Who should start for this team in 2021?

nvalvo

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Which is probably why he has him listed?

Usually with a Rule 5 pick you intend to use him at the Major League level because you think he is valuable and want to keep him long term.
That would basically telegraph that they think Whitlock has a future in MLB and they are willing to keep him at the Major League level come hell or high water this year so that they have him for future seasons.
I had him listed in Worcester. JRS is quite right that I forgot how we got him. So he’ll be another swing man/middle relief type.
 

chawson

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Some of these new measurables are as valuable as the old measurables... If a guy is fast and strong big and can jump higher, etc. does that make him a good player? Not necessarily, but that big strong fast athletic guy will get more chances than the Dustin Pedroia type who is going to out produce him on the field. The new equivalent is spin rate, verticle drop and it's like. They are probably more precise, measurable and therefore valuable than the scouts archaic 50 fastball 60 slider 45 curve scale. But at the end of the day, can he get enough MLB hitters out? Not yet, in Pivetta's case. The new statcast measurables might keep Pivetta in the game the same way Willy Mo Pena stayed in the game long after everybody knew he couldn't hit.
The advanced metrics aren’t predictive because nothing is, but they’re not eye tests.

The 2018 starting pitchers with the lowest xERA — which measures strikeouts, walks, quality of contact and launch angle — were Sale, Verlander, deGrom, Scherzer, Nola, Bauer, Syndergaard, Cole, Snell, Foltynewicz, Flaherty, Kluber, Wheeler, Kershaw, Marquez, Clevinger, Corbin, Morton, Carrasco, Mikolas, Paxton, and Pivetta. Three of those pitchers are younger than Pivetta.

I had him listed in Worcester. JRS is quite right that I forgot how we got him. So he’ll be another swing man/middle relief type.
Andriese and Whitlock are swingmen with guaranteed roster spots and Mazza and Springs are decent swingman candidates with options left. I forgot that Brice is out of options, but everyone else in the pen besides Barnes can be sent down.

It seems like there’ll be an especially active shuffle this year to keep everyone’s arms healthy and paced after throwing so few innings in 2020. The 40-man is full before adding Pérez, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bulky trade in the next couple days.
 
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nvalvo

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Some of these new measurables are as valuable as the old measurables... If a guy is fast and strong big and can jump higher, etc. does that make him a good player? Not necessarily, but that big strong fast athletic guy will get more chances than the Dustin Pedroia type who is going to out produce him on the field. The new equivalent is spin rate, verticle drop and it's like. They are probably more precise, measurable and therefore valuable than the scouts archaic 50 fastball 60 slider 45 curve scale. But at the end of the day, can he get enough MLB hitters out? Not yet, in Pivetta's case. The new statcast measurables might keep Pivetta in the game the same way Willy Mo Pena stayed in the game long after everybody knew he couldn't hit.
This is a worthwhile conversation, in my view.

What I think the statcast numbers tell us is that Pivetta's stuff is legitimate. The fastball is good. The curve breaks sharply. We can see that his command is decent. So the missing ingredient is something more subtle, something about selection or pitch sequencing or tipping or some other mystery that is making him add up to less than the sum of his parts. That's where the FO and coaching staff have to earn their money. Philly couldn't figure it out. Maybe we can.

I will say, though, that statcast probably wouldn't keep Dustin Pedroia out: rather, some scout would be sorting a spreadsheet in a motel room, scratching his chin, like, huh, that little guy posted some pretty respectable exit velocities...
 

Niastri

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The advanced metrics aren’t predictive because nothing is, but they’re not eye tests.

The 2018 starting pitchers with the lowest xERA — which measures strikeouts, walks, quality of contact and launch angle — were Sale, Verlander, deGrom, Scherzer, Nola, Bauer, Syndergaard, Cole, Snell, Foltynewicz, Flaherty, Kluber, Wheeler, Kershaw, Marquez, Clevinger, Corbin, Morton, Carrasco, Mikolas, Paxton, and Pivetta. Three of those pitchers are younger than Pivetta.



Andriese and Whitlock are swingmen with guaranteed roster spots and Mazza and Springs are decent swingman candidates with options left. I forgot that Brice is out of options, but everyone else in the pen besides Barnes can be sent down.

It seems like there’ll be an especially active shuffle this year to keep everyone’s arms healthy and paced after throwing so few innings in 2020. The 40-man is full before adding Pérez, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bulky trade in the next couple days.
The modern analysis stats like xERA and the dozens like it aren't what I was talking about. The raw stuff is being measured better than ever before. Nobody knows how hard Walter Johnson actually threw... We didn't have radar yet. Similarly, nobody knew Clemens spin rate, we couldn't measure it. But both passed the eye test and we able to produce in the field.

The spin rate is a measured eye test, no guarantee it can translate to the field. Pivetta is an example of this. It also gives us hope he can figure it out. Raw stuff and production usually go together.

xERA and related data are still just ways to evaluate what actually happened, a different animal, and possibly more predictive.
 

Randy Red Sox

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where have you seen that the Fed Sox won’t go to $11 million or above for any free agent pitcher? I hope that’s true but I haven’t seen that anywhere.
Of course they are not going to come out and say it directly but every move they have made { or not made} speaks to that fact. FTR I am not including Trevor Bauer in this but of course they are not in on him either. It is my opinion only that Bloom is counting on the farm to produce their rotation going forward { 2022 and beyond} out of the group of Houck, Mata, Groome, Song, etc. Martin Perez was simply a gap stop signing.
 

allmanbro

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The modern analysis stats like xERA and the dozens like it aren't what I was talking about. The raw stuff is being measured better than ever before. Nobody knows how hard Walter Johnson actually threw... We didn't have radar yet. Similarly, nobody knew Clemens spin rate, we couldn't measure it. But both passed the eye test and we able to produce in the field.

The spin rate is a measured eye test, no guarantee it can translate to the field. Pivetta is an example of this. It also gives us hope he can figure it out. Raw stuff and production usually go together.

xERA and related data are still just ways to evaluate what actually happened, a different animal, and possibly more predictive.

The original analogy between statcast and raw athletic ability is useful, but I think things like spin rate and exit velocity are a lot "closer" to performance than raw athletic ability. Of course they don't guarantee performance, but they can help identify breakout candidates. The entire game of team building is finding people that others have underestimated. Of course everyone knew Johnson and Clemens were great, but it seems reasonable to think that there were plenty of pitchers over the years who had a couple unlucky starts and never got a shot again, but could have been very good. Rich Hill is the prototype of the spin rate career revival, and the Astros a few years ago built dominant staffs when they were ahead of everyone else on this stuff.
 

StuckOnYouk

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If I'm Bloom, I offer Springer 5/125. I know he's looking for 150+ but if reports are true that he wants to stay closer to home (which puts the Mets in the lead vs Toronto), maybe he'll take a lower contract to play for the team he grew up rooting for. He and his family would go to Fenway every year when he was young.

I know most athletes wouldnt take the discount, but you never know. Benintendi/Renfroe in LF, Springer in CF, Verdugo in RF and lets get to work.
 

chawson

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The modern analysis stats like xERA and the dozens like it aren't what I was talking about. The raw stuff is being measured better than ever before. Nobody knows how hard Walter Johnson actually threw... We didn't have radar yet. Similarly, nobody knew Clemens spin rate, we couldn't measure it. But both passed the eye test and we able to produce in the field.

The spin rate is a measured eye test, no guarantee it can translate to the field. Pivetta is an example of this. It also gives us hope he can figure it out. Raw stuff and production usually go together.

xERA and related data are still just ways to evaluate what actually happened, a different animal, and possibly more predictive.
I think we’re more or less on the same page. The Alex Chamberlain tool I cited in post #191 that compares Pivetta’s 2018 to ace seasons from Marquez and Taillon doesn’t factor spin rate, but it’s possible that his underperformance is related to suboptimal pitch sequencing or something.

My broader point is that these on-field metrics offer some evidence that Bloom may have quietly netted the Sox a frontline starter before this winter’s mandates to GET PITCHING!1! even began.
 

Manramsclan

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I had him listed in Worcester. JRS is quite right that I forgot how we got him. So he’ll be another swing man/middle relief type.
Ah I see. You listed a starter depth chart which is the purpose of the thread(derp).
I thought you were filling out the bullpen with Houck, Mata et al, which I think would be a good way to limit their innings and/or introduce some of those pitchers to MLB.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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I realize there is literally zero chance this team can compete for a championship in 2021, but adding some pieces that will help with that goal in 2022 and beyond would be nice.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Can't really envision an otherwise healthy Sale would be held out of pitching at all in 2021. If the doctors clear him to pitch, he'll pitch.

He's already been throwing on flat ground since September. Chris Cotillo reported the other day that Sale is on track to throw off a mound by the end of this month. Optimistically, Sale could be pitching in real games by May. Barring a significant setback, I don't think there's a chance he doesn't pitch this season. And I very much doubt he's the kind of guy who will sit idly on the sidelines because the team wants to preserve him in a potentially lost season.
 

allmanbro

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Olney has an article saying the Red Sox won't rush Sale back. Weird article because of course they won't, but it seems to suggest maybe not pitching at all in 2021? They are truly punting on this season if so.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30736343/sources-boston-red-sox-cautious-chris-sale-rehab-tommy-john-surgery
Even before the TJS, Sale was falling into a pattern of annual arm troubles. He was even having shoulder problems basically right before they decided he needed the surgery, and shoulder stuff can take a very long time to get all the way back to 100%. I wonder if they figure that a slower than normal buildup with deliberate strength training (and ultimately a season relatively light on innings) is a good idea for his arm overall to heal, not just the elbow. If so, it might be worth losing some 2021 innings to raise the probability he can get close to vintage Sale in 2022 and beyond.
 

allmanbro

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View: https://twitter.com/jeffpassan/status/1351307345448546308?s=21


My favorite SP trade target is now off the board.

Is Bloom still talking to the Padres about Myers? I wonder if there’s any way we could get Gore, who’s now behind Darvish, Snell, Musgrove, Paddack and Lamet (with Clevinger back next year).
Wow, San Diego. I've been hoping the Sox can pull off the Myers deal, and I do think this makes it more likely. Aside from Gore, I like Morejon as a target, and Lucchesi could be interesting as well, and they have some other solid prospects in the minors.

Edit: looks like Lucchesi is going to Pit, oh well.
Edit 2: or maybe Lucchesi is going to NYM - what a ride this post has been
 
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Dewey'sCannon

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MLB Trade Rumors predicted 2/16 for Richards.

It's been a while (2105) since this guy was both healthy and good. So not sure he's they guy we should be looking to sign, when there look to be other options with both lower risk and higher upside. But as with so many of these pitchers on the market with question marks next to their name, it's hard to know what you'll be getting - have to hope that the front office knows a lot more than we do and that they know what they're doing.
 

bosockboy

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MLB Trade Rumors predicted 2/16 for Richards.

It's been a while (2105) since this guy was both healthy and good. So not sure he's they guy we should be looking to sign, when there look to be other options with both lower risk and higher upside. But as with so many of these pitchers on the market with question marks next to their name, it's hard to know what you'll be getting - have to hope that the front office knows a lot more than we do and that they know what they're doing.
Yeah really much rather sign Odorizzi.
 

curly2

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Richards has led the AL in wild pitches in three seasons, including 2018, when he managed to do it in just 76.1 IP.
 

nvalvo

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I like the idea, but like many others would prefer a starter with a higher floor — I wanted Quintana — even if Richards' ceiling might be higher. I said I wanted a started better than Perez, and I think he would probably be that.

Then again, we fans don't get to see the medicals.

I read through his game logs, though, and he took the ball pretty reliably last year (14 G, 10 GS, and 51 IP in a 60 game season), but seemed to hit a road bump in late August. Maybe a dead arm? He tightrope-walked through a short start against the Astros (7 baserunners and 64 pitches in a 2 IP, 1 R effort), and then got completely trucked by the Mariners the next time around (huh?). Then, two starts later, he threw a 7 IP, 3 ER start against Oakland, a good-hitting club. And then he has an okay start against San Francisco, and then they move him to the bullpen to end the year.

Weird year.
 

allmanbro

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Richards has talent, but him + Perez are not the additions that get this rotation to a place where it needs to be to really have any real shot to compete (or finish above 4th in the division). It also feels like that would be the last addition to the rotation, unless they do plan to use a 6 man rotation for most of the year, or they just expect at least one guy to be hurt at any given time. Or they have a trade for Eovaldi or something. I had low expectations for this offseason, but that would be disappointing even to me.

Maybe it's a one-year "hope they catch lightning and flip him at the deadline" type signing, which I guess would be OK. As far as injury gambles go, Rodon seems more interesting to me, but the FO sees a lot more data than I do.
 

RedOctober3829

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According to a major league source, the Red Sox have made significant progress in talks with free agent starter Garrett Richards, and could reach a deal with him as soon as Saturday. After conversations had been limited to general expressions of interest for much of the offseason, the two sides had more substantive back-and-forth exchanges on Friday, with sufficient progress to bring a deal within reach.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/23/sports/red-sox-nearing-deal-with-pitcher-garrett-richards/
 

chawson

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Richards is a good target because he’s likely to be better in the AL. He’s great against right-handed hitters (.258 wOBA last year), and for some reason all of the good left-handed hitters are disproportionately clustered in the National League.

That's slightly hyperbolic, but there's something to it. Since the start of 2019, NL LHH have fared much better against right-handed pitching than AL LHH.

NL LHH v. RHP: .256/.339/.448 | .333 wOBA in 42,302 PA (this excludes PAs by NL pitchers in 2019)
AL LHH v. RHP: .246/.322/.428 | .319 wOBA in 41659 PA

At that scale, that's a huge gap! Seen another way, there are 50 hitters who put up a >110+ RC+ vs. RHP as a LHH over 2019-20 (min. 300 PA). 27 of them currently play in the NL. 15 play in the AL (including 2 -- Devers and Verdugo -- for our team). 6 are free agents, 1 (Thames) just signed in Japan and 1 is Cano.

This matters because Richards' arsenal is currently geared to neutralize right-handed hitters. He relies on a 4-seamer and slider, with an occasional sinker and curve he mostly throws to lefties, who handle them pretty well. He abandoned a changeup years ago.

That kind of arsenal, and these conditions, make him a really good fit for us if he can stay on the field. Most AL lineups are righty-heavy, especially our two biggest rivals in the AL East. He can handle righties, who tend to fare better in Fenway, while lefties' hardest-hit balls can die in our right field.
 
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allmanbro

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Are you guys talking about someone besides Will Myers?
Myers himself is a means to an end, not the actual target. The idea is that the Padres have taken on so much salary that they might want to shed some, and have added enough pitching that they might be willing to part with one of their promising young starters to do so. So, something like Myers + Morejon for Benintendi (with maybe some tweaks). I have been excited about this sort of deal because it seemed like the only way the Sox could add the front of the rotation starter (or at least "strong #3" type) that they need for 2021, but also for 2022 and beyond (even a full return to health for Sale at this point probably doesn't bring a return to 2017 performance).

The thought was that the pandemic economy might mean that there is a deal like this out there, if not SD somewhere else. But it has failed to materialize, and seems less and less likely as time passes.
 

Rovin Romine

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Myers himself is a means to an end, not the actual target. The idea is that the Padres have taken on so much salary that they might want to shed some, and have added enough pitching that they might be willing to part with one of their promising young starters to do so. So, something like Myers + Morejon for Benintendi (with maybe some tweaks). I have been excited about this sort of deal because it seemed like the only way the Sox could add the front of the rotation starter (or at least "strong #3" type) that they need for 2021, but also for 2022 and beyond (even a full return to health for Sale at this point probably doesn't bring a return to 2017 performance).

The thought was that the pandemic economy might mean that there is a deal like this out there, if not SD somewhere else. But it has failed to materialize, and seems less and less likely as time passes.
In round numbers, per Cots (below) they've got a 23 million cushion before the luxury tax. Trading Beni gets them up to 29 or so (assuming they don't have to eat his salary.) Myers sucks down 22 mil, leaving a 7 mil cushion this year. But Cots does not list the Hernandez signing, so they'd actually have a cushion of 0.

Next year they free up 12 with Pedrioa, 8 with Erod, and 4 with Barnes. I assume they'll want Erod back, so it's a wash or less, given everyone's a year further along in Arb. But Myers still ties down 22 mil for 2022.

The Myers has a 20 mil option or a 1 mil buyout for 2023.

I'd want a near-guarantee top-flight SP to suck up that amount of roster flexibility. Short of that, there's probably a more intelligent way to exhaust their cushion instead of a proven mediocrity and a lottery ticket.


View: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WWRsQNsGZkWuJZwlY8--xVBXMJGjh230D45KiHTHuvY/edit#gid=1520401900
 

DeadlySplitter

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Richards has talent, but him + Perez are not the additions that get this rotation to a place where it needs to be to really have any real shot to compete (or finish above 4th in the division).
I think the FO is perfectly fine with 4th this year.

Bloom will only push his chips to the center when he thinks the pipeline of talent is truly flowing again.
 

Minneapolis Millers

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... Myers sucks down 22 mil, leaving a 7 mil cushion this year. But Cots does not list the Hernandez signing, so they'd actually have a cushion of 0....
Not advocating for Myers, but his hit for luxury tax purposes is a shade under $14m, isn’t it? Wasn’t that one of the reasons he kept coming up in proposed Betts/Price deals?
 

allmanbro

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Not advocating for Myers, but his hit for luxury tax purposes is a shade under $14m, isn’t it? Wasn’t that one of the reasons he kept coming up in proposed Betts/Price deals?
According to fangraphs it is. But in any case, my original comment about Myers was before the Hernandez and Richards deals, so it might just be moot now.
 

Rovin Romine

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Not advocating for Myers, but his hit for luxury tax purposes is a shade under $14m, isn’t it? Wasn’t that one of the reasons he kept coming up in proposed Betts/Price deals?
I don't know - I was doing a strictly back of the envelope calculation. Either way, it's a major investment for two years. Obviously, there are historical pitchers who you'd do a deal like that for in a heartbeat. The question is, what's the quality of the hypothetical pitcher you gain? They would have to be greater than $46 mil to begin with, however you assign value.

I don't know much about Morejon, but his stats don't leap off the page at me. This is a hypothetical question for many reasons, but would I sign him to a $46 mil deal, plus all arb salaries, for his remaining 5 years of control? Probably not.
 

Manramsclan

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https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1353081670640013317?s=20
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Sources tell me and @adamdberry there are indications that Jameson Taillon will be the next Pirates player to be traded -- possibly in the next day or two. The Pirates have already dealt Joe Musgrove this offseason, so it would not be a surprise if Taillon is moved, too.

This is something the Red Sox should be all over. I know it would take prospects but a starter of Taillon's talent who is under team control for two seasons and is a legit #2 would be the kind of move that would actually make this team a legit contender this season. He's signed for $2.25 M this year

The Pirates are rebuilding under Cherington and I think would take a few lottery tickets such as recently acquired international free agents or other commodity that is far away but not the Casas/Jimenez level. I think it's more about them shedding guaranteed salary and acquiring any assets. Even the prospects they got in the Musgrove deal weren't that highly rated. Also him coming off of TJ depresses his trade value a bit.

This might be a wishcast, but this is the first time I've seen a player who makes sense for the Red Sox in both the short and long term. He's an upgrade over everyone in our rotation except for Edro for this year and if Sale returns to form then this team will have a legitimate shot this year and an even better shot in 2022 when there will be more to spend.

EDIT: The worst part about this is that I am almost certain that the Red Sox will not trade for him, but the Yankees will.
 
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chawson

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https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1353081670640013317?s=20
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Sources tell me and @adamdberry there are indications that Jameson Taillon will be the next Pirates player to be traded -- possibly in the next day or two. The Pirates have already dealt Joe Musgrove this offseason, so it would not be a surprise if Taillon is moved, too.

This is something the Red Sox should be all over. I know it would take prospects but a starter of Taillon's talent who is under team control for two seasons and is a legit #2 would be the kind of move that would actually make this team a legit contender this season. He's signed for $2.25 M this year

The Pirates are rebuilding under Cherington and I think would take a few lottery tickets such as recently acquired international free agents or other commodity that is far away but not the Casas/Jimenez level. I think it's more about them shedding guaranteed salary and acquiring any assets. Even the prospects they got in the Musgrove deal weren't that highly rated.

This might be a wishcast, but this is the first time I've seen a player who makes sense for the Red Sox in both the short and long term. He's an upgrade over everyone in our rotation except for Edro for this year and if Sale returns to form then this team will have a legitimate shot this year and an even better shot in 2022 when there will be more to spend.
Totally with you here. If they’re shopping Taillon now it suggests money is a factor. He may be able to fetch more if he’s healthy and pitching well at the deadline, so getting Polanco’s $11.5M ($7M AAV) off the books could be a motivator to get something done. We may be better able to take on his salary than others.

Here’s a(n unlikely) deal that I’d love to see:

Sox get: Taillon, Frazier, Moran, Polanco, LHSP Steven Brault, RHSP prospect Tahnaj Thomas
Pirates get: Chavis, Dalbec, Houck, Marcus Wilson

That deal adds about $16M AAV to the Sox 2021 payroll and solves just about all our needs (potential frontline starter, LHH 2B/UTIL, 1B bridge to Casas, OF to complement Hernández, LHP swingman and SP prospect ready in 2024). The Pirates get cheap production with upside at three positions and one ready-now starter. The Trade Simulator says it clearly favors Pittsburgh, but I think that overvalued Chavis a bit.
 
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grimshaw

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Regarding Myers - he knocked the crap out of the ball last season .288/.353/.606. (albeit 55 games) He's been a bust obviously, but he does have positive value and the Padres have built a World Series contender without moving him. He seems like an overpaid low end regular now, rather than an albatross you need to move prospects to get off the roster. He's also not blocking anyone so they'd be creating a new hole.

If I'm the Padres I'm telling teams to dazzle them to move one of their starters. They shouldn't touch a thing IMO.

Edit: As for Taillon. That market is huge. Anyone with a farm system would want him since he's so cheap and would be less cost prohibitive in prospects due to the injury he came off of. If he were expensive, the Sox would have a better shot, but I think they are huge underdogs.
 
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Minneapolis Millers

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I agree re Taillon. He’s so cheap, almost any team could be in on him. But that’s also why Pitt should not move him now, unless they’re tying him to another salary dump (Polanco). If they do that, it likely knocks teams like Tampa out of the bidding. If they’re just moving Taillon for the best prospects they can get, then they should take the chance and wait until he’s throwing and able to demonstrate his health, and then trade him mid-season.
 

BaseballJones

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https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1353081670640013317?s=20
Mark Feinsand @Feinsand
Sources tell me and @adamdberry there are indications that Jameson Taillon will be the next Pirates player to be traded -- possibly in the next day or two. The Pirates have already dealt Joe Musgrove this offseason, so it would not be a surprise if Taillon is moved, too.
...snip...
EDIT: The worst part about this is that I am almost certain that the Red Sox will not trade for him, but the Yankees will.
And almost certainly for less of a package than you'd expect, making you feel like the Sox could *easily* have topped it.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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And almost certainly for less of a package than you'd expect, making you feel like the Sox could *easily* have topped it.
Which long ago became a tired and trite complaint. The Sox can't get every guy we think is "perfect" for them. Not every prospect is valued the same by everyone. Sometimes, it's entirely out of their hands even when they make the best offer.

That said, Rosenthal was tweeting no more than an hour ago that the Yankees are very much in on Taillon, though nothing concrete is in place.

View: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1353360490609602561
 

allmanbro

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That is very disappointing, if not surprising given that the Yankees definitely have more prospect depth to trade from. I had hoped for the Red Sox relative position of being able to take on salary would open up some very interesting possibilities (this was one example, and the Myers-centered one has gotten the most discussion here, but that was just an example). But teams are not dumping salary in the way that that idea had assumed. Similarly, even though the FA market has been really slow to develop, the actual deals going out don't seem all that suppressed. So it seems like teams are not acting like the pandemic has hurt their overall financial situations as much as expected. That's good for baseball if true, but makes it hard for the Sox.

I'm sure they are still open to deals, but I think most likely ideas like trading Beni for pitching prospects will be revisited at the trade deadline. I'd still like one or two more Pivetta/Andriese type pickups (hopefully with options) to fill in rotation depth and increase the pool of lottery tickets, but I think we now see basically what the rotation will look like.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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That is very disappointing, if not surprising given that the Yankees definitely have more prospect depth to trade from. I had hoped for the Red Sox relative position of being able to take on salary would open up some very interesting possibilities (this was one example, and the Myers-centered one has gotten the most discussion here, but that was just an example). But teams are not dumping salary in the way that that idea had assumed. Similarly, even though the FA market has been really slow to develop, the actual deals going out don't seem all that suppressed. So it seems like teams are not acting like the pandemic has hurt their overall financial situations as much as expected. That's good for baseball if true, but makes it hard for the Sox.

I'm sure they are still open to deals, but I think most likely ideas like trading Beni for pitching prospects will be revisited at the trade deadline. I'd still like one or two more Pivetta/Andriese type pickups (hopefully with options) to fill in rotation depth and increase the pool of lottery tickets, but I think we now see basically what the rotation will look like.
Something to keep in mind with Pittsburgh is who is at the helm now. Ben Cherington coveting prospects rather than straight dumping salary isn't a surprise. For three aging players (Bell, Musgrove, Taillon), he got 11 players in return. That's playing the prospect odds.
 

allmanbro

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
362
Portland, Maine
Something to keep in mind with Pittsburgh is who is at the helm now. Ben Cherington coveting prospects rather than straight dumping salary isn't a surprise. For three aging players (Bell, Musgrove, Taillon), he got 11 players in return. That's playing the prospect odds.
Good point. The Pirates are also set up to have a payroll under $50 mill even with Polanco (looks like about $43 mill for 14 players so far - I assume the rest will be at or near league minimum). So they may not be all that bothered to just pay that - what really matters is having pieces for 2024 or whenever.