The Red Sox are showing “a strong interest” in free agent Enrique Hernandez, as per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (Twitter link). Boston is the second team to be publicly linked to Hernandez this winter, as the Twins were reported to be looking at the utilityman earlier this month.
The 29-year-old has been a key member of the Dodgers’ roster over the last six seasons, hitting .240/.312/.425 over 1874 plate appearances and playing almost every position on the diamond except for catcher. Between his six years in L.A. and his 2014 rookie season with the Marlins and Astros, Hernandez’s 648 Major League games include 200 appearances as a second baseman, 179 in center field, 127 in left field, 82 as a shortstop, and 75 games in right field, while also getting in some work as both corner infield spots.
This extreme versatility would make Hernandez valuable to pretty much any team, though in Boston’s case, it seems like second base could be his primary position. The Red Sox have former top prospect Michael Chavis, Yairo Munoz and Christian Arroyo all as candidates for work at the keystone, and Munoz shares some of Hernandez’s super-utility status. Perhaps more interestingly, the Sox have also been looking into Marcus Semien as a potential candidate to take over at second base, so it seems like Boston is exploring both players to assume the position on an everyday basis, or players like Hernandez who could be part of a timeshare.
A traditional second base platoon isn’t really a fit since Hernandez, Chavis, Arroyo, and Munoz are all right-handed hitters. As such, Hernandez could perhaps get work in the outfield when a southpaw is on the mound, as both Andrew Benintendi and Alex Verdugo swing from the left side of the plate. Hernandez has a career .263/.345/.474 slash line against left-handed pitching, though his offensive production against both lefties and righties was down in 2020.
Be a great addition. Solid player
loved Kike as a Dodger and the guy has a great glove w a way of showing up in big abs. just never could show up consistently enough against RH pitching. w a game that’s just come down to all numbers all the time doubt he’s truly going to start for most teams but definitely going to get more years and dollars elsewhere. good luck to him wherever his lands.
So, basically after letting fan and community favorite brock holt walk at age 31 and letting the abomination that was 2020 roll along, bloom recognized the value of a guy who plays any position.
Now he wants hernandez going into age 30 season, except hitting for lower average but with some exta pop in the bat.
Before we hear batting average isn’t everything, Enrique has a significantly lower obp than brock did when he was let go if we compare a previous 4-5 yrs of player results.
Maybe bloom is learning a little on the job, too bad he is wasting competitive seasons of core players to do it.
Oh yeah, future Hall of Famer Brock Holt. Check out his 2020 season. One of the secrets to being a successful bb executive is knowing when to dump an ageing ball player well past his prime. Case in point,. Brock Holt. Fan sentiment doesn’t get people on base.
Love the Brockstar, but I predict that Refsnyder will get in the HoF first.
Steve Holt!
The only fans that want Brock are young females, and not because of what he can do on the field.
You sure about that bro? Sounds like you have the inside information
Wrong. 95 2020 at bats don’t mean. dann thing. Brock and JBJ were leaders by example. JBJ quietly and Holt with emotion showing the fun he was having. Off the field is where they both shined however, showing what role model athletes should really be.
Didn’t Brock get cut during the 2020 season by what ever team thought they got a steal when they first added him? If the Sox want Brock, they can just pick up a phone cause no one else wants him.
look, i see the appeal, but you Sox fans have to get over Holt at some point. its maddening to read these posts acting like you just were the Pirates making the Archer trade or something.
And ironically or not, the Pirates gave Brock Holt to the Red Sox in the Mark Melancon trade.
There was literally no reason not to keep him for 2020. The team was crap anyway, and the team desperately needed a boost of fan and clubhouse morale. It was a pretty shrewd, unnecessary and stupid move to just ignore all of that and let him walk.
I had no problem with letting Brock go last offseason as I knew it wouldn’t be a competitive team, but I had a big problem with replacing him with a far inferior player like Peraza at nearly $3M. It was a horrific start to Bloom’s Red Sox career.
Peraza is younger and therefore provided some potential for being a longer term piece
Swihart was younger too, how did that work out? I’ll keep saying it, we shouldn’t focus on just numbers.
Until the pitching collapsed, the Sox were trying to thread that needle still trying to compete while getting under the tax threshold. Holt offers more in 2021 to me than Hernandez especially if as I think will happen, AB gets traded.
Other than the Workman/Hembree trade { because they pitched terribly in Philly} and Kevin Pillar signing name me one other decent thing Bloom has done other than save John Henry $$$
Please stop trolling Randy. 2020 was simply to clear out payroll to restart. Given the economics, only Morton has signed for 21. The depth he brought in can be allowed to mature or can be flipped for pitching. Evaluate him after 22.
That was my main complaint with Blooms letting Holt go. He replaced him with a far inferior player for about the same $.
As unfortunate as Pereza was, he was both better and cheaper than Holt last year.
And he presumably had a higher ceiling, since he was younger. Holt was a better cultural fit, though.
The Moreland trade brought in prospects with upside. The Betts trade for what it’s worth, Verdugo had 2 war points below Betts and the guy wants to be here. The prize was Downs but Verdugo is a stud and already a fan favorite. Dombrowski screwed up not trading Betts the deadline before. Chaim hasn’t given any knee jerk contracts like dombrowski with sale and eovaldi. It’s been a year + covid dude. Give the guy time lol. It’s like sox fans forgot what life was like prior to 04.
How can you say DD screwed up? what was offered for Betts then and did the team really believe then that resigning him was not going to happen?
Is it maddening?
Indeed, and according to “soxsam32,” not keeping Holt was both shrewd and stupid.
Sometimes it seems that there is a subset of sports fans who(along with a corss section of the population) are showing signs of devolution.
*cross-section*
Sox fans don’t get over much, case and point, they riot when the team wins championships. Rest of the nation only does that when the police mess up. Your wife walks into the room sees riots on the tv and says “did the police kill someone again” you laugh and say “Nah Boston won the World Series”
Sadly, real rioting has occurred in other cities (not naming them because such are the acts of a few and not representative of the cities). Stop spewing nonsense TBT.
@GASoxFan – its not that serious. 2020 Holt does not add one win to that Boston team. Holt is not a guy who moves the needle, he’s a career 1.5 WAR player over 162 games. He’s not good. He’s not bad either, he’s better than nothing and doesn’t hurt you, but thats what a 25th man does.
Hernandez is also categorically a better player than Holt is.
Stop with the war or other saver stats that were developed for computer simulation. Not everything is measurable. Mookie wanted to leave and played his cards perfectly. COVID forced not to gamble and sign with the Dodgers without entering free agency. He was never accepting ANY pre-free agency offer from Boston prior to the pandemic. Holt and JBJ are two players who wanted to resign. JBJ’s value has increased fue to his surprise 2020 campaign even though most of us believe he would have returned to earth had there been another 100 games to the schedule. I’m hoping it’s not too late with JBJ and he re-ups.
What’s all the worry about 2B? We got a few guys who can handle the position till Downs is ready and we also drafted a 2B with our 1st rd pick in 2020. 2021 is going to be another throwaway year anyway. Hernandez might be useful because of his versatility but he is hardly a game changer. Bloom has done NOTHING to add to the biggest weakness the team has–PITCHING !! BTW–why would Hernandez replace Verdugo vs left handed pitchers? Because he hits a robust .267 vs them?? Pretty sure Verdugo is at least that vs left hand pitchers himself.
Wake me up when Bloom does something significant to improve this team.
He got Pivetta who can maybe reenergize his career he’s still relatively young + Seobold who from everything I’ve read has amazing control. Houck was a huge surprise and Erod coming back + Sale eventually will help big time. Granted all depends on how their recoveries go. Mata looks like a beast but might be a closer. Its one year, give the guy time.
Hernandez is a far better player than Holt. Defense counts and Kiké is one of the best defenders in the game. He has also demonstrated a clutch bat and is regarded as a positive clubhouse presence. Thankfully, fans don’t make roster decisions. Stop whining about Bloom because it’s obvious he knows more about assembling a roster than you do. The Sox will be fine in the near future.
As for Kiké leaving the Dodgers, I will miss him and am grateful for his contributions to all the winning these past few years. Whoever signs him is getting a really good player.
He’s definitely not one of the best defenders in the game, but he’s not hurting anyone anywhere he plays. It’s a long way from Simmons and Chapman to Hernandez.
He is one of the best defenders in the game. A Gold Glove-caliber 2B who is also solid at all three OF positions and SS. It has been a treat watching his glovework with the Dodgers.
The versatility of guys like Hernandez, Taylor, and Muncy is a big part of the Dodgers’ success. They are “deeper” because they have guys who can play multiple positions. Since teams now carry more pitchers, it is a good idea to have more multi-position players. McKinstry is next in line to play that kind of role for the Dodgers. Rios and Smith can also move around a bit. And, of course, Bellinger is elite at three positions. This kind of versatility is why the Dodgera are lauded for their depth.
As a Dodger fan he is not one of the best defenders in the game. Have you seen his defensive stats lol cmon
No it isn’t.
He is one of the best super utility players in the game. Happy now?
So was Holt who was a fringe player who worked his butt off to develop his skill set. I remember as a rookie he ran those little drinkers out, getting a few infield hits that nearly everyone else would have given up on. I never expected him to ever deliver in the clutch like he did in 18. Only reason in my view to get Hernandez is because you want a righty bat and with Renfroe, Dalbac and/or Chavis, I don’t see that need.
You are totally missing the value of Hernandez.
Agreed! Will miss Kike and so will LA. Good in the clutch, decent defense and a positive influence in the clubhouse.
I’m still hoping the Dodgers sign him back though I have to admit I don’t see any indication of it. The total stat-heads can’t seem to wrap their minds around the value of a player who can take any position on the field on any given day and play it well, and swing a league-average bat besides. And the number of times he came through in big moments? If you don’t have any numbers for coming up clutch it doesn’t exist I guess.
What do you see the Sox paying that the Dodgers won’t? I dont see him playing everyday at 2B for Boston, so to me this is a nothing story (other than my frustrations still being there with respect to the Brockstar).
It probably isn’t about pay. The Dodgers may feel they’ve already got the next Enrique Hernandez in Zach McKinstry.
The value in Hernandez is not in him being an every day 2B, it’s in having someone to plug in wherever he is needed on any given day. It’s a very special skill set that very few players have, and seemingly badly underrated one by many baseball fans.
The last time we saw a full year from the 25-year-old was back in 2019, when he played for Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He appeared in 121 games, hitting .300 with an OPS of .882. He also hit 19 home runs, more than his previous three seasons combined.
McKinstry will fill in nicely for LA whenever he gets his chance, as his versatility already makes him a key asset. We know how the Dodgers love players who can play multiple positions, and McKinstry can do just that. In his minor-league career, he’s spent 153 games at second base, 102 games at third base, 78 games at shortstop and 16 games in the outfield.
McKinstry is nearly as versatile as Hernandez though of course we’ll have to see how his bat plays in the majors. The main difference as far as I can tell is he doesn’t play a lot of CF, and of course he bats from the left side. If the Dodgers resigned Hernandez they’d be blocking McKinstry for at least another year. So that and saving some bucks argues in favor of passing on bringing back Hernandez. As a baseball decision I can understand it, but as a fan I am going to miss Kiké. I just hope he goes somewhere his skills are appreciated by both the team and the fans as much as they were in LA.
Saying that Hernandez has “some extra pop” in is bat compared to Holt is like saying the 2020 season has been a little bit different than other baseball seasons. And, while Holt was average at best defensively at 2nd base, he was below average everywhere else he played which makes his utility abilities quite questionable!
This cult following that Holt has just doesn’t make any sense other than to Red Sox fans.
You obviously didn’t see enough of Holt, Rock as he was fine as a back up in CF and solid backing up third. He also had some surprisingly big at bats in 2018.
No one is a bigger fan of a cheap, quality super-utility guy than me. But it does come an end.
Hernandez is much better than Holt. Letting a fan favorite utility player go is nothing when you traded Mookie Betts.
Holt hasn’t been able to hit, since he couldn’t wear his Apple Watch at the plate anymore.
The watch thing was in 17 as I recall and Holt was valuable in 18.
I like Brock but he did very little with the bat.
Brock is a better hitter but you might want to take a look at Kike’s defensive value.
Kiké is an elite defender, especially at 2B. He led the NL in DRS at 2B last year, despite not playing there full time.
So, basically after letting fan and community favorite brock holt walk at age 31
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I said that all along.
If only we added Brock’s -0- HR, .211 average, and below average fielding, we would be the WS champions instead of Pittsburgh.
Cubs did this with Tommy LaStella, traded his low salary and .378 Avg as a pinch hitter for nothing and then signed Daniel Descalso to replace him? Descalso is worse at everything, and to top it off Zobrist retires mid season. As for LaStella, he becomes an All-Star in a starting roll
The prototypical 2 WAR player. Not great, but doesn’t hurt you. His versatility and knack for delivering in the big moments also add to his resume. No idea what kind of money that gets in 2020.
Kiké is better than a “doesn’t hurt you” guy. He’s a winning player who has annually played a key role on one of the best teams in baseball. They can’t all be stars.
There’s absolutely no metrics whatsoever behind whatever you think “a winning player” is. You disagreed, then agreed with me. What was the point? You dont like seeing anything even remotely construed as a negative about your fave players you are homering over? Haha nice. Don’t come at facts just because you dont like the way they are presented, Mr. Homer.
So everything that exists has metrics? What a strange concept.
Ok, explain what “a winning player” is then. Hernandez has lost plenty of games as a professional ballplayer. He has not won a title every season he’s played. What in the lords name does “a winning player” even mean? Its nonsense slop created by agents to get more money via words and nothing else.
Sheesh, what is it about these boring 2 WAR players that homers cannot stand any slight over? You guys know you have superstars to stan over, right? Actually-good players? haha what a joke.
Have you watched him play? He was an important piece to a team that averaged more than 100 wins per season for the last three full MLB seasons. The fact that you are calling Hernandez boring is hysterical. Energetic, loved by his coaches and teammates, a solid contributor on the field. The main reason the Dodgers can afford to let him go is that they are loaded with talent.
A winning player is a player that excels when it matters most, ala Curt Schilling and David Ortiz and Jon Lester. I won’t use the “c” word because I don’t want to cause a conniption. LOL
There’s a lot more to baseball than some fat guy computing subjective stats like war into “metrics”.
You know what will happen if Hernandez signs in Boston, don’t you? He’ll go from one of the most beloved players in recent Dodger history to full-time goat. Because that’s just how Red Sox fans roll. I hope Kiké takes that into consideration before he decides where he wants to play. He’s too good a player and too nice a guy to get treated like a schlump, and we gotta know that’s what he’d get in Boston.
BlueSky – I understand what you are saying… As a Red Sox fan it is one of the things I hate about Red Sox fans. All they do is complain. Almost every Red Sox fan complained about signing Martin Perez on this site. Then they complain about not resigning him. Complain about trading Betts who was never going to resign. Complain that Bradley can’t hit and demand he get traded. Then complain that he is not resigned. Complain, complain, complain, maybe they compete against the Yankee fans in that too, although Yankee fans win the snarky MVP every year (they get the trophy for being the most snarky people in the USA). Lol
What the heck are you talking about? It’s hard to judge popularity when the ballpark was empty, but Alex Verdugo seemed to be a huge hit here, based on the announing crew and their reported interactions with fans. I can’t wait for his first PA in Fenway when I’m sure he’ll get a long standing O.
You’re talking about the only fans among 30 teams who get nothing over the PA to tell them when to cheer, because they’d consider that an insult. And fans who routinely give opposing pitchers a standing O when they leave after being dominant, or one for opposing fielders who’ve made a spectacular, rally-ending catch.
Oh, and fans who don’t leave before the end of the game, even if it’s close, because they understand that beating the traffic home actually isn’t more important.
Tell it. I’m always hearing from Red Sox fans about how this or that player is a head case or a clubhouse cancer or they just plain stink, then they go to play somewhere else and nobody says that about them anymore. Did the player change, or was it the fans? Lemme guess.
Great fans in the park.
Complain non-stop on this site
If it is happening on this site it must also be happening elsewhere. This attitude also seems to be a function of the Boston area sports media.
Blue – nowhere as bad as this site…might and day difference!
I’ll take your word for it and hope I am seeing only the very worst of that attitude here.
As a long time sox fan a lot of sox fans refuse to admit the truth when it comes to Boston and it’s relationship with POC. Everyone has heard stories but the adam jones incident a few years ago where he said it’s the most racist stuff he’s ever heard in his life played a factor into Betts wanting to leave. I said it then, “why be racist in the first place but racist to opposing players when more than half your starting lineup are men of color?” I told everyone back then mookie won’t re-sign here and I’m sure jbj won’t either. There’s not a lot of black men in baseball and they all talk to each other. Between torii Hunter, adam jones why would mookie as a young black dude want to resign here? And the fact that boston as an organization was racist for a long time. Free agency started in 76, they were the last team to sign a black man and it was 94. Boston did too little too late. Imo they should’ve traded him the deadline before but dombrowski was stupid.
i had been of the mindset that 2020 was an abbhoration to get under the tax. i guess the tax not resetting hurt here, but signing the guys that the Sox are interested in signing make them more on track for mediocrity then anything else. either let the kids play or spend real money.
Exactly Darkside. Sox have some good young pitching prospects not that far off. We should hit on a couple of them. Bloom is going to keep dumpster diving to put some semblance of a pitching staff out there for 2021 but he and Henry are waiting for the kids to come so the payroll can be at the level Henry wants it at.
Bloom is in it for the long term. Fans need to have patience. The guy has been on the job for the year and was saddled with the unenviable take of trading a superstar to trim payroll. That mission was accomplished. His job is now to build a consistent winner. That doesn’t happen in one fell swoop. Bloom is cut out of the same cloth as Andrew Friedman, who is the best FO exec in the game. He will emphasize scouting, drafting, player development, roster versatility, and fiscal responsibility. The Red Sox hired the right guy. Fans like to whine over nothing. Btw, there are still Dodger fans who complain about “Fraudman.” Hard to believe. but every team has its share of clueless fans.
Cey Hey – agreed! That needs to be repeated.
Red Sox “Fans like to whine over nothing”
Red Sox “Fans like to whine over nothing”
Red Sox “Fans like to whine over nothing”
I’m cracking up here. Sox in all honesty lucked into a championship in 13 and finished last the other three times in a four year period. Thus, they hire Mr. Instant Contender in DD who gets the team to the playoffs in 16 and 17 and won it all in 18 with perhaps the greatest Sox season ever. Ownership knew the piper was going to have to be paid in 2020 but got rid of DD in late 2019 when the team surprisingly floundered (in part due to injuries). Watch what DD does in Philly and let’s compare it what the Sox do going forward. I’m guessing both will have success. I even see a 2022 WS between the clubs.
Dewy- (Dwight Evans should definitely be in the HOF!)
2017 – Dodgers vs Astros in WS
2018 – Dodgers vs Red Sox in WS
2019 – Dodgers in NLCS
2020 – Dodgers vs Rays in WS
2021 – Dodgers vs ? In WS
2022 – Dodgers vs ? In WS
Not a Dodger fan, but they have the talent and the payroll, but the Phillies no way
Red Sox “Fans like to whine over nothing”
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I’m a RS fan, but we have some of the worst fans in baseball.
I’m from The Bronx, so I see mostly NYY fans. Those fans celebrate every prospect, and every player. Some RS fans I communicate with, see all players as stars or junk. If the player doesn’t cost $20M, it is like they aren’t a player at all. Again, not all of them, but more than any other team, imo.
OTOH, Met fans and Yankee fans are way more attached to their prospects, but think all them could figure into a trade for Mike Trout.
Joe, Eric, Gary, Looie, and some I am missing are the exceptions
It’s like sox fans forget what life was like prior to 04. I was so hungover from 04 that when 07 happened I honestly didn’t care until game 5. Then 13 happened and that might’ve been my favorite team. They were an island of misfit toys. 18 team was great but they were lacking personality. Idk I missed the idiots and the beards. They were efficient but the cheating stuff left a stain. Sox fans are the worst, we’ve been beyond spoiled.
If the Red Sox aren’t one of the two biggest spenders in free agency this year, I’ll be shocked. They did go under the tax limit, while the Dodgers didn’t and the Yankees need to reset this year.
No big contract has been signed yet. Everyone except Trevor May, a setup guy, has been an upside signing by a team convinced they’ll get more than they paid for (like Andriese), or an extra part who’s a perfect fit for their ballpark and roster situation (Renfroe) . The OF market is waiting on Springer, the SP market is waiting on Bauer and Kluber’s January showcase, and so on.
Not that I feel the need to press this point, but I haven’t seen it anywhere. I believe that Sugano is the one holding up the pitching market, not Bauer, who probably only has two or three serious suitors, especially if he really is entertaining only multi-year deals (as one report has it). I could see as many as 12 teams having contract bids in on Sugano, hoping to get away with 4/44 or 5/50, and they are just waiting for Sugano’s selection on January 7. Until then, they are not making any middle-market pitching moves. Arihara’s slack market makes me think many more teams are shooting for Sugano.
I bet the Jays are interested too lol
With his connection to Cora and the need for a reliable utility player he could represent a good addition!
Still need a centerfielder, left handed platoon first baseman ( Travis Shaw???) and more pitching
Travis Shaw ??? Are you kidding?? Maybe if he will sign for a million Bloom might be in on him.
If the Sox are going to go that route they should just bring back Moreland.
I would rather they let Dalbec play everyday than worry about platoons
They need Mitchy as a backup, and to play against the occasional RHP who struggles versus LHB. He’s also a terrific pinch-hitter, much more valuable now that the three-batter rule allows you to send him up there knowing they can’t bring in a LHP. And obviously a great clubhouse guy who knows everyone.
Ericmvan – agree. As currently constructed the Red Sox only have three left handed hitters in their lineup (Verdugo, Benintendi, Devers), and they have no left handed hitters on the bench. Moreland gives the Red Sox insurance in case Dalbec struggles and left handed pincher (Red Sox – 4 seasons – combined OPS .803).
Travis Shaw is useless
.240 batting average should put us over the top. Don’t worry Bloom will show interest and come up short like Dan Duquette. Although I would have rather had Brock Holt
Its interesting to note that Duquette coming up short in his attempts at resigning Mo Vaughn and trying to sign Bernie Williams helped pave the way for Manny Ramirez. Not sure the Sox sign Manny if they were already paying big money to Vaughn or Williams
Duquette also extended Pedro. I think AL34 is mixing up his DD’s.
Okay, Hernandez has lots of pop in his bat while a significantly better fielder at the various positions he plays as compared to Holt who was marginally average at 2nd and below everywhere else…..
Acquiring this guy would truly give the Sox a utility player who can hit and hit with a good bit of power….much better than Holt could deliver with his much weaker bat.
Hernandez, Chavis, Munoz, and Arroyo all on the roster would probably be redundant but would give the Sox a ton of versatility
They already slipped Munoz through waivers by signing him to a guaranteed deal for more than MLB minimum. Chavis seems likely to start the season in AAA to get regular PT, as he really can’t hit coming off the bench. If they can re-sign JBJ and sign Kike, then 2B is either Arroyo, or someone like Cesar Hernandez with Arroyo (who, unlike Munoz, is out of options) being dealt. Chavis, Munoz, and Arauz give you plenty of depth at AAA.
While I kind of wish they would go after Adam Frazier, the possibility they give up anything worthwhile right now isn’t high.
Frazier’s trade value is around Josh Bell’s. Kaprelian and Neuse is a slight overpay, but one both teams can agree on.
Enough with this trade proposal. Are you gonna post it on every thread?
I would actually like this deal
My phone won’t let me open it but what was the prediction for Hernandez?
Was there one? Don’t remember seeing him in the top 50.
I don’t often read message boards pertaining to Red Sox news. However, it seems like RS fans have the same opinion many Giants fans had of Farhan when he was first hired…both teams were coming off of WS expectations and many fans demanded win now moves. I know from watching that Kike is a really good player. Bloom is intelligent as is Farhan. Stay the course and play the long game. What do you fans want? The Sox to blow their load on veterans and tie up even more payroll? That’s why both previous regimes were replaced…
Why do people always think it has to be one extreme or another? We’ve already got a nice bunch of young talent, what we need is some proven talent to complement them. Did the Yanks “blow their load” when they got DJ and Luke? I can’t remember the last time the Sox struck gold on undervalued talent. That’s what they need to do, without giving any massive contracts.
I was just making an observation. I mean, I think there’s a pretty distinct difference between signing veterans because you’re a few players away and just signing them to sign them…kike seems like the perfect type of player to sign. The Sox don’t have that much “young talent.” (Nor do the giants obviously).
because their young talent is good enough for simply complementary pieces to make a difference. the biggest effect a few average players would have is take playing time away from some of the others.
Oh okay, that’s why I was confused, sorry. I don’t think the Red Sox are complimentary pieces away. My bad. They are definitely better than the Orioles though!
If you don’t think Boston is complimentary pieces away from contending, it’s either because you aren’t familiar with the team, haven’t watched much baseball, or some combination of both.
Even when they stunk up the cellar in 2020, they were by all accounts well within the top-10 offensive clubs in baseball – ranging from 3rd in batting average (leading to second in hits behind ATL) to 8th in slugging (only .002 pts behind the “vaunted yankees”).
When bloom took over in fall of 2019, Boston needed to do 3 things – prop up the rotation due to departures and questionable health; bullpen needed help, and they needed to get a utility guy or bring back holt. There was a question of what to do about the cbt – and trading away Betts plus savings like porcello’s 20m (plus others) coming off the books basically handled that.
Then bloom went further and traded away the #2/3 pitcher in the rotation to save another $16m he never spent realistically trying to help the club contend in any way.
Bloom also whiffed on the rest, wasting money on failed former prospects on their 3rd, 4th, 5th etc chances.
Meanwhile, what was one of the top 3 MLB offenses the past few years continued to perform at a top 10 level in 2020 despite down years from guys like JDM and Benny, and bloom’s choice to play busted former prospects like peraza.
What didn’t perform was the pitching, a weakness that only got worse after sale finally got surgery and erod got sick.
So far, bloom has again ignored the top RP on the market signaling to the fans they should not expect any effort to contend while the likes of devers, bogey, benny, and the other core ages through prime years and runs out their contracts.
GA Sox fan I don’t think you get it. Bloom isn’t playing for next year it’s a fairly weak offseason next year will be a far better offseason for free agents the following year. I don’t think it’s a smart move, long term, to go all out in this offseason. I know, I know us Red Sox fan have been spoiled since 2004. I believe that Bloom is playing the long game I me be wrong but that is my belief.
It is impossible to make any judgements on Bloom for a couple of more years. The debacle that was the 2020 season shouldn’t really determine anyone’s fate. Let’s see what happens in the next couple seasons to see what happens. Passing judgment now just makes you look ignorant. I’m not saying you aren’t wrong you might be right but let’s wait a couple of years to make that decision.
It is impossible to make any judgements on Bloom for a couple of more years. The debacle that was the 2020 season shouldn’t really determine anyone’s fate.
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This is where a lot of fans get it 100% wrong. Assessing a GM is a 5-year process in most cases. Anyone important on the team will likely be there due to either guys currently in the system, or guys acquired using players in the system, or by being paid.
Verdugo was great, so it is impossible to think we could’ve done any better for Betts. Anyone criticizing the Pivetta, Seabold, Rosario, Potts, and Wallace trades, are doing so with -0- knowledge of their expected value.
Anyone criticizing the off-season acquisitions, when we have still spent almost none of our available spend, simply don’t understand the free agent market.
Joe – last year should not count against Bloom at all. He was cleaning up prior GM’s miss steps and injured players.
“It is impossible to make any judgements on Bloom for a couple of more years. The debacle that was the 2020 season shouldn’t really determine anyone’s fate.”
Totally agree, and I am sure it will not.
That’s why I mentioned the Betts trade. We were trading Betts & Price no matter what. All that counts is whether one likes the return we got.
I don’t think he’s that special tbh. At least he shaved that ridiculous mustache.
Hernandez? Hes a bench player… who cares?
About bench players? Every team ever in the history of sports I suppose. I don’t know, maybe the trend will change in 2020, weirder things have happened.
Who cares about a bench player who rarely sits on the bench?
.240 hitter with a 310 obp… whoop whoop. A modern age Tom Veryzer.
Who can play every position on the field and do it well. You don’t have to prove to me that this skill is hugely underrated by fans who only know about numbers. I am already aware.
I’d love to see Hernandez as a brave in 2021
I think Kiki Hernandez is being held back by the Dodger’s player system. He will become a star as a full time player.
I think he will be one of the best free agents in this year’s class.
Since Stacast data began 4 years go, Hernandez has been +13 R/150 games defensively in CF and +3 at 2B. He’d be a decent bridge to Jarred Duran in CF if they somehow can’t re-sign JBJ, and a decent bridge to Jeter Downs at 2B if they go with Christian Arroyo instead of an upgrade, and he struggles. Given that, he’d be an obvious plus on the bench if he were needed in neither of those roles. With his good number vs. LHP, he’d give them a second platoon player to join Renfroe, allowing them to sit 2 of Benintendi, JBJ, Devers, and Verdugo against the really tough LHP.
Brock Holt was a really good utility player for Boston and a fan favorite. Money was the reason he’s not still around. The frustration was the payout for Holt was meager relative to what he brought to the table. Outstanding community service and a dirt dog effort and mentality on the field. Wouldn’t take much to bring him back.
Boston would expect too much out of him. Just like Marco Scuturo
How about trading John Henry, et al.?
Four WSCs make him the Most Valuable Owner.
Lol sox fans are so ridiculous. The most championships of any team in the last 20 years. I think they’re just kids who are used to winning. No idea what life was like prior to 04.
Sign Pillar & Moreland on 1 yr deals. Move Devers to 2b. Dalbec/Moreland/Chaivis in a platoon 1B/3B. Cost 5MM total and both offense and “D” will be fine.
Sign pitching but no long term deals and the team can compete this year and rebuild in 2022 when there will be a clearer picture with Sale, E Rod, Houck, Pivetta, etc.
If Devers can barely play Third what in the world makes you think he can play Second?
Travis Shaw and Moustakis both did it in an era where everyone is hitting the ball in the air and there are no more take out slides.
I’d love him on the Padres over re-signing profar
The Red Sox need starting pitching and some quality bullpen arms. Expecting Sale and E-Rod to carry the rotation is an exercise in idiocy.
I don’t see how they can get past the Rays or Yankees without a major overhaul of their pitching.
Kiké is one of those guys that brings energy to the dugout and if he plays regularly, he can really swing the bat. He would find a whole new level at Fenway pulling the ball off the Monster. Sneaky good pick up if he plays everyday, but it’ll cost them money if he rides the pine as a bench/utility player.
We need pitching…..
This dude rakes and hits bombs.
Is Spring Training canceled yet ?