What will D-Dom do before the trade deadline?

[grimshaw]

Chavis for Kahnle isn't really that crazy; Kahnle is 27 and under control for three more years, and though this is the first year he's harnessed his stuff to become dominant, the stuff is legit. And I don't think anybody thinks Chavis is going to be a superstar; his glove is suspect and his swing-happy approach seems likely to limit his offensive ceiling. He could be a solid player, but he could also be mediocre or bust completely, and he's very unlikely to be great. So this would not be Bagwell-for-Anderson, not on either side.

Groome for two months of Frazier, though, is just nuts. And I'm as pro-Frazier as anybody around here.

Agree that is a much more reasonable offer. And I would do him and Callahan for those two because of the years of control. If you have to spend a premium for a top end bullpen arm, at least get one you can use for longer than a stretch run.

I think they can get by without one but given recent history, Dombroski may double down until he hits on one of these flamethrowers. His vision has been having a wipe out back end pen and injuries keep foiling his evil plans.

 

[AB in DC]

The Globe has a brief note on Workman "feeling as good as ever" today. That might be a hint from the braintrust that he figures in their deadline plans, i.e. we might not be swinging any big deals for setup guys. The Globe has pushed its share of team narratives over they years.

In other words, the Doug Fister Experience closes on Tuesday night.

 

[Green Monster]

In other words, the Doug Fister Experience closes on Tuesday night.

Grain of Salt.........Teams make a lot of statements like that this time of year. The Yankees recently stated that Greg Bird was feeling better and beginning a rehab with their single A affiliate. That was one day prior to them trading for Garret Cooper and then announcing that Bird was considering surgery.

 

[Byrdbrain]

In other words, the Doug Fister Experience closes on Tuesday night.

I think it may be the Abad experience that will be ending on Tuesday.
Word is Johnson is with the team so it looks like he'll get the start.
After this weekend it is clearer than ever that they don't trust him and he is done at the end of the season anyway so why bother keeping him. The dead money is under $1M at this point which is noise for these guys.

If Fister was going he'd likely would have been gone after Saturday since he won't be starting Tuesday.

Edit: It was just announced that Fister is going Thursday to give Sale an extra day so he is sticking around.

 

[johnnywayback]

A little more on Kahnle from Fangraphs last month: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-making-of-tommy-kahnle/.

(And, on the other hand: http://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/latroy-hawkins-calls-tommy-kahnle-one-worst-teammates-ever-rockies-twins-broadcast.html.)

I'd agree that Chavis is a chip I wouldn't mind trading, especially for a player who'll add value beyond 2017. I think it's very possible that what we're seeing from him right now in Portland is the best we'll ever see from him at any level. I'd just note that our Rule 5 backlog is going to be a thing, so I'd prefer to try to package up a few from the Callahan/Buttrey/Maddox/Shepherd/Hernandez crew to fill needs if possible.

 

[chrisfont9]

Grain of Salt.........Teams make a lot of statements like that this time of year. The Yankees recently stated that Greg Bird was feeling better and beginning a rehab with their single A affiliate. That was one day prior to them trading for Garret Cooper and then announcing that Bird was considering surgery.

True, though in Workman's case it was him saying it on the heels of his velocity returning.

 

[simplicio]

I think it may be the Abad experience that will be ending on Tuesday.
Word is Johnson is with the team so it looks like he'll get the start.
After this weekend it is clearer than ever that they don't trust him and he is done at the end of the season anyway so why bother keeping him. The dead money is under $1M at this point which is noise for these guys.

If Fister was going he'd likely would have been gone after Saturday since he won't be starting Tuesday.

Edit: It was just announced that Fister is going Thursday to give Sale an extra day so he is sticking around.

Wonder if the Nats or Rays would be interested in Abad.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

So Braves are open to dealing Teheran according to MLB Network...do the Sox take a run at him?

 

[MikeM]

I would think Groomes' value wouldn't be too far off from Anderson Espinoza' last year which got us Pomeranz. Both very young low A starters with ace upside though Espinoza was probably better thought of last year.

I'd love Kahnle with Frazier - but him and Chavis together seems a bit pricey. I think most teams would take a pitcher like Pomeranz over the Kahnle/Frazier pacakge.

The Espinoza trade is essentially bad overall comp there imo, and more serves as a current reminder of why we rarely see trades of that nature play out. That being the fairly big disconnect that tends to go on between the outside publication valuing of lower level/far off prospects, and the inside willingness of (most) actual GMs to look past their substantial amount of bust potential when it comes to surrendering cost controlled assets of notable value already at the MLB level.

Barring DD getting even more lucky (again), Groome is simply too green at this point to hold much headlining value. But with that said I wouldn't want to see him go in a deal just to add Kahnle to the mix either.

On another note and as much as I wouldn't mind adding Robertson to this year's staff, I'm also not completely sold that I'll ultimately end up wanting that $13m contract in full on next year's roster.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

So Braves are open to dealing Teheran according to MLB Network...do the Sox take a run at him?

No.

Not to go too Lou Gorman, but what would they do with Julio Teheran?

They're not hurting for starters at this point, not with six on the roster and every expectation that a seventh is being called up to start tomorrow. If they are acquiring a pitcher, it will be a reliever not another starter.

 

[grimshaw]

The Espinoza trade is essentially bad overall comp there imo, and more serves as a current reminder of why we rarely see trades of that nature play out. That being the fairly big disconnect that tends to go on between the outside publication valuing of lower level/far off prospects, and the inside willingness of (most) actual GMs to look past their substantial amount of bust potential when it comes to surrendering cost controlled assets of notable value already at the MLB level.

Barring DD getting even more lucky (again), Groome is simply too green at this point to hold much headlining value. But with that said I wouldn't want to see him go in a deal just to add Kahnle to the mix either.

Did you think Espinoza was too green last year to get something good? His upside was maybe a little higher than Groome's, but his frame was a bit of a concern. I mean, I get your overall point. A lot of GM's may not make that deal because of the bust potential, but there are a finite number of pitchers out there with ace upside. And I would think the premium is going up for them in this pitching environment.

I don't think Groome is the second coming, but I can't see them needing to deal him for any of those corner infield or bullpen candidates.

 

[crazybird1]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/07/17/mlb-trade-deadline-rumors-sonny-gray-jd-martinez/484205001/

Nightengale mentions the Sox are interested in JD Martinez. Not sure I see the fit. He also mentioned Phelps going to the Sox. I wonder if the Sox could get Frazier for a fringe prospect and then go to the Marlins and give up Chavis for Phelps.

 

[MikeM]

Did you think Espinoza was too green last year to get something good? His upside was maybe a little higher than Groome's, but his frame was a bit of a concern. I mean, I get your overall point. A lot of GM's may not make that deal because of the bust potential, but there are a finite number of pitchers out there with ace upside. And I would think the premium is going up for them in this pitching environment.

I don't think Groome is the second coming, but I can't see them needing to deal him for any of those corner infield or bullpen candidates.

I would've guessed something good yeah, but at face value and generally speaking I wouldn't have guessed that good being a young cost controlled all-star SP coming out of a smaller market team. I'd of expected that MLB GM, who's job doesn't really afford the luxury of getting too caught up in "it's fun to dream big!" fantasy, to be more conservative when it comes to weighing in on the not-so-fun flip side reality there.

I mean a rental or a maybe a RP is one thing, and I agree that given what the Sox have in the cupboard I wouldn't give Groome up in a trade like that atm either. Just pointing out guys like him at that stage of development usually have their trade value limitations, especially when people start reaching at targets like Abreu (even if I do find myself questioning what exactly Abreu would be worth given the recent market trends surrounding firstbaseman).

 

[simplicio]

Hopefully he's already out of the running, but Prado just hit the DL with a knee sprain.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

It looks, increasingly, like this team has an offense problem, and the fix isn't simple. The question is whether it's worth sacrificing further value from the weakening farm system to make small improvements. At this point, I can't see this team sniffing the World Series, in spite of our strong rotation. Good teams will neutralize our offense. I'm not sure any one position player will make that much difference, unless that person has Jeteresque intangibles, or really, line up presence that slots everyone else down a notch. We have great players in many positions, but without Papi, the lineup isn't showing cohesion as it did in the past. Even another big bopper, like the ridiculouly expensive Stanton, isn't any kind of guarantee.
These years were supposed to be the current team's peak, but it's not panning out that way. We are good, not great, and have to decide carefully what to do from here.

 

[streeter88]

It looks, increasingly, like this team has an offense problem, and the fix isn't simple. The question is whether it's worth sacrificing further value from the weakening farm system to make small improvements. At this point, I can't see this team sniffing the World Series, in spite of our strong rotation. Good teams will neutralize our offense. I'm not sure any one position player will make that much difference, unless that person has Jeteresque intangibles, or really, line up presence that slots everyone else down a notch. We have great players in many positions, but without Papi, the lineup isn't showing cohesion as it did in the past. Even another big bopper, like the ridiculouly expensive Stanton, isn't any kind of guarantee.
These years were supposed to be the current team's peak, but it's not panning out that way. We are good, not great, and have to decide carefully what to do from here.

After tonight's loss, the Red Sox are in first place 2.5 games up, with just under 70 games to go. Sox have:

1. Really good starting pitching - as you mentioned - and it seems to be getting stronger as Price and Porcello continue to regain their former excellence (2nd in QS%, 4th in RA/game etc.)
2. Really good bullpen. Tonight's BS notwithstanding, the bullpen is 3rd in MLB (can't back that up, but heard it on tonight's broadcast somewhere)
3. OK defense - .983 fielding percentage - just below MLB average of .984.
4. An offense that is 5th in MLB in OBP (.337), and 22nd in SLG (.411) - problem you mentioned
5. And to complicate matters, the Sox seem to have a habit of making outs on the bases - especially at third and at the plate - they lead the MLB in both according to B-ref.
   https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2017-baserunning-batting.shtml

Hitters and teams do go into slumps, and certainly the Sox look a bit weak this week. But to write off this season, and cast doubt on the next couple based on one week of weak offense seems a bit extreme, especially since if Mookie doesn't run through tonight's stop sign in the bottom of the 7th, they might have scored more (X is due!).

They have a lot of good hitters, they just need one spark - whether it be from a trade, a call up, or somebody on the team getting hot to lead the way.

edited - link

 

[ehaz]

All this talk about a former Red has me thinking about a current one - what about Joey Votto? Yes, the contract is ugly, and he's 33. But he does have an OPS over 1.000 and leads the National League in bombs. And the Reds are still terrible. That's a contract the Sox might be in a position to absorb had it not been for the Sandoval deal...

You could still trade for Frazier since he will not cost anything of real value.

The team is in an interesting spot. We have plenty of studs all over the place in terms of up the middle players, Kimbrel is Kimbrel, you have three (well, Rick does have the hardware) Cy Young caliber pitchers under the age of 31 in the rotation. But the lack of firepower in the lineup is a bit concerning. You're not getting a .500 SLG guy from any of the traditional power spots (DH/1B/3B/LF). There's more than one way to win, but Betts can't be the only bona-fide threat in this lineup.

Betts, Xander, Jackie - they're not under contract forever. What's the plan for adding power long term, beyond 2017? Besides a 20 year old kid? Even if Hanley has another second half swoon, he's 34 in a walk year.

Yes, this team is in 1st place, and the playoffs can be a crap shoot - but the thought of a Judge/Sanchez/Harper middle of the order for the next 5 years really scares the shit out of me. And then there are the Astros.

 

[grimshaw]

Regarding Votto - he doesn't want to be traded. I have salivated over him in the past, but it's not happening unless he has a change of heart. I think the contract is fine, considering he's hitting like peak Ortiz at age 33 and he won't lose a ton of value once he moves to DH.

As for the baserunning stuff -
Beni is the worst overall offender on the team which could help explain his tentativeness vs. Judge. Maybe he is getting gun shy.

I think he'll improve with experience, but Pedey and Hanley need to recognize they aren't 25 anymore. Hanley had similar issues last year too with 11 of them.

They aren't scoring as many runs, so maybe all the outs at home is more of a coaching decision to try and steal a few more here and there. Those can't be blamed on the players unless they run through the stop sign. It's the outs elsewhere that are frustrating.

I have no issue with Betts' aggressiveness tonight given his usual instincts and their awful dry spell.

 

[Apisith]

Votto's contract is not ugly if he can produce for the next few years. If he averages 5 WAR for the next 3 years, for example, he'll already be worth way more than his contract. That has actually turned out to be a great deal for the Reds. In the last 4 years, including this year, he's been worth over $140m. He has 6 more years to earn around $90m. He could realistically earn that by early 2019.

On cashflow, yeah, the team acquiring him won't do well since the contract is backloaded.

 

[MikeM]

Betts, Xander, Jackie - they're not under contract forever. What's the plan for adding power long term, beyond 2017?

Most likely walking out of next winter signing one of Mike Moustakas or Eric Hosmer, assuming neither tanks the second half and KC lets both get that far. Maybe buy low on Lucroy as well if the option is there and hope he has his rebound year.

Not much we can really do before that without putting Devers on the table. But even then and other then maybe Abreu i can't really see any big bats getting moved anyway. But we are only half season away from *not* surrendering Devers while going the above route instead...so you roll the dice and settle on Frazier until then.

 

[gedman211]

Melky, Frazier, and Robertson for Chavis, Groome and Young

 

[ZMart100]

I'm not as fascinated by power as others are, but Hosmer is not really a solution to a lack of HRs. Hosmer has a career .153 iso, for comparison Moreland has a career .184. The .179 iso Moreland has so far this season is higher than any single season that Hosmer has posted.

 

[TheoShmeo]

It looks, increasingly, like this team has an offense problem, and the fix isn't simple. The question is whether it's worth sacrificing further value from the weakening farm system to make small improvements. At this point, I can't see this team sniffing the World Series, in spite of our strong rotation. Good teams will neutralize our offense. I'm not sure any one position player will make that much difference, unless that person has Jeteresque intangibles, or really, line up presence that slots everyone else down a notch. We have great players in many positions, but without Papi, the lineup isn't showing cohesion as it did in the past. Even another big bopper, like the ridiculouly expensive Stanton, isn't any kind of guarantee.
These years were supposed to be the current team's peak, but it's not panning out that way. We are good, not great, and have to decide carefully what to do from here.

I agree that an offensive upgrade in one spot may not improve the offense enough to warrant trading away prize prospects.

But I hope the "really" that followed the bolded beauty above was meant to signify that you were just kidding with that. Otherwise...yozwer. I'll take a good bat for this line-up over any amount of intangibles.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Instead of prospects...what do you think Bogaerts would bring back in a trade? I really can't see them signing him in 2020. Have him for two more years. He's probably the most overrated player on the team.

Lin can play SS. Would Xander bring back a legit middle of the order bat?

 

[chawson]

Obnoxious that four scrap heap first basemen broke out this year (Smoak, Morrison, Alonso, Marwin Gonzalez) while trusty Mitch Moreland rocks a 100 wRC+ in the middle of our lineup.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Instead of prospects...what do you think Bogaerts would bring back in a trade? I really can't see them signing him in 2020. Have him for two more years. He's probably the most overrated player on the team.

Lin can play SS. Would Xander bring back a legit middle of the order bat?

You're not serious. Trade away one of the best hitters on the team to get a "legit middle of the order bat" and insert rookie riding an unexpected hot streak. Yup, that'll fix things.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Instead of prospects...what do you think Bogaerts would bring back in a trade? I really can't see them signing him in 2020. Have him for two more years. He's probably the most overrated player on the team.

Lin can play SS. Would Xander bring back a legit middle of the order bat?

No. Just no. They need to keep guys like Xander not trade them. The long ball is easier to find this year than it has been in a while. Not worth it

 

[joe dokes]

Instead of prospects...what do you think Bogaerts would bring back in a trade? I really can't see them signing him in 2020. Have him for two more years. He's probably the most overrated player on the team.

Lin can play SS. Would Xander bring back a legit middle of the order bat?

Bogaerts has the 7th highest OPS and 10 highest WAR among qualified MLB SS. He's 24. If by "overrated," you mean "some fans think he's the second coming of Honus Wagner," then yes he is overrated. By most other definitions, I think he's rated just about right.

 

[grimshaw]

I'm not as fascinated by power as others are, but Hosmer is not really a solution to a lack of HRs. Hosmer has a career .153 iso, for comparison Moreland has a career .184. The .179 iso Moreland has so far this season is higher than any single season that Hosmer has posted.

And Hosmer is pretty bad in the field too. The crop of long term 1b is really thin though, so they may be stuck with someone thoroughly unexciting. I'd rather they tried to get Bour who won't be a free agent for awhile.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

I agree that an offensive upgrade in one spot may not improve the offense enough to warrant trading away prize prospects.

But I hope the "really" that followed the bolded beauty above was meant to signify that you were just kidding with that. Otherwise...yozwer. I'll take a good bat for this line-up over any amount of intangibles.

Yes, I was kidding, but really I was thinking what a difference not having Papi in the lineup makes. Principally, because he was a productive hitter, but also because he was the unquestioned team leader, which likely took some of the pressure off his mates. So yeah, intangibles. Whoops, sorry.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Obnoxious that four scrap heap first basemen broke out this year (Smoak, Morrison, Alonso, Marwin Gonzalez) while trusty Mitch Moreland rocks a 100 wRC+ in the middle of our lineup.

And that doesn't even count Thames.

Still, it's no more obnoxious than should have been expected. Moreland got what, six years of regular playing time to break out in Texas? Yet he didn't break out then. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but those bets that do break out are more often the non-tendered guys who have flashes of power but who haven't put it all together yet.

Thinking that Moreland was going to break out, or in corollary that Shaw was only just as likely as he to break out (after only 1.3 years of MLB experience) turned out to be a losing bet.

Oh well.

 

[Max Power]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/07/17/mlb-trade-deadline-rumors-sonny-gray-jd-martinez/484205001/

Nightengale mentions the Sox are interested in JD Martinez. Not sure I see the fit. He also mentioned Phelps going to the Sox. I wonder if the Sox could get Frazier for a fringe prospect and then go to the Marlins and give up Chavis for Phelps.

What about in left field? If you can get JD Martinez as a 3 month rental for some lower level prospects, you're free to move Benintendi. Would a package of Benintendi and Devers be enough to get the Braves to talk about Freddie Freeman?

 

[soxhop411]

What about in left field? If you can get JD Martinez as a 3 month rental for some lower level prospects, you're free to move Benintendi. Would a package of Benintendi and Devers be enough to get the Braves to talk about Freddie Freeman?

I hope to hell this is sarcasm. Or else.

 

[grimshaw]

What about in left field? If you can get JD Martinez as a 3 month rental for some lower level prospects, you're free to move Benintendi. Would a package of Benintendi and Devers be enough to get the Braves to talk about Freddie Freeman?

No way in hell the Braves are moving him and that package is not enough either. Their rebuild is almost over.

 

[johnnywayback]

The way I see it, the team is what it is. A core of Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Benintendi, Rodriguez, and eventually Devers that we control for several years. Whatever's left of Pedroia and Ramirez. A couple years of Sale and Kimbrel (and a couple good years of Price) to maximize our chances of winning before said core gets expensive. A couple veteran starters in Porcello and Pomeranz to fill out the rotation.

If that's not basically good enough, then we're screwed. We have neither the financial flexibility nor the prospect capital to acquire another in-his-prime franchise player like Freddie Freeman or dramatically overhaul the team's identity with multiple significant acquisitions like JD Martinez and Joey Votto. That's the bet they made. It's not the bet I would have made, but it's still very clear to me that trying to readjust the whole plan by trading Bogaerts or Benintendi is a terrible idea, especially mid-season.

 

[MikeM]

And that doesn't even count Thames.

Adam Lind at .317/.378/.548 is having a pretty good season as selective fill in piece over in Wash too.

 

[MikeM]

I'm not as fascinated by power as others are, but Hosmer is not really a solution to a lack of HRs. Hosmer has a career .153 iso, for comparison Moreland has a career .184. The .179 iso Moreland has so far this season is higher than any single season that Hosmer has posted.

Agreed, and that is one of a core reasons I've been beating the "DD is going to sign Mike Moustakas in the off-season" prediction drum pretty hard. But Hosmer is another offensive upgrade option that does fit the current roster makeup, making him worthy of a mention imo.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Agreed, and that is one of a core reasons I've been beating the "DD is going to sign Mike Moustakas in the off-season" prediction drum pretty hard. But Hosmer is another offensive upgrade option that does fit the current roster makeup, making him worthy of a mention imo.

And you need to stop. There is absolutely no way they are signing Moustakas in the off season.

1. They have Devers and have made it pretty clear they intend for him to take over the position in the near future.
2. They can't afford Moustakas. Their payroll is basically maxed out next year already, as they only have 11 million coming off the books (Moreland and Young).
3. Getting under the tax this year does not mean they can just go back over next year. The new system's penalties are much harsher even for first time offenders. Every team is trying to get back down under and every team will try to stay under. So simply blowing past the LT threshold to sign Moustakas when they have Devers in the wings would be insanity.

 

[grimshaw]

Adam Lind at .317/.378/.548 is having a pretty good season as selective fill in piece over in Wash too.

Jesus Aguilar as well - though he has platooned mostly with Thames. .291/.354/.543 wRC+127

 

[sean1562]

lets just sign JD Martinez and move him to 1B. rather do that than sign hosmer or moustakas.

 

[MikeM]

And you need to stop. There is absolutely no way they are signing Moustakas in the off season.

1. They have Devers and have made it pretty clear they intend for him to take over the position in the near future.
2. They can't afford Moustakas. Their payroll is basically maxed out next year already, as they only have 11 million coming off the books (Moreland and Young).
3. Getting under the tax this year does not mean they can just go back over next year. The new system's penalties are much harsher even for first time offenders. Every team is trying to get back down under and every team will try to stay under. So simply blowing past the LT threshold to sign Moustakas when they have Devers in the wings would be insanity.

Sounds similar to what I heard 2 summers ago when I beat the same drum, with a somewhat similar surrounding roster hole circumstance, stating that DD would be throwing the "no huge long term deals on starters" out the window. Generally speaking, rarely does any non-conservative and go against the standing grain solution here make a lot of sense to some people...until they actually happen.

1. He moves to first, and DD simply ends up caring less about what that means for his projected paper value going forward then you do.
2. This FO has never taken a direct "can't afford" stance on anybody. Ever. They'll spend over the LT and take the hit, as they have many other times in the past.
3. As long as DD is still GM of this team, filling that crater sized hole with the one visible player/option that makes any current roster sense is going to trump those otherwise valid penalty concerns about over the cap spending.

 

[sean1562]

I think everyone's hesitation is that Moustakas just isnt all that great. JD Martinez is more of a 1B/DH type anyway, why not just sign him to play first?

 

[soxhop411]

I'm kind of surprised Sam Travis was sent down. Wonder if it's a precursor to anything

 

[E5 Yaz]

JD Martinez is more of a 1B/DH type anyway, why not just sign him to play first?

Because he's never played there before?

 

[MikeM]

I think everyone's hesitation is that Moustakas just isnt all that great. JD Martinez is more of a 1B/DH type anyway, why not just sign him to play first?

It isn't even so much a Moustakas himself thing as it us being relatively desperate for what he can provide, and the lack of better alternative options given the limitations that are essentially built into our current roster construction. I mean it's not like we can just plug in offense anywhere, and as pointed out earlier the best pure and no trade of Devers 1B option is probably going to be Hosmer.

As E5 just pointed out, great bat but Martinez is an OF vet that has never even played first. Plus I think there ends up being a more competitive market on him, which ups the chance he goes at a price we simply wouldn't like.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I'm kind of surprised Sam Travis was sent down. Wonder if it's a precursor to anything

The oddity was calling up two pitchers while sending out a pitcher and position player. That does hint at either a tired bullpen or an eventual move. It could, however, just mean that Velazquez is insurance in case Johnson gets hit around early.

Travis just hasn't gotten enough at-bats to prove anything yet. And, if Moreland were get injured, Travis can be recalled prior to the en of the waiting period. For now, Holt becomes the backup 1B

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

What about in left field? If you can get JD Martinez as a 3 month rental for some lower level prospects, you're free to move Benintendi. Would a package of Benintendi and Devers be enough to get the Braves to talk about Freddie Freeman?

I don't know if I do that and I'm a huge Freeman fan. Benintendi looks really good.

 

[joe dokes]

The oddity was calling up two pitchers while sending out a pitcher and position player. That does hint at either a tired bullpen or an eventual move. It could, however, just mean that Velazquez is insurance in case Johnson gets hit around early.

Travis just hasn't gotten enough at-bats to prove anything yet. And, if Moreland were get injured, Travis can be recalled prior to the en of the waiting period. For now, Holt becomes the backup 1B

The Yankee series really abused the pitching staff. It caught up with them a bit last night, and even has them giving Sale an extra day. I'd guess that the team thinks a few days of 13 pitchers will allow everyone to recover, even if they have a disaster start thrown in there and even though it does no favors for an offense that could use a few.

 

[E5 Yaz]

The Yankee series really abused the pitching staff. It caught up with them a bit last night, and even has them giving Sale an extra day. I'd guess that the team thinks a few days of 13 pitchers will allow everyone to recover, even if they have a disaster start thrown in there and even though it does no favors for an offense that could use a few.

Agreed, but the issue is on the other end.

Their bench tonight is essentially Marrero, backup catcher, Young (unless he starts with a lefty pitching for Toronto). It's not the best position to be in.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Sounds similar to what I heard 2 summers ago when I beat the same drum, with a somewhat similar surrounding roster hole circumstance, stating that DD would be throwing the "no huge long term deals on starters" out the window. Generally speaking, rarely does any non-conservative and go against the standing grain solution here make a lot of sense to some people...until they actually happen.

I don't care if you guessed right on a prior deal. This idea is still nonsensical.

1. He moves to first, and DD simply ends up caring less about what that means for his projected paper value going forward then you do.
2. This FO has never taken a direct "can't afford" stance on anybody. Ever. They'll spend over the LT and take the hit, as they have many other times in the past.
3. As long as DD is still GM of this team, filling that crater sized hole with the one visible player/option that makes any current roster sense is going to trump those otherwise valid penalty concerns about over the cap spending.

1. See below.

2. This front office hasn't had to consider signing mid level free agents to contracts that would put them over the LT threshold under the current CBA before.

3. You have a profound lack of understanding for how the CBA changed. It's not just more money for going over. This team is not giving up draft picks to sign Mike Effing Moustakas to a free agent contract when they have a top 5 overall prospect who plays that position and who has hit 19 home runs this year while hitting more than 50% better than league average.

It isn't even so much a Moustakas himself thing as it us being relatively desperate for what he can provide, and the lack of better alternative options given the limitations that are essentially built into our current roster construction. I mean it's not like we can just plug in offense anywhere, and as pointed out earlier the best pure and no trade of Devers 1B option is probably going to be Hosmer.

The objectively better option (in every conceivable way) is currently hanging out in Pawtucket.

As E5 just pointed out, great bat but Martinez is an OF vet that has never even played first. Plus I think there ends up being a more competitive market on him, which ups the chance he goes at a price we simply wouldn't like.

1. So it's not a big deal to shove Devers over to 1st, where he's never played before, but moving JD Martinez is a non-starter? Got it.