We don't disagree. He has enormous value to the team in more ways than just playing. Just having him on the roster allows JF to make other moves not involving him, because he knows he's there if needed, of if something happenes suddenly- like an injury.
Really, I don't think I am undervaluing Holt. I understand why many GMs ask about him. He's very valuable.
However, a team that is likely to need to use him more often should, in theory, value him even more. In general, a starter has more value than his sub. In a sport like basketball, some subs end up playing more minutes than the starters, because they sub for multiple players. Holt has even ended up leading our team in innings at a particular position some years, like LF last year. He finished 5th in PAs in 2014, although he did not get more innings than others at one particular player. I'd have no problem saying he was the 5th most valuable non-pitcher that year.
When we had a DH-only DH, I think Holt's value was greatest, even if he didn't play as often some years. Now that we will be using HanRam and Young at DH, we have more flexibility than before, even if by just a little more. We won't want to move our DH to the field mid-game, so having Holt eases those worries to some extent.
I do think our bench has gotten much better, and to some extent, it has pushed Holt down on the depth chart at some of those 7 positions he plays.
1B: HanRam/Moreland- Travis would be called up in case of major injury- Holt is #4 at best.
2B: Pedey- I think this is the only clear position where Holt is the first sub, but Hernandez would probaly be pretty close.
3B: Pablo- I think Rutledge is slightly but clearly better vs LHPs and Holt is vs RHPs.
SS: Bogey- I think Hernandez would be called up in case of injury, but Holt is close to Hernandez.
LF: Beni- Young would move to LF full time, if any OF'er got hurt. I suppose they might decide to keep Young at DH vs LHPs and use Holt in LF those games, but I'd prefer Young in LF FT and Travis or Swihart getting called up for 1B/DH platoon duty. We could also just use Moreland FT at 1B and HR full time at DH.
I still value Holt a lot, but I think he was the clear number one sub at more positions before this year, and the loss of a DH only DH might mean his value elsewhere is now greater than his value here.
Again, I am not claiming his value is low for us.... just maybe lower than before and maybe higher for another team that would use him more.
You are using WAR to measure value, and we all know a big component of WAR is playing time. the more you play- the higher the value.
Now, we all knwo about Holt's propensity to decline in production after playing more and more, but his defense and better-than-some on other teams production, even when struggling would give him more value to a team with a much weaker bench than ours or with more question marks at positions Holt is best at playing (2B, 3B and LF).
You are using WAR to measure value, and we all know a big component of WAR is playing time. the more you play- the higher the value.
Now, we all knwo about Holt's propensity to decline in production after playing more and more, but his defense and better-than-some on other teams production, even when struggling would give him more value to a team with a much weaker bench than ours or with more question marks at positions Holt is best at playing (2B, 3B and LF).
Saying a player might have more value on another team is not diminishing his current value on our team.
Thinking of trading someone does not mean I value them less than anyone else.
I loved Moncada and Kopech, but I love Sale more.
I'm not for handing Holt away, but I could see him being part of a mid-summer trade to upgrade at a position of need by more value than the downgrade from Holt to Hernandez would be.
Maybe I value Hernandez more than I should or more than some of you guys. I get that, but it's just my opinion.
MLB pipeline's top 30 Sox prospects rankings:
http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2017?list=bos
Dalbec #5!
More on prospects...
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/216472...rospects-list/
Other teams want Holt because he is cheap. You are not going to get much of value in return.....that's what the market value means.
You may think you live in a nice house in a good neighborhood, but if there are no buyers at your asking price, then your house is worth more to you to keep it than sell it.
Chatam and Ockimey at #7 & #9. This is why to me I'd sign Betts, Sale, Bradley Jr and Porcello in that order. Xander is my 5th guy. If Xander costs more than $25M, I'd pass. Our OF depth is very thin in our organization. Dalbec and Ockimey can take over for Hanley when that time comes.
For 2020 season
3B Devers
SS Chatam
2B Pedy
1B Travis
DH Dalbec
C Vazquez/Leon
LF Beni
CF Bradley JR
RF Betts
SP Price
SP Porcello
SP Sale
SP E Rod
SP Wright
If we need to, we can insert Swihart in LF, move Beni to CF, Betts in RF.
It's not unreasonable to believe Boras will oversell Bradley Jr......I can live with Sale, Porcello, Betts extensions.
If Groome is ready in 2020, then I suppose we can pass on Porcello.
Don't get me wrong, I want Xander, Bradley Jr and Porcello along with Betts/Sale (two must gets), but I have a feeling we won't be able to sign them all.
Last edited by Nick; 02-23-2017 at 01:58 PM.
Homers from Mitch Moreland and Sam Travis against Northeastern:
https://twitter.com/PeteAbe?ref_src=...Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/834837912034406400Pete AbrahamVerified account
@PeteAbe
Rusney Castillo jogged out a double play grounder. But, hey, $72.5 million.
Boston Globe beat reporter Pete Abraham suggests a Rusney Castillo solution:
https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/834870735483129856
Last edited by harmony; 02-23-2017 at 04:11 PM.
Yes, his contract is one reason many teams want him- many non contenders.
There are also some teams , mostly non contenders, who do not have a sure thing at 2-3 positions of which Holt might play 2 or 3. They'd love to have a low cost guy like Holt knowing that at least one of the 3 big question mark guys might need to be replaced. Holt offers them a one cost guy that is insurance for 3 spots. He could also platoon against RHPs at one position and against LHPs at another position and basically play FT, since his L-R splits are nearly identical.
Now, a .705-.710 OPS is not enough to win a FT job on the Sox, except as a catcher, those numbers blow away what several teams had last year at multiple positions. Even some competitive teams had 2-3 non catching positions with sub .700 offense or even much worse.
Here's a few examples:
KC:
2B .611
SS .642
LF .690
SFG:
2B .682
3B .713
CF .715
LF .720
WSH:
SS .681
1B .673
LF & CF .705
Chatam and Ockimey at #7 & #9. This is why to me I'd sign Betts, Sale, Bradley Jr and Porcello in that order. Xander is my 5th guy. If Xander costs more than $25M, I'd pass. Our OF depth is very thin in our organization. Dalbec and Ockimey can take over for Hanley when that time comes.
If Shaw doesn't pan out at 1B, we can always move Pablo there after HR moves on. Devers should be ready for ML 3B by then.
I'm not sure Chatham offers a solution to replace Bogey, but I get your point and don't disagree.
I'm not sure I'd put extending Porcello over Bogey, since Porcello will be near the end of prime when his contract expires. Bogey will not.
Don't get me wrong, I want Xander, Bradley Jr and Porcello along with Betts/Sale (two must gets), but I have a feeling we won't be able to sign them all.
Agreed.
I order extension value this way (assuming Beni is too far away to worry about now):
1. Betts
2. Sale
3T. Bogey
3T. JBJ
5. ERod
6. Porcello
In reality, Pablo and Hanley's contract ends at same time, assuming 1 Hanley does not get hurt next two years and 2 Sox does not pick up option year on Pablo.
They are both with us for next 3 years.
HanRam is here two more years and then has a vesting option for 2019.
Chances are he will meet the criteria, but it's not a certain 3 years. The club physical could be subjective.
Cots:
19:$22M vesting option, guaranteed if Ramirez has 1,050 plate appearances in 2017-18 and passes club physical after 2018 season
I agree fully. This change is just a placebo in the effort to speed up the pace of the game.
Plus I like to see pitchers IBB batters. Some of them fuck up or come close to fucking up. That ads a little drama and skill to the game. It's minor and possibly inconsequential but it is part of the game.
"Hating the Yankees like it's a religion since 94'" RIP Mike.
"It's also a simple and indisputable fact that WAR isn't the be-all end-all in valuations, especially in real life. Wanna know why? Because an ace in run-prevention for 120 innings means more often than not, a sub-standard pitcher covering for the rest of the IP that pitcher fails to provide. You can't see value in a vacuum when a player does not provide full-time production."