TheFutureIsNear

Still think a realistic and successful off season starts with Wheeler and Ozuna. Anything on top is gravy to me. Make a minor trade for Travis Shaw and sign 2 low risk/high reward pen arms and I’m a happy fan. I think a lot of you are setting yourselves up for disappointment with the expectations I’m reading...again

My prediction is a random mediocre veteran that we are all going to question

Idk, I guess I’m just not shocked that a team that was unarguably 1 of the least talented teams in the league going into the season ended up as a bottom 5 offense. And then we could go into the fact that our head coach is openly against using analytics...but maybe Steverson was as well, I have no idea about that. Either way it’s not a big deal to me that he was fired, but I just find it odd you are confused why the lineup performed so poorly. I could have broken the news to you that we were going to suck at all those stats before the season even started.

Meh I don’t really care either way because I think hitting/pitching coaches are extremely overrated in modern baseball, but I also don’t really understand the criticism either. A really bad roster resulted in a really bad offense...what was expected out of the hitting coach that you guys didn’t see?

If we want a cheap, LH utility guy with power from the Brewers I think Travis Shaw makes a ton of sense provided the trade price is very cheap...which I imagine it will be. He had 2 years of arb left and was at 4.5M this year, can’t see it going up much considering he was in the minors. Also can’t see the Brewers holding onto him. Not sure what happened to him this year, but 2017 and 2018 he had 30+ hrs with an .820+ OPS. Cant speak to the level of his D, but has played 2B, 3B and 1B recently.

He’s been talked about a little bit, but Howie Kendrick wouldn’t be a bad name to look at for a relatively cheap short term deal. Can play 2B until Madrigal is up and then can shift to a utility role playing 2B/1B/LF. Wade Miley could also be a sneaky very solid signing to stabilize the rotation that won’t break the bank. Edit: just now reading the part about under $5M, that’s tough. Miley will for sure get more. Kendrick will probably be close, but might go a little over

No. Mookie Betts doesn’t win us a World Series this year and ownership isn’t giving him a Trout like deal at any point. So Jake Burger and Carson Fulmer would be the most I’d offer...your move Boston

Sure, if it’s JD or nothing I’m not going to pass on him, but in general it’s not a great idea to paint yourself into a corner with too many guys that can only play 1B/DH. Or if I thought JD would put us over the top into WS contention it would be another story. But we are still pretty far from that so I think overall roster building still needs to be kept in mind. Especially with older vets

Yeah In a perfect world....But We all know this isn’t going to happen.

My bad on Haniger, don’t know why I was so sure he’s LH...still wouldn’t deter me from checking into the price as I think he’s be a great fit regardless and could he had at a discount. Also, I’m not sure why people are afraid to trade prospects. Obviously we need to hold onto the core top 6/7 guys, but to me we tanked to have prospects to use as value chips. Can’t wait on all of them... Also, JD Martinez sounds great in theory, but how would we get either Collins or Vaughn AB’s if we presumably have Jose and JD locked into 1B/DH for 2+ years? Obviously a bat like JD’s would be great, but I dont think it’s a great idea to block 2 recent top 10 picks

I’m sure I can’t be the only 1 chomping at the bit to mock the Sox off season....don’t know if I have the authority to make an “official” thread, but makes sense to keep them all in 1 spot. Anyway, here’s mine: Trade with Mariners: Steele Walker, Gavin Sheets, and Konnor Pilkington for Mitch Haniger Free Agent Signings: Marcell Ozuna, Zack Wheeler, Alex Wood, Travis d’Arnaud, Brad Bach, Collin Mchugh 26 Man Roster by Mid May: CF- Robert 3B- Moncada 1B/DH- Jose RF- Haniger LF- Ozuna DH/LF- Eloy SS- Anderson C- McCann 2B- Madrigal Bench- d’Arnaud, Collins (C/1B/DH), Yolmer, Luery Gio Wheeler Kopech Cease Lopez LH- Wood, Fry RH- Cordero, Brach, McHugh, Marshall Setup: Bummer Closer: Colome Haniger is a LH bat under cheap cost control with good pop and above average D in RF. Coming off a down year and an injury he makes a ton of sense to target. Not sure what his price would be or if anyone would offer a top 100, but I took a stab with what I feel is a solid offer. I know Ozuna isn’t the most popular name here, but to me it’s going to come down to Ozuna or JDM as potential impact bats we have a realistic chance of signing. I chose Ozuna because JD shouldn’t be in the OF and could cause a roster jam with Jose, Collins and Vaughn Wheeler is the best hope for me at SP because I know the Sox aren’t handing out a record setting deal to Cole. Alex wood is a worth a shot on the talent. A role in the pen could also better suit his arm. d’Arnaud is a catcher that is regarded as 1 of the better pitch framers and also has pop. Won’t play a ton, but in order to get Collins AB’s at 1B/DH/ PH we will need a 3rd catcher. Could do worse than d’Arnaud and should be cheap I’d like to do better in the bullpen, but there aren't many great names out there and what is out there will be crazy overpriced. Because I don’t think this is a World Series year, I’m not interested in handing out big bullpen contracts yet. McHugh and Brach have both had success fairly recently and should be had for reasonable deals. If the team is in contention a move for a better RH pen arm at the deadline is always possible Without trying to guess exact contracts I’d say that puts the payroll in the mid 90’s and in position to at least stay in contention in the division.

I’ve actually had the “Sox Guy” feeling about Ozuna...

I guess I just wasn’t factoring Collins as the only backup C all season regardless. Just my opinion of course, but if there’s still questions about his catching ability at this point then he’s probably never going to figure it out as a full time C. Move him to 1B/DH and let the kid concentrate on hitting. That’s where he’s going to prove his value. The lineup could desperately use a guy with Collins’ OBP skills Obviously Grandal would be great, but there are other options as backup catcher. Especially with the extra 26 man on the roster next year. I just don’t want to see another high draft pick flushed down the drain by the Sox...especially without ever seeing him get his shot. Unless he can be packaged for a controlled top 3 starter or quality starting RF.

Why wouldn’t he be able to get another 200-250 AB’s between 1B/DH?

How is getting 500 AB’s (or at least close) for your recent 1st round pick that has proved himself in the minors dependent on signing a free agent? It either has to happen or Collins has to be traded. Anything in between is pointless imo.

Unfortunately I can’t help but be pessimistic with the combo of historically cheap ownership and a history of incompetence in free agency by our front office...I’d be very happy with that off season given what my expectations are

Just switch Collins and Jose in that scenario. I haven’t see much of Collins at 1st, but I can’t imagine he’d be worse than Jose. Especially if given time to work on it in the off-season. Which to me definitely needs to just happen. If Collins’ ability to catch is still very much in question at this point then just scrap it and let the kid hit. Too many things to think about is 1 of the worst things for a young player in my opinion.

Ya I want to see things through with Collins. LH, Good pop, great on base skills...checks a lot of boxes of what we need in our lineup. I’d like to see him get 400-450 AB’s next year...I could see him hitting something like .240/.350/.450

I have absolutely no problem losing 14 names from that list...and there’s a at least 3-4 more that I could go either way on.

Lol you have no clue what you’re even attempting to argue at this point My “mantra” all along was the Sox would have to overpay to sign marquee free agents. So yes, if there is 10’s of millions of $’s difference I 100% agree with you that the player will throw everything else out the window to sign here. All things relatively equal and the player will choose to sign with the more attractive destination. That’s hard for you to understand? Also, our offer to Manny leaking doesn’t = “like every time.” That leaked because it was an attempt for our front office to save face that they gave an actual honest effort to sign him.

Too early. We’ve all seen “can’t miss” prospects fail to get too cocky too early in this rebuild. I really think it’s going to come down to pitching....if Cease and Kopech aren’t what we hoped they were it could be rough sledding trying to assemble a starting pitching staff that is capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs. With that said, I’m not optimistic about the cubs present or future either so could go either way. Although, I’d prefer to start comparing ourselves to teams like the Yankees or Astros real soon and not worry about the cubs at all

Ahh so it’s the “prove me wrong or I’m automatically correct” argument? Got ya Personally I think I’m speaking in common sense. But this is a message board of fans posting their opinions correct? That’s what I’m doing...if you don’t agree thats perfectly fine, i already made my “we can agree to disagree post”. I honestly don’t care if you choose to get your hopes stomped for a 2nd straight year. I don’t do that and choose to deal in what I consider reality. The likes of Rendon and Cole haven’t even crossed my mind for the Sox this off season.

Yeah because you asked me for evidence that’s impossible to provide. Neither you or I have access to the information of exactly what teams bid on free agents. How about you prove me wrong that the player takes the highest bid every time?With evidence of what every team bid. I’ll wait... But go ahead, live in your fairy tale world if it makes you feel better. I was right that the Sox were never going to sign Harper or Machado and I’ll be right again this off season. AGAIN, whatever helps you sleep at night. Myself? I prefer booze and weed to delusion...works much better

Offering significantly more $ than what other teams are offering isn’t the same thing as overpaying to you? But it’s whatever, we can agree to disagree. If it makes you feel better to have hope then go for it. I’ve learned my lesson enough times with the Sox though.

I said the Sox would have to overpay to get marquee free agents...you listed 4 guys that were overpaid to go to bad teams. What goal posts were moved? If anything you moved goal posts by naming the likes of Eric Hosmer and Jayson Werth. I’m talking about great players that have a lot of suitors, I.e. Garrett Cole in this free agent class. I’m not claiming it will be difficult for the Sox to sign an Ozuna or Grandal type of they really want to. I’m saying we have about a 1% chance to sign Cole unless it’s a crazy contract, which we all know isn’t going to happen. Just like I was saying last off season when the Machado/Harper madness was going on here. You are right about a rod tho, for some reason I thought I remembered him struggling with Texas. Clearly he was great.