Options
Red Sox off season chatter
MCMLVTopps
Posts: 4,610 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
2015 offseason preview: Boston Red Sox
David Schoenfield, SweetSpot blogger
After going from 97 wins and a World Series title in 2013 to 91 losses in 2014, the Boston Red Sox reconfigured the roster for 2015 with two big free-agent signings in Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and a rotation built around trade acquisitions Rick Porcello and Wade Miley. It didn't work. Ramirez was a disaster in left field; Sandoval was just a disaster, period. They were two of the least valuable players in the league, combining for a minus-2.2 WAR. The rotation and bullpen were both bad. So despite strong showings from youngsters Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, the Red Sox finished 78-84 for their third losing season in the past four years.
Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval did not deliver for the Red Sox in 2015.
What do they need: Pitching. The rotation ranked 13th in the AL in ERA and the bullpen ranked ... 13th. There are plenty of options already in-house for the rotation: Porcello (who did pitch better in his final eight starts after a DL stint), Miley, Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brian Johnson and Henry Owens. Speculation, however, is the Red Sox will be heavy bidders for David Price or Zack Greinke to bring in an ace.
Guy on the rise: Betts got off to a slow start, hitting .233 through May 24, but then the line drives started falling -- in gaps and over fences. He finished at .291/.341/.479 with 18 home runs, 42 doubles, eight triples, 21 steals, above-average defense and was quietly one of the best players in the league. He ranked seventh among AL position players in Baseball-Reference WAR and 10th in FanGraphs WAR. And no, the Red Sox aren't going to trade him.
Prospect to anticipate: We're getting a little ahead of ourselves, but big-money Cuban Yoan Moncada had a strong debut in low-A ball, hitting .278/.380/.438 with eight home runs in 81 games and 49 steals in 52 attempts. The 20-year-old switch-hitter played second base and his defense is a work in progress -- he made 23 errors -- but he showcased the skills that led the Red Sox to committing $63 million to get him. There's no need to rush him, and with Dustin Pedroia and Bogaerts locked in at second and short, Moncada's name will pop up in trade rumors.
Winter action plan: The Red Sox have already talked with Ramirez about a move to first base, clearing the way for a Betts-Jackie Bradley Jr.-Rusney Castillo outfield. The ageless David Ortiz is coming off a 37-homer season and the infield appears set, assuming the Sox can't find a taker for Ramirez or Sandoval. Blake Swihart showed promise as a rookie behind the plate, and Christian Vazquez will attempt to rebound from his Tommy John surgery to share time. So it's all about finding arms, either through free agency or trades. Price may be the top target, and Darren O'Day is a logical bullpen fit, but they'll pursue multiple options.
Bradley's name is still popping up in trade rumors, and with Betts being a good center fielder, the Red Sox could sell high on Bradley's hot final two months. That would leave a hole in left field, however, as Bryce Brentz is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox have a loaded farm system, and they also have all those back-end starters that they could include in trades as well. You can bet you'll hear Red Sox-Mets trade ideas all winter. Keep in mind that new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has a history from his Tigers days of trading away prospects, so it could be a simple offseason or one that features a flurry of activity.[/]
David Schoenfield, SweetSpot blogger
After going from 97 wins and a World Series title in 2013 to 91 losses in 2014, the Boston Red Sox reconfigured the roster for 2015 with two big free-agent signings in Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and a rotation built around trade acquisitions Rick Porcello and Wade Miley. It didn't work. Ramirez was a disaster in left field; Sandoval was just a disaster, period. They were two of the least valuable players in the league, combining for a minus-2.2 WAR. The rotation and bullpen were both bad. So despite strong showings from youngsters Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, the Red Sox finished 78-84 for their third losing season in the past four years.
Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval did not deliver for the Red Sox in 2015.
What do they need: Pitching. The rotation ranked 13th in the AL in ERA and the bullpen ranked ... 13th. There are plenty of options already in-house for the rotation: Porcello (who did pitch better in his final eight starts after a DL stint), Miley, Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brian Johnson and Henry Owens. Speculation, however, is the Red Sox will be heavy bidders for David Price or Zack Greinke to bring in an ace.
Guy on the rise: Betts got off to a slow start, hitting .233 through May 24, but then the line drives started falling -- in gaps and over fences. He finished at .291/.341/.479 with 18 home runs, 42 doubles, eight triples, 21 steals, above-average defense and was quietly one of the best players in the league. He ranked seventh among AL position players in Baseball-Reference WAR and 10th in FanGraphs WAR. And no, the Red Sox aren't going to trade him.
Prospect to anticipate: We're getting a little ahead of ourselves, but big-money Cuban Yoan Moncada had a strong debut in low-A ball, hitting .278/.380/.438 with eight home runs in 81 games and 49 steals in 52 attempts. The 20-year-old switch-hitter played second base and his defense is a work in progress -- he made 23 errors -- but he showcased the skills that led the Red Sox to committing $63 million to get him. There's no need to rush him, and with Dustin Pedroia and Bogaerts locked in at second and short, Moncada's name will pop up in trade rumors.
Winter action plan: The Red Sox have already talked with Ramirez about a move to first base, clearing the way for a Betts-Jackie Bradley Jr.-Rusney Castillo outfield. The ageless David Ortiz is coming off a 37-homer season and the infield appears set, assuming the Sox can't find a taker for Ramirez or Sandoval. Blake Swihart showed promise as a rookie behind the plate, and Christian Vazquez will attempt to rebound from his Tommy John surgery to share time. So it's all about finding arms, either through free agency or trades. Price may be the top target, and Darren O'Day is a logical bullpen fit, but they'll pursue multiple options.
Bradley's name is still popping up in trade rumors, and with Betts being a good center fielder, the Red Sox could sell high on Bradley's hot final two months. That would leave a hole in left field, however, as Bryce Brentz is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox have a loaded farm system, and they also have all those back-end starters that they could include in trades as well. You can bet you'll hear Red Sox-Mets trade ideas all winter. Keep in mind that new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has a history from his Tigers days of trading away prospects, so it could be a simple offseason or one that features a flurry of activity.[/]
0
Comments
The author uses phrases such as Kimbrel being "lights out" since 2010 and "continues his dominance" to pump up how great a trade this was. Makes me think that anyone with half a brain would be overqualified to be a sports writer.
I'm just not too excited about a guy who just posted his highest ever ERA, lowest career WAR for a full season, highest ever HR/9 innings, etc. He played in pitcher friendly PETCO and had his worst season ever. Can't get excited until he decides to be the pitcher he used to be. Maybe he will regress (progress?) toward his mean. Until then, I see it as a minor trade
Craig Kimbrel incoming from San Diego...outgoing...4 Red Sox Prospects. Red Sox eat $25m of his salary...
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
No news on the Walrus. I suspect Dombrowski is trying to deal the "elephant in the room" (pun intended) to somebody. Incredibly, the Red Sox still owe this DOOFUS a mind numbing $59 mil. Thanks Ben.
If you're a Boston Red Sox fan, this is exactly the trade you feared Dave Dombrowski would make when he joined the front office, trading away the jewels of the majors' best farm system for veterans who are or may be past their peak values. Craig Kimbrel has been one of the best relievers in baseball history, but this is a big overpay for 60 innings of his services a season when he already seems to be starting to decline.
And so it goes.
BTW, have you Red Sox Nation guys seen current pics of Fenway Park? Well, its been turned into a football field, with Notre Dame emblazoned in one end zone and Fighting Irish in the other. This because, for some reason the "shamrock series" is being played there and Notre Dame is the home team. Sadly, I think Boston College is gonna get whacked big time in this game. Kinda weird to see Fenway this way.
Fourth outfielder or prelude to a trade of one of the young stars for a pitcher or two? I'd love to see something in the works with the A's
Maybe they are serious?
Puts him #2 on the list behind Kershaw.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Wow that's a lot of coin.
Puts him #2 on the list behind Kershaw.
I think it puts him above Kershaw!
Wow that's a lot of coin.
Puts him #2 on the list behind Kershaw.
I think it puts him above Kershaw!
I stand corrected. Yes it does put him on top.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Nobody on this planet is worth that kind of money to throw a baseball.
I suspect tix prices will rise slightly as will concession items, parking and all the other crap they gouge us for at Fenway.
Yup, and they're still stuck with "BO and ZO", the BOZO boys of HanRam and the pathetic Walrus (aka Pablo muy gordo Sandoval) at 3rd base. I suspect Dombrowski is trying to dump the Walrus, but who knows how much the Red Sox wanna eat to ship him out. Maybe he's shopping HanRam too, time will tell. Thanks Ben...you doofus!!
Baseball is so backasswards, paying for an unknown future performance. How about give the dude a salary of say $10m, then have all these incentives kick in at the end of the season. Of course I realize it's tough times to get by on a paltry $10m for playing a kids game 6 months a year... but this salary thing is beyond insanity...and we, the fans get it in the neck year after year after year with rising prices.
Ok remind me why they didn't sign Lester last year?
Wow that's a lot of coin.
Puts him #2 on the list behind Kershaw.
I think it puts him above Kershaw!
I stand corrected. Yes it does put him on top.
Until Greinke signs. Speculation the Dodgers offered him 210 million/ six years.
In the course of every human endeavor since the dawn of time the risk of human error has always been a factor. Including but not limited to field goals, 4th down attempts, or multiple paragraph ramblings on a sports forum authored by someone who shall remain anonymous.
Wow that's a lot of coin.
Puts him #2 on the list behind Kershaw.
I think it puts him above Kershaw!
I stand corrected. Yes it does put him on top.
Until Greinke signs. Speculation the Dodgers offered him 210 million/ six years.
Dodgers lowballed him (relative term there, since I would have taken a fraction of what the Dodgers offered him). Average annual value from Diamondbacks will be $34M and change. Price still has richest total value, but Greinke gets the prize for average value
Sox traded starter Wade Miley and minor league pitcher Jonathan Aro to the Seattle Mariners. Boston acquired reliever Carson Smith and starter Roenis Elias
I'm waiting to see what the jury brings in on the Walrus and HanRam. No doubt there are things working, but I think they're gonna be hard sell to anyone, given last years paltry performance by both. AGAIN this is what you get when you pay for a future performance, with guaranteed money and the clowns you give it to just kinda go through the motions. I think HanRam at first base will be a disaster.
Hey Steve (pitboss), what's with the geppeto avatar? Man, you gotta step that up a bit !!
You go ahead and start the thread.
My New Year's Resolution is to try to find the bright side in the Red Sox game performance. Who knows, I might even pop for the bb package this year.
I still think Orsillo got screwed, but, I hope we have lots of Eck to enjoy.