enough politicians to let the Saudi's buy in doubling that investment is going to be expensive. If it is any consolation they are looking to pull back in Liverpool next year as well.
That PGA deal is going to make them way more money than investing in the Red Sox or keeping the spending up in Liverpool. It is a long term mess but a short term cash cow.Blah blah blah. This is the same stuff from when they bought in to Liverpool 15 years ago. They run a diversified portfolio of businesses and have investors to answer to. It’s not a hobby.
They are going to invest where they believe appropriate. It’s very clear they don’t believe long term, expensive investment in free agents on the downward part of their careers are good investments. Probably true but stinks for us.
If Yamamoto wanted $250-$300m from FSG, I believe he would be here. And they would still invest in golf.
Bob Melvin is the Giants manager, Bobby Evans is the GMInteresting comment from Giants GM Bob Melvin. He affirmed on a radio show that they’re planning to sign one of Boras’s four big FAs.
Just for the record, I totally get this entire line of thinking, and certainly from the perspective of the fan. I'm trying to think of it from the perspective of what I would do if given the chance to run the Red Sox. Maybe I shouldn't think of it this way, maybe I should just shut up and watch the games and hope they win more this year than they did last year and not take the "average fan as GM mindset" but I find it interesting, and when teams are bad (which I think this one is going to be) it's a way to stay engaged on your favorite team beyond saying "well, they suck", I'll go watch reruns of Psych (love that show).I get this point of view and definitely share the sentiment that more should’ve been done in the offseason. However, it’s February 1st, what else is the team going to spend money on at this point? It’s not like this money rolls over to next year like football…it just goes into FSG’s pocket.
I think a reasonable goal for that spending is to make the team as competitive/entertaining as possible without jeopardizing future years or negatively impacting prospect development. Given the options available, signing Soler to a one-year deal might be the best way to accomplish that goal. Plus if the season goes sideways, he’s an asset to flip at the trade deadline (or possibly QO if things go really well).
Yes thanks, that’s correct, I cut and pasted from this report.Bob Melvin is the Giants manager, Bobby Evans is the GM
I guess my reply would be “how sure are you about that?” Right now Fangraphs is projecting us for 81 wins…tied with the Rangers and only a few games back of the Jays for the last wild card spot. It’s definitely a high variance team given our youth but with some good breaks and some incremental spending, we can certainly be in the wild card picture.I'm sorry, but your organization kind of stinks right now
And if I were John Henry I would ask, if you didn’t think we could compete this year, why did you “light $20M of my money on fire” for Lucas Giolito?Anyway, that is why if I were in Breslow's shoes, I wouldn't be spending a dime unless it's for long term asset
Think of Giolito as a controlled burn, so that the next $20M burns more safely.And if I were John Henry I would ask, if you didn’t think we could compete this year, why did you “light $20M of my money on fire” for Lucas Giolito?
When I think of this dynamic, the first instance that comes to mind is Dombrowski with J.D. Martinez. In my mind, the delay with Story’s market had more to do with the lockout.Breslow appears to be taking a page from Bloom's playbook by sticking around until the music stops, and then taking the last asset standing, who will probably turn out to be damaged goods (cough Story cough).
Then why extend Sale? (And sign Story)Blah blah blah. This is the same stuff from when they bought in to Liverpool 15 years ago. They run a diversified portfolio of businesses and have investors to answer to. It’s not a hobby.
They are going to invest where they believe appropriate. It’s very clear they don’t believe long term, expensive investment in free agents on the downward part of their careers are good investments. Probably true but stinks for us.
If Yamamoto wanted $250-$300m from FSG, I believe he would be here. And they would still invest in golf.
https://x.com/ken_rosenthal/status/1753224946594283794?s=46&t=_NspJPTa_Z0bzVq7nnSw0g
Sorry I’m having trouble posting the correct link format but Burnes to Orioles. New owners didn’t take long.
Great news.https://x.com/ken_rosenthal/status/1753224946594283794?s=46&t=_NspJPTa_Z0bzVq7nnSw0g
Sorry I’m having trouble posting the correct link format but Burnes to Orioles. New owners didn’t take long.
To the first, I’d respond with it much higher degree of confidence than I am in everything going exactly right. Also, if things do break well, the things that we’re talking about now are generally available at the deadline (good hitters, bad defensive players on short deals - case in point Schwarber was acquired for nothing, I can’t imagine much was asked in return for Adam Duvall last year, etc).I guess my reply would be “how sure are you about that?” Right now Fangraphs is projecting us for 81 wins…tied with the Rangers and only a few games back of the Jays for the last wild card spot. It’s definitely a high variance team given our youth but with some good breaks and some incremental spending, we can certainly be in the wild card picture.
And if I were John Henry I would ask, if you didn’t think we could compete this year, why did you “light $20M of my money on fire” for Lucas Giolito?
New ownership and zero long term payroll commitments… I still wouldn’t bet on it but they might be in play to keep him.I am not going to be sad to have Baltimore losing some major prospects for a year of Burnes.
Oh, okay so apparently the price for Corbin Burnes was not very high at all. Joey Ortiz is a low power, contact-oriented bat with decent defense. And DL Hall is a major relief risk whose velocity was down most of last season.View: https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1753226557043138764?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ
Shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-hander D.L. Hall are going to the Milwaukee Brewers in the trade that will send Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, a source tells ESPN.
I am in complete shock at how light that package is. Legitimately shocked.View: https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1753226557043138764?s=46&t=7XazH1NKZP26a4WUZikbkQ
Shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-hander D.L. Hall are going to the Milwaukee Brewers in the trade that will send Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, a source tells ESPN.
You could argue Vaughn Grissom is better haul than Ortiz and Haul.Supposedly more players per Feinsand. Ortiz and Hall are in the top-100, but on the backend.
I don’t think it means anything. Pedro wasn’t willing to extend either. Make him a good offer, and anything can happen.That's gotta mean he's not willing to extend, right?
That's been his story, but who knows. I'm sure he has a price, especially if he likes being on the Orioles.That's gotta mean he's not willing to extend, right?
He’s a Boras guy. He ain’t extending.That's gotta mean he's not willing to extend, right?
That's how I interpret it. That or the Brewers got really impatient to move Burnes.That's gotta mean he's not willing to extend, right?
Or they really love the return that they got.That's how I interpret it. That or the Brewers got really impatient to move Burnes.