Just what are the Red Sox thinking by tying up a 40-man roster spot on righty Ryan Weber? Chad Jennings of The Athletic explores (subscription link). The club sees Weber as a clear candidate to take the fifth starter’s role or at least to serve as valuable depth. (He can still be optioned.) While his stuff isn’t eye-popping, it seems the org’s talent evaluators were wowed by Weber’s “command and execution.” And new chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom evidently hasn’t seen cause yet to disagree. Weber doesn’t throw hard and owns only a 5.04 ERA in 114 1/3 MLB innings over the past five seasons. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Sox can help him find a path to contributing value in 2020.
In other news out of Boston, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com rounds up a series of interesting stories on the Sox. We’ll take a brief look at those of particular hot stove relevance …
- There’s some good news on the progress of recently acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo, but also some added questions. Bradford writes that the 23-year-old has made major strides just since camp opened — but also that he may miss a month or more of the regular season. “The fact it is taking this long is frustrating,” says Verdugo. “What keeps me positive is that all the players, the staff, the trainers, they all support me. They all want me to wait until I’m fully healthy and get back.” Verdugo spoke about the lingering back and related issues that have plagued him for some time now, saying that he had been on a “regular workout plan” from the Dodgers that (it now seems) may not have been the best approach.
- Regardless whether this lengthy recovery process could’ve been shortened, it’s certainly disappointing that the Boston organization is dealing with this sort of uncertainty surrounding the key player acquired in exchange for Mookie Betts. And Verdugo’s potential also makes for a key component of the team’s 2020 outlook. Even without Betts, the club is certainly at least a plausible Wild Card contender. Fans feeling down about the situation may at least be buoyed somewhat to learn of Verdugo’s unabashed affinity for legend David Ortiz (Twitter link).
- Returning veteran first baseman Mitch Moreland spoke of his most recent stint on the open market. While he again ended up inking with the Sox, it wasn’t an obvious outcome for much of the winter. Moreland, a Mississippi native, says he fielded interest from a number of other clubs, including some “really close to home that were enticing.” Ultimately, the Red Sox re-engaged — and Moreland says he was happy to work it out to remain in Boston. The Sox will be pleased if they get a repeat of Moreland’s 2019 output; he slashed .252/.328/.507 (112 wRC+) after putting up only league-average offensive output in his first two years with the club.
- The free agent process can certainly have its twists and turns, but center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. sees it in a positive light. Bradley, who’ll hit the open market next winter, tells Bradford that he’s looking forward to having the ability “to finally make a choice for yourself.” There are ways in which nearing free agency can be stressful, he acknowledged, but that’s all a matter of perspective. For Bradley, there’s nothing but upside: “Why not be excited about it?” he queried.
Lolz Verdugo aka Malibu’s most wanted
Is it me or does he just oooze Dirt bad?
it’s not you…..gosh I hope he cleans up and plays great ball
Is it me or just “kewl”(because cool dude is so much harder to type) are both reality show/twitter waste?
And a ginger dirtbag, at that…
Got a little Nick Swisher in him
He looks like Paul Wall.
Lol, you’re right but the kid has personality for days. Boston will love having him around.
He seems so immature. Meter was so poised and really impressed when speaking with the press.
JBJ I’m sure will be traded by the break if the team is outta it. He is soooo streaky it’s nerve racking, but….he plays an unbelievable CF, I love watching him. I am still mourning the loss of Brock Holt, n all he brings to his play. Not every player is a 5 tool star, but well loved non the less.
Out of curiosity who will the Red Sox fans miss more: Betts or Holt? I mean I like Holt as a player but jeez you guys make it seem like he was Trout for goodness sakes.
Any Sox fan would be stupid to argue between the two. That said, baseball is a team sport and the reality is the Dodgers did a better job budgeting for 2020 and beyond. Boston simply couldn’t have doubled down and risked getting nothing at the end of the year. Boston did better than expected. I know Holt is now a Brewer but the problem fans have is Peraza has to have an Urshela 2019 type year to make us forget Holts’ on and off field contributions.
Brockstar was a star off field mii ok style n a great team mate on. Not every player is a Ortiz, or Mookie to be beloved by the fans. Plus the fact he was clutch too.
I’m a Sox fan but I agree with you… a lot of Sox fans are acting like Brock Holt was actually some great player that will be sorely missed. And as much as I like the guy… he just wasn’t ever that great. He was a VERY solid utility guy and I wish him the best… But “mourning his loss” is a little extreme Having said all of that off the field he was/is an amazing person. His charity work with Dana Farber and countless other charities/children’s hospitals is something to be commended. I do wish him the best of luck next year/the rest of his career. But c’mon fellow Sox fans… enough with the “I’m mourning the loss of Brock Holt…” he was a decent utility player — nothing more.
Betts, obviously. Betts and Bogaerts have been my two favorite guys on the team not named Ortiz (who is obviously my #1 forever) since 2015. The reality of Mookie being gone is a punch to the gut that I won’t fully realize until the season begins and he’s not out there in right anymore. Anyone who is not a moron adored and will miss Mookie greatly.
But the Brockstar was also beloved for a reason. He had a little Pedroia in him in the way he was a small, scrappy guy who would always show up to work day in and day out and do whatever the team needed him to do that day. Seen him line up at every position except center, catcher, and pitcher. Despite always being moved around the diamond he was always good for a professional at bat and had a great attitude. Like Mookie he also did a lot in the community. And he hit for the cycle in a playoff game against the Yankees, so we’ll always have that.
Missing players who are traded, retire, or leave through free agency is natural. I am a Red Sox fan of 51 years, so it is fun to look back at the stats from the 70s, 80s….bottom line – no player stays for every. You can only appreciate the players when they are here. I also do not see the benefit of booing Red Sox players. Do stupid fans think that will help them play better. Sometimes i wonder what the IQ of the typical fan is …..
He was a versatile guy who did the job and didn’t complain…
Not to mention a great person.
All that for $4m is a steal.
Betts will sign with the White Sox. 5 year/$100 Million deal. He takes a discount to play for a World Series caliber team
say what? stop drinking the Kool-aid!
Drinking the Koolaid? He is likely smoking/vaping to be making that imprudent of comments.
Hey man I do both of those things and None of those things will make you think that way. That kind of dumb can’t be made by a substance.
Are you insane?
No. My mother had me tested.
Are you underage?
Thank you Sheldon
You mean a 2 year deal for $100M! Betts is going to max out in free agency. I’d be shocked if he signed for under $350M, unless some team like the Dodgers (or White Sox) offer him a short term, $40M AAV contract. Even then, it seems like he wants a long term, mega deal like Trout, Cole, Rendon, Machado, etc…
Ha ha ha ha and if you believe that I have some swamp land in radioactive dump to sell you.
All I can do is hope that was a joke… because if not the shocking lack of understanding of baseball and Betts FA value next season is absurd.
funniest thing ive seen all day
Has to be a strange joke. $370MM/10 more like it.
JBJ has been saying he is excited for FA. Wait until he finds he is not going to get what he has been getting through the arbitration process. 0.225 is not cutting it for $11M/year. Be careful for what you wish for.
I wish we could put JBJ on the FA market RIGHT NOW. Signing him to an 11.5 million dollar deal was ANOTHER blunder by wonder boy Mr Bloom. Anyone who wants him { and his salary} can have him for nothing. Jared Duran is the future CF for the Sox–the SOONER the BETTER.
Jared Duran is the future CF for the Sox–the SOONER the BETTER.
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I’m not sure Duran is even an MLB caliber player. He had a 84/23 K/W in AA last year, with one HR. It doesn’t get much worse than that.
he’s just excited to leave Boston from the sound of it. not about the money
JBJ isn’t worth anything in free agency. 2 WAR with the only value being defense means he is not going to get even what he is being paid now unless he hits much better this season. .
He’s speaking like this because the team is not offering an extension.
Spot on, sir.
Bench JBJ against lefties and he’s more valuable to a team. Problem solved.
Lingering back issues at 23. That’s probably not a good thing.
Dwight Evans played 19y with back issues which had him miss games just about every season. Saying this kid will be ruined at 23y old with them is beyond ludicrous.
Tim Wakefield won 200G with back issues as well. Once he had to miss half a season (or about) but that’s the most time it affected him and Wake pitched nearly 20y with his back problems.
“Saying this kid will be ruined at 23y old with them is beyond ludicrous.”
Who said that?
Weber is trash
He is trash but which of the other scrubs wonder boy Mr Bloom has brought in are any better??
What a joke Dodgers gave up nothing for Betts.
Betts AND Price 15 mil per year.
The joke recently hasn’t been on the Red Sox and their fans. Win again before spewing nonsense. Wait three years to reassess.
Boston screwed up bigtime on this one. Couldn’t even land a blue chip prospect. Jeter Downs is a mid-level prospect and Verdugo? Talk about a massive downgrade from Mookie Betts! They will feel the negative effects from this one for years!
Team values have changed. Not many teams had the ability to pay $43m this late for two players, any two. In November, Price was thought of as untradeable and given the Sox payroll situation, Bloom actually did fine. Instead of trying to gauge one specific trade, give Bloom time. The last several people in charge had one thing in common. They all won. Bottom line is winning. Evaluate Bloom on whether or not he’s driving a duck boat in a future November.
I love how you only mention Price but not Betts. I wasn’t even referring to Price, just Betts. It would make no sense to spend more $ on David Price but makes all the sense in the world to keep Betts hitting leadoff for the red sox.
I actually completely disagree… I think the Red Sox did relatively well in the Betts deal. Getting under the luxury tax is a massive boost to the long term success of the team (irrelevant from the $ side — I’m talking draft penalties and international bonus $ stuff) and on top of it they Got Jeter Downs who isn’t a “mid-level” prospect he’s a high level prospect projected to be an everyday player at the MLB level. In addition they got Verdugo who’s only 23 and already has proven he’s a good ML hitter… if he improves on his numbers even just a little bit he could become a legitimate All-Star caliber OF. And essentially as a throw in the got a young catcher with legit pop… he may profile best as a backup but the pop is legit, even if his contact skills aren’t quite as good. The one thing I will admit is that I would really liked to have had Graterol — I guess I understand if he’s so badly injured he won’t even be physically capable of being a SP then that is obviously quite worrisome. But just the raw stuff he has… that was intriguing either out of the pen or as a starter — so I do kind of regret that things fell apart there. But if the injury situation is as bad as they claim… then I guess a potential everyday 2B with power and speed (Downs) is a pretty good alternative.
The Red Sox was so concerned about the medical report of the Minnesota twins picture and they weren’t so concerned with Verdugo?
Agree Jeff. I realize everyone wants to grade immediately but such on,y matters if to fantasy players and the Dodgers who have to win now.
They will feel the negative effects from this one for years!
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Since we only had Mookie for ONE more year, the term ‘years’ is problematic.
Nobody wants to put any thought into this trade beyond the names. It’s so easy to say Verdugo isn’t Mookie , Downs is a mid-level prospect , some dude named Wong. I’m not gonna enjoy watching Mookie in different colors. But if you really look beyond the Players The Redsox didn’t do all that bad.
I look at it as Price is gone….great….and they had to give them Mookie to get rid of him. Sounds good to me. Price is bad news.
Moneyballer
“Jeter Downs is a mid-level prospect and Verdugo? Talk about a massive downgrade from Mookie Betts!”
Did you seriously expect the Sox to get back something of equal value to Betts on a one year rental? That would have been a mega coup and a massive bonehead move for the Dodgers. What are you thinking?
“…makes all the sense in the world to keep Betts hitting leadoff for the red sox.”
And settle for a low level draft pick next year? What???
I’m with you on this one Mo. Looking at it with a straight face thats the correct assessment right there.
Absolutely! Betts was a massive trade chip they let go for peanuts. They should have kept him till the trade deadline and demanded a blue chipper from a team needing a boost to win their division and make the postseason. They misplayed their hand horribly!
Money baller I don’t agree. I don’t think that would have been the right move. You got to take what you can get now. The Farm is week.
Dumping half of Price’s contract and getting three kids back is fine. What more could you get at the deadline? Maybe for a starting pitcher or an ace or something like that you can get a good haul… but not for a 5-10 right fielder took hits .305 and will have 22 dingers at the break.
2 top 100 prospects and Verdugo? How is that not a good deal? David Price was a cancer from the moment he got there, and Mookie is doing the responsible thing and trying to get the most money he can hardly blame him
Given his “back issues”, his general lackadaisical approach, and the fact he doesn’t have any financial incentive this year (pre-arb), I doubt we’ll see much of Verdugo this year. Maybe toward the end of the year…..Wong’s ceiling Is a decent fielding backup C with some power; there’s a few zillion of those around…..Downs is kind if iffy; decent floor (he’ll play in the majors) but a questionable ceiling….
No, it wasn’t much, but they reset, and actually, if Sale/Eovoldi are healthy, still have a shot. And as I’ve said, if those two guys aren’t healthy, they would have no shot, with or without Mookie.
Funny how nobody in LA thought Verdugo was “lackadaisical.” It’s sad to watch the Boston fans slice and dice yet another player, even one you’ve never even seen play.
Verdugo has back issues due to the ridiculously big earrings he wears pulling his head down. Do people actually think those look cool?
I was wondering what those were?? Speaks BIG EGO to me !!
Would turn out as the stupidest trade ever, you knew he was hurt and LA was feening for him, could had gotten another prospect.. hope they finish in last
Not gonna happen with the O’s in the same division, but we can dream..
Plus dumped Price 15 mil per year. How quickly they forget.
Paying 15 million TO PITCH FOR LA !!
The last regime gave that contract to Price. Sox are lucky to get out of it. And Mookie Betts is walking at the end of the year.
I’m surprised we got anything lol. Actually got three players to help our weak system. Not too shabby if you look at it honestly.
I’ve watched some videos of Alex Verdugo before he had back issues. He has a ferocious swing–when he makes contact he is a solid hitter. It appears the Sox feel keeping JBJ needs to happen because of Verdugo’s health. I have watched Jarren Duran”s progress thru the minors. He has great speed, hit in the .400 range at A+ Salem.
He slowed a bit in Portland but appears to have some good tools.
If JBJ plans to go to the open market in 2021 he will be faced with tremendous competition. I would guess perhaps $3-5 one year deal not close to his current $11 M arbitration deal he was awarded unless he gets playing time only against RH pitchers and has an exceptional year.
Never getting that type of offer.
Unless JBJ bats below .200 this year (which is possible), his floor in free agency is 3 years, $15M. I watched 150+ games last year and JBJs defense has not slipped at all. The whole UZR stuff is vastly overrated. He just gets to more balls than most CFs so if he misplays one that others couldn’t even get to, that hurts his UZR. Plus, JBJ is good for 15-20 HRs every year. If he bats .250+ with 20+ HRs, he’ll get an offer in the $7-$10M AAV. Doesn’t hurt that he has an absolute canon for an arm too, which is also extremely accurate.
When has JBJ ever hit .250?? Only 1 year has he ever been ABOVE .250. He hit .225 last year with 155 K’s. Good glove in CF but his bat SUCKS !!
When has JBJ ever hit .250?
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His average over the past five years is .244.
Verdugo definitely has the potential to be a perennial All Star if he stays on track with health and attitude. His attitude was adjusted while in Los Angeles, Dodgers put him through a series of “respect” lessons and he indeed improved his hustle. Dodgers still got away with murder on this trade and surprised they didn’t have to give up more. Interesting trade all around but Verdugo will turn the whole city of Boston around once he’s on the field everyday.
He also has the potential to be absolutely nothing, a total bust!
Yeah he’ll make us forget Mookie alright !!
That’s what you think? That we would trade mookie in a walk year for an equal player? I think we’re lucky to get anyone at all considering the price contract attached. Sox did well in that trade. I’m sure it was the best offer out there. So easy to criticize I’m your couch at home. Socks are doing the right thing I getting under the luxury-tax and resetting so they can spend again next winter then go for it again.
I’m a RS fan from The Bronx. I hate to say it, but the average NYY fan is twice as smart as the average RS fan. The best RS fans can hold their own with anyone, but some of the RS fans in here are headache-inducing.
Red Sox crack me up! They take Verdugo who really has an obvious health issues and will miss the beginning of the regular-season while passing on a pitcher because of a medical report. Now it turns out that this particular pitcher, the Dodgers are expecting him to be coming out of the bullpen from day one of the regular season.
Again. Wait three years and reassess. The so called bullpen stud might very well be but he also could be a Bill Campbell in waiting. Great stuff but ruined by an injury or he could be another Daniel Bard, out of the league and later trying to make a comeback. Hope Bard makes it but it’s simply premature to assess a trade of this type. In three years when all three are valuable contributors and the Dodgers still haven’t won, then what?
No it’s perfectly fine to assess a trade in real time. Facts are facts and the guy they traded for is banged up and the guy they passed on is not. Oh well bosox! This will be the most regrettable trade both now and in 3 years!
Not so fast. Mookie’s walking at the end of the year. David Price was owed 90 million dollars and he was the problem of the Sox so they’ll pay 45. Lucky to get anyone back at all.
Plus, in three years? Mookie will be playing on a 10-year 400 million contract and David Price will be sitting on his couch and home playing video games at 36 yesrs old, collecting 30 million dollars from the Sox and the Dodgers.
No it’s perfectly fine to assess a trade in real time.
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Then assess it. By my estimate, we will get about 30 WAR from the players we acquired, against 6.6 from the player we traded. And that doesn’t include Price’s long-term liability, or the benefit from getting under the cap.
What’s your assessment?
Verdugo is not a special talent like Betts. He’s a replaceable bat with no defense. Guys like this don’t command much as free agents because there are carbon copies of his skill set all over the place. Bosox made a mistake by letting Betts go and to all those saying “but they would have lost him” blah blah blah – don’t be cheap big market club, pay your special players if you want to be relevant. Boston is suppose to be a team that breaks the bank when players of Betts talent become available. So much for that.
Tell that to the Evil Empire when all their guys hit their FA times.
Also I think the RS got fleeced in the trade. But I am glad Price is gone, too much drama with him.
Verdugo actually plays above average defense and has one of the best OF arms in baseball. There’s no way he can replace Betts’ production (no one really could) but he has the potential to be an all-star caliber outfielder if he can get healthy and mature a little bit. Boston is the perfect place/team for that to happen.
He’s an elite defensive right fielder, posted above average numbers vs lefties and righties as a rookie, Elite sprint speed, an elite arm.. AND has the prospect pedigree to boot. He was the top prospect for 3 years in a system that has controlled the NL ROY for the last 1/2 decade
You’re so full of crap
And yet the Dodgers traded him like he was nothing. Good luck bringing out those Elite skills you keep talking about. If he’s so elite, why hasn’t he produced elite numbers? He’s had plenty of opportunities. That’s a mystery right there! You downgraded, flat out and this year is gonna be tough to stomach when Betts is blasting baseballs every which way and Verdugo is in a bathtub full of ice nursing his messed up back!
What are you saying? He was on pace for a nearly 5 war season as a 23 year old rookie
He hit over 300 vs lefties as a lefty, over 800 OPS vs both hands. He was often LAs lead off hitter with his Obp skills
He plays elite defense. It’s already there! You’re just a RS Hater, clearly. And I’m not a Sox fan at all
Not at all, I actually hate the Yankees but the Yankees didn’t make a stupid as hell trade. They won’t deal Aaron Judge when he is a year away from hitting the market, they’ll lock his ass up! I actually feel sorry for Boston, they are turning into the Kansas City Royals.
I agree ! Henry was foolish with an elite player
Verdugo was worth over 3 wins in under 400 PA’s.. in one of the next two seasons he’ll be 6-7 WAR player
Going from Betts, a 7 war player last season, to Verdugo, a 3 war player last season effectively makes Verdugo a -4 war player for this years red sox team. They will feel the difference!
You are basically not a smart baseball analyst.
Moneyballer
If you expected a 1 for 1 trade of a Betts level talent for one year of Betts you are the biggest idiot on this comment board.
Nope not at all. They should have received one they could have developed into a fine ball player. Graterol made a ton of sense but they messed that one up. You boston fans will look back at this with distain for years, mark my words!
“He’s a replaceable bat with no defense. ”
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Moneyballer, you are a disgrace to your handle. Apparently everyone in this discussion knows more about Verdugo than you do. Why not do some research before embarrassing yourself?
Piss off. You know you got nothing for Betts, you’re just too obtuse to admit your beloved team made a mistake.
Why do you care?
Honestly, seemed like the Dodgers never knew what Verdugos injury was (just called it a core issue for months and expressed frustration he wasn’t healing)
If he is properly diagnosed, that goes a long way to proper recovery..
Of course they didn’t know, or they’d have told you.
We need to cut the crap. Verdugo is a PALTRY return for a former MVP, World Series Winner, 4x Gold Glove Award Winner, 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, Major League Baseball Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Batting Champion! Good luck replacing all that! The people defending this trade for Boston are truly insane.
What’s insane is being mad the Sox traded for these guys in exchange for ONE year of Mookie who is going to FA no matter what and you still have the same chance of signing him in 2021 whether he stays or not. How is this hard to understand? It’s not like keeping Mookie turns them into a WS caliber team.
Red Sox were cheap and didn’t pay an elite player. Mistake.
The Sox were guilty of quite a few very bad contracts which is why they don’t have the money to pay Mookie!
Dodgers were a freaking world series caliber team before landing Betts, what do you think they are now?!
A great team who constantly underperform in October. What’s your point? One thing has nothing to do with the other.
1988. Does that ring a bell? Probably before you were born LOL
I mean sure, if you want to compare this team to a team from 4 decades ago. Go ahead.
They still have to win to get that monkey off their back. Until they do, getting close is simply not enough.
AKA a world series caliber team. Smh.
That is just dumbest thing ever. You need to look at the full picture. Yes the idiots in the boston front office waited until Betts had very little perceived value to trade him. If they had no plans to sign him long term they should have dealt him when he had more value, aka last offseason. But noooo, didn’t think that one through did they? Instead they waited and got virtually nothing for him. A massive blunder by boston and boston alone.
Moneyballer, would you pay Mookie $12/$420M? Because that’s what this trade was about and nothing less. Think the Dodgers are going to go 12/$420? …Not. I say there’s a fair chance he ends up in Boston again at 10/$350. Then who will have won the trade?
The teams in on Betts will be SD, ChiSox, NYM, and Boston. Deal gets done 10/$350-380M.
NYY, LAA, CHC won’t spend that much on him due to other commitments, so who’s left?
Yes, I would. He’s a foundational franchise player. Boston won’t pay him but another team certainly will and it’s boston that will lose out on that one.
Absolutely agree !!! This imbecile Bloom picks up an injured player for an elite player. Nice going Rube Goldberg Bloom picking you garbage and throw aways all off season. Absolutely sickening
Absolutely agree
Wow, you 2 Sox homers keep slapping each others back on your comments….the Sox kept Mookie too long and could not expect a top return for a guy making $27 Million in Arb., and committed to taking the top offer in free agency he can possibly get…..if the Sox care, then sign him in 2021 with the top offer.
Don;t complain about the return when they 1. accomplished their reduction of payroll which management wanted, and 2. got something back for a player walking away in free agency!
I agree with that! If they were always going to deal Betts, they should have done it when he had more perceived value. Aka last offseason. Bottom line is they should have received a larger return for such a gifted and accomplished player. They flat out blew it!
Verdugo *plays in LA*
“Man, this kid can play, he’s going to be great!”
*Gets trades to Boston”
“Wow. What a tool/dirtbag/thug. How is he not in jail?”
There are plenty of reasons JBJ shouldn’t be “excited” about FA — for one thing he’ll be lucky if he gets half of his current salary on the open market next year… unless he can somehow find a way to have a season like he did 3 years ago… otherwise a .220 hitter with 15-20 HRs isn’t exactly what teams are going to be “excited” about next off-season. Even if his defense remains excellent.
If the Sox doesn’t give Betts his $35 mil aav, what about going after Springer? Guy can definitely hit and is clutch. Idk his value but I’d bet it’s under 30 mil aav….
Guys got back issues at 23 ?!? Badddd sign
You are really slow blah blah ….. HE DOES NOT WANT TO STAY. Maybe he hates the city of Boston and it’s crappy weather and crowded streets. Are you going to MAKE him resign. GET over it !!!!!!!!!!!
You are really slow blah blah ….. HE DOES NOT WANT TO STAY. Maybe he hates the city of Boston and it’s crappy weather and crowded streets. Are you going to MAKE him resign. GET over it !!!!!!!!!!!
JBJ probably will do worse in FA then he did in Arbitration.
Bradley usually tries to be positive and thoughtful if you listen to what he says. He has a positive personality. He is not like the typical downer, whining Boston fan
New York fans are worse than Boston fans. They are a bunch of arrogant, a-holes who think they have had something to do with the Yankee past success. What a laugh!
Don’t make me pick whose fans win the contest of the worst to be around. Last summer we were at one of the games when the Yankees visited the Dodgers. We were sitting in front of a Yankee fan who was so obnoxious I had to turn around and tell him it cool it. When he continued on, my wife did the same (and she is not easy to annoy). Been going to games for decades and never had to do that. Then right here we have Boston fans ripping a player who they’ve never even seen play. How bad does that look? Well I guess that’s why it’s a rivalry, for whose fans can be the nastiest.
Says he pot calling the kettle black….yeh, like arrogance stops at the NY State line!
Thanks for the “objective” comment by a Sox homer!
Red Sox fans hate the Yankees and their fans more than they like the Red Sox. They talk about the Yankees and Yankees’ fans more than they talk about the Red Sox. They are obsessed. Been dealing with this since I was a kid, so I know. Conversely, New York fans don’t talk about the Red Sox or their fans much unless they are defending themselves against a Red Sox fan. It’s ridiculous. You can test this by just watching who says what in these comment threads, especially for NYY and RS threads. It’s telling.
When these guys they picked up for Betts flop and this team is out of it by the end of April the fans and press are going to want to chase Bloom out of town with pitchforks and torches! This might work in Tampa where they do not draw attendance at all but it is not going to cut it in Boston. How do you pick up a guy with a stress fracture on his spine for an MVP like Betts. Henry should have paid Betts the money, he had it. To add insult to injury he raises ticket prices. Absolutely low class!
I called it last summer at the trade deadline that Dombroski was going to be fired and now I know they are going to sell this team.
AL34 – Point taken, whining fan spending other people’s money…..must be for Warren or Sanders
political turd in the pool.
When these guys they picked up for Betts flop and this team is out of it by the end of April the fans and press are going to want to chase Bloom out of town with pitchforks and torches! This might work in Tampa where they do not draw attendance at all but it is not going to cut it in Boston. How do you pick up a guy with a stress fracture on his spine for an MVP like Betts. Henry should have paid Betts the money, he had it. To add insult to injury he raises ticket prices. Absolutely low class!
I called it last summer at the trade deadline that Dombroski was going to be fired and now I know they are going to sell this team.
Sad to say–Betts was offered enough to at least start the conversation toward resigning with the Sox–he wants to be a FA. He’ll get $300 M if he’s a flop in La La Land. Betts had a great supporting cast in Boston until our pitching went South last Aug /Sept. The. Dodgers have an equal # of quality players–they should win a much sought after championship which should add to Mookie’s resume and perhaps a $400 M + contract for a true ‘Blue Chip’ player.
Is Betts stats real? how many trash can hits are in there?
Is it going to come out that he also won an MVP, I mean stole an MVP because he was another Altuve? And imagine the Dodgers and how stupid it would look for them for trading for a cheater who cheated against them in the 2018 world series? Wow!!
Oh trust me, Bloom is on the fast track to being fired! The wheels are in motion for his inevitable exit!
If Verdugo doesn’t perform in in Boston in the next year or two Bloom will find a trade partner. There’s always a team that will think they have the magic formula to right someone’s ship.
Verdugo must have talent and just watching the other two players, Downs and Wong, perform last weekend on NESN they have nice ability that will provide future plus activity for the Sox. Very possible the 3 young people could be the nucleus for the next Sox World Championship.
Bkwalker510 – do not bother with people like AL34 as they do not understand common sense
The Sox tried to pay Betts his money, he just didn’t want it. Maybe next winter they will be willing to offer 50 million more to the 10 year 300 million that they offered. Maybe they won’t. We’ll see.
It’s not all one sided though. Mookie has been looking forward to free agency for years so nothing but a completely absurd amount of money was ever going to get him to sign an extension. Mookie wants to be paid like Mike Trout, but Mookie is not Trout and really shouldn’t expect to be paid like Trout. Mike Trout IS the Angels franchise and was much, much more valuable to them than to any other team or any other player. Mookie is a hired gun worried about getting his. Angels need Trout to sell tickets, Sox don’t need Betts. They won before Mookie, with Mookie, and will win after Mookie.
Are you happy with the return? For real, was that what you wanted to see?
The return was based on unloading Price, not Betts.
Mookie wasnt fetching a kings ransom before spring training in a walk year. Had Bloom choose to let it play out and wait until midseason to see if the Sox were in a playoff race or not maybe he could have got a similar haul as Baltimore got back for Machado. Or the Sox could have been in the race and Mookie walks with only draft pick compensation in return next winter with the Sox still stuck with Price.
I’m not a big fan of the return but I also don’t care for the narrative that the Red Sox screwed Mookie when the last two front office regimes tried to sign him to extensions.
The salaries don’t form a perfect sequence where the best player makes the most and on down. If Mookie wants Trout money it’s partly because he is signing after Trout and salaries presumably move upwards. That’s the bidding process that causes baseball salaries to far exceed economic inflation rates each year. Its kind of like college tuition but with crazy big numbers.
True. Mookie can ask for 420 million (never hurts to try), doesn’t mean anyone is going to give it to him.
I saw where he showed up to camp wearing a fanny pack