What will D-Dom do before the trade deadline?
- Thread starter Sandy Leon Trotsky
- Start date
The Mets traded a half season of Reed for 3 lottery tickets who they hope will be the next Addison Reed. Callahan is the closest to the MLB with Nogosek right behind him. Callahan is also the one as the odds on favorite to be that Reed type for the Mets in the future.
I really like the deal and Reed has always been my guy, but it seems the Dombrowski trait of trading away maaayyyybeeee 1 more prospect than necessary in a given deal flared up again here.
Given what Wilson pulled, I'm not going to split hairs on cost for Reed. It's an issue Dombrowski does seem to have, but I'm not sure it's worth thinking about here.
Do they have room to add another player today? Not just financial room, but roster room.
Thinking about the potential post-season roster for a second, these guys seems to be locks:
- LINEUP (9): Vazquez, Moreland, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Betts
- BENCH (4): Leon, Nunez, Holt, Young
- SP (4): Sale, Porcello, Rodriguez, Price
- BULLPEN (5): Kimbrel, Reed, Barnes, Kelly, Pomeranz
That's 22, and a pretty darn good 22 at that. You have to think they'll have two more relievers. Two out of Workman, Hembree, Smith, Scott, and Abad (or they could find another LHR somewhere).
That leaves one space for either a third of those relievers or a bench bat -- preferably one who can play 1B (the least well-covered position on our current bench), doesn't mind hitting off the bench (and can maybe add a little veteran presence in the clubhouse), and can add a little pop (since Nunez takes care of our PR needs). Oh, and if said bench bat isn't Sam Travis, he should be making little enough money that they can still fit him in even after taking on Reed's $2.6m owed.
So, you know, I'm not saying they should trade for Mike Napoli, but I'm also not not saying it.
Thinking about the potential post-season roster for a second, these guys seems to be locks:
- LINEUP (9): Vazquez, Moreland, Pedroia, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Betts
- BENCH (4): Leon, Nunez, Holt, Young
- SP (4): Sale, Porcello, Rodriguez, Price
- BULLPEN (5): Kimbrel, Reed, Barnes, Kelly, Pomeranz
That's 22, and a pretty darn good 22 at that. You have to think they'll have two more relievers. Two out of Workman, Hembree, Smith, Scott, and Abad (or they could find another LHR somewhere).
That leaves one space for either a third of those relievers or a bench bat -- preferably one who can play 1B (the least well-covered position on our current bench), doesn't mind hitting off the bench (and can maybe add a little veteran presence in the clubhouse), and can add a little pop (since Nunez takes care of our PR needs). Oh, and if said bench bat isn't Sam Travis, he should be making little enough money that they can still fit him in even after taking on Reed's $2.6m owed.
So, you know, I'm not saying they should trade for Mike Napoli, but I'm also not not saying it.
DD has traded nothing of value for Ziegler, Abad and Reed. He does a fine job of getting relief help on the cheap. The Thornburg deal will dog him but overall he's been solid in this area.
I think the bat would have to be a significant upgrade and their cupboards are too bare to pull that type of trade of. I don't think Chavis is being moved and that the Sox value him much higher than the rest of the league and rightfully so. Honestly I think he's a top 30 prospect in all of baseball but he's not going to be ranked as such due to his 2015 and 2016 seasons. Injuries pretty much ruined his 2016 compaign and going into 2017 his biggest question mark was his strike out rate. He has answered the question in a big way, cutting his K rates from 30.6% (2015), to 23.9% (2016) to 19.9% this year. Even more encouragingly, his K rate since being promoted to AA is a very good 14.9%. In that same span, his BB rate has gone from 6.2% to 7.1% to 7.7%. Still leaves something to be desired but it's progress.
I kinda wonder if playing injured in 2016 was actually beneficial for him from a plate discipline perspective. The injury may have forced him to take pitches he couldn't catch up to due to injuries and now he recognizes them better. Either way, I can't see him being moved unless another team values him in the top 50 of all prospects and I doubt they do. I put way more value in 2017 than 2016.
Mostly everyone thought that was pretty cheap too. No one could have expected Shaw to hit as well as he has. Dubon is starting to hit again in AAA too. If Dubon can hit for any type of power, he'll be a starter in the league. As is, he'll have a long career as a UI who can hit for a decent average, walk and steal a base. Not a huge lose but it's always nice to have a cheap UI around. Lin's emergence helps.
A bit off the point of the thread, but I wouldn't lock Price into the post-season rotation nor would I lock Pomeranz out of it. Price, until he returns from the DL, has to be a big question mark. Pomeranz has easily been the #2 pitcher on the staff all year. No way he's not in the post-season rotation barring a huge downturn in his effectiveness. So you might have room for three of those relievers as well as a fifth bench bat.
More to the point of acquiring a bat, I just don't see them picking up another guy limited to 1B/DH. Post-season rosters might have room for three such players, but they still have to get through the next two months where they can't really afford that kind of inflexibility. I think if they're going to add a bat, ideally it would be an upgrade to Chris Young who also can slot in at 1B when needed. So is there an affordable RHH OF/1B out there? (and please don't cite Napoli's meager experience in LF
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Good point on Price and Pomeranz, which we should save for the (hopefully) inevitable post-season roster thread, but on the bolded, they only have to get through one month until rosters expand. And if they target someone like Napoli who's likely to clear waivers, they might even be able to wait until 8/31 to do it.A bit off the point of the thread, but I wouldn't lock Price into the post-season rotation nor would I lock Pomeranz out of it. Price, until he returns from the DL, has to be a big question mark. Pomeranz has easily been the #2 pitcher on the staff all year. No way he's not in the post-season rotation barring a huge downturn in his effectiveness. So you might have room for three of those relievers as well as a fifth bench bat.
More to the point of acquiring a bat, I just don't see them picking up another guy limited to 1B/DH. Post-season rosters might have room for three such players, but they still have to get through the next two months where they can't really afford that kind of inflexibility. I think if they're going to add a bat, ideally it would be an upgrade to Chris Young who also can slot in at 1B when needed. So is there an affordable RHH OF/1B out there? (and please don't cite Napoli's meager experience in LF
Think the only way to get a consequential bat is to trade one of the B's - like Benintendi.
That wouldn't put the team over the top, so I assume he's done.
That wouldn't put the team over the top, so I assume he's done.
Moving ERod+Chavis/Dalbec/lottery ticket for Gray would be a DD move. Massively upgrades Rodriguez' slot, provides insurance on Price and keeps Gray out of pinstripes. Gives Beane 4 years of control on ERod. Might not be enough but moving ERod is an out of the box option.
I was thinking along these lines. If he was to consider dealing for Gray then it would probably be something like this. Would certainly be an interesting move but won't happen for multiple reasons. The A's want a center fielder as a centerpiece and the Sox don't have anyone in the minor league system that fits the bill.
And would also, IMO be a firing offense. I would'nt trade ERod straight up for Grey .. let alone the added pieces.
Just curious as to why. I haven't really thought about the possibility, just wondering what your reasoning would be.
Fair enough. Why? ERod has a lot of talent but has trouble staying healthy and is inconsistent.
Yeah, I'd make that swap in a heartbeat, and I'm probably lower on Gray than most here. I'd also give up that package that BC was responding to if the option was available. I doubt it is, though. The A's were reportedly asking for one of Clint Frazier or Gleyber Torres plus prospects in the Mateo/Florial range. Seems like Beane wants prospects with mostly full control.
I keep thinking and I find it difficult knowing DD's trajectory, he doesn´t go for an upgrade at first. I believe Napoli or Khris Davis won´t cost a lot and they could help Moreland and Hanley. Besides, I´m not certain those 2 are 100% and what will happen if one or the other goes to the DL, while Sale continues to be Sale and Price or Porky emerge. In a short series you need 2 excellent SP (we are one away) good relief (we are there), good fielding (more a less we are there) and good and timely hitting (we need to upgrade the offense). If we do not upgrade the offense, it would be irrelevant to add more relievers. You can´t win three short series scoring less than 3 runs in all games; maybe you could win one but not three. I'm sure DD is at something; the easy thing is a marginal upgrade at first, but maybe we will be surprised by a blockbuster. He doesn´t want to fail again, maybe this is his last chance.
I wouldn't do the package but I'd definitely trade EdRod for Gray. It also helps balance out the rotation a little.
First, I really think a lot of ERod . I think he's going the be a solid #2 starter. Plus he's really cheap for the next few years. Arb. 1 next year.
Grey was horrible last year but has bounced back this year. I believe he is Arb. 2 next year..
So .. ERod is cheaper and I think has higher upside.
In retrospect I might trade him even up. But certainly not throw in Chavis.
Is there anything else DD could be targeting? Seems like the guys we are hearing about he is not in on.
I assume Dombrowski is done if only because he's at the point where taking on salary could bump them over the tax threshold, and he may want to maintain what wiggle room he has left just in case there's an addition to be made through waivers in August.
Any bat he could get in the next 2 hours he could probably get in August. He has a Hanley to 1B/Devers to DH insurance policy now with Nunez in place.
It is probably frustrating to accept the fact that the best bat we may get is already on our team...in the form of a hot streak by one of the under performing guys in the power department. JBJ can go on big power surges in month-long bursts. So can Hanley. I think that is the hope. They also seem to be convinced Moreland isn't injured and will revert back to a useful hitter. Maybe it is one of those deals where in retrospect, he probably needed 2-3 weeks off as he recovered from the foot injury, but now he is getting back healthy. Who knows for sure though.
Yes, and that gives them more time to watch Devers and see if any of the B's or current 1Bmen get things going.
Hope is not a plan.
I would like to see a 1Bman acquired and Moreland shipped out with a prospect to balance roster space and $, but I think this team is staying under the CBT threshold. They may not be planning to spend big this offseason, but they need to keep that option open, as well saving some money for extensions.
Not doing anything reminds me of the 99 Sox when Pedro was at it´s prime and only Nomar had a good season batting. Of course the 99 yanquis were in front of us, but we needed a better offense. Now maybe we can´t beat Houston or LA ,even doing a blockbuster or getting a Jose Abreu alone. But having Sale at it´s prime and healthy should not be wasted. Yeah, the luxury tax (John Henry´s profitable funds,NESN and seat prices should cover it now and in the forthcoming future).
I want more WS wins and not one more by the MFY.
I want more WS wins and not one more by the MFY.
They should. Since the Yankees just got Gray. Lynn also shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.
OK anything more to add to these really anemic bats. You know Nuñez is in a hot streak and maybe well fitted for Fenway, but not an ideal hitter.
You're right. Devers and Nunez suck. If DD doesn't at least get Bryce Harper, then he's awful, and an idiot, and should be fired.
And what happens when Price is back? Which he apparently will be fairly shortly.
The Red Sox bench has been a weakness since spring training. And got worse quickly with Holt going down. They needed to shore up the infield bench. Any better ideas than Nunez? I don't think so.
No, I didn´t say that. Devers has been great, Nuñez is a good utility (yes utility) player. What I don´t think is congruent is to get Sale for Kopech and Moncada and to see Sale´s best year evaporate because of a lack of hitting. I don´t see why you shouldn´t try to upgrade first base.You're right. Devers and Nunez suck. If DD doesn't at least get Bryce Harper, then he's awful, and an idiot, and should be fired.
Well with the way this rotation has been going health wise it shouldn't be an issue. Always better to have more SPs than less. You can't depend on Price and ERod to stay healthy down the stretch given ERods knee and Prices unique elbow issues. I wouldn't count on him being back before the end of August honestly. An upgrade over Fister could be the difference between playing in October or golfing.
I mean, I'm sure that he would like to, but the option may just not be there. No one wants to waste a year of Sale, but it was hard to foresee that Mookie, X, Hanley, Leon, Vaz, Holt (et. al.) would all take a big step back offensively at the same time.
You should take a few minutes to browse this: http://www.mlbplayers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=34000&ATCLID=211078089
Maybe start with the luxury tax stuff.
This is going to be the "Why did Jay Payton sign with the Red Sox?" of our time.
They didn't do nothing, they did something awhile ago. They signed and traded for and promoted a lot of players over the past few years. This in turn took away their flexibility by putting them close to the tax limit and leaving them without a lot of top prospects. So they ended up, by choice, pretty limited in what they could accomplish this week.
They made a couple of useful small moves where they could but the big moves, for better and for worse, happened months and years ago.
They made a couple of useful small moves where they could but the big moves, for better and for worse, happened months and years ago.
Wow. Looking at some of the other deals and thinking that either:
Other teams have really low opinions of our prospects.
Or
Dombrowski really didn't do a very good job here.
Or
The financial constraints on Dombrowski are stricter than we are calculating here on this board.
Other teams have really low opinions of our prospects.
Or
Dombrowski really didn't do a very good job here.
Or
The financial constraints on Dombrowski are stricter than we are calculating here on this board.
This is where I am. If who we have on hand starts regressing (ingressing? digressing?) back to the mean we are going to be in decent shape. Bottom line has always been that if Mookie, X, 10D, Moreland and Hanley continue to struggle there is no one that DD could trade for to make up for that. If Pedroia is hurt here then the Nunez move is going to tun out to be very fortunate. Devers has already shown to be an upgrade at 3b offensively. If Reed can take Barnes' place (maybe pushing Barnes down into a role he is more comfortable/successful in) and we get Kelly back and anything at all from Smith, a rising tide has lifted all boats for a bullpen group that has been pretty fair to strong for most of the season.
All in all not a bad job by DD. Giancarlo was never walking through that door. Time to dance with the girls that brung us.
How do you feel about other teams 20th ranked prospect? Most likely your third point is correct, but it could also be
Or
We overrate our fungible bullpen prospects.