caulfield12

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cleveland-guardians/jose-ramirez-14106/ Ramirez has two years of control remaining. They're going to ask for Abrams, but I think the package would be something like Gore, Weathers and one more piece, maybe Hassell. (Notice this is NOT similar to the Hosmer salary dumping Mets deal, although that could certainly enter into this too with the Indians' payroll being so low, and maybe sending Reyes back to the Padres as well.)

4.9 fWAR. And VaFan gets points I guess for relentless positivity/optimism. I just wonder if the marketing department sent out a daily Sox Brief with his thoughts....if it would boost season ticket sales or actually have the reverse effect? Every new season, there are lots of possibilities, and then 3-5 things we never imagined were possible, such as Yermin in April and the long list of obscure outfielders who had to fill in for Eloy, Robert and Engel. I get the main point, of course, but trying to cover up for the holes in the starting staff, bullpen and especially the defense (hopefully Sheets never plays RF again) isn't going to make things any better by wishing them away. They do have a better defense simply getting Vaughn and Sheets out of RF, that's inarguable...although opponents will definitely test Pollock's arm from the get-go.

Where are the Indians going to get all their offense? That's assuming they don't trade Rosario. Straw, Rosario, Ramirez, and Reyes....then FIVE really below average or bad hitters, at least as currently constituted. Pretty sure Naylor's out again. That said, they have the potential to get a better year out of their starting pitching compared to the Sox, and Clase was lights out but they don't have the pen depth and Karinchak was a disaster the second half and pretty sure he's also hurt.

Guess that prevented his being traded for Manaea...the dreaded, at least for the Sox, lat strain.

Yes, and he still didn’t have the shoulder surgery…so everything’s up in the air due to trade speculation and how Kim/Abrams handle SS offensively the first half. Both are plus defenders.

They already have an All-Star in Cronenworth there. Ramirez should stay at third unless he’s in better shape.

Uribe had a knack for driving in big runs…especially sac flies with a runner on third and less than two outs, but nothing like Crede in the biggest moments. But he definitely ranks up there for the non-star players as well.

Pretty sure that's third catcher Alfaro, who had a monster spring.

Renteria was just experimenting. Rodon had almost no pen experience before then in his entire career, just 2-3 times the last ten days of the season. Plus he wasn’t given a clean inning, either.

That’s just not in the cards now with Leury and Harrison. He needs to prove he can play 3b/1B/DH everyday and remain healthy for a possible trade or Moncada injury.

Haseley in CF, btw. Does anyone know where Colas and Vera are being assigned? McClure already loaded the bases with one out. Btw, Terrin Vavra’s dadis a big league coach, Joe.

They have Voit, Hosmer, Profar, Myers, Beaty and Abrams who could all DH. No real backup CFer…unless they throw Abrams out there. Just really think they are leery about starting Abrams with 350 minor league at-bats coming out of high school, then the broken leg sidelining him for half of 2021.

Bieber, Plesac, Civale and Rosario among others would be next to go. Building around a volatile fireballing closer in Clase who just signed an extension would be an interesting choice. Or he suddenly starts drawing trade interest from practically every team in baseball with prospects to deal that desires a so-called super pen.

To move Machado back to SS? Seems Preller is really trying to avoid breaking camp with Abrams. Because right now Kim would play against lefties, Abrams against RHP and also getting thrown into the OF mix. Unless they’re dumping Hosmer again and moving Ramirez to 1B/DH. That doesn’t seem to make much sense. Of course, there could be another huge payroll team that wants Jose Ramirez and can afford his extension asking price but doesn’t have prospects to pull it off.

Pulled Kopech... Sheets sucks. 4 walks. Just 94-96. Pollock would have had it, but that was clearly a hanger to Profar. First pitch, looked like he was expecting it.

Playoff swing... sitting dead red.

paupers?

https://apnews.com/article/e702bb9023cb4ba88d8454416731811c This sounds like a positive, although clearly a difference at 32-34 versus 35-36. Always had the rep of basically a workout freak in his younger days. The anti-Lynn.

https://www.mlb.com/news/collin-mchugh-back-with-hometown-braves The other article starts out "lifetime Braves fan Collin McHugh"

Except he always had that preference to stay close to home... plus joining a WS winning team. Would have arguably cost the Sox $12-15 million to change his mind, and ATL might have upped their offer in response.

Except it's quite likely to be no more than $2-3 million...

Just look at it as a buffer investment in preventing Keuchel from reaching his innings target where another $18 million salary kicks in. I highly doubt Hahn was ever planning on paying THAT out in 2023.

Leury will get those two SS starts and plenty of action at 2B if Harrison gets off to a slow start…or a RHP is on the mound.

Or simply sign one reliable veteran 4/5 innings eater better than VV and Cueto…

VV, Josh Harrison…even Leury at the beginning of the offseason for more than two years at age 31, those were the REAL head scratchers. Then the extra year for Graveman and signing Kelly when he wasn’t 100%.