JP Morosi said today that Cora and the Red Sox expect that this could be Duran's breakout year. Duran played winter ball in Puerto Rico and impressed Cora. Morosi said Sox are comparing Duran to Jacoby Ellsbury. If what Morosi said is true and accurately describes the Red Sox and Cora's opinion what does that mean for JBJ?
Duran may well be the centerfielder of the future , but I don't know about right now. JBJ has the best , albeit most despised , agent in the business. I think he will wind up with a decent deal . I don't know what Bloom is planning other than " building the farm." Give JBJ a fair two year offer , Chaim. Try to keep at least some semblance of the good times.
Three years ago today Scott Boras client J.D. Martinez signed a five-year, $110 contract with the Red Sox.
MLB Trade Rumors had predicted Martinez with a six-year, $150 million contract:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/...edictions.html
Why sign JBJ at all if Bloom and Cora actually believe that Duran is to have a break out year. According to Morosi Cora saw Duran in the PR winter league. So presumely he is in the best situation to determine whether Duran is ML ready. Of course this all depends on Morosi accurately reporting Cora's opinion.
With all due respect to Cora , I don't think a few games in the P.R. Winter League is a good test for being the Red Sox centerfielder. I will repeat it again. We went from being the best team ever assembled in 2018 to the A.L. East basement two years later. So , I am not yet confident in Bloom and his plan. Why not sign JBJ and let Duran show what he can do in AAA ? We have already gotten rid of too many from the championship team.
I think the only question is if Morosi is accurately reporting Cora and the Red Sox's opinion. JBJ is not the future. JBJ in center field will not substantially change the Red Sox's playoff possibilities. But, a young ballplayer having a true breakout season in center field while not guaranteeing a playoff run will increase the chance of that happening. Moreover I know what we are going to get with JBJ. If I have to suffer through a 500 season I want to see a young player who has potential to thrill with the possibility of having that breakout season that Morosi says the Red Sox believe is a possibility.