The Red Sox are in agreement with Raimel Tapia, as the free agent outfielder himself first indicated on Instagram. It’s a minor league deal for Tapia, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He’ll be invited to the major league side of Sox camp and can make $2 million with some additional performance bonuses if he cracks the MLB roster, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Tapia is repped by Dream One Sports Group.
Tapia, 29 next month, joins the third organization of his professional career. The speedster first signed with the Rockies as an amateur from the Dominican Republic over the 2010-11 international period. A few years later, Tapia emerged as one of the sport’s more promising prospects. Evaluators praised his athleticism and bat-to-ball skills and suggested he could develop into a prototypical top-of-the-lineup sparkplug for Colorado.
The left-handed hitter got to the majors in 2016 but saw sporadic action for his first three seasons. He finally landed everyday playing time during the 2019 campaign and was a lineup regular for the next three years. Tapia indeed showed quality contact skills and speed at the MLB level, though he never consistently produced offensively. He owns a very aggressive approach and doesn’t have significant power, leading to an overall profile that’s heavily reliant on singles falling into play.
Tapia hit .280/.325/.395 in a little more than 1400 trips to the plate through the end of the 2021 season. Last spring, Colorado dealt Tapia to the Blue Jays for Randal Grichuk. The move balanced each club’s respective lineup, but neither player performed at a high level in 2022. Tapia posted a .265/.292/.380 line with seven home runs through 433 plate appearances, keeping his strikeouts at a modest 18.7% clip but drawing free passes less than 4% of the time he came to the plate. At season’s end, the Jays non-tendered him rather than retain him via arbitration on a salary that was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz at $5.2MM.
Over the course of his career, Tapia has suited up at all three outfield positions. The vast majority of his work has come in left field, where public metrics have pegged him as a roughly average defender. Tapia has rated reasonably well in a little over 400 career innings in center but never got much run there in deference to Charlie Blackmon and George Springer, respectively.
The Red Sox have looked to stockpile up-the-middle options in the wake of Xander Bogaerts’ free agent departure and Trevor Story’s injury. The free agent center field market is extremely thin at this stage of the offseason, leaving teams to sort through imperfect defensive fits or glove-first depth players. Boston agreed to a one-year deal with Adam Duvall yesterday, adding a right-handed bat to the mix. Tapia joins Jarren Duran as a left-handed option in the center field mix, though he’ll need to earn his way onto the roster with a strong spring showing.
This guy will battle Jarren Duran for playing time. His defense is horrible and barely hangs on as a slap hitter who doesn’t make contact.
But hey, the Red Sox need depth in the Outfield so this guy is as good as any on a minors deal. That and he tears it up at Fenway park.
So, another guy who can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag, doesn’t walk, strikes out a decent amount, and can’t help solve the infield quagmire.
Glad they’re spending time stocking up on guys with his profile instead of where there’s current holes on the club.
I think mlbtr has a template ready for chaim bloom roster moves full of buzzword sayings about former highly regarded prospect this, never quite put anything together at mlb level that… blech. Makes you cringe because you know it’s coming, then read it again. Nothing against the writers, it’s true, just sick of the retread garbage getting signed year in and out, minor league deal or not.
When all you accumulate is a pile of these retread rejects some of them have to make the team as process of elimination so it’s no longer “just aaa depth”.
I understand your daily negative posts and you’re right very often.
But you do go on and on.., and on and make a few false statements to add to your hyperbole.
For instance, this signing “could” help Infuse depth with Hernandez moving to short or second.
I appreciate your posts and your right to share negativity. Keep it rolling because it looks like your going to be correct this year.
But keep the facts straight. Three bits of factual bad news does not warrant a fourth fabrication of your mind.
I’m more concerned with his defense. We don’t need a speedy hitter who is defensively challenged as that’s Duran. Maybe competition will bring out the best of both. Fans can only hope.
I actually feel bad for this dude. He must say the word “Bloom” in his sleep.
He shops at Bloomingdale’s, watches Bloomberg News and attends the flower show every year.
And I think you know what appetizer he likes at Outback Steakhouse.
You guys dont even talk baseball, its ‘Hate Bloom’. Even when there’s 4 articles on Sox in 3 days, you become a broken record. So bizarre. (Im not talking about you dewey).
Duran should not be allowed to own a fielders glove.
Huntington, it’s old news. Some apparently need a larger size jockey shorts while others obviously have too much room in their pants as it is …
Come on! Boston had Manny for years. They should be used to it.
GaryWarrior – Comment on the article not other people. If you think this adds depth great. If you think a .241 career hitter should be the guy to replace the all-star Bogaerts, great!!
I’ve read what GA wrote multiple times and I don’t get your comment. What was fabricated by GA?
Not a great or even good hitter = Check
Doesn’t walk much – Check
Strikes out too much – Check
Can’t fix the infield problem – Check
If you think moving the .241 hitter anywhere other than the bench is a good move then you have the outlying belief that is a fabrication.
At least he shouldn’t have a promotional deal with his own glove.
Tapia is an outfielder so that would move Hernandez to the infield. Might solve the infield problem you think?
GA Red Sox fan just uses negativity and when he’s wrong I’ll call him on it.
Sure it’s his right to say or write whatever he wants, I said as much in my comment and compliment him in the process. But I’ll call someone out if they add Fabrications that are untrue.
You do realize you’re calling someone out to stop calling out others? Also with Kike moving to the infield, adding OF depth doesn’t hurt? He’s inconsistent but brings a lot of good energy to any clubhouse. Wish him the best even if it’s for a rival.
Hernandez stinks in the infield, roughly a replacement level player. He doesn’t solve the infield problem either, and, there’s the rub. No bat, and, his positional value is as an outfielder.
As a 2B his UZR/UZR150/OAA all are negative for the career, albeit short samples. His SS are even shorter samples barely hitting 40-50 innings/yr unless you go back to 2018, which was 5 years ago to get to 150 innings when he was a uzr 0 uzr150 0.4 and oaa -1.
So, the best place to deploy hernandez is the OF where his defense adds value that cancels out his lack of a bat historically.
It’s worth mentioning that OFs seem easier to find that INFs during the offseason. This could be a means to an end and nothing permanent considering Story’s injury isn’t career ending.
Spaced – there’s still plenty of SS/2b types out there, which is where the depth and loading up should be until theyre gone. Not more OFers, and especially not fringe pieces worse than guys who are younger and already on staff with the same profile.
Story should be a 2b at this stage of his career, and that’s it. He had plus defense at the position.
So far you’ve got way too many OFers, an excess of 1b/dh types, and a shortage of legitimate options at middle infield. Look at the depth charts.
Thats why it’s easy to point at these recent moves and say it’s clear the towel is being thrown in on 2023. If it was about the best product on the field you’d keep hernandez where he is most impactful on defense (cf) and find replacement level middle infielders to cover story and back up any delays in his return. Not find sub-replacement level OFers and stick Kiki somewhere else while you diminish the OF to still only play a replacement level middle infielder.
A big reason why KK is so coveted is his ability to play every position. This a move made of necessity and not strategy. Finding a measurably “good” INF that doesn’t take up a 40 man spot are NOT plentiful. This is a cost efficient move that shouldn’t have anyone up in arms. Simple depth move. Red Sox are my rivals and it would be idiotic to say they’re throwing in the towel. Teams throwing in the towel don’t dish out that much cash to FAs. Did they make mistakes that have now backfired in their face? Yes. Did the offseason go as hoped? No, of course not, but to count them out now is silly. Don’t be bitter
GASox, backed up by stats? Well that trump’s my opinion. But I’m basing it on the Red Sox touting of Kiki and his ability to be the everyday short or second. Well it looks like that would be a big mistake from what your providing here.
Oh well I guess they’re waiting for either Elvis or Iglesias. Whichever caves to the one year small money deal.
Pulled – it’s fine if he chooses to focus on my negativity for the front office, it’s fair game as comments go.
However, I should expect to see he also calls out the unabashed gushing over every move bloom makes by certain people as well in the future – you know the types, ones where people try to rationalize a move as ‘good’ instead of what it really represents for an organization.
dewey – You’re not excited about the second coming of Red Sox Great Quintin Berry? The guy had a 1.667 OPS while leading the 2013 Sox to the championship! I believe Tapia can do the same, because I am staying positive.
Gary. Its only a mistake if youre trying to win. If youre signing and auditioning trade chips for the deadline it’s a fair move for that strategy.
That leads us back to the same debate that’s raged for 4 years now: should the sox be trying their hardest to win, or, try hardest to find ways to get more prospects?
What Kiki DOES do well is seamlessly jump in anywhere except C or P on the diamond if you have a mid-game injury and provide replacement level defense (or better in the OF) until you can make a corresponding roster move to cover things. Or, maybe he needs to fill in for a couple games so you don’t burn an option on someone/need to call up an out of options depth piece and lose them to waivers for a short term thing. All good uses for Kiki.
So, you get a plus defender in the OF where you try to hide his bat and a mini insurance policy. Those have some value.
But, there IS positional need in the IF, and, I find it hard to believe none of the true 2b/ss were available for duvall money or less.
Gary – You lost me on your last sentence.
There’s no such thing as a “true fabrication”. LOL!
Gary–the issue I have with Bloom is all these 1-2 yr contracts Bloom is signing. I have no interest in following a team who employs a revolving door philosophy. For example he brings in Renfroe and Schwarber who most fans loved but they were one and done in Boston. Same with Wacha. Paxton hasn’t even pitched an inning yet.but he is almost certain to be short term too. Then this year he has signed several more 1 yr deals and you know most will end up being one and done too. Meanwhile guys like Betts and Bogerts who were fan favourites were lost for very little or no return. I truly believe the ONLY reason Devers was extended was the FO’s fear of a total mutiny from RSN. I will NEVER buy a Red Sox player jersey again.
Well, if the towel is thrown in this year, I guess you can stop freaking out every day then,
I loved Quintin Berry!
Curt–this was meant for me?
the issue I have with Bloom is all these 1-2 yr contracts Bloom is signing. I have no interest in following a team who employs a revolving door philosophy. For example he brings in Renfroe and Schwarber who most fans loved but they were one and done in Boston.
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You might want to be more consistent. We acquired Schwarber with two months left on his contract. You cannot simultaneously dislike the revolvong door, and then fall in love with the same players.
Joe – He made a huge mistake. He believes Schwarber was one of the “1-2 year contracts Bloom is signing”. He doesn’t realize Bloom didn’t give Schwarber a contract, he acquired his contract midseason.
Lots of casual fans here.
Fever, I’m referencing his similarity to Duran. Nothing more. Someone else posted Hernandez’s numbers in the infield. Again, I use my eyes and I don’t see him adding value in the infield. I’d still get Iglesias as while he’s older now, he still can help the infield defense which will help the staff. Same thing in the outfield where Hernandez is their only real CF full-time option.
Joe AND Fever pitch– I am FAR from a casual fan. My reference to Schwarber was simply another “one and done” player. Whether Bloom signed him or acquired him is not the issue. The fact is he was here even less than a year..
Gary – When Hernandez was originally signed prior to 2021, the plan was to use him as the starting 2B. I think he could fill that role well, provided he is healthy. I don’t envision him being named the starting shortstop. He will probably bounce between 2B and CF, with Arroyo and Duvall respectively.
Personally I’m okay with Iglesias at SS, as long as there’s a suitable backup. And who knows, maybe Story returns by August.
Fever Pitch, huh? So you’re saying I can’t make up something or fabricate it and it not be true? I can’t come up with a statement or idea on my own from out of nowhere to be true?
So all thoughts that are original and made up from nothing or fabricated are false?
I’m not seeing how that’s correct but still trying to think it through..
Randy – I agree with you. I very strongly supported re-signing Schwarber. Most really good players require contracts of more than 2 years. Not only are the Red Sox automatically disqualifying themselves from a large pool of talent by refusing to go over 2 years, it also negatively impacts revenue.
Look at Bloom’s former team, why is their attendance and ratings so awful even when they are making the postseason every year? Because they usually don’t keep veteran players for more than a couple years. Complete strangers every year is not appealing. Players leaving after you’ve watched them blossom and got to know and like them is not appealing. The rotating door simply does not work.
Gary – You said “if they add fabrications that are untrue”.
The “that are untrue” part shouldn’t be added because ALL fabrications, by their very definition, are untrue.
That’s all I’m saying my friend, in a lighthearted way.
Fever–totally agree. Sox need to change their 7th inning song to “We’re here for a Good Time not a long Time” from Trooper. Fits their direction these days.
can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag, doesn’t walk, strikes out a decent amount, and can’t help solve the infield quagmire.
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So? Tapia isn’t supposed to help solve the infield quagmire.
Then bloom isn’t focusing on the problem areas of the team, once again, now isn’t he Joe?
What’s the point, corner the dh/1b and substandard OF markets, carry 8 of each on the ball club. By the time you’re done?
GASoxFan5 hours ago
Then bloom isn’t focusing on the problem areas of the team,
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So you think the entire process shuts down while we’re waiting for guys to sign or teams to make trades? I don’t know about you, but I probably do at least a dozen unrelated things every day.
I think the RS FO can both sign someone to a minor league contract AND offer someone else a major league contract.
Based on the past 4 years since 2019, I seriously doubt the redsox front office can walk and chew gum at the same time if you recall those old commercials.
In other words, ignoring whatever move happens for the 26 man and starting position, there’s is a woeful lack of depth at 2b/ss as well. That’s where minor league and ST invites need to be happening… not yet another junk OFer
Egads! He’s on a Jarren Duran level? He can’t hit or field?
You can have him.
Center field back up option. Good plan IMHO.
Outfield depth insurance policy at best.
Major League experience so a tad above Duran. But not penciled in as a backup at this point because he would have to earn it. Prior achievements not enough to assume a major league roster spot at this time.
I really liked this guy last year. Numbers aside he runs out every hit and brings hustle and the right attitude. All the best to him this year
they must have been impressed with his inside the park grand slam at fenway
The Boston Rays make just about every opposing player look better than they really are.
Underrated move. Solid player
Solid pickup, you know, since Trout wasn’t available. I used to think Yankee fans were the worst, but sadly Red Sox fans are competing for that title. Well, it makes sense, I’ve been a registered Republican since 1975 and voted every single year, no matter what, and I’ve watched that party flush itself down the toilet. So I guess everything I’ve believed in has just been taken over by “experts”.
As my dad used to say, “An expert is someone who learns more and more about less and less until finally he knows everything about nothing.”
Pretty funny for a guy who earned a PhD from MIT and a Fellowship at Harvard before he was even 25 years old.
He remembered seeing Babe Ruth trot around the bases at Fenway and Jackie Robinson play for the Dodgers in Brooklyn, when he played hooky from work to catch an afternoon game.
Appreciate your post here and you usually write good stuff. Love your reasoning but how is this a solid pickup? Insurance policy at the very best. Negative player on both sides of the ball but the attraction is that he’s a major leaguer. Again written with all respect but here you’re off base with the “solid pickup” conclusion.
I was being a little sarcastic there, but I do think it’s not a bad find. For a minor league signing and not taking anyone off the 40, I do think it’s a solid pickup. I guess my bar for “solid pickup” is a wee bit low right now. Sigh.
Btw, the Trout reference was because his name reminded me of Tilapia.
I’m vegan and I still appreciated Tilapia as a poor person’s version of Trout. If Tapia could regain his form where he hit 0.300 it would offset for his inability to get some walks. I think Tapia has the skills be be a 4th outfielder on many weaker clubs.
Any pickup with ML experience, that costs no money, and takes no 40-man spot, is a solid pickup. The idea that some posters (and almost always the same posters) regularly lose their $chitt over these depth signings is ridiculous.
Its all about opportunity cost Joe….
A person can only meet with, talk with, make deals with one agent at a time about one player at a time.
If I had a house fire and I’m talking to a landscaper about replacing the flowers/sod the firetruck ran over, instead of the insurance company, the smoke restoration people, the contractors to repair the roof and window damage?
Would you say: but the landscaping matters too!?!? Maybe so. I’d say, stabilize the structure first, it’s not even livable. The goal of the house is to provide shelter, aesthetics come second.
The goal of a Red Sox team should be to compete and put the best product it can on the field. Forget the window dressing until you fix the major deficiencies.
“If I had a house fire and I’m talking to a landscaper about replacing the flowers/sod the firetruck ran over, instead of the insurance company, the smoke restoration people, the contractors to repair the roof and window damage?”
Dude…stop. You are officially thinking way too much about all of this. Only your best friends will tell you.
instead of the insurance company, the smoke restoration people, the contractors to repair the roof and window damage?
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That completely invalidates your point. You just said you can do three different important things at once. But you are suggesting that the entire RS FO cannot sign someone to a minor contract contract without the entire office coming to a standstill?
Or in your case, if you have having an issue contacting a roofer, does that mean you don’t contact the insurance company or the smoke restoration people?
That’s an awful example. What you would do first is contact the insurance company. And while waiting for the insurance company to provide a settlement, you’d already have the roofers working to fix the roof, while simultaneously asking neighbors if they knew any smoke abatement people.
So, Joe, the analogy does work, youre just looking at it wrong…
I would be trying to get a MLB caliber SS. I would be seeking MiLB depth pieces at both SS and 2B to back up in season injuries. That’s 3 moves, all at once.
None of which are the un-necessary can’t hit/can’t field OF where there’s already a plethora of depth candidates.
I would be trying to get a MLB caliber SS. I would be seeking MiLB depth pieces at both SS and 2B to back up in season injuries. That’s 3 moves, all at once.
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So you’re saying that you could try to acquire an MLB-caliber SS and a MiLB MI. And what the RS did was to acquire a MiLB OF.
So you spent all this time complaining that the RS picked up a minor league OF instead of another minor league IF? BTW, we already have pretty good depth in Goodrum.
I believe I used the plural. But, Tapia is Duran, except older, and, buried in the depth chart where you’d need a plane crash to ever get to where you should be playing him.
And you seriously said goodr&um is good depth. Goodrum of the NEGATIVE 9 ops+…. as in not a 91 or only 91% of a league average, but -9… so, what 109% worse than league average. And OPS of near .300….. hitting near .100 with no hrs. THAT goodrum?
If you think THAT is good depth it goes to why you and bloom seem to agree on roster moves so often.
BOS needs a starting SS. Forget Hernandez, he needs to be in CF. Duval can go to RF, Verdugo can handle LF. Yoshi can do DH and some off days in LF. Arroyo and Dalbec can cover 2B if story is expected back by June, if not, maybe bring back Iglesias to be a trial starter then a depth piece. But, if your patchwork middle infield gets hurt, you want a couple more guys to step up and fill in again.
Let turner sink or swim a bit at 1B/DH platooned with Casas.
If your infield options were someone you sign for SS, Iggy, arroyo, dalbec, +2 650 or better OPS guys that are over .300obp, infield should be OK. That’s 3 guys to grab.
Then, pivot to catcher. I’m not convinced on the short sample size for who we’ve got, and, once the season starts and things fall on their face it’s too late, nobody wants to swing deals in April. An established defensive catcher with framing and calling skills would be perfect.
That’s a lot of work to sift through that doesn’t need another garbage time OFer, and if that all got done, or there was bandwidth remaining while working it, I’d consolidate some of the SP issues looking over everything
Goodrum of the NEGATIVE 9 ops+
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You’re referring to 45 PAs out of a career 1531. His OPS prior to those 45 PAs was 88. FG projects a .703.
He’s going to be 31 next month. You talk about a projected .703, he isn’t even a career .703 ops guy based on his prime years of production (all behind him now), why would he get better as he gets older?
I wouldn’t call him ‘solid’ I’d call him ’emergency **** hits the fan mid-season and you’ve got nowhere to turn’ option. The last time he was more than a .700 guy like you/bloom expects Joe was back in 2019… thats a long time in fringe player years, and, anything but solid.
If he’s anywhere higher than your 5th best option for any single position, you need more depth.
Cool Story Bro
Last yr he drove the ball more instead of slapping it. But he won’t take a walk, doesn’t have much power, and his defense is not good. His routes and jump are poor. I cant see him playing center.
He could take a step forward as he is a good athlete, but he has had his chances, and is just “meh”.
Considering his size and that he is a left-hander, he’s never worked out at first base before.
Waste of his speed and his throwing arm, which is top flight.
I understand he has speed and a good throwing arm, but if I was Tapia, I would know learning another position with his athletic ability would get him more at-bat’s. Daniel Nava realized this and earned more playing time.
That’s okay, I just wonder if there is going to be a competiton between Raimel Tapia, Rob Refsnyder, and Jarren Duran for a roster spot in spring training.
He’s behind a truckload of guys on the depth chart; I’d put the odds of him ever seeing an inning with the Sox at 5 to 1. See my comment.
Sox already know yoshida will be a major bust that’s why the signing of tapia
Remember his inside the park grand slam last year at Fenway?
Who could forget
My theory is they signed him because they’re going to sign Sanchez to catch and they need someone to chase all the passed balls.
Jeez Louise, we need to lighten up a little. It’s not that big of a deal and it’s January.
He is bad but its a “minor league” deal.
The Sox would never sign Sanchez. You guys … It’s like you work really hard to come up with this stuff. Read the story, he’s about average defensively. That means he is at least adequate out there. And he’s not a has-been. He’s in his prime and he is very good at what he does, which is steadily produce singles and doubles and provide speed at the plate. How often do you guys need to hear this: look at his stats. He is a specialist who should be very valuable.
Not a sox fan, and its a minor league deal so there is no risk, but his only saving grace is “he bats left handed”. In 5 seasons in the MLB he has accumulated 1.3fWAR/0.8bWAR. He is about as replacement level as they come.
I think Sanchez was another joke. If Tapia could get walks the rest of his game would play as a backup. His defense is just a tad below average. Not a signing to get excited about but certainly a guy who can compete for a roster spot or be depth.
Hey, yet another replacement level player for the BloomSox!!!
Bloom has been 100% ineffective with developing a coherent plan & executing the building of a sustainable roster. At this point the only player assets available are fringe 40 man and former high potential guys trying to hang in there..with another last shot in the show..For those of us who have been passionate & faithful Sox fans its truly frustrating & demotivating to watch this disaster continue to get worse – It seems there are no lessons learned.. Bloom is seriously incompetent in his current position & worse liar.
The most embarrising play I have seen in my life now has the players on both sides united.
Not as bad as when Javy Baez tricked Will Craig into chasing him rather than just touching first base.
That was pretty bad too
Then you never saw the great Johnny Damon/Manny Ramirez play from July 2004
As a Jay’s fan Tapia is bad defensively. His bat isn’t great but he did come up with a lot of clutch hits.
With his speed, Tapia might eventually show a bit of offensive value …now that the distance between the bases is a few inches shorter. Still might have to send Search-and-Rescue to look for his defense, tho.
Blooms out here playing intergalactic chess while everyone else is eating glue.
Never seen you on here before RayKings. Youre a ‘RayKings fan’ but you have strong opinions on Bloom? Sure you do. Whats your primary accounts name?
This whole website littered with trollz. MLBTR: You have to do something about this. People dont even talk baseball here anymore.
You aren’t talking baseball either.
Would be if you guys werent here. You guys would still be trashing Red Sox if i wasnt.
Psst. Ray King was a former major league reliever. You seem to think this fellow is a Rays fan but nope
A pitcher named Ray King is just a very, very bad idea.
Ray King was the dude in charge of hunting down Christian Wolff. (aka, Joe Brady).
Actually, he’s last on the NRI OF depth chart, which is why he was the last guy they signed. Narcisco Crook has 9 career PA at age 27 but has been a consistent 120 wRC+ guy in AAA. He has two options left, so he can be an up-and-down guy to fill in for injuries. Greg Allen was signed next, and he’s plainly been a better player than Tapia, and is a tremendous base stealer.
Meanwhile, they’ve added only one such guy in the middle infield (Niko Goordum, who also has 2 options left) which suggests that they’re converting Duran back to 2B. His defense in CF has been unplayable,
Why are people so negative on a minor league deal? There is literally no downside here even if he sucks
The Bloom haters are obsessed. If the RS change the hot dog vendors at Fenway, there will be 100 posters screaming that it was a bad move and that the Red Sox are doomed forever.
Joe – lol, how right you are!!
I muted them long ago, so I can laugh at them through comments like yours, but do not waste a second of my time on their garbage, unhappy lives.
The three of you are correct in every way but what’s wrong is penciling him on the major league roster today.
He’s going to have to beat out Duran. That’s all I’ve been saying. Just truth and I actually back up bloom all the time.
Love the mookie trade, he didn’t want to be here, and with the guys in the minors you’re not going to spend a truckload on certain vets who wanted to get paid.
Historically you let Johnny Damon walk, Jacoby Ellsbury walk, Pedro Martinez walk, Wade Boggs walk, Jason Bay walk.
Another thing is there was not much available this off season outside of 40 year old Cy Young winners and four great Short Stops.
Red Sox are punting again and we wait for next winter but below the tax line. They’re trotting out Major Leaguers instead of a farm team so if lightning is caught in the bottle they could make the playoffs? Bullpen looks good so who knows?
I actually expect -0- from Tapia this year. And I expect almost -0- from Goodrum. Alfaro maybe could be a 1 WAR short-end platoon player.
All these guys, and it is the same for all 30 teams, are here to provide coverage as a 5th OF, or a UIF, in case someone goes down.
That’s why it is so laughable when these guys lose their $chitt every time we make a depth addition.
Fenway Franks don’t need any changes, although, I’m sure bloom IS trying to get Henry to make the switch to plant based beyond dogs (is that a thing?) and soy dogs…. GAG!
Is that the comment you’ve been waiting for all your adult life?
Just picture, inwrapping that aluminum foil to a puff of steam on a cool april fenway afternoon… warm bread sticking to the wrapping… dip the end of the dog into that puddle of bright yellow mustard….. that crisp snap as you bite in, the juices flowing in a gush of sweet savory goodness, flavors exploding as you chew…
ALL GONE IN A MOMENT OF PC VIRTUE-SEEKING FAILURE!!! AGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
Hope that lives up to your expectations 😉
This is a good Bloom move because it’s not a bad Bloom move and anything that isn’t bad is good.
No money spent in the future.
He might take time from Duran but heck Bloom already got Duvall to do that.
The price is low and for one season.
Right now fans need to think defense. No not guys that can field…. trying to keep Bloom from destroying anything else. This move doesn’t hurt the future and is irrelevant for 2023 since projected wins didn’t go up or down from the move.
Lets hope all Bloom’s moves until he is fired mimic this one. No future impact and no consequences to the 2023 payroll which might put the team over the CAP a second year in a row.
Expect lots more of this irrelevant activity from Bloom.
He thrives in it like a pig at his trough!!
All we care about is reversing the Bloom curse.
Owners lets make that happen soon!!!
You just wrote “Bloom” 7 times and your name also has “Bloom” in it.
Creepy.
Curtisrowe – Seriously. Stop doing drugs and the paranoia should go away!!
My discussion was about Bloom. It’s not all that weird that I used his name multiple times in multiple points.
Why waste the time to write such a comment? This is why about half the writers who can’t keep to the topic should find another website to write innocuous comments or hateful comments towards other participants in the discussions.
Paranoid? I barely think about any of this. You, on the other hand are obsessed…lterally…with Chaim Bloom.
That’s super odd bro.
Also, I am gonna keep doing drugs.
Curtisrowe – Fine if you keep doing drugs I’ll keep expecting bizarre comments that have nothing to do with the topic!!
You should check out Tapia’s 2022 slash line with men on base, especially with the bases loaded. He could be a dangerous pinch hitter.
Well I know one thing about the 2023 season for sure…… program sales will be up!!!!
For a guy that supposedly can’t hit he seemed to torch the Sox all season (exaggeration but he did hit them to a .290 clip with 3 of his 7 HR’s (2 at Fenway) against them).
I feel like Greg Allen would be the better 4th OF option purely for defense but i can see Tapia on the opening day roster
Totally missed this one. Hopefully it’s only minor league depth. Not sure how else it could help us
The normal, mature, secure people are prevailing here. The typical Red Sox fans are not represented here in the haters, these are the guys who regularly call the Boston talk shows saying “the Red Sox are ruining my summer.”
They think they are smarter to anyone employed by the Red Sox, especially the GM. Funny, no one here is countering the GM hatred saying that the Sox are going to win a championship this year but of course they think we are crazy with happiness for every move Chaim makes.
All anyone is telling you guys is you are acting like the worst fans. You never know what happens in a season until it happens. The team is better without old JD and aging Xander, with hopefully a really good shortstop and a mix of hitters that will likely once again have no trouble scoring runs. But that’s a guess, GA fan. Nobody knows in January. Do you remember where the Sox were picked to finish in April of each of the four times we’ve won it in this century? In 2013 you guys probably were like talk radio, saying the Red Sox were a disaster. 2018? Were we supposed to be that good that year? No. The first two were the same.
What’s really pathetic is that any good baseball fan knows you are lucky to win once in 20 years, we’ve won 4 in 20 and the whiney Red Sox fans are talking while they have possibly valid opinions. Too bad they don’t read stats.
It really makes me think that Ga Sox fan is one of a bunch of Yankees fans posing as Red Sox fans just to rile up Red Sox fans here. Problem is, you guys aren’t making any rational sense, so no one even considers what you say or takes you seriously.
Did you seriously just claim the 2018 red sox weren’t supposed to be good that year going into the season?
Two straight division championships and returning the same core with some added pieces? And they weren’t supposed to be good?
Clearly you are the one who isn’t much of a sox fan….
SoxRule – Are you paid to comment or is this stupidity simply you being you? If you are paid then at least your nonsense is making you some money. Otherwise, you come off as pretty stupid and not someone who should seek debates with the likes of a GASoxFan.
Do you realize you just addressed Red Sox Nation by telling them they are lucky that Boston won in the last 20 years? The 86 year drought not only reminds us daily that 4 rings in 15 years was incredible but it drives us to seek more rings like a farmer who wants rain in his future after the longest drought in history.
So which is it? A Yankee Troll or a paid influencer or simply a jackass?
I’m becoming something of a real estate magnate these days with the number of people’s heads I live in rent free.
Bluejays trading away their sluggers bc they all bat right handed. Traded the guy drafted ahead of trout in grichuk for Tapia. Now a minor league singing a year later.
Traded the guy drafted ahead of trout in grichuk for Tapia.
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Tapia was always always overrated by TO fans, but the key to the trade was ridding themselves of Grichuk’s salary. He’s averaged 0.6 bWAR over the past four years, and gets paid $10M.
Ah, I guess the same for Hernández
Not quite sure what the analogy is here. Teo v Tapia or Teo v Grichuk.
Chaim Bloom always looking for bargains and such a deal. The Red Sox need a second baseman and a shortstop and Chaim is still looking for bargains in the outfield. The Red Sox team is going to be so bad this year. Fans can only hope this is his last year of ruining this team.
The Red Sox team is going to be so bad this year.
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How many wins do you thing they will have? That question goes for the RS posters in here. My guess is that not a single Bloom-hater will respond.
JoeBrady – I hate Bloom’s choices but I’m not a Bloom hater.
If you could tell me if Sale and Paxton will be healthy I could be more precise but you can’t so I have to provide a range.
If all goes badly with regard to Paxton and Sale the projection is 50 to 65.
If Sale bounces back, Devers stays healthy and some non DD player hits well then Boston could win from 65 to 75 games.
If something miraculous happens between today and opening day the Red Sox could win between 65 and 81 games depending on the strength of the miracle.
If all goes badly with regard to the whole team then 45 to 55 wins are likely. This scenario is the downside of the season. It’s not expected but it could happen if Devers gets hurt, Bloom trades the remaining good players from DD’s era (Houck, Casas, Duran) and Yoshida proves he can’t hit MLB pitching. Also, whatever you predict, take 5 to 10 wins away if Cora bats Kiki in the top 3 in the order.
No matter what happens from a luck/good fortune stand point, they will finish 5th in the division.
So, there you go. A non-Bloom hater but a hater of Bloom’s choices is putting the number out there for you because you like over predicting on a bad team since there is no downside risk!! I bet you they have closer to 65 wins than 100 wins!!
70-75 wins for 5th place. Sale and Paxton will be hurt, Pivetta will be his mediocre regular self. I think Devers production will go down because they will pitch around him. No one in that lineup scares me except for Devers.
One name I haven’t heard much if at all is Refsnyder. He had some really impressive numbers last year minus his K rate. Granted it was his first year posting such numbers and it was on a smaller scale. If he could produce like that I’d take him in a heartbeat over Verdugo. He’s a solid fourth outfield at the least. If they don’t want him blocking younger players he’d be at a peak to trade.
This potentially keeps Duran @ AAA for the 23 season to get more CF reps, and hone his game. Or the opportunity to move him in a trade.
Duran needs to get more 2B reps. Focus on being a bench player.
Tapia is a Solid pickup! Athletic…entering his 29 season he should refine tge plate discipline & can see him toying with .300/.340/.500 20HR/402b 25+SB 85RBI/RUNS if full time