The Red Sox and infielder Marco Hernandez are in agreement on a new contract, Robert Murray reports (via Twitter). Boston non-tendered the 27-year-old yesterday.
Presumably, the two sides have struck up a minor league pact and an invite to Spring Training, as Hernandez was only projected to earn $700K in arbitration prior to being non-tendered — just $136K north of the league minimum. Hernandez has been up and down with the Red Sox over the past few seasons, seeing time at second base, third base and shortstop but struggling to produce much at the plate. In 271 plate appearances at the MLB level, Hernandez is a .265/.300/.342 hitter — including a .250/.279/.338 this past season in a career-high 155 plate appearances.
I’m happy for Marco, he played well when he played. I’m so gll ok ad they worked it out.
Guess that means no Brockstar
Omg I want the Brockstar more than anything, I hope they sign him, he should be the reg second baseman.
Sadly I think Brock Star is gone
Brock Holt cannot and never could handle a regular everyday job. He’s a bench player and a very valuable one who can play seven different positions. We love him for that but don’t hand him a everyday spot at 1 position. That’s not his thing and he would fail.
Defensively he’s light years ahead. The numbers say he should be good to go every other day (averaged about 4.5 innings per game in 2019) but he’s just not the guy you want to depend on. Hoping Brock succeeds elsewhere but I can’t imagine the Sox overpaying for a role player given Henry’s sudden frugality.
I don’t think frugality is the proper word here.
208m is still easily a top 5 payroll for 2020.
I think sustainability is a better one.
Until the team actually makes a bold or some might consider a stupid move, there is time for a strategy change. Think about it, 2021 might be a better year to try to get under the tax threshold as the team could lose Betts, JDM and JBJ. $60m right there. Suppose their pitching staff suddenly stays healthy. Each would then have less time on their contracts left, making each more tradable. I read this elsewhere and to a degree it makes some sense. As to Marco and Holt, the amount of the Hernandez contract is so minimal that it does nothing but give the team insurance depth by signing Marco as they did.
They won’t want Holt if Marco and Lin are still with the team. Unfortunate.
Glad they worked out a deal — I was kind of disappointed earlier when I read they had non-tendered him. But I guess this makes sense now — though I would’ve thought he could get a ML deal from them or someone else — I also feel like he’s got a pretty good shot at cracking the opening day roster as their Utility guy though so maybe it’s just a case of roster maneuvering for now — though someone could technically take him in the Rule 5-Draft now right?
That’s correct! Wouldn’t be unprecedented
Good point about Rule V. Would be a good option for a small payroll team
My sense here is that is another team really wanted him they would’ve claimed him – not held out for the draft over 100k +/-.
From a red sox perspective, if they were ambivalent about him, rather than let him go for free at least they pick up a small chunk of coin with the potential of regaining his rights cheap by doing what they did anyways. Win/win
He is nothing if not a cheap depth option. His coming back, especially on a minor league deal won’t stop them from resigning Holt or anyone else.
Meh. The FO likes him, and $700k is barely league minimum, but his 42/3 K/W is incredibly bad. I’m trying to figure out what Marco supplies that Lin doesn’t.
Before his injuries, Marco was thought of as the team’s best infield prospect. Good glove and speed. Lin’s strength is his versatility and he could make the team in Holt is not re-signed. The more I think about it, I’m thinking unless surprisingly good offers are made, the team might change plans and go for it once more and allow Bloom time to make moves and not just knee jerk reactions to forcibly get under the threshold. If NESN ratings go in the toilet, the revenue lost will be far more than the tax payment and value of a lower draft pick. Their ownership in NESN can’t be understated. Part of the reason for the splurge with Hanley and Panda was to regain interest after ratings went down big time with last place 2014 and 2015 finishes.