2023 Free Agents

[Deja Doh]

We dropped the ball this year. The top free agents are:

Looking at guys under 35:

Offense
1). Aaron Judge (by far the top player in free agency and we lack power)
2). Tre Turner (the best player in free agency and we have two shortstops)
3). Nolan Arenado (the best 3rd baseman in the league, and we have a good one)
4). Anthony Rizzo (we need a first baseman)
5). Josh Bell (about the same as Hosmer)
Pitching
1). Carlos Rodon
1). Aaron Nola
3). Jacob deGrom (injury prone)
4). Clayton Kershaw (not sure why we didn't show interest last year, he's still solid)
5). Luis Severino

Our FA effective guys:
Nathan Eovaldi (need to sign him)
Michael Wacha (he was a surprise)
JD Martinez (we need a DH, his power stats may be down, but he can still hit)
Chris Sale (injured)
Eric Hosmer (injured)

[sk7326]

The first step is what happens to Bogaerts. I am ambivalent about bringing him back - but bringing him back at a reasonable number is a fine move. But if the team is bullish on its internal options for SS (see Marcelo Mayer), I could see the team signing a shorter term solution at SS. I dunno.

The team needs a 1B in theory - but they traded for Hosmer, so we're stuck with him.

The team needs production from RF. Judge would be great - but even just finding a decent platoon would help.

I am in favor of re-signing Eovaldi, but not at a big number. Ditto for Wacha.

[Bellhorn04]

The first step is what happens to Bogaerts. I am ambivalent about bringing him back - but bringing him back at a reasonable number is a fine move. But if the team is bullish on its internal options for SS (see Marcelo Mayer), I could see the team signing a shorter term solution at SS. I dunno.

The team needs a 1B in theory - but they traded for Hosmer, so we're stuck with him.

Not Casas?

[sk7326]

Not Casas?

Casas is possible, but there is the DH ... so it is sort of either/or ... fortunately finding a competent DH should be pretty easy

[notin]

Casas is possible, but there is the DH ... so it is sort of either/or ... fortunately finding a competent DH should be pretty easy

Josh Bell is a good DH option. I disagree with him being a top 5 free agent.

Or you can always unload Hosmer for a DH another team doesn’t feel good about paying for anymore (Hunter Dozier? Marcell Ozuna? Jorge Soler?)

[Jasonbay44]

Josh Bell is a good DH option. I disagree with him being a top 5 free agent.

Or you can always unload Hosmer for a DH another team doesn’t feel good about paying for anymore (Hunter Dozier? Marcell Ozuna? Jorge Soler?)

Hopefully not Ozuna, that dude is a piece of shit human.

[mvp 78]

It's not a good FA class for what the Sox need.

[notin]

It's not a good FA class for what the Sox need.

Top non-pitching priorities for Boston need to be Bogaerts and Brandon Nimmo

Top pitching priorities need to be Wacha, Fulmer, and Rafael Montero…

[oldtimer]

I agree that the first step has to begin with Bogaerts. That impacts our decision on free agency. If we can't sign him at near fair market value, we still have Story who can move over and Arroyo who could play 2nd backed up by Kike, who we already signed. Devers is a fixture at 3rd. I don't believe we should resign JDM as he is on the decline and it will likely get more pronounced. With Verdugo an acceptable left or right fielder and Refsnyder at least a 4th outfielder, it looks like we should go for a center/right fielder and a DH who can back up at 1st base as Casas is by no means a proven commodity. McGuire at catcher needs either a back up or a first string.

Aaron Judge would be a great acquisition but probably the contract requirements would be so unreasonable that it would tie the Sox hands for years to come. The Rays aren't paying any one player huge money and yet remain competitive. Something to keep in mind. Huge long term contracts come with huge risks and need to be avoided.

I haven't looked into the best option for the outfield but would go for a young and up and coming player. For DH/1st base, I still see CJ Cron as someone we should sign. Catcher is very tricky as there are few top of the line catchers on the market.

[moonslav59]

Not saying these will be or should be Sox targets:

C: Contreras 31, Narvaez 31, Vaz 31
1B: Rizzo 32, Bell 30
2B: KWong 32, Frazier 30
SS: TTurner 29, Bogey 30, Correa 28, Swanson 29, Anderson 30
CF/RF: Judge 31, Nimmo 30, Kiermaier 33, Haniger 32
DH: Mancini 31 (1B/LF)

Other SP'er not listed: (QO Wacha or Nate?)
Bassitt 34, TAnderson 33, Manaea 31, M Perez 31, Taillon 31

[moonslav59]

We could see a rotation of 1B/2B/LF depth as our DH, but not all these guys can fit on the bench, when you go with 13 pitchers:

Casas
Hosmer
(Dalbec-Cordero AAA?)
Arroyo
EValdez
Pham
Refsnyder
(Rafaela/Kavadas/Abreu AAA?)

[moonslav59]

If all of these guys were healthy and allowed to stay in the pen, all year, I doubt we'd be talking about how awful our pen has been:

Whitlock
Houck
Taylor
Barnes

Depth:
Diekman
Strahm
Robles, Davis, Brasier, Danish

Not really part of "the plan"
Schreiber

[Old Red]

If all of these guys were healthy and allowed to stay in the pen, all year, I doubt we'd be talking about how awful our pen has been:

Whitlock
Houck
Taylor
Barnes

Depth:
Diekman
Strahm
Robles, Davis, Brasier, Danish

Not really part of "the plan"
Schreiber

Right now of who’s on the staff who can you really count on next year, and in what role?

[notin]

Right now of who’s on the staff who can you really count on next year, and in what role?

Whitlock, Schreiber can be counted one. Taylor, too, if healthy.

I think Houck gets traded…

[Bellhorn04]

I think Houck gets traded…

Whyzat?