We can't afford someone who can hit, AND YOU WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO FIELD TOO?!?!?!I gotta be honest, I don't think that this team should have any interest in anyone who's not a good fielder as a back up at the corners and in the middle.
We can't afford someone who can hit, AND YOU WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO FIELD TOO?!?!?!I gotta be honest, I don't think that this team should have any interest in anyone who's not a good fielder as a back up at the corners and in the middle.
I think assembling a collection of bats is more important than trying to upgrade the backup corner IF defense over what Turner provided. Half of fangraph's current projected roster couldn't even muster a .700 OPS last year; there are a ton of unknowns and if things break poorly the season could truly be a disaster.I gotta be honest, I don't think that this team should have any interest in anyone who's not a good fielder as a back up at the corners and in the middle.
To be fair, he was also pretty adamant (from I believe the same article) about doing a heck of a lot more to the rotation than has been done (which has netted to one SP added and one removed).Breslow was pretty clear in early November in saying that Yoshida won't be the full-time DH. From the Athletic on Dec. 6.
Yeah, I am aware. He's a catcher! My broader point is that I don't think we need to use a roster spot on a dedicated back-up first baseman. I'm interested in Sanchez to split time behind the plate and occasionally DH, and if he'd be part of a crew that includes Reyes, Valdez, Refsnyder or whoever else backing up Casas for the 75-100 innings he might need, that sounds fine.
I just wanted to come back to this now that I have a minute and acknowledge the fact that you took the time to respond. I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea of Sanchez, but in my world I can only see it happening in one of two ways. First scenario, he's the primary catcher and occasional DH, as in occasionally he DHs as a semi day off. In this scenario he's one of two catchers on the 26 man roster. Second scenario, he's the primary DH and emergency catcher. It's the only way I can justify this team carrying 3 guys on the 26 man roster who's primary position is catcher. In this scenario Yoshida is the primary LF. In any other scenario you're likely to have two catchers as part of your bench on days that Sanchez is behind the plate and IMO that isn't in the team's best interest.I'm saying Gary Sanchez is an upgrade over McGuire.
I'm also suggesting he's a part-time DH option (though I'd prefer Soler) if we keep McGuire.
If we were to sign him for that, then we wouldn't need to add another guy to the 40-man if Wong or McGuire got hurt.
The Rangers essentially did this plan last year once Mitch Garver got healthy, with Jonah Heim as their primary catcher, some combination of León/Hedges/Huff as their backup and Garver as their DH/C. The Mariners may also do it with Garver this year, with Raleigh and Zavala as their backstops.
Well I suppose if you're going to spell questionable defenders with bad defenders ...I think assembling a collection of bats is more important than trying to upgrade the backup corner IF defense over what Turner provided. Half of fangraph's current projected roster couldn't even muster a .700 OPS last year; there are a ton of unknowns and if things break poorly the season could truly be a disaster.
Gio Urshela?Who's the corner IF backup with good defense you're hoping for?
Ha! I respect his NBA insights and football... I guess he knows more than me. But he doesn't know shit about baseball anymore. His Sox content is pretty cringy.I guess Turner was the backbreaker for Simmons.
View: https://twitter.com/billsimmons/status/1752429502955729159?s=46
Definitely; but he might not be wrong here. Selling is one of the few logical explanations for this disaster of an offseason.Ha! I respect his NBA insights and football... I guess he knows more than me. But he doesn't know shit about baseball anymore. His Sox content is pretty cringy.
I doubt that they’re selling any time soon but where is he wrong? This team is not very good and it doesn’t appear that it’s going to get much better.Ha! I respect his NBA insights and football... I guess he knows more than me. But he doesn't know shit about baseball anymore. His Sox content is pretty cringy.
We can't afford someone who can hit, AND YOU WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO FIELD TOO?!?!?!
No sweat, I have it on the highest authority we can expect at least average defense at each position.Well I suppose if you're going to spell questionable defenders with bad defenders ...
I don't think they plan to sell. I think the ownership is prepared to take their medicine for a season or two, and hope they can get another run going. And, it might work.Definitely; but he might not be wrong here. Selling is one of the few logical explanations for this disaster of an offseason.
They wouldn’t be developing all of that real estate around the ballpark if they were planning to sell.I doubt that they’re selling any time soon but where is he wrong? This team is not very good and it doesn’t appear that it’s going to get much better.
They are also the massive front runner for the Las Vegas NBA franchise; which will take some serious coin.They wouldn’t be developing all of that real estate around the ballpark if they were planning to sell.
If you wanted to try to sell me on the construction money coming out of the player payroll budget I might listen, I think it’s unlikely that’s what this is, but I would think it’s at least feasible.
But they’re not selling the team IMO. I think the “compete while rebuilding” approach didn’t work with Bloom, so now they’re trying the “tear it down rebuild” with Breslow, which has the side benefit of keeping the dividend money rolling in for Redbird and the other partners until they get in a position to compete again. People will still go to the games. Fenway is a destination for tourists or locals that fe like sitting outside and drinking beer in the summer. NESN ratings will suck but that’s a losing business model right now anyway.
They want to be the Astros or Braves. Problem is you’re just as likely to be one of the other 10 teams trying to bottom out and you spin your wheels for the next 5 years.
It will take the type of serious coin that they’re not going to get by shaving the Red Sox payroll by $20/$25 million per year. That will require some additional investment.They are also the massive front runner for the Las Vegas NBA franchise; which will take some serious coin.
They have to pay somebody. And Devers is still young enough that he can still be good if it all works out in a few years."Tear it down & rebuild?" I'm not quite seeing that yet, but I guess Raffy is pretty untradeable right now.
You don't need to convince me, I have thought all along that adding 2 SP would make them a playoff team.Well, for the crux is that for this team, that player DOES exist. Heck, there are ostensibly two, both still on the free agent market (I'm not a Snell guy, per se, but I don't at all doubt that he is a top half of the rotation starter).
This team is two top half of the rotation starters away from being not only a legitimate contender for all three Wild Card spots, but for the division as well. Yes, they're "last place" in the AL East because the division is bonkers, I'm still very down on the team, but they're going to win 75-80 games. I lean 75 but 80 is certainly possible.
The point being that going from lets say Wilyer Abreu for 450 AB to 39 year old Justin Turner for 450 AB (while Tuner is likely better) isn't that big of a jump.
But going from Josh Winckowski, Tanner Houck, and even Nick Pivetta to Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell is a massive improvement (as well as then the subsequent fact that replacing whatever is at the bottom of the bullpen with Tanner Houck and Josh Winckowski would be a pretty large upgrade there too). Unfortunately, there is nothing that makes me believe either of these pitching moves are going to take place.
I was saying he generally does not have a good handle on baseball, he's really just a fan, and while he is entitled to his opinions, if I had that platform I'd either do more with it or stay away from stuff where my expertise has waned. I started skipping over his baseball content years ago when he began complaining about "math ruining the game". As to this tweet, I mean, I guess that can be one's opinion even though they are at what, $198m this season (Fangraphs)? I guess Justin Turner was the key to it all? His NBA coverage is pretty sharp on a daily basis. His baseball content is a million miles from that.I doubt that they’re selling any time soon but where is he wrong? This team is not very good and it doesn’t appear that it’s going to get much better.
My point is it lends credence to selling.It will take the type of serious coin that they’re not going to get by shaving the Red Sox payroll by $20/$25 million per year. That will require some additional investment.
I don’t think that they’re selling the team because of the real estate development either which is why I prefaced what I said with “I don’t think he’s right about FSG selling the team.”They wouldn’t be developing all of that real estate around the ballpark if they were planning to sell.
If you wanted to try to sell me on the construction money coming out of the player payroll budget I might listen, I think it’s unlikely that’s what this is, but I would think it’s at least feasible.
But they’re not selling the team IMO. I think the “compete while rebuilding” approach didn’t work with Bloom, so now they’re trying the “tear it down rebuild” with Breslow, which has the side benefit of keeping the dividend money rolling in for Redbird and the other partners until they get in a position to compete again. People will still go to the games. Fenway is a destination for tourists or locals that fe like sitting outside and drinking beer in the summer. NESN ratings will suck but that’s a losing business model right now anyway.
They want to be the Astros or Braves. Problem is you’re just as likely to be one of the other 10 teams trying to bottom out and you spin your wheels for the next 5 years.
But his overall point is that this Red Sox offseason is somehow worse than last years. Do you agree or disagree with that?I was saying he generally does not have a good handle on baseball, he's really just a fan, and while he is entitled to his opinions, if I had that platform I'd either do more with it or stay away from stuff where my expertise has waned. I started skipping over his baseball content years ago when he began complaining about "math ruining the game". As to this tweet, I mean, I guess that can be one's opinion even though they are at what, $198m this season (Fangraphs)? I guess Justin Turner was the key to it all? His NBA coverage is pretty sharp on a daily basis. His baseball content is a million miles from that.
Yes of course, that’s in line with what I was thinking. I like a mess upgrade over one of the catchers with the other being traded, period. Or I like him as a primary DH who can be a catcher when one of the others gets hurt. The latter scenario seems unlikely now that he’s got value as a defensive catcher, but his market has been weird now two winters in a row.I just wanted to come back to this now that I have a minute and acknowledge the fact that you took the time to respond. I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea of Sanchez, but in my world I can only see it happening in one of two ways. First scenario, he's the primary catcher and occasional DH, as in occasionally he DHs as a semi day off. In this scenario he's one of two catchers on the 26 man roster. Second scenario, he's the primary DH and emergency catcher. It's the only way I can justify this team carrying 3 guys on the 26 man roster who's primary position is catcher. In this scenario Yoshida is the primary LF. In any other scenario you're likely to have two catchers as part of your bench on days that Sanchez is behind the plate and IMO that isn't in the team's best interest.
I think the majority of experts have said that the offseason has been excruciatingly slow to develop, mostly.Are there experts who think the Sox are having a solid offseason and looking like contenders?
Is it actually worse, or just not the pivot to better that most were expecting?But his overall point is that this Red Sox offseason is somehow worse than last years. Do you agree or disagree with that?
I’m not sure have to be Peter Gammons to come to that conclusion.
I don't agree that there's an obvious answer just yet. By "worse" you probably mean that they did less to increase the talent level on the team -- than last year? or than we expected? -- but I only care if they win games, and offseason roster additions are just one factor. I've said several times, if they are holding on to payroll space so they can make a play for Cease or another starter during the season, that could be a far better outcome than signing Blake Snell. I have no idea if they actually want to sell the team but he doesn't either. If this were the [insert NBA team that may be for sale], he would probably have real insight.But his overall point is that this Red Sox offseason is somehow worse than last years. Do you agree or disagree with that?
I’m not sure have to be Peter Gammons to come to that conclusion.
Quite honestly, I'm not sure. But I think it's OK to say that I would prefer a good defender to an option that has been presented as "not a good fielder' when defense was a huge issue last season.Who's the corner IF backup with good defense you're hoping for?
I think we've already improved the defense substantially over last year, and I'm way more worried about hitting.Quite honestly, I'm not sure. But I think it's OK to say that I would prefer a good defender to an option that has been presented as "not a good fielder' when defense was a huge issue last season.
The future of the AL East for the next few years could be determined by how Baltimore moves forward this offseason after this sale.Angelos is selling.
Sign Montgomery, Ryu (1 year), and Soler now. Make the playoffs while setting the team up for 2025.
Just a reminder that the Braves lost in the Division round this year. Extending all your young guys doesn't guarantee anything more than playoff relevance.The future of the AL East for the next few years could be determined by how Baltimore moves forward this offseason after this sale.
Tampa is limping along. Toronto is tepid. NYY is depending on Rodon and Cortes along with Rizzo and Stanton. Time to strike while the iron is hot!
I would love to have playoff relevance right about now.Just a reminder that the Braves lost in the Division round this year. Extending all your young guys doesn't guarantee anything more than playoff relevance.
I would love some playoff relevance in 2024Just a reminder that the Braves lost in the Division round this year. Extending all your young guys doesn't guarantee anything more than playoff relevance.
Playoff relevance is basically all that any rational person can hope for. I'd kill dolphins to watch this team in the playoffs again, and I think they are closer than most here do.Just a reminder that the Braves lost in the Division round this year. Extending all your young guys doesn't guarantee anything more than playoff relevance.
Eh, if you got any good at dolphin murdering John Henry would just make Breslow trade you before you hit free agency.Playoff relevance is basically all that any rational person can hope for. I'd kill dolphins to watch this team in the playoffs again, and I think they are closer than most here do.
But I also agree that this offseason has not been spectacular.
I don’t think that they’re selling the team because of the real estate development either which is why I prefaced what I said with “I don’t think he’s right about FSG selling the team.”
I don’t even think that they’re in tear-down-and-build mode. I think John Henry came to the conclusion that it doesn’t pay to invest heavily in player contracts (especially free agents) any more. I think he looked around at the Tampas and Minnesotas and other mid market teams who make the postseason and thought “the playoffs are a crap shoot, so why bother when the best team doesn’t win?”
There’s not really an incentive to put together a wagon because maybe, at best, you miss the first round. But that can also bite you in the ass as it did the Dodgers and Os this year. Get hot with a good, not great team and see where it takes you.
I don’t think that Henry liked his ROI on pitchers, so he’s not going to give out big time contracts anymore. And while I want him to continue to do so, I see his perspective too. If I kept buying Toyotas and they kept shitting out on me, I probably wouldn’t buy a Toyota.
It’s been five years, unless he’s visited by the ghost of Marvin Miller, I don’t think he’s going to spend on big time free agents again—unless they come at a massive discount.
Thanks. I filled this out. Will be interested to see the results.If there are any Athletic subscribers here, Jen McCaffrey has a Red Sox fan survey on the state of the team going right now, has to be submitted by midnight Wednesday ET.
https://theathletic.com/5230440/2024/01/29/red-sox-fan-survey-2024/
When do you think you can give your answer? We’re two weeks away from pitchers and catchers, what are you waiting on?I don't agree that there's an obvious answer just yet. By "worse" you probably mean that they did less to increase the talent level on the team -- than last year? or than we expected? -- but I only care if they win games, and offseason roster additions are just one factor. I've said several times, if they are holding on to payroll space so they can make a play for Cease or another starter during the season, that could be a far better outcome than signing Blake Snell. I have no idea if they actually want to sell the team but he doesn't either. If this were the [insert NBA team that may be for sale], he would probably have real insight.
Yes to all of your questions. I agree with you 100%. The 2004, 07 and 18 teams were built around primo free agents, great trade acquisitions and the farm system. The 2013 was cobbled together of two and three-year contracts and went on a crazy run.This feels likely but I still don't understand the logic. Three out of our last four championships came from great teams, no? It seems like the better the product on the field, the better our chances. Isn't having an above average pitching staff better than not having an above average pitching staff? And doesn't that cost money if we don't want to wait 5 years?
I believe Bradford Doolittle had an article that said that the Sox would be a breakout team next year but that didn’t really have anything to do with the offseason.Are there experts who think the Sox are having a solid offseason and looking like contenders?
Really? The 2023 Red Sox were the second worst defensive team of the statcast era. Since the season concluded they traded their best defensive player from last year and acquired a second baseman who is questionable in the field. Unless I’m missing something, the team’s only acquisition that could potentially be seen as a plus for the defense (O’Neil) has only had as many as 500 plate appearances once in his 6 year career (Verdugo had 600 last year), so it’s unlikely that his acquisition even makes up for the loss of Dugie.I think we've already improved the defense substantially over last year, and I'm way more worried about hitting.
That's fine if there's another shoe to drop. Tough to be positive about that at this point.View: https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/1752621775593075029?s=46
We didn’t even engage with Turner….
Man oh man. I'm afraid Werner isn't the only one who made statements that haven't aged well.To be fair, he was also pretty adamant (from I believe the same article) about doing a heck of a lot more to the rotation than has been done (which has netted to one SP added and one removed).
"Nevertheless, Breslow was resolute in his desire to add pitching. 'We’re going to be as aggressive as we can possibly be to fill the rotation,' he said."
"We’re similarly focused on starting pitching and recognize that while there is a need to add a right-handed bat, that’s probably going to be a secondary focus once we can make some more progress on the starting pitching front.”
"On the trade front, Breslow was relatively forthright when discussing the potential need to trade top prospects for pitching. 'We need to be willing to give up position player capital in order to get starting pitching, and controllable starting pitching, because it takes time for that pipeline to develop internally,” he said. “And we have to deal with the resources that we currently have and we have a really exciting group of position players, and we need to figure out ways to balance that out.'"
So I don't know that as we sit here about to start February that what someone said starting December is necessarily still the case.
https://theathletic.com/5112718/2023/12/04/red-sox-trades-prospects-pitching/
I was able to fill this out without a sub. Just used a google sign-in.If there are any Athletic subscribers here, Jen McCaffrey has a Red Sox fan survey on the state of the team going right now, has to be submitted by midnight Wednesday ET.
https://theathletic.com/5230440/2024/01/29/red-sox-fan-survey-2024/