Here are three things we’re watching in the baseball world today…
1. End of 2023:
2023 is winding down, with today being the last weekday of the year. The past 12 months saw Japan win the World Baseball Classic and the Rangers win the World Series. Various rule changes were introduced, with a pitch clock, larger bases and limitations on defensive shifts. Along the way, Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first 40/70 player, Adam Wainwright got his 200th win and each of Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel notched their 400th save. The offseason has seen the Dodgers give record-setting deals to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. What surprising and amazing feats does 2024 have in store?
2. Pirates need a roster spot:
The Pirates have a full 40-man roster and have yet to make their agreement with lefty Martín Pérez official. That means they will need to open a spot for him somehow, which could lead to a trade or perhaps someone simply being designated for assignment.
3. What will the Red Sox do?
The Red Sox have mostly made modest moves so far this offseason, such as flipping out Alex Verdugo and bringing in Tyler O’Neill. But they’ve also been connected to notable free agents like Ohtani, Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández, Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell and many more. Will any of this interest come to fruition in the coming months?
Red Sox will acquire at least one solid SP and a lefty reliever, people are too impatient here.
Impatient, Fever? Or have they learned to expect the worst based on the last four offseasons and trade deadlines? I’m being patient but not expecting any big signings.
grnmt – If Bloom was still here, then yeah I’d expect more of the same.
The fact John Henry made the change and said it was because of missing the postseason the past couple years, makes me believe he wants to make the postseason. And I think the drop in ticket revenue and ratings doesn’t sit well with him either.
Believe me, if they start the season without at least one new solid starting pitcher, nobody will be more vocal than I.
Let’s see. I must be bipolar because one day I’m patient and the next day I’m not.
As to Acuna. He is a great player but the 40/70 mention is not fair to the greatest before him. Had there been pizza box bases, oven mitt gloves and pitch clock rules then, what kind of stats would Willie Mays have had? Forget the power, how many steals would Rickey, Lou and/or Maury have had under the rules of today?
I recall a “debate” I had in a bar a few years ago. Talking about records that would never be broken. Every individual and team record brought up would be argued. Until I said “One record that will never be broken is the ’71 Orioles having four 20-game winners. You’d have to have five to break it”. The place went silent and I got free drinks for an hour.
Fever- I’m willing to give Breslow some time but I think a lot of fans are only going to grow more impatient as Montgomery and Snell are Boras clients and there’s a good chance they wait until deep into the offseason before they sign anywhere. So does the rest of the market wait until they’re signed? If so, it’s going to be a long winter. LOL
I hope Henry is ready to win again, but that’s another “I’ll believe it when I see it” situation.
Dewey – I’ve thought the exact same thing. Rickey would’ve stole one or two bases every time he got on base under the same conditions. I’m glad stealing bases has become more common with the new rules because it’s fun to watch, but it’s certainly not the same without the tension of another throw over to first being a possibility.
I.M., I have had the same type of discussions and remember saying that about Fernando Tatis’s record of hitting two grand slams in the same inning. Would certainly think that one would never be broken. But I guess that this great game teaches us to say ” never say never “.
Thanks for the memory, and my Bucs with Clemente winning that WS against the four 20-game winners!
And if Acuna ran against that era’s catchers how many steals would he have.
There is a reason they changed the rules & the equipment the equipment the catchers became to hood at throwing out runners.
Every pitcher throws 90 plus so they are all faster to the plate.
Back in the days there was an emphasis on stealing bases because it was easier.
Stop with the older generations nonsense.
Eras are eras. And Acuna is the best power/speed combo the sport has ever seen.
Just sit back and enjoy his greatness instead of looking for ways to discredit his accomplishments.
As long as these analytic nerds run the teams you won’t see it that’s for sure.
RAJ#13. MLB will name awards in his name after he retires, Go Braves !
Insane to think of 4 20 game winners on one team when in today’s game of diluted talent ,if you have one in both leagues it’s historic. Acuna doesn’t face the likes of Carlton Seaver Palmer Gibson Jenkins ….
Those Bucs teams were a thorn in my philles side for years. Thanks for Dave Cash.
No one is discrediting Acuna, just stating the advantages that today’s players have over those of the past. The equipment has nothing to do with catchers being too good at throwing players out, which I definitely question. The limited throws over to first most DEFINITELY give today’s players a HUGE advantage. As soon as those two throws over have occurred it’s game on. Rickey is still the greatest base stealer of all time.
Great answer. Cuellar, Palmer, McNally and Dobson. Amazing year they had. Next bar question is to discuss when there will be even two 20 game winners on a club (one is still doable).
Are we forgetting henderson stole 100 bases? If stealing was so easy now why didn’t more people steal 70? Or even 50? I don’t see Acuna’s 40/70 season as a sign of the times or rule changes, I think it’s that acuna is incredibly talented
Grn, I actually didn’t like Rickey stealing because he could. Many were in stupid situations and I would love to have seen his next at bat against Bob Gibson. Every one mentions Bob because never took anything from anyone….
dewey – Depends on whether you’re both patient and impatient about the same things. Haha!
As for Acuna, you’re right about all those factors but the biggest reason he got so many SB’s is because of the new pickoff rule. A pitcher can throw to first base or fake a throw to first base only twice for every plate appearance.
That means Acuna can take large leads, unlike in the past when a pitcher would throw to first base 3 or more times keeping the runner close.
grnmtn – It’s impossible to predict Boras, but if he drags his feet too long then teams will pivot to signing Shota or trading for Burnes. I think Boras is waiting to see what Shota will get.
JD Martinez didn’t sign until Feb. 26 and that definitely lowered his contract amount.
IM Insane, comment of the day. I love it. Going to use it tonight LOL
How do you not see Acunas 70 sbs as aided by the rule changes? It got easier to steal bases this year with bigger bases and limited pickoff opportunities. that is an obvious fact.
I don’t think anyone here is saying that he’s not good. But it is a completely valid point to say that he wouldn’t have had 70 sbs in 2023 without the rule change boost.
@steeler
Until Acuna has 1407 stolen bases, I’ll stick with Rickey Henderson. Acuna has 180 over six seasons, although Covid & 2020 isn’t his fault or problem. But you’d have to acknowledge the change of bases, mitts etc helped Acuna. I’ll have a $1 bet with you – Acuna doesn’t finish with half of Rickey’s SB number…
And I really enjoy watching the Braves, Acuna, Olson etc etc. So no disrespect on those guys…
Cal Ripken Jr’s consecutive games played record will never be broken either. Most players don’t want to play in every single game in a season, let alone every single game for a decade and a half.
I think Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak is fairly safe as well
Lost in this conversation is Vince Coleman. He had the misfortune of playing in the same era as Ricky. Plus Vince had Willie McGee in front of him.
Those numbers will NEVER be broken. Those guys threw caution to the wind. Today their agent would remind them of the coin they earn $$!
Rickey had 3 100+ steals in a seaaon and 6 total seasons where he stole 80 or more bases.
Vince Coleman had 3 consecutive seasons with 100+ steals and 4 total seasons with 80+ steals.
Tim Raines never stole 100 bases in a season (did steal 90 once) but had 6 consecutive seasons with 70+ stolen bases.
Stealing bases used to be much easier in the 80’s because players actually worked at being good at it. The shift to power and the emphasis on Home Runs from the 90’s onward made stealing bases a lost art
Similar to Denny McClain’s historic 1968 season when he won 31 games or Bob Gibson’s 1.12 ERA
Neither will likely be repeated
I don’t see anyone breaking Johnny Vander Meer’s record of consecutive no hitters either.
The GM is Johns arm it does what John wants you can’t spend money John does not OK
That team had 71 complete games… Not sure if that’s a record, but that will never get close again
Carlton in 72 was to me was the most dominant season by a pitcher in mlb history ,made more ridiculously dominant by the pathetic philles team fielded behind him. 27-10 1.97 Era. 30 cg 340 plus innings pitched 300 plus punchouts 0.993 whip 3.56 k/bb wow !!!! On a philles team that lost 97 games. Never likely repeated.
Not taking anything away from the O’s staff accomplishments, with 5 man rotations now a days, the SP’s don’t get near the starts they used to, and 20 game winners are far and few. I also know back in that era the complete game numbers were way over what they are today. Just saying but you’re right, it won’t happen again.
I’m still impatient as the off-season winds but I do agree with Fever that we will get a starting pitcher. The question is, who?
They already said Montgomery was out of the price range. Probably the same for Snell, who is really not worth the price anyway.
The Red Sox have not said Montgomery is out of their price range. Some anonymous industry insider said that to Sean McAdam who reported it. So, I think it is a rumor and not a fact.
@all in the suit It very well could be a rumored report, but do you honestly think they’re going to sign Montgomery at this point? Chaim Breslow has made it clear from the beginning that trades are going to be his main way of acquiring talent.
There’s still hope, but I still feel Breslow is late to the game and I honestly don’t believe Montgomery or Snell (thank goodness on that one) are in the cards at this point.
The fact that we are prioritizing Paxton is a bit alarming. I’d take the guy back, but why reports of this and not Montgomery/Snell? Rumor or not, the possibility of signing Montgomery seems slim.
You may be right, but Breslow has said he will look at all ways of improving the MLB roster. So, I think he is open to signing free agents and making trades. We also don’t know if Breslow is willing to overpay for free agents or if he will set a max and not go over it. Boras probably has a ridiculous asking price for Montgomery now and it looks like no team is biting. So, I am not sure what is really going on.
Breslow did say there is no limit to signing free agents, but I haven’t seen that yet. I think there’s a bit of divide between what Breslow wants and what Henry wants so it’s a bit murky on the free agent market.
I will say (disagree or not disagree, fine) that I feel Breslow is very reminiscent of Bloom so far. The one thing he has that Bloom didn’t is a plan, but other than that, his free agent signings and trades all feel eerily similar to Bloom, at least to me. Maybe the better side of Bloom, but still with the notion of low price, possible high upside. Taking a lot of chances with low priced guys that won’t hurt us in the long run but may or may not help us today.
I really have no clue what to think moving forward. It just doesn’t seem like everyone is on the same page, which does not bode well for this team.
suit – What about the alleged $300M offer to Yama that both the Red Sox and Giants made, did that turn out to be false?
Supposedly no formal offer was ever made.
Fever: That is a great question. I don’t think we can know for sure unless we trust Jim Bowden who reported that the Giants and Red Sox offered Yamamoto more than $300M. There seem to be no leaks out of the Red Sox front office until after someone gets fired.
si.com/mlb/giants/news/mlb-free-agent-sf-giants-re…
Maybe the Red Sox offered over $300M as an initial offer which each team was required to make to show they were serious and then, when Yamamoto didn’t visit Fenway, they didn’t submit a final offer.
Exactly.. after 4 years the patients is a thin as paper cuz ive legit had enough .. this is Boston redsox not Pittsburgh pirates ..
Patients are people seeking medical attention
Patience is the word you’re looking for
SMH
Lmfao here we ago theirs always that someone .. how about there’s a thing called auto correct ever hear of it?? If ur not gonna talk baseball than bounce ..
The Red Sox have a major lefty issue in their bullpen….not sure how they will address it. Champman? Yeash
You can be patient when they win 78 games next year . After being told they were going Full Throttle this off season is this what you expected. Henry should sell this team
Spoiled fans. Decades of futility erased years ago. I can be patient. Still think they didn’t go low enough the year before last. They should’ve traded everyone to get below the tax then.
lucky- they should’ve traded everyone the winter of 2019
agree…they should have traded all assets, especially Sale, Boegarts, and Eovaldi. The fact that they didn’t even get under the salary for CBT was so pathetic and cost them a round of drafting on two picks
Who do you feel qualifies as “solid”? If we’re to believe the reports, it seems like Montgomery and Snell are out of Henry’s price range. Imanaga’s unproven in the MLB and Giolito is not someone I want to watch pitch at Fenway. I also personally don’t think Burnes is going anywhere, though I’d love it if he did.
To my thinking, that only leaves Bieber and Cease as serious impact pitchers who might be available, and neither is coming off the most compelling year. Not sure I’d want to gut the farm system for someone who posted a mid-4’s ERA last season if I was Breslow. I think we’re most likely looking at the James Paxton tier, which is not nearly enough to bridge the gulf between the Sox and the other four teams in the East.
I’m begging you to make me more optimistic, though—I want to believe!
crocus – If you mean the report that the Sox are focusing on 2nd-tier-level pitchers right now, does it really matter if they get a B-level pitcher first and then go for an A-level after that?
I’m not going to let it spoil my holidays, I’ll sound off in March if they don’t acquire at least one really good pitcher. And if they acquire Giolito before then, I will sound off sooner. Haha!
Sign Giolito, Lorenzen, and Paxton… six-man rotation, flip Sale, Paxton, and Lorenzen at the deadline.
Ditto Merrifield and Duval…sign and trade.
Eat money on trades and add prospects to get better assets with long-term value.
Twenty years ago you would have been crucified for a comment like that! The Red Sox willingly rode the fan intensity all the way to the top of the list for high revenue teams! Shouldn’t they be held accountable to the standard they set to begin with? If they change the landscape…we don’t need to politely sit by and continue to pay through the nose for the pleasure of being a Sox fan……Do you even have a pulse man???
JV – You obviously are not familiar with my postings throughout the years! Haha!
In a nutshell, I have been very very vocal during the past few years. But with Bloom gone and Henry saying he’s mad about the losing, I will give them a clean slate and the benefit of the doubt AT LEAST until Opening Day.
I admire your passion though!
My take on all this is that Breslow is simply replacing Bloom as the navigator to get the team to where ownership directed it to go four years ago. No change in direction; just a change in who’s charged with taking them there. Unfortunately, this likely adds at least two years to our ETA for getting there.
Looking at the Os, Dodgers, Astros, Rangers, Braves, and the Sox, they are not close to competing with these teams. They need to “patiently” build a sustainable death star of young talent like the O’s, and the resources to sign free agents in their prime.
I hope they stay disciplined and use their capital on short-money deals to address specific needs until the next wave of cheap, productive players arrives (Mayer, Anthony, and Teel).. and a few years of developing pitching.
What part of baseball is no longer cheap .. bench players who don’t deserve it r getting crazy deals .. baseball is beyond fixable
The Sox are in a bad spot. o’s, Yanks and Toronto are going to bring it. Tampa Bay is usually in the picture. I just don’t see the Sox getting out of the AL East basement for the next 2 years. It’s not that they’re a bad team, just don’t have the farm or the wallet to compete against those guys. They need to embrace the tank and not waste money on overpriced middle of the road free agents who are the equivalent to a 2 at 10 (beginning of free agency) and a 10 at 2 (when spring training gets underway and teams are desperate). Dont go hogging. You’ll regret it in the morning.
Rob – I think if one team sinks to the bottom of the division, it will be Tampa.
Losing Franco and Glasnow are two major blows.
They are a bad team we need to own that
My best guess is the Sox will sign Gialito with decent early money and an opt-out clause after two years.
Montgomery will have to leave money and a year to come to Boston if his wife wants to be a Doctor in the Boston area—five years at $135 or 27 million a year. If Boras is holding our for six years at closer to 30 Million, Boston is out. Sales contract is off the books in 2025.
It would be wise for the Sox to add SP depth with their money… Paxton, Lorenzen, Clevinger, and Montas. type deals, decent one-year offers, and use their bullpen depth (Houk/Whitlock/Crawford) to protect these guys’ health and 3rd time through the order.
If they add Merrifield and Duval on pillow contracts and add SP depth, they can use these assets to delay prospects’ arrival and provide assets to trade. The Sox can start combing these types of trades with non-top ten prospects to keep building on the quality of their core foundation.
Breslow needs time to transform Red Sox pitching development….I suspect he is looking closely at the Indians.
I think you are right about needing time to “transform RS pitching development”–in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Breslow has so much faith in the new brain trust of Willard and Bailey that their immediate goal is working with present pitchers all through the org to focus on getting stuff to tick up, throw strikes, remake pitch shape as needed, and focus on sequencing. In other words, three sculptors walked into a room of clay. It may very well be that, with less than stellar options now available in trade or FA for a front-line starter, the Ops people are looking at a system-wide makeover–and they may now have the development people to start making it happen.
Horace Flury….I enjoyed the Fangraph discussion speculating on Breslow’s approach to pitching, it was referenced in Sunday notes and then an article on rethinking the shape and deception of pitches. Thanks for your comment!
Impatient? The Sox have been rumored to be in on every free agent and trade candidate in the past 3 years. Who have they signed?
That is a fair point, but they have built a better list of quality prospects for greater sustainability and potential trades. However, they have also damaged their brand in this competitive sports market. The owners don’t want to lose money and have the cash to spend, with more coming off the books in 2025 (Sale).
I guess we will know more in the next four weeks about whether they will spend in the short term to be decent while still building something that can compete with the elite teams..
No 1 cuz it’s not true .. they have not been in on everyone these reporters r fabricating crap … They asked someone close.too the Sox and he said Jordan Montgomery is out of their price range.. so they were never going to spend.. they just want their season ticket holders too not cancel them so that’s what they do…
hard to know if this was just sending a message to Boras when his client actually wants to be in Boston with his wife and the Sox won’t go to a certain level.. I take all of this rumor stuff as just rumors….and part of the dance of negotiations.
I feel you’re going to be right…and wrong. They will acquire both, but they will be like Corey Kluber last year. The Yankees and Red Sox are not the free spenders they were in the early 2000’s. They have been surpassed in the spending game, whether we like it or not.
Why do you believe that? What in the last 4 years gives you the impression they will bow actually sign a big time player?
I agree. However, a lot has come to light since Yamamoto signed. The red Sox don’t seem to be seriously interested in anyone that can make a difference. I hope they have a trade up their sleeve because I’m not impressed with many other options. I’m also becoming increasingly convinced that some of the other front office people that survived bloom have more to say than we realize.
Tang – Kennedy, O’Halloran and Cora will be with the Red Sox as long as Henry owns the team. And yeah, they do have a lot to say.
Sox will show interest in all big free agents and sign lower tier free agents
Considering the Bucs need another starting pitcher, my prediction is there will be a trade that will include 2 of the middle infielders since they have a glut of them
I’d be more than ok to have Gonzales and Triolo being traded for SP. But even that won’t give them much better than what they have with Contreras, Ortiz, and so on. Oviedo is out for the year and has yet to be placed on the injured reserve list. That allowing the pirates to open a 40 man spot for the year.
No 60 man IL until Spring Training.
So many Pirates fans think Triolo is the next big thing because of how well he hit down the stretch ignoring that he had a .125 BABIP on pop ups and the league averages 0.015 on Pop ups. And there’s no reason to think he can sustain above average.
Noah Wright from Rum Bunter? Is that you?
@Human Being, it is so insulting to be confused for that guy that I feel the pain in my chest.
Without more hard contact I don’t think he can sustain his BA, but with his well above average speed and contact skills he does have the tools to regularly have a BABIP that’s higher than one would suspect (much like Starling Marte in his prime).
I don’t really want him traded because of his glove. He’s elite defensively at 3b, 2b, and 1b, and very good at SS. I think that’s a little undervalued. If he just hits in the .250-.270 range with a little pop that’s good enough to be an above average regular with his defense and BB%.
I’m totally down to trade Nick G and Peguero, but I’m very interested to see what Triolo offers in a full-time role at 2b.
No way you trade Triolo. The kid has an elite glove to be sure, but having ditched the crouch he’d had previously, yes, he hit well and with power down the stretch. Out of the glut of middle infielders he should be the one labeled untouchable unless there is some sort of incredible package
Add to this that it would seem Triolo can move into 1st base (sorry, I’m not impressed by the Tellez signing), an area of need for this team
Don’t know that it means much anyway. I’ll go counter to TheMan3’s prediction and say they’ll sign one of the remaining free agents out there or simply hope one of their young guns shows readiness in spring training. They’re in a strange conundrum with three surgically repaired arms returning mid-season and a number of young studs on the cusp of arrival at this level. I’d hope they’d think long and hard about any trade of their young guys as it still appears that ‘24 will be a “tread water” year in prep for ‘25, when they’ll have health (hopefully) and a year of maturity
Hey, what site did you pull these stats from? I am a stats nerd and want to lose hours of my life.
Not fangraphs
They have triolo with 2 infield fly balls hit.
Triolo brings back memories of Joe Rudi in his prime…just a flat-out good ball player.
I hope the Buccos hang on to him.
Hey, good analogy. Apparently a lot of folks here ignored Pirates baseball when September came. Guess that explains some of the comments which casually dismiss Triolo
Triolo and Gonzales are the best alternatives to add pitching. No one wants to trade anyone but want pitching with a full roster. Reynolds, Hayes, Jack, Davis, McCutchen, Cruz, and all catching options, are no trade. That doesn’t leave too many pieces besides INF options that are not seeing major roles. Triolo and Gonzales will not have major roles going forward
Unless you have a crystal ball, that’s nonsense.
It’s logical to think this team will not make a big impact in 2024, even if they bring in one pitcher. To package a guy like Triolo, who arguably *has* shown the ability to hit and field in return for what likely would be a rent-a-pitcher who’s traded at deadline time for prospects once again lacks sense
Don’t misconstrue, as I’m not a member of either player’s “fan club”. Either or both may prove to be yet another flop. But it’s too early to give up on either in lieu of a season that looks very much like a “let’s try to get to .500” season
DreamGM says “the rebuild is over”. Hardly. It will be when the starting pitching staff has depth thanks to the young guns joining the surgically repaired, when there is depth in the outfield and at 1st
Agree 100% with your thoughts about middle infield being the only area they can trade from. The question is, why now?
Triolo stock will not get any higher and Gonzales is stuck in AAA. Both guys can be moved for a mid rotation piece. Rather that is a one year or multiple years, it will be a trade that keeps on giving. Pirates need roster space and anyone else will get picked up on a waiver claim. These two are legit guys you can package with and trade. Both are middle infielders with Triolo also able to play all INF positions besides catcher and pitcher. He is a utility guy and the Pirates have enough of those stashed at the minors. Gonzales is getting passed by and trading both Triolo and Gonzales, would benefit all parties. Pirates getting pitching and both players get utilized with another club. It’s a win win. Pirates would be able to trade the pitcher they just get later on down the road for another potential piece. It’s part of being the small market club. Royals, Rays, A’s (they did a complete rebuild this latest time), Braves, and Twins all have used this method and effectively. That Archer trade (adding salt to open wound) is still giving to the Rays. Meadows was traded from the Rays and they got a solid player in return. This Glasnow trade to the dodgers is a wait and see. But I expect at least one player is going to be very good for the Rays.
So, if you want the Pirates to be relevant and compete for something other than a number 1 draft pick yearly, moves like trading Triolo and Gonzales for a SP (what the pirates desperately need) helps move the Pirates up the mountain. You can’t just fall in love with a player when he probably hit his ceiling last year and has some trade value (especially with control years) whom can add a major pieces to this jigsaw puzzle. These two players make sense to trade and that is why there is so much opposition. Depth at middle INF is very deep. So deep it goes all the way to high A ball with Tamar. It won’t be long before he is at AAA waiting for his shot as well.
@CooperCannon I got the stat from Jon Anderson, but I got it wrong! He has a .250 BABIP on pop ups, but more importantly a .440 BABIP which is literally #1 of the over 31,000 batters to have at least 100 ABs in a season.
twitter.com/JonPgh/status/1735830495621947617?t=Co…
You can ask him what he uses, he definitely has cool projections and I think you’ll like his stuff if you are a stats nerd.
Fan, “falling in love” is definitely the wrong wording here, lol
I simply think that Triolo offers the greatest upside to a team that’s likely not going anywhere in ‘24, let alone be looked at as “relevant”.
Gonzales, Williams, Bae…sure. Throw Joe into the mix, too. I simply think that they’ll regret trading this particular player when the return will likely be light in preparation for their starting staff going from famine to feast by mid season
And truthfully, given the revolving door of prospects who’ve come to this level and shown nothing, Triolo looks like a keeper in comparison. Perhaps that’s my issue—the pipeline keeps producing guys who just aren’t guys who are going to push the team forward
As for Termarr, you’re right. He looks like the heir apparent to all of this if he can refine his hitting a bit
Enjoyed your insights. Thx
Ortiz and Contreras are both too inconsistent and BC has repeatedly said that his goal is to trade for another starting pitcher
Already having a full 40 man roster and having to open up a spot for Perez, trading 2 players will be necessary
They will probably have to include a lower level prospect or two. I’m not sure if they still match up with the Marlins for Edward Cabrera, who may need MLB pieces for him. If not, they should go after Cole Irvin or Sears/Blackburn from Oakland and get an extra OF back maybe? These guys aren’t studs but are young and affordable and will give you innings. Get one of them and get Skenes midseason, one of Priester/Roasny to bounce back, and rotation will be surprisingly good.
I just don’t believe Contreras will ever come back and I say that with sympathy. The kid lost all confidence in himself and with it, a great deal of speed and control. Just a shame but he had a couple starts in which he got hammered in ‘22 and that seemed to carry over this past season
Every individual is different, of course. Perhaps the Pirates have personnel that work on the psyche, too, but to me at least, it’s even more difficult than correcting mechanical issues
Ortiz at least seemed to have regained his speed and control after being sent down late summer.
Brealow is either genius or inept. I lean the former. Sox have been connected to no less than 30 FA reported by this site alone. Either he is showing his cards or playing media like a fiddle. Nevertheless, it has already led to fan fatigue. Before you report the next player Sox are interested in, just know that Sox fans already don’t believe you.
You’re right what happened they were supposed to go Full Throttle this off season now I’ve heard Jordan Montgomery isn’t in their price range
He is not playing the media like a fiddle, they do that fine on their own, and if you believe half the garbage the Media creates, then you are getting played as well.
darrick – I’d say Breslow is a highly intelligent rookie.
Intelligence and knowledge are not the same thing, he has the first and will need time to get the second.
Happy New Year all.
This one – Why isn’t the new year here yet? What’s going on? It shouldn’t take this long. This sucks! We aren’t gonna get a new year, we will be stuck with the same old year as always. Nothing will change, it will be 2023 forever!
Haha …. sorry, I think the impatient others are starting to get to me!
Happy New Year to you as well :O)
Hahaha…I am the same way about Spring Training.
Time to watch some daggone baseball!
This One – There is a ST stadium, I won’t say which one, that has a fan fest in January which includes opening up the park and providing free food and beverages while kids are allowed to run around the field and play catch.
Every year that day I sit in the stands, free hot dogs in each hand, and for that brief moment it feels like baseball season is already here.
I just don’t know who the pirates are expecting to trade for? Not many teams have starting pitching they are willing to part with and really not any teams completely tearing the rosters down. Oakland seems content with standing pat. I also don’t believe they are good trade partners with marlins or white Sox
How about the Tigers? They have Matt Manning who has thrown well when he is on the mound and they need bats and IF starters. He doesnt strike a lot of people out but has good control and he also threw a no hitter last year. He’s a #3 or #4 right now with potential for more. Gonzales, Brannigan and a decent A ball arm or…trade Termarr Johnson and add pieces on either side to even it out and address other needs.
Termarr won’t be included in any deals
Gorski, Cheng, Palacios and Forrester for Shane Bieber. Fits needs on all sides and the Bucs don’t part with any Top 10 prospects. Clears two 40-man spots to slide in Bieber and Perez.
Maybe the Pirates need to throw in a lotto ticket too like a Tony Blanco.
I am a Pirate fan but I read this as Cheng for Bieber in terms of real trade capital (I’ll give Forrester a little). While Bieber is no longer any where near an ace, I think Indians give a hard NO.
I have read that the Marlins need infield and catching help which are a surplus in Pittsburgh. I think that makes them a good match with the Marlins. Trade Gonzales or Peguero, Gutierrez and a decent lower level pitching prospect and you get it done..
Puguero’s name has been mentioned in some trade reports from my understanding
Red Sox management has not adjusted to this era of long term contracts for top players. Their analytics (and their experience with Sale and Price) tell them that back half of these deals especially do not end well (think Cabrera, pujols). They eventually came around on Devers but he is in his mid 20’s and has had a mostly injury free career). I don’t see them changing this philosophy. They will continue to try to mine the latter part of free agency for deals that fit their comfort level. They will sign a Montgomery for four years at a high average value bringing him into his mid 30’s but will not go 6 or 7 years as some other team inevitably will. I think Bloom was executing an ownership philosophy, Breslow will do the same.
Roman – Agreed. The Red Sox ownership will continue to build the team through the draft and international free agency, but it takes time to do that! The Red Sox have or will rid themselves of expensive contracts for Bogaerts, JD, and Sale after 2024, and brought up the likes of: Duran, Abreu, Casas, Bello, Crawford, ,… Soon (the next year or two) additions like Mayer, Teel, Anthony, Fitts will make the ‘core’ younger and cheap, so the Red Sox can fill in the gaps with free agents. In 2024 the Red Sox May finish in last place, but if the young players make big strides, then IMO it will be a positive outcome (managing expectations).
I hope you are wrong about long-term contracts… I hope Atlanta’s model of committing early to their young players is an example after missing the opportunity with Betts. He was gone once he got within two years of free agency and saw the lack of a road map. I wonder if they locked him after two years….he would have signed.
The Red Sox repeatedly tried to lock up Betts in the three years BEFORE ARBITRATION, and he would not sign an extension. It was VERY contentious as he and the team could not agree on his pre-arbitration salary. Betts was a goner. I do not think he would have signed for anything less than 10 years, and the Red Sox did not go 10 years until they were ‘forced’ to with Devers.
The fact they couldn’t agree on a pre-arbitration salary is problematic and should not have been contentious when dealing with a generational player. He is an incredible person, so keeping him validated was well worth giving what he wants in pre-arbitration. Boston is not an easy place to be as a young man of color with a gentle, kind demeanor. I’m not sure he would have signed even if he was looking at a ten-year contract. his contract changed the industry, and he ended up in a place he felt more comfortable off the field. But your original point is well taken and I do remember the salary issue coming up early inhis Boston career.
Prophet – Totally agree. Boston is a tough place to play as a person of color, and I believe he was never, ever going to sign in Boston.
JC#1…I was talking to a Globe beat writer, and his anger about losing Mookie, the person, was visceral. They loved the guy and his decency.
The ownership should have made an exception for a player like Mookie Betts, and they should have given him what he wanted. Then again, maybe the ownership did, and maybe Mookie just wanted to play in nicer weather and a less intense environment. Players do not always take the most money.
Spring Training Countdown website says there are 44 days until spring training and baseball Savant says there are 55 days until Spring Training games.
springtrainingcountdown.com/
baseballsavant.mlb.com/
Pitchers and catchers report sooner then other position players, 10 days I think. One is probably going off when first players arrive and the other when they are all there
My apologies I read your post incorrectly
Baseball Savant is counting down to the first spring training games while STC counts down to when spring training camps open.
Old – All that matters is Truck Day.
Real Sox fans know what I’m talkin’ about.
Pirates trading Cheng, Bae, Peguero and/or Williams would fit to make room.
Either as a package to pick up non-40man players or for a single credible starter would be perfect.
Smith Njigba (sp?) would also be on my short list to trade just to free up 40man space. One of those that done too good in the minors to just let go.
Probably Joe too.
Who they going to get with those players? Peguero or Bae may get something if packaged with other players but it would cause 40 man issues with other teams. They probably need to keep Bae as 4th outfielder due to ability to play center.
Agree with this entirely. I think you let the team pick from Cheng, Nick G, and Peguero (whoever they like best), add in a good younger starting pitching prospect (Chandler, Ashcraft, Harrington, etc.), and then use guys from a lower tier like CSN (if they don’t have a 40-man roster crunch) or Bowen/Tres G/etc. and you could land one of the better starting pitchers on the trade market.
With Brannigan and Johnson starting in AA next season (probably), the Pirates don’t really even need two of Peguero/Nick G/Cheng. If someone really likes two of them I’m not opposed to doing it, although you don’t want to decimate MLB depth at a position just to strengthen another.
Maybe we see different pitchers in Chandler but jeez, I would hope he’s not part of any package
That said, I don’t think any of these types of players will yield the “better starting pitchers on the market” you write of here
@steve as mentioned picking up non-40man and/or some sort of starter. also as mentioned and/or along with package statements addresses most of your comment.
If other teams are trading for these players then they likely need someone at the position on their 40man.
pirates are good on OF if you are generally keeping status quo, Bae could go if they don’t trade or let go many others. Reynolds and Suwinski can take Center. then in right Joe mostly. Triolo assuming he isn’t in the infield and is hitting. Olivares and Cutch in the mix if needed in a pinch. Possibly Davis if he is not catching that day.
I do like Bae though. I think he is better than he has shown.
they could probably just DFA Palacios and problem is solved lol.
I also think Bae is better than he has shown so far. He obviously got speed and isn’t afraid to run into a wall or make a diving stretch to get a fly ball.
I look at that Acuña deal and cringe for him. I get that he will still be young enough by it’s conclusion to make more money, that he is still paid incredibly well by any normal standard, but by his profession’s standard he’s underpaid by about half and he’s probably giving up around $125M or more by having signed that deal.
I hope ATL does the right thing and agrees to a restructure before his option years kick in, converts those from $17M options into the first two years of a 12 year/$360M extension.
Even by that measure he would be leaving between $60M and $180M on the table in the form of market value and what a bidding war would generate for him on the open market. But that’s better than leaving as much as $250M on the table.
There’s home team/early extension discounts and then there’s getting fleeced, and his contract straddles that line.
Adjust it from a potential 10 years/$123.5M deal into a 20 year/$449.5M deal. Still keeps the AAV at an Atlanta-like $22.475M, which is in line with their typical contracts.
Acuna took a sure thing early on, so of course he had to give something up for that. Plenty of examples where it’s worked out the other way, for the player rather than the team.
The Braves just ate the remainder of the $24M Seattle gave their former top prospect, Evan White, who as it turns out would never have earned anywhere close to that amount.
What I would like to see is on a yearly basis, have divisions change based on yearly payroll from the prior year. Every team already plays every other team, so divisional rivalries are not as important as they used to be. Plus it would make every division exciting. Instead of watching the Dodgers have the NL West locked up in July, you have them in the same division as the Yankees and Phillies. That way we could see who is truly good at their jobs instead of just seeing who has the most money in their particular location. Then the next year, you could alter them again based on this year’s final payroll so a team that cuts payroll like the Padres could fall back and a team whose young players start moving up in salary like Baltimore would increase competition.
It will NEVER happen, but I can always wish..
4. Someone please wake up Jed Hoyer.
I think if the red sox end up signing teoscar hernandez its going to set off a chain reaction of moves most likley trades
That’s what they keep saying after every move. But the reality is that Boras is going to take his sweet time with his guys. He will wait out the market until he gets what he wants for his clients. Sometimes to their disadvantage, but most of the time, someone ends up paying the piper.
I meant specifically for boston since they will have an excess of young decent controllable outfielders from which they can trade
The Pirates roster spot will be opened with a Falter, Selby, Palacios or Smith-Njigba DFA move after numerous fruitless attempts by BC to trade for a starting pitcher with multiple years of control.
Jeez, I hope you’re wrong about Palacios. He’s not an all star but he had to be one of the team’s feel good stories of ‘23
How was he a feel good story with a wRC+ of 83 last season and a career total at 72?
That’s 28% lower than a league average hitter as a 27 year old after his ‘best’ season.
Terrier, I get the stats. Really, I do
Watching this team game in and game out however, perhaps it’s just the eye test with an old school fan. The kid plays hard and with fire. He had a few big time homers this season when the team needed them
Look, there are those here who wish to keep pointing to Suwinski’s stats as indicative of an all star. Maybe someday, when he can cut his strikeouts down substantially
Sorry, the stats often don’t tell the whole story
True. 40/70 never been done. Neither has 50/100
And I think Acuna could do that.