Cocky SOB, that quote never gets old. Thanks for sharing that clip.
Really an amazing call here - nice job.It is mid-January now, about a month until spring training is set to kick off, and there are a few more things that need to be addressed before the season starts.
- Right Handed Hitting - The Sox were already a bit lacking on right handed hitting before the Story injury, and now it is likely that 4 of their 5 best hitters (Devers, Turner, Casas, Verdugo, Yoshida) are LHH. There will need to be an addition to address this or they will be very vulnerable to lefty starters. My hope is they grab Adam Duvall as a 4th OF for something in the 1/$7 range Pollock signed for. He had a down year last year but still put up a 0.844 OPS against LHP and is good enough defensively to cover at least the corners and maybe CF (he played 44 games there last year for the Braves). An OF of Yoshida/Kike/Verdugo/Duvall/Ref is solid if unspectacular offensively and defensively. It could be better defensively if they also swapped out Verdugo for Kepler, but that obviously comes with an offensive downgrade.
Sign Andrus & throw him in at SS & move Hernandez to CF & you swap out the 30.9 for a 15.9.With the departures of JDM, Franchy. a heavily de-emphasized Dalbec at best, and Story being out for a while, this is a very contact oriented opening day roster - .
The league average k-rate was 23.2%
Steamer projections
1b - Casas (22.1)
2b - Arroyo (19.1)
SS - Kike (18.7)
3B - Devers (19.6)
C - McGuire (20.5)
LF - Yoshida (9.9)
CF - Duvall (30.9)
RF - Verdugo (14.8)
DH - Turner (17.3)
The reserves are a different story, but this is going to be a pain in the ass team to face with runners on.
I wonder if there is a market for Matt Barnes in his final year. Trimming his contract would provide a lot of flexibility. With Martin and a legit closer with a backup closer in place the financial flexibility would be great. Sox could afford Andrus on a two-year deal which night be perfect with the players they have that are probably two years away.Sign Andrus & throw him in at SS & move Hernandez to CF & you swap out the 30.9 for a 15.9.
Barnes is a negative asset on his contract, but you could probably eat half & ship him out for a flyer.I wonder if there is a market for Matt Barnes in his final year. Trimming his contract would provide a lot of flexibility. With Martin and a legit closer with a backup closer in place the financial flexibility would be great. Sox could afford Andrus on a two-year deal which night be perfect with the players they have that are probably two years away.
This is an excellent point. What are the Red Sox right now? An old team hoping to make a run at respectability. Many people here talk about our window coming in 2025 or thereabouts and I know there are several prospects people are excited about as a reason for that. However, this is a team full of players who aren't likely to be around for 2025. If the Sox are going to struggle to be competitive, which seems likely at this point, watching Adam Duvall and Corey Kluber is not going to make up the difference. Hopefully, Casas and Bello give us something to be excited about, but right now, most of what the team is doing is just spinning its wheels.I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what this "means," if anything, but much has been made of the age of most of the free agent signings the Red Sox have done this offseason. So, for statistics sakes, if nothing else, here's what the roster looks like (meaning those players most likely at the moment to see significant time in Boston).
The first thing that jumps out is the age of the pitching staff, the area where there are fewer reinforcements readily available in the minors. The other thing that jumps out is the dearth of 25 and under players with MLB experience, as above to how many players the Red Sox will be counting on heavily at the older end of the scale
Again, draw your own conclusions. But for me, that pile of older arms is worrisome
Ye Olde Towne Team in 2023 (as of 1/18)
Playing age for 2023 season
Justin Turner 38
Corey Kluber 36/37
Chris Martin 36/37
Kenley Jansen 35/36
Ryan Brasier 35/36
*Adam Duvall 34/35
Chris Sale 34
James Paxton 34
Matt Barnes 32/33
Rob Refsnyder 32
Kike' Hernandez 31/32
Joely Rodriguez 31
Kaleb Ort 31
Oldest team in MLB 2022 (Mets) avg 30.6
Trevor Story (IL) 30
Nick Pivetta 30
Josh Taylor 30
Masataka Yoshida 29/30
Jorge Alfaro 29/30
Reece McGuire 28
Zach Kelly 28
Bobby Dalbec 27/28
Christian Arroyo 27/28
Kutter Crawford 27
Connor Wong 26/27
Alex Verdugo 26/27
Garrett Whitlock 26/27
Tanner Houck 26/27
Jarren Duran 26/27
Rafael Devers 26
Josh Winckowski 24/25
Brayan Bello 23/24
Triston Casas 23
Shrug. I'd be more concerned with control through prime years. The entire point of a Joely Rodriguez type of contract is that it's for his age 31 year with a team option for age 32 and a low buyout.I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what this "means," if anything, but much has been made of the age of most of the free agent signings the Red Sox have done this offseason. So, for statistics sakes, if nothing else, here's what the roster looks like (meaning those players most likely at the moment to see significant time in Boston).
The first thing that jumps out is the age of the pitching staff, the area where there are fewer reinforcements readily available in the minors. The other thing that jumps out is the dearth of 25 and under players with MLB experience, as above to how many players the Red Sox will be counting on heavily at the older end of the scale
Again, draw your own conclusions. But for me, that pile of older arms is worrisome
Ye Olde Towne Team in 2023 (as of 1/18)
Playing age for 2023 season
Justin Turner 38
Corey Kluber 36/37
Chris Martin 36/37
Kenley Jansen 35/36
Ryan Brasier 35/36
*Adam Duvall 34/35
Chris Sale 34
James Paxton 34
Matt Barnes 32/33
Rob Refsnyder 32
Kike' Hernandez 31/32
Joely Rodriguez 31
Kaleb Ort 31
Oldest team in MLB 2022 (Mets) avg 30.6
Trevor Story (IL) 30
Nick Pivetta 30
Josh Taylor 30
Masataka Yoshida 29/30
Jorge Alfaro 29/30
Reece McGuire 28
Zach Kelly 28
Bobby Dalbec 27/28
Christian Arroyo 27/28
Kutter Crawford 27
Connor Wong 26/27
Alex Verdugo 26/27
Garrett Whitlock 26/27
Tanner Houck 26/27
Jarren Duran 26/27
Rafael Devers 26
Josh Winckowski 24/25
Brayan Bello 23/24
Triston Casas 23
These guys taking it upon themselves to bulk up make no sense to me... Assuming they walk the same amount, a guy who bats .250 and hits an extra 10 home runs every year is way less valuable than the same guy hitting 300 line drives every year.Brother Verdugo's "bulking" info tracks with Cora's observation about his decreased agility.
When he got here, I thought verdugo would be a good leadoff hitter. A not-trying-to-hit-bombs Verdugo would again be.
The old guys we just signed have all proven themselves capable of playing baseball while old though.I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what this "means," if anything, but much has been made of the age of most of the free agent signings the Red Sox have done this offseason. So, for statistics sakes, if nothing else, here's what the roster looks like (meaning those players most likely at the moment to see significant time in Boston).
The first thing that jumps out is the age of the pitching staff, the area where there are fewer reinforcements readily available in the minors. The other thing that jumps out is the dearth of 25 and under players with MLB experience, as above to how many players the Red Sox will be counting on heavily at the older end of the scale
Again, draw your own conclusions. But for me, that pile of older arms is worrisome
Ye Olde Towne Team in 2023 (as of 1/18)
Playing age for 2023 season
Justin Turner 38
Corey Kluber 36/37
Chris Martin 36/37
Kenley Jansen 35/36
Ryan Brasier 35/36
*Adam Duvall 34/35
Chris Sale 34
James Paxton 34
Matt Barnes 32/33
Rob Refsnyder 32
Kike' Hernandez 31/32
Joely Rodriguez 31
Kaleb Ort 31
Oldest team in MLB 2022 (Mets) avg 30.6
Trevor Story (IL) 30
Nick Pivetta 30
Josh Taylor 30
Masataka Yoshida 29/30
Jorge Alfaro 29/30
Reece McGuire 28
Zach Kelly 28
Bobby Dalbec 27/28
Christian Arroyo 27/28
Kutter Crawford 27
Connor Wong 26/27
Alex Verdugo 26/27
Garrett Whitlock 26/27
Tanner Houck 26/27
Jarren Duran 26/27
Rafael Devers 26
Josh Winckowski 24/25
Brayan Bello 23/24
Triston Casas 23
I think there's something to this. Youth is great, and it usually tracks with prime. But with the good-not-great players, prime is probably more important, as they'll probably only be good for shorter amount of time.Shrug. I'd be more concerned with control through prime years. The entire point of a Joely Rodriguez type of contract is that it's for his age 31 year with a team option for age 32 and a low buyout.
Also, we actually have young arms. Mata, Murphy, Walter, Kelly, German should be added to the list. Mata in particular has the potential to be a useful starter.
According to The Atheltic, Profar declined a 7.5M player option with SD for this season which would have led to a mutual 10M mutual option for '24. So in effect he walked away from 17.5 over 2 years so I'm guessing he's looking for more.Anyone have an idea what cost/terms of a Jurickson Profar deal would look like? I'm starting to talk myself into him over Andrus, Iglesias or Harrison. Switch hitter, positional flexibility. If Kiki is willing to play primarily SS, this seems to make some sense. In addition, Yankees showing reported interest in him as their LF, so that'd also be a fun grab.
At this point in his career the only position Profar can capably defend is LF. We already have one more of those guys than we need. If a viable starter like Duvall at a more important defensive position (CF/RF) is only getting a one-year $7 million dollar deal I can’t see Profar getting much more than that. He probably shouldn’t have turned down that option..According to The Atheltic, Profar declined a 7.5M player option with SD for this season which would have led to a mutual 10M mutual option for '24. So in effect he walked away from 17.5 over 2 years so I'm guessing he's looking for more.
https://theathletic.com/3772734/2022/11/08/padres-free-agent-outlook-jurickson-profar-is-on-the-market-after-declining-option/
Yeah, he really shouldn’t have turned down that option.Except he looked really bad in LF last year with -6 OAA; the only place he's got positive defensive numbers in the last two years is 1B in 2021.
Kavadas hasn't mashed above A+ ball, yet, & he's already 24, & is also a lefty. His 1st 100 PAs in AA were pretty startling...If Kavadas can continue mashing at AA and above, I'd also very happily hand him the Turner DH/backup 1B role.
It’s gonna be a great year in Portland. Can’t wait.If we’re still competitive in July and Lugo, Kavadas and Binelas are putting up .850 OPS in AA, it will be very interesting what Bloom does. Binelas now looks surplus to requirements because of Devers’ contract. I’m a believer in Casas so Kavadas is also surplus to requirements. Bloom must be eyeing some AA/AAA outfielders to flip these guys for. If all 3 start the season well and adjust to AA, they’ll be very valuable chips.
Corner IF:The team’s biggest catching addition is Alfaro, a 29-year-old with nearly 500 games of big-league experience and an absurdly all-or-nothing approach at the plate. He’ll basically compete with Wong for a big league job, and the fact Wong has an option remaining means the Red Sox could keep either one and stash the other in Triple A. The team also has glove-first Hamilton and bat-first Hernández who cleared waivers and can provide further depth in Triple A. Scott might open in Double A instead, but he’s coming off a strong stint in the Arizona Fall League.
Middle IF:For now, the team doesn’t have a go-to first baseman ticketed for Worcester unless Dalbec sticks around and gets optioned (he has an option remaining). Otherwise, the Red Sox seem to have Turner penciled in as their backup first baseman, with Arroyo, Refsnyder and Duvall also having experience at the position. If the Red Sox have to fill in for Casas, they might just shuffle some big-league pieces rather than call up someone to do the job.
Minor league OF signings:Valdez is going to continue playing second base as his primary position, though he’ll also see time at third base and the outfield. Hamilton, who like Valdez was also added to the 40-man this winter, has split his time between shortstop and second base (with a very small amount of outfield exposure) and seems to be in line for a lot of Triple-A time at short.
Hamilton has elite speed. Valdez has left-handed power. Rafaela is a defensive wizard. Fitzgerald and Koss have the versatility to play anywhere. And if the Red Sox need a known quantity to fill a bench role, they also have Goodrum, a switch-hitter with more than 1,500 big league plate appearances who’s started a major league game at every position except pitcher and catcher.
Rotation:The Red Sox have signed three outfielders to minor-league deals, and all three have big-league experience. Tapia is a left-handed hitter, Allen a switch hitter, and Crook a right-handed hitter. All three have some experience in center field, though Allen is the best defender of the group. Allen and Tapia also have some speed. These are bench possibilities if the Red Sox need them.
Bullpen:All of those rotation candidates help explain why the Red Sox have yet to sign a particularly notable minor-league free-agent starter (something we’ve seen them do a lot in recent years). Sterling Sharp was re-signed after pitching for Double-A Portland last year, but seems to be more minor-league depth than a call-up candidate at the moment. Victor Santos, too, could be jockeying for starts in that crowded Triple-A rotation.
Seems like the org has a lot more depth in the majors and AAA than last season, while having far fewer established big league mainstays. Guys like X, JD, Eovaldi, and Story will be missed and will not be replaced 1-for-1 but partly by committee (which certainly wasn't the plan for Story until he got hurt, but injuries are going to happen.)Bullpen depth is always a little bit hard to gauge, and teams never feel they have enough. Hard-throwing Ryan Fernandez emerged last season as an interesting relief prospect in the system, and there’s still a chance the Red Sox could get either A.J. Politi or Thaddeus Ward back after their Rule 5 draft selections this winter.
Good to see Sale upbeatChris Sale: “Humpty Dumpty’s been put back together.”
Says he’s full go and excited for spring training.
Big talk from someone who's had us walking on eggshells.
Calling himself Humpty Dumpty is big talk? Sounds pretty self-effacing to me.Big talk from someone who's had us walking on eggshells.
Feels like he's whistling passed the graveyard with this kind of talk. Hope his optimism lasts and is warranted.
Adding to this point, Sale also said thisCalling himself Humpty Dumpty is big talk? Sounds pretty self-effacing to me.
Sale is a competitor. He no longer needs the money. It's about doing what he loves to do. I get it. He's got something to prove. Fresh start in 2023 and bring the heat.Adding to this point, Sale also said this
View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1616858533814845444?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
The guy is exactly what this team is missing. He’s a big time pitcher and a nasty, hard nosed player. They need his above average innings and his attitude.Calling himself Humpty Dumpty is big talk? Sounds pretty self-effacing to me.
The reality is that he hasn't pitched a full healthy season since his extension was signed. He can say all the nice words he wants, but until he does that the fanbase is absolutely right to expect actions to back them up.The guy is exactly what this team is missing. He’s a big time pitcher and a nasty, hard nosed player. They need his above average innings and his attitude.
But the reality is nothing Sale can do outside out winning the WS will satisfy a large portion of the fan base.
Funny but parts of the fanbase would wet their pants for an always injured DeGrom at any price, ignores injuries to SP being a major part of the game, claim it wouldn’t matter if a signed homegrown player was injured and want FSG to spend more.The reality is that he hasn't pitched a full healthy season since his extension was signed. He can say all the nice words he wants, but until he does that the fanbase is absolutely right to expect actions to back them up.
Well they do have a “right” to their expectations and a right to be livid and upset and to threaten to start following the Yankees or Pirates…Funny but parts of the fanbase would wet their pants for an always injured DeGrom at any price, ignores injuries to SP being a major part of the game, claim it wouldn’t matter if a signed homegrown player was injured and want FSG to spend more.
And totally disagree with the fans having a “right” to a player not being injured.
Okay but DeGrom, when healthy, tends to pitch like a God.Funny but parts of the fanbase would wet their pants for an always injured DeGrom at any price, ignores injuries to SP being a major part of the game, claim it wouldn’t matter if a signed homegrown player was injured and want FSG to spend more.
I dunno, I thought Dustin Pedroia was pretty good.2. The minors have almost always been crap. This is what contributed to last place finishes and the loss of Betts and Boegarts… the only homegrown players that count.
Great to hear this from Sale.Adding to this point, Sale also said this
View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1616858533814845444?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
First year after TJ tends to be inconclusive, so we are talking about five starts in 2021 (3.69 FIP) just to get things going again and two more last year (2.41 FIP). I don't think we know anything about how Sale will pitch going forward, but if it's in line with these starts.... I mean, can we use factual information to talk about anything? The complaining about everything is getting tiresome.Okay but DeGrom, when healthy, tends to pitch like a God.
Chris Sale post extension, when "healthy", tends... not to pitch nearly as well.
He doesn't owe anyone anything other than to try his best.Great to hear this from Sale.
He does owe his teammates and the FO to be better. Not that everything over the past 4 years has been his fault, but he absolutely needs to be much better.
I'd rather hear this from him than the usual "just gonna do my best" pablum we usually get.
I'm with you on 3 of 4, & with the general sentiment mostly... but who else's fault would it be that he fell off his bike?He doesn't owe anyone anything other than to try his best.
It's not his "fault" that he tore his UCL, broke his ribs, had a line drive hit off his pinkie finger, and fell off his bike.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said Sale had played catch on Saturday at Boston College. He then took his bike to get lunch and hit something going down a hill before falling off his bike.
I think the point is it was an accident. It's not like he was doing bike parkour. Accidents happen, and I doubt riding a bike was a hazard written into his contract to avoid.I'm with you on 3 of 4, & with the general sentiment mostly... but who else's fault would it be that he fell off his bike?