It would be almost impossible to upgrade over what Salty did last year offensively, and from a prospects standpoint the Red Sox are better off at catcher than pretty much anyone else. I don't see how catcher is a real need.soxfan121 said:
Well, reading this thread it seems some people think so. But I agree - not every position needs to have an elite player in order to win a World Series.
Of course, having a below-average player at any position means that another player(s) at another position(s) needs to produce enough to make up the difference. My point, which your question implies you missed, is that catcher is a real "need". Rather than spend real money on a player (Salty) that is thoroughly average, it behooves the organization to seek a replacement who could be better than thoroughly average for several seasons by trading another player from a position of relative strength (i.e. third base and veteran starting pitcher) to seek a long term solution.
Will Middlebrooks is an inveterate hacker who will fail to make consistent enough contact to be anything more than "good". And in some seasons, he might make Russell Branyan look like a good offensive player. (obviously, he's a better defender rolling out of bed). Arguing that he might be good trade fodder for a catcher isn't a plea for an "elite player at every position". There are much better posts for your objection to be tacked on to.
Also, Russell Branyan WAS a good offensive player and horribly underrated. He was a career 113 OPS+ player with an OBP that was nearly 100 points higher than his BA and excellent power. If Middlebrooks ends up being a good defense version of Russell Branyan with a .280 BA and a .330 OBP insead of a .230 BA and .330 OBP but with a nearly .500 SLG he'll be an incredibly valuable player for this team.
It also isn't particularly fair to call Middlebrooks a hacker when he does have a +.050 OBP over his BA pretty much every season in the minors. It isn't a great jump but it's pretty comparable to say, Ellsbury's major league deviation and I won't call Ellsbury "an inveterate hacker". They brought him up in the middle of a crazy hot streak last year when he was hitting everything on the screws. This year he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. I'd say we have a ways further to go before we see who the real Will Middlebrooks - baseball player really is.
What do all the other teams who don't have Ortiz, Miguel Cabrera, or Giancarlo Stanton do to get by? I mean, obviously without having such a player you simply can't compete right?selahsean said:For all the no Stanton guys who hits 3 or 4 after Papi retires. I' assuming next year is his last. Pedroia can certainly hit 3rd, but I really prefer him hitting 2nd truth be told. I just don't see the next impact power bat in the minors or available via free agency.
1. Unless Ortiz has a catastrophic injury or has a massive drop off in his play he's the DH for the 2015 Red Sox, contract or not. He just put up a 160 OPS+ season. Last year he was a 173 OPS+ guy. When the rest of the league is seeing power drop off Ortiz is still beasting, and he overhauled his plate approach to make that happen just a couple years ago. He basically just dominated a World Series featuring the best pitching team the NL could possibly have put up against him, front to back. He is also 69 home runs away from 500, and short of simply being unable to play anymore he's sticking around until he crosses taht milestone.
2. What do you think the entire point of keeping Xander Bogaerts is? He could well end up being a .300/.370/.500 shortstop. That is how you answer losing Ortiz, by acknowledging that you can't replace a Hall of Famer when they retire with just one guy and instead you get the best bat you can to take his place without shooting yourself in the foot and you improve the lineup everywhere else you can.