Rounding up the latest from around the game . . .
- The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham takes issue with the team’s allocation of resources, writing that the team is at risk of “going cheap” on the bullpen. As it stands, just over $8MM of the club’s projected $237MM payroll will be spent on the pen, with President of Baseball Ops Dave Dombrowski apparently noting that he would be “comfortable” entering the season with Matt Barnes or Ryan Brasier in the closer role. The club, of course, has been linked with numerous high-end relief options, including former closer Craig Kimbrel, but may be wary of incurring even steeper penalties by again eclipsing the luxury tax. Skimping on the pen is, to be sure, a Dombrowski hallmark – his early-decade Tiger teams were often pilloried for their assortment of scrap-heap late-inning options – but the longtime executive did kick off his Boston tenure with a big trade for the then-28-year-old Kimbrel, sending off top prospects Manuel Margot, Logan Allen, and Javy Guerra in the deal. The farm has been steadily pilfered since, and now stands as one of the game’s weakest, so a major acquisition via trade seems unlikely. It is true, too, that Dombrowski, wherever he has gone, has unearthed some of the game’s brightest late-inning talent, including Trevor Hoffman, Robb Nen, Matt Mantei, and Fernando Rodney.
- MLB.com’s Jim Callis takes a look at the game’s most improved farm systems over the last calendar year, citing the Mariners, Astros, Royals, Tigers, and Twins as teams who’ve taken huge leaps forward. Seattle, of course, has done much of its heavy lifting in the area in this offseason alone, acquiring former first-rounders Justus Sheffield, Jarred Kelenic, and Justin Dunn in less than a month’s span. Of particular note from my perspective is the Twins’ system, which saw SS/OF Royce Lewis and OF Alex Kirilloff make leaps into the game’s prospect elites by the end of the season, plus enjoyed big jumps from pitchers Brusdar Graterol and Australian lefty Lewis Thorpe, the latter of whom posted one of the upper minors’ highest strikeout rates in ’18 and appears poised to make the big-league plunge.
- Jim Allen’s piece for Kyodo News takes a behind-the-scenes-look at Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi, whose 30-day posting window closes on January 3. Kikuchi, it seems, has had his eye on the majors for a number of years now, sharpening his English skills weekly and making an effort to learn a two-seam fastball, which is apparently a “rare sight” on the Island. Kikuchi, of course, flew to Los Angeles two weeks ago to meet with prospective clubs, and looks to be a sought-after commodity on the rotation market this winter. In 494 1/3 innings for Seibu over the last three seasons, the 27-year-old has set down a sterling 497 batters while walking just 161, and has surrendered only 39 home runs in the process.
Boom
Red Sox bullpen “sucked” last year and they still won it all
Take ‘em down, Yanks.
Go checkout the River Avenue Blues article on how the Yankees could sign Harper and Machado.
Thanks cereal! That article was a treat.
If I say I don’t want want Machado cuz predict lack of hustle in thr WS spells “future “bad contract” —
“Spoiled Yankee fan”
The possibility of signing both however.. Wow! —Go big or go home. I admit despite my concerns for Machado, but these two are generational talents, available FA, at the rare age of 26. I’m ready for the worst, (sign neither) but now hoping for chance at the best case (sign both)
Thanks again! know will piss Sox fans off… but had record BoSox payroll +won it all!! They should chill
The Yanks will end up getting in. Jacoby Ellsbury type situation with both after they hit their early 30’s
+Peter
I wouldnt say thats a forgone conclusion but it definitely is a possibility.
Year one of Ellsbury’s contract was age 30
Year one of these guys’ deals is age 26
Almost as bad of a comparison as Pujols
It was an article from a dang Yankee blog people. I was jus letting X know about it because he loves Harper..geesh
Comparing a Harper or Manny signing with the signing of Ellsbury is moronic. Elle simply was overpaid and it’s been clear that most players whose game are predicated on speed rarely age well. He was 30 when he signed that deal. 4 years older than either Harper or Manny. He was never an elite talent like either of those two.
They lost Joe Kelly and his 4.39 era, but hopefully have (former All-Star Steven Wright and/or former all-Star Tyler Thornburg looking to take his spot). Sox have also resigned WS MVP (and Yankee killer) Steve Pearce. Craig Kimbrel and his awful postseason hasnt resigned yet and may not. Whether they promote Barnes or Braiser or sign a guy like K. Herrera, Cody Allen, David Robertson, or Zach Britton there are still options if they wish to go outside. Team didn’t have much to improve on as they were a 108 win team as you may remember. Sox also inked Zach Putnam to a minor league deal who is a sub 3 era ground ball middle reliever. Sox are bringing the band back minus Kimbrel (possibly) and Kelly. Good luck :)
Ignorant statement saying Machado will end up like Ellsbury, Machado is an A-Rod clone. Harper I can Definetly see fizzle fast due to injury in his 30s
If they get them 6-8 won’t matter the problem is add judge outfield alone cost a billion dollars
And the Yankees had identical player in gardy
Yeah do you think either Machado or Harper will take anything less than a 6 or 7 year deal? Doubt it
Nah, I can hear Theo badgering Ricketts about Harper – “ Can we get him…can we get him?”
When Ricketts finally caves in, Theo and Jed can double down and trade Heyward with $71 million back home to ATL for Darren O”Day.
Braves on the book for 5 years, $55 million. About the same that they were paying for Markakis. JHey is about the same quality and will be about Markakis’s age when the contract is done.
Heyward is due $118.5m through 2023 and is projected to obtain a 1/$5m contract if a free agent. That is $113.5m in excess the Cubs would need to absorb + the additional four years of worthlessly occupying a spot on the 25 man of any trade partner. Cubs would need to send $90-100m + #1 (#87 in mlb) prospect c Amaya while taking a sack of baseballs back. Except for C.Davis in Bal Heyward is the worst contract in baseball. Cubs fans seriously underestimate how bad it is.
Looking at it Chris Davis is due $84.5m through 2022, so maybe Chicago could swap with baltimore with including top prospect Amaya and maybe $5-10m. At least Davis albatross contract is a year less and it allows the Cubs to properly allign their outfield as many of their internal options have passed Heyward already in utility.
Not sure what they would do with Davis. Probably look to move him but it would make the problem smaller.
There is just no way to move this contract, realistically…Ultimately, Heyward is in rf for Chicago in 2019.
Schwarber’s Mom and mkeyankee you’re both wrong. Heyward is owed $106-million over the next 5 years.
If (massive longshot) an O’Day for Heyward deal were to happen, It’s an $11-million spread for the 2019 season. That would mean Atlanta would be taking on $91-million the next 5 years if they did the trade. Heyward slated to make $20-mil in 2019, O’Day at $9-mil.
Although this too is a longshot, Braves should check in with the Reds over one of their corner OFs. Longshot because I don’t see Cincy wanting to improve the Braves if they are looking to secure a playoff berth. Reds should also look for a CF while they’re at it.
mke, just curious where you are getting Heyward’s projected contract value (1/$5m) for 2019?
Is there a site that projects contract value for all MLB players’ every year (as if they are all currently free agents)?
Haha ok Mike whatever you say. Lol.
So Heyward is “projected” to only get a 1 year contract for $5 million IF he was a FA. Haha. Ok projected by who.
Oh so then you take all the money he is owed for the next 5 years and only subtract one year of your perceived value to get your “excess” Lol.
I guess the other 4 years have zero value?
Your a joke
Trim, the $20 million signing bonus for Heyward is deferred to 2024-2027.
Wow if the Yankees signed Harper and Machado that would mean they would around 100 million in three guys for around 10 years. Then you have to thrown in Judge in a few years might have a situation where you would 125 million in 4 guys for 5 plus years. I guess if any team could pull of that financial freight it would be the Yankees. They would almost guarantee to be over the lux tax for a decade.
Lol Yanks had Stanton, Judge, etc and still couldn’t beat Boston! The Yanks will have the highest payroll in the bigs if they sign Machado and will have nothing to show for it
Interesting that you ignore the Sox adding JD Martinez to a lineup up with the 2nd best player in baseball yet you act as if they weren’t a stacked team as well. They had a great team. But other than Eovaldi, what have they done thus far this off-season. At least the Yanks added Paxton and a full year of Happ to a 100 win team.
Trout plays in LA. Martinez is in Boston.
Red Sox fan you are very right about Kimble. Keep in mind the worry n rehab of a baby that went through cardiac surgery doesn’t go away when they yell”Play Ball”!
When your defending world champs there isn’t really much you need to do! They will be getting a 300 hitter back in Pedroia ! Kindler can’t even hit close to 300 so that will in itself be an upgrade!
Peter, you should check your facts before posting….the Yanks can fit in Machado nicely and still be under the cap…..worry about your Red Sox and their financials when Mooky wants his money, Martinez threatens to opt out if you don’t extend him and sweeten the pot, and you have to pay more to keep Sale etc.
If any team should not be talking about the salary cap its the Red Sox and their fans!
True but all teams will go through it now or in the future!
If the Yanks sign Machado they WILL NOT have the highest payroll, not even close. Get your facts straight before you post.
You are so frustrated n so wrong!!! I guess you didn’t watch the playoffs cuz you would see how the Redsox buried the NYY starters n bullpen. Stop dreaming.
Last time I checked that series, there were two, 1 run Red Sox wins and I wouldn’t exactly call that “burying the Yankee Starters”…..both bullpens worked hard in that series and the Sox prevailed.
You should stop dreaming all this stuff up!
You forgot the meaning of buried. The Redsox took them out n 1 run games are the hardest to win, so YEAH, they buried them.
Xabial. Go troll on a yankee article. You losers keep trolling on Red Sox pages.
Got some sobering news for you there skippy, xabial is everywhere. Now wipe your nose and go back to watching Frozen with the gang, and stop calling people “losers” or your mommy is gonna breakout the bar of Ivory.
Apparently you didn’t read the article X, cuz the article was Redsox n their problems, n to me I think you’re trolling this page, but ty, it gave me a reason to write to another frustrated dreaming NYY fan!
Please repost in a language that Google can at least understand!!
I get a headache trying to understand some of this gibberish. Glad I live in a weed legal state
Slevin, give that Sox fan a break…..didn’t go far in school you know!
Do u have a life little boy?
Except they turned lose evoldi and Joe Kelly caught fire Kelly gone can evoldi last a season if kimbrall Walk could all fall apart
That is the most stupid post I’ve seen. X-cept X’s.
Youre an idiot
Dave Dombrowski could trade some of his guys like Devers or Benetendi to recoup prospects if that was his goal. It’s not so give it a rest. There’s a gluten of RP out there so why not wait until the Spring & see how it shakes out.
Have you lost your mind?
Exactly. What he has is better than a bunch of top prospects. Way better.
Why Was Kimbrel So Bad. ? Any Opinions. ? ?
Opinions on the sudden loss of one’s control….
Chalk it up to the volatility of RP… Buyer beware
Kimbrel at times cant hit the broad side of a barn with his lack of command. Sometimes command can be a larger issue…ie..injury or discomfort
Yeah I have an opinion! He has a World Series ring!
So does Ken Giles.
Stop being such a homer….Kimbrel prevailed for all the wrong reasons…..he made those last outs nail biters and got lucky the team picked him up.
He’s no MARIANO FOR SURE!
To be honest he wasn’t really that bad. It was a down year by his standards, and completely losing his control in the playoffs didn’t help, but for the majority of the season he was very effective.
A down year for Kimbrel is a great year for roughly 93% of other RP
You need to watch a little more baseball there 820 if you really think that!
Well for that “down year” he’s asking for the moon so he must know something all of us don’t.
If he gets $100 million, what would you think the greatest closer of all time would get….MARIANO!!!!!!
And perhaps foreshadows the need for TJ surgery. Keeping quiet that he is also in pain, it will be revealed after DD waits him out to sign for around $75 million. Then by May on the DL after he loses control of the zone again.
He missed a lot of spring training which is kind of where pitchers get things right. I also think he wasn’t always mentally dialed in during the season. I don’t see any diminished physical skills even though he did struggle with control. I still want him over any other closer on my team but cost is the factor.
Cost and years, he could be a real mess in 5 yrs
Missed time because his infant daughter had heart surgery.
Control=Elbow
It’s a simple formula
He wasn’t.
He had family issues, give him a break, some players have issues not just worrying bout themselves.
Could find another Ryan Brasier and the problem is solved.
So does Kikuchi have to sign a contract by Jan. 3, or is that just the deadline for negotiations?
MLB and NPB have agreed to new posting rules which go into effect this offseason. All postings by NPB teams must occur between Nov. 1 and Dec. 5, with a 30-day negotiating window to follow. The release fee paid to NPB clubs by MLB teams is contingent on the guaranteed value of the player’s MLB contract, beginning with 20 percent of the first $25 million and continuing with 17.5 percent of the next $25 million and 15 percent of any amount beyond $50 million.
Kimbrel wanted six years, 100M?
Now he’s seeking five years ~85M “Chapman money”?
To quote a song many of you probably not familiar with: “How low can you go?” “How low can you go?”
Chapman is Mariano, who I always admired as the best, even if the Redsox best him up during the 2004 playoff comeback, or really the Evil Empire CHOKE.
Is Not^ Mariano, sorry typo.
Skimpy bullpens aside, DD is building a Hall of Fame case for himself.
2 World Series championships with two different orgs, 2 pennants with another in Detroit and a nice build in his first GM position in Montreal.
Hawk must have felt really threatened by him with the White Sox because It was He Gone in the long year he ran the team.
I actually think hes already done enough to get in, but I agree with your assessment. Everybody wants to knock him for trading most of the farm for mlb talent, but it always seems to work well for his teams.
That is what happens when you have 20 yrs of contending.
The Red Sox will probably add another bullpen arm but doubt it’s Kimbrel. They may add a guy like Robertson but I don’t think they will pay the freight more likely it will be a guy like Herrera on a make good deal.
I also think Durbin Feltman will be in the plans and make the team out of spring training. They really just need to find someone to close they have plenty of other arms to round out there pen. Wouldn’t surprise me if Feltman was closing by the end of the season.
I hope the Angels get Kikuchi, probably going to be cheaper than Keuchel and they need more rotation depth than Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill on 1 year deals.
They got a cheap veteran catcher now so more pitching is still their biggest need. Though I wouldn’t complain if they found somewhere to offload Kole Calhoun and make a splash by signing Harper. Not likely to happen though, and pitching is the bigger priority. Though I’m sure Arte Moreno likes thinking about the ticket sales if Trout and Harper were on the same team.
and Ohtani and Kikuchi in the same rotation…
The Red Sox *might* be able to afford going into the season with this pen. Barnes has got to suddenly be a serviceable closer though or they’ll have to trade for one. Some of those “bullpen depth” pieces are going to have to have good springs too.
With the Japanese posting date ending… does that mean he returns to Japan if no one picks him up? Or has everyone submitted their bids and the highest bidder wins on the 3rd? I forget.
The courtship of Kikuchi has been a whole lot more secretive than I thought it would be.
Agreed. Especially with Boras as his agent, I thought there’d be daily updates.
This doesn’t even come close to the Ohtani circus, which to be honest is closer to what I expected.
Bang a gong!
I’d rather the Red Sox spend money on starting pitchers and bats than on a bullpen. Something has to give and I’d prefer being in a financial position down the road to sign Betts, sale, Xander, etc. than throw money at 30 plus relievers with histories of arm issues just so they have a good looking bullpen on paper. There is a long list of unproductive free agent reliever signings in recent years and an even longer longer list of relievers coming out of nowhere to be effective. Sox have a good start with brasier and Barnes and highly regarded young arms in the minors. Steven Wright and hembree are veterans who will have roles. DD will sign a guy with closing experience. Eovaldi could always be shifted to the closer slot and it will be all hands on deck if they return to the playoffs anyway. The bullpen will be fine.
The market on Kikuchi has been suprisingly quiet with only 5 more days before the window closes.
I think that’s more on Kikuchi’s side though. He’s probably weighing his options. I’m not surprised the chatter is quiet on anyone coming out of the NPB.
Way too many relievers still on the open market yet. Names and reps don’t always pan out. Colorado last year threw a lot of dollars at their bullpen. How did that work out?
This article is slightly off base on The Red Sox bullpen spending in 2019, I predict.
Many in Trade Rumors have already argued that the Red Sox can’t go over $246M.
That this triggers the Luxury Tax, draft pick and international spending in 2019.
That dire consequence will follow after, although those consequences are undefined.
I have argued that the Red Sox are the team to beat.
That they are the dream team.
So why not keep them together.
I have argued that the Red Sox will keep Kimbrel.
Kimbrel will probably get less offers, than otherwise would be the case, with the QO.
I argue that Kimbrel will take a 4/$68M deal with a 5th year $17M option and opt outs after years 2 and 3.
I have argued that Kimbrel is a great closer and worth the money.
I have argued that the Red Sox need a good closer.
I have argued that it makes more sense to pay Kimbrel $17M AAV as he is 30.
Ottavino is 33 and Robertson 34 so age there is an issue.
So if age is important Kimbrel makes more sense.
If money was the issue they would have signed Soria 2/$15M
Yes, I’m sure the Red Sox want to stay under the “magic number $246”.
They may be able to sell off someone like Pedroia to make some salary cap room.
But I also think it is more important they keep this team together.
They will likely make the playoffs again with this team and Kimbrel.
And the may even win it all again with this team and Kimbrel.
They will make the Luxury Tax money back and then some if they make the playoffs even if they don’t sell off Pedroia.
And I’m not sure they could sell off Pedroia even if they wanted to.
Don’t get me wrong, Pedroia is great but his knee is apparently in bad shape.
Yes, everybody hates to lose draft picks and international money but it is for only one season 2019.
After 2019 their payroll become much more manageable.
And in 2020 and beyond they can likely offer LT contracts to players like Sale, Porcello, Bogaerts and Holt as their payroll committment declines.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mVYyinHlYUI0gE98Ag…
You like to argue. Got it.
Finally a voice of reason, good write up Kyle, except Peddy. He’s been the voice in Boston till the Evil Macao injured him with his illegal slide with his spikes, ruined him for last 2 yrs, Good going Machado, hope you go to the Evil Empire where you fit in perfectly.
Can you even spell on a good day?
Little Petey, Joe Bucks boyfriend….
Spot on
The Red Sox didnt even give the ball to Kimbrel to close out some games in October. Why pay that much for a guy you dont have that much faith in? Kimbrel is still very good but thats a lot to waste on a very good closer when you need to pay our young core soon. Save on the pen but will still be fine. Remember everyone said they couldnt win in 2018 with their bullpen withKelly and Kimbrel but they did. If they get their moneys worth out of their starters who make a lot, they’ll be just fine with their budget pen.
Everyone never said they couldn’t win in 2018 with their bullpen?
They were so set with relievers they didn’t even look for any in the 2017-18 off season..
You agree Kimbrel is still very good.
We disagree on how necessary Kimbrel is to the Red Sox and how much we pay for him.
You sound a little nuts stating your opinions with the repeated inclusion of the fact that you have already shared your opinion over and over again.
Is your point that no one hears you or that no one agrees with you? I cant think of any other reason to obsess with typing out how many times you have argued.
Does the doc you linked show when you had these arguments or does it show the actual arguments?
Kikuchi, WELCOME TO
SAN FRANCISCO ⚾️
Or San Diego, Seattle, Oakland and Los Angeles. Only known is his desire to play on the West Coast
Kikuchi is Igawa 2.0 plus will go to TJS quikly like Ohtani and Darvish
I think abstaining from overpaying for expensive relievers is smart. With a few exceptions most relievers aren’t worth their market value.
By definition everyone is worth their market value.
Cash, please get Kikuchi
Kudos for the use of “pilloried”
typical DD seen it happen in D town not much thought put into BP by DD, farm system also
Got a WS and if they can keep a group of their core guys in Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers they will stay competitive even as they cut back on salary.
2019 is probably the last year the Red Sox will be the favorites (or Top 3) to win it all, so they should go for it all this season! After 2019, Sale and Xander’s contract are up, JD can opt out, then Mookie & JBJ are FA’s in 2020. There is no way they can keep them all, so let’s go for it all this year DD! It might get a little rough for us Sox fans starting in 2020. Watch out for the upstart Rays…if they add another $30M to their payroll, they could beat both the Sox & NY in the AL East!
Any multiyear contract impacts the ability to sign those guys as well. Bullpen is good to start the season, see how it looks in July and addd a rental or two if needed. They’ve invested big in SPs so they dont need a super bullpen.
Come to Seattle kukiche
Kikuchi to the Giants, that’s all I have to say about this.
Well I had to scroll right to the bottom to comment because this thread somehow became a yanks vs Red Sox argument.. but I hope the jays make a play here. They really need to get into the Asian market. The few they have had have always been popular with the fans as well as bringing more fans to the game. Give him a long leash to get used to the American game while they rebuild and then be ready to compete in the next couple. It might happen?
A franchise should produce 2-3 rookies per year to add to the team. They don’t need to be all stars or even starters. Also, iIt has to have a manager who can find the best way to use his rookies. Managers such as Bobby Cox introduced countless number of MLB players whereas managers such as Jim Leyland hindered development.
Twins system looks great, Rooker, Badoo, Enlow, Wade are impact guys no one even talks about. Nice care of talent there.
kimbrel has the dumbest agent of all time – flapped his stupid lips for +100M haha!!
The RedSox without Kelly or Kimbrel will not really make a difference at all if any.
Both players walked a massive amount of guys all season. Kelly pitched well over his head in the post season and Kimbrel sh*t the bed in the post season. So if they can win a w.s with Kimbrel pitching horrible I like their chances without both of them.
I truly believe Sox will sign a good reliever or 2 before it’s said and done. Dumbo isn’t gonna show his hand and that’s the only reason he said he’s willing to start the season as is.
Relievers will expect you to over pay them if they believe you need them and on top of that you say you do. Not smart!
Your bullpen can’t suck if you were World Champions. Plus over worked. The only person in the bullpen that made the bullpen suck was Kimbrel. Let him go. The rest of the bullpen did their job.