The Red Sox are “actively” attempting to trade center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets. The Mets had been among the teams in on Bradley, per Abraham, but they addressed their need in center field last week with the addition of Jake Marisnick from the Astros. Bradley’s a fine player who has generally performed well with the Red Sox, but moving him (and his projected $11MM salary for 2020, his last year of team control) would help the team shave payroll in an effort to get under the $208MM luxury tax next season. Newly minted chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Monday that it remains a goal for the franchise to spend below the threshold in 2020, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.
More from Boston…
- Like Bradley, fellow Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts is going into his final season of arbitration control. Betts, who’s projected to make a whopping $27.7MM in 2020, has made it known in the past that he intends to test free agency next winter. However, that hasn’t stopped the Red Sox from being in touch with Betts “multiple” times in regards to a long-term contract, according to Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe. This is setting up as a fascinating offseason for the 27-year-old Betts, a one-time AL MVP who looks like an extension candidate and perhaps a trade candidate.
- Right-hander Rick Porcello and utility player Brock Holt are among the Red Sox’s most prominent free agents. Even though a report Sunday suggested the Red Sox are at least interested in a reunion with Porcello, Abraham downplays the possibility he or Holt will be back with the club next season. The Red Sox have simply kept tabs on Porcello and Holt, and they’re not “actively involved with” those two or any of their other free agents.
- The Red Sox announced extensions for key front office personnel Raquel Ferreira, Eddie Romero and Zack Scott on Monday. Each received multiyear deals, and they’ll all hold the title of Executive Vice President/Assistant General Manager. Those duties will come with “expanded responsibilities within the baseball operations department,” per the team. Those three, along with now-GM Brian O’Halloran, helped steer the ship in Boston between the end of president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski’s run in early September and the hiring of Bloom just under two months later.
I am so upset I want the Brockstar n Porcello back
Holt peaked last year likely will
Never repeat it and too expensive. Porcello can easily be replaced for less.
Who else can be penciled in for his innings for less? Wade Miley?
God forbid. I’ll believe there’s truth to their cost cutting in 2020 when I see it. NESN needs a good start as lousy ratings will cost more than the tax they’ll pay. Don’t kid yourself, as popular as the team is, past years have shown the team is not immune to poor ratings when the product is not up to snuff. They could keep the team as is or even add short term deals with Porcello and Holt and if the team bombs, sell everyone at the deadline to get financial relief. Betts and JDM are movable then if the team’s primary concern in July is payroll. If the pitching somehow stays healthy, the team should be competitive for the playoffs but if things happen where the team is not in position despite rebound years from their starters, those starters will be very in demand even at their cost.
You are assuming that the SPs will be healthy in July. Time will tell…
Wrong all the way around Dewey.
NOBODY will even whisper Price or $ale. Those are dumb contracts and unless the Sox package it will young affordable talent (which they don’t have in the empty farm) there are NO takers.
You may want to find another sales job as NESN’s viewership and commercial prices will plummet hand in hand.
Why!?!? Holt I can understand he’s been a very solid and versatile piece for the Sox for some time now but WHY would you be upset to have Porcello leave? He was terrible last year – and outside of his Cy young season he’s just been okay for the rest of his Boston tenure. He’s a solid P (or at least he was) but he’s certainly not someone to be “upset” over losing. As for Holt I think he’s going to Wind up costing more than he’s really worth for a team looking to shed payroll to get/try to get below the luxury tax line. I also think for his sake – going somewhere that he can be an everyday (or closer to it) player could be a great opportunity for him and as far as what he brings to the table for the Red Sox — I just think the $ can be better spent elsewhere!
Jackie’s face in the article looks like he knows he’s done in Boston.
Everyone knows he’s done in Boston.
This Bradley to the Mets talk won’t go away. Seems it’s 2 teams that are looking to cut payroll.
OK……
Sox need a 2B.
Mets take Bradley, Sox take Cano. Work out some money.
Nobody wants Cano and that contract, not even a competing team.
No thank you Samuel. More likely Sox receive Marisniak and one or two decent prospects (nothing special).
Read the second sentence again, slowly. The Mets are out on JBJ.
Who says Marisniak wasn’t gotten to flip to Boston for JBJ? Players are similar but JBJ is just a little better all around. Add in while he doesn’t consistently produce, he has shined big time when it counts.
Lowrie would make more sense money wise.
That would truly be a Christmas Miracle!!! -every mets fan, ever
Why did they tender JBJ a contract in the 1st place? Can’t see a team offering anything decent and taking that salary.
Better to get something than nothing.
Bingo…maybe they get a couple of prospects and have to eat a lot of his salary. It is a expensive way of building up the farm.
I think they are either planning on moving him for very minimal low prospects (which is better than cutting him loose) or eating some of his salary for better prospects (basically buying somewhat decent prospects for cash). Either that or they will try and split the middle and let a team negotiate an extension with him before the trade and enhance the prospects that way. They could also keep him until the trade deadline and have the possibility of cornering the market and maximizing returns on the trade. Players frequently have their best seasons during contract years due to financial incentives. Who knows. $11 million is a lot to pay a guy that couldn’t even hit .230 last year, especially when he doesn’t come with 30 home run power. He was a top prospect at one point and still does have some value. Maybe they are waiting to see if he puts on a show in the first half?
It’s called research. If it shows there’s interest in the player at that dollar amount, then they can get a young guy for him in trade.
If they found his value was way below that Arb number they would have let him go. Due diligence.
It’s a non guaranteed contract so there is no risk involved.
That’s not entirely true — they would be on the hook for some $ even if they were to release him before the season starts. But that’s a moot point because they will retain him either via arb or a 1-year arb avoiding deal then most likely trade him either after than or before the arbitration process begins.
Sox to rest of the league…”Please pay a premium in prospects for our least desirable player as well as take his salary off our hands”
Yet, oddly enough, JBJ will get something back in return.
That’s not really fair to say bout JBJ, he’s streaky, no who won the MVP of the ACLS?
dyslexia?
Or maybe he was the MVP of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support?
DAM. Mothers Against Dyslexia.
🙂
Haha!
Had the strongest knee ligaments in all the league
It seems like they have been trying to trade JBJ since the day after he made his debut i hope they do just so they can stop mentioning it. Holt is the president of the players jimmy fund here in boston he always at hospitals visiting sick kids and handing out bats and gloves, i hope he stays just for that if nothing else. The city LOVES him. I do however see them making a big trade/splash that would involve David price, JBJ, and Andrew benintendi and eovaldi , together as a package and dump salary. Imagine knowing all 4 are available? I dont see betts going anywhere, after trout he is truly the best player in baseball whos not a pitcher, trading him now atleast makes no sense, it would be like if they traded Ortiz, never ever ever ever would happen. But in the package i mentioned if thats mentioned to the right team with prospects and i mean GOOD prospects, not 1 guy that might be good in 2023, then dont be shocked if it happens to a team that has the needs and fit for boston, San diego, the rangers, the dodgers? If they can guarantee boston atleast a starting pitcher a backup catcher and good to great bullpen arms… deal could be done.
Unfortunately, sentiment led the Sox to re-sign Pearce…how’d that work out, and Eovaldi based on their World Series run….it is the new GM’s mission to work without sentiment and no matter now much the city LOVES Brock Holt, his abilities and contributions can be matched by many ballplayers who most likely would make decidedly less than it will take to sign him while contributing the same or more..
As far as salary dump involving the players you mention, I don’t think the Sox will find another sucker like the Dodgers did in the past to help them out in the future.
Rocky, the Dodgers weren’t suckers. New ownership needed to make a splash and the price of bringing AGon back to Southern California was taking on the others. The Mets are in a similar situation with potentially a new owner coming in. Should he approve big commitments, can’t you see David Price being added to Bettintendi? In that stadium and in the NL, Price becomes their number 2.
If you want a deal….BOS can do a 1:1 with NYM for Cano.
Price: 3/$96m
Cano 4/$80m (with $20m being paid by SEA, otherwise $100m)
Price’s velocity drop is a ticking timebomb….but so is Robbie Cano. Both contracts are albatrosses, though Price likely has more “value” left currently, though his drop in stats and arm troubles are a huge red flag.. Cano’s performance for 90% of last season is a huge red flag too….lol.
It would be fun to see the BoSox do a massive dump on LA again. JBJ, Benny, Eovaldi, and Price for Joc and Kenley. Who says no?
The Dodgers.
that’s actually not true — in fact they essentially refused to trade him in the past. The Dodgers at one point offered Yasiel Puig for JBJ straight up and the Sox turned them down (this was a couple years ago when Puig was still performing at an above average offensive pace) — in hindsight that would’ve been a really interesting trade to have seen happen and what it would have meant for both LAD and Boston had the Sox accepted the offer
It was because Puig was then a head case (then?) and fitting in was unknown as well as Puig had one less year of control. Turned out to be the right move. JBJ was the ALCS MVP and the team won it all in 18. It’s unknown if they win in 18 with Puig in right and Mookie in center and doubtful he would have made a difference in other seasons.
Also chaim bloom has NO connection to anyone on the red sox, so he wont be ‘personally involved’ to him its getting rid of contracts to get good players back to a awful farm system.
There’s always a chance that Papi will buy the Angels and trade them Trout for JBJ.
I’d actually push Papi for the HOF if he did that. Others know while I love what he did in 2013, I feel he cheated the sport and has no business getting enshrined. By the way, did anyone notice he and Manny were just “elected” into the team’s HOF. Makes sense they go in together. Feel bad for Rich Gedman who also got the nod. Months ago I posted negative thoughts on Gedman. Having researched him online since, I realize others were right. My resentments of that Stanley pitch (wild pitch or past ball?) in the 86 series blinded me. I’m finally over it…
30+ years hind sight for you Dewey, but I always thought Johnny Mac should have put in Sammy Stewart instead of Stanley, who was terrible and about finished from ’86 on anyway.
Stewart was relegated it seemed to garbage time by Mac 2nd half of the season by some wildness episodes, even tho his entire career had been solid before as a solid reliever. nobody said Mac was any smarter than previously non intelligent manager from the 70’s manager.. Don Zimmer and he wasn’t.. mac held grudges and kept to them.
Stewart was one of those prankster/jovial type players some didn’t care for. How much it cost him getting into that crucial game when he may have helped?
I’ve always been a Geddy fan, knew the man from Winter Haven and can’t see him as the lazy type.
Thanks John. I recall your comments the last time which is why I searched for stuff in Geddy to learn more. I think it was a pitch mixup that caused it. I had no issue then with Steamer and always felt the way his ball moved and the situation, Geddy should have been ready. I don’t recall Stewart’s non-use other than he was at the end of the bullpen in terms of use. Your comment reminds me of 75 with Reggie Cleveland. That team had four guys who were “unique”. The others were Wise, Lee and Carbo. When the team declined afterwards, they were considered non gratis and one by one were dealt. Lee was the last to go.
Just re-read my post. Stewart I think was the tenth pitcher on a ten man staff. That’s what I meant.
Tendering him was strange, but the Sox are one of the more PR-oriented teams around. Just not-tendering JBJ wouldn’t have gone well with the faithful. It’s one of the adjustments Bloom will have to make.
That said, it made little baseball sense. But they still have the option of signing him and then releasing him in the spring; that might play better with the Nation.
Why was tendering him strange? The team (and rest of the league basically) think he’s a positive value asset even at $11M and given how incredibly thin the market for CF options is this off-season the Sox should be able to find a taker for Bradley even if the return is only a mid-level prospect or two — it’s still the right move to have tendered him a contract as opposed to just letting him walk for nothing.
JBJ, Eovaldi, Price + 58M for Odubel Herrera and Jay Bruce
Ight Imma head out
I think you all are sacked!
Wouldn’t mind if the Braves offered a 1 year deal to H. Be nice to have a super utility man who could spell Freeman, provide some 3rd base help, as well as play both corner outfield spots
JBJ for Cozart? Some other small pieces involved, but Cozart can play all infield spots, JBJ can be the 4th outfielder for the Halos. Salaries are somewhat close. Probably not a great proposal but just throwing it out there.
If that’s the best proposal, then the Red Soxs have two options hold until the deadline or simply cut JBJ and save ~9 M of the potential arb cost. Cozart is a dunk cost, and the abundance of 2B for a fraction of the cost makes this just a non starter.
The Sox want to trade JBJ merely to save money, so they won’t do it to take on a similar salary.
If by “addressing their need in CF” the writer means “handwaved at the problem by signing a 5th OFer with a dismal OBP,” then, sure.
Trading minor league talent, however modest, to get backups, and doing it year after year is a lousy way to build a ballclub.
JBJ knows a guy who can really do the coooooool jeeeeeeeerk
Necessary unfortunately, thanks to premature contract extensions and…David Price. Sucks though, love JBJ but $11M…ehh. And Mookie…later, I’ll drive him wherever he’s going myself.
I think the idea that somehow if you bundle up enough expensive contracts that some other team will happily eat them and send you back top-tier prospects is somewhat questionable. David Price is going to be 34 next year, had 1.8WAR last year, and has $96M coming to him. That contract is underwater. Put him together with Bradley, who is fully priced, and there’s still negative value. Red Sox are going to need to be creative. Even trading Betts is problematic–would you pay almost $28M for a terrific player and give up serious talent when you knew the best you would get back from Betts is a QO pick?
Price + Benni to the other Sox for a couple mediocre prospects. White Sox eat all of Price’s salary.
Not happening!
Probably not, but they’re going to need to get real creative if they really want to get rid of Price’s contract (which probably won’t happen).
Ohh I love throwing out crazy trade ideas… JBJ, Price, Bryan Mata, Jarren Duran and Tanner Houck for Belt, Chris Shaw Abiatal Avelino?
I see this as being different than the dodgers deal only because of that group, the only talented player was Adrian Gonzalez, the other 3 were just.. parts, beckett was done, nick punto was.. nick punto and carl Crawford wasn’t even still considered an active player in his mind anymore. From who they have now, they are head and shoulders more talented, A team will look at those names and see the upside, bostons not a team that will be financially strapped for years and not able to get better, they will get the contracts unloaded, I would mention more NL teams but i simply dont know them as far as what they could offer in return but i know the braves are making deal after deal and are a very good team already, so who knows
The Angels and Red Sox should be discussing a move with Price and JD Martinez for Pujols to swap contracts! It’s a good trade for both teams. The Red Sox dump Price to the Angels where he reunites with Maddon and they get Martinez to replace Pujols as the DH. Meanwhile Pujols goes to the Red Sox to finish his career as the DH to play with their young guys to possibly resigning Betts. That’s just a thought that can help both teams this year.
It’s a great trade if your an Angel fan.
1 thing i will mention about david price money aside, he HATES hit here, he hates the media and acts pissy after games and just has had his fill of the city and the team, hes miserable which i truly think is just how he is, he does NOT want to be here, period. So if anything they will trade him, most likely to a less ‘pressure’ type of atmosphere, not that im saying he will go to a bad team, he just wont go to like the Yankees, he cant be anywhere where hes expected to much of himself at his age and stage of his career, thats why i mentioned the braves, yes they want to win, but if they dont, he will be ok and not feel like he let down an entire city
the red sox wont want Pujols , an aging veteran that hasn’t been anywhere close to himself in years, makes no sense what so ever for boston
Pujols as a full time DH for the Red Sox would be benefit his career, especially playing in Fenway Park.
You’re not listening. It doesn’t matter if it would benefit his career (which is debatable), Boston DOESN’T WANT HIM.
Sorry you Red Sox fans want to dump Price so bad so the best scenario for them is give him away to a team that need a pitcher like the Angels for a guy who can be a full time DH while throwing JD Martinez in the mix. Pujols’ contract is for only two more years compared to the three years left on Price’s contract. Then again, you guys don’t have to worry about Martinez’s contract since you guys were hoping he opted out.
the perfect fit for us at 1B is Justin smoak, good player who hits and is affordable, not a star, not expensive. 100% makes sense and hes a FA
Better off resigning Moreland.
Chaim Bloom is showing why the Mets passed on him for GM in favor of Brodie Van Wagenen. How stupid can you be to tender JBJ a contract when it was abundantly clear NO ONE was interested in him at that price point. Bloom is clearly in over his head and he will quickly learn this when nobody trades for JBJ.
True if you believe the rumors.
Thought you’d been around enough to know that 90% of these rumors have no basis in fact. Zero. Nada. Zip.
They’re planted by agents, FO people, and made up by writers. Always have been. It gets more outlandish every year.
Good point, reporters love to spread gossip, haha. It was still puzzling to see the Red Sox tender JBJ a contract. He’s a decent player but not worth an $11 million AAV.
The Mets would hand-deliver Brodie to BOS if they could get Bloom straight up. Brodie was a horrible decision and Bloom has the potential to be a long-term GM in the league.
Price and JBJ + $ to the Jays for Trent Thornton, Reese McGuire, and Richard Urena. Toronto loves Price, price hates Boston, JBJ fits CF. Thornton is a future # 2, McGuire is a starting catcher and early 20’s. Urena fits 2nd base
The Jays are rebuilding. They’re supposed to deep six that to finish in 4th place in the AL East by 7 games instead of 3?
They have lots of young itching.. Price would be the perfect mentor
So typical of the Mets. This is their MO. They go out and get a cheap option who hit .230 and then say, “oh we got our guy.” They’ve been doing this for years. Cohen can’t come soon enough,
Don’t act like jbj is worth it. There’s a reason they’re looking to dump him
Hes been the red sox GM for 5 weeks.. give him some time, it wont be easy to cut payroll and sign scrapheap guys while staying good, but thats EXACTLY what he did in tampa with no payroll, and john henry has a few bucks more than whoever owns the rays, so i see him doing alot and moves that matter, not signing a 200+ million anybody.
I would love it if the Yanks could get him via another team. I don’t mind his bat being a little weak. He plays great defense for the most part. He’s a lefty with some pop. And he walks around 9% of the time. He would be great in CF until Hicks gets back. Move Gardner to LF and if Frazier has a good spring and is offered the LF spot it can move Gardner to a #4 OF slot.
Speaking of wild trades, How about JBJ for Happ and a mid-range prospect, then even out the money? IF Yanks were to pursue him for CF….. I agree, with their bats they could really use his CF defense, especially with Hicks hurt.
And Happ will probably out pitch Price…. lol
Yankees would have to send $6 -$8m in that deal. I don’t think anyone takes Happ without big money and as a lefty, I don’t think his stuff at this point in his career will be consistently good in Boston. Interesting to think of. There was a recent column somewhere about past trades between the teams and a big one was forgotten. In spring training 1986, the teams flipped DHs, Baylor for Easter and Baylor was so important that year. Many forget though that Easler was the original “hitman” before Mattingly.
How did the last CF Yankees got from Boston end up?
One for two in recent years. Damon was fine but Boston management was right in both cases. They let Damon go after 05 who was ultimately replaced by Els who then was replaced by JBJ.
I’m a Reds fan but the Red Sox are definitely a team I like to watch in the AL… I’ve been thinking a good trade for the Reds & Red Sox would be Price & cash for Trevor Bauer & a low level prospect. Obviously no ones going to take on Price’s full salary because although he’s still effective he’s no longer a true Ace or worth close to his full salary.
The Red Sox are only a year removed from the World Series & still have an extremely talented roster so if they trade Price to cut salary they’re still going to need a suitable replacement in the rotation.
Here’s my thought: Price is owed about 96 million over the next 3 years (32 million a year). Bauer will be due an estimated 19 million for just this year. If the Red Sox were willing to throw in about 39 million of the 96 million back to Reds they should be able to arrange it to still get under the salary cap & keep their assets. They would also be able to fill a void in the rotation with someone whose already had success in the AL.
Why it works for the Sox:
– Luxury tax relief
– Suitable rotation replacement
– Frees up tons of money in 2020
– Enables them to keep their best players ( Mookie Betts)
– Potential qualifying offer return after the season
Why it works for the Reds:
– Basically get 3 years of quality rotation help instead of just 1, which after cash back return, breaks down to about the same yearly cost (19 million per year)
– Adds lefty to rotation
– Reunites price with his college coach, (Derrick Johnson), who also happens to be one of the best pitching coaches in the league for reclamation
– Solidifies the Reds top 3 spots in rotation for the next 3 years (Castillo, Gray, Price)
Anyways just a thought
That’s a well-thought-out proposal. I like it
Like the concept but I think $13m per is too much. At $19m AAV, they might be able to do better than one year of Bauer who seems to be injured more than a Price. I’m not sure if that’s true but it’s what I see. At that kind of money, the Mets might be willing to pull the trigger on Thor who has #1 potential but hasn’t put it together in a pitcher’s park. They also might laugh at the idea but I still think there’s a better trade if that much money is considered. From the Reds’ position, I also question how Price does in that bandbox.
That is actually a pretty good deal for both teams. The money savings is obvious, but BOS also gets a shot at Bauer and may be able to extend him for cheaper AAV if it’s a good fit. Bauer is kind of an odd duck, so no idea how he’d do in BOS or if he’d consider an extension v. FA.
Cano for Price
I really hope they DO NOT bring back Porcello. Not only was he horrible last year – he’s in line to get a contract WAY higher than he’s actually worth (again). To be honest with how poorly he pitched last season I really thought he’d be looking at a 1-year $2-$5M “show-me” contract but from what rumors have been out there it sounds like he’s actually going to get a pretty solid payday (This site predicted 1/$11M – and recently has said that rumors have it that he may actually be in line for a multi-year contract) I understand he’s been durable and yes I’ll admit he’s certainly better than his numbers showed last season. But with the Red Sox doing all they can to shed payroll and their bigger need in the bullpen I just really hope they don’t do something stupid and bring back Porcello for decent $ just to have him be mediocre (at best) again next year. As for Holt — I think he’s played/priced his way out of Boston — I still think he’s a VERY good Utility guy but with Marco Hernandez on hand along with a few other – cheaper – options in AAA I just think the $ could be better spent elsewhere like on the bullpen or bringing in a guy like Travis Shaw who obviously has more upside than Holt even if he does come with a lot more risk/uncertainty than Holt. I just think Holt is (deservingly) going to make $5M+ a year on his new deal and I think the luxury-tax strapped Sox have more pressing needs for the $ than to bring back a solid, but nothing too amazing, utility guy.
Jeff, at here will always be teams needing a consistent innings eater. I was thinking $5m base + incentives that push it to $8m. $11m for multiple years seems expensive but who knows what if anything has really been offered?
After the 2018 World Series, the Sox should have done everything in their power to keep the Benintendi-Bradley-Betts outfield intact for the long-term. Signings to Eovaldi and Pearce, and the massive extension to Sale (reminded me of the one to Beckett in 2010) depleted the Sox finances. That outfield is comprised of solid talents who are fun to watch together and should’ve been the cornerstone of the Red Sox for years to come.