Good thing he won't be expected to miss half the season again in 2023. Even if he put up the same offensive line as this year, which is also well below expected, if he stays healthy he'd still be worth close to $10m just for his defense.Guessing this says more about Duran than about Kike.
$10m for a season like 2022 is a massive overpay, but if the alternative is Duran then sign me up.
Not sure if it means that he's done, but he's clearly not plan A.Yep safe to say Duran is done here.
This may also be some level of insurance should they not be able to come to terms with with Bogaerts.Bridge to Ceddanne, as well as an all-around positive influence with a high ceiling. How high? His 2021 playoff line of .423/.837/1.260 in 11 games and 49 at-bats was outta sight.
He plays an eminently respectable shortstop too.
Bloom already did that.Not sure if it means that he's done, but he's clearly not plan A.
This may also be some level of insurance should they not be able to come to terms with with Bogaerts.
Signing Story was a blunder if he can’t play shortstop. And even if you think X is defensively adequate now, any long-term extension necessarily contemplates moving him off shortstop, because I don’t think even X’s biggest boosters think he’ll be an adequate defensive shortstop three years from now.I know Story was a short stop when we signed him, but he has been great at second and his range will be extremely useful there next year with the shift ban. Just like I see no reason to move Kike out of center, why shift Story away from a position he has been excellent at. He's in line for the second highest fielding % of his career (granted at an "easier" position). Let him lock that down instead of us worrying about his elbow all next season. We don't need an All-Star at short, we need a competent every day player. We have just grown accustomed to seeing an all-star at the position.
That being said I would sign X back if the price is reasonable enough.
Did you see the throw he tried to make from the shortstop position yesterday? It made David Eckstein look like Oneil Cruz. Yes, it was only one throw on the run in the wrong direction, but coupled with the concerns about his arm when he was signed and the fact that Bobby Dalbec has played more innings at short than him this season, we can conclude they don't think he should be over there.Signing Story was a blunder if he can’t play shortstop. And even if you think X is defensively adequate now, any long-term extension necessarily contemplates moving him off shortstop, because I don’t think even X’s biggest boosters think he’ll be an adequate defensive shortstop three years from now.
The Sox are being appropriately deferential to X this season. Also, there’s some merit in asking the better athlete to be the one to play out of position for a year. But I’m assuming Story will be the Opening Day shortstop until there’s a concrete reason to think otherwise.
Really? I don’t think so. Treating him purely as a second baseman, he’s a spectacular one, ranked second-best in MLB by Outs Above Average on a pro rata basis. Relatively tough year at the plate, but I believe him that he’s identified some mechanics issues and the last 8 games have indeed looked a lot different. Can’t hold his HBP against him.Signing Story was a blunder if he can’t play shortstop. And even if you think X is defensively adequate now, any long-term extension necessarily contemplates moving him off shortstop, because I don’t think even X’s biggest boosters think he’ll be an adequate defensive shortstop three years from now.
The Sox are being appropriately deferential to X this season. Also, there’s some merit in asking the better athlete to be the one to play out of position for a year. But I’m assuming Story will be the Opening Day shortstop until there’s a concrete reason to think otherwise.
You are correct that is hasn't been stated that it will be implemented. But the MLBPA has agreed to allow that change with pitch clocks and larger bases.I didn’t think the shift ban was etched in stone. Did I miss something?
Interesting. I hate change in baseball, going back to the DH. But since no one seems to want to learn how to bunt or hit the other way against the shift, this might be necessaryYou are correct that is hasn't been stated that it will be implemented. But the MLBPA has agreed to allow that change with pitch clocks and larger bases.
Pitch clock, shift bans among MLB rule changes on table for 2023 (nypost.com)
But MLB has been pushing for this and they have the MLBPA's support. It's happening...
Hell, the 89 game version of Story has been 2.7 WAR. Long way to go but he held up his end of the bargain in year1.Really? I don’t think so. Treating him purely as a second baseman, he’s a spectacular one, ranked second-best in MLB by Outs Above Average on a pro rata basis. Relatively tough year at the plate, but I believe him that he’s identified some mechanics issues and the last 8 games have indeed looked a lot different. Can’t hold his HBP against him.
Overall, this version of Story is a 4.5 fWAR second baseman over a 162 game season. Like @jwbasham84 said above, his range will be even more useful with the shift ban, and there’s reason to believe he’s better at the plate.
Or Hernandez wasn't interested in going beyond a one year deal.Hmm. I'd probably have gone for 2/17 if possible. But the 1/10 is interesting. I suppose it means they think there's a good chance they'll have a replacement CF ready in 2025.
Heh. You can tell how invested I am in the remainder of this season.If they have a replacement CF in mind to be ready I hope it is for 2024.
The message of the past week or so is that Duran is not up for a ton of pressure. I have a lot of sympathy for him in that regard. And he might still be able to succeed in the majors, but it's going to take a very patient approach. So sure, sign your current CF for another year, and then keep figuring it out.Not sure if it means that he's done, but he's clearly not plan A.
This may also be some level of insurance should they not be able to come to terms with with Bogaerts.
I'm with you -- this team doesn't move guys off their position too lightly. Whatever Kiké is at short, he's terrific in CF and Story is terrific at 2B. I think they have every intention of trying to bring X back.I know Story was a short stop when we signed him, but he has been great at second and his range will be extremely useful there next year with the shift ban. Just like I see no reason to move Kike out of center, why shift Story away from a position he has been excellent at. He's in line for the second highest fielding % of his career (granted at an "easier" position). Let him lock that down instead of us worrying about his elbow all next season. We don't need an All-Star at short, we need a competent every day player. We have just grown accustomed to seeing an all-star at the position.
That being said I would sign X back if the price is reasonable enough.
Because he’s barely worth that money now as a second baseman and will only decline with age. He’s not going to regain his 2018-19 offensive form, and defense at second base is only worth so much. If he plays at shortstop, however, an OPS in the 750-800 range makes him a star, assuming his defense isn’t dramatically worse than it was in Colorado. (He doesn’t need to be the elite defensive SS he was in 2017-19 — just average-ish.)Why?
I don’t think they are moving them either, and maybe I don’t follow other clubs as closely, but this regime seem pretty willing to swap positions.I'm with you -- this team doesn't move guys off their position too lightly. Whatever Kiké is at short, he's terrific in CF and Story is terrific at 2B. I think they have every intention of trying to bring X back.
I think you are vastly underestimating his play this year (limited, though, by injury). A 2.7 WAR puts him in the top 75 or so in MLB, with considerably less PT than most of those ahead of him.Because he’s barely worth that money now as a second baseman and will only decline with age. He’s not going to regain his 2018-19 offensive form, and defense at second base is only worth so much. If he plays at shortstop, however, an OPS in the 750-800 range makes him a star, assuming his defense isn’t dramatically worse than it was in Colorado. (He doesn’t need to be the elite defensive SS he was in 2017-19 — just average-ish.)
I'm not advocating that we run X out to play short like the Yankees did Jeter... I'm advocating we resign him at a reasonable price. Mayer should be ready in a few years when it is time for X to shift to left field... If Manny can play left, then a declining X most likely can as well. He could also spend time at DH, etc.Signing Story was a blunder if he can’t play shortstop. And even if you think X is defensively adequate now, any long-term extension necessarily contemplates moving him off shortstop, because I don’t think even X’s biggest boosters think he’ll be an adequate defensive shortstop three years from now.
The Sox are being appropriately deferential to X this season. Also, there’s some merit in asking the better athlete to be the one to play out of position for a year. But I’m assuming Story will be the Opening Day shortstop until there’s a concrete reason to think otherwise.
Trevor accumulated 2.7 bWAR with significant time off due to a freak injury. Fangraphs believes that teams will be paying approximately $8.5M/WAR in the 2022 offseason for 2+ WAR projected players of which Story certainly is... at that cost Story has almost exactly been worth his contract and has missed HALF OF THE SEASON! How can you honestly say he won't be worth more without the injury. He's hitting better lately and fielding spectacularly all season...Because he’s barely worth that money now as a second baseman and will only decline with age. He’s not going to regain his 2018-19 offensive form, and defense at second base is only worth so much. If he plays at shortstop, however, an OPS in the 750-800 range makes him a star, assuming his defense isn’t dramatically worse than it was in Colorado.
Just like Hanley Ramirez!I'm not advocating that we run X out to play short like the Yankees did Jeter... I'm advocating we resign him at a reasonable price. Mayer should be ready in a few years when it is time for X to shift to left field... If Manny can play left, then a declining X most likely can as well. He could also spend time at DH, etc.
X and Hanley are very different players.. Hanley bulked up and got slow... X has not. But yes he didn't succeed which is why I said most likely. Manny only stayed out there for his bat and I see a declining X as much the same.Just like Hanley Ramirez!