Didn't they get Castillo off the luxury tax books?No. They already have 97 mil committed in 2019 to just Price/Porcello/Sandoval/Pedroia/Castillo. That's at best 4 non-bench players, more likely 3. Pick up Sale's option and it's 110 mil. Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Swihart, E-Rod, Kelly, Pomeranz, Wright, Vazquez, Thornburg...whichever of them are still here, none will be pre-arb and (and super cheap) anymore. Unless they're prepared to blow past the luxury tax, they're going to need that money, especially since they are thin as far as low-cost guys to offset the spending in 2019. I sure hope Devers works out.
Yes, he counts for actual cash-payroll but does not count for luxury tax purposes.Didn't they get Castillo off the luxury tax books?
Did they? That would give them a little more wiggle room but still, if we want Xander and Mookie extended, they'll be counting quite a bit toward the tax calculation (which is AAV and not the current year of what might be a back loaded deal). Unless it's something absurd like a one or two year deal (which it won't be), pass.Didn't they get Castillo off the luxury tax books?
He still costs the draft pick so shorter term isn't necessarily a positive.Because of a down year and age, Bautista would be cheaper and shorter term. Plus, he's a tough out in pressure situations. If he doesn't get his pitch he walks. He plays 3rd, 1st and OF, so is more versatile than EE.
He has started a grand total of 16 games at 1B in his career. Zero in the last two years.It's not thar he doesn't fit. He fits in lots of spots. Better fit than EE.
Pretty sure the no trade on free agents until after June 15th rule still stands, so guessing "the plan" would be that we either default Moreland one of the 4 bench spots, or just straight out release him immediately after EE signs. While then essentially writing in the extra $5m as part of EE's acquisition cost (since that would make an already sticky situation even more dirty if we were to wait and not even give Moreland a chance to catch on somewhere else before the season started).Where would he go? You've got Mitch at 1B and Hanley DH'ing. He can't play 3B. Where would he go? Trade Mitch? Keep Hanley at 1B? It seems like a player who does not fit. I agree his bat can be huge but what's the plan?
And he is a bad RF, ideally he is a full-time DH.He is a RF/DH who does not fit in "lots of spots".
Joey Batts might be okay in LF in Fenway, but if you watched him play last year, you know he's done as an OF - and EE never was a glove guy; they're both DHs.I'm sure that he could play 1B at least as well as EE. Just saying, less $$, shorter term. Are the Sox going to sign all of their young OFs? JBJ would be good prospect fodder and JB could play an adequate lf. Bautista would be a monster in Fenway.
The QO deadline passed on November 14th .. that ship has long sailed.Joey Batts might be okay in LF in Fenway, but if you watched him play last year, you know he's done as an OF - and EE never was a glove guy; they're both DHs.
There's been a rumour circulating that JB might take the QO. What's the deadline on that?
I'd much rather have EE, but I'm guessing the prices will reflect that.
While I agree that the whole presented concept is highly unlikely post-Moreland signing to begin with, I wouldn't go as far as to label the thread unnecessary. As that article does hit on some aspects which will probably end up being singled out and hotly debated on a regular basis throughout the year anyway.Now we're talking about Bautista in an EE thread that itself was unnecessary because we've talked about him in the off season thread?
That won't help against miller.A big near-Ortiz quality RH bat is needed to combat the Millers of the league especially in the post-season. We have good RH hitters, but they did nothing against the Miller last post season.
To be fair, nobody does much against Miller.A big near-Ortiz quality RH bat is needed to combat the Millers of the league especially in the post-season. We have good RH hitters, but they did nothing against the Miller last post season.
Everybody did nothing against Miller last post-season until his very last game, when he was probably just out of gas. Teams usually "beat" guys like that by not letting them become relevant in the game.A big near-Ortiz quality RH bat is needed to combat the Millers of the league especially in the post-season. We have good RH hitters, but they did nothing against the Miller last post season.
I'm not seeing your hope in the first base FA class next year. If they believe Sam Travis is legit, then okay. But Hosmer and Santana will each probably go for what EE is going for now, and have as least as many questions.Here's a list of guys who are FAs in 2018: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/2017-18-mlb-free-agent-list.html
So, there's no reason to commit to two DHs at quasi-premium prices and a multi-year commitment (or to force Hanley back to 1B), as replacing a 1B for 2018 seems very doable. (There's also Travis and Devers and/or another trade, or maybe even Moreland sticks.)
...
We're set for the 2017 season.
We're set for the 2018 season. (Even if Price opts out (we then have his 30M to apply to acquiring a long term SP in the very very talent rich 2018 class).
We're set for the 2019 season.
Yeah, I wasn't clear about the Price opt out - so I clarified it.I'm not seeing your hope in the first base FA class next year. If they believe Sam Travis is legit, then okay. But Hosmer and Santana will each probably go for what EE is going for now, and have as least as many questions.
Also, we have Price through 2018. And that talent-rich FA class is *after* the 2018 season.
Even accepting the speculation that 3/$60M is "in doubt," how do you get to 4 years at $14M per year? That's a big drop from $20M down to $14M. I'm not that optimistic that (a) EE will see such a collapse in his market, or (b) that some other bargain hunting team won't jump in to beat a 4/$56M offer. Even a team like Oakland might beat that.... there have been rumblings that even three and $60 million is in doubt....
14m on a 4 year deal with opt out after one ? The pick hurts but EE for 14 m is pretty steal worthy if you look at the cartoon contract for Crush Davis and especially for AAV purposes. Also very likely he puts up cartoon numbers in front of wall enters FA with no QO and a year older but still likely to beat 3 for 42...
The QO he turned down was for $17.2M. I have to think that if he goes the "Cespedes" route and signs a deal with an opt-out after year one, his salary would have to be at least equal to the QO for that one year for him to do it.14m on a 4 year deal with opt out after one ? The pick hurts but EE for 14 m is pretty steal worthy if you look at the cartoon contract for Crush Davis and especially for AAV purposes. Also very likely he puts up cartoon numbers in front of wall enters FA with no QO and a year older but still likely to beat 3 for 42.
"Stand" would probably be the operative word there. Trumbo has played all of 65 innings of 3B in the majors, most of them 5 years ago, and his numbers in that admittedly tiny sample suggest there might be a reason why they got him the hell off of there ASAP, even though their best alternative at the time was the immortal Alberto Callaspo.And he can stand at 3B if you need him to.
"Can't hit" based on what? (Or maybe more to the point, where are you setting the bar? Does "can't hit" mean Adam Everett, or Khalil Greene?)After these trades in the last year or so, I'd really like to keep the pick. Look at Sox prospects right now is just depressing. a 6'4 SS who can't hit is in the top 10.
Add what to the bullpen, exactly? It's not as though there's a gaping hole yet to be filled.Don't forget this team needs some money to add to the bullpen as well. I wouldn't have minded a Steve Pearce type. Frankly I'd rather just go get Holland at this point. Bullpen is probably a bigger need and won't cost the much needed draft captial (sox also have nothing from international players after the draconian smackdown earlier this year). They need an infusion of young talent.
Chatham? Their second round pick last year that was considered a top 2-3 SS in the entire draft and was discovered to have a broken thumb immediately after they took him? Then played a tiny sample size of 35 games, during which his OPS in the NYPL was .748? That guy? Yeah, that's not depressing. Go back to Soxprospects and read the write up. There's nothing wrong with that being your #8 guy.After these trades in the last year or so, I'd really like to keep the pick. Look at Sox prospects right now is just depressing. a 6'4 SS who can't hit is in the top 10.
Before the trades, the Red Sox were probably a top 5 system reliant heavily on their top 5 prospects. After Groome/Kopech, it got thin very fast. That's not to say there weren't interesting prospects or there wasn't hope for major league value behind that group, but it was mostly high floor low-ish ceiling guys (Travis is the best of that bunch with a chance for a couple all star level ceilings during his peak not being out of reach) who were close to ready and lotto tickets. Chatham is a lotto ticket, but a fun one to dream on. You can lump Dalbac and probably Ockimey into that group too.Chatham? Their second round pick last year that was considered a top 2-3 SS in the entire draft and was discovered to have a broken thumb immediately after they took him? Then played a tiny sample size of 35 games, during which his OPS in the NYPL was .748? That guy? Yeah, that's not depressing. Go back to Soxprospects and read the write up. There's nothing wrong with that being your #8 guy.
This needs to be repeated many times over.You can't stay top 5 forever and have your big league team compete.
The guy who is about to be 22 (meaning old for class) who struggled in low A despite being old for the league? Who is 6'4 and unlikely to stick at SS was absolutely not one of the top 2-3. He was picked 5th and was an overdraft. He was considered an outside the top 100 guy. An overdraft to save some money for Groome.Chatham? Their second round pick last year that was considered a top 2-3 SS in the entire draft and was discovered to have a broken thumb immediately after they took him? Then played a tiny sample size of 35 games, during which his OPS in the NYPL was .748? That guy? Yeah, that's not depressing. Go back to Soxprospects and read the write up. There's nothing wrong with that being your #8 guy.
I came squarely down on the side that thought that was a ridiculous assertion. Regardless, the system was extremely deep going into last winter and is extremely thin now. That's definitely worth being depressed about when looking at just the farm. That the major league roster is as stacked with young talent as it is and has virtually no holes should do plenty to take the edge off for even the most ardent prospect lover, though. I mean, what's the point of obsessing over the farm if you can't take some time to enjoy the fruits of that labor when those prospects start to turn into major league regulars and stars?I;m not looking to rehash the DD trade baron debate again, but I think of the guys he's moved, only four would still be top 10 in this system - Moncada, Kopech, Espinoza and Margot. The rest was truly lotto tickets and filler.