Okay, Vaz "doesn't play everyday," but did you know he caught more innings than all but 6 MLB catchers? So, I'd hardly call our catcher position a black hole. Plus, because he was put in the line-up as a non catcher so often, he's 3rd in MLB in PAs among players that are primarily catchers (464 PAs). I'm calling him "everyday," because he bats more than 90% of MLB catchers.
I'm not for bringing JBJ back, but I'm not for paying to get a CF'er who can hit either. I'd take an excellent defender and a .600 OPS over an .800 guy who is an average fileder and will cost more than the $21/3 someone wants to offer JBJ.
Yes, Travis is a black hole. He's at .701 and falling. My guess is Dalbec, Ockimey, Chatham or even Lin can break the line-up over him, despite not being able to play OF. (Lin can.)
If we sign a cheap defensive CF, we'll have one black hole: CF, not 3.
I suppose 1B or 2B could become one, but with 3-4 choices at each position, my guess is we can end up with 2 guys or a platoon that hits .750+ at each slot.
When you say it's gonna happen now
When exactly do you mean?
He may be a below average hitter, but not a below average hitting catcher.
Out of 31 catchers with 250+ PAs Vaz places 11th in OPS.
3 year sample size?
Vaz is 19th in OPS at .700, but some of the guys ahead of him don't play much Catcher anymore or are close to retiring.
He's average.
When you say it's gonna happen now
When exactly do you mean?
I keep telling you that JBJ is coming back. DD & I sat in the same class: Building a Team 101. Be as solid as you can up the middle even if it means one of those guys has to bat 9th.
Also, signing JBJ to a two year contract guarantees that the Sox won't be without both of their premier outfielders in 2021.
He'll be back. Book it.
It's a mere moment in a man's life between the All-Star game and the Old Timer's game.
-Vin Scully
We can just go to the elite defense gold glove centerfielder forest and pluck one from the tree Or something something
other names i have posted under: none
Think Juan Lagares will cost less in free agency than Bradley will in arbitration? What about Cameron Maybin? Billy Hamilton? Jarrod Dyson? Peter Bourjos? Austin Jackson?
These are just free agent options. There may be others available via trade.
If the goal is solely to save money (for a luxury tax penalty reset?), the Sox might wind up with a lesser all-around player in CF, but some of those players are still good defenders. Or are we going to continue to pretend we live in a world where JBJ is the only player in MLB history who could play defense in CF?
Championships since purchase by John Henry group: Red Sox 4 Yankees 1
The Red Sox are 8-1 in their last 9 postseason games against the Yankees.
Okay, it may be short list, but that depends on what you think "dirt cheap" means. With JBJ slated to make $9.5 to 11M, the context may up what we consider "dirt cheap."
Billy Hamilton should be very cheap.
Jarrod Dyson is 35 and could be a nice bridge player for peanuts.
notin mentioned others.
When you say it's gonna happen now
When exactly do you mean?
Championships since purchase by John Henry group: Red Sox 4 Yankees 1
The Red Sox are 8-1 in their last 9 postseason games against the Yankees.
With DD going out the door, this thread is moot. No more money will be thrown at JBJ. He is a goner
Hal sucks