Should the Red Sox go all out to sign Yasmani Tomas?

[RedOctober3829]

Yasmani Tomas, one of the top young power hitters in Cuba and a member of the national team, has left the island to pursue a contract with a major league team, Baseball America has learned. The Cuban newspaper Granma also confirmed that Tomas had left the country.
 

Tomas is 23 and has played five seasons in Serie Nacional, so he will be exempt from the international bonus pools, even when the new rules kick in on July 2 that require five seasons instead of three for pool exemption. Tomas was arguably one of the top 10 or so players left in Cuba in terms of major league potential, and one of the top half dozen players who meet MLB’s 23-and-5 rules, the sweet spot for a signing unencumbered by the pools.
A righthanded-hitting corner outfielder, Tomas can hit towering home runs thanks to the strength from his thickly-built 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame. Tomas has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, and with Jose Abreu already gone, the only player still in Cuba with more raw power than him was Alfredo Despaigne. He has some experience in center field and is a decent runner for his size, but his speed is still below-average and he’s going to be a corner outfielder in pro ball
 

Given his present talent level, Tomas might have a chance to go straight into a major league lineup, but a more likely scenario would have him starting in the upper minors, with Triple-A seeming like a good fit.
 

 

The WBC provided a breakout platform for Tomas to showcase his skills in front of scouts, and he seized the opportunity, ranking as the No. 6 prospect at the tournament. While veteran national teamer Alexei Bell started the tournament in right field, by the end of the event Tomas was getting more playing time, going 6-for-16 (.412) with two home runs, one double, one walk and four strikeouts. During the 2012-13 Serie Nacional regular season that year, Tomas hit .289/.364/.538 with 15 home runs, 34 walks (10 intentional) and 52 strikeouts in 324 plate appearances over 81 games, ranking fifth in the league in slugging and sixth in home runs. That came one year after his breakthrough 2011-12 campaign when he batted .301/.340/.580 with 16 homers in 240 plate appearances over 69 games.

 

Tomas will still have to obtain residency in another country, get an unblocking license from the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball to be eligible to enter into an agreement with a club. The timetable for jumping through those hurdles varies, though it seems unlikely Tomas would sign before the end of the season and it might take him until 2015 to ultimately sign.
 

 
Ben Badler of BA has reported that 23 year old Cuban OF Yasmani Tomas has defected.  As you can see from above, this is exactly the type of player the Red Sox should be offering a huge contract to.  He's exactly what this system is missing: an OF who has power.  70 raw power is not found in this system for sure.  Below is a HR he hit in the WBC.  He's not subject to any international signing pool rules, so for an organization with the financial resources and needs of the Red Sox should be all over this guy.  IMO, they should go all out to sign Tomas.  Badler says it might take a long time to get him declared a free agent, but nevertheless should get him.
 
I changed the thread title to reflect the bigger question here.  We know they will be interested in him, but will they go all out to get him?
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltJjQ-iTj2c[/youtube]

 

[E5 Yaz]

Should they TRY to sign him? Sure, it's only money. 

 

[MakMan44]

Should they TRY to sign him? Sure, it's only money. 

Pretty much this. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Should they TRY to sign him? Sure, it's only money. 

I think it's a given they'll be in on him, but would you covet Tomas similarly to Puig?  I think they should.  I was going to compare the Yankees pursuit of Tanaka to Tomas, but I don't think it will go to that extreme.  I'd give him somewhere between Puig and Abreu money(around $50 million).  Their needs in the OF both on the ML roster and in the minor league system are that extreme.

 

[jimbobim]

Short answer - Yes
 
Long answer- fuck yes 
 
Now he's supposedly not as polished as Abreu. Still is there any doubt all the big market teams are going to pony up for this guy ? The continuing success of Abreu and Puig will likely push this guys price tag up past the " we re getting a bargain here if he succeeds "(probably 70 mill is the ceiling if his workouts go well and he has a decent agent) but the OF is in dire need of long term stability. 
 
Theoretically an OF of Mookie in CF JBJ in RF and this guy in LF would be very very athletic. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Short answer - Yes
 
Long answer- fuck yes 
 
Now he's supposedly not as polished as Abreu. Still is there any doubt all the big market teams are going to pony up for this guy ? The continuing success of Abreu and Puig will likely push this guys price tag up past the " we re getting a bargain here if he succeeds "(probably 70 mill is the ceiling if his workouts go well and he has a decent agent) but the OF is in dire need of long term stability. 
 
Theoretically an OF of Mookie in CF JBJ in RF and this guy in LF would be very very athletic. 

With the lack of RH hitting power in baseball at the moment, the price tag is going to be high.  I just think the Red Sox needs are so extreme that they need to get Tomas even if it means overspending what they think they will need to.

 

[MakMan44]

I think it's a given they'll be in on him, but would you covet Tomas similarly to Puig?  I think they should.  I was going to compare the Yankees pursuit of Tanaka to Tomas, but I don't think it will go to that extreme.  I'd give him somewhere between Puig and Abreu money(around $50 million).  Their needs in the OF both on the ML roster and in the minor league system are that extreme.

Haven't followed this guy at all but is the scouting on him as incomplete as Puig? The Dodgers were widely mocked at the time, because Puig was such an unknown. If anything, I imagine he'd break $50 million if he's been better scouted and because he's still much younger than Abreu.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Haven't followed this guy at all but is the scouting on him as incomplete as Puig? The Dodgers were widely mocked at the time, because Puig was such an unknown. If anything, I imagine he'd break $50 million if he's been better scouted and because he's still much younger than Abreu.

I think he'll get more than Puig but less than Abreu.  If Tomas needs to spend some time in the minors, his price tag won't be as much as Abreu.  Abreu was able to step into the starting lineup in Chicago when he showed up to spring training.  So, $50-$60 million would make sense.

 

[MakMan44]

I think he'll get more than Puig but less than Abreu.  If Tomas needs to spend some time in the minors, his price tag won't be as much as Abreu.  Abreu was able to step into the starting lineup in Chicago when he showed up to spring training.  So, $50-$60 million would make sense.

That seems about right, to me. We'll see if the bidding pushes it higher than that, but I won't argue with your price tag.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I think they absolutely should. If only for the fact that he's Cuban and his first name starts with a Y.

In all seriousness though they need to get Tomas. RHH corner outfielders with raw power don't come along very often especially at only 23 with some semi professional experience. I'm guessing because he has played CF his defense is good? If he has an arm anything close to Yasiel or Yoenis its time to crowbar open those wallets...

 

[ivanvamp]

I agree with the general sentiments here. I wanted the Sox to go get Abreu because they had a huge need for right handed power. But at least they had Napoli too at 1b. A power hitting OF bat is desperately needed by this club. It's why I am one of the biggest cheerleaders for them trading for Stanton. So I think getting a guy like this, given their resources and need, is almost an imperative.

 

[ALiveH]

Given Puig's & Abreu's recent success, Cubans (especially young Cuban power hitters) have to now be seen as less risky.
 
Therefore, I predict it will cost more than Puig's or Abreu's initial contracts.

 

[Plympton91]

Am I the only one not really impressed with his numbers in Cuba, and worried about a scouting assessment that says college pitchers were throwing a fastball by him and getting him to chase junk? I recall Cespedes and Abreu having numbers that were similar to Bonds, whereas this guys numbers look much more like Mike Morse in a good year, but in Cuba. I worry that after missing out on Cespedes, Abreu, Puig, Tanaka, Darvish, et al., there's going to be a dud somewhere and the Red Sox are going to finally decide to make their splash on the dud. This guy seems more like De Aza and Viciedo than those other guys.

 

[dbn]

I have been on-board with the restraint approach that the Red Sox have had since the Punto trade. I still think that is the best approach. However, he is young and fits what (in my, and many here's opinion) is a huge need. I don't know anything about him other than what I've read in this thread, so I won't commit on an opinion yet, but if he is all that, I'd show him the money. 
 
Once Ortiz and Napoli are gone, who is going to hit home runs for this team?

 

[Darnell's Son]

I have been on-board with the restraint approach that the Red Sox have had since the Punto trade. I still think that is the best approach. However, he is young and fits what (in my, and many here's opinion) is a huge need. I don't know anything about him other than what I've read in this thread, so I won't commit on an opinion yet, but if he is all that, I'd show him the money. 
 
Once Ortiz and Napoli are gone, who is going to hit home runs for this team?

BROCK HOLT!

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I won't post full article since it's insider content, but Keith Law says reasonable/optimistic projection is "slightly above average LF with 25-30 HRs, low OBP and below average defense". He cites a lack of bat speed and put him in a class below Abreu and Puig.

I know Law isn't the end all be all and some here aren't fans, but I'm not sure that's a guy you drop $60M on.

 
Agreed. When I hear that he is less "polished" than Abreu, I have to assume that refers at least somewhat to plate approach/discipline, and the denominator there is a guy with a 1:4 BB/K ratio. It doesn't help that the HR video we've been looking at shows him crushing an egregious thigh-high middle-in offspeed meatball that Bud Harrelson probably would have murderized. He won't see those very often in the AL.
 
By all means Ben should do due diligence, but this guy sounds like a .230/.280/.460 ML hitter, and while that's not useless, if the defense is meh, it's not something to spend big bucks on.

 

[JimD]

I won't post full article since it's insider content, but Keith Law says reasonable/optimistic projection is "slightly above average LF with 25-30 HRs, low OBP and below average defense". He cites a lack of bat speed and put him in a class below Abreu and Puig.

I know Law isn't the end all be all and some here aren't fans, but I'm not sure that's a guy you drop $60M on.

 

 
Agreed. When I hear that he is less "polished" than Abreu, I have to assume that refers at least somewhat to plate approach/discipline, and the denominator there is a guy with a 1:4 BB/K ratio. It doesn't help that the HR video we've been looking at shows him crushing an egregious thigh-high middle-in offspeed meatball that Bud Harrelson probably would have murderized. He won't see those very often in the AL.
 
By all means Ben should do due diligence, but this guy sounds like a .230/.280/.460 ML hitter, and while that's not useless, if the defense is meh, it's not something to spend big bucks on.

 
Aren't these tempered somewhat by the fact that a.) He's only 23; and b) . He probably has been subjected to a subpar development and instructional program in Cuba compared to a prospect of similar age who is from a developed country (or has been in an MLB farm system since 17 or 18)?

 

[StuckOnYouk]

what was law's take on cespedes and puig when they were eligible?

 

[Plympton91]

 
 
Aren't these tempered somewhat by the fact that a.) He's only 23; and b) . He probably has been subjected to a subpar development and instructional program in Cuba compared to a prospect of similar age who is from a developed country (or has been in an MLB farm system since 17 or 18)?

He still sounds a lot more like Juan Carlos Linares than Yoenis Cespedes.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

Read some articles in spanish citing some of his cuban coaches saying that he has tons of problems with the breaking ball.
I think Keith Law projection regarding this player seem very reasonable (low average, low OBP, 25+ HRs, below average fielder). Read he has a good arm.
 
Here is a good link comparing some of the cuban players stats back when they played in Cuba:
http://obstructedview.net/news-and-rumors/jose-dariel-abreu-stats-video-and-cuban-comps.html

 

[BosRedSox5]

He's starting to sound more and more like Pedro Cerrano. I'm inclined to trust the FO on this one. If they pass I'll assume it's for the best, if they sign him I'll assume they did their homework.

 

[jimbobim]

He's starting to sound more and more like Pedro Cerrano. I'm inclined to trust the FO on this one. If they pass I'll assume it's for the best, if they sign him I'll assume they did their homework.

 
I'm glad there are some question marks to lower the price tag but I think the FO has lost the benefit of the doubt on some of these bigger name non capped guys. They were in heavy on Abreu supposedly and because they had Napoli felt comfortable not overextending. Debatable whether that was the right choice I would say. 
 
I like Keith Law a lot. However, his projections on these international men of mystery are always extremely worst case scenario ( Puig he thought would never lose the weight and he didn't think Abreu could cut it against better pitchers too much of a bad ball hitter)
 
70 power doesn't come along often. The team has no OF depth and no big power hitting potential waiting in the pipeline. Not hitting breaking balls is a problem but he's very young and he's got a great arm supposedly. Why not give it a chance ? 
 
No prospect cost roll of the money dice. They can assuredly afford it. 

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

I don't like the idea of spending that kind of money on a guy who seems to project much lower than Puig and Abreu. He's going to get a long-term, big money deal. I just don't want him roaming the outfield for years to come if he can't field and isn't a very good hitter. Yes, we need power. No, it's not time to get desperate and leverage the future on a total gamble.

 

[MakMan44]

I don't like the idea of spending that kind of money on a guy who seems to project much lower than Puig and Abreu. He's going to get a long-term, big money deal. I just don't want him roaming the outfield for years to come if he can't field and isn't a very good hitter. Yes, we need power. No, it's not time to get desperate and leverage the future on a total gamble.

Sorry, but how would this be leverage the future? Leveraging the future would be trade our prospects for someone like Stanton and then he blows out his knees. Yes, spending a lot of money on Tomas and then having him flop would suck but it wouldn't kill the team nor have any serious impact on the Red Sox's future.

 

[Orel Miraculous]

I don't like the idea of spending that kind of money on a guy who seems to project much lower than Puig and Abreu. He's going to get a long-term, big money deal. I just don't want him roaming the outfield for years to come if he can't field and isn't a very good hitter. Yes, we need power. No, it's not time to get desperate and leverage the future on a total gamble.

 
But here's the problem:  the projections on Puig and Abreu have all been proven to be terrible--they are both much, much better than what was predicted when they defected (ditto for Cespedes).  Is the same thing happening again?

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

Sorry, but how would this be leverage the future? Leveraging the future would be trade our prospects for someone like Stanton and then he blows out his knees. Yes, spending a lot of money on Tomas and then having him flop would suck but it wouldn't kill the team nor have any serious impact on the Red Sox's future.

Leveraging the future in the sense of hamstringing the team financially for years to come. Sure, the ownership has plenty of money, but at the same time they have a budget they try to stick to from year to year. I find it highly unlikely that they'd cut or bench a guy making the kind of money Tomas will cost regardless of production. I'd rather them pass on this deal based on the reports I've read.

 

[MakMan44]

That's fair. I don't agree but I understand where you're coming from.

 

[RedOctober3829]

People are forgetting the fact that if he's not that great in the field he can be rotated through the DH slot going forward. Ortiz is going to be gone soon so the DH spot can be used more liberally with other players.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Law said he projects Tomas in a class below Puig and Abreu. Isn't that still pretty damn good? Those guys are elite talent. Is there anyone in the organization that projects that high? I can understand being apprehensive because its difficult to gauge the talent level coming from Cuba but the last few guys that have made the jump have transitioned pretty well.

 

[Plympton91]

Law said he projects Tomas in a class below Puig and Abreu. Isn't that still pretty damn good? Those guys are elite talent. Is there anyone in the organization that projects that high?

"A step below" can mean a lot of things. To me everything written about Tomas sounds a ton like Bryce Brentz, and suggests he's more Viciedo than Puig.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Here's the thing. The Red Sox can't count on Victorino walking through that door, and they can't get away with treating 2014 as the Jackie Bradley Junior Sophomore Year in Community College.
 
They need outfielders and either BROCK HOLT or Mookie need to be developed in CF. That leaves an outfield of Gomes/Nava/Holt/???? and JBJ on the bench as a defensive replacement (or back in AAA). 
 
What on earth do they do about the outfield if they don't gamble on this guy?
 
The only other option is a trade, and what would they have to give up to get a permanent high quality outfielder?
 
Shit, throw the dice and spend some money. Is there another better option?

 

[Plympton91]

Looking at a list of potential free agents next offseason, I see:

Steven Drew
Jed Lowrie
Hanley Ramirez
Melky Cabrera
Chris Donorfia
Jonny Gomes
Colby Rasmus
Nick Markakis
Torii Hunter
Norichika Aoki

As the only players who I would even remotely consider exploring. There's no better catcher available than AJP, there's no 3Bman other than Hanley or Lowrie if they can convince one of them to move there (and why not just resign Drew at that point and keep X at 3B). They really are stuck with either developing or trading for offensive talent this year and next. So, get used to a lot more 2-1 wins and 3-2 losses I guess. This is the option they freely chose.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

If it were more like Soler and you could lock him up for 9 years and $30M, I'd be all for it. I completely agree that the Sox should be flexing their wallet in this kind of market and thought they should have been all in on Abreu. But I just don't think they should commit $60Mish to a guy that's going to need a couple years in the minors and doesn't project out to be an impact player, no matter what their organizational depth chart looks like. Just MHO - I don't foresee it hnd cuffing them on anything else if they decide to do so.

I haven't seen anyone say this

 

[MakMan44]

Looking at a list of potential free agents next offseason, I see:

Steven Drew
Jed Lowrie
Hanley Ramirez
Melky Cabrera
Chris Donorfia
Jonny Gomes
Colby Rasmus
Nick Markakis
Torii Hunter
Norichika Aoki

As the only players who I would even remotely consider exploring. There's no better catcher available than AJP, there's no 3Bman other than Hanley or Lowrie if they can convince one of them to move there (and why not just resign Drew at that point and keep X at 3B). They really are stuck with either developing or trading for offensive talent this year and next. So, get used to a lot more 2-1 wins and 3-2 losses I guess. This is the option they freely chose.

What does the bolded mean? If you're suggesting there's another path they should have been taking, I'm curious as to what it is.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Do we have different definitions of "impact player" or have you seems scouting reports that paint a better picture? Perhaps you could provide a link? 
 
Most things I've read have fallen in step with Law's assessment. A below average defensive LF with 25-30 HR power with low OBP and AVG, lacking in bat speed and having a bad body. I don't consider that an impact player, but YMMV.

Your original quote says a slightly above average fielder and other reports say he has a great arm. As far as LF in Fenway goes he could be a huge asset. The power speaks for itself as far as impact goes. As far as AVG and OBP go, well, we won't know until he gets here and see how well he adjusts but he's consistently over .900 OPS in Cuba. I understand the hesitation but a 23 year old with those tools doesn't become a free agent often.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. This team should be looking at all avenues of offense. 

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I won't post full article since it's insider content, but Keith Law says reasonable/optimistic projection is "slightly above average LF with 25-30 HRs, low OBP and below average defense". He cites a lack of bat speed and put him in a class below Abreu and Puig.
I know Law isn't the end all be all and some here aren't fans, but I'm not sure that's a guy you drop $60M on.

I guess this is where the disconnect is.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Looking at his defense, Tomas is primarily a corner fielder, but he has spent time in center field, at third base, and at first base during his career with the Industriales. In the outfield he runs well enough and has a solid enough arm that he can likely stick in either corner position, but his defense is nothing particularly special.

I read this at SB Nation. It says he's nothing special but that's different than below average. I mean, what would you call the Gomes, Nava platoon defensively? Wouldn't this guy be an upgrade?

Oh, ok so you either stopped read after that or don't understand "slightly above average LF" refers to an overall package and not specifically defensive ability. Got it.

Take it easy Pap. I honestly thought it was a contradiction. What he says after slightly above average LF doesn't sound like one.

 

[Plympton91]

What does the bolded mean? If you're suggesting there's another path they should have been taking, I'm curious as to what it is.

I've said it a million times, do you really not remember? For sake of argument, I'll concede that you can take Ellsbury completely out of the picture so we don't go down that road again. Let's consider him unsignable for this conversation.

That doesn't change the fact that they threw all their outfield eggs into a basket that required Jackie Bradley to be a rookie of the year candidate AND Shane Victorino to play 140 games minimum. If either Victorino or Bradley got hurt or didn't produce, they had no good options. They're living through a nightmare scenario where Bradley isn't producing AND Victorino got hurt, but they'd be still be scrounging with only one of those events having occurred. It was terrible roster management.

If Ellsbury was too expensive for them or they thought the Yankees paid too much or would outbid whatever they offered, then they still needed a real plan B for CF that didn't necessitate Bradley and Victorino combining for 1200 plate appearance. Bradley should have been plan C. Sizemore was an afterthought, signed as a flier only after all the rest of the market had cleared, so I don't even consider him part of any "plan."

None of those plan B's were all that promising, but they could have bid Murphy away from Cleveland and hoped for a Victorino/Napoli style bounce back from the off year he had in 2013. Given the bounce back, Murphy would be superior to the free agent options available in 2015, unless you believe Melky Cabrera has learned to play without juicing. They could have traded for Ethier, expensive in either prospects or dollars but not both, though he's sucked this year too. Ryan Kalish hasn't shown any more than Sizemore did, but he apparently has an option left as the Cubs put him back at AAA while keeping him on their 40-man, so why not keep him on the Sox 40-man instead of Butler or one of the interchangeable AAAA relief pitchers?

There really just aren't a lot of good outfielders around major league baseball right now. That's the main problem, and I'm confused as to why they didn't see it, or if they did see it, why they didn't proactively address it. Given how well Brock Holt has played out there, maybe they have fallen off the horse and into the swimming pool again. If he can be a 290 / 350 / 410 guy in equilibrium, with the range, arm, and instincts to play an average Fenway RF, that might be good enough to be a top 20 corner outfielder these days. Let's keep hoping the plays this week aren't just beginners luck.

So, after all that, I'm even changing my mind on the guy who is the topic of the thread. He can play the outfield and he has some potential. They should be bidding aggressively on what is a position of need both in the system and throughout baseball.

 

[MakMan44]

Sorry, I thought you were making a more general point about the path that the Red Sox have taken to get here. I agree, ignoring Ellsbury, at the very least a few more OF fliers who could play CF would have been smart. 

 

[MakMan44]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/94205800/cuban-slugger-tomas-moves-closer-to-mlb-eligibility
 

The 24-year-old corner outfielder has been unblocked by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and he is waiting to be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, according to an industry source.

 

A showcase for the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Tomas is tentatively scheduled for the end of next week in the Dominican Republic.

 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/09/13/acquiring-jake-peavy-was-giant-move-san-francisco-brian-sabean/w0KWpVibSw32lO4KR1eaLP/story.html
 

According to one team’s international scout, the latest Cuban slugger could command as much as $100 million. The scout said Tomas has gotten himself in shape and if he performs well at his showcase later in the month, the money will get “really high.” Tomas is susceptible to breaking stuff. His legal documentation has just about cleared. The Phillies could go hard on him, but several teams, including the Red Sox, have interest as well.

 

[Rasputin]

At this point, where would we play him?

 

[pdub]

My thoughts as well, I assume the plan is to have an OF of Craig, Castillo, and Cespedes. Barring a trade the signing of Tomas seems...redundant. I have a hunch the team's money is going to go towards top-tier pitching now. 

 

[Harry Hooper]

Offensive questions aside, Craig as anything close to a full-time RF is not a cheery prospect defensively.

 

[snowmanny]

Offensive questions aside, Craig as anything close to a full-time RF is not a cheery prospect defensively.

I assume Tomas is no longer on their radar, but it has nothing to do with Craig.
Betts/Castillo/Cespedes/Victorino are each more likely to be the opening day right fielder (edit: or anywhere in the outfield) than Craig.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Offensive questions aside, Craig as anything close to a full-time RF is not a cheery prospect defensively.

FWIW, the plan is Craig in LF and Cespedes in RF

 

[seantoo]

I've said it a million times, do you really not remember? For sake of argument, I'll concede that you can take Ellsbury completely out of the picture so we don't go down that road again. Let's consider him unsignable for this conversation.

That doesn't change the fact that they threw all their outfield eggs into a basket that required Jackie Bradley to be a rookie of the year candidate AND Shane Victorino to play 140 games minimum. If either Victorino or Bradley got hurt or didn't produce, they had no good options. They're living through a nightmare scenario where Bradley isn't producing AND Victorino got hurt, but they'd be still be scrounging with only one of those events having occurred. It was terrible roster management.

If Ellsbury was too expensive for them or they thought the Yankees paid too much or would outbid whatever they offered, then they still needed a real plan B for CF that didn't necessitate Bradley and Victorino combining for 1200 plate appearance. Bradley should have been plan C. Sizemore was an afterthought, signed as a flier only after all the rest of the market had cleared, so I don't even consider him part of any "plan."

None of those plan B's were all that promising, but they could have bid Murphy away from Cleveland and hoped for a Victorino/Napoli style bounce back from the off year he had in 2013. Given the bounce back, Murphy would be superior to the free agent options available in 2015, unless you believe Melky Cabrera has learned to play without juicing. They could have traded for Ethier, expensive in either prospects or dollars but not both, though he's sucked this year too. Ryan Kalish hasn't shown any more than Sizemore did, but he apparently has an option left as the Cubs put him back at AAA while keeping him on their 40-man, so why not keep him on the Sox 40-man instead of Butler or one of the interchangeable AAAA relief pitchers?

There really just aren't a lot of good outfielders around major league baseball right now. That's the main problem, and I'm confused as to why they didn't see it, or if they did see it, why they didn't proactively address it. Given how well Brock Holt has played out there, maybe they have fallen off the horse and into the swimming pool again. If he can be a 290 / 350 / 410 guy in equilibrium, with the range, arm, and instincts to play an average Fenway RF, that might be good enough to be a top 20 corner outfielder these days. Let's keep hoping the plays this week aren't just beginners luck.

So, after all that, I'm even changing my mind on the guy who is the topic of the thread. He can play the outfield and he has some potential. They should be bidding aggressively on what is a position of need both in the system and throughout baseball.

So your saying you knew more than the Sox management.

 

[MakMan44]

So your saying you knew more than the Sox management.

Dude. It was a post from mid-June. Just let it die.

 

[richgedman'sghost]

So your saying you knew more than the Sox management.

Plympton has agreed to let the Ellsbury issue go and so should you Why even respond to a post from June? Anyway the Red Sox have since signed Castillo and Betts has emerged so letting Ellsbury go will be less of an issue in the future.

 

[Sprowl]

So your saying you knew more than the Sox management.

 
Don't we all?