The Twins are heartened by Miguel Sano’s rehab from surgery to insert a titanium rod into his shin, writes MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, but it’s still unlikely that Sano will log 150+ games at third base next season. Minnesota will still rely on Sano at the hot corner, but will rotate him between that position and DH, once again giving Eduardo Escobar reps at third as well. The ability to spell Sano and first baseman Joe Mauer with time at DH is one reason that the Twins aren’t looking to bring in a full-time DH, per Bollinger. “We saw the benefits of cycling guys through that spot last year,” said GM Thad Levine. “We’d like to keep the DH spot a little more fluid than lock somebody into it.” Minnesota, of course, has been linked to Mike Napoli, though he’d presumably open the year as more of a part-time DH against lefties than an everyday option at the position.
Elsewhere in the American League…
- In his latest inbox column, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tackles a number of roster-focused questions pertaining to the Indians. Asked about the possibility of another run at extending Francisco Lindor, Hoynes suggests that over the course of Lindor’s remaining four years of control, the Indians will almost certainly make multiple attempts to extend their control over the young superstar. However, the fact that Lindor already rejected a nine-figure extension offer from Cleveland so early in his career could indicate that he’s likelier to test free agency when he is eligible. Hoynes also notes that left-hander and 2016 postseason hero Ryan Merritt will head to Spring Training out of minor league options and without a clear spot in the rotation. That could make Merritt available in trade (either this winter or in Spring Training) or point to a bullpen role — at least in 2018.
- The Orioles are not abandoning the hope that former outfielder Dariel Alvarez can successfully convert to a right-handed pitcher, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Alvarez, who had Tommy John surgery last April, will be in Orioles minicamp next month, where club officials can get a look at him and better gauge his rehab progress. Kubatko notes that the O’s still believe he can make it to the Majors. Kubatko also writes that there’s somewhat of a split camp, internally, on whether lefty David Hess will ultimately be a starter or reliever in the long run. Hess was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft after tossing 154 1/3 innings of 3.85 ERA ball with 7.2 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and a 30.7 percent ground-ball rate. The 24-year-old has been used almost exclusively as a starter to this point in his pro career, and given Baltimore’s utter dearth of rotation options, it seems likely that he’ll at least have the opportunity to continue developing in that capacity.
- Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe looks at the possibilities for the Red Sox as they seek to fill their DH spot. While president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has stated he’s content with the team’s offense as constructed, Abraham calls any such notion a mere “bargaining tactic.” Boston could conceivably add J.D. Martinez and relegate Hanley Ramirez to an overpriced platoon first baseman/bench bat, Abraham notes, and simply releasing him remains a possibility. While forgoing a splashy acquisition for the DH spot would leave more room for Dustin Pedroia to rest his knee and could create some at-bats for out-of-options outfielder Bryce Brentz, Boston has yet to augment a lineup that finished the 2017 season ranked 22nd in the Majors with a 92 wRC+, making the need for some form of upgrade fairly obvious.
Lindor thinking about huge money already. If he doesn’t want to extend then Cleveland will have to say goodbye cause he will be worth a TON on the market. Their best hope is to buy out his free agent years but he doesn’t seem interested. Hope he stays though as that would be great for Indians fans
Every team should have one player they’re willing to deliver a Brinks to, and he’s that player.
Thanks to the Yankees, Dahyers, and Saux, most teams can’t afford to resign their best young players anymore. The economic system in baseball overwhelmingly favors the rich.
Untrue. Even they aren’t immune to the luxury tax.
What great young players have the Dodgers bought from elsewhere recently?
White Saux?
Luxury tax? Really? Most people don’t understand how it all works and thinks they don’t need a salary cap like every other league has. MLB has a handful of teams that can pay whatever they want and keep writing checks, while a bunch of other teams have to hope they hit it in a very small window and win something before it closes but have no way of actually sustaining anything. A team like Cleveland can have a bad contract cripple the franchise for years while others like LA can dump salary or take on salary and both teams can move on without a hiccup,
No you dumbass ! Is that your Team Owner the revenue that his team makes for the year he pockets it for himself instead of spending that $$$ back on your team.
I’m a Redsox fan…and I completely agree. But the blame is on MLB and the Players Association. There should be a hard cap on payroll, the luxury tax system essentially just motivates the team to get under cap once every 4th or 5th year when the luxury tax penalty is at its highest. Meanwhile, if another smaller market team wants to sign a player like lindor or machado long term they are essentially forced to try and construct a 24 player roster with 100mil or less in some cases.
You’re absolutely right, most people have absolutely no idea how the luxury tax system work so they don’t realize how big a joke it really is. If I had to guess…i would say most people think that the luxury tax penalty is applied to the ENTIRE balance of payroll and that’s why they think it’s some kind of deterrent. But, the truth is that the penalty is only applied to the amount OVER the soft cap. So let’s say for arguments sake that the soft cap is 200 mil and the Dodgers payroll is at 240m and it’s their 3rd year over so their tax penalty is 30%. (I may be wrong on the percentages I’m just doing this to make a point). Their penalty tax is 12mil dollars ((240-200) x .30) NOT 72mil (240 × .30). So until the penalty get to the 100% range and even then…It’s just a huge joke.
DD on the Red Sox OFFENSE being set a “Bargaining Chip” I don’t think so …… LOL
There are only a few teams that occasionally spend the big bucks on free agents and their foolish long term contracts.
One of the big problems has been the coddling of these athletes.
When a team signs a contract they have big bucks on the line.
Players often dictate the shots.
Case in point look at how Stanton dictated where he would and wouldn’t go.
The managers have minimal control over these players.
They get away with things other players wouldn’t be able to.
This sets a bad example for the rest.
If you don’t spend the big bucks the manager has more control.
Examples include: running out a ground ball, making an effort to make a defensive play, running and sliding hard into 2nd, 3rd or home on a close play, sacrificing, bunting, hitting to the opposite field, coaching young players.
Often games are won or lost by a single run so these issues really matter.
Prima dona’s are bad for a team.
Eager young enthusiastic players are what a team wants and needs.
It’s far easier to cut a player with a poor attitude that’s making less money than a prima dona making millions.
David Price is a perfect example of a prima dona.
I don’t blame Price as much as I blame the system the owners have created for themselves.
I’m not naive enough to ever think this prima dona culture will ever stop but I think MLB teams can take a lesson from the NE Patriots Coach Belichick. He has a great scouting system, he pick up players from the trash heap and gets good games out of them, he has coaches like Dante Scarnecchia that can get the most out of a player and teach them what is expected of them. He doesn’t usually pay a player big bucks. and he has had a winning formula for decades.
It’s surprising to me the way teams blow money and think and hope that money will buy you performance.
Quite to the contrary, it’s “the hope of money and reward” that gets you performance, the hope they will be on a winner that gets results.
The pride of seeing themselves on national TV.
The need to show they are the elite.
Do you think David Price feels that way?
Maybe he does and I’m being too harsh but I need to see it fast.
David I need to see you give the Red Sox 20+ quality starts in 2018.
That’s the minimum expected of you each year and 200+ innings.
If you blow out your elbow you blow out your elbow but at least the fans and the media can see you gave it your all.
NFL players run the risk of concussion and all of it’s issues.
Yet they play their hearts out.
So please help me out here members of the media.
Stop looking just at stats and look at attitude and effort.
Write about hustle and grit as well as stats.
Doesn’t every team, fan and media reporter want to see a player with the heart and effort?
So realize that money alone won’t get that for your team.
Take a deep breath.
Or go back to NFL trade rumors. The comparisons are more accurate.
Why don’t YOU head over to NFLTR. Pretty sure most people are tired of hearing your nonsense on this site.
Not sure why you felt the need to go on such a tirade But the Red Sox WILL spend money and WILL get a big bat (JDM) but at THEIR price, not his.
If offers have been exchanged I suspect the Red Sox will increase their offer and J.D. Martinez will lower his demand before he signs.
Assuming Martinez signs with the Red Sox … which is not a foregone conclusion.
Scott Boras and the Red Sox front office each have a track record negotiating free agent contracts.
Which side has the better reputation for favorable contracts?
A better question is what value does Scott Boras place on a player’s equanimity possible for each market. All other things equal and he signs elsewhere as too many players have had bad experiences in Boston.
Geez relax
You relax bud. let the man speak his mind.
Fight me
I will 1v1 me on Rust br0. quickscopes only Intervention
I’m puzzled why anyone can’t have a logical discussion without implying they’re not relaxed?
Let’s take it to the next level.
Not only do prima dona’s cost a team money, they also prevent them from getting the players they really need.
This is what the Res Sox SP did in 2017:
Sale 23 QS
Pomeranz 17 QS
Porcello 19 QS
Price 7 QS
ERod 12 QS
So how do we get to 90+ wins in 2018 and beyond?
The Red Sox don’t need JDM they need SP/RP
Lance Lynn 17 QS in 2017
Jason Vargas 16 QS in 2017 (and he’s left handed and could be a RP)
They also need depth:
Eduardo Nunez is perfect for their needs and especially with Pedroia on the DL..
So what do you think?
Disagree with me if you like but at least explain why and don’t just say relax …. LOL ….. OK?
Thanks!
I actually like Todd Frazier. He could be the second baseman until Pedroia returns, then move into a rotation spelling Moreland at first and Devers at third. And being that Moreland + Frazier cost much less than JDM, I’d take a shot at Jake Arrieta with the savings.
Stop writing books in the comments and people won’t say relax lol
Add something to the conversation dd. Or do you suggest we fight as well? Lol
That’s a logical plan.
I like both Arrietta (Est $25M/year) & Frazier.(Est $13M/year)=$38M
Arrieta had 16 QS in 2017.
I just think you could get the following players for less money:
Lynn (Est $15M/year) (17 QS in 2017)
Vargas (Est $8M/year) (16 QS in 2017)
Nunez (Est $8M/year) = $31M/year
My opinion is that the Red Sox will need the 33 QS (17+16) vs the 16 that Arrieta may give you but Arrietta’s a solid pitcher.
Yes Frazier can give you more HR’s than Nunez but Nunez has a higher BA. and he can play more positions but Frazier is a good choice.
Perhaps they can get Frazier too. All 4 for about $44M/year
Lynn $15; Vargas $8; Nunez $8; Frazier $13M. Total $44M/year.
That would really make Boston a solid team with plenty of depth and the ability to hit from both sides of the plate.
Don’t count on Price contributing so much. Regardless of his personality and attitude (which are both NEGATIVES), Price is in the sunset of his career. He has too many miles to be able to compete deep into each game, deep into each season.
He gets no points for what he did in Tampa. In Boston it’s literally “what have you done for me lately”
The problem isn’t the cost per year. its how many years these players are asking for. if teams could get Jason Vargas for $8 they would do it. He probably just wants more than a year or two
I think Boston should hold out another year or two on a DH, I really like JD but I don’t want us to pay the money for him. I really want Lynn because he’s really good and Boston’s starters have been either injured or inconsistent during the past two seasons. Absolutely no interest in another left handed SP/Long RP, we’ve got plenty.
It’s a free country ! Let the man speak. At least he has something of quality to add to the comments.
Even though I don’t ever read anything that long ! LoL
I agree for the most part. Dombrowski always go’s after a high priced ticket. He has already traded away approximately 27 prospects and has depleted our farm system.
First we really need a more modern GM,
I would Sign Nunez, which will probably cost no more then $10/year. See if he would take a 1 year or 2 year offer. You can probably trade him at the trade deadline this year for prospects or next year for a prospect.
If anything, I would try to trade Hanley to someone like the Rangers, who could use a bat like that at 1B or DH.
If you can save that money, you can sign either Martinez or Hosmer, but I believe that Hosmer is a better fit.
I would keep the team as is, adding already Moreland, and then add Nunez for 2 years $19million.
Sign Lynn for 3-4 years, at $16-$17/yr just because of a shorter contract. Lynn quietly is one of the most consistent SP in baseball, besides his Tommy John surgery absence. Look up his stats, and he fits perfectly in Fenway where left handed batters need to hit bombs to get over the wall, unlike left handed pitchers, , where right handed hitters don’t have hit a bomb to get over the green monster.
I believe that Price will try to have a great year, since he can opt out of his contract to score more in the offseason.
to sum it up for 2018. D.Dombrowski, please read
Sign Nunez, 2yr/$19, who can play pretty much anywhere, and is a perfect fit into that lineup, as demonstrated in 2017.
Sign Lynn, 4yr/$67,
at the trade deadline, if Hanley is back with no injuries and hitting, trade Nunez for good prospects to rebuild farm system.
You can also sign someone like Mark Reynolds, who is a cheap bargain, that can duplicate what Hanley gives us at 1yr/$10
Any thoughts?????
Quite frankly, I don’t have the time to try and decipher what each point you were trying to make was and what correlation to the previous point existed so I am going to cherry-pick a couple things to address and hopefully that will suffice.
Stanton got to “dictate the shots” because he had a full no trade clause in his contract. I view this less as coddling to the athletes and more as a bargaining chip that was used to sign one of the best offensive players in the game today. It also does not show that the manager has no control over the player because, more times than not, the manager is not directly involved in negotiating contracts or initiating trades. The GM will often times consult with the manager on potential implications for the team but they aren’t sitting at the table writing up the legal terms.
You may need to alter your demands for David Price next season. I am all in on the reducing the unnecessary public issues but, stats-wise, it is a little funky. You are calling for 20+ starts and 200+ innings. That equates to, if he hits the minimum for each point, 10 innings per start. Hate to break the news to you but you may be disappointed come the end of the year.
Writing about hustle and grit is all fine and dandy but, come the off season, it is quite difficult to accomplish. Because they aren’t playing. The NFL is so that makes it a bit of a “what have you done for me lately” comparison.
And finally, to address the “money alone won’t get that for your team” in regards to heart and effort comment: Previously in your segmented rant, you said that “it’s the hope of money and reward” that gets you performance. Seems rather contradictory to me.
I think he was implying that 20 out of 30 or so starts should be quality starts and that over those 30 or so starts he should accumulate 200 innings. (More or less how he pitched in Tampa/St. Pete).
I would hope nobody expects 200 innings out of 20 starts!
On Price I said 20+ QS (Quality Starts not Starts) & he should pitch 200+ innings!
Is that too much to ask for someone making 16-18:$30M annually, 19:$31M, 20-22:$32M annually?
I mean look at Sale. He pitched 214 innings and got 23 QS for $12M.
Don’t you expect Price to at least equal that performance?
And yes, I understand Sale is a free agent after 2019 assuming the Red Sox pick up his 2019 $13.5M option.
But my point is that Price has under performed.
And my hunch is that people that aren’t dogging it don’t get into an argument with a Hall of Famer (Eckersley) on the team plane.
So if I’m wrong about Price then I will expect to see him give the Red Sox 20+ QS and 200+ innings pitched in 2018-22. And then I’ll be wrong.
On your last point, my above statement proves my point.
Sale has “the hope of money, fame and pride” …. and Price has the money and doesn’t have the hunger.
Can you see my point about what it takes to be a winner?
You need pride, desire and a work ethic.
On Stanton, yes of course he’s a good player.
But this is what he got for a contract:
.13 years/$325M (2015-27), plus 2028 option
signed extension with Miami 11/19/14, avoiding arbitration
15:$6.5M, 16:$9M, 17:$14.5M, 18:$25M, 19:$26M, 20:$26M, 21:$29M, 22:$29M, 23:$32M, 24:$32M, 25:$32M, 26:$29M, 27:$25M, 28:$25M club option ($10M buyout)
Do you know what the Marlins total revenue was in 2017?
Just over $200M
The Red Sox are over $400M and the NYY are over $500M.
Can a team afford to pay 10% of their revenues to just 1 player?
Could that be why they were sold?
Could that be why Jeter traded Stanton?
So my point is that baseball is a business and not only must it produce a quality product but it must also make a profit.
Winning creates more profits.
If HR’s and an MVP only did did then Miami would have made $400M+.
George, you are so inconceivably wrong about almost literally everything you touched upon. I’m in disbelief that somebody could have such flawed thinking. This is NOT an attack on your character, I just hate spreading misinformation and you are doing so much of it in your posts. Give me an hour and I will type out a counterpoint to literally everything you have typed out in this thread (it will take me that long lol)
Ok it took me 2 hours but I did it in response to your last comment lol PLEASE acknowledge that you see it so I don’t feel like my whole day was a wash, ha
PS. Everything I say is just to help educate, I’m not trying to attack you, just pointing out flaws in your thinking. Let’s go Sox 2018!
I assume we’re having a serious conversation … LOL
If we are please show me my flaws.
I bet you dream in bullet points…
Haha!
Buddy, seriously. Hit the return button occasionally. Even at random spots. Nobody is reading that massive wall of text.
Who appointed you the spokesman for “Everbody”? …. LOL
I absolutely love when somebody complains about what athletes make. If someone is willing to pay you to do a job, how often do you say, oh no, thats too much, I dont deserve that. Or how often do owners or corporations go, we really should pay our employees more, forget the shareholders. The athletes owe no allegiance to anyone but themselves and their families. If you dont like how the team does business or how much the player makes dont watch and dont support the brand, because all a team is, is a brand. Sorry everyone, Rant over.
I agree with you. An athelete should make what an athelete can. That’s why I said:
“I don’t blame Price as much as I blame the system the owners have created for themselves.”
I want GM’s to be more like Belichick:.
“I think MLB teams can take a lesson from the NE Patriots Coach Belichick. He has a great scouting system, he pick up players from the trash heap and gets good games out of them, he has coaches like Dante Scarnecchia that can get the most out of a player and teach them what is expected of them. He doesn’t usually pay a player big bucks. and he has had a winning formula for decades.
It’s surprising to me the way teams blow money and think and hope that money will buy you performance.”
Response to Comment 1
DD on the Red Sox OFFENSE being set a “Bargaining Chip” I don’t think so …… LOL
There are only a few teams that occasionally spend the big bucks on free agents and their foolish long term contracts.
***The fact that long term contacts are foolish has nothing to do with the fact that saying the Red Sox are all set is a bargaining chip? Your premise doesn’t really make sense, but lets just ignore the whole bargaining chip comment and assume this is a rant on athletes who make big money (because of course it’s fine for owners to make big money sitting at home, while players are actually providing the product that you watch everyday and risk physical well being to do so)***
One of the big problems has been the coddling of these athletes.
When a team signs a contract they have big bucks on the line.
Players often dictate the shots.
***Does Pablo Sandoval ring any bells??? Cut outright with more than half of his $95mm contract remaining. Performance dictates ‘the shots’ unless you have a poorly run team that hopes to get something out of negative (IE Albert Pujols still playing everyday) ***
Case in point look at how Stanton dictated where he would and wouldn’t go.
The managers have minimal control over these players.
They get away with things other players wouldn’t be able to.
This sets a bad example for the rest.
***Stanton is an EXEMPLARY model for any player. Train hard, work hard, overcome acute injuries (when was the last time you took a 95mph fastball to the face at your job? Did you happen to come back from it and win the MVP the following year?). Executing a no trade clause that you were provided is extremely ordinary. How would you feel if your job serving fastfood at Wendy’s decided they were shipping you to Alaska because that’s where the need was? Nothing against Alaska of course, I’m just making the point that you’re acting like an athlete being able to have a stable hometown for his wife and kids to go to school is somehow a bad thing, nor does it have any baring on other players. Put in your 6+ years and be EXCELLENT if you want to achieve these benefits. It can only motivate. ***
If you don’t spend the big bucks the manager has more control.
Examples include: running out a ground ball, making an effort to make a defensive play, running and sliding hard into 2nd, 3rd or home on a close play, sacrificing, bunting, hitting to the opposite field, coaching young players.
Often games are won or lost by a single run so these issues really matter.
***What are you even talking about here? Did Po Porter have great control over the 2013 Astros that finished either the 2nd or 3rd consecutive year with 100+ losses but nobody made over $1mm on the team? Is that good baseball? Sure, hustle plays can affect the outcome of a game by 1 run which can in turn affect W/L record… but you’re talking about maybe 1 win over the course of an entire season? Less? In Stanton’s MVP season he generated 7 or 8 wins. Would you rather have Nick Punto sliding hard into 2nd but your team win 69 games and you suck? ***
Prima dona’s are bad for a team.
Eager young enthusiastic players are what a team wants and needs.
It’s far easier to cut a player with a poor attitude that’s making less money than a prima dona making millions.
David Price is a perfect example of a prima dona.
I don’t blame Price as much as I blame the system the owners have created for themselves.
***Bad PERSONALITIES are bad for a team. David Price is a bad personality. Carl Everett was a terrible personality in the clubhouse, but he wasn’t on a long term contract and stuck around for a while because of his TALENT. CC Sabathia is a bit of a diva, but his performance has more than made up for it and NYY have extended their relationship with him twice since his initial 7 year $126mm contact***
I’m not naive enough to ever think this prima dona culture will ever stop but I think MLB teams can take a lesson from the NE Patriots Coach Belichick. He has a great scouting system, he pick up players from the trash heap and gets good games out of them, he has coaches like Dante Scarnecchia that can get the most out of a player and teach them what is expected of them. He doesn’t usually pay a player big bucks. and he has had a winning formula for decades.
It’s surprising to me the way teams blow money and think and hope that money will buy you performance.
***Again, so completely wrong here. ALL athletes think highly of themselves. If they didn’t, they never would have succeeded enough to reach the highest level. Baseball is almost a $10 billion annual revenue generating industry if you include BAM tech. Should it be run like a college sports team, nobody getting paid anything? No, the players should get half and the owners should get half. Plain and simple. The MLBPA is the one who decided to shift funds from younger players to older players, which is less than ideal, but that’s their choice as the recipient of what should be half of MLB funds .
This is where you start to bring in your football analogy – Football contracts are non-guaranteed which completely changes the dynamic. Don’t relate these two sports, ever. There are a host of other differences that I won’t get into as well (more team oriented sport, you peak younger in football and leave the sport younger, etc.) ***
Quite to the contrary, it’s “the hope of money and reward” that gets you performance, the hope they will be on a winner that gets results.
The pride of seeing themselves on national TV.
The need to show they are the elite.
***Please give me Stanton’s numbers in the 3 years after he signed his $325mm extension to his entire career up to that point. You won’t any difference. Age is the primary deterrent of performance, which can come faster with poor conditioning***
Do you think David Price feels that way?
Maybe he does and I’m being too harsh but I need to see it fast.
David I need to see you give the Red Sox 20+ quality starts in 2018.
That’s the minimum expected of you each year and 200+ innings.
If you blow out your elbow you blow out your elbow but at least the fans and the media can see you gave it your all.
NFL players run the risk of concussion and all of it’s issues.
Yet they play their hearts out.
***You’re actively asking another human to do something that could possibly affect his post playing career’s natural life for your enjoyment? Or just to prove a point? What is it? Dude has a bum elbow which is separate from his poor personality. Don’t mix the two up. If he’s not health, guess what, he doesn’t have to pitch just because you tell him to. I believe he had 20+ QS and 200+ innings his 1st year as a Red Sox. Furthermore, many NFL players don’t understand fully the issue of CTE and comparing that to needing a ligament replaced in your elbow is absolutely terrible George. CTE is a bran degenerative condition that literally KILLS you. ***
So please help me out here members of the media.
Stop looking just at stats and look at attitude and effort.
Write about hustle and grit as well as stats.
Doesn’t every team, fan and media reporter want to see a player with the heart and effort?
So realize that money alone won’t get that for your team.
***Dodgers were the highest payroll team in MLB last year, had lots of heart and grit as they made it to game 7 of the world series…***
Response to Comment 2
I’m puzzled why anyone can’t have a logical discussion without implying they’re not relaxed?
Let’s take it to the next level.
Not only do prima dona’s cost a team money, they also prevent them from getting the players they really need.
This is what the Res Sox SP did in 2017:
Sale 23 QS
Pomeranz 17 QS
Porcello 19 QS
Price 7 QS
ERod 12 QS
So how do we get to 90+ wins in 2018 and beyond?
The Red Sox don’t need JDM they need SP/RP
Lance Lynn 17 QS in 2017
Jason Vargas 16 QS in 2017 (and he’s left handed and could be a RP)
They also need depth:
Eduardo Nunez is perfect for their needs and especially with Pedroia on the DL..
So what do you think?
Disagree with me if you like but at least explain why and don’t just say relax …. LOL ….. OK?
Thanks!
***Sure Nunez would be a nice pick up. But do you honestly use QS as your only measure for pitcher performance? Not strikeouts, BABIP, velocity, ERA, FIP, anything else? The Red Sox pitching was a strength (7th in the league in ERA) whereas they finished 22nd in offense (wRC+). Their need is clearly on offense. Those two pitchers you mentioned are nice depth options but should absolutely not be a priority for the Red Sox. Lynn got by on smoke and mirrors last year (all his peripherals deteriorated despite a shiny ETA and Vargas is old with health issues)***
Response to Comment 3
On Price I said 20+ QS (Quality Starts not Starts) & he should pitch 200+ innings!
Is that too much to ask for someone making 16-18:$30M annually, 19:$31M, 20-22:$32M annually?
I mean look at Sale. He pitched 214 innings and got 23 QS for $12M.
Don’t you expect Price to at least equal that performance?
And yes, I understand Sale is a free agent after 2019 assuming the Red Sox pick up his 2019 $13.5M option.
But my point is that Price has under performed.
And my hunch is that people that aren’t dogging it don’t get into an argument with a Hall of Famer (Eckersley) on the team plane.
So if I’m wrong about Price then I will expect to see him give the Red Sox 20+ QS and 200+ innings pitched in 2018-22. And then I’ll be wrong.
On your last point, my above statement proves my point.
Sale has “the hope of money, fame and pride” …. and Price has the money and doesn’t have the hunger.
Can you see my point about what it takes to be a winner?
You need pride, desire and a work ethic.
***Price was a FA signing, Sale was a trade. The Red Sox gave Moncada $63mm before trading him as one of FOUR players for Sale. Don’t compare pre FA contracts to FA contracts, they’re very different and salary also has nothing to do with performance. If the team decides to overspend, insult the team, not the player who worked his butt off and was offered a grand paycheck. We see marginal players overpaid all the time and criticize them, but never think twice when Mookie Betts asked for $1mm after finishing 2nd in the MVP and his request was denied? But you don’t care about that right? I would hate to be a member of your union. ***
On Stanton, yes of course he’s a good player.
But this is what he got for a contract:
.13 years/$325M (2015-27), plus 2028 option
signed extension with Miami 11/19/14, avoiding arbitration
15:$6.5M, 16:$9M, 17:$14.5M, 18:$25M, 19:$26M, 20:$26M, 21:$29M, 22:$29M, 23:$32M, 24:$32M, 25:$32M, 26:$29M, 27:$25M, 28:$25M club option ($10M buyout)
Do you know what the Marlins total revenue was in 2017?
Just over $200M
The Red Sox are over $400M and the NYY are over $500M.
Can a team afford to pay 10% of their revenues to just 1 player?
Could that be why they were sold?
Could that be why Jeter traded Stanton?
So my point is that baseball is a business and not only must it produce a quality product but it must also make a profit.
Winning creates more profits.
If HR’s and an MVP only did did then Miami would have made $400M+.
***so now we’re saying that market size should have something to do with the largest contact on your MLB team. False. Miami is a big media market but has so many other entertainment options that the MLB team revenue is very small. Loria was a crook and a horrible person and sold the team to get out from having to pay Stanton a market value contract. The trade to the Yankees, where Miami ate a bit of money but got 3 players in return shows that it was about a market value contract. This last point here is just so misguided that I don’t have the energy to point out the flaws anymore. ***
Response to Comment 4
agree with you. An athelete should make what an athelete can. That’s why I said:
“I don’t blame Price as much as I blame the system the owners have created for themselves.”
***If an athlete should make what they can, why do you criticize them for doing so?***
General Response
***Your premise is that big contracts are bad, which is true to an extent, but please carefully consider everything I’ve laid out for you here***
So how long did this take to write?
Oh my god.
Too long
Thank you for that response.
I will look it over carefully.
The objective is to produce a winning team.
And I’m glad to see there are many of you that are open minded.
All I’ve been hearing about for a month or so is the Red Sox need to get a big bat ….. JDM(because DD knows him and he hit 45HR’s in 2017 Hosmer who can hit HR’s and can play 1B.
I like both JDM and Hosmer.
I dislike Scott Boras big contracts.
I dislike being locked in to a player for years if I can avoid it.
I look for alternatives that are less costly and less risky.
I also look for areas of need on a team and I look for depth and balance.
I’m simply asking the question why is the press so fixated on JDM?
When Peter Abraham comments “Dave Dombrowski has stated he’s content with the team’s offense as constructed” and infers that is a “bargaining tactic” I disagree.with Peter Abraham.
I agree with DD. Why can’t we take DD at his word?
DD also said we need a SP.
So let’s just wait and see what DD will do.
I’m glad to see DD is not getting sucked into the hype for HR’s
Which could be being stirred up by Boras.
It’s my opinion we need a SP more than a HR hitter on the Red Sox. So let’s see what happens..
And thank you all for listening, thinking and commenting.
It’s a lot different when you’re building a roster for 16 games vs 160
1 This is a comment that, all other things being equal, paying less money for less time is more logical. Who can disagree? Unless you knew the future? It’s not a rant on big money per se.. Some players are worth it.
2 Yes, yo’re agreeing with me on Sandoval. That’s my point.
3 If you guess wrong you still have to pay them the big bucks. So why not bring in more good players rather than prima dona’s? They are easier to cut if they fail because they cost less.
4 I agree Stanton is a good player but his contract isn’t. And yes he has the right to legally do what his contract calls for. But let’s take Jacoby Ellsbury. I’ll bet the NYY wish he were gone? So long term contracts can be a ball and chain.
5 Do you remember Manny Ramirez? He actually produced but look what we had to go through. He would run aggressively only when he felt like it. He played pathetic defense but was capable of be mediocre. That’s what I’m talking about when the manager looses control of a player. Manny was likely a large factor in Tito Francona being canned.
6 Yes, I’m asking David Price to earn his $30+M per year by giving it his all. Isn’t that what he’s getting paid for? Or do we need Sale to blow out his elbow trying to make up for the lack of effort that even a Hall of Famer like Eckersley sees when Price is dogging it and they almost come to blows on the team plane calling him out.
7 On the CTE issue every NFL player must know about that of they’ve been living under a rock. And The point I make is that if NFL players risk it all and get cut right and left and many hurt every game knowing the greater risk than an arm ligament why is a SP so worried about blowing out his arm? I never would diminish the importance of CTE!
8 Yes, the Dodger’s are a good team. No question. They are an example of how to spend big money effectively as are the NYY, CHC and BOS..
9 Glad you like Nunez. I like Lynn at $15M/year and Vargas is older but for $8M/year he would help the Red Sox staff and could also be used in the pen.
10 So you’re making my point that some players work their butt off to get paid the big bucks and then they can coast? That’s why I don’t want that. In my opinion you’re better off with players like Vargas and Fister that are year to year, for those last few roster spots as your risk is so much lower.
11 We’re no disagreeing about Stanton being good. We’re I think agreeing that he’s better in NYY with a contract like that. We agree that Miami can’t draw $500M annually like the NYY can. All I’m saying is that it’s a business and more revenues allow for more spending on contracts. or a team has to be sold and the players sold off at a fire sale. like Jeter just did with the Marlins. Do you remember when the NE Patriots sucked? Try and get a ticket now? You have to build on a franchise player like Brady when they are young and if you can get one like Brady that isn’t as greed for money but is gready for rings then you have something. Are you saying David Price’s attitude reminds you ina ny way of Tom Brady? Of course not!!!!
12 I’m not criticizing the athlete for making the money I’m criticizing the system that pays them the big bucks and the long term contracts. The Red Sox are competing with themselves. If you could buy something you want for less money why wouldn’t you? I’m just giving my thoughts on other ways of how a team can win for less risk and less money..
Thanks for your thoughts.
Everyone’s premise Barron is that you should be on a 100 words’ limit.
Nobody is reading through your long winded dissertations. By-the-way none of us care to hear any more about the patriots coach. Your references do not apply to baseball.
You make the most amazing points ever crafted but most people won’t read past your first 2 sentences.
Meant “you could make”…I won’t read that ridiculous essay to find out.
If I’m the Barron you’re surely The Duke of Earl .. LOL
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
And-a you, you are my girl
And no one can hurt you, oh no
Yes-a, I, oh I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin’
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl
So hey yea yea yeah
But it is exactly that and Boras knows that.
Were It me, Id call Dombrowski and say JD’s Price just went Up 10M
And if I was DD I would say good luck were out.
DD needs him more than he needs him and Boras knows that.
No not really there is point where DD won’t go beyond if JDM sticks to his guns on a 200 million contract the. He won’t be a Red Sox simple as that.
The Red Sox don’t need him they want him. They will field a perfectly good team that has made the playoffs both of the last two years.
I expect that there offense will rebound quite dramatically even without JDM.
The Red Sox will be just fine there pitching is what will carry them and determine if they win the division. If Price is healthy that is the key. There bullpen is really good chance to be spectacular depending on Carson Smith.
If I was DD I would do exactly what he is doing waiting in the market. Do you think JDM is going to sit out of the best offer he gets is 6/125? I don’t think so and unless Boras can get another suitor that is willing to pay stupid money to get him DD will just wait. DD isn’t stupid and will not bid against himself like so others may have in the past.
I agree with you and I would be actively seeking a good SP “NOW” and if Price comes around he does. But I don’t want to risk the whole season on David Price coming around and not have enough SP..
There isn’t a good enough starter out there to really go after. I think if Boston needs a starter then they will trade for one during the season if the need arises.
Pick up Alex Cobb! I’m sure he’d love to play for his home team.
DD is not going to let Scott Boras maneuver him into bidding against himself for J. D. Martinez’s services. Certainly an offer has been made, something like 5yrs/$100M, which Martinez will have to accept sooner or later, if he wants to play baseball next year in the USA. Martinez will DH, and enjoy doing it once he realizes he can be Boston’s DH for the next decade if he produces. Otherwise, by the time he reaches his 36th birthday he will probably be out of MLB baseball.
Dave Dombrowski is the general manager who negotiated a seven-year, $217 million deal with David Price in December 2015 and a nine-year, $214 million deal with Prince Fielder in January 2012.
Dombrowski should have his hands full with Scott Boras, who was Fielder’s agent.
Well the flaw in your argument their is the situation. When DD signed the big contract for Prince he had an owner that was old and wanted to win before he died. Would not surprise me if DD was told to sign Fielder but regardless the owner wanted to win.
When DD came to the Red Sox they had two terrible back to back seasons and everyone knew he had to get a TOR arm which was Price.
He is now coming off back to back division winning seasons and that was with Price nearly non existent with injuries. If Price is Healthy they are probably 3 to 4 wins better then they were.
JDM is a luxury not a need and he has certainly been given a dollar value in DD’s mind and if it goes over that so be it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think Boston really needs him all that much certainly not 200 million much.
The current reported need for a big bat parallels the reported need for a top-of-rotation starter two years ago.
The Red Sox may well pass on meeting the demands of J.D. Martinez and instead go with the “lineup that finished the 2017 season ranked 22nd in the Majors with a 92 wRC+.”
Once again you are comparing when DD first came in and had to make the big splash. He doesn’t have to make a big splash this year. I think he knows that the Red Sox offense will be better this year unless you think Mookie has another .268 babip year and Hanley isn’t better in a potential walk year another year older from Benintendi and a full year from Devers the list goes on.
Sometimes teams have down years offensively and that’s what I believed happened to the Red Sox. I highly doubt the their WRC will be that low again regardless of whether they get JDM. I also don’t believe DD is forced to get JDM. He may very well end up in Boston but if he doesn’t oh well that means he cost too much.
That same team won 93 games.
big power bat to play first base………money is no object!
Mr. Dombrowski, may I introduce you to Mr. Duquette.
Sorry to rain on your parade. The lineup has a weak link—nobody in the cleanup spot to install some fear in a pitcher and cause a hi stress at bat. So they can fly through it from 1-9 without concern.
If they don’t get JD they don’t have a chance of post season play, period.
Trader Dave lacks both financial resources and any farm system assets to trade. He gave away the farm the past few years and the cupboard is bear.
The clown speaks no one listens to you anyway.
Come on man….a homer comment if we ever heard one!
Well Bruin1012 your comment reeks of Boston Red Sox Nation believer…nothing can ever be wrong with our boys!
Hanley sucks with no obvious position and if your really a Devers believer after his curtain call…..then I rest my case.
My comments reek of years and years of watching baseball.
If you really believe that the Red Sox will be as bad offensively as they were last year then I can’t help you.
Sometime teams just go through team wide slumps it happens. Do you really think Mookie is going to have a .268 babip again do you not see improvement in Benny in Devers do you really see Hanley as bad offensively as he was last year especially in a potential contract year? Do you see MM breaking his foot again? I know that the Red Sox will be better offensively because almost everything went wrong in that department last year. Maybe I will be wrong but I don’t think so. I am not saying the Red Sox are going to be as good offensively as the Yankees I’m just saying as long as there pitching holds up they can compete and win the division again.
All they need to do is get to playoffs and get hot or happens a lot in baseball.
Boston doesn’t have to get JDM to compete as long as there pitching is healthy. There offense will be just fine I’ll bet a top 10 in baseball easy next year.
Somebody needed a soapbox.
The links here between big money, and not running out grounders etc, are unsubstantiated. In fact, there are no links at all. Back it up with something – otherwise this is just a garbage rant.
Back up your claims, or have a glass of milk and go to bed before you have a stroke.
You have way too much time on your hands. I have never ever seen this amount of verbiage to any article or post!
Lindor is in for a huge payday in free agency and I think it will be an amount the Indians can’t afford. I will be devastated to see him go.
He’s such a staple of Cleveland that I think the owners will try to pull out the stops to bring him back.
Wasn’t encarnacion their biggest contract ever ? If so Lindor will cost more than twice as much as that
Pretty sure even the Yankees won’t be paying anyone $40M/yr four years from now. LOL! Encarnacion will be gone by then and the Indians will have no trouble paying Lindor. Sorry to disappoint the big money teams.
Why not? They might be doing it next year…
There will most likely be multiple players making $40M/yr four years from now. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Hey who does everything think the Indians #4 & #5 starter should be? This is how I think the rotation will turn out:
1. Kluber
2. Carrasco
3. Bauer
4. Clevinger/Salazar
5. Merritt/Tomlin
Clevinger has been solid, but he’s actually the only one who has any options left so you could definitely make an argument for extending control of him and giving Salazar another chance.
Tomlin has typically excelled out of the bullpen and Merritt is under control until 2024 so giving him time to gain experience starting might be better than keeping him in the bullpen.
No basically, no Red Sox news… got it
isnt Ramirez a free agent by the time Lindor is too or is he a year or two after him ?
They extended him last yr believe
Yes, after the 2016 he signed a 5 year extension carrying him through the 2021 season but there are also 2 club option years after that so he is potentially controlled through 2023.
1. Trade Lindor for tons.
2. Get Profar for crumbs.
3. Watching Odor for Texas and Profar for Cleveland, I bald way too early.
I kid, kind of…
David Hess is actually a right handed pitcher for Baltimore.
The fact that you called Ryan Merritt a hero is a joke, the guy didn’t even pitch 5 innings, he has put up solid numbers but the fact that you called him a hero makes me believe your knowledge on the game and the players in it needs some work
He stepped into a very tough pressure situation for a minor leaguer and delivered. Many Tribe fans thought he was a hero.
Will loyalty or greed win out with Lindor? We’ll see…
He’s thinking about free agency already and he’s only been in the league for 2 full seasons. I doubt there is any loyalty in play. He already rejected a offer from the Indians
Loyalty? Meaning the organization is loyal enough to pay him what he’s worth?
Pretty sure even the Yankees won’t be paying anyone $40M/yr four years from now. LOL! Encarnacion will be gone by then and the Indians will have no trouble paying Lindor. Sorry to disappoint the big money teams.
If you think the Indians can’t/won’t be outbid by one of the larger markets you are the one that will be disappointed. If he really wanted to stay he would be working hard to hammer out a deal. The offer he rejected was probably the highest contract offer in that franchises history and he scoffed at it. How much higher can they go ? It’s likely they low balled him hoping for a hometown discount
They offered him a contract equal to what a second year player is worth who is a budding superstar. They didn’t lowball him and never would. When EE leaves in three years, they’ll offer him the $20M Edward is making plus whatever it takes to sign him. They have more money to spend now with an additional investor on board and letting the face of the franchise go is bad business. They’re not bad businessmen now that Shapiro is in Toronto so there are no worries that Lindor is going anywhere. Sorry, but that’s true.
Love how 75% of the comments are about David price.
That’s because many are thinking Price will come back with a 20+ QS season in 2018 and many others don’t agree and don’t want to put all of their eggs in one basket hoping for that.
Also many seem to think we need to match the HR pop of Stanton and Judge of the NYY and get a HR hitter like JDM.
Ironically Price is causing the controversy because if he just performed as he should we could just get a HR hitter but he’s either injured or he’s a dog and thus the contentiousness.
My hunch is that DD has lost faith in Price and that’s the issue.
Just look at the way he dumped Sandoval.
I don’t think DD is quite ready yet to dump Price but I’m guessing it’s crossed his mind a time or two?
He said he was looking for a SP.
Look at their starting rotation.
They need a SP. Even more so if Price fails again in 2018.
A fair price is what the high bidder is willing to pay…it’s an auction with one item available, not Walmart with shelves of sluggers ready to go.
JDM will be a Red Sox. I just hope the years are limited.
Sano hits 100 home runs in 2018 thanks to titanium shin.
The TWINS are shopping SANO! The article is all over TwinkieTown. Sounds like Napoli’s “leadership” is more of a value, and they might trade Sano for Archer.
Steve… get a write-up on this ASAP!
twitter.com/MatthewColler/status/94571147426096742…
They must think he’s damaged goods if they suddenly want to trade him. Their lineup would lose their best and most dangerous hitter while boosting the staff. How do they improve ?
Utter dearth hahaha
The problem that Boras has he hasn’t been able to drum up any real competition for JDM. If no one steps up then I see a 6/125 signing for Boston on JDM.
Dariel Alvarez had one and a half tools. He had a cannon for an arm and he could hit some opposite field line drives. He had no sense of the strike zone or patience for taking pitches, he had little power, little speed, and was a terrible outfielder despite the arm. Here’s hoping he can become 80% of what Mychal Givens has turned into after his conversion.