David Price to the injured list with left elbow tendinitis
Ryan Weber called up. Price’s IL stint retroactive to May 3.
Give me 2 clean innings over 4 bad innings, any dayHow close is Johnson? He can go a little deeper into games than Velasquez.
He's scheduled to throw a simulated game tomorrow in Baltimore after having a bullpen session on Saturday in Chicago. Presumably if that goes well, he'll probably go out on a rehab assignment in short order (maybe by the weekend?). I'd think he's at least two weeks away from contributing to the big league team, especially if the expectation is he goes into the rotation when he does return.How close is Johnson? He can go a little deeper into games than Velasquez.
Give me 2 clean innings over 4 bad innings, any day
This, but have you looked at Velazquez's game logs?] His starts have been very acceptable for a #6 or 7 starter.Game thread posts belong in the game threads.
The game thread posts were deleted.This, but have you looked at Velazquez's game logs?] His starts have been very acceptable for a #6 or 7 starter.
They said the same thing about Sale last year for whatever that’s worth.Price's condition doesn't sound too cataclysmic.
Exactly what I was thinking. It’s eerily similar. Sale was supposed to only miss one start too, would have been pitching if it was September, etc. We all know he barely pitched the rest of the season and wasn’t the same in the playoffs either. I take this with a grain of salt.They said the same thing about Sale last year for whatever that’s worth.
Exactly. And I've yet to hear a reason why pitching out of the pen, which requires pitching more often and usually with greater exertion over a short period, is somehow better for a pitcher with a history of elbow problems than starting on a regular schedule.They didn't sign Eovaldi to that contract to have him pitch out of the pen
Are you going to pay him his full market value? He's not taking a dollar less. And that's at least a 4 year deal at over $20M per year. He's already turned down a number of lesser deals "on principle" per this article.The Sox suddenly look like a team who could use Keuchel. June 1 the draft pick loss goes away, and he’d be perfect to allow Eovaldi to take a rover role the rest of the year to shore up the pen when he’s back.
They could create space for him though, through some trades.Are you going to pay him his full market value? He's not taking a dollar less. And that's at least a 4 year deal at over $20M per year. He's already turned down a number of lesser deals "on principle" per this article.
The Sox don't have the payroll space to sign him, or the rotation space once everyone is healthy. So people need to let this idea go already.
This assumes that teams would be willing to take on the full salaries of JBJ, Pearce, and Nunez, which doesn't seem all that likely to me. Maybe the Sox could save $12-14M but I doubt the full ~$20M.They could create space for him though, through some trades.
1. Trade JBJ to a team who could use a defensive upgrade in CF with a guy who has some solid postseason chops and who is streaky and when on, is pretty dynamic offensively. Don't get much in return; it's strictly a salary dump. Frees up $8.55 million.
2. Trade Pearce. Again, another salary dump. A team needing a RH power bat off the bench, again with postseason experience and success. Get almost nothing in return. Frees up $6.25 million.
3. Trade Nunez. Same deal. Salary dump. Don't get anything useful in return. Frees up $5 million.
That comes to just under $20 million. And they'd have enough guys to replace them. Gorkys Hernandez fills in in the OF - not as good as JBJ and he's hitting poorly in Pawtucket, but really, JBJ has done nothing this year. Holt should be back soon so he can be another IF body, with Chavis playing 2b and even 1b as needed. Brentz can be Pearce's replacement as power RH bat off the bench who can play 1b and OF as needed. No, he's not very good. But Pearce also hasn't been good at all this year.
I'm not saying these replacements are better, on the whole, than the guys they give up. And I'm not even saying that these deals really are likely. I just think that they COULD free up enough salary to pay for Keuchel if that's the direction they wanted to go. Personally, I wouldn't do it, but I think they COULD.
For sure. The incentive would simply be that they give up basically nothing to get these guys, knowing that they have in the very recent past made huge impacts in the postseason. So it would be a little roll of the dice for them but given that none of these guys have long contracts, it wouldn't be much of a risk for them.This assumes that teams would be willing to take on the full salaries of JBJ, Pearce, and Nunez, which doesn't seem all that likely to me. Maybe the Sox could save $12-14M but I doubt the full ~$20M.
I'm still trying to figure out why they'd want Keuchel on a 4/80 contractTell me which team is taking Nunez and his $5 million salary.
And do you think the Red Sox have as good a chance to repeat with Gorky Hernandez in the outfield as they do with JBJ?
I am trying to figure out how if Gorky Hernandez is as good as JBJ, why any team would trade for JBJ and pay his salary when they likely already have a Gorky Hernandez already. Or two.I'm still trying to figure out why they'd want Keuchel on a 4/80 contract
No idea. If they don't have to give up anything and would like a "proven playoff performer" off the bench, who knows. Especially if the Sox threw in a lesser prospect.Tell me which team is taking Nunez and his $5 million salary.
No. But they also have a better chance if Keuchel vs. AAA pitchers they have to use because of injury. Like I said, I'm not recommending they do this. I was just answering the question of whether they could afford Keuchel if they wanted to go in that direction.And do you think the Red Sox have as good a chance to repeat with Gorky Hernandez in the outfield as they do with JBJ?
And evidently you missed the point about when the entire rotation is healthy, where is he going to slot in the rotation? All of these guys are being paid as starters except Eduardo, who is arb-2. Do you really want to stunt any further growth by sticking him in the bullpen? You're going to need him next year as a cheaper option in the rotation, since if you signed Keuchel to 4/$80 (and that's the lowest it could possibly be; it might be higher), the other 5 guys are being paid over $88M this year. Granted, next year, you have a rotation opening because Porcello is a free agent, but you're not saving money long term, Eduardo gets more expensive as he goes through 2 more years of arb, and everyone else would be paid at a high rate through at least 2022. So, devoting almost half of your de-facto salary cap for 3 more years beyond this one is an efficient use of resources? I'd have to disagree with that.No idea. If they don't have to give up anything and would like a "proven playoff performer" off the bench, who knows. Especially if the Sox threw in a lesser prospect.
No. But they also have a better chance if Keuchel vs. AAA pitchers they have to use because of injury. Like I said, I'm not recommending they do this. I was just answering the question of whether they could afford Keuchel if they wanted to go in that direction.
PS - Come on - nobody is saying Gorkys is as good as JBJ. I never said it or hinted at it or suggested it. In fact, I specifically said he's not as good as JBJ.
There were reports a couple weeks ago that Keuchel was willing to take a one-year deal. That seems like a less dicey proposition and would be a wash using the names @BaseballJones mentioned dumping if they were able to dump them.Are you going to pay him his full market value? He's not taking a dollar less. And that's at least a 4 year deal at over $20M per year. He's already turned down a number of lesser deals "on principle" per this article.
The Sox don't have the payroll space to sign him, or the rotation space once everyone is healthy. So people need to let this idea go already.
Because while they are paying him, his salary currently does not count against the cap and the second they bring him up, that $11.7M is added to their cap number, putting them around $251M and triggering the penalties for going over $246M that they seem to be treating as a hard barrier.I know this has been covered many times but if they're going to punt on the season and ship some guys off the roster for spare parts, why not give Rusney Castillo some run up here and see if he can offer anything now that it's been a couple years? Yes, he's objectionably terrible and is just as likely to put up JBJ-esque numbers at the plate without the defense to offset it, but if he shows ANYTHING he becomes someone you might be able to flip (even if it means eating some money) for more than a bag of balls. But they're paying him either way, so why not at least see if he's made any strides?
Honestly, anyone who doesn't know this by now should be suspended for a week and then banished for good.Because while they are paying him, his salary currently does not count against the cap and the second they bring him up, that $11.7M is added to their cap number, putting them around $251M and triggering the penalties for going over $246M that they seem to be treating as a hard barrier.
Maybe even more importantly, next season's $14.2M would be added to their cap number, hurting their flexibility for next season also.
Also, he has certainly not been terrible. This year he has a slash line of 290/.350/.484 (OPS of .833). Last year he had an OPS of .776 (also at AAA). For a guy who can play all 3 outfield positions, that is pretty good. If it were not for the aforementioned contract limitations, he would likely be a 4th outfielder or more (either for the Sox or someone else).T
I know this has been covered many times but if they're going to punt on the season and ship some guys off the roster for spare parts, why not give Rusney Castillo some run up here and see if he can offer anything now that it's been a couple years? Yes, he's objectionably terrible and is just as likely to put up JBJ-esque numbers at the plate without the defense to offset it, but if he shows ANYTHING he becomes someone you might be able to flip (even if it means eating some money) for more than a bag of balls
It would depend a lot on his defensive skill, .833 OPS is currently 36th among qualifiers in the IL, behind proven scrubs like Shane Robinson and Rob Refsnyder. Keep in mind that this year they started using major league baseballs in AAA and offensive numbers are up across the board, and also Castillo is 31 already, an age where even proven major leaguers are having trouble getting jobs these days.Also, he has certainly not been terrible. This year he has a slash line of 290/.350/.484 (OPS of .833). Last year he had an OPS of .776 (also at AAA). For a guy who can play all 3 outfield positions, that is pretty good. If it were not for the aforementioned contract limitations, he would likely be a 4th outfielder or more (either for the Sox or someone else).
Apologies, I meant at the Major League level. The consensus on him, by many, has been a AAAA player and his previous stints have not done much to change that, though it's been awhile.Also, he has certainly not been terrible. This year he has a slash line of 290/.350/.484 (OPS of .833). Last year he had an OPS of .776 (also at AAA). For a guy who can play all 3 outfield positions, that is pretty good. If it were not for the aforementioned contract limitations, he would likely be a 4th outfielder or more (either for the Sox or someone else).
-sigh- I made it clear that I wasn't advocating that the Red Sox do this. I was simply pointing out that IF they wanted to get Keuchel, that I think they could free up enough money to sign him. In the very post you quoted, to which you replied, I said:And evidently you missed the point about when the entire rotation is healthy, where is he going to slot in the rotation? All of these guys are being paid as starters except Eduardo, who is arb-2. Do you really want to stunt any further growth by sticking him in the bullpen? You're going to need him next year as a cheaper option in the rotation, since if you signed Keuchel to 4/$80 (and that's the lowest it could possibly be; it might be higher), the other 5 guys are being paid over $88M this year. Granted, next year, you have a rotation opening because Porcello is a free agent, but you're not saving money long term, Eduardo gets more expensive as he goes through 2 more years of arb, and everyone else would be paid at a high rate through at least 2022. So, devoting almost half of your de-facto salary cap for 3 more years beyond this one is an efficient use of resources? I'd have to disagree with that.
I'll repeat what I just said to DanoooME in the post right above this. I literally said, "Like I said, I'm not recommending they do this. I was just answering the question of whether they could afford Keuchel if they wanted to go in that direction."So you've got no one willing to take Nunez and his salary, and I am guessing, but could be wrong, no one to take Pearce and his salary.
For sure Kuechel is an upgrade. But don't you think there is a reason no other team has given him 4 years and $80 million?
And a downgrade in CF and in the lineup won't make this team a repeat champ.
Are those offloads wise if we are 12 games out of the WC at the trade deadline? Perhaps. But that is a team destroying move, not a team building move.
I'm just going to say this gently and leave it there but....this isn't all you were arguing. Go back and read our exchange and it's clear you and Danooo were arguing that it would be silly for the Sox to make such moves - even if they were able to - as it would make them worse, not better, and that it would be an inefficient use of resources to go that route. You even offered a ton of snark when you sarcastically said, "I am trying to figure out how if Gorky Hernandez is as good as JBJ..." which, of course, nobody said.They could, if your theory that someone will take Nunez and Pearce's salaries is true. I think that Danooo and I are arguing that this is a false assertion and that they couldn't unload those players' salaries unless they also sent along a bag of golden baseballs or prospects that they don't have.
This could devolve into a personal pissing match and I don't want that. I'll just repeat: The reason I brought any of this up is not because I was advocating that the Red Sox pursue these trades to unload salary so they could sign Keuchel (because I wasn't, and I made that clear on multiple occasions). It was simply to answer the question of whether they could swing it payroll-wise IF that's the direction they wanted to go. I wasn't saying they SHOULD go that route. Just that if THEY wanted to go that route, I thought there was a potential path to creating the payroll space to do it.I was arguing on multiple levels:
A: It would make the team worse, and they aren't tanking/unloading
B: Even if it wouldn't make the team worse, it would be impossible to find a team to take those two players and their salaries unless you sweetened the deal with additional resources
You suggested replacing Bradley with Hernandez. No one else did. My comment comparing them wasn't to you, but you were the one who suggested this as a reasonable move for the Red Sox.
An easier move might be for the Sox to convince the Giants to pay the nearly $20 million we owe Sandoval, since he's hitting AND pitching for them and they apparantly seem to like having him.