Unsurprisingly, Marlins president David Samson didn’t reveal much Saturday when asked about the rumored “handshake agreement” owner Jeffrey Loria has to sell the franchise to Joshua Kushner. “There’s obviously a lot of buzz, there’s rumors, there’s all sorts of stuff that happens all the time,” he told Tim Healey of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Are these rumors different than other rumors? Time will always tell what happens.” Samson, who added that Loria “loves being [in Miami],” also informed Joe Frisaro of MLB.com that the franchise is focusing on selling Marlins Park’s naming rights and amending its TV deal prior to 2018. On naming rights, Samson said: “There’s still three companies, and we cannot figure out which direction we’re going to go in. I still want to get it done before the All-Star Game. It’s such a long-term decision. I don’t want to make the wrong one.” The Marlins’ TV contract with FOX Sports Florida runs through 2020, but Samson noted that both parties know the “deal is in a place where it’s not commensurate with the revenue that should be coming to the team, given the content that we’re giving. That is no fault of anybody’s but mine.”
Now the latest from the American League East:
- That the Red Sox were able to acquire ace Chris Sale from the White Sox without giving up left fielder Andrew Benintendi could propel them back to the World Series this year, opines Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. Red Sox left-hander David Price called it “amazing” that the team landed Sale while retaining Benintendi, and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski observed that “Andrew is not a player you’re ever looking to trade.” The 22-year-old Benintendi was terrific in his 118-plate appearance major league debut last season (.295/.359/.476) and enters 2017 as an AL Rookie of the Year front-runner. He’s also No. 1 on Baseball America’s just-released Top 100 prospects list – one spot ahead of second baseman/third baseman Yoan Moncada, who headlined Chicago’s return in the Sale trade. Right-hander Michael Kopech, the second-biggest piece the White Sox received, is 32nd.
- The Yankees left a great impression on closer Aroldis Chapman during his stint with them last year, which led him to prioritize re-signing with the club in free agency. Ultimately, he returned to the Bronx on a five-year, $86MM deal – a record-breaking pact for a reliever. “The first moment that I got here in Spring Training, the way that they treated me, the attention that I got,” he told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “The work ethic of this team, the clubhouse, the athletes that they have. Those things, all of them made me feel very comfortable. That for me was the most important thing, and I wanted to come back.” Chapman, who ended last season with the World Series champion Cubs, sees similarities between the way the Yankees are assembling their roster and how Chicago has built its juggernaut of a squad. “Chicago started doing the same thing, bringing young players in the beginning, combined with veterans,” he said. “It worked for them, and it’s a solid team. The Yankees are similar in that way. They’re trying to bring in some youth, athletes that are very gifted.”
Really wish Boston could have held onto Kopech and swapped out JBJ into the deal, then had Chicago add Robertson, Chicago was wanting JBJ anyway, with his 4y of control, could have swapped him out for a king’s ransom themselves during the season, or after like they just did for Eaton if they chose.
They WERE high on him; maybe they aren’t as high on him as they used to be..either way, JBJ finally started swinging, and his defense/arm are undeniable with solid base running. I think we will be happy with 3 gold glove caliber outfielders in the long run; Even if his bat isn’t always consistent. But of the starting core of players Bradley has always been the most expendable in the back of my mind. I could see him having some Jason Heyward Like BA in the future, but his D is still a grade above.
I have to admit that I have some of the same beliefs that Dombrowski does. Prospects are essentially lottery tickets until they prove they can produce in the majors. Sure you want to keep a stocked farm because some of those lottery tickets will pan out to be at least decent players. But the simple fact of the matter is even if JBJ is streaky he at least has shown he can play in the majors. We can’t say the same about Kopech yet.
A potential killer B’s outfield of Betts, Bradley, and Beintendi could very well be worth it in the long run. But the fact of the matter is any of our predictions will be as accurate as looking into a crystal ball.
We’ve both posted so much over the years here that sort of understand how each feels regarding Sox thru the years.
Outfielder FA have gone down value wise this year. We heard rumors Chicago, this past fall still wanted bradley. Pomeranz, Sale and Porcello all walk within 3 seasons and as of now? Boston really has no high end SP in the system, other than Groome. I’ve seen Raudes, Hernandez and Bautista in GCL games.. I see back end potential. Kopech was the only other front end guy, other than barely pitched Groome.
Guys like Brandon Moss went for 6m a year and could play LF at Fenway, then they already have Chris Young.
We have both posted a great deal and I hope you respect my voice as I respect your voice. A lot of what you say is absolutely correct but I also see FA and the farm as a volatile systems. The Sox have the money and the scouting department to weather the storms.
Yes. Dombrowski is betting big on the Sox winning it all in the next 2-3 years. But they also have the resources (money, big league talent, and front office experience) to replenish those resources and more in the next couple of years.
The simple truth about any trade is we can have knee jerk reaction beliefs about them but history can prove us wrong and both of us can provide lists to prove and disprove that point.
Ordinarily I’d agree with that assessment, but there’s guys like Benintendi and Dansby Swanson (among others) that you see do it it all so effortlessly at such a high level throughout every level and that takes so much of the risk away. Anyone that saw Swanson at Vandy and Benintendi at Arkansas would not be surprised by how they’ve adapted to MLB in the short sample size already.
As a Braves fan, I would give up just about anyone and anything to have had Benintendi roaming the OF.
Bradley, Betts and Benentendi could be the best Sox outfield ever. 3 center fielders with unlimited potential. JBJ is a leader who the Sox should never give up on.
Better than Rice Lynn and Evans?
Betts and Benintendi have that potential. Bradley could be better than Lynn in the long run. This is a possibility, not a likelihood.
Fred Lynn will always be one of Boston’s “what if” players. Had he chosen to remain in Boston and play out his career there, he could have been a very strong HOF candidate.
While I certainly do see the logic in Dombrowski’s attitude toward prospects, I think in the Sale trade it was highly misguided. There are several ways in which Boston loses the Sale trade, and only one way that they win.
They lose the deal if:
1. Moncada becomes a superstar. Better to have a superstar for 6 years than a superstar for 3 years like Sale.
2. Don’t even want to put this out there and think he will be ok but if Sale has any type of significant injury that keeps him out long-term. A TJ surgery would literally reduce his time on Red Sox active roster by half…that would be a disaster.
3. If Moncada AND Kopech become stars. Again, Moncada reaching close to potential is more valuable than Sale alone, much less the value of both he and Kopech reaching their potential. This would be painful for Boston fans.
4. If either Moncada or Kopech become borderline All-stars, and two other players in the deal become useful players. In this scenario, the sum of the parts may outweigh Sale, especially over a 6 year period.
How Boston wins trade:
1. Wins World Series in 2017, 2018 or 2019, with Sale playing a significant role in championship run.
In essence, Dombrowski has put Red Sox in literally a must-win situation (although they practically always are), and we will see if they can deliver. Obviously those Detroit teams were so dangerous, but ultimately came up short and the strategy proved unsuccessful.
Kopech, IMO, could very well end up being a beast of a closer. I just think that is where his strength will be in the next 2-3 years.
We have our rookie of the year…….???? Sox or bust…
If the Sox put JBJ into the deal who would play OF for the Red Sox? Kopech has had some issues with teammates and even though he can throw gas he has control issues. I am sure in the long run you are going to be glad that they kept JBJ over Kopech
I think they would’ve moved Benintendi to CF and they would’ve platooned LF with Young and Holt
Maybe long-term would have moved Devers to the OF
I don’t see that Andrew Benitendi’s minor league plays shows that he’s such a super prospect. I doubt he will be even in the running for 2017 AL ROY.
I hope the Marlins are using the argument that their team is top notch when they reference that the “deal is in a place where it’s not commensurate with the revenue that should be coming to the team, given the content that we’re giving…”
Really strange that you are so down on Benintendi. He was in the minors less than 2 years. Averaged 20 home runs, BA well over .300. Very impressive in the minors as well as with Boston. This guy is the real deal.
not always the best to scout the stat line for MiLB players.
My point is AB has always been a great baseball player. Great in college, high draft pick, and has lived up to his hype in the minors and provided a spark at the big league level. There is no reason to be down on the #1 prospect in the game.
DD scares me a bit. He thought he had it all with Verlander, Scherzer, Miggy and Porcello in Detroit…. not so much.
Defense lost the W.S. for Detroit, not Dombrowski.
Bullpen didn’t help
Management lost them the series in 2013. Both times they pulled Scherzer when he was killing the Red Sox batters, and both times they managed to come back. 2013 was the Tigers year if that hadn’t happened, but I’m happy the way it all ended lol.
I really hope that MLB doesn’t allow the slimy Loria to be replaced by the even slimier Kushner family. That would be a huge step backwards from an owner who is widely considered the worst in baseball.
The Marlins are selling naming rights? Dang it. Another battle lost to advertising.
The Red Sox will be contenders, but benintendi will not be what makes or breaks their title chances this year.
ChiSox should of proposed a Sale, Tim Anderson & Nate Jones for Bogaerts, Moncada & Kopech. Gotta get a young ML ready stud back for Sale ( the only reason to watch WS these last 3 years) plus prospects. DD did well to hang onto Benintendi. Price is your #2 scary. Now you have a #1 who I’ll guarantee won’t disappoint in must win playoff game. Traded our best player for showing human emotion b/c he was tired of playing for a pretend manager & front office signing wrong FA’s/having too many positions filled with sub-par players. Good luck Chris hope you can win a title in Beantown. Have you received your apology letters from Robin & Robertson/bullpen for blowing all those wins for ya?
Lol, you’re a White Sox can I take it?
I like what DD has done to build a well balanced roster. My regret is that he didn’t do it in July 2016. Instead of getting Pomerantz and Hill he should of traded Espinoza, Moncada, Kopech, Basbe, for Sale & Frazier. They would have been better both in 2016 and now.