Time for Part III.
Here's the link to Part II: http://www.talksox.com/forum/threads...t-2017-Part-II
Looks like we aren't getting the big bat many wanted, unless we do it via the waiver wire. We did pick up Addison Reed for Nogosek, Callahan & Bautista. He's a solid RP'er who gives us a nice secondary closer and a set-up man with a nice K rate (9.5 career/8.8 in 2017). If we can get Kelly and/or Smith back and pitching well, our pen might remain a plus to end the season.
I haven't heard who the Sox are sending down to AAA, but my guess is it will be Maddox. Here's the 25 man roster going forward:
5 SPers:
Sale
Pomeranz
Price (replaces Fister)
Porcello
Rodriguez
7 RPers:
Kimbrel
A Reed
C Smith (replaces Boyer)
Barnes
Hembree
Workman
Kelly (replaces Abad)
2 C:
Vazquez
Leon
1B:
Ramirez (DH)
Moreland
2B:
Pedroia
Holt (UT)
3B:
Devers
Nunez (DH/SS/LF)
SS:
Bogaerts
LF:
Benintendi
Young (DH)
CF:
Bradley
RF:
Betts
Possible 2017 additions from the farm or DL:
SP: Velazquez, B Johnson (DL), Justin Haley, Jalen Beeks, Roenis Elias
RP: Robby Scott, Ben Taylor (DL), Edgar Olmos, Kyle Martin, Noe Ramirez
C: Dan Butler, Swihart (DL)
1B: Sam Travis
IF: Marrero & Lin
OF: Brentz (not on 40 man roster), Selsky, Castillo (not on 40 man roster)
Looks like the Yankees are our key competition for the AL East and the Astros and Indians are looking better than us so far. The Yanks just added Gray & Garcia, so we have our work cut out for us. I still like our rotation, when healthy and having Kimbrel and Addison gives us a very nice 4 starters/2 RP'ers playoff group.
We have to make the playoffs first, and right now we're 1/2 game behind in the AL East and 1.5 up on the Royals for the home field in the WC game. We are 4 up on the Rays for the last playoff slot.
Here's the rest of our schedule:
Home: 31 (60% winning)
Away: 25 (48%)
10 NYY (3H/7A)
9 TOR (6H/3A)
8 TBR (6H/2A)
6 BAL (3H/3A)
7 CLE (3H/4A)
4 CWS
4 HOU (to end the season)
3 OAK
3 @ CIN
2 STL
If we can go 8-4 in the 12 games vs CWS, Oak, Cin & StL, 6-3 vs TOR and 4-2 vs BAL, then maybe we can get by going near .500 in our 29 games vs NYY, TBR, CLE & Hou.
Let's see. I'm actually pretty optimistic about this season despite our recent swoon.