The Red Sox have designated infielder Hoy Park for assignment, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. The move is in correspondence with the signing of reliever Kenley Jansen, which the Sox are making official today.
Park, 27 in April, spent most of his career in the Yankees organization before going to the Pirates in 2021 as part of the Clay Holmes trade. Between the two clubs, he’s gotten into 68 MLB contests, but with a tepid .201/.291/.346 batting line to show for it. That amounts to a wRC+ of 74, indicating he’s been 26% below league average.
He has occasionally had better showings with the bat, particularly a 48-game showing at Triple-A with the Yankees prior to the trade. In that stretch, he hit .327/.475/.567 for a wRC+ of 180. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep that going after the deal. In 89 Triple-A games in 2022, he hit .225/.332/.354, 86 wRC+.
Despite that inconsistent work at the plate, Park at least provides speed and defensive versatility. He has regularly put up double-digit steals in the minors and has played the three infield positions to the left of first base as well as all three outfield slots. There was enough intrigue from the Red Sox to acquire him from the Pirates in November, sending prospect Inmer Lobo the other way, but they have now designated him for assignment just three weeks later. They will have one week to try to work out a trade or pass him through waivers. Park has previously been outrighted in his career, meaning he would have the right to reject another outright assignment and elect free agency if he clears waivers.
Why did they trade for and then waste a roster spot on this guy while leaving Thad Ward exposed to the Rule 5 draft? What is Bloom even doing anymore?
Because bloom is in over his head.
Does it really matter? Someone was being DFAed today and if it was Ward, don’t you think Washington would grab him now? This way if he gets cut, they have to offer him back to Boston. I’ve been questioning ownership, not Bloom. He gets a pass for 20 given it was a short “season” and his drafts so far look good. Everyone complained about taking Yorke but getting him to sign under slot allowed other moves. Give him until 24 to put his team together.
Dewey is correct about the DFA sequence.
Theres obviously a corresponding move coming. Do you guy know nothing about how GMing works?
Correction its to make a spot for Jensen. So it makes no difference whether they were releasing Hoy or Thad Ward right now. Jansen needs a spot. Are you guys going to spew this line every transaction til August?
OR, OR, we don’t take that 40 man roster spot up with a non-factor player (Park), obtained by trading away an 18-year old pitcher with a 28-2 K to walk ration and a 0.82 ERA (Lobo) and keep Ward instead of losing him.
I’d rather have Ward and Lobo that a minor league platoon player. You want sub-par depth? Dumpster dive a week before spring training spending chump change.
William: You clearly dont understand how the 40-man works. Red Sox have 40 men on the roster atm. So whether its Park or Ward, someone has to be released. Red Sox FO decided its Park, who they are hoping clears waivers, so they can put him in the minors. There is no way every team would pass on Thad Ward, if he were waived today. Someone would have taken him and put him on their 40-man.
No. Most are a bunch of a Morons.
My problem is I know exactly how the 40 man works, so if a player never existed on it, you don’t have to free up their spot. Adding Park took up a spot, which sent him down, however someone would need to be removed to free a spot, correct? Your opinion is that Ward would have been that player. My opinion is that there are other players on that roster that could have been unprotected at minimal loss. Some mentioned Brasier as an example. I would have mentioned Ort as another. This is in the case you wanted to protect a Ward, Poletti, or Song. You lose two of three regardless.
My issue, if you read my post, was in trading an 18 year old pitching prospect with great control for a player you feel is there strictly for depth as a platoon player in the minors taking up a 40-man slot. Then you remove him in the hopes he slips by into your minor league, or maybe he doesn’t. We will find out.
I just know as a Sox fan we rarely have minor league pitchers pan out, and mediocre platoon players grow on trees. I know we have at least two or more already on the roster in Kiki (forced to start), Arroyo (forced to start now), and Dalbec (who knows). Our biggest deficit in this franchise is pitching. So, based off that is adding and keeping yet another platoon type player worth a pitching prospect with good control coming off a 2-0 season with a 0.82 ERA, 28k’s and 2 walks in 25 innings who is 18? Not really. I know his scouting report and his velo at 18! is still low 90’s, but he has control and hasn’t even finished growing yet. Could this be another example, as we see time and again, of a kid filling out, and throwing harder in the future? Maybe. I jusy know he is a lefty with control, and boy do I love watching our relievers walk the building, and run bad counts. I know in late March there will be half a dozen options we could pick up for pennies that will most likely be able to reproduce that .230ish average with 2 HR’s we so desperately needed.
“My opinion is that there are other players on that roster that could have been unprotected at minimal loss.”
====Do you think the roster is complete? I don’t. So Ort will be the next fodder to get waived. I figure the big league roster has at least 1 and probably more likely 2 additions coming. No matter how you slice it Ward will have been in the cutting situation, because of his injury bug. Remember, Red Sox FO has access to Wards medical history, we do not.
“18 year old pitching prospect” and “hopes he slips by into your minor league, or maybe he doesn’t”
=== Are you saying there’s some sort of guarantee that an 18yo will make the big league roster? Those hopes are far far lower than a player who has played at the big league level or clearing waivers at this time of year.
=== Last paragraph too big to read. Ill pass.
Simple question. If those moves are coming, then it makes even less sense what happened. You don’t trade an 18-year-old lefty prospect you do not need to place on the 40 man roster for a platoon player you intend to keep in the minors for emergencies that must be placed on the 40 man. You can hide at least one of the three prospects we lost to the Rule 5 on the roster, and drop them at a later time, protecting them for that draft. Of the names we all know will be on the cutting room floor if further moves are made there is no guarantee they are picked up and can be used as trade chips. Hell, the prospects could have been used as trade chips also, not just lost.
My point is the assumption this is business as usual doesn’t work. If we assume two other moves are happening, therefore we are taking two off the 40 man, than why did we protect the two we didn’t care if we drop over prospects we had to have known “may” be taken? Why trade a prospect you knew didn’t have to be protected on the 40 man, for a player you had every intention of taking up a slot to just drop anyway? Especially since if we are deep in anything, its mediocre platoon type players. WE ARE LOADED in that department. It’s not like they are hard to come by. In March there will be one or two a day available as cuts are made.
Dewey – 2024? or 2124? Bloom said winning was going to be sustainable for HIS organization but never mentioned when that sustainable winning might begin.
Being a loyal fan is an admired quality. Putting an unqualified GM in the driver’s seat of an 18 wheeler and letting him practice driving for 4 years seems like an irrational decision. You seriously can’t see what has happened these past three years or are you somehow tied to the organization in a way that won’t let you have negative opinions about the guy that destroyed the Red Sox.?
I’ve read your Cheerleader comments for Bloom for 3 years and I simply don’t get it. On most topics you are articulate, insightful and baseball knowledgeable.
Why is your opinion so skewed for this one guy? He’s a train wreck and has been the entire time. His abilities haven’t wavered, they never existed!!.
Sorry but suggesting further dismantling of the beloved Red Sox is not something I could ever do.
Not one Bloom drafted player is close to impacting the success of the Red Sox in the next 2 years which means 5 years after Bloom started drafting players. Yorke is a nice pick but will he be an impact player? Everyone swore Casas (DD selection) was going to be a monster. We all still hope that but it hasn’t happened. Lots of SPs from Bloom have fared well in the minors but got battered in the majors. Maybe, some will blossom in the next year or two or maybe they will go the same direction as Downs. A bright candle that fizzles quickly after lit.
The future isn’t known but wouldn’t it be nice to wake up tomorrow with a GM you felt would effectively use the remaining $100MM of payroll to make the team competitive in the AL East in 2023?
Bloom had a clean slate going into 2023 and tons of money. He doesn’t have enough to show for it to justify living through his bad mistakes another year. I admire your patience but enough is enough. The man is killing the Red Sox future.
The Red Sox traded Inmer Lobo for Park. Lobo has only pitched in the Dominican Summer League. From Ian Cundall on Twitter:
“Asked around about LHP Inmer Lobo & was told he’s a pitchability type. Mature frame for an 18-yr-old with minimal physical projection. Fastball 86-90, slider and changeup. Type of arm that succeeds in the DSL by changing speeds & locating. Didn’t pitch after July 1 due to injury.”
Do you really think the Red Sox gave up a valuable player for Park?
The perceived logic:
1-They hate Bloom
2-Therefore, they must hate every move Bloom makes.
Had the RS traded for Lobo, they’d be screaming that he stunk.
They’re responses don’t change whatsoever.
So true Brady. Even this transaction that has nothing to do with Ward, they have to include his name, because there’s nothing else to get angry at.
Who would hate an 18 year old lefty with control that is 18? He may be nothing, but the argument becomes is an 18 year old lefty with control more, or less valuable than a 26 year old platoon player that you hope reproduces .230 with a couple HR’s? At 17 I threw 89. At 19 I threw 94. I hate the move of trading a young pitcher for a platoon player when the goal was to bury him in the minors in case a plane flies into the dugout and takes out your other 3 platoon players. The Red Sox are always in need of pitching. Any at all usually in my lifetime. You can pluck mediocrity to back up positions on a daily basis in baseball.
I don’t think Lobo is a future all-star, or may ever make it to the pro’s. Maybe he does. He is 18, so the chances of him gaining velo over the next two or more years is fairly high. I went from 89 to 94 in less than 2 years. A couple others on my team went from 80’s to high 90’s. 1 reached 100. So……..
My point wasn’t what he is now or may be in the future. My issue was an 18 year old lefty with control at 18 is rare. A platoon player you hope to put in the minor leagues is not rare. They are a dime a dozen. Maybe Lobo gets hurt, or never gains velo as he grows into his body and trains with a major league franchise. I know come march I can find a few guys that I can “Park” in the minors and bring up to hit .230 with a couple HR’s, although Park hitting .230 with a couple HR’s is also a maybe. Him playing at all is a maybe. Him getting plucked by another team is a maybe. All things being equal, which is more valuable?
First off, Lobo was injured after after June last year. So thats not a good start.
Second, his fastball tops out at 90. Yes it could develop, but it could come at the cost of his control. When you don’t throw hard its easy to have control
He’s 18 frigg’n years old without “can’t miss” stuff. Bloom is looking for diamonds in the rough who can help win in 23 or 24. .
William: You missed the part where Lobo has a mature frame with minimal physical protection. That means he is not likely to gain velocity. Also, he only signed for $10K. So, he was not very highly regarded by any MLB team. This is not worth worrying about.
“cant miss” stuff???? Who said that? And if that were the case why did the Red Sox only $10K to sign him. We’re only a year removed from the signing. Sounds like BS to me.
I think Bloom is in over his head, and, needs to go. No earthshaking revelation there.
What we’ve got here is basically just a debate over who fans thought should’ve been protected, and, who shouldn’t.
On the left hand, in the opinion of many bloom has taken bad players, or, given up mlb level talent to buy prospects who were every bit as much a lottery ticket as the ones let go or left unprotected. I get it.
On the right hand, the guys bloom didn’t protect I feel were viewed as chaff because he didn’t bring them in or slot them as more promising based on his internal analytics than guys he kept.
Could Song have been protected as restricted? Sure. Absent bloom telling his reasoning not to we won’t know what the deal was.
Poletti? Well, if you look at the AAA numbers, Ort doesn’t profile that much different, at least at a quick glance. I didn’t waste a ton of time looking real deep, but, surface numbers are similar except one had MLB experience and the other didn’t.
I choose Ort to compare with specifically because he’s such a lightning rod for criticism.
Now, Lobo. You read the numbers, they sound great. Except were talking an extremely small sample and an 18 year old. It literally meant nothing.
Yes, I’m disappointed in Ward leaving. Honestly, I think a short-ish term deal for eovaldi mentoring a kid like ward – having been there and done that – could’ve paid dividends, better than having a guy like paxton back. But, ship has sailed.
So, we’re left with the move we’ve got. Maybe Bloom somehow overestimated things and thought some guys would slip through that didnt, and, the guys he kept along longer like park were because he thought they would pass through waivers easier after the rule 5. Who knows. I’m trying to give some benefit of the doubt.
Jansen needs a spot. Park is a weak candidate for call-up purposes and a weak candidate to get grabbed by another club. Park *should* be designated to make room for some relief arms.
Go back to bashing bloom for other moves he’s botched like Bogey, or Benny, or Vaz…. stop worrying about Park and fringe prospects. Invariably some stupid deal or another will happen again this year to bring you more fresh fringe prospects anyways.
Not true, the harder I threw the more control I gained. It isn’t the velo anyway that decides control. It’s mechanics, the discipline to repeat those mechanics, and an ability to focus your mind on the target. It isn’t true for everyone, but sometimes that velo is your body finding itself, getting stronger, your mechanics becoming more fine-tuned, and the ability to repeat it over and over with balance.
I would walk about 2 to 3 a game when I was in the high 80’s as a 17-year-old. When hit 18/19 I started to throw hard in the mid 90’s my walks were below 1 a game from then on. The secret was mental, but still. Higher velo, more control. It’s not the norm for everyone, but it isn’t all that hard to teach “better” control. I do know that these days it’s easier to teach pitchers to crank out an extra few miles an hour then get them to control any of it. An 18-year-old pitcher with control is fairly rare.
William – Are you doing a parody of Nuke Laloosh or are you serious?
Tubular, your comments are really out there.
No, just once again pointing out an 18 year old lefty with control has more value than a mediocre platoon player you plan to bury in the minors……. for just in case.
I have no real expectations for Lobo, other than thinking, like most 18 year olds, he may get stronger, throw a few miles an hour harder as he fills out, and possibly retain his control enough to perhaps get a look in about 3 years or so when he is 21 or so. At 17 I was 6’0′ 175 throwing 89. At 19 I was 6’2″ 230 throwing 94+. You never truly know.
Taking a player your goal is to hope you can clear into the minors off the 40 man roster is not as valuable as waiting till 2 days after the rule 5 draft to pick up and protecting 1 extra prospect. The competition was so fierce for a minor league platoon player? Really? Sorry, major league platoon player, maybe a minor league starter. Not likely. If it was, so what? I tripped over 5 platoon players this morning on my way to the kitchen for coffee. In March I’ll need to forget about getting coffee anymore because the stairs will be impassable clogged by guys that can “play” a couple of positions and hit .230.
William – OK now that I know your generalizations were your actual experience I want to suggest no “rule of thumb” should be applied to anyone. Could Lobo end up being a star that Bloom gave away? Sure. Could he be a bust? Sure but you make a valid point about players that young could improve, grow in size and strength and improve.
So Bloom dumped a promising kid for a journeyman infielder who he then DFA’d later that year. THAT IS THE BLOOM SHOW!!!
If Lobo had issues the coaching staff decided were unfixable then it is understandable why they dealt him. Bloom choice, however, as you pointed out was a bad one.
Yes, that’s a 3 year trend!!!.
Bloom has brought in players through the revolving door and spit them out a few months later. The cost of the player being added and dropped by itself is fairly inexpensive. I’m not sure if we add up the hundreds of guys that got this particular treatment whether that could have added up to significant dollars to provide the money we needed to keep Bogaerts but I’m guessing the total is significant and still rising!
The key to all this discussion is the trivial nature of all the players involved. Not one of them is going to move Boston out of the cellar. Yes, the youngster had greater upside on paper but now we’ll never know until he springs up on somebody else’s roster in a few years.
Talent is missing from the Red Sox since Bloom arrived and your point about platoon players hits home because that’s the Bloom way. Kike isn’t a major league starter on a good team. Refsnyder is a MLB starter on a good team. Yoshida is a fancy new toy but soon will be defined for what he is, a slap hitting left fielder with a high OBP and BA but no speed and a weak defender. Great for DH but Devers needs to DH to give the pitchers a break.
Dumpster diving is what Bloom does. He’s so desperate he’s now giving up shiny nickels for platoon players. He’s come full circle. Originally, he gave up journeyman players for an 18 year prospect then had his marketing team exaggerate the young players skills like in the Benny deal or so many other deals. The only thing Bloom is consistent at is being unpredictable due to his lack of baseball logic.
The baseball analysts, fans, sports casters, players, managers, owners are all asking the same question – What the heck is Bloom doing? It makes no sense. There appears to be no plan and the results are destroying the Red Sox.
Somebody needs to contact the owners since they are missing in action and tell them the team has been flushed down the toilet by their golden boy. Mention Mookie’s henchman and I bet they will recognize who you are talking about!!
I think the Sox hired the water boy from the Rays who had no experience in scouting. The Sox need Larry Lucchino back. Under Larry, the Sox would have kept Betts for sure.
Interesting point, Rob.
The Mookie Betts deal cleared dead money with David price so it was a good trade. The Red Sox have been to post season since. They really missed on the Hunter Renfore trade
Ben: Youre trying to explain the obvious to the oblivious. It wont work. They have no clue how the salary threshold works, or how it takes two (team and player) to sign a contract.
@Benjamin Not really lol, they traded a future Hall-of-Famer for table scraps bc they so desperately wanted to dump Price’s contract. Alex Verdugo was the best player to come back in that trade and he’s a slightly above average outfielder. I wouldn’t call that a good trade, I call that an insult to RS fans.
The Dodgers took on $48M of Price’s remaining contract in order to get just one year of Betts. When you take on a lot of money, the player return is less. The main goal for the Red Sox was to reset the luxury tax. By trading Betts $27M salary and $16M of Price’s salary, they were able to do that.
People blame Bloom for Betts leaving. If ownership said x is our ceiling and Betts wanted more, there is not much Bloom could do. Same with Bogaerts. Do you think a GM would let a team player like Bogaerts walk? He’d have opened the wallet, and plus, when you have the person holding the wallet, you can’t spend on whatever you want.
I still can’t fathom the denial people have about Betts and the Red Sox. Mookie wanted out. He refused to even talk extension, publicly stating he would test the open market, Wisely, the Sox traded him. Once he latched onto the Dodgers, boom!, he signs an extension. He never wanted to play in Boston. He hated it there and, later, called the city ‘racist’. Get over it, people.
The only thing I’d add is that Mookie signed the extension because of COVID. Had 2020 been a full season, I think he’d have tested the market.
MafiaBass – NOT EVEN CLOSE TO TRUE.
Do you realize the actual Net Present Value of Mookie’s contract thanks to the $65MM in year 1? Mookie got over paid by LAD compared to the contracts of the other big stars. The time value of money is critical in long contracts. The more money in the early years the higher the value of the contract. Mookie didn’t take less, he made out like a bandit.
Agree with you – but wait for the D-bags to say Ward only pitched at 33.1 innings at AA. They don’t know scheiss!!! Thad Ward pitched 51+ innings while moving UP 4 times to a cumulative 2.28 ERA in 2022. He was coming off Covid season and TJ recovery. Bloom messed up again!
Maybe that prospect isn’t much of a prospect. Maybe Park doesn’t get claimed. Your 40 man should have better options this time of year.
Because bloom ha sno idea what he is doing ZEROOOOOO .this was hands down the worst signing for management ever!! When he left tb and came here first thing I said was this guy has no idea what he is doing if TB don’t want u than that’s a clear indication not too pursue .. and letting bogey go he will never be forgiven Betts was bad enough now bogey enough is enough they should really just sell the team ever since our last world series win they no longer care about this team as us fans have too suffer and watch them tear down this team one by one
Bloom is a complete idiot
Great comment, are you a writer?
This move right here shows Bloom’s incompetence.
He probably thought teams would pillage the Pirates Rule V Debacle Giveaway that they wouldn’t even notice the Sox players.
A Hoy there!
Park A Hoy There
Maybe he’s finally understanding that Boston isn’t Tampa. Pressure to produce.
But to protect Braiser and trade for Park
while leaving Ward unprotected was stupid.
Robz – Agreed, Brasier is 35 years old and due to made $2,400,000 in arbitration. Ward’s upside as a potential MLB starter is certainly higher than what Brasier can bring.
The only reason to let Ward go in Rule 5 is that the Red Sox plan to sign enough players this offseason that they would need the roster spot that would have gone to Ward. Around 70% of Rule 5 selections are returned to the original teams, although I think Ward will probably stick with the Nationals.
The other curiosity is why tender Brasier a contract if you are later going to DFA him?
Try not to think logically. Assume Brasier is the missing piece to a puzzle that produces a playoff spot and move on with your day. All hail Brasier.
“Assume Brasier is the missing piece to a puzzle that produces a playoff spot” Who’s making that assumption?
How about “Assume the Red Sox already have several back rotation candidates in Triple A, and left the Double A pitcher, with the most injuries (including this fall) off the 40-man. Then, assume this pitcher will continue to break down, so the upside is negated by his health”.
There I fixed it for ya.
MudyChicken – Agreed that Thaddeus Ward is 26 years old having had a TJ surgery and only about 40 innings of AA or higher. He also has lots of starters ahead of him: Walter, Murphy, Mata, Winckowski, Crawford,…. I think he may have had a higher upside than Brasier, but both are irrelevant if the 40-man spot for say a SS, RF, or starting pitcher with MLB experience. That said I imagine you are correct that Ward’s fall league result may have included something bad in the medicals otherwise he would have been add to the 40-man… thanks for the insight…
ut to protect Braiser … while leaving Ward unprotected was stupid.
========================
Brasier will be better than Ward this season. I’d bet on that.
Did he play in Tampa? Not seeing that on his bbref page.
He means Bloom, who worked for TB before the Sox.
Ah, gotcha. Thx!
The Red Sox traded for Park in hopes of slipping him through waivers for depth in AAA in case he is needed. He would be a safer option in 2023 over Jeter Downs at this point. Downs has a higher ceiling, but a lower floor.
Exactly. Pirates just did same thing with Lewin Diaz and it didn’t work. Teams do this all the time.
Park is weak depth for a contender. Hope they know how to improve him.
Great…what do I do with my Park jersey now?
Charlies – wear it the Red Sox game sense you will be the only person in the stadium with one on. You will be truely unique.
Park can stand for Fenway Park. So you are representing the entire stadium.
You could stand in front of Chan Ho Park’s house and try to coax him out of retirement?
Chan Hoy Park?
I think this was a VERY BAD PICKUP
You make these deals when your roster is set. Our roster is a mess, thanks BLOOM!
Just the latest in a long line of players who can do everything really well except hit.
The Red Sox told Hoy that they needed to make room on the roster for his brother, Fenway.
I heard they will be scouting his other brother in the KBO League, Mañana.
Hoy today and gone Mañana
It is not too often that you see a team trade away an 18-year-old pitching prospect who went 2-0 with 0.82 ERA and only 2 walks and 28 K’s in 25 innings for a minor league platoon player with very little upside. Probably a very good reason you don’t see this often. Amazing you see something like this ever.
The Red Sox as a franchise in its entire history are a graveyard of pitching prospects. Maybe hold onto an 18-year year old with control, and sign some cast off scrub to produce the same mediocrity you were trying to attain in trades like this.
Can somebody remind me why I was excited about bringing Bloom on board? I am getting flash backs to the Yawkey days. At this point they could dig old Zimmer up and toss him on the bench too I guess.
There’s only room for one of us in this town said Fenway to Hoy!
You made me laugh out loud with your comment. Keep it up!
Agreed, with comment above. Bloom is in way over his head. He is looking like he is lost or clueless in putting this team together for this year.
***We need 2B. a nice pickup remaining that can play all around the infield = BRANDON DRURY. He has hit when not injured. BLOOM WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING , maybe Drury being a good pickup at this point.
WHAT’S BLOOM SOLUTION FOR SP?? Please don’t tell me Wacha & Hill. If thats what it is, just put the Red Sox in last this year again
Drury was way overpaid and didn’t hit for average. I’d rather Bloom make the call then rest with Drury.
He will probably come cheap, and there is very limited available.
I think Conforto is a nice option, as he will want to rebuild his value, and will probably take a short term deal. He hits to all fields and Fenway will be good for him.
I just don’t understand what Bloom’s plan is
I don’t think anyone does. I was in no way praising Bloom, I just don’t trust in Drury. Seems like a guy he would sign though.
I understand. The problem we have so many holes to fill, and Bloom hasn’t filled them, and it seems he really doesn’t have a plan. There are not to many quality players left. That is why I was looking at Drury.
You can almost tell, we are distant for last place this year.
Conforto is good, Drury is just a fill in at this point,
and not sure how we fill our rotation, besides below average starters
There was also a rumor of Bloom talking to Miami about Cooper, as a nice player, but no stud. That should be an easy deal, and he can’t even get that done
How would he ever get Bogarts, or Devers next season deal done???
Just seems like he is really over his head in this position!
Hoy parked by Red Sox.
Why did we even get this guy if we just got him and DFA’d him? Makes no sense.
DFAs are reassigned to the minor league if unclaimed. It is different than releasing. Releasing means GONE. DFA means you hope to keep them.
I think Bloom is sincerely trying to attempt the novel idea of building a team that is a consistent competitive winner. Year after year. That is his stated goal. He seems to see the solution as building a great minor league system, and not overpaying for talent, or handing out contracts that would surely produce a lack of value as they age. The problem with this reality. You have to kind of live in it. Also, the most important word in the novel idea is WINNING. We are losing consistently, and next year’s team will continue that trend as constructed.
If I was handed the reigns, I would approach each roster, each year, with the following questions. What are our weaknesses, and what are the players that solve those problem?
We are now a team with very little power, mediocre defense, very little speed, a weak rotation, and as of today (after 3 signings) an adequate bullpen, maybe fairly good. You may not be able to obtain what you need to solve all those problems, but you should strive to mitigate them by doing things that strengthen a couple of weaknesses enough to make the others moot. I don’t see that at all.
We are at least two impact bats short. The defense is meh. I would have a heart attack if the Sox ever had speed. So, what could have been done? Rotation, and bullpen. Pick up/trade for two impact bats. We were 45+ HR’s short before last season losing Schwarber, Trumbo, and we are now 70+ HR’s short in total after additionally losing Martinez and Bogaerts.
Typically, dominant pitching and defense is the solution to a lack of power, and perhaps speed (1980’s Cardinals is an example). We don’t have it. Typically, a depth of quality power and OBP, coupled with a lights out bullpen is your solution if you lack strong rotation pitching. We don’t have that either.
At some point they really need to sit down and figure out what it is they want this team to be if they are trying to “win consistently.” Right now, it looks like an ugly patch work blanket, and it’s wet.
1st paragraph: Great understanding of what he is trying to do.
Rest of comment: Completely forgot 1st paragraph. Team needs at least 1 to 2 years to complete 1st paragraph, so everything else is mute.
Muddy Chicken – Agreed. The Red Sox need at least one to two years to compete. Most ‘fans’ think a team should spend a wad of money to fix all their problems all at once so they can compete immediately. It realistically does not work that way. Trying to compete immediately only results in being mediocre. The Phillies amazingly got to the World Series, but had ZERO chance of winning.
You could also result in being the Padres. Lol! Yes, they won the Bogaerts sweepstakes, and the third best shortstop on the team will be their starter. They have lots of expensive talent and ZERO World Series championships in their team history. Hey, but they did finish over .500 this year. They will be paying Bogaerts until the “social security trust fund goes bankrupt”.
Spot on
William – Excellent points. No plan. No sustained winning. In fact 4 games over .500 in 3 years after being 104 above .500 with Dombrowski. The mighty have fallen and can’t get up with Bloom as GM.
Bloom apologists blame the owners and fight for more time but insanity is thinking the same circumstances will produce a different result. They won’t. Bloom’s arrogance has shown that he wants to make this HIS team by removing the all-star players he inherited from Dombrowski. Price and Mookie are gone, Benny is gone, Bogaerts is gone and both JD and Eovaldi appear to be gone.
So what’s left on Bloom’s plate? Trading Devers and trading Sale if he makes a comeback. At that point, the Red Sox would be clear of the elite players from the 2018 World Championship team Yes, it would have taken him 4 full years to dismantle the great team, almost as if the Yankees had paid him but it would be complete at that point except the the minor league stars that pre-existed Bloom. Will guys like Casas and Houck be allowed to flourish in Boston? I don’t think so because Bloom wouldn’t be able to take credit for them.
Bloom is an arrogant person who is doing what’s best for him not the ball club. At some point when all the old team is cleared out and his new roster exists he better have a winner for years or the Red Sox and their fans would have wasted nearly half a decade waiting for his promises to come true.
I disagree with the idea Bloom is doing what is best for him. This has been 2+ years of doing what is worst for him. He is well aware of what he is doing overall. The issue is that he is not being forthright about it. He feels he needs to stick to a strict game plan of not overpaying, not writing overly extended contracts which will lose value, and trying to find value on short term deals.
He just hasn’t thought through his approach properly. It cannot be a strict discipline, and you have to be able to solve problems you have created on the roster to stay consistently competitive. He has not.
Contracts are going up, there is more competition now with more playoff teams, and short value contracts mean your team turns over constantly, and you will not only deprive your team of a lot of upper tier elite players, but also not deny them to other teams you are competing against. This will result is teams pulling triggers faster on premier players. Just a few years ago it was the norm for this process to stretch even through spring training. That is done, and I am shocked he didn’t anticipate that as easily as I did. The result will be trading away those precious prospects this was the whole point of doing this for. Watch.
We either have to accept this as a lost year, or we have to size up the team for what it is. We have very little speed, not very good defense, we are short nearly 80 home runs from 2 years ago, our rotation is bottom third, and we now have an adequate bullpen if it stays healthy and no one regresses. We have for all intents platoon players at second, center, catcher, first, and possibly 1 corner outfield. We literally do not know if we have an ace, a 3, 4, or 5 pitchers. We think we have bodies that can be placed there, but know we have no competitive depth if any or all of those players that we “hope” succeed do not.
That is the extent of what we know as the team is now constructed. We are now also aware that the market is down to lower tier and questionable health players with the exception of Swanson. So, it’s risks, dumpster diving, or trades. Enjoy.
Great. NOW who plays 2nd base for the Sox??
Are rosters locked? No more FA signings, trades? Dang, I missed the announcement.
Arroyo
Story
This would be a perfect time to go play in NPO, KBO, or some other highly recognizable foreign league. Make more money overseas and try to get some traction to get back to the majors. His agent should be on the phone with those clubs and leagues to get his client the best possible contract. I believe he would make more overseas than on another minor league contract. He’s shown success in the minors and I think he would excel in NPO or KBO leagues while making more than the MLB league minimum. 27 years of age and at most, 3 years overseas to make some sort of cash before trying the MLB out again (if he exceeds expectations in those leagues). Again, agent should be on the phone to those clubs and leagues. Let his client know that is where the money is and his MLB dream is still possible.
Lets not forget that stars such as Brasier, Ort and, amazingly, Hernandez are still on the 40 man. How is Hernandez still on this, or any 40 man roster. Keeping bad players because they’re cheap isn’t a winning strategy, it’s how you end up in last place.
This team needs so much work…
You are talking ‘Kiki’ Hernandez? Just making sure we’re talking about the same player. So the guy that gave 5.8 BWar in past 2 years for the Red Sox, you think ‘shouldn’t be on any 40 man roster’ in all of baseball? Really, lol.
The poster child for the ‘I hate everything Bloom’ team.
MuddyChicken – I think he meant Darwinzon Hernandez instead of Kiki…..too many Hernandez (Kiki, Darwinzon, and recently remove Rolando the catcher in AAA).
Muddy Chicken – Are you suggesting Kiki Hernandez in NOT the Hernandez referenced? Why?.
We are talking about the Hernandez who made $7MM for the last two years and put up a .238 BA who played just 227 games out off 324 and had an OBP of ..314. BWar was cherry picking on your part!!
His OWar was 1.8 for $7MM a year. That’s AAA material not MLB material.
How bad is Bloom? He gave Kike nearly a 50% raise for being really bad!!
If Kike didn’t have a baby sitter as a child named Alex Cora he wouldn’t be playing in the majors. He’s another JBJ but a weaker fielder. Heck when Dalbec was struggling early in the year Kike was right there with him but NOBODY complained about Kike, only Dalbec and Dalbec wasn’t leading off and not setting the table for Devers..
Paying a lifetime .239 hitter $10MM who is entering his 30s after only playing 140 games or more twice in his 9 year career is insane. His WAR is greater for his defense than his offense and frankly since Cora favors him he hurts the team by batting too high in the line-up.
So I agree…. How the heck is Kike Hernandez still on this roster and making $10MM a year with his pathetic stats? Want to know why Bloom is so unsuccessful? The answer is obvious. Bad choices?.
Darwinzon probably would have been removed except for the fact that the Red Sox have so few left handed pitchers in the system…
I thought Hoy was one of the core pieces that we needed to get back to the playoffs! Big loss here! Bloom must know something! WTF!
Team Bloom! Good to hear.
Instead of trading an 18 year old pirltcher who posted a 0.82 ERA in his first 5 professional games last season for a UT INF who has NO power and very little gap to gap strength. This filled up our 40-man thus preventing/discouraging the Sox from taking a chance on someone
Somehow I hadn’t even realized never mind selecting someone in the draft. They wasted being able to protect Ward or Song and instead protected this failed UT prosped!
That has been my point all along. The rule 5 draft is one day. You need to make those protections for that day. Not the next day. 1 Slot was sacrificed for no apparent reason other than there must have been a frenzy amongst team to attain the services of Hoy Park!!!! Not likely. This move could have been done after the Rule 5 most likely.
The result of this is one 18-year-old lefty prospect lost (doesn’t matter if he turns into anything or not), one 40 man roster spot taken, 1 prospect left unprotected and chosen in the Rule 5, the player you just obtained and dropped off the 40 man MAY be taken by another team, resulting in zero gain for the 18-year-old lefty prospect, and the loss of that rule 5 prospect. If Hoy Park clears claims and makes it to the minors, we still lost 2 players, and have gained a players who has expectations of about .230 with a couple HR’s, if played at all.