Originally Posted by
vegasbob
After the elimination game (in fact, double elimination with Kelley's walking loss) , I looked at the 40 man roster looking for some glimmer of turnaround ability. 25 throwers are listed and very few give you a warm fuzzy feeling.
Eduardo leads the group in many ways(performance, age, cost, upside). Sale , Price and Eovaldi are question marks at this time . I'm surer they will report to ST with nothing but smiles and strong arms, but that may be their high water mark for the year.
Workman is workable , but a curveballer is not likely your closer . Porcello is gone based on his full 2019 results, and what new Sox GM will take a chance on an extension for him ? There is not another thrower on the list that makes you glad he is alive and well in Boston, with upside , including Matt Barnes, who could be a mid inning "hold" guy in a stronger bullpen. Same for Heath Hembree. Not one of the young Pawsox tryouts showed much ability to get the job done, they remain nameless.
Brasier, Walden, Brewer ,Cashner and Weber are fillers at best and liabilities at worst. Don't even start talking Johnson, Velazquez and Chacin as your answers to a 5th starting pitcher. The hell with Wright too.
If you look at position players , you will be counting on Chavis to break through as a more consistent hitter, can he do it ? Pearce and Pedroia are done. Lin is marginal, Centeno is 30 in November and not an upgrade from Leon who is not of much value. Sam Travis---wishful thinking. Marco Rodriguez, maybe a bench infielder. Gorkys Hernandez and Chris Owings , what are you smoking, I'll try some to lift the fog of doubt . Only Brock Holt has shown he can give you a lot of flexibility and can hit at times, but not a MLB minimum price.
When will, if ever, Benintendi show the results his potential indicates ? Jackie Bradley's string has played out and you can either pay a big premium for defense one more year, or try to move him or non-tender.
The 2020 Red Sox core remains the predictable group of Devers, Bogaerts, Martinez (won't opt out this year), and Vazquez. Mookie (?), I am saying that he will be moved for at least 2 or 3 guys who are the start of the rebuild. Betts has given no encouragement whatsoever that he would even prefer to stay in Boston unless the money is max-max. Get some useful pieces now , new GM.
This roster sucks for pitching and depth. It is a .500 team , with an enormous deadweight payroll unless Sale, Price, and Eovaldi find some magic .