Hunter Renfroe traded to Brewers for JBJ and 2 prospects

StuckOnYouk

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Excited by these write ups. When do we get estimates on where they rank in our system? A few days?
 

Scoops Bolling

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The Sox have a number of really intriguing corner power bats in the pipeline now. Casas is the clear #1, but adding Kavadas and Binelas is a lot of power potential that could move relatively quickly. Hamilton seems like a utility guy, but he could be MLB ready come 2023 and there's an outside shot he could be a starting caliber MLB SS. That's not something the system really had before, and even if he's just a utility infielder, that's still a hole. Good prospect return. That being said, I'd prefer JBJ as a 4th OF, so let's hope they've gotsomething in mind in that regard. Still a number of options out there...whenever this lockout ends.
 

chawson

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I wonder if this frees up Jarren Duran to be used in a trade for pitching.
Sure hope so. Montas is probably the top target and the A’s need everything, but especially outfielders. Now that we’re surely going over whatever the tax may be we may as well absorb Andrus or Piscotty for a year.
 

nvalvo

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This trade is amazing.

So the Rays non-tender Renfroe, Bloom signs him for $3m, he has a deceptive season with a ton of HR and OF assists that mask that he was only pretty good, and then we deal him for JBJ and two very interesting IF prospects.
 

Wake49

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I'm a fan of this deal, as I think JBJ is young enough to get his hitting mojo back and I'd had it with Renfroe's "what's a cutoff man" defensive approach.
Get his hitting mojo BACK? I don’t think he ever had it in the first place.
 

nattysez

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Get his hitting mojo BACK? I don’t think he ever had it in the first place.
He had an OPS+ of 116 in 2020 and was a slightly below average hitter in the years before that. If he comes back and provides excellent defense and even a close-to-average bat as a 4th OF, he'll be a significant asset to the team.
 

Cesar Crespo

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He had an OPS+ of 116 in 2020 and was a slightly below average hitter in the years before that. If he comes back and provides excellent defense and even a close-to-average bat as a 4th OF, he'll be a significant asset to the team.
Yeah, those years mean a lot though. He was a slightly below average hitter in his late 20s. He'll be 33 in April.
 

curly2

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In Spring Training, JBJ has two jobs:

1. Recover his ability to hit.
2. Teach as much as possible to Duran about reading fly balls and taking the correct route. Duran will never be Bradley in center but maybe he’ll improve some learning from the master
 

E5 Yaz

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I feel like one's view on this trade is a perfect Rorschach test on how one understands roster construction in this era.
On defense, JBJ still floats like a butterfly ... but his bat no longer stings like a Killer B
 

Jody Reeds Well

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Yeah, those years mean a lot though. He was a slightly below average hitter in his late 20s. He'll be 33 in April.
Not a big difference, but he's turning 32 in April.


Not sure why JBJ was such a bad hitter last year. It certainly does not bode well for a hitter when their power is down (not sure the reason why) and their K% is the highest of their career. Power issues at this age are concerning. I don't recall an injury that he was dealing with (at least not publicly).
46924
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Get his hitting mojo BACK? I don’t think he ever had it in the first place.
That’s unfair to say. From May 5-25, 2016, JBJ hit .449/.525/.841/1.366 with 7 homers, 6 doubles, 11 BBs, and 12 k in 80 PAs over 19 games. He had massive mojo for those three weeks.
 

scottyno

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Danny Santana was essentially the Sox 4th outfielder in the playoffs this year. Going from him to JBJ would be a massive upgrade.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Last year JBJ had pretty much career norms in terms of going to left center or right and in terms of how hard he hit the ball. Main culprits of his awful season seem to be that he had the highest IFFB% of his career, and by far the lowest FB/HR% of his career. He also walked less frequently that he ever had, and had a career-low .226 BABIP. That said, his xBA was still only .198 (actual .163). The Brewers stadium is a much harder place to hit than Fenway, so maybe that accounts for some of it?
 

simplicio

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Between September Iggy and this, Chaim sure knows how to trigger my happy defensive nostalgia receptors.
 

E5 Yaz

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Danny Santana was essentially the Sox 4th outfielder in the playoffs this year. Going from him to JBJ would be a massive upgrade.
If they had three starting outfielders, this would be true; if however, they're counting on JBJ being a starter ... not so much
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Its really difficult to find issue with this trade. Adding prospects also seems like a decent hedge of players moving the needle on arbitration.
 

scottyno

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If they had three starting outfielders, this would be true; if however, they're counting on JBJ being a starter ... not so much
Agree 100%, I'm going on the assumption that they'll sign a 2ish win player for something like 1-12 before next season starts. Or maybe sign Schwarber with the idea of him or JDM playing LF for a year, though I wouldn't love that. (or JDM gets traded for said 2ish win OF after Schwarber is signed)
 

azsoxpatsfan

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Hunter Renfroes stats last year are confusing. He walked and struck out below his career norms, hit the ball hard below his career norm, hit the ball the other way a lot more frequently, hit few flies than normal, had fewer flies turn into homers than normal, but had his best season due to barreling way more balls than ever before. He was worth way more than the ~3 mill the Sox paid him, but nothing in his stats seem to show a guy who really changed anything. Seems like he was a perfect sell-high candidate
 

scottyno

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Hunter Renfroes stats last year are confusing. He walked and struck out below his career norms, hit the ball hard below his career norm, hit the ball the other way a lot more frequently, hit few flies than normal, had fewer flies turn into homers than normal, but had his best season due to barreling way more balls than ever before. He was worth way more than the ~3 mill the Sox paid him, but nothing in his stats seem to show a guy who really changed anything. Seems like he was a perfect sell-high candidate
And his defense wasn't nearly as good as his highlight reel throws made it look.
 

MtPleasant Paul

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Its really difficult to find issue with this trade. Adding prospects also seems like a decent hedge of players moving the needle on arbitration.
How about these issues: Renfroe had an OPS+ of 112 this year, Bradley's was 34. Milwaukee is sending us no money in this deal. We are on the hook for 17.5 million owed Bradley for 2022 and for buying out his option in 2023. And what about those two prospects? In August they were ranked 16th and 17th in the Brewers farm system. And what about that farm system? In the spring Keith Law and Baseball America both ranked it 28th.

In Chaim I have trusted but this deal seems outrageously one sided in favor of the Brewers.
 

Ale Xander

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How about these issues: Renfroe had an OPS+ of 112 this year, Bradley's was 34. Milwaukee is sending us no money in this deal. We are on the hook for 17.5 million owed Bradley for 2022 and for buying out his option in 2023. And what about those two prospects? In August they were ranked 16th and 17th in the Brewers farm system. And what about that farm system? In the spring Keith Law and Baseball America both ranked it 28th.

In Chaim I have trusted but this deal seems outrageously one sided in favor of the Brewers.
JBJ is moving to a more friendly ballpark and more support in the lineup. I just don't see how his OPS+ is anywhere near 34 next year. It was an outlier year. He usually has a K/BB ratio around 3. Last year it was above 4.5
 
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normstalls

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He wasn't very good last year and is probably not that good anymore. It's hardly a "fact."

Maybe go into why you think he'll suck in 2022?
I feel like we should lay off Rob. Jbj can’t hit, that is a fact. There have been some crazy streaks, but it’s been proven over time. We should know what we’re getting
 

scottyno

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How about these issues: Renfroe had an OPS+ of 112 this year, Bradley's was 34. Milwaukee is sending us no money in this deal. We are on the hook for 17.5 million owed Bradley for 2022 and for buying out his option in 2023. And what about those two prospects? In August they were ranked 16th and 17th in the Brewers farm system. And what about that farm system? In the spring Keith Law and Baseball America both ranked it 28th.

In Chaim I have trusted but this deal seems outrageously one sided in favor of the Brewers.
The money is irrelevant. Despite what some people seem to think the Red Sox are not a cheap team. And prospects don't need to be that good to make up the difference between what JBJ and Renfroe will get paid over the next 1-2 years.
 

Tokyo Sox

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The one place where the defense was set was centerfield. Hernandez at second is not good. Hoping JBJ is just depth. The prospects seem like a good deal.
Yes, this trade just cannot be evaluated as a standalone. If we've done nothing else by the time the season starts (whenever that may be) then yeah it could be a stinker. But if this results in moving Verdugo over and re-signing Schwarber it could be great. And/or if it results in signing Seiya Suzuki, it could be great.
 

MtPleasant Paul

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The money is irrelevant. Despite what some people seem to think the Red Sox are not a cheap team. And prospects don't need to be that good to make up the difference between what JBJ and Renfroe will get paid over the next 1-2 years.
Except Renfroe posted a 2.3 WAR last year while Jackie fell off a cliff and produced an MLB worst among regulars of -.07. And the money is relevant because of the luxury tax and the need to replace Renfroe's offensive production.
 

pgeyer13

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This is brilliant. Selling high on Renfroe and gaining legit prospects.
Nevermind my nostalgia, JBJ is our best defensive outfielder in 22. Granted he's best employed as a 4th outfielder, maybe Kike's versatility comes into play? The off-season will go on for a while.