If you look at what Toronto just gave up for Matt Chapman and compare it to what Colorado just gave up for Kris Bryant, it does look like the value right now might be in the trade market.
I’ve been trying to think of someone worthwhile that would be available, but I am at a loss. Jose Ramirez is all I can come up with, in terms of position players.Pretty easy to imagine teams prefer JD at 1/$19 to Kris Bryant's contract or Schwarber's so presumably there would now be some market there.
I don't love Freeman at 5-6 years, but if you did 4 years I could see the value argument. Correa seems to be exploring back to Houston---but Story doesn't have a real path back to Colorado. Do you suppose he'd play second at least initially?
I still wonder, as mentioned above, if they are chasing someone on another roster rather than a FA.
Yeah they need bats. The only scenario that I had JDM being moved is if they brought back Schwarber.Aren’t the Red Sox the kind of team that could use a slugger like JD Martinez on a one year deal? I’m continually baffled by the insatiable desire to get him off the roster- who replaces him? Is there a need to clear payroll? There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal, right?
Maybe there’s a way to dump him that improves the team but I’m struggling to see what that would look like, especially given the options left in the FA marketplace.
Go big or home. Aim for Soto.I’ve been trying to think of someone worthwhile that would be available, but I am at a loss. Jose Ramirez is all I can come up with, in terms of position players.
The word is that much like Bogaerts, he wants to stay at SS, and he has supposedly turned down multiple nine figure deals (which I would find more dubious if Javy Baez didn't get 6/140).but Story doesn't have a real path back to Colorado. Do you suppose he'd play second at least initially?
I mean, sure - but I can’t envision any scenario he’s availableGo big or home. Aim for Soto.
You realize his boss has signed about twenty expensive free agents, right?Oh goodie, we will be signing more players from the bargain bin. There has been zero proof that Chaim is willing to sign an expensive free agent contract.
Story might be willing to do that for a year, but he's a much better defender than X so it would definitely be a sub-optimal alignment.Pretty easy to imagine teams prefer JD at 1/$19 to Kris Bryant's contract or Schwarber's so presumably there would now be some market there.
I don't love Freeman at 5-6 years, but if you did 4 years I could see the value argument. Correa seems to be exploring back to Houston---but Story doesn't have a real path back to Colorado. Do you suppose he'd play second at least initially?
I still wonder, as mentioned above, if they are chasing someone on another roster rather than a FA.
I don't think there's any desire to ship out JD outside of a context where they're signing a different slugger (e.g. Freeman) long term. If that's the case, then shipping out JD gets you some assets and frees up the DH spot to rotate among Devers, Dalbec, Casas, Freeman, etc. If they aren't bringing in a guy like Freeman, than I agree it makes little sense to ship out JD.Aren’t the Red Sox the kind of team that could use a slugger like JD Martinez on a one year deal? I’m continually baffled by the insatiable desire to get him off the roster- who replaces him? Is there a need to clear payroll? There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal, right?
Maybe there’s a way to dump him that improves the team but I’m struggling to see what that would look like, especially given the options left in the FA marketplace.
I would have no interest in Suzuki at that contract. Japanese hitters just do not have a good enough track record, and the last thing this team needs is Rusney Castillo 2.0.Crossposting from the main MLB thread on today's action:
The only big contract signed today I'd be comfortable being tethered to was Suzuki's, if only because outfielder depth in the minors isn't great right now. Even then, 5/85 is a lot for a Japanese player coming over, no matter how strong the scouting / projections say he'll transition fine.
It might be prudent to just continue "retooling", let the Blue Jays shoot their shot (they have traded away quite a lot of their farm to supplement with Berrios and Chapman, as mentioned), and hopefully the farm pans out starting in 2024.
Plus... the offseason isn't over just yet.
The Sox generally haven’t had a ton of success with high $$$ FA deals anyhow. Manny was great. JDM has been really good. I can’t even think of another that worked out any time recently.You realize his boss has signed about twenty expensive free agents, right?
It means that the Red Sox are pleased and happy to repeat the news that they have, in fact, caught and killed a large predator that supposedly injured some bathers.I don’t even know what this means?Excited about chasing down deals with guys still out there? It’s exciting trying to get players even though they’ve gotten none of any real interest as of yet?
Yes--I don't have any problem with JDM personally, I was only playing out the scenario where they'd clear him out to sign Freeman. Which would be an upgrade, at least for a year.Aren’t the Red Sox the kind of team that could use a slugger like JD Martinez on a one year deal? I’m continually baffled by the insatiable desire to get him off the roster- who replaces him? Is there a need to clear payroll? There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal, right?
Maybe there’s a way to dump him that improves the team but I’m struggling to see what that would look like, especially given the options left in the FA marketplace.
Yah. And we had to have the dodgers bail us out of that. Doubt we see that happen again (for the Sox or any other team).The Sox generally haven’t had a ton of success with high $$$ FA deals anyhow. Manny was great. JDM has been really good. I can’t even think of another that worked out any time recently.
Which makes me wonder if Freeman, while older, fits into a sweet spot on their comfort level of maybe giving him five years.Yes--I don't have any problem with JDM personally, I was only playing out the scenario where they'd clear him out to sign Freeman. Which would be an upgrade, at least for a year.
I am not a giant fan of the risk profile of Freeman, personally. I'd be more inclined to try for Story or Correa if I were going to sign a big $ free agent, both aging-curve wise and optionality-wise. I recognize Story and Correa both want to play SS, as does Xander. I also think preferences change based on the market and I don't believe everything I see on twitter, so I believe both teams and players explore different options. For those who don't like to do so, that's fine but history suggests teams view this the way I do and not that player preferences are absolute (go look at ARod statements about position before he was traded).
I also think it is quite possible that Red Sox and Bloom believe that long-term, big $ deals are a bad bet overall and thus won't be in on any of these guys beyond 3, possibly 4, years.
Part of the value of signing Story and having him at 2B is that it would improve your situation when X is a free agent. So I agree with above, but whether it is a feature or a bug is a matter of perspective.Story might be willing to do that for a year, but he's a much better defender than X so it would definitely be a sub-optimal alignment.
I'd say that David Price worked out OK. Add David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Keith Foulke and Adrian Beltre to that list.The Sox generally haven’t had a ton of success with high $$$ FA deals anyhow. Manny was great. JDM has been really good. I can’t even think of another that worked out any time recently.
And Lackey was a win, believe it or not. Drew too.I'd say that David Price worked out OK.
He was terrific in the 2018 postseason, so I will never hold a grudge against that guy. But his contract was such an albatross that they had to attach him to Mookie to move it. So it's debatable (and the debate ends up down the rabbit hole of Mookie vs the LT, so yeah).I'd say that David Price worked out OK.
As PKB points out, no one wants to run JD out of town without replacing his bat. The reason the Sox were reportedly hoping he would opt out was the opportunity to sign someone who was younger, could replace his production, and add something defensively. Once he opted in, it seemed like the Sox would have to wait a year to make that upgrade, but the universal DH suddenly improves the chances for a trade. You are certainly correct that this only works if the Sox replace his bat with such a player, for instance Freeman. If not, I agree that they’re likely to keep JD for the year.Aren’t the Red Sox the kind of team that could use a slugger like JD Martinez on a one year deal? I’m continually baffled by the insatiable desire to get him off the roster- who replaces him? Is there a need to clear payroll? There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal, right?
Maybe there’s a way to dump him that improves the team but I’m struggling to see what that would look like, especially given the options left in the FA marketplace.
And Lackey was a win, believe it or not. Drew too.
Yes and I added a few more guys to the list. There are more than a couple of guys there that collected WS rings.As has Eovaldi IMO.
I'd say that David Price worked out OK. Add David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Keith Foulke and Adrian Beltre to that list.
Only Price was a big contract though. Damon was roughly $30M. Beltre was 1/9M. Ortiz was initially a 1 year low $ deal.I'd say that David Price worked out OK. Add David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Keith Foulke and Adrian Beltre to that list.
The ‘Correa goes back to Houston’ narrative has been floating around since Sunday. I’m a little surprised it hasn’t happened if there was mutual interest. Maybe they’re just doing him a solid and upping his bids.I don't love Freeman at 5-6 years, but if you did 4 years I could see the value argument. Correa seems to be exploring back to Houston---but Story doesn't have a real path back to Colorado. Do you suppose he'd play second at least initially?
Can I ask what you mean by this? I see Freeman as one of the least risky elite hitters of this generation.I am not a giant fan of the risk profile of Freeman, personally. I'd be more inclined to try for Story or Correa if I were going to sign a big $ free agent, both aging-curve wise and optionality-wise. I recognize Story and Correa both want to play SS, as does Xander. I also think preferences change based on the market and I don't believe everything I see on twitter, so I believe both teams and players explore different options. For those who don't like to do so, that's fine but history suggests teams view this the way I do and not that player preferences are absolute (go look at ARod statements about position before he was traded).
I also think it is quite possible that Red Sox and Bloom believe that long-term, big $ deals are a bad bet overall and thus won't be in on any of these guys beyond 3, possibly 4, years.
The debate doesn't have anything to do with Mookie. Judge Price on his own merits. Four solid seasons and healthy contribution to a World Championship. Could the back end of that contract have worked better for the Sox? Absolutely, but IMO his time here was successful.He was terrific in the 2018 postseason, so I will never hold a grudge against that guy. But his contract was such an albatross that they had to attach him to Mookie to move it. So it's debatable (and the debate ends up down the rabbit hole of Mookie vs the LT, so yeah).
World Series Hero = worth itHe was terrific in the 2018 postseason, so I will never hold a grudge against that guy. But his contract was such an albatross that they had to attach him to Mookie to move it. So it's debatable (and the debate ends up down the rabbit hole of Mookie vs the LT, so yeah).
He's 32 and with a long deal you are simply betting against the aging curve. That's just clearly a risk, even at a high skill level. He also doesn't have the "perfect" profile for beating the curve, which would include more speed/athleticism than he has. I like the player a lot, and I like aiming for stars. If you can get Freeman for 4 years at higher AAV I think that's worth doing.Can I ask what you mean by this? I see Freeman as one of the least risky elite hitters of this generation.
He’s not a dead pull hitter and would seem to use the wall well. No chronic injuries. He’d be one of the few dozen players who’d stand to gain most by the banned shift. He’s not exactly young, but we’re not talking about giving him the Pujols contract either.
Here are the best hitting seasons ever at age 38. Who are the ones who had speed as a large part of their game? Mays and Spesker? Bonds was before the juice. If I'm picking someone to be productive in their late 30s, it's going to be someone who can hit and doesn't need to use their legs to beat any singles out.He's 32 and with a long deal you are simply betting against the aging curve. That's just clearly a risk, even at a high skill level. He also doesn't have the "perfect" profile for beating the curve, which would include more speed/athleticism than he has. I like the player a lot, and I like aiming for stars. If you can get Freeman for 4 years at higher AAV I think that's worth doing.
Gwynn, Mays, Aaron, Bonds, Speaker all had speed at or near Freeman's age. So, what you're left with is Ruth, Williams---two of the sixish best hitters ever---two DHs with unusual aging curves (and less wear than most, given role), and a guy who just left Coors (and fell off a cliff after the great season above). If you think that makes the case for betting on Freeman hitting at 38, well, good luck to you!Here are the best hitting seasons ever at age 38. Who are the ones who had speed as a large part of their game? Mays and Spesker? Bonds was before the juice. If I'm picking someone to be productive in their late 30s, it's going to be someone who can hit and doesn't need to use their legs to beat any singles out.
View attachment 50229
TINSTAABOYD?There [is] no such thing as a bad one year deal
I do and his boss hired him and hasn’t signed one since.You realize his boss has signed about twenty expensive free agents, right?
this post deserves more love. Well played, Sir, we’ll played…It means that the Red Sox are pleased and happy to repeat the news that they have, in fact, caught and killed a large predator that supposedly injured some bathers.
Yes, players get worse as they get older. I don't think that link is breaking any new ground. I'm pushing back on the idea that faster, more athletic players have less of a decline as they age. I think it's just the opposite. A player who never overly relied on athleticism to succeed when they were younger is a better bet to be productive when they're older and have lost some of it.The empirical data on aging curves is, I think, pretty definitive. Here's one of many articles on it. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/checking-in-on-the-aging-curve/
There is no such thing as a franchise crippling one year deal?TINSTAABOYD?
Now tell me how many rings they have won being one of the biggest spenders in all of baseball for close to 10 years.Since last season the dodgers payroll has ranked (out of 30 teams)
2021:1
2020:2
2019:9
2018:3
2017:1
2016:1
2015:1
2014:1
2013:2
2012 12