Disagree. If they sign JDM, Hanley’s role would be a full-time pinch hitter for Moreland ostensibly against LHP, against which he put up a .276 wOBA last year (Moreland’s was .305), while we already have Brentz and Travis or even Marrero, who all hit lefties well and offer more defensive value. And you’d be risking that he’d not be upset giving up a starting role going into FA.I agree with BP - there's zero chance that Hanley gets DFA'd now, even if they sign JDM.
They might not, but they should. A player can’t go on the DL against his will, and Hanley will have every incentive to play through injury (like he has his entire contract) to hit 493 PAs.They aren't going to eat the $22m for 2018 (just to avoid the 2019 option) when there's a chance he can make a positive contribution to a contending team in 2018.
It’s helpful if he’s played an awesome, healthy season by mid-July, but you still don’t want to trigger his 2019 option, because there’s very little reason to think he’d be worth two-thirds of our available money next winter. So you’d cut him, which is awful business practice and would upset the players, or you’d trade him, but he’s got no realistic market.If he sucks, or isn't healthy, then they won't have worry about the option because he won't get the PAs to trigger it. But if he has a 900 OPS, I don't see that as a bad thing, even if it triggers the 2019 option.
I agree. But Hanley is probably a 105 wRC+ bat in 2019, and that’s not worth $22 million when we’re down $35 million post-arb against a hard penalty. Not when we’d still need to replace Kimbrel, Kelly, and Pomeranz and who knows what else.It's not like the Sox are really going to be major players for Harper, Machado or Kershaw next offseason - none of those guys is coming to Boston.
It will be. At $22 million, with his injury history and defensive liabilities, and with this many rebuilding teams that have no use for him, Hanley would probably have to OPS 1.000 for a team to overlook his 2015-17 work. And given their current rosters and windows, that list would probably be limited to a very short list of AL teams we’re competing with for a Wild Card spot, like the Mariners and Twins.If they really need to free up salary to resign (or replace) other guys next offseason, then it shouldn't be that hard to trade a 900 OPS Hanley on a one-year deal.
For perspective, Hanley’s got the exact same bat over the last three years as Matt Kemp, who is unmovable and a year younger.
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