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mjl63m
I think rich hill is a great fit for the sox. A middle to upper of the rotation guy to be a bridge to the kopech/groome era, and he’s from MA
mike244
Would make sense. Price/Porcello/Hill/Pomeranz/Erod/Wright/Buchholz is a ton of depth and there’s a lot of upside there too.
Although, given the sox already have 6 starters and how little pitching there is, I think hill might get expensive and maybe that’s not the best idea to dump money on a guy who hasn’t pitched much
mjl63m
I don’t mind giving hill #2 money if it is a around a 3 year deal and they can also solidify the pen
I think if they get a bat it will be through trade or a low cost FA
redsox for_life
Pomeranz and Owen for Ozuna!! Bradley -Korpech-Devers and Marrero for Chris Sale!! Plus Kendrys Morales or Carlos Beltran! Sign Holland for setupp men!!
mike244
Seems like the RS pretty well set up on paper for next seasons and for coming seasons.
IMO The redsox have 2 needs: a bat and a reliever. Bringing back Ziegler to round out the bullpen would make sense. Signing one of EE/Beltran/Napoli would seem to make sense too.
They do that, they are probably the favorites to win another ALE title
johnsilver
7-8th relievers was the issue heading into the offseason until carson Smith returns late next year. Now that Bucholz had his option picked up, looks like Stephen Wright may be the one pushed out of the rotation and he’s one of the better starters, so it looks worse in other ways beside giving Buch the 13.5m
Getting Ziegler and koji resigned would be the cheapest way to get the back end fixed, tho there are other ways.
B-Strong
I don’t want Napoli back and neither should the organization. He had a bit of a resurgent year this year but he looked like the Mike Napoli that got traded last year in the WS. Can’t lay off or hit low and away, so he’s a big hole in the lineup most of the time. I like Trumbo over Napoli, but obviously EE is where it’s at for a true Ortiz replacement.
badco44
Guys we have plenty of right handed bats in the line up … need a lefty…. no Trumbo, no Napoli, and no EE… would prefer a rotation at 1st with Sam Travis, and Travis Shaw… … bull pen please!!!!
Brixton
Did they pick up Buch’s option officially?
Brixton
My mistake, didnt see the post that said they did.
Theres a whole lot of low floor money they have tied up
Rbase
I think with their offense, the Red Sox can afford to go into the season with a ? at third base. If Sandoval is actually motivated and doesn’t come into camp overweight, he should get the starting nod. If it doesn’t work out, Shaw, Holt and later Moncada are good replacements. Spend the money on a 1B/DH and (especially) pitching.
vegas222
Why not consider the Red Sox a dept of the government, and not care what they spend, Just load up with the best available players. What they spend or save does not matter to me. Being in that winning scenario in early November is what matters as Theo just found out again.
Aoe3
The redsox may save money and go for someone like beltran or joeybats. joeybats is younger and maybe needs a change of scenery from toronto. Also familiar face with former jays coaches butterfield, ect.
The bluejays have new management (2016 was first year) and with tulo/donaldson/martin, sorta pushing him out of a leadership role.. He has an opportunity to play for a very competitive team, close on the east coast in a division hes comfortable with less travel time..
He may take an offer from boston seriously. Also from previous statements price is one of his favourite teammates.
Dookie Howser, MD
Bautista is also looking for a multiyear (3+) deal. That would be a lot of money to tie up in a player who is aging and declining
Kholla
Does anyone think Swihart still has any potential as a catcher?
mike156
I’m surprised at his sudden downfall. Maybe he was overhyped, but I don’t know how you go from a top 20 prospect to a “not sure where he fits in”
mike244
Of course. While he wasn’t fantastic behind the plate, he also wasn’t awful. The media has really ridden his move to the OF when really it was a no story. RS needed help in LF, and their pitching staff was underperforming at beginning of season. Vaz is a better defender than Swihart, so they moved Swihart to of and Vaz as catcher .
I think If Swihart doesn’t get traded he is the everyday starting cached by mid season.
B-Strong
Swiharts main critics came after a game in which he caught Wright. He had a awful game catching him and missed a semi routine pop up. It happens. Since that game he was converted to left field. I think he got kind of a raw deal on that. Even Hannigan had big struggles with Wright from time to time. Every catcher does with a knuckler.
chesteraarthur
Yes, ignore all of the prospect evaluators that questioned his ability behind the plate well before that.
badco44
So are we talking about the half year 2014 he had behind the plate and played well? Defense wise he is no Vasquez… given but he is no where near as bad as has been penned on him
connorreed
What prospect evaluators questioned Swihart’s defensive ability?
Three scouting reports from Baseball Prospectus:
Al Skorupa (5/4/2015) – 50 glove / 60 arm
Chris Mellen (7/20/2014) – 55 glove / 65 arm
Jason Parks (8/15/2013) – 55 glove / 65 arm
Also graded with an average to above average glove and plus arm from FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline.
And some excerpts from his Baseball America scouting reports between 2011 and 2014:
– “there’s no reason to think Swihart can’t catch”
– “receives well and shows good footwork”
– “quick feet and moves well behind the plate”
– “promising blocking and receiving skills”
– “unusually athletic catcher who moves well and can control the running game”
– “possesses tremendous intangibles that suggest an ability to lead a pitching staff”
– “now profiles as an above average defender”
– “more athletic than most catchers”
– “excellent job of blocking balls in the dirt”
– “pop times averaging about 1.9 seconds and getting below 1.8 on occasion”
badco44
I personally think he has gotten a bad wrap… most issues were with the knuckle baller… seems like anouther former Sox catcher had similar issues…Veritek
cwh1983
With all the options they have at 3rd base, highly highly doubt they sign a free agent (let alone for 2 or 3 years)
badco44
What’s amazing is the kid Dubon is not even mentioned…. and his year coming up the ladder with Moncada, and Bentendini was every bit as good. He changed positions this fall in the Arizona fall league… to center from SS… watch out JBJ
Nick4747
Wishful thinking for the Sox is to trade jbj for an ace level pitcher maybe someone in the minors which would probably net them more than trying to get in on a sale type of trade. I would like more guys in the rotation with really good stuff and I’d like to see erod for a full healthy season, and would like to upgrade stuff wise over pomeranz.
Dh I’d look around check in on votto, Braun or another high priced guy(see what’s out there and @what cost) if to expensive in terms of prospects go out and sign one maybe two guys depending on the jbj deal.
Relief try to look for one as part of a return on jbj and or resign Zeigler and Koji. Buchholz trade and try to exploit the market the best I could and get something for more value to the Sox as a return.
Pablo sandoval needs to never wear a red sox uniform and stay in pawtucket and go with anyone other than him and not have him hurt the luxury tax threshold.Wishful thinking on alot of it but we’ll wait and see
badco44
Well I have very very little sympathy for Sandoval… paid millions to show up over weight… shame on him and shame on the Sox for not staying on top of this guy… had issues in SF with it… very poor marks to all on this nightmare… no respect
Nick4747
Yeah write it off as a bad business decision. It never had anything to do with baseball a guy with a decreasing ops every year before he turned 27? Who would’ve thought that would be a good sign from the get go
Mbolled
Both San Francisco and San Diego who offered more than Boston did.
Nick4747
All of which stemmed from business. Baseball wise he’s been a name more than a player for years outside of a postseason.
glasgowcelticno1
Sign beltran and use him at DH he is the lowest risk out of everyone mentioned here
Nick4747
No draft compensation either which I’d prefer he’d be one of my top guys him and Holliday Cuz of his positional versatility
badco44
He (Beltran)is a switch hitter and can fill the lefty hole needed…. one year deal works especially knowing that the kitchen sink is falling into the FA hole for 2018… save your money…. also a lot of trade deadline bait next year!
Nick4747
Yeah I’m not obsessed with the lefty or switch need depending on what they do with bradley. If benintendi and bradley are there offering middle of the order production like they did last season I would be OK with the big hitter we get being right handed you also still have Shaw, Leon, holt, plus whatever you get from swihart if he can return to form.
adshadbolt
Bradley, joe Kelly,Michael Chavis and Brian Johnson to the cardinals for wacha, rosenthal and a ptbnl
chesteraarthur
Wacha and Rosenthal are bad….
Nick4747
Yeah I’d have a hard time trading bradley alone for both of them. there was an article were the Cardinals didn’t know if they’d tender a contract for rosenthal (not saying that’s going to be the case) I’d take them as a buy low but that would mean someone like bradley isn’t involved.
badco44
Haha do you really think the cards want headcase Joe back haha.. they dumped him on us with that other money pit still at Pawtucket aka Allen Craig… anouther overpaid piece of work.. they call that trade fleecing by the way !
slider32
It’s all about getting an ace for the Sox, a pitcher like Sale. They can’t take the next step unless they do. All their upgrades need to be pitching.
chesteraarthur
Harold Reynolds, is that you?
badco44
Right on!
redsox for_life
Give Pomeranz to the Marlins for Ozuna! Then trade Bradley – Devers- Marrero and Owen for Chris Sale!! Send Buchholz to the Royal for Kendrys Morales
redsox for_life
Peddy-Bogarts-Morales-Hanley-Betts-Benentindi-Ozuna-Shaw(or panda)De Leon! Pitchers Sale-Porcelo-Price-Wrirt and Erod
Connorsoxfan
This is why my fellow Sox fans are ridiculed everywhere. People like you. We’re not all like this I swear!
redsox for_life
What
chesteraarthur
So much stupid
redsox for_life
Said for what
chesteraarthur
1 year of pomeranz does not get ozuna. That package doesn’t even approach sale.
Nick4747
It’s 2 years of pomeranz but I still agree not enough for ozuna. with all of that for sale isn’t enough the price starts with moncada and bradley if u don’t want Betts or bogarts involved. That’s the reason I don’t want sale as a red sox fan and I’d prefer trade for a less flashy young guy you might never heard of
chesteraarthur
yeah thats my bad on pom control years. Having tim anderson, I wouldn’t be surprised if the white sox would rather have tendi than X
Nick4747
Yeah I’d agree which I like having the offensive future we have trading 2 of those guys is hard to stomach for me i love bendi like everyone else. I would be willing to trade bradley but I know that’s not enough for sale that’s why I’d look elsewhere for rotation upgrades. And we know dd will do what it takes to get that ace type pitcher if not sale he’ll probably acquire one no matter the cost.
redsox for_life
Ok
chesteraarthur
I’m a cubs fan, who has always liked the sawx, minus there stupid fans during the epstein departure, (because they shared the championship issues). I think that what they have is a pretty solid core.
I agree with you that trading bats for sale is just stupid at this point. They don’t need an “ace” to be good. They just need continued production, health, and luck. Like every other championship team. Btw, I hate the sox for taking tendi, the cubs had him pegged in that draft too.
badco44
Might not be enough for Sale, but your close…
baseballman
I have lots of faith in Brock and he should be starting 3rd baseman. Ramirez is DH, give Travis Shaw another shot this time at first. Xander and Pedy up the middle with benintendi, Bradley and betts in the outfield. They should DFA panda or eat up the contract.
Dookie Howser, MD
Why would they DFA Panda before giving him another shot while healthy?
Brock Holt gets exposed when he is starting everyday. Even a regular platoon gig is a stretch for him. Guy is a super sub at his best, we should all just accept that now.
baseballman
Also resign Koji and taz. Let hill and brad go that were bad anyway.
baseballman
Sandy, Kelly and Marco Hernandez for Parick Corbin, he is young and a former all star, even though he was not as good this year he was lots of potential.
mjl63m
I’m not sure dombrowski will be willing to trade his starting catcher and potential set up guy for a starter who has struggled after TJ surgery
Corbin isn’t much of an upgrade over what they have now anyways
chesteraarthur
I’m pretty sure the dbacks would be the ones who say no
mjl63m
I think they would too I don’t see that as a win for either teams
chesteraarthur
Especially with them having Welly
Connorsoxfan
Nowhere near enough. Maybe on MLB the Show…
New Law Era
Allen Craig.
Eric D.
I don’t see the point in pursuing a free agent catcher unless it’s solely as a minor league depth option. everyone is down on Swihart but they have no reason to be. He will be fine. Vazquez just needs to hit at a league average rate to be a starting catcher. Ramos especially would be a mistake. His previous season of production anywhere close to what he did in 2016 was 2011, and he hasn’t come close any other time.
ijmurray27
if swihart comes back really strong, I’d be intrigued with a Bradley for sale trade…