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The Red Sox jumped from the AL East basement in 2015 to first place in 2016, and they own one of the game’s most enviable collections of young talent. Despite all this progress, however, the season ended on the sour note of an ALDS sweep at the hands of the Indians. The Sox have to address some pitching questions, as well as try to replace the irreplaceable in franchise icon David Ortiz.
Guaranteed Contracts
- David Price, SP: $187MM through 2022 (can opt out after 2018)
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B: $71MM through 2021
- Rick Porcello, SP: $62MM through 2019
- Pablo Sandoval, 3B: $53MM through 2019 ($17MM club option for 2020, $5MM buyout)
- Rusney Castillo, OF: $46MM through 2020
- Hanley Ramirez, 1B: $44MM through 2018 ($22MM vesting option for 2019)
- Clay Buchholz, SP/RP: $13.5MM through 2017
- Craig Kimbrel, RP: $13MM through 2017 ($13MM club option for 2018, $1MM buyout)
- Allen Craig, 1B/OF: $11MM through 2017 ($13MM club option for 2018, $1MM buyout)
- Chris Young, OF: $6.5MM through 2017
Arbitration Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projections via MLB Trade Rumors)
- Fernando Abad (5.073) – $2.0MM
- Robbie Ross Jr. (4.100) – $1.8MM
- Joe Kelly (4.029) – $2.6MM
- Drew Pomeranz (4.013) – $4.7MM
- Brock Holt (3.052) – $1.7MM
- Xander Bogaerts (3.042) – $5.7MM
- Bryan Holaday (3.025) – $900K
- Brandon Workman (3.018) – $600K
- Jackie Bradley Jr. (2.150) – $3.3MM
- Sandy Leon (2.149) – $1.3MM
- Non-tender candidates: Abad, Holaday, Workman
Free Agents
Boston Red Sox Depth Chart; Boston Red Sox Payroll Overview
Front office retooling has been the early story of Boston’s offseason. General manager Mike Hazen left the club to become the Diamondbacks’ new GM and executive vice-president, while Sox VP of amateur/international scouting Amiel Sawdaye also departed for Arizona to serve as Hazen’s assistant GM. Hazen isn’t being directly replaced, as assistant GMs Brian O’Halloran and (newly-promoted) Eddie Romero will essentially fill his role as the top lieutenants to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
Hazen and Sawdaye are very notable losses for the Sox, as the two executives played big roles in the team’s recent successes in scouting and player development. Ultimately, Dombrowski is still the one calling the shots in Boston, and the coming winter will indicate whether he feels the need to significantly alter or merely fine-tune what is already a strong roster.
The biggest absence, of course, is Ortiz, who will head into retirement after an incredible farewell season. At age 40 and playing despite severe lower-leg and foot injuries, Ortiz delivered one of his best seasons, hitting .315/.401/.620 with 38 homers and a league-best 48 doubles. Filling Ortiz’s role as a clubhouse and franchise leader was already an impossible task, yet replacing his production on the field will be almost as tall an order.
Early speculation has linked the Red Sox to free agent Edwin Encarnacion, one of the few bats on the open market capable of matching Ortiz’s slugging numbers. (Ortiz himself, somewhat controversially, has also suggested that the fellow Dominican is a good fit to replace him in Boston.) Encarnacion is also capable of playing first base, so he and Hanley Ramirez could share first and DH between them, locking down both positions with big power bats.
If the Sox aren’t willing to make such a big investment in years or dollars, then they could look beyond Encarnacion to the likes of Jose Bautista, Mark Trumbo, Kendrys Morales, Brandon Moss, Mike Napoli, Carlos Beltran or Matt Holliday. The latter two names on that list may not command more than a one-year deal, which Boston may prefer for flexibility’s sake given how the team is overflowing with position player options. Beltran and Morales are switch-hitters while Moss hits from the left side, in case Boston wants to prioritize replacing Ortiz with another left-handed bat.
The Red Sox have Ramirez playing every day at either first or DH and are further set in right field (Mookie Betts), center field (Jackie Bradley Jr.), second base (Dustin Pedroia) and shortstop (Xander Bogaerts). Rookie Andrew Benintendi has the inside track on the regular left field job after his impressive debut season. Veteran outfielder Chris Young is on hand to potentially platoon with Benintendi or at least spell him against some tough southpaws, though the Sox are hopeful that Benintendi can become yet another homegrown lineup staple.
Beyond these established positions, there’s quite a bit of uncertainty at third base and the other first base/DH spot, and those two problem areas could end up being tied together. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford speculated that, if the Red Sox don’t acquire a first base/DH type at all, they could juggle Travis Shaw, Pablo Sandoval and Yoan Moncada between third, first and DH, with notable prospect Sam Travis also in the mix at first. Super-utilityman Brock Holt (who actually started Boston’s three postseason games at third) would presumably also be in the mix in this scenario.
The issue with this plan, of course, is that all of these players carry significant question marks. Shaw’s production faded considerably after a hot start, though he still provided good defense at the hot corner. Moncada, perhaps the game’s top prospect, struck out 12 times in 20 MLB plate appearances (admittedly a small sample size) and might not be quite ready for a significant role in the bigs. The highly-touted Travis missed much of 2016 after tearing his ACL. Sandoval is a total wild card, struggling badly in 2015 and missing almost all of 2016 due to shoulder surgery, though the club is reportedly happy with his recovery and improved conditioning. Given that the Red Sox chose Shaw over Sandoval in Spring Training last year, the Panda’s big contract won’t give him any advantage in the fight for playing time.
The simplest answer, then, could be to limit all these questions to third base and sign a player like Encarnacion to solidify the other first base/DH role. Looking at the problem from the other end, could the Red Sox sign a third baseman? This would be the less likely answer, as signing the likes of Justin Turner would block Moncada (whose athleticism would be wasted in a first base/DH role) or longer-term prospects like Rafael Devers. Luis Valbuena would be an intriguing addition, as he wouldn’t require more than a two- or three-year deal. He provides additional left-handed balance to Boston’s lineup, can play both third and first base, and Valbuena’s power seems like a nice fit for Fenway Park.
Catcher is another unsettled position for the Sox, though Sandy Leon’s out-of-nowhere production gave them an unexpected boost last year. Leon posted a whopping 1.074 OPS over his first 167 PA, but he came back to earth quite sharply over his last 116 PA (a .515 OPS). The Red Sox would be satisfied if Leon can hit halfway between those two extremes in 2017, though given his .392 BABIP last year, there’s more evidence indicating that Leon was simply on an extreme hot streak last summer than there is proof that he has really turned a corner at the plate.
Boston will go into the offseason with Leon as the starter and Christian Vazquez slated for the backup role, as the defensively-gifted Vazquez is still trying to find any sort of competency at the plate. The Red Sox have already declined their $3.75MM club option on Ryan Hanigan, buying the veteran backstop out for $800K. The team could try to re-sign Hanigan as minor league depth, though he may still be able to find a clearer path to big league playing time with another team, Hanigan’s injury-plagued season notwithstanding.
If the Sox wanted to make a big move behind the plate, they could explore signing Wilson Ramos, who will be out of action until roughly midseason due to right knee surgery. This injury hasn’t stopped Ramos’ agent from seeking four- or five-year contracts this winter, and the Sox are wealthy enough to perhaps risk of giving such a commitment to a player with a checkered health history. It’s hard to tell how Ramos’ market will develop in the wake of his ACL tear, though one would expect Boston to at least check in on what it would take to sign the catcher.
Former top prospect Blake Swihart was shifted to left field from behind the plate due to questions about his defense, though his development at the new position was cut short thanks to an ankle injury that eventually required surgery. Swihart appeared in just 48 total games between the majors and Triple-A in 2016, and he’s probably ticketed for more minor league seasoning to get him acclimated to left.
If Swihart doesn’t win a reserve job, then the Red Sox bench shapes up as Vazquez, Young and Holt, with rookie Marco Hernandez an interesting candidate due to his ability to play second, third and short. Boston could seek out a right-handed hitting utility infielder given that Hernandez, Holt, Shaw and Sandoval all hit from the left side, though the switch-hitting Moncada could be an internal answer. One would think, however, that the Sox wouldn’t have Moncada on the 25-man roster unless they could give him more playing time than a part-time role.
With so much position player depth at both the major league and minor league levels, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Sox offer some of this depth in trade talks to acquire pitching, which looks like Boston’s most pressing need. Dombrowski has historically not been shy about dealing prospects for established MLB talent, and in his year-plus in charge of the Red Sox, Dombrowski has already shipped such highly-regarded prospects as Manuel Margot, Javier Guerra and Anderson Espinoza out of town in separate trades with the Padres for Craig Kimbrel and Drew Pomeranz (though it’s probably safe to assume that the Sox aren’t likely to be doing much more business with San Diego in the near future.)
Offering Moncada or Benintendi would open the door for the Red Sox in trade talks about virtually any semi-available starter in the game. Especially in the wake of the Pomeranz controversy, however, Dombrowski isn’t dealing one of his blue chip prospects unless he got a true ace back in return. If Benintendi is ready for the bigs and Moncada is close, however, Boston could be more open to dealing from its 25-man roster.
I’d imagine the Sox would be interested in dealing Sandoval if they could, even if it means taking on another bad contract or eating some money in the process. Swihart seems like a bit of an odd man out if he’s not going to catch and he’s blocked by Benintendi in left field, and Swihart would generate some solid interest as a post-hype prospect. Travis would also get interest, though the Red Sox would be selling low on an intriguing hitter prospect in the wake of Travis’ abbreviated 2016. Shaw is probably only a candidate to be moved if the Sox made another trade or acquisition to address third base, unless they were sold on Sandoval making a comeback or Moncada’s ability to handle MLB pitching.
None of the bench guys would net the Red Sox the frontline rotation help they’d be looking for, so could they instead move one of their lineup cornerstones? They had talks with the White Sox over the summer about Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, with Boston unwilling to give up Bradley to land either pitcher. Bradley is an immensely valuable asset — a 26-year-old elite center field glove with an emerging bat who is just entering his arbitration years. That said, Bradley has struggled to hit left-handed pitching and his hitting as a whole declined over the last two months of the season. If the Sox have any reservations about Bradley’s development as a hitter or are simply willing to bite the bullet to land an elite arm, he could be dealt, leaving Betts or Benintendi taking over in center field and left field becoming the province of a Young/Holt/Swihart platoon mix (or, the Sox could turn around to try to sign another outfielder).
A player like Bradley is a high price to pay, though that could be the going rate for pitching trades this winter given how the free agent starting market is incredibly thin. The Sox might not be too active in the open market when it comes to pitching upgrades aside from checking in on a reunion with Rich Hill. The veteran lefty revived his career in the Boston system in 2015 and went on to post tremendous numbers (when healthy) with the A’s and Dodgers this year. Given the issues at the back of Boston’s rotation, letting Hill depart last winter looks like a missed opportunity.
Rick Porcello and David Price have the top two rotation spots locked up, with Porcello delivering a career-best performance in 2016 while Price somewhat struggled by his lofty standards in his first year in a Red Sox uniform. Steven Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez, Clay Buchholz and Pomeranz are all in the mix for the other three rotation jobs, though all are dealing with either injury and/or consistency concerns heading into the winter.
Signing someone like Hill or adding another top-tier arm in a trade would go a long way towards solidifying the pitching staff. If a new pitcher is added and Wright, Rodriguez, Pomeranz and Buchholz end up all being healthy and productive, then that’s certainly a “problem” the Red Sox would love to face. In the (perhaps unlikely) event that the Sox face a pitching surplus, those starters could be traded or used in the bullpen. Buchholz drew interest when his name was floated at the deadline, or even the promising Rodriguez could be shopped to land a more proven major league talent.
The Red Sox got a pretty solid overall performance from their bullpen last year, though some changes are in the offing. Kimbrel’s first season in Boston saw him post career highs in ERA (3.40) and walk rate (5.09), though while he wasn’t the utterly dominant closer he was with the Braves, Kimbrel was still very effective. Robbie Ross, Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes and Heath Hembree will all return, and 2015-16 offseason addition Carson Smith should be back at some point later in the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May.
Even with this depth on hand, the Red Sox will hunt for more bullpen help in the form of another left-hander to pair with Ross (Fernando Abad was very ineffective after coming to Boston) and a setup man to set the table for Kimbrel. Free agents Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler will both get consideration for that eighth-inning role, as the two veterans were quite effective last year. Uehara still posted strong peripherals despite a 3.45 ERA inflated by a spike in homers allowed, and he’ll likely be available on a one-year deal as he enters his age-42 season, while the Red Sox will need a multi-year commitment to retain Ziegler.
It isn’t out the question that Boston makes a surprise play for one of the top free agent closers on the market this winter in an effort to create its own version of an uber-bullpen, though I’d consider it to be a bit unlikely given the team’s other needs. Given how good Kelly looked after officially switching to a relief role last year (an 1.02 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 IP out of the pen), the Sox are hopeful that they already have one burgeoning weapon already on the roster.
There’s certainly potential for the Red Sox to go big to address their lineup or rotation needs, though the team has so much talent on board that Dombrowski can be flexible with his offseason dealings. One notable move (like, say, dealing Bradley) could trigger a chain reaction in Boston’s plans for 2017 and in the future in terms of freeing up positions for prospects, or potentially chasing established players this winter in free agency or trades. Dombrowski could also just as easily choose to only tinker with his roster until he knows exactly what he has in certain youngsters or underachieving/injured veterans. Some moves are certainly on the horizon for a Red Sox club that clearly feels it can contend for a World Series next year.
mjl63m
I think rich hill is a great fit for the sox. A middle to upper of the rotation guy to be a bridge to the kopech/groome era, and he’s from MA
mike244
Would make sense. Price/Porcello/Hill/Pomeranz/Erod/Wright/Buchholz is a ton of depth and there’s a lot of upside there too.
Although, given the sox already have 6 starters and how little pitching there is, I think hill might get expensive and maybe that’s not the best idea to dump money on a guy who hasn’t pitched much
mjl63m
I don’t mind giving hill #2 money if it is a around a 3 year deal and they can also solidify the pen
I think if they get a bat it will be through trade or a low cost FA
redsox for_life
Pomeranz and Owen for Ozuna!! Bradley -Korpech-Devers and Marrero for Chris Sale!! Plus Kendrys Morales or Carlos Beltran! Sign Holland for setupp men!!
mike244
Seems like the RS pretty well set up on paper for next seasons and for coming seasons.
IMO The redsox have 2 needs: a bat and a reliever. Bringing back Ziegler to round out the bullpen would make sense. Signing one of EE/Beltran/Napoli would seem to make sense too.
They do that, they are probably the favorites to win another ALE title
User 4245925809
7-8th relievers was the issue heading into the offseason until carson Smith returns late next year. Now that Bucholz had his option picked up, looks like Stephen Wright may be the one pushed out of the rotation and he’s one of the better starters, so it looks worse in other ways beside giving Buch the 13.5m
Getting Ziegler and koji resigned would be the cheapest way to get the back end fixed, tho there are other ways.
B-Strong
I don’t want Napoli back and neither should the organization. He had a bit of a resurgent year this year but he looked like the Mike Napoli that got traded last year in the WS. Can’t lay off or hit low and away, so he’s a big hole in the lineup most of the time. I like Trumbo over Napoli, but obviously EE is where it’s at for a true Ortiz replacement.
badco44
Guys we have plenty of right handed bats in the line up … need a lefty…. no Trumbo, no Napoli, and no EE… would prefer a rotation at 1st with Sam Travis, and Travis Shaw… … bull pen please!!!!
Brixton
Did they pick up Buch’s option officially?
Brixton
My mistake, didnt see the post that said they did.
Theres a whole lot of low floor money they have tied up
Rbase
I think with their offense, the Red Sox can afford to go into the season with a ? at third base. If Sandoval is actually motivated and doesn’t come into camp overweight, he should get the starting nod. If it doesn’t work out, Shaw, Holt and later Moncada are good replacements. Spend the money on a 1B/DH and (especially) pitching.
vegas222
Why not consider the Red Sox a dept of the government, and not care what they spend, Just load up with the best available players. What they spend or save does not matter to me. Being in that winning scenario in early November is what matters as Theo just found out again.
Aoe3
The redsox may save money and go for someone like beltran or joeybats. joeybats is younger and maybe needs a change of scenery from toronto. Also familiar face with former jays coaches butterfield, ect.
The bluejays have new management (2016 was first year) and with tulo/donaldson/martin, sorta pushing him out of a leadership role.. He has an opportunity to play for a very competitive team, close on the east coast in a division hes comfortable with less travel time..
He may take an offer from boston seriously. Also from previous statements price is one of his favourite teammates.
Dookie Howser, MD
Bautista is also looking for a multiyear (3+) deal. That would be a lot of money to tie up in a player who is aging and declining
Kholla
Does anyone think Swihart still has any potential as a catcher?
mike156
I’m surprised at his sudden downfall. Maybe he was overhyped, but I don’t know how you go from a top 20 prospect to a “not sure where he fits in”
mike244
Of course. While he wasn’t fantastic behind the plate, he also wasn’t awful. The media has really ridden his move to the OF when really it was a no story. RS needed help in LF, and their pitching staff was underperforming at beginning of season. Vaz is a better defender than Swihart, so they moved Swihart to of and Vaz as catcher .
I think If Swihart doesn’t get traded he is the everyday starting cached by mid season.
B-Strong
Swiharts main critics came after a game in which he caught Wright. He had a awful game catching him and missed a semi routine pop up. It happens. Since that game he was converted to left field. I think he got kind of a raw deal on that. Even Hannigan had big struggles with Wright from time to time. Every catcher does with a knuckler.
chesteraarthur
Yes, ignore all of the prospect evaluators that questioned his ability behind the plate well before that.
badco44
So are we talking about the half year 2014 he had behind the plate and played well? Defense wise he is no Vasquez… given but he is no where near as bad as has been penned on him
connorreed
What prospect evaluators questioned Swihart’s defensive ability?
Three scouting reports from Baseball Prospectus:
Al Skorupa (5/4/2015) – 50 glove / 60 arm
Chris Mellen (7/20/2014) – 55 glove / 65 arm
Jason Parks (8/15/2013) – 55 glove / 65 arm
Also graded with an average to above average glove and plus arm from FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline.
And some excerpts from his Baseball America scouting reports between 2011 and 2014:
– “there’s no reason to think Swihart can’t catch”
– “receives well and shows good footwork”
– “quick feet and moves well behind the plate”
– “promising blocking and receiving skills”
– “unusually athletic catcher who moves well and can control the running game”
– “possesses tremendous intangibles that suggest an ability to lead a pitching staff”
– “now profiles as an above average defender”
– “more athletic than most catchers”
– “excellent job of blocking balls in the dirt”
– “pop times averaging about 1.9 seconds and getting below 1.8 on occasion”
badco44
I personally think he has gotten a bad wrap… most issues were with the knuckle baller… seems like anouther former Sox catcher had similar issues…Veritek
cwh1983
With all the options they have at 3rd base, highly highly doubt they sign a free agent (let alone for 2 or 3 years)
badco44
What’s amazing is the kid Dubon is not even mentioned…. and his year coming up the ladder with Moncada, and Bentendini was every bit as good. He changed positions this fall in the Arizona fall league… to center from SS… watch out JBJ
Nick4747
Wishful thinking for the Sox is to trade jbj for an ace level pitcher maybe someone in the minors which would probably net them more than trying to get in on a sale type of trade. I would like more guys in the rotation with really good stuff and I’d like to see erod for a full healthy season, and would like to upgrade stuff wise over pomeranz.
Dh I’d look around check in on votto, Braun or another high priced guy(see what’s out there and @what cost) if to expensive in terms of prospects go out and sign one maybe two guys depending on the jbj deal.
Relief try to look for one as part of a return on jbj and or resign Zeigler and Koji. Buchholz trade and try to exploit the market the best I could and get something for more value to the Sox as a return.
Pablo sandoval needs to never wear a red sox uniform and stay in pawtucket and go with anyone other than him and not have him hurt the luxury tax threshold.Wishful thinking on alot of it but we’ll wait and see
badco44
Well I have very very little sympathy for Sandoval… paid millions to show up over weight… shame on him and shame on the Sox for not staying on top of this guy… had issues in SF with it… very poor marks to all on this nightmare… no respect
Nick4747
Yeah write it off as a bad business decision. It never had anything to do with baseball a guy with a decreasing ops every year before he turned 27? Who would’ve thought that would be a good sign from the get go
Mbolled
Both San Francisco and San Diego who offered more than Boston did.
Nick4747
All of which stemmed from business. Baseball wise he’s been a name more than a player for years outside of a postseason.
glasgowcelticno1
Sign beltran and use him at DH he is the lowest risk out of everyone mentioned here
Nick4747
No draft compensation either which I’d prefer he’d be one of my top guys him and Holliday Cuz of his positional versatility
badco44
He (Beltran)is a switch hitter and can fill the lefty hole needed…. one year deal works especially knowing that the kitchen sink is falling into the FA hole for 2018… save your money…. also a lot of trade deadline bait next year!
Nick4747
Yeah I’m not obsessed with the lefty or switch need depending on what they do with bradley. If benintendi and bradley are there offering middle of the order production like they did last season I would be OK with the big hitter we get being right handed you also still have Shaw, Leon, holt, plus whatever you get from swihart if he can return to form.
adshadbolt
Bradley, joe Kelly,Michael Chavis and Brian Johnson to the cardinals for wacha, rosenthal and a ptbnl
chesteraarthur
Wacha and Rosenthal are bad….
Nick4747
Yeah I’d have a hard time trading bradley alone for both of them. there was an article were the Cardinals didn’t know if they’d tender a contract for rosenthal (not saying that’s going to be the case) I’d take them as a buy low but that would mean someone like bradley isn’t involved.
badco44
Haha do you really think the cards want headcase Joe back haha.. they dumped him on us with that other money pit still at Pawtucket aka Allen Craig… anouther overpaid piece of work.. they call that trade fleecing by the way !
slider32
It’s all about getting an ace for the Sox, a pitcher like Sale. They can’t take the next step unless they do. All their upgrades need to be pitching.
chesteraarthur
Harold Reynolds, is that you?
badco44
Right on!
redsox for_life
Give Pomeranz to the Marlins for Ozuna! Then trade Bradley – Devers- Marrero and Owen for Chris Sale!! Send Buchholz to the Royal for Kendrys Morales
redsox for_life
Peddy-Bogarts-Morales-Hanley-Betts-Benentindi-Ozuna-Shaw(or panda)De Leon! Pitchers Sale-Porcelo-Price-Wrirt and Erod
Connorsoxfan
This is why my fellow Sox fans are ridiculed everywhere. People like you. We’re not all like this I swear!
redsox for_life
What
chesteraarthur
So much stupid
redsox for_life
Said for what
chesteraarthur
1 year of pomeranz does not get ozuna. That package doesn’t even approach sale.
Nick4747
It’s 2 years of pomeranz but I still agree not enough for ozuna. with all of that for sale isn’t enough the price starts with moncada and bradley if u don’t want Betts or bogarts involved. That’s the reason I don’t want sale as a red sox fan and I’d prefer trade for a less flashy young guy you might never heard of
chesteraarthur
yeah thats my bad on pom control years. Having tim anderson, I wouldn’t be surprised if the white sox would rather have tendi than X
Nick4747
Yeah I’d agree which I like having the offensive future we have trading 2 of those guys is hard to stomach for me i love bendi like everyone else. I would be willing to trade bradley but I know that’s not enough for sale that’s why I’d look elsewhere for rotation upgrades. And we know dd will do what it takes to get that ace type pitcher if not sale he’ll probably acquire one no matter the cost.
redsox for_life
Ok
chesteraarthur
I’m a cubs fan, who has always liked the sawx, minus there stupid fans during the epstein departure, (because they shared the championship issues). I think that what they have is a pretty solid core.
I agree with you that trading bats for sale is just stupid at this point. They don’t need an “ace” to be good. They just need continued production, health, and luck. Like every other championship team. Btw, I hate the sox for taking tendi, the cubs had him pegged in that draft too.
badco44
Might not be enough for Sale, but your close…
baseballman
I have lots of faith in Brock and he should be starting 3rd baseman. Ramirez is DH, give Travis Shaw another shot this time at first. Xander and Pedy up the middle with benintendi, Bradley and betts in the outfield. They should DFA panda or eat up the contract.
Dookie Howser, MD
Why would they DFA Panda before giving him another shot while healthy?
Brock Holt gets exposed when he is starting everyday. Even a regular platoon gig is a stretch for him. Guy is a super sub at his best, we should all just accept that now.
baseballman
Also resign Koji and taz. Let hill and brad go that were bad anyway.
baseballman
Sandy, Kelly and Marco Hernandez for Parick Corbin, he is young and a former all star, even though he was not as good this year he was lots of potential.
mjl63m
I’m not sure dombrowski will be willing to trade his starting catcher and potential set up guy for a starter who has struggled after TJ surgery
Corbin isn’t much of an upgrade over what they have now anyways
chesteraarthur
I’m pretty sure the dbacks would be the ones who say no
mjl63m
I think they would too I don’t see that as a win for either teams
chesteraarthur
Especially with them having Welly
Connorsoxfan
Nowhere near enough. Maybe on MLB the Show…
New Law Era
Allen Craig.
Eric D.
I don’t see the point in pursuing a free agent catcher unless it’s solely as a minor league depth option. everyone is down on Swihart but they have no reason to be. He will be fine. Vazquez just needs to hit at a league average rate to be a starting catcher. Ramos especially would be a mistake. His previous season of production anywhere close to what he did in 2016 was 2011, and he hasn’t come close any other time.
ijmurray27
if swihart comes back really strong, I’d be intrigued with a Bradley for sale trade…