Free agent slugger J.D. Martinez is informing potential suitors that he would prefer to sign as an outfielder, according to a report from Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Just how that will impact the ongoing recruitment process is not yet clear, but the report suggests it could mean the oft-linked Red Sox will need to boost their offer or clear outfield space to make a deal.
Of course, as Silverman also acknowledges, there are some potential bargaining advantages to be pursued from taking this particular stance. And the Boston organization is wary of being drawn into a one-team bidding war.
Agent Scott Boras suggested at the Winter Meetings that Martinez was amenable to serving as a designated hitter, even indicating that his client had “never said to me anything about” the matter. But it seems a somewhat different tone has been struck in talks with teams.
Ample uncertainty remains in Martinez’s free-agent outlook. At this point, the Red Sox are perhaps the only clear suitor that can afford Martinez. His former team, the Diamondbacks, has also been directly connected but seemingly lacks the current financial capacity to fit the kind of salary that’ll be needed to lure the slugger. Likewise the Giants are attempting a financial tightrope walk that makes it somewhat difficult to imagine Martinez fitting (at least, at the rate of pay he’d prefer). A few other teams are rumored to be looking at the market’s best hitter, though it’s not really evident which are serious participants.
At the very least, the report suggests that, while Martinez might be willing to sign on as a DH, he’d require a sweetener to do so — at this stage of the proceedings, at least. (Indeed, Martinez has indicated he’d sign as a DH/outfielder for Boston, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets.) Boras has never been afraid to wait out the market for his clients, with notable power hitters such as Prince Fielder and Chris Davis scoring huge contracts in late January.
No doubt the Red Sox are interested in landing Martinez — Silverman calls him the organization’s “first choice” — but at a palatable price. The team could line up a trade of Jackie Bradley Jr. to make way for Martinez in the outfield while perhaps also making a move for Eric Hosmer or another option at first base, though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski threw cold water on the idea of a Bradley trade. If Boston’s preference is to utilize Martinez as a DH while holding onto Bradley, it seems the sides will wait to see who blinks first.
I’ll take “things players say to create the illusion they are more valuable than they really are” for $1000, Alex
Lol nice
My thoughts exactly!! It’s just a ploy to drive up some leverage, and seemingly his value, which I’m 99.99% sure the idea originally came from Boras.
This actually says to me that Martinez is pretty close to signing with the Red Sox. It sounds as if Boras, Martinez, and the Red Sox are deep in negotiations, and Martinez and Boras are throwing out these tidbits to teams and the media, so Martinez can gain a little more leverage in said negotiations…
Whether the two are trying to get an extra year, or changing a team option to a player option. Maybe they are trying to get his buyout option at a higher value, maybe they are looking for a little higher annual rate, have a no trade clause put in the contract or implemented earlier/immediately. Obviously, idk what the two are trying to gain, but it’s pretty clear they are just trying to get as much as possible out of Boston before officially signing…
With all of that being said, I could easily see a deal getting done in the next 4 days to a week’s time..
You may be on to something there.
Definitely seems like a Boras tactic to drive up the price. I still think he’ll be smart enough to hold out for a few more weeks to try and drag another team or two out into the bidding. Sox need an impact bat and Boras knows that.
Definitely. Boras probably even has WikiLeaks on speed dial.
“Oh you can play outfield… I didn’t know what. Here take an extra $10m, a year!” If this is a ploy to leverage for money money, I don’t see it working.
I’m sorry, I think he could get much more money if he agreed to be used mainly as a DH. He has negative defensive value. Shouldn’t that make him worth less?
Posturing WIN
Wait I thought he was going to sign as a shortstop?
Hahaha I was about to comment something similar
If the Red Sox hit the bulls eye on the dollars, Boras will make JD sign. I think JD is a really good hitter, and may actually get better with time, but his outfield defense is average at best so not sure why he wouldn’t agree to DHing. He does have a good arm in the outfield but range and speed are below average.
You think JD is a good hitter? Last year a contract year he was good. He was also cut 3 years ago. I’m all set, it reeks of decline there’s no way he sustains that. I can’t believe Red Sox fans actually want him
He’s been one of the elite hitters since signing in Detroit in 2014 and has maintained an OPS above .900. The dude can hit and it’s what Boston needs.
I agree! I smell another bad contest coming…
So you think JD Martinez is a bad hitter because he was a bad hitter in 5 years ago?
Is it impossible for players to improve in your world? Or do you just like to ignore the fact that he had a .936 OPS from 2014-2017?
Strange, uninformed opinion… Bitter Houston fan if I had to guess…?
What logic are you basing that guess on? Seems to be a low shot at a fan base for no reason.
Houston fans are not bitter over JD. We’re rooting for JD. He had a really good rookie season at the plate in 2011 for the stros, struggled the next 2 years but was not terrible, and then re-discovered himself in Venezuela playing winter ball the next offseason, but it did not translate into doing well in spring training. The stros waived him off the 4o man roster hoping to stash him in AAA, and the Tigers picked him up. JD is what he is – a really good hitter with potential to even get better, but his defense is average at best. Hope he gets a big contract with the Red Sox or someone else, but what they would be paying for is essentially a DH. I would like for him to return to the stros as a DH, but not at the $20+M/year pricetag. I think he is a $15 M/year value long term.
His defense isn’t even average at best. He’s one of the worst defensive OFs in baseball.
I don’t want him -Sox fan
He was cut by the Astros in what was a bigger mistake than trading for Fiers and Gomez. Dude is legit. Don’t short change him. Scenery change, aka better coaching, helped him reach his potential.
For how many years?
Three for $90 million sure, but the ask is seven for $200. Half of that is going to be flushed down the toilet.
And the payroll taxes and the second level of payroll taxes.
Even if he doesn’t produce the 45 homers he did last year, a career high (not sure where you’re getting this decline from), He’s still gonna give you a 25-35 homer guy, with a 290+ average.
I don’t .
“Boras will make JD sign.”
Just wondering exactly who an agent forces the player he works for to sign?
“not sure why he wouldn’t agree to DHing.”
Believe it or not some ball players like to play baseball…the whole game…not just part of it.
If you were the only one paying him he’d be the bat boy
As a Yankee fan I hope the sox pick him up… the money boras is talking about for him is crazy. he is a 30 y/0 DH….Hosmer or Moustakas would be better fits and younger players
Hosmer is going to get similar money, isn’t as good of a hitter, can’t field despite what most think and is inconsistent. He’s never had two goid seasons in a row.
The Red Sox could easily use a 4 man outfield rotation with each player playing 121 or 122 days in the field and sharing the DH role. Martinez has only had one season he played over 123 games anyway. There will be plenty of time for JD to butcher defense in the outfield if that is what he wants to do.
So why do you want him you want to rotate one of the best center fielders and one of the best right fielders to pay this guy 200 Mill to butcher defense. If you think he will sustain that power your high. He showed it for one year a contract year
Bro, he’s literally got 4 consecutive years of elite hitting running. I’m sorry it took you three years to notice, but look up his numbers from 2014-2016 if you think he’s some sort of one-year wonder
Is this sarcasm?
No way I would ever field Martinez instead of Betts or Bradley for any reason.
He’s one of the best hitters in the majors. Guy had an OPS of 1.356 against lefties last year. That looks pretty good compared to Benintendi’s .622. And if he wants to play the field then fine. I can’t think of many things he could do out that that would make his defense hurt the team more that his bat helps it. It’s not like you’d have him play center or right.
Stick Martinez in LF, Benny with the cool
hair in CF and Betts in RF. They’ll have Bryce as the 4th. Not a bad set of tools to go to work with.
You’re forgetting Jackie Bradley Jr.
Bradley is better in the Outfield than Benny. Careful
ManRam played left, remember? And he had no idea what he was doing. And he played next to Damon who had a T-Rex arm. But the offense overcame it.
JD & perhaps Hosmer or another upgrade at first will make it all workable.
Never have I heard of someone getting paid more to do less work
Took the words right off my keyboard!
Congress does.
Winner^
Why would anyone want to play for this racist team/city anyways
Because not everything is always about race?
Sucks that you live a life consumed with criticizing a city based on a few. I feel sorry for your hatred life.
Easily spotted Orioles fan…
Everyone, except you apparently, knows that Red Sox fans hate the Raycists…Crawl back to your sewer.
Gonna regret it whoever signs him
Agreed
Likely
Red Sox don’t need Martinez, just because this team didn’t swat dingers last year doesn’t mean they don’t have power in the lineup. Bogey had a down year, same with JBJ and HanRam was hurt. This team needs to prioritize the holes. 1st bade/DH and Eduardo Nunez. Hosmer is ideal as he is left handed batter and can platoon match up in NL ballparks. JD Martinez just isn’t that good of a fit, especially at 30 years old for 5 years and 150 million.
Hosmer is far from ideal. Just more of what the team already has. Need to add the element that’s lacking… power.
Let the great Hanley Ramirez protect him in the lineup. Please stop Sux fans with how great your Punch and Judy lineup is and look up at the Yankees
You must be fun at parties
You sound smart.
That must be because he’s an outfielder
“Hey so I really suck it up in the field but I think you should play me there. No I insist you play me “ what an ass
Or, “I get one chance in my career to choose where I get to play. Let me come up with a list of things I care about when making that decision.”
Why would a 30 year old player want to sign as only a DH? I don’t blame him for saying he wants to play the field. If he’s 34 or 35 maybe I see the point but you have to look at it as he’ll probably have at least one more contract after this, unless he gets a long term deal of course. But if he would sign as a DH only he kind of cuts his throats for the future.
dudes 30. if this isn’t his last contract, its his last significant contract.
He knows he’s a liability in the field yet wants a team to ignore it for his feelings? I understand your sentiment but it just doesn’t sound like a guy who’s a team player.
wow …..just because the Sox need power and the only place that currently fits without changing anything for them is the DH hole in that lineup, you criticize a player because he isn’t screaming send me to Boston please and I’ll leave my glove in Detroit.
Granted he’s not a defensive phenom, but certainly isn’t a butcher in the field so why not play defense too?
He’s not asking anything of the Sox nor is he asking them to ignore his feelings….he just wants to be sure that when he signs with somebody, he understands what his role will be and obviously he doesn’t want to just DH!
I hope he goes to the cards
The writing is on the wall, this guy will not be in the American Legion next year. Maybe Giants?
Not to mention, dude kills national league pitching.
Maybe that will be Boras’ next tactic, “JD has a very solid offer from an American Legion team that goes to Happy Hour at Applebee’s after games. Any MLB team would need to a make an offer enticing enough for JD to pass up this opportunity. $200 million should do it.”
Bummer… I was looking forward to seeing JD in one of those Legion garrison hats.
Giants just cleared some payroll……for some purpose, I’m sure.
Pence is next on the “items-to-go” list…..clearing RF for JD…???
Interesting position to take, particularly given that Martinez has demonstrated so much ineptness in the outfield. I wonder if he and Boras’s tune wouldn’t change if a prospective team countered with, “Okay, we agree to that, but, you will have to work in winter league ball beginning in two weeks to improve your outfield defense, and you will do that every offseason unless it improves bigtime.”
All of this back and forth is foolish!
Scott Boras is known to fleece teams.
Why deal with his clients?
What’s wrong with picking up Todd Frasier and playing Todd at 1B?MLB Trade Rumors says Three years, $33MM for Frasier!
Frasier has hit 40 home runs in a a year more than once.
With the money they save not getting Boras’s clients they can also get:
– Eduardo Nunez
– Lance Lynn
– And a left handed reliever
And then some !!!!!!!!!
Surely you jest
Correction!
Frasier has not hit 40 home runs in a year more than once.
He only did it once.
But look at his lifetime record at Fenway:
Fenway Park 31AB 4HR 8RBI 1.077OPS
For a LHP RP how about Tony Watson?
I would thoroughly explore a Machado deal before handing 5-years and $132 million (or so) to Martinez.
I would be calling Cincinnati about Adam Duvall. Forget the ridiculous money for Martinez.
What other position would teams expect, J.D. hasn’t played at any other position besides outfield.
DH – where he belongs…
Surely you jest?
Would you really pay $200M for 1 player?
Have another David Price?
Or Carl Crawford?
Or Pablo Sandoval?
And then get rid of JBJ because JDM wants to play the OF?
And lets not forget Rusnay Castillo … LOL !!!!!!
Winning teams have depth.
That’s what the Red Sox need. Depth !!!!!
only 1 of those 3 got 200 million.
but all terribly overpaid
Just when I started to forget…
Big money to Hosmer or Martinez. Which will it be Dombrowski? Maybe the Abreu idea wasn’t so bad after all. Get a couple good years and get out before it gets ugly.
No one is meeting Boras’s silly asking price and he now has the nerve to suggest if someone did that would not include JD DH’ing? He needs a sweetner? What a joke
That’s Boras for ya. JKB
Thoughts on the Red Sox trying to stay below the tax and just signing day mark Reynolds? Less average and obp but that’s what the rest of the team is elite at, just someone who can hit dingers and right handed for them.
Yes, you’re on the right track with Reynolds. You could probably get him for less than Frazier. Both have low averages but hit a lot of dingers.
With the money you save by getting Reynolds or Frazier you could get some depth.
They need a SP.
The only SP they have that they can really count on is Sale.
Price is a head case.
Porcello is hot or cold.
Pomeranz is a good # 3 or # 4.
ERod is injured.
Wright will be suspended for wife beating.
They can use at least 1 SP like Lynn or Vargas.
I’m surprised they didn’t keep Fister?
Arrietta is good and so is Darvish but too expensive.
Neither pitches well at Fenway.
They can also use a good left handed RP.
And I would DEFINATELY RESIGN NUNEZ !!!!!!!!!!
They could put a little package together to the Tigers for Michael Fulmer or Gerrit Cole from the Pirates. Expand those with like McCutchen or Victor Martinez OR Miguel Cabrera to satisfy certain needs.
LoMo may be the best FA 1 B in the $15 M range left on the market.
The Angels got a steal picking up Cozart—3 year deal. He’s such a versatile player he could have adapted to 1 B or 3 B and move Devers to 1 B if necessary.
I realize patience is a virtue and the Sox aren’t compelled to sign a big FA after winning 93 games last year and having Price, ERod , Wright & Pedroia injured
for quite a number of games.
I don’t mind not having a lefty in the pen—with 4 LH in the rotation–there is always one that could give you an inning or get a tough LH bat.
Let Boras do a little work for a change; he hasn’t done the Sox a favor ever.
I like Nunez but with Hernandez, Holt and Marrero they have Utility covered. I like that DD is allowing that signing to find resolution.
For future planning the Sox have to determine who they are spending “Big Money” after they go thru Arb. Xander, JBJ, Betts, Sale, Pomerantz, Vaz will be coming up soon. Then it will be Bene, then Devers–you can’t sign them all.
“a little package together” for Fulmer or Cole????
Detroit is asking for the world and Pittsburg always wants to win the trade so a “little package” would actually be pretty deep! And, they don’t have those assets on the farm any longer, and it definitely would cost some major league talent to make up the difference.
Reynolds or Frazier or both–could be very productive for the Sox–maybe not for average but certainly for HR, as a DH or as a pinch hitting threat. Probably for less than a max of $10 M each on 3 year deals.
Either could be insurance if Devers gets off to a slow start and needs some time at AAA.
Yes I know only 1 got over $200M.
But you miss the point!
They were all dogs and were paid big bucks per year.
If I am John Henry I have learned my lesson.
No long term big annual bucks contracts.
And I want depth!
And expendable players that I can cut if they don’t perform.
And won’t be saddled with a big useless contract.
Just look at the way the Patriots run things.
Has Boras watched Martinez in the outfield ?
Maybe JD doesn’t want to go to Boston but doesn’t want to come right out and say it because he’s weakening the market? Sort of how Cliff Lee never wanted to come to the Yanks and kept them engaged until the market matured and used their well publicized interest to get the best deal he could from the team he quietly wanted to join?
Good point
There are no AL teams with both the $$$ and need to spend on a bad “D” OF. As for the NL, Az can’t afford JD. The Giants and Cards are too smart to get stuck with a long term bad “D”
OF. When the Phils signed Santana Boras lost his last credible “mystery team” so he now needs a reason to get the Sox to bid against themselves. The Sox could play him in left field against LH SP’s with one of JBJ/Beni in CF, Hanley at DH & Travis 1B, but no way does he play OF against a RH SP. If Boras keeps this up JDM will wind up like Stephen Drew/Kendry Morales sitting out until June.
With Martinez”s injury history, I wouldn’t trade jbj or any other outfielder for him!
I think boras is starting to lose his “edge”, which is great. Teams are beginning to wise up to these huge contracts for players who will be playing into their mid thirties. Why would he allow Martinez to say this? He’s obviously a DH at this point so trying to bring in an NL team with this announcement won’t work because a) he’s not a great fielder and b) are there really any NL teams besides AZ that have interest or a need for him ( all the while compensating his offense for shotty defense?)
Why is this news? He is an outfielder.
If DD signs JD Martinez, he’s gone away from what had made him a great GM. He was the master of trades. Now, he’s gotten lazy.
Teams must be offering up numbers that a DH would be paid. And Boras is like hold up no, no, no, my player is an outfielder so pay him like one..Lol
Aye that’s smart of him even though J.D is suspect at best in the outfield.
Aslong as they show him the money, you know he really doesn’t care where he plays..
It’s obvious what’s going on here. The Sox must of offered him money in a DH’s range and Boras is just reminding them and others that J.D is an outfielder by trade and would like to be paid like one.
Bottom line, he’s going to the highest bidder the way this is looking folks..
As I said before, the Red Sox NEED a solid SP and a solid left handed RP.
If they get to the playoffs who do they have except Sale that is lights out?
Lance Lynn is a bull. He can grunt out 6 or 7 innings and is a real competitor.
They also need hitting and fielding depth and Nunez is perfect for their needs.
They can play Hanley at 1B or Travis. Maybe even Nunez?
Who knows perhaps even Nunez can learn to play 1B?.
Todd Frazier can add that HR pop.
As I recall, everyone was salivating over getting Frazier in Boston the end of July.
Perhaps the Red Sox can even pick up a great SP in late July that will become a free agent after 2018 like the Astros did getting Verlander?
I’m sorry but I’ve had my fill of Scott Boras and his foolish big contracts.
Let’s see what he get’s without Boston in the mix?
The Yankees and Dodgers are tapped out.
The and the Cubbies are the only other potential big spenders.
But they can’t even afford Arrietta ot Wade Davis..So who’s kidding who?
Agree with you. Stanton’s big stupid contract would have been far superior to Hosmer and JDM
Teams must be offering up numbers that a DH would be paid. And Boras is like hold up no, no, no, my player is an outfielder so pay him like one..Lol
Aye that’s smart of him even though J.D is suspect at best in the outfield.
Aslong as they show him the money, you know he really doesn’t care where he plays..
It’s obvious what’s going on here. The Sox must of offered him money in a DH’s range and Boras is just reminding them and others that J.D is an outfielder by trade and would like to be paid like one.
Bottom line, he’s going to the highest bidder the way this is looking folks..
Below is a list of potential free agent SP 1 year from now.
Notice how Sale has an option and Pomeranz is a free agent?
Price can opt out but who would want him?
Harvey and Keuchel look like the best bet (see below).
Do the Sox scoop Arrietta this year or maybe Darvish? But they are big bucks and neither pitches well in Boston.
What does Boston have in the pipeline coming up for SP’s?
I don’t see much.
SP seems like Boston’s need not hitting.
Starting Pitchers 2018-19 Free Agents
Madison Bumgarner (29) — $12MM club option
Carlos Carrasco (32) — $9MM club option with a $663K buyout
Patrick Corbin (29)
Nathan Eovaldi (29)
Doug Fister (35) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Gio Gonzalez (33)
Cole Hamels (35) — $20MM club/vesting option with a $6MM buyout
Jason Hammel (36) — $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
J.A. Happ (36)
Matt Harvey (30)
Hisashi Iwakuma (35)
Scott Kazmir (35)
Clayton Kershaw (31) — can opt out of remaining two years, $65MM
Dallas Keuchel (31)
Brandon McCarthy (35)
Matt Moore (30) — $10MM club option with a $750K buyout
Charlie Morton (35)
Wily Peralta (30) — $3MM club option with a $25K buyout
Martin Perez (28) — $7.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Drew Pomeranz (30)
David Price (33) — can opt out of remaining four years and $127MM
Garrett Richards (31)
Hyun-Jin Ryu (32)
Chris Sale (30) — $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Ervin Santana (36) — $14MM club/vesting option
James Shields (37) — $16MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Josh Tomlin (34)
Adam Wainwright (37)
Travis Wood (32) — $8MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout
What do you think?
What would you do if you’re DD?
Considering how Santana got 20 mil AAV Martinez will get at least 25
Question is 5, 6 or more years.
Everyone, except you apparently, knows that Red Sox fans hate the Raycists…Crawl back to your sewer.
Wasn’t J.d.Martinez a catcher at one point in his career and the tigers made him a outfielder because his knees were going bad ??? Or do I have him mixed up with someone else ??? Please enlighten me .
Never played C in MLB or MiLB. LF, RF, DH and in MiLB 2 games at 1B
JD is overrated. He has hit for elite power only twice, in 14 and 16 didnt even hit 25 homers with more at bats than last year. Yeah he has a great batting average over that time but his power comes and goes. Not worth it
Speaking as a Diamondbacks fan, I would cry with joy if ownership would open its wallet and pay J.D. Martinez from its operating profits. Looking at the publicly available information (Forbes Magazine) they can afford him if they wouldn’t be so cheap. Alas.
I watched J.D. Play nearly every game for two and a half months. He is the real deal. He can carry a team offensively for long periods of time. He is NOT that bad an outfielder. Although others may have more range, I never saw him look BAD in the outfield. He plays within his abilities and has a really good arm.. He is a great team mate.. He responds in high leverage situations. I can’t tell you how much he meant and added to the Diamondbacks lineup. I really, really, really want him back.
So, Sox fans, please keep hating on a player you don’t appreciate. Then, maybe he won’t want to sign with your team and D-Backs fans will have a whisper of hope of continuing to see J.D. In Sedona Red for the forseeable future.
I know I am dreaming, but there is little else a mere fan can do.
Great post. He was a great Tiger as well.
Not saying he isn’t a good player but would you pay him over $200M?
What are you going to pay Goldschmidt in 2 years $300M/
AZ has low revenues compared to NYY, LAD, BOS and CHC.
A salary cap would help teams like AZ …. don’t you think?
Red Sox should sign him to play 1B….keep the current OF and not sign Hosmer…..use that money elsewhere…..
What happened to the days of you will play where your manager or coach tells you to play? I know that’s old school but when it comes into play contractually , YIKES. Not familiar with his defense but is he as bad defensively as what I’m reading?
Below is a list of potential free agent SP 1 year from now.
Notice how Sale has an option and Pomeranz is a free agent?
Price can opt out but who would want him?
Harvey and Keuchel look like the best bet (see below).
Do the Sox scoop Arrietta this year or maybe Darvish? But they are big bucks and neither pitches well in Boston.
What does Boston have in the pipeline coming up for SP’s?
I don’t see much.
SP seems like Boston’s need not hitting.
Starting Pitchers 2018-19 Free Agents
Madison Bumgarner (29) — $12MM club option
Carlos Carrasco (32) — $9MM club option with a $663K buyout
Patrick Corbin (29)
Nathan Eovaldi (29)
Doug Fister (35) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Gio Gonzalez (33)
Cole Hamels (35) — $20MM club/vesting option with a $6MM buyout
Jason Hammel (36) — $12MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
J.A. Happ (36)
Matt Harvey (30)
Hisashi Iwakuma (35)
Scott Kazmir (35)
Clayton Kershaw (31) — can opt out of remaining two years, $65MM
Dallas Keuchel (31)
Brandon McCarthy (35)
Matt Moore (30) — $10MM club option with a $750K buyout
Charlie Morton (35)
Wily Peralta (30) — $3MM club option with a $25K buyout
Martin Perez (28) — $7.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Drew Pomeranz (30)
David Price (33) — can opt out of remaining four years and $127MM
Garrett Richards (31)
Hyun-Jin Ryu (32)
Chris Sale (30) — $15MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Ervin Santana (36) — $14MM club/vesting option
James Shields (37) — $16MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Josh Tomlin (34)
Adam Wainwright (37)
Travis Wood (32) — $8MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout
What do you think?
What would you do if you’re DD?
I hear you, but the top end pitchers with club options are not going anywhere, and most likely Price isn’t either. Sox need a big bat in the middle of the order and Martinez is a perfect fit. Listening to Lovullo interviewed the other day he raved about how Martinez took care of himself and how he prepared,While all these long term deals are risky, this is a risk I’d take all day.
Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
SP is their priority. Arrietta or Lynn or both.
Then pick up Frasier and Nunez.
That should be more than enough pop.
Don’t forget Hanley, Bogarts, Betts and JBJ all under performed in 2017, as far as HR power goes.
I think HR power will improve in 2018 with what they’ve already got!
And Frasier, although not an average hitter, can blast them out and he hits well at Fenway.
Then I’d go for a good left handed RP..
I figure they can add all of this for about $50-60M “extra” per year.
If that’s too high they can forget about Arrietta (and start Kelley) and bring it down to about $30-35M extra. And if that’s still too much they can forget about Frasier (put Hanley at 1B) and bring it down to about $15-20M extra.
They definitely need at least 1 SP for sure!
Can anyone please show me how they can add JDM, get a HR hitter,,a SP,, a RP and Nunez for less money and have depth?
All of this talk about the Red Sox being so punchless is premature. I think there is a case that can be made that the Red Sox will be much better offensively this year regardless of what they do. An argument can be made that the Red Sox completely underperformed last year and clearly they missed David Ortiz but they still underperformed projections at just about every position .
If they can get JDM at a reasonable rate like 7/150 or 6/135 then you do it. I would just DH JDM would not trade JBJ and keep the outfield in tact. Remember the Red Sox has the best offense in baseball a couple years ago and if Mookie doesn’t have a .268 babip with close to the same hit profile when he was a .300 hitter and another year later of Benny maturing and better production from first etc. it’s not to hard to see the Red Sox returning to form offensively.
They won’t be as good as the Yankees offensively but there starting pitching is better and there bullpen has the potential to be elite as well if Carson Smith returns to form. It would be nice to have JDM or Hosmer but not at the ridiculous price that Boras want. Stay the course DD and wait out Boras and see what happens.
I agree about the team under performing last year and agree they will do better in 2018.
I don’t think they need JDM.
If they want 30+ HR’s they can try Frazier for 20% of the price.
They definitely need a SP.
Lynn is the cheapest at say $15M per year for 4 years (per MLB Trade Rumors)
I’d also like to see them get Arrietta.
Imagine a rotation of Sale, Arrietta, Lynn, Pomeranz, Porcello going into the playoffs? And God knows if Price finally shows up? They are unstoppable!
Yes they have a great bullpen but they lack a left handed RP. So they need that for sure.
Getting Nunez is a no brainer. He can play 6 positions and he is a good hitter.
My guess is that they can move Pomeranz at the trade deadline, if need be, as he is a free agent in 2019. Assuming they get Arrietta and Lynn.
They can also even move Hanley at the trade deadline, assuming Pedroia comes back and they get Frasier.
Pitching has almost always been the key to going all the way.
Just an additional thought.
They can move Pomeranz to the bullpen, if Price performs.
And they can still try and resign him for 2019.
Pomeranz has had bullpen experience.
Thus there may be your left handed RP.
An open letter to John Henry & Dave Dombrowski.
As I see it you have 4 minor areas you need improvement in and 1 major area.
1) (Major) Rebuild your farm.
2) 1B Can be solved with Todd Frazier.
3) SP(s) Can be solved with free agents over the next few years
4) 2B Can be solved with Nunez and when Pedroia comes back
5) RP left handed relief.
Don’t forget you won the division last year with this team.
So you don’t need much to stay in play.
Don’t trade any young players away.
They get paid very little and they are your future.
And young players often improve.
For those that want a Giancarlo Stanton please note.
Miami’s average attendance in 2017 was 20,395 Boston’s was 36,020.
So, not many come “just” to see Stanton.
Fans come to see a winner.
But yes I concede the TV ratings go up when you have a Stanton type player on a winner.
The key is to have a winner.
And don’t forget teams that have a Stanton type player (big bucks) more often than not can’t afford him.
And end up out of it and thus have to trade him later at the trade deadline or off season.