As pitchers and catchers report, the Red Sox are still looking to swing some deals to tweak their personnel mix in those areas. According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal (subscription link), the organization is dangling its three backstops in trade talks while hoping to find rotation depth in return.
It’s hardly surprising to hear that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is looking to move a catcher. After all, he made clear weeks ago that the team had little interest in carrying Christian Vazquez, Sandy Leon, and Blake Swihart on the Opening Day roster.
Nevertheless, this news is worth noting. For one thing, it’s interesting that the Boston organization is still actively engaged even with camp opening. It could instead have decided to let the situation play out before considering options just before the start of the season.
Of somewhat greater import, though, is the concept that the Red Sox are looking to boost their stockpile of starters. That’s the aim of any organization, generally speaking. But that same fact makes it rather difficult to imagine that a rival team will be particularly inclined to move passable arms — particularly given the meager output of the Boston catching trio last year and the fact that the Red Sox have already broadcast their roster intentions.
Some might argue that the club ought to focus instead on its bullpen, which seems a notably risky area of an obviously talented roster. That’s perhaps a bit of a red herring, though, as any rotation depth asset could also help (directly or indirectly) with the relief unit and the club surely knows it won’t be able to swap any of its three catchers for anything approaching a premium reliever.
It’s far from clear which of those three backstops the Sox are most inclined to move. Perhaps the market will still dictate the decision to an extent, though now the club is watching the three in uniform once again and surely has its own ideas. Dombrowski said in January that Swihart would “come to camp trying to compete to be our starting catcher,” while the team previously showed its belief in Vazquez by inking him to an extension. Perhaps that makes Leon the odd man out, but he wouldn’t likely draw significant interest in trade talks and he’s also considered a much more reliable defender than Swihart.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Perhaps it would not be entirely surprising if the Red Sox simply end up designating one of these out-of-options players for assignment when the time comes. Then again, Dombrowski said previously that the club was waiting to “mak[e] a trade we feel good about,” seemingly indicating he believed there would be sufficient interest from other organizations to reap at least some kind of return.
Bring back bucholtz. Or has he signed somewhere?
still in free agency
Good call. I would take him back right now.
I said the same thing a month ago. As to the catchers, talking about a return at this point is mostly irrelevant. Had there been an offer out there DD liked, a trade would have been made. At this point, my guess is the team will carry three for now as injury protection and worry about things a month from now (unless a team comes to him).
I’m confused as to why Boston shopping a catcher is even newsworthy.
Honestly if I’m a GM and DD offers me any of the 3 my reply would be pretty simple “Sorry Dave but not only do we have plenty of below average options of our own, but I’m sure we could grab another below replacement level catcher without giving up anything”
Defensively, both Leon and Vazquez are top shelf. Another poster wrote that pitchers throwing to Leon Had The lowest ERA. Also, Sweihart needs to play and succeed or fail. Any of the three will be snapped up if waived. The question is, what are they worth in a trade?
very little. Swihart probably the most
Low cost, pretty much no down side (except roster spot). He seems to have gotten it back together. Maybe it would work out again. I’d take a chance if the price was right. If ti works out, then Eovoldi to the Closer roll.
You’re insane. Getting rid of him was a blessing. Has there ever been a less dependable pitcher?
Forget that mental midget.
Only prob with that is we really need a closer. I like Buchholz, but we need a closer more
Sox ARE NOT signing a closer. How many times does DD need to repeat himself?
never underestimate DD.
Maybe for cheap… he’s too injury prone and inconsistent. But damn does he have good stuff when he’s on
This reminds me of 2013. The team won an unexpected World Series in the middle of a transition period. They are trying to get under the luxury tax, cut payroll so they can invest in the young guys. The Panda, Castillo and Manny Ramirez (2 mil in deferred money yearly) makes up a fair amount of dead space. they are all off the books except Pedroia has deferred money like Manny.
Long term it is a question of which current starters are still here two to three years down the line and how do they replace them without falling into the basement.
I thought Boston was still over the luxury tax for 2019, no?
They are currently under the highest threshold which forfeits 10 draft positions etc. That’s the threshold they are trying to avoid.
The CBA has given diminishing returns on overspending. You’re going to pay more and more in taxes and have a harder and harder time drafting. The Sox are only a few million from that last threshold and I think they are foolish to think they won’t have to go over.
Thought Castillo didn’t count toward the luxury tax.
Castillo doesn’t unless he goes on a 40 man roster.
2018 wasn’t unexpected. 2013 absolutely. And yeah, they have a lot of dead weight money.
Uh oh. Something happened and the news hasn’t be released yet.
They have holes to fill and not much money to do so, been the same since they won the WS.
Not much money? There’s no salary cap in baseball and the Red Sox are one of the richest teams in the league.
TV contracts, so plenty of money to spend. I think they’re at the top or near the top and they’ve been at the top of spending.
There’s plenty of money they’re one of the richest franchise in sports.
Totally agree.
If they want and need something they will just go out and buy it.
All they are trying to do is run a trial balloon here.
Perhaps someone needs a catcher?
Why not trim a little unnecessary fat if they can?
Just because they have the bucks doesn’t mean they have to be stupid and blow money.
*cough* Phillies *cough*
Read the current CBA and you’ll understanding why that philosophy has diminishing returns. Their payroll would have to reach $300 mil plus taxes in a few years to overcompensate for not getting a single first round draft pick for years. They have to go over this year probably and I think it’s crazy to try to tread that line. But they have to drop down significantly in 2020 if they do. Which means no Betts. No Sale. No Bogaerts. Sox want to leave their options open until they figure out what’s going on with all the free agents coming up.
Trade or release Sandy and trade Holt. That is 6 million right there.
Uh, they have plenty of money. It’s a massive market and they’re the champs. They’re chosing to be cheap.
Of course. We all know this. I very much assume that Mack is meaning they have not much money left in their budget
“Cheap”? They have the highest payroll in MLB!
SMDH.
I love how these morons think because they dont want to go over the max threshold they are being cheap..these are the same people that bring up Castillo’s $..which does not count towards the luxury tax..as he is not on the 40 man…It also affects draft position..
Dombrowski is baked if he thinks the Red Sox are getting more than an old box of rocks for any of their worthless catchers.
….truer words have seldom been spoken…..maybe only one rock….
Cubs still need a reliable backup.
In truth, both Velasquez and Leon have defensive value, and Swihart obviously positional. They’ll get SOMETHING, just not much.
I don’t think sandy Leon has any value on a 2.5 MM deal. Guys like Rene Rivera are getting minor league deals and what is the difference? Maybe you find somebody to take him but it wouldn’t surprise me if they’d rather go with an option that costs half or less
Good point. Too many guys out there are Swihart/Velasquez/Leon types to get much of anything.
Vazquez**
Velazquez is a pitcher
Ask the Sox starters if Leon was important to them. Again, I’m not saying a lot will come back but you don’t need HOF players at every position. The beauty of baseball is it is a true team sport.
The Cubs have Caritini, they dont need Boston’s scrub catchers.
Pile of pebbles maybe?
You know the old saying, “when you think you have three catchers, you really have no catchers….” 😉
Somehow maybe expecting for Dombrowski to link for Tigers and bring Greene for cheap bullpen helper. Tigers don’t need catcher but need basic all else.
All 3 with negative WARs. But “dangling” them …. lol
Worthless? The team won in 18 in part because of having Leon and Vazquez behind the plate. Ask the Yankees’ starters of the value in a reliable catcher. Not saying value will be big but please don’t say worthless.
Leon and Vazquez are statistically 2 of the best defensive catchers in all of baseball. They have value, how much other teams value them is the question
How about focusing on that bullpen?
Agreed. They’ve let a lot of good and cheap veterans go off the board. And Dombrowski’s Achilles heel is providing dept to the bullpen.
Dombrowski’s never met a bullpen he didn’t destroy…….
Some Managers can’t manage a pen regardless of personnel. Case in point: Jim Leyland was terrible managing his pen and integrating youth but DD gets the blame.
The bullpen is fine. Just watch. And anyone who pays crazy money for iKmbrel will regret it for years..
The bullpen is NOT fine but I agree it would be crazy to spend big $$$ on Kimbrel
Duh..what do you think they want in return..
Too late now, but they should have shopped Bradley for bullpen help and signed Markakis.
LMAO! Best defensive outfiled in baseball, trade Bradley and bring in Markakis? And put him where? Terrible.
I love Bradley too. So I wouldn’t want to see him go. But Markakis could play left no problem with Beni in Center. But whoever they acquired for JBJ would probably end up hurt like Thornburg or Smith with DD’s luck.
I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but I want to do whatever it takes to keep Benny, JBJ and Mookie as long as possible.
There are still some decent arms available. Clippard, Warren, Sipp. And i still think Kimbrel will settle for a 1 year deal and come back. The playoffs hurt his value.
He’s not taking a one year deal. At the very least he’ll get 3
Seems like one could end up in Anaheim, if theyre willing to pay the plane ticket.
Oakland??
Been trying to trade Swihart for three years now, just set him free for heaven’s sake.
Agreed. He’s worthless. So many other players more worthy of that 25th slot. Especially when the team already has two solid catchers.
Robert Stephenson from Cincinnati to Boston for Blake Swihart. Stephenson out of options walks a lot of batters but has decent stuff if he could control better. Swihart would be bench player and 3rd catcher for the Reds
If I were the Red Sox id probably keep swihart and dump Leon. Leon really should’ve been non tendered.
Sox staff LOVES sandy. Not gonna happen
One must go. Vazquez has a guaranteed contract. Leon and swihart have only a partial guarantee but Leon is the highest paid. Red Sox are toeing around the big tax line and may want to add in July. It could very be swihart but I don’t think it’s crazy to suggest Leon.
The pitchers love Leon.
True. You have to wonder how much they’ll love him if he keeps bringing that .177 average from 2018
Who cares what he hits other than fantasy owners stupid enough to take him? 2018 was timely clutch hitting and consistent pitching. Dont you doubters think Leon and Vazquez deserve some of that credit?
Dump Leon’s salary if possible. Get Adam Warren
I’d hate to see him there but he makes a lot of sense. Love Adam Warren
Martin Maldonado.
Better than all 3 combined.
Maldonado stopped the Sox in the playoffs. Trust is so important and the Sox staff has it with the random they have. Sweihart will have to consistently bat .280 with pop to be worth more. If they keep only two catchers, he’s gone but will stay with the club until the end of spring training as injury insurance like Marrero was last year.
*tandem.
Red Sox fans need to stop obsessing about 2020 and beyond. DD and Henry will surveil the situation and react. If they lose a big money guy, they’ll sign another. They may make good moves, maybe not. But the records indicate the results will be positive.
Chill Sox fans; for 2019 you’ve got the best team in MLB. By lots. And all kinds of individual motivators (dollars) for their players to actually out-perform what they did last year. No closer? They’ll find one. Everything broke right in 2019? Complete nonsense; the catcher and CF were offensively absent, younger players suffered stalled development, bullpen was at times an arson squad.
And they still won the division.
It’s a committed ownership, relatively shrewd GM, pretty good manager. That’s a pretty good start for continued success.
I’m not saying he’s a bad executive but DD didn’t exactly leave Detroit in a place of continual success. The sox will likely be fine but it is no assured thing
As a Tiger’s fan, I truly enjoyed the ten years of contending DD and Mr I provided. It would have been great if a WS had been won, but I am appreciative of the entertainment provided.
DD built winners in FL and Boston as well as a contender in Detroit. He was hamstrung by ownerships in FL and Detroit (different situations but in both some moves were forced on him. 2019 proves a bullpen today is unpredictable. Your HOF closer loses it at the wrong time (Kimbrel), an unknown comes out of nowhere (Brazaire – sorry for the spelling) and two with talent who’ve been historically inconsistent pick the right time to show they belong on the big stage (Barnes and Kelly). Add to it big time relief appearances by some starters and your pitching helps win the WS. For all those who knock trade DD, he was the one who assembled the playoff pitching staff. He could have not brought in Kimbrel, Price or Sale, not found Brazaire) and dumped Kelly.
But Bob – the Sox were great last year with good 8th and 9th inning pitchers. They’re not there this year…
They didn’t have great 8th inning pitching if you’re referring to joe Kelly he sucked in the regular season. Barnes was a good set up man. Not elite by any means though. But taking Kimbrel off the team bumps everyone up a peg and you lost Kelly who gave you everything in the playoffs. DD ignored that bullpen in Detroit for years and that did him no favors. This one in Boston doesn’t look much better right now.
Joe Kelly did not suck the entire season. And certainly didn’t suck in the post season. He went through some long streaks of success during the season.
Kelly was streaky…but he was seriously a question mark to make the postseason roster..good thing he did.
I wish I could easily pull up my posts from last year. I was a Kelly fan but both and Barnes looked better on paper than if you actually suffered watching them pitch much of their careers. They were both consistently inconsistent until the end of 2018 when Barnes found himself. Kelly was almost off the 2018 playoff roster. Don’t forget that.
Steamer600, which assumes 450 plate appearances for each catcher, ranks Blake Swihart 203rd among all catchers in projected 2019 WAR:
fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=c&stats=ba…
Swihart, with a 2019 salary of $910,000, has posted an OPS+ of 66 in 214 plate appearances over the past two seasons.
The market might be limited.
Nope! They aren’t going to get what they want for any of the 3. They will end up trying to pass Leon thru waivers, and if it’s timed right, they may just be able to.
I’m pretty confident he’d pass through waivers. I’m not confident that the Red Sox would want to pay him 2.5 MM to sit in AAA though. Doesn’t really make any sense for them to do that.
Important omission: Swihart is out of options
King Felic for Swihart
Even if you evened those salaries out Boston might pass. That 89 mph heater just doesn’t work. Sad to see a guy like that lose it but he has
Every time DiPoto answers the phone,
“Hello, let’s make this trade. Who is this?”
Felix isn’t going anywhere and a rebuild in Seattle means no reason to put him in the bullpen where he probably should be. They’re going to trot him out there every 5 days.
Cleveland d should talk to them about an OF and one of their Cathchers cause the Indians OF and C needs help!!
Blake Swihart has the same trade value as Wally the Green Monster.
Let’s not forget that Sandy Leon had the lowest ERA caught by any catcher in the bigs last year. He dies have some trade value.
“Swihart will compete for the starting job” could be another way of saying to other teams that they think he has value. It could also Dombrowksi saying Swihart will get a lot of playing time in the spring, basically an excuse for a showcase Spring
DD needs to start plucking some low cost SP and RP right now.
The Sox open the season with Sale, Porcello, Price, Evoildi and ERod and not much else. guys like Chris Tillman and Buchholz can be signed to minor league deals.
DD already missed the most on a bunch of low cost, high upside RPs like Boxberger and Holland, among others. I hope they are waiting Kimbrel out or else they are in big trouble.
That rotation is paid to be very good and should be. They have additional depth already in Velazquez, Johnson and Wright. If they need more depth than that none of the scrap heap options are saving the season. The rotation also is expected to carry an actual rotation workload which is why they dont need to spend on a megabullpen like teams who know their rotation isnt going to carry the load. They are positioned very well to be a top level team again as is.
Make Eovaldi the closer.
You make Eovaldi the closer you might as well have signed Kimbrel. 4/64 is probably north of what he gets at this point.
They will use Eovaldi in the bullpen and as a starter.
Cora loves to do that.
Just look at what the Astros did when Cora was their bench manager.
Cora loves pitching and fielding flexibility.
And Eovaldi has proven he can play both roles.
Hinch only did that in the playoffs and that was when their bullpen completely blew up. They were really good during the regular season.
You are right on the mark with that suggestion.
I agree with you 100%
Eovaldi only goes back to that Hybrid role in the playoffs. It’s taxing on the arm, especially when you throw like him. I was fine with it in the Postseason because I wasn’t sold he was coming back. Need his arm to last for more than a year now.
X, I agree. Eovaldi will not hold up over 30 starts. Eovaldi will be closing in Boston by the All-Star Break. Kimbrel and his 5.91 playoff ERA? Good luck elsewhere.
DD is being smart. Rps are erratic from yr to yr. Of the 15 highest $$$ FA RPs in 2018 NONE had a WAR of even 1. He will stay the course and only add a RP once he sees how his in house options look and who looks good for the 2d half of 2019 and the playoffs. For SPs, Velasquez, Wright and Johnson may be better depth than anything out there. As for Det he only did what Mr I ordered.
I’m positive Illitch didn’t tell him don’t soend anything on the bullpen. That’s his own philosophy clearly. They didn’t need to play on top half of the reliever market. A bounce back candidate like Greg Holland or Ryan Madson would’ve helped. You lost Kelly and Kimbrel. That’s a tough blow to the back end.
They have bonce back candidates already on the team in Thornburg and Smith. It makes no sense for them to go after those guys who probably want more moeny than they are worth.
Im not saying Thornburg and Smith are on the same level of Holland and Madson, but they are cheaper.
Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg haven’t been good relievers in 3 years. Holland got a small guarantee and Madson figures to get even less. Going into the season with this crop of relievers looks bad. If they do expect further prospects drained from the farm come July. Because this bullpen is highly likely to fail
Holland got 3.75 million, and for what he was for St. Louis is much worse than what Thornburg was for the Sox last year when he pitched.
By no means am I saying that Dombrowski has done good by not adding a “reliable known” bullpen arm, but they already have bounce back candidates they don’t need Holland or Madson.
Well Holland was great in DC and is generally good. He missed all of ST and almost everyone who did had a bad first half. Literally everyone. Lance lynn sucked, Cobb, Holland they were all horrendous in the first half. Given his work in DC there’s a whole lot more to be optimistic about. Ryan Madson had much better peripherals than bottom line results and most importantly these guys have been very good a hell of a lot more recently. Thornburg and Smith have 2 nice ML seasons combined and that came years ago. They’re true lotto tickets where as Madson and Holland have risk but I’d say it’s likely they bounce back. Don’t be surprised if the Red Sox are trading for Holland in July. But given their luxury tax situation DD May prefer that so he doesn’t have to pay the salary all year.
Carson Smith was pitching well at the end of 2017 and was solid in 2018 when he pulled his boneheaded move. The only question with Smith is health if he’s healthy he will be one of the best relievers on the Sox. The health is a big question.
They are not gonna sign either either Holland or Madsen
it is not that hard to be a top reliever in the current Sox BP but as per normal Smith will not be ready to start the season.
WAR is a horrible way to judge relief pitchers.
I agree that WAR is flawed, but none of the top $$$ FA RPs from 2018 were good. That is why I believe the smart move is to wait. The current roster is capable of being better than what’s out there.
The Red Sox are probably going to roll with what they have would not at all be surprised if Feltman makes the team out of spring training. I’m guessing there bullpen won’t be nearly as bad as people think.
They have plenty of arms they are just missing the lock down closer. If they are to repeat in the Al they are going to have to discover one of those this year or they probably won’t win the division. The rest of the Arms will take care of themselves hopefully they will get bounce back years from Smith and Thornburg that would go a long way to solving there potential bullpen woes.
Feltman is not even coming to the main camp so I doubt he makes the team out of ST.
Feltman will also be there
With the DH and little need for pinch hitters, AL teams can afford to carry 3 catchers. Catchers get injured. Every team has to have a 3rd catcher in its system who can work with an MLB pitching staff.
Swihart, with his OF experience, would be easy to carry as a 3rd catcher.
Not a long line forming for either Leon or Swihart. Somebody should tell Dombrowski.
Carrying 3 essentially useless hitters is not smart in any league. Nunez, Holt and Pearce all take up bench spots. Plus one of your backup catchers. That doesn’t really leave space for a 3rd. With the 10 day DL it’s really not an injury concern at all. The odds of both your catchers going out in the same day is minuscule. No other team in baseball is carrying 3 for a reason. It’s not smart nor beneficial.
IHaving the DH doesn’t really do anything for making 3 catchers useful. Especially on a team like Boston which platoons at 1B and 3B.
It was a good option until they filled the bench with Nunez, Holt and Pearce. It worked well in 2018, gave them more flexibility to ph and pr for a catcher but doesnt work well in the playoffs.
Those 3 catchers didn’t get on base all that much to worry about It. They just didn’t wanna lose any of them but it’s necessary to purge one.
And based on last years results of not getting on base, that means more times you’d want to pinch hit. Teams with only 1 catcher hesitate bc they become an injury away from the emergency plan in gear.
Who cares, it’s Boston.
They’re only the defending champions. And in a slow offseason, when comments are made / stories written about possible transactions you make a post about it. And going on the fact that over 100 comments have been made to this story, it at least goes to show that some people care.
Or would you rather them focus on how the Indians need a ton of help, but they were more focused on trading one of the best pitcher’s contract in baseball because they find it hard to substain a quality team for more then a couple of years. Because those posts have been there quite a bit this off season already.
I think it’s humorous that a hot news story is Boston potentially looking to move a 3rd string catcher.
Maybe tomorrow we’ll hear about a potential new bat boy?
Or another drug rehabbing reliever
By rotation depth do they mean for their batting practice rotation?
sox…like the Yankees and dodgers , have plenty of money. MLB has A cap…its called taxes after over spending. read dummies
Swihart for Mayers from STL makes sense for both sides.
Both out of options players who could crack the 25 man on the opposite roster.
Especially since the Cards now only carry one catcher (Yadier Molina) on the 40 man roster.
Though, maybe the Cards would prefer “Mini Yadi” which is Vazquez nickname for being a strong fan of Molina.
Swihart is out of options and is not a C. He has no value. He is the odd man out. Waiver material.
Hard to say where my Red Sox are going this season. Rumors of trading Porcello and Xander to shed payroll early this winter and a rather quiet off-season. I actually considered them to be one of the “mystery teams” in the Machado sweepstakes but that was a whiff.
It seems as if this team has the Yankees’ number – lots of guys who hit well against the Yanks. And this is coming from a Yankee fan.
it’s hard to take you serious when you start off with my red sox, and then say this is coming from a Yankee fan.
FanGraphs Depth Charts projects the 3 Red Sox combine catchers to provide 1.6 WAR. ONLY 2 teams catchers provide less value the Marlins @ 1.4 and Rangers @ 0.9
Cashner and a couple mil for Swihart. O’s can afford for Swihart to learn how to catch at MLB level, Cashner is rotation insurance and can help in bullpen for Sox.
No thanks. Would rather get a low level minor leaguer that doesn’t take a 40 man spot than Cashner.
not a bad idea if the O’s eat most of Cashner’s salary
Catching is their biggest glaring weakest on that roster. U want to shop bad baseball players? Better not expect much in return, which I’m sure they aren’t. Marlins need guys, I’m sure they would be open to taking Swihart lol!
Catching isnt a problem, they just didnt hit last year. Leon has enough of a track record to say he isnt going to hit but pitchers love working with him. Vazquez is very sound defensovely and didnt hit the first half of the year but hit .270 plus in 2017. I think he’ll bounce back. Swihart has the most offensive potential if they give him regular ABs but jumping all around the field impacts defense. All in all they won the WS with the 3 and can easily win again with whatever 2 they land on.
What planet did this rumor come from? Boston is going to get MLB starting depth for one of their trio of 2nd and 3rd rate catchers…yeah…okay!!
Agree?
Guess it was a slow day for reporters and they had to write about something?
I’m not sure if I’ll be able so sleep now worrying about the Red Sox 3rd string catching situation?
I mean the Swihart being out of options situation really sucks … LOL
And Vazquez and Leon can’t hit and can only field?
What a problem!
And with all 3 catchers the Red Sox are spending a whopping $6M on the catching position! That’s outrageous …. LOL
I mean for crying out loud even the great Buster Posey only gets $21M?
Why didn’t they trade Swihart for Realmuto?
Were these guys asleep! LOL
And the Red Sox have to stay under the $246M payroll or the sky will fall!
Their draft pick order may fall 10 places!
Wow! what a calamity? OMG! LOL
I don’t even think they’ll be in it if they get this decision wrong, do you? LOL
Guess it was a slow day for me too and I had to write about something? LOL
Sorry
Everyone is knocking the Sox catchers but they won in 18 with them and in 13 with Salty and Ross. Doesn’t Leon remind you of Ross? A lousy hitter but a catcher the pitchers love behind the plate. Leon is Ross 2.0 with a better arm.
To many words with not enough Brains,
Too few words with not enough Brains
Why does it matter if Sox draft pick spot falls 10 spots? They already have one of the worst farm systems in all of MLB.
They want trade chips to deal at the trade deadline.
From what the experts say!
Their farm system sucks and they will have low draft picks.
So yes, why does it matter about a draft pick in 2019?
You’re right.
Just go over the $246M payroll number for 1 year in 2019
Pick up Kimbrel 4/$70M and have a contender for years to come.
Their total payroll becomes much more manageable after 2019.
They can resign Sale, Betts, Bogarts, even Porcello, etc.
How would you like to be a Marlins fan and lose Stanton, Yellich, Ozuna and Realmuto?
Proof that drafting well and player development doesn’t always bring you a championship or even a playoff berth.
When you sell the team to a non competive owner you have to scalp the payroll down to an AAA or even an AA team.
The farm is rated low because they graduated Vazquez, Swihart, Bogaerts, Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Betts, Johnson, Vealazquez, Barnes to their current MLB roster. Then traded Moncada, Kopech, Espinoza, Margot to add arms they lacked. That resultedin the 2018 championship which is the goal. When you win your division 3 years in a row you arent getting top picks to replenish it quickly.
not a bad idea if the O’s eat most of Cashner’s salary