It’s the time of year when everything starts to Bloom.
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It’s the time of year when everything starts to Bloom.
I'm not in favor of signing an old, expensive pitcher. Scherzer has a tired, dead arm and can't start with his club facing elimination. He won't be any younger a year from now.
Meanwhile, pre- primetimers like Vlad and Wander will be even better next season. Stop-gaps won't stop them. The best way for the Red Sox to compete with that kind of talent is to develop their own (including adding players to the system via trades). Bloom could go out and sign this year's version of Teixeira, CC and AJ -- Crankee trivia; see NY's last ring (before my son was born) -- and the Sox still may not get as far as they did this year.
I prefer dealing for a guy like Berrios -- someone 20-something, with upside, under control. Where are the candidates? Astute posters are already pointing to Oakland, Colorado and Miami...
I don't have the time to look into possible trade scenarios and free agent signings like many of you do.
I trust Bloom. I agree with his philosophy. That's enough for me.
It's going to be another interesting one. But once again we better be prepared to be patient. Bloom is not exactly a rapid-fire wheeler-dealer.
What I want and what Bloom will do are two different things.....I trust Bloom. I really don't know much.
You start with what you have and make improvements.
C Vaz (no reason to think we won't pick up his option)
1B Dalbec (he has potential plus he's back up options for Devers, Casas and DH)
2B Arroyo (we may look to upgrade this position and make him a utility player)
SS Xander
3B Devers
LF Verdugo
CF Kike
RF Renfroe (he was a bargain at $3M)
DH JD
We'll know shortly after the World Series, what JD will do. Not too much concern here. If he opts out, we have $22M to play with. Next DH won't be that expensive.
SP Sale
SP Eovaldi
SP Pivetta
SP ????
SP ????
Again we'll know shortly the fate of E Rod.
Pen
Barnes (yep, we're stuck with him after giving him a $5M raise, his trade value is all time low)
Whitlock
Houck
Brasier
Darwinzon
Taylor
Sawamura
Valdez (?)
The bullpen may take work especially if one or two are moved to starter status
Is this lineup (assuming JD returns and E Rod stays) good enough to win the Division? We were 8 back. Probably not.
Pluses
We'll have Sale for entire year and he maybe improving.
I would expect Pivetta to continue to get better.
Eovaldi has become a pitcher, not just a guy that throws 100mph.
Minuses
Barnes falling off the ridge.
Not sure if defense can improve.
Nice summary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick
I'm not sure I have ever seen an off season where just about all our free agents to be are additions by subtractions or close to it.
ERod is good, but at $18.5M (QO), there are likely pitchers similar to him that can be signed.
Ottavino's numbers were deceivingly good. He can be replaced at $8M.
As you pointed out, if JD opts out, we have $22M cleared from the lux tax ($19.4M in actual salary.)
A lot depends on what Bloom's winter budget is, what the new tax laws are going to be, and how Bloom spends the budget. It should be pointed out that Bloom swung and missed with a big chunk of his winter signings, last year, and a bigger budget does not mean he'll do better. He actually did worse with his biggest signings and additions:
$10M Richards
$8M Ottavino
$7M x 2 Kike (Great deal)
$6M Perez
$3M Marwin
$3M Andriese
$3M Renfroe (Great deal)
$2M Santana
$1.5M Sawamura (OK deal)
Something like ('21 salaries, in millions): Wisler $2 + Kittredge $1.5 + Anderson $1 + Fairbanks $.5 + Rasmussen $.5 + Feyereisen $.5 + Thompson $.5 + Chargois $.5 + Flemming $.5...Quote:
Originally Posted by moonslav59
It's hard to acquire guys like that via trade an impossible via free agency.Quote:
Originally Posted by 5GoldGloves:OF,75
All at once, yes... but a couple this year, then swap one for a couple more next year, then the next, and before you know it: you win 100 games and finish first without any full-time starting pitchers...Quote:
Originally Posted by moonslav59
But that's just one method of bullpen-building. It can help you throw a shutout in the opener of the ALDS, but you also risk getting your doors blown in three straight when an opponent with a stacked line-up exploits a weak reliever or two who just aren't on in each day's endless parade to the mound.
Keeping both J.D. and Schwarber , while a bit redundant, could be a good idea if the Sox are willing to spend what it takes to do it. But the main task this off season has to be improving the pitching, especially the bullpen. In today's game , having a strong and reliable bullpen is absolutely vital.
We may get to the point we don't even talk about starting rotations and bullpens any more, just pitching staffs.Quote:
Originally Posted by dgalehouse
Boy watching some of these post season games.. it sure seems to be heading in that direction. You get three innings from your table setter aka opener and then mix and match for six innings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bellhorn04
Yeah, gone are the days when you thought the goal was to knock out the starter early so you could get into the crappy part of their bullpen.Quote:
Originally Posted by YastrzemskI
Agreed, and Bloom has not done all that well finding RP'er gems in the rough, so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by 5GoldGloves:OF,75
He's gone through a lot since 2020 --49 total, including a few everyday players doing mop up duty.
40 with more than 2 IP in relief 2020-2021:
Barnes
Whitlock
Valdez
Ottavino
Taylor
Sawamura
DHern
Andriese
Brasier
Brice
Weber
Workman
Richards
Robles
Rios
Springs
Under 20 IP
Davis
Covey
Perez
Osich
Stock
Walden
Brewer
Houck
Under 10
Henbree
Kickham
Mazza
Hall
Feliz
Gonsalves
Tapia
Godley
Triggs
Leyer
Schreiber
Bazardo
Brennan
Peacock
Espinal
Hart
If starters only go 18 batters, maybe they can go back to 4 man rotations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bellhorn04
Teams can have 8 -4 inning men and 5 short relief guys.