Earlier this offseason, the Mets were frequently rumored to be interested in adding a bat to their DH mix after parting ways with Dan Vogelbach at the non-tender deadline back in November. It now appears the club may have other priorities, however. According to a recent report from Will Sammon of The Athletic, the club intends to stick with its internal options at DH rather make a splash on the free agent market for a player such as J.D. Martinez or Jorge Soler, at least without prices falling “dramatically.” Sammon goes on to note that the club did not aggressively pursue deals with outfielder Teoscar Hernandez or first baseman Rhys Hoskins before the duo signed with the Dodgers and Brewers last month.
The news isn’t necessarily a surprise given comments from president of baseball operations David Stearns last month, which indicated that the club wasn’t interested in taking opportunities away from young players with veteran additions this winter. To that end, Sammon indicates that the likeliest use of the DH in Queens this year figures to involve plenty of playing time for 24-year-old slugger Mark Vientos, with DJ Stewart and Starling Marte also getting time at DH in addition to occasional reps in the outfield.
Vientos has struggled to a .205/.255/.354 slash line to this point in his big league career, but has just 274 trips to the plate in the majors under his belt. The youngster crushed Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .306/.387/.612 slash line in 61 games at the level last year and owns a career .247/.377/.499 line across six seasons in the minor leagues. The 30-year-old Stewart, meanwhile, spent parts of five seasons in a part-time role with the Orioles to roughly league average results at the plate but showed a bit more promise after joining the Mets on a minor league deal last year. Stewart slashed a solid .244/.333/.506 with 11 homers in just 185 trips to the plate across 58 games with the club last year, though that strong power production came with a hefty 30.3% strikeout rate.
Marte is a much more established hitter at the big league level than the other two likely members of the Mets’ DH mix. The 35-year-old veteran of 12 major league seasons boasts a career slash line of .287/.343/.445 and posted a 134 wRC+ as recently as 2022, but struggled badly in 341 trips to the plate last year amid groin, neck, and migraine issues last year. While Marte figures to be penciled in as the club’s everyday right fielder, the presence of both Stewart and Tyrone Taylor as other corner outfield options figure to give the Mets flexibility to utilize the DH spot for Marte on a semi-regular basis in hopes of keeping him healthier throughout the 2024 campaign.
While the Mets appear to be stepping away from the DH market in favor of internal options, it appears that the Red Sox still have interest in adding a right-handed bat to their lineup to replace the production of Justin Turner, who recently signed with the Blue Jays on a one-year deal. Boston was heavily connected to Hernandez before he signed in L.A. and was reported as a likely landing spot for Adam Duvall last month. More recently, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com opines that a reunion with Duvall still makes for the Red Sox even though his free agency “isn’t as close to a resolution” as those past reports seemed to indicate at the time. Should the 35-year-old slugger ultimately land elsewhere, Cotillo suggests that the likes of Garrett Cooper, C.J. Cron, Donovan Solano, and Randal Grichuk could be potential fallback options for the club. Recent reporting has also linked Boston to veteran outfielder Tommy Pham.
It’s worth noting that each of those suggested options has a defensive home outside of DH. While the presence of Triston Casas at first base leaves the likes of Cooper and Cron likely to spend a majority of their time at DH if either were to sign in Boston, Solano has experience all around the infield and could fill a similar role to that of Turner last year as a right-handed hitter who can fill in at first, second, and third base while also getting regular at-bats out of the DH slot. Duvall and Grichuk, meanwhile, have experience at all three outfield spots and could join Tyler O’Neill as a right-handed complement to the club’s lefty-swinging outfield bats such as Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran. Pham would likely fill a similar role, though he’s largely confined to the corner outfield spots and DH at this point in his career.
While Cotillo indicates that a bat that fits more around the margins of the club’s roster is the most likely addition for Boston to make to its lineup at this point in the winter, he doesn’t completely rule out a more significant addition. Cotillo cautions that a larger addition to the club’s roster is “unlikely at best” given the club’s recent comments, but nonetheless suggests that Soler could be a fit for the club if the club manages to clear payroll space. Reporting last month indicated that the club has fielded trade interest on both Yoshida and veteran closer Kenley Jansen, though a deal involving Jansen appears more likely than one involving Yoshida as things stand.
If the Red Sox can find a way to fit a Soler signing into their budget, he’d likely provide a major boost to the club’s lineup. The slugging outfielder is coming off a phenomenal season with the Marlins where he slashed .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs and 24 doubles. That sort of production could be transformative for a Boston lineup that got just a .242/.305/.393 line out of its right-handed hitters last year. That slash line is good for a wRC+ of just 86, a bottom-four figure among major league clubs in 2023. By contrast, Soler posted a 126 wRC+ and owns a cumulative 117 wRC+ dating back to the 2018 season.
One bat of significance the Red Sox have no plans to pursue this winter, Cotillo notes, is Martinez. The veteran slugger slashed a strong .292/.363/.526 during his five-season tenure in Boston and crushed 33 home runs in just 117 games for the Dodgers last year, but Cotillo reports that the Red Sox have no interest in a reunion with their long-time DH. While Martinez’s bat is undeniably valuable, he lacks the ability to play the field demonstrated by other options Boston is reportedly considering and, per Cotillo, the veteran’s approach was not “universally loved” in the Red Sox clubhouse and contrasted with the style of leadership exhibited by Turner that made the 39-year-old so popular among his teammates last year.
“the veteran’s approach was not ‘universally loved’ in the Red Sox clubhouse.”
—-
What the heck does that mean? Bad clubhouse guy? Or Red Sox once again trouncing on a player’s reputation after he leaves?
After every single at bat JD Martinez would isolate himself with an iPad and overly analyze every little milli-second of the plate appearance. I guess his leadership was by example.
Justin Turner by contrast is a people person and will invest into anyone interested in a relationship way of mentoring.
Two different styles maybe they both work. But some don’t gravitate to the mad scientist scurring off to his private office as much as the people guy.
Nothing but B.S. on JDM as at least at the 22 deadline, he would have been traded. Given the money the Sox make, it’s a disservice to the fans to have a hard approach (lowering payroll first). Sadly, I’ll find out when the season starts as to whether or not T-Mobile again will provide MLB for free. I’m certainly not going to pay to watch the 24 product.
Gary – No offense but your criticism of JD as a teammate is total crap.
theathletic.com/3516699/2022/08/23/j-d-martinez-re…
But even in those dry spells when he hasn’t quite hit as much as expected, the greater impact of Martinez’s tenure has been his effect on the culture of hitting within the Red Sox clubhouse. From Betts to Rafael Devers to Trevor Story, Martinez has been a never-ending fountain of knowledge and conversation-starter on mechanics, game planning and offensive approach. Some of his own methods and drills are unique, and he recognizes they’re not for everyone. He’s not looking for converts. There’s a broader culture to consider, and Martinez is at the center of it with open arms, open eyes, and an open mind.
“The hitting program kind of evolved around some of his philosophies and ideas,” current hitting coach Peter Fatse said. “It was a collaborative effort, obviously, but J.D.’s driven a lot of the conversation.
J.D. came in and was open arms. Open to discuss hitting. Talking about how he prepared. And I thought it just brought the team together offensively and made it more of a focus and engagement — players talking hitting and coming together offensively in a number of different ways.”
Fever, I didn’t criticize JD martinez, the article did. I’m explaining perhaps why the article States what it states, and why perhaps they received the information they did.., and that’s IF they did and are not making this up.
Everyone has their own way of doing things. JD Martinez was there to play ball and hit, not coach teammates. He took his craft very seriously and used every available moment and method to try to improve.
But it’s very obvious that if guys approached him he would offer his information gladly.
But he’s definitely not Justin Turner who seeks out mentoring opportunities via relationship. Two different ways of doing things and neither are wrong.
Agree. But his transformation from marginal, soon to DFA’d player early in his career was certainly enviable. Did he just wake up one morning and decide I gotta change my approach or else I’ll be flippin’ burgers? Did some one introduce him to a video player?
That being said, if a player has the skills to make it to the show, you don’t “want to go a changin’. Stick with what worked for you for a dozen years. They are a really supersticious bunch. (Wade Boggs, etal.)
BeeCarbo, yes exactly. The iPad and the analysis and the video worked for him. Dude was an All-Star. Dude made time to study.
He was a great asset to the Red Sox especially at a discount. Should have made way more money but they cornered him on that foot injury that NEVER became an issue.
JD gave us everything. I know to a man we’re all grateful for what he did while he was here.
Gary – With all due respect, you’re backpedaling now.
Re-read your original post, you clearly wrote (in your own words, not the article’s) that JD isolated himself and didn’t reach out to teach or mentor teammates.
Yes, JD does rely on video of his PA’s. His inability to do so in 2020 certainly brought down his numbers that year.
But he still had plenty of time to teach and mentor teammates.
Fever… JD Martinez is a mad scientist who goes off on his own and watches video after every at bat. He does this ad nauseam. That’s my original thought and I’m sticking with it. No backpedaling.
Is JD Martinez available when guys approach him for mentorship? Sure he is.
Does JD Martinez have the personality that seeks out guys for companionship and mentoring roles? I think Justin Turner is more that way than JD martinez ever cares to be.
Haven’t changed my thoughts, no backpedaling.
Great article and I didn’t see your link but searched on Martinez helping Red Sox player with hitting and came right up. It would be nice if some commenters not to name anyone did a little investigation before throwing shade on people. Gary…
Bee – “Martinez thanked Robert Van Scoyoc, hitting coach who helped him turn around his career after release by Houston. ‘Like a brother to me’”
Gary – So you choose to ignore the articles and quotes I posted above.
Well alrighty then.
Let’s hope Theo is not as bad a mentor as you say JD is.
Hassan – Thank you and yes you’re right, I should have included the link. Usually I do, this time I forgot. My apologies.
Fever did you even read the article you supplied? The quote from JD Martinez that sticks out immediately is…
“They assigned me Mookie Betts. I said, damn, all right.”
Does this sound like anything against what I’ve mentioned above? I don’t think so.
But maybe I’m wrong here and that’s okay. Thanks for the article and links and your opinions. I appreciate them as always.
2020 NEVER HAPPENED!!! At least not in the classic sense of the game.
Gary – I’m very familiar with that article, have read it many times over the years, that’s why I was able to find it so easily.
So you’re gonna try to direct everyone toward that one quote about Mookie, and totally ignore the many other parts of the article that clearly emphasise JD voluntarily taking a leadership role and positively impacting so many teammates?
He’s not the selfish anti-social guy you make him out to be, enough people over the years have vouched for him.
If you can provide an article with a named quote that contradicts his well-earned reputation as a leader and mentor, I’d be happy to look at it.
Huh? These are grown men not children. Stop believing every load of crap those clowns put out.
They are 48MM below the CBT and are crying about affording Soler? I am so effing tired of this regime. Lies and more lies and deception is all we get from this front office. They have basically told RS nation F U this off-season. To that I’m giving them the middle finger.
The Red Sox CBT payroll per Roster Resource:
2021: $211.6M
2022: $235.8M
2023: $223.8M
2024: $198.2M so far
I think they will sign a SP and RH bat and be in the range where they have been. They may have missed on Yamamoto or he didn’t want to come to Boston. Montgomery and Snell still haven’t signed as no team likes their asking prices. Who did you want them to sign? They may still sign Soler. All hope is not lost!
Stop eating edibles!
All – Think about this. DD caught criticism for over spending when his payroll was $203 with a CAP of 208!!
Bloom spent $207.6MM in 2021 with a CAP of $210MM then
he spent $236.1MM in 2022 to finish last with the new CAP at $230MM and BOS paid $5.3MM in Luxury Tax and finally he spent $225.8MM with the CAP at $233MM.
So during the Bloom era after EVERYONE wrongfully accused DD of overspending when he DID NOT OVERSPEND
Bloom’s relationship with the initial cap that was growing by $2MM a year during DD’s time Bloom did the following:
2020 – COVID $184.9MM or $23.1MM under CAP due to Price deal and OPT OUT = LAST PLACE FINISH
2021 – $207.6MM or $2.4MM under the CAP = Made playoffs
2022 – $236.1MM or $6.1MM OVER the CAP = LAST PLACE
2023 – $225.8MM or $7.2MM under the CAP = LAST PLACE
Bloom spent $854.4MM and finished LAST 3 times and made the playoffs once!!!
DD spent $761.2MM in the same amount of time (4 years) as Bloom and won 3 division titles and a ring.
YES, DD did all that for $93.2MM less!!!!
Picking the right guys is the key not how much money you spend. If Breslow does not go after what we need then the money will be wasted in 2024.
SP1, SP2, 3B, 2 lefty late inning relievers
Funding is adequate if Yoshida is traded so his over priced contract is gone without a buy down.
Stop eating edibles!
====================
OK. So you won’t answer my question. BTW, the Yankees have spent $304M so far in 2024 and still have a flawed starting rotation.
Picking the right guys is the key not how much money you spend.
====================================================
I am becoming more and more convinced this is true.
All – Love the progress!!
The Greatness that was the Red Sox was always about excellent players being on the roster for years and making all-star teams. The good GMs like Theo and DD always found ways to compliment the all-stars with good players that were reasonably priced. Breslow needs to do the same except he’s starting from scratch with only Devers and he’s the worst over pay ever.
We have the complimentary players for LF, CF, RF, 1B, and 2B and we have Teel on the way for C. If Mayer can bounce back we might have a complimentary SS in two years as well.
We have Four excellent complimentary pitchers in Bello, Houck, Crawford and Whitlock so all we need now are the expensive all-stars to fill out the roster.
2 SPs and a 3B makes three all-stars to go with Devers and Jansen. Five is enough to get the Red Sox into the playoffs.
The key to the next few years will be whether any of the complimentary inexpensive players develop into all-stars like Bogey, Mookie,and Devers did. Casas has the upside to do that and Duran’s 2023 suggests he could be an occasional all-star. Anthony, Rafaela and even Abreu are all possibilities too. On the pitching side, clearly Bello has that type of upside and who knows maybe Houck, Crawford or Whitlock might have that upside too.
A HUGE REBOUND could happen if the right all-stars are acquired with the current money available and Yoshida’s $18MM. The 2024 season doesn’t have to be a disaster but if nothing changes, it’s guaranteed to be a disaster.
KD: Actually, not really progress. “Picking the right guys is the key not how much money you spend” is what I have been saying the Rays do well and what I think John Henry wants to do better.
All – So if Henry wants this so badly why fire DD? He was coming under the CAP and putting up winners. He was outstanding at finding good players at any cost.
So what happened that Henry stopped wanting what you are saying he is wanting? That doesn’t make sense to me. Also, TB does not draft well. Their primary success is in the minor league deals. MLB deals aren’t all that great either but when keep bringing up guys you traded for and they perform that is just ONE thing you are doing right. That’s why the guy in the TB headquarters behind all the great deals is the WIZARD. Henry needs a wizard after he fired his last one.
That’s pretty messed up.
KD: Dombrowski would still be a good POBO to have. Not sure what happened. Might been a clash of egos.
suit – Not that it matters, but Roster Resource has some estimates that are far higher than Spotrac. I actually compared them line by line a few weeks ago.
But yep, I said long ago I’ll wait until the regular season before passing judgement on the offseason.
suit – Just curious, by “flawed” you mean chance of injury … right? Which BTW more than half of all MLB pitchers has, including Houck, Whitlock, Bello, Giolito, Jansen, Martin, Schreiber, etc.
I would think even you’d acknowledge a healthy Cortes, Stroman and Rodon along with Cole is a very solid starting rotation.
And I’m guessing you’re an educated man, so could you please use the term “spent” appropriately. It’s when you give players a contract, not when you have to actually pay them.
If you have a loan on a car you bought in 2022, you didn’t “spend” it now. You spent it 2 years ago, and now you’re still paying on it. Same thing with MLB payroll, spent is when you purchase the player … not when you actually pay the player throughout his contract.
Ironically the Royals have truly spent $396.5M this offseason on just Wacha, Lugo, Renfro, Stratton, Smith, Frazier and Witt.
The Red Sox? They’ve spent a tiny fraction of that … maybe $50M, most of which is on Giolito and his 5 ERA.
Suit – Love the progress! So you finally acknowledge Bloom was an idiot for spending all that money on a shortstop with a seriously injured arm whose offensive numbers had steadily declined even with playing half his games in hitter-friendly Colorado.
Spreading money around on “fliers” is just as wasteful as giving it all to one underachieving star player. Bloom wasted far more money on what he thought were “bargains” than Dombrowski or AA or Friedman ever did.
suit – Disappointed with the regression.
Surely you are old enough to know the term “You get what you pay for” …. right?
suit – You know exactly what happened. In the middle of the 2019 season Henry threw a fit, and rightfully so, because Cora managed the highest MLB payroll (and defending World Champions) into the ground.
So Henry went to Dave and said (paraphrasing here) “No more big spending on star players, I want you to bring down payroll to the lower half of MLB and I want you to start operating on a tight budget like you did with the Expos and Marlins.”
Dave told Henry (paraphrasing here) “Screw you, it’s not my fault your Trash Can Banging Manager blew the season by not properly preparing the team. I quit!”
Fever: Yankees fans on here who are pretty knowledgeable are saying they still need another starter. So, I say the Yankees have a flawed rotation. Also, the Yankees made an offer to Snell which I think shows they think their starting rotation is lacking.
Fever: No progress was needed. I have been saying I think John Henry thinks spending $200+M every year is enough and that it just needs to be spent better as I think he wants to be more like the Rays (but better than the Rays as he outspends them significantly). I was against the Trevor Story signing from day one. You can see my comments on the MLBTR article about the signing.
Lord…Neither if you understand how JD works…stop reading too much into it ..not everything is a conspiracy
More throwing shade by the Red Sox after a guy leaves town. Did it with Benintendi, Lester, Tito and now JD. They run their PR like a bunch of middle school girls and it’s embarrassing
I’m sorry, but did the RS release a statemen? Or is everyone blabbering their opinions based off of a long winded article…That was based on another article, that is based on “sources?
Think about it.
Chris – No way to prove the above source, but the current Sox front office does have a history of leaks that couldn’t have come from anyone else.
For instance shortly after Bloom was fired, the announcers said ON AIR before a game that he was foolish in rejecting a trade offer for Sale that had occurred more than a year earlier. Why do you think they waited so long to announce it?
All teams leak info for PR purposes, but the Red Sox since Henry took over seem to have taken it to a whole lower level.
1. This wasn’t the Sox’ statement.
2. JD left last year. If they were doing that, it would be about Justin Turner
fillhok the TROLL
Since you forbid people from responding to your trash I’ve tied this one to Ketch and it has nothing to do with his comment. It’s directed at you the moron who continues to jump in as a Yankee fan and harass the Red Sox fans on this site.
Jake is right about the mysterious leaks that are just the marketing department spreading bad information to make it seem like the front office is doing the right thing.
JD was one of the most honorable players the Red Sox have had over the years. He came to Boston, replaced a legend in Big Papi yet never compared his accomplishments to Big Papi, then he tutored many players on the art of hitting as he learned it from the hitting coach that turned around his career.
There was never an issue with JD. His focus in the dugout is no different than a great student hitting the books to improve their knowledge. If Turner was more of a fly by the seat of your pants guy who chose not to study after an at bat and liked to joke around in the dugout that’s fine but that clearly is NOT the superior message to send to team mates. Leading by example is an outstanding way to be a great leader. The fact that before and after games he spent lots of time working with other players and sharing his knowledge suggests that maybe he was more generous than JT and far more willing to go out of his way to help others.
For the front office to spread crap like they do is unconscionable. They have the integrity of a Cora. Lets hope the phrase “what goes around comes around” comes back to impact their careers like it’s going to for Cora.
Likewise, I wish the same on you = the troll known as filihok!!!
JB
“a bunch of middle school girls”.
You mean a bunch of middle-aged men. That’s, I’m guessing, most of what makes up MLBTR’s comments section. And it’s just a bunch of people talking trash on baseball players…
Lord – Definitely the latter. I can understand the Sox not wanting a DH-only type player now, but it’s a shame because JD could certainly help the young hitters like Casas, Duran, Rafaela, Abreu and MAT become better hitters.
“It’s been huge (having Martinez),” Betts said. “He’s been kind of mentoring me every step of the way with just how to play the game, how to go about each day. To have him here in the lineup and everything else is huge.”
Agree here Fever. What Red Sox fan alive didn’t appreciate what JD Martinez brought to the team all those years? I certainly did. Fantastic signing that worked out well.
@Fever, it was the seeming diss of JDM that surprised me. Generally, I had only heard positive things about his work approach and helping other hitters. Was curious if I had missed something or if Red Sox fans had heard this before.
Whoever speaks for the Red Sox needs to learn the expression, “Don’t burn your britches.” Ok, I changed it from bridges. But I meant to, I’m referencing, “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” It’s an opinion, not a fact, about JDM. So don’t go spouting off BS statements about previous Red Sox players. It serves NO purpose. And maybe that’s not what the Red Sox think and just the Boston media making spit up. Like they almost always do, they’re a despicable bunch.
Lord – Never have I heard a criticism of JD as a teammate, until this. He’s 36 so it’s hard to believe he could have “changed” at such an advanced age.
Perhaps it was just one former teammate who didn’t like him for some reason, that’s why I hate quotes with no name next to them.
@whyhayzee, the media is definitely part of the equation.
@Fever, same.
Probably the latter. Martinez was all business and throws himself into his notes on the pitchers. He’s kind of a baseball bookworm in terms of knowing the pitchers. So, he was probably busy studying and wasn’t the most fun loving, sociable guy and that could rub some the wrong way, if they wanted him to be more vocal. He was never a problem in Detroit though. He does that because that’s what worked for him after Houston dfa’d him and he broke out with us (Detroit).
It’s pretty well known at this point that he never wanted to sign in Boston to begin with. He felt he was under paid and he was no leader. He may have even been a problem in the clubhouse.
Price and # of suitors may well fall to level Stearns makes move. Stewart was awful last 3-4 weeks of season.
The old Mets would have signed them both just for fun.
“Old mets” ?…you think the wilpons would have spent?
Anybody else still waiting for Steve Cohen to show us how much smarter at baseball he is than the rest of us??? He hasn’t shown me anything to believe it to be true thus far.
That’s not his job and he’s smart enough to know it. That’s why he hired Stearns.
Stearns is a loser
He’s never said or implied that. Just said he wants to make the team a sustainable winner and provide for the fans. You seem like you got a real bad attitude in the short time I’ve been aware of your presence. Maybe try being just Slightly Barry, might do you some good.
He’s just a wallet.
You are completely wrong. He bought players, sold season tickets at a ridiculous price and then sold the players now you are in rebuild. Sort of fraud.
Would you prefer that he did nothing? And if you don’t like the ticket prices, don’t buy the tickets. Plenty of other people will buy them.
There’s too many Mets fans that have been tough critics on Cohen this year for not overspending how he has the previous seasons. I’ve seen people go as far as to compare him to the wilpons. Last year they spent and had the highest payroll in mlb history and look how that ended up. Im not sure what to expect this season but im trusting the process.
The Mets CBT payroll for 2024 is $327.9M so far per Roster Resource, the highest in MLB. The Yankees are second at $304.5M.
Not this year they wont – Cohen bailed on the Met fans last yr by trading away instead of adding – then he hired a banana for a GM who fired a HOF manager and hired a guy with no coaching skills – Mets organization is badly run
All Cohen does is tell lies – just like the Wilpons did
That minor league slash line on Mark Vientos is wrong, it’s supposed to be .277/.347/.499, not .247/.377/.499.
Thanks for catching that… I was going to say, that’s not how I remember it at all
Not a notable difference. He’s still not a “slugger”.
I would say a 30 point difference in batting average and on base percentage is a VERY noticeable and significant difference.
GOMM
“I would say a 30 point difference in batting average and on base percentage is a VERY noticeable and significant difference.”.
Only if you are stuck in 1980 and think that batting average matters at all
GOMM – Ignore the dbag filihok. He’s an idiot who doesn’t understand the game of baseball but just likes to run his mouth with ignorant comments.
In response to your comment.
Lester’s comment specifically addressed power not average or OBP. The switch in the numbers lowered his Isolated Power by 30 points so while 30 points in hitting which rolls into the OBP calculation is significant the drop in IP of 30 is also significant with respect to his power.
The two of you were addressing different points and both were partially right and wrong.
The .277 average makes him an average hitter.
The .347 OBP means his walk rate is .070 suggesting a good eye at the plate.
The .499 SLG means his Isolated Power is .222 rather than .252. The .252 would suggest a solid power guy. The .222 suggests a normal power guy, not outstanding.
When I go to Baseball Reference and check out his numbers I think his trend is to be a league average to above league average MLB 3B with projected homers per year around 30. He’ll be 24 next year and it will be his third shot at adjusting to MLB pitching so I think he will have a much better experience than his last two. He doesn’t appear to be a potential all-star but for his controllable years,, he’s better than average.
That’s just my take on his minor league numbers and his two brief stints in the MLB.
He has a 500 SLG in the minors… he’s the definition of a slugger.
In fact, the last three seasons at AA and AAA, he had 581, 519 and 612 SLG. He has MLB power, that’s not the issue.
Ma4170 – Cherry picking stats to make your point is a rookie mistake.
At 17 the kid had an unimpressive IP of .136
At 18 the kid had a better IP of .202 but it was still ROK
At 19 the kid had an unimpressive IP of .`.156 at A ball!!
At 21 after Covid he jumped his IP to a strong .300 ish vs AA but he did get in 11 games at AAA and it didn’t drop which was a great jump from his previous seasons.
At 22 he started at AAA and his IP dropped to .239 which is good but hardly a slugger. In 16 games against MLB pitching his IP was .111 in 2022.
At 23 in AAA again he raised his slugging back up to .306 and got promoted to the MLB. In 65 games, his average was .211 and IP was .156. So we have a 23 year old who has mastered AAA pitching but is overwhelmed by MLB pitching.
I think it’s great that you can conclude that means he’ll be a slugger in the MLB but usually there has to be a sign that he’ll be able to handle MLB pitching first.
AAA – 173 games (a lot) with a .290 average and an IP of .266
MLB – 81 games with a .205 average and an IP of .149.
For Vientos to be considered a power hitter in the MLB he’ll need to have at least the same IP that he had in the minors and that BARELY qualifies him.
FYI… SLG is (BA + IP) that’s why power stripped from the Batting Average is the best way to measure power. He had an excellent batting average in the minors so his SLG was inflated by the batting average. Like I said, his minor league IP was good and if he can repeat it at some point in the MLB then he’ll be a borderline power hitter. If he can jump it to .300 then he’s legit.
Referencing stats from ages 17-21 is a rookie mistake. Last three years he’s obviously been a “slugger” in MiLB. I didn’t say he’d be one in MLB, just that he has the power to based on how he’s progressed in the minors. And if he did hit 30 HR in MLB, that would prob earn him the “slugger” moniker considering less than 30 people a year did it the last two years. I don’t necessarily think he’ll become a top-level hitter, but he clearly has HR power, which I typically assume is what people mean by a slugger.
Also, I don’t want to be this guy, but can’t resist. IP in baseball is innings pitched… ISO is what you’re referring to, and a 239 is not just “good.” Less than 20 people each of last two years have ISO above 239. I’m always up for a debate, but the whole “rookie mistake” nonsense is going to annoy most people on here, not just me, especially for those of us who know baseball really well.
Ma4170 = The fact that you don’t recognize the changes in abbreviations over time tells me you are an extremely young fan. How stat companies have changed abbreviations over time is not something i give two craps about. Isolated Power. See if you take the first letter from each word it’s IP. In the old days, fans were smart enough to know pitchers threw innings. It’s not like they were going to do anything other than pitch so the Innings Pitched is redundant. That’s why if you go to baseball vernacular prior to the onslaught of nerds trying to claim they know baseball, baseball fans recognized INN as innings pitched or unpitched? hahaha. So IP which was invented in the 70s predates the change from INN to IP for pitchers. Know your baseball history before you criticize people that know so much more than you about baseball.
So for a guy who is a self proclaimed baseball person who knows it really well, it appears maybe you don’t know it really well. You are a metrics child who has no basis in real baseball.
Just remember what started all this. YOU criticized someone because they stated the simple fact that changing the batting average didn’t impact the fact that he wasn’t a power hitter. All I did was react to you slinging crap at a guy who was just as right as you were in his comments. So you can hold off on the commentary about how I approached this. I met your aggressiveness with equal aggressiveness AND FACTS!!!,
Sure, but we care about a 24 year old’s time in Rookie ball at 17… why, exactly? (Or anything 2019 and farther back, for that matter.)
Remember when the Sox were a big market team? Or atleast tried to win? Now ownership is to invested in gold and an nhl team, turned our team into the north east Minnesota twins. Sell the team!!!!!
Boston acquires:
N. Castellanos RF
D. Hall 1B/DH
S. Muzziotti CF
A. Bellatti RHP
M. Moore RHP
S. Aldegheri LHP
Phillies acquire:
K. Jansen RHP
J. Durran OF
B. Dalbec 1B
Blockbuster
Red Sox ain’t doing that without significant money
Phillies aren’t doing it with “two loaded guns”, to their head!!
Hahahahahahahahahahaha, that’s a dumb proposal even for this site. I’m not sure either team does that.
Please stop using mlb trade simulator.
The Phillies are already one rh hitting outfielder short. You want them to trade Castallanos, and replace him with a left-hand hitting Duran. Dalbec has no place on the Phillies roster. Jansen is the 2024 version of Kimbrel. Castallanos isn’t being traded.
@baseballhistory: Neither is CASTELLANOS.
Baseball Reference and Google are your friends. When in doubt as to how a name is spelled, step right up and use them.
Collect – Why would a team pinching pennies take on $60M for 3 years of a 32-year-old Castellanos in exchange for a better all-around player who is only 27 and has 5 years of team control remaining.
The Phillies have been to the World Series and NLCS in the last two. Seasons. Why are they breaking that up? And Dalbec might not have the trade value you think he does. He’s a lesser version of Jordan Luplow.
Castellanos is an underwater contract though obviously they’re gonna dump that and some mid prospects if they can get a controllable OFer and Jansen
Fraham – The GM in Philly is DD. There would be absolutely no reason for him to suddenly change his approach so your suggested deal could be made.
Look at the Phillies line-up compared to Boston
C – Realmuto vs Wong
1B – Harper vs Casas
2B – Stott vs Grissom
SS – T Turner vs Story
3B – Bohm vs Devers
LF – Marsh vs O’Neill/Abreu
CF – Rojas vs Duran
RF – Castellanos vs Rafaela
DH – Schwarber vs Yoshida
Boston wins almost no match-ups unless you ignore the negative effects of Devers defense.
Does Philly have hitting issues? NOPE. They are rock solid.
Castellanos costs $20MM per year through the 2026 season and he finished 23rd in the MVP voting and was an all-star in 2023. UNDERWATER? – You are underwater!!! WOW
Castellanos will not be traded because he’s a stud compared to what most other teams have. Rafaela may pass him one day but not in 2024!!
ONE MORE POINT to help you understand the game a bit better. Philly doesn’t NEED Jansen so without a need the idea of trading Castellanos to get prospects is ONLY IN YOUR HEAD.
Philly has a great hitting team, they have a great starting staff with Wheeler, Nola, Suarez, Walker and the young and improving C Sanchez. Their closer is Alvarado who throws 100 and is very effective but gets hurt a bit too often for my liking. They also have Soto who has closed and is right handed and Dominguez who has closed and is left handed. They are poised and ready to win 90 to 100 games in 2024 in the tough NL East.
Since Boston needs a 3B Philly is a good place to look. I believe their #4 prospect Aidan Miller would be a huge addition to BOS because he’s a two way 3B that has power and was drafted in 2023 out of HS and will be 20 in 2024. He’s a former SS who is filling out and adding power but has great defensive skills and an excellent arm.
DD drafted this guy at 27 but he got hit in the hamate bone his senior year and dropped from the top of the draft chart where he belongs. Martin is a pitcher Philly could use because he’s cheap and effective, maybe Martin and Abreu could bring back Miller.
The deal has to benefit both sides. Martin helps the Philly bullpen and Abreu is an outfielder who could help in 2024 if they have injuries. Miller could slot in at A ball and give Boston a potential young 3B for the future. That way they could sign Chapman for 2 years.
If you think Castellanos would get 3/60 on the open market right now idk what to tell you. He’s put up 0.2 fWAR the last two years combined and been an average hitter per wRC+ with awful defense. I guarantee anyone in the Phillies front office would happily give him away for nothing and reinvest that money into a much better player if they could, but no team is taking on that contract. If you want to argue he’s a better player than Duran that’s fair but Duran is a younger player with 5 years of cheap control so he has immensely more trade value. And obviously I agree this trade would never happen because it would never be proposed by Boston.
Fraham – So a guy who played 157 games in 2023 with a .272 batting average, .476 slugging and OPS of .788 (112 OPS+) and has consistently done this for a decade isn’t worth $20MM a year? 29 HRs, 106 RBIs and 79 runs scored is no longer considered good?
You have to be a metrics guy to be so clueless. WOW.
FWAR is BS. It’s a contrived number. Total horse crap.
Use REAL statistics when evaluating players. otherwise you embarrass yourself. Next thing out of a mouth like yours is Batting Average doesn’t matter and fielding percentage is invalid. An entire generation of morons created from stat nerds who never played.
If you think his numbers can be replaced for less than $20MM then tell me the name of the player.
Your comments about Duran just shows your lack of understanding when evaluating players. Castellanos sits in the middle of the Phillie’s line-up and carries them when guys like Harper and Turner are struggling. He’s a JD Martinez type guy. He shows up and carries the team when they need to be carried. He’s not the star he’s the heart of the team. No statcast or Fangraphs stat can incorporate that skill into their guesses at the future.
The Phillies I’m sure are not as cynical as you are with respect to Castellanos. DD knows him and trusts him to be there when things get tough. That’s how great teams get back to the playoffs. They pick each other up. That Philly team has a chemistry that also doesn’t fit in any metric.
Number crunchers like you should be accountants and stay away from sports. Let the baseball people discuss the strengths and weaknesses and values of players. They have insights you clearly don’t have.
This isn’t about the trade this is about you not knowing how to value players like Castellanos. As an exercise, look up fWAR and count the number of fabricated constants and variables used in predicting a past value. Then look at real stats like BA, SLG, OBP, SB, R, RBI and HRs and you’ll see how laughable it is that things like fWAR are fabricated and believed by so many. It’s a joke. It shows the enormous amount of baseball knowledge that has been lost over the years. It’s disgraceful to see hard core baseball people reference the bogus estimates. Like I said, go look at all the assumptions that go into ONE metric and tell me how anyone can rename the ESTIMATE to a STAT. They are estimates and bad ones at that.
Whether you use them to predict the future or compare unlike players in unlike circumstances in the present or the past it has no basis in reality.
“He shows up and carries the team when they need to be carried. He’s not the star he’s the heart of the team.”
I could quite literally say that about any player and there’s no way to argue it. I know you’re clearly a Phillies fan but no need to be so bias. I’m a Yankees fan and a former Yankee/Phillie Ronald Torreyes was considered the “heart of the team” at times but no one’s out here handing him a big contract he’s a career minor leaguer/borderline roster guy. I know you bought up JD Martinez and he’s crushed Castellanos in every stat traditional or advanced the last two years. He’s not landing that Castellanos contract even if he’s been way better. Another guy not getting that contract is Jorge Soler who’s also been better in every stat traditional and advanced the last 2 years except batting average.
And I don’t even think fWAR is perfect but I can tell you how the offensive aspect is calculated. Basically it takes singles, doubles, triples, home runs, and walks and gives them appropriate value since obviously a home run is better than a single. Then it considers how the rest of the league is hitting (if it’s a pitching dominant or hitting dominant season league-wide) and also if a hitter is playing in hitter or pitcher friendly parks and applies both those aspects. Seems better than batting average where a single, home run, double, etc. are the same and a walk means nothing. Hope that helps!
@Ketch: LOL! Is a lesser version of Jordan Luplow even a major league player?
Stupidity
I dont think either team would do this.
Just teach the pitchers to hit and they don’t need to spend extra cash on a 1-tool player. We already have the defense having to bat as well. What makes the pitcher (defensive position) not need to hit as well?
Ever see a guy pitching a great game and/or having a great season and get sidelined because of an injury batting or base running?
That’s why.
Sid Fernandez and Chien-Ming Wang come immediately to mind.
Fernandez was forced out of a game in the sixth inning of a no-hitter, and Wang suffered a season-ending injury that ruined his career.
Don’t forget Wright. Bubble wrap those poor pitchers. Like asking a runner to ride a bicycle.
Why is it a big deal to you?
@Blue Baron
The pitcher’s primary role is defense so your argument is suggesting we need a DH for the defensive players as they often get injured but we don’t suggest that they should stop hitting because it impacts their ability to stay on the field and play defense. So, that argument is debunked.
What’s another excuse as to why pitchers should not be taught how to hit the ball ,just like the rest of their defensive team?
Comparing pitchers to shortstops or outfielders is a false equivalence.
The pitcher’s primary job, different from other defensive players, is to put the ball in play.
And pitchers, especially starters, can’t and don’t play as often as defensive regulars.
Pitchers also have more work to do on their pitching than other players with their defense.
@Blue Baron
Are you suggesting the rest of the defense doesn’t do much practice on that part of their game? That’s ridiculous. What data do you have to suggest that players don’t put as much work into their defense, when it comes to everyday players?
Another debunked claim.
What’s another excuse as to why pitchers should not be taught how to hit the ball ,just like the rest of their defensive team?
Just reality. Pitchers spend more time throwing and studying for pitching than other players spend on fielding practice.
That’s why those players have more time for batting practice.
@Blue Baron
If pitchers are spending their every waking moment pitching, then they are adding no value to their long-term success. The scientific research suggests otherwise. This should provide more opportunities to work on hitting.
ericcressey.com/pitchers-elite-time-off-throwing
Then go argue with actual MLB people. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Does it matter what we think? The power brokers of MLB are gonna continue to tweak this game as they see fit so to keep the fan base interested and to bring new fans in as well. We don’t have any say in the matter. Personally, I’d go back to pitchers hitting.
The owners and the MLBPA collectively bargain for an agreement on how the game should operate.
Why do you have a problem with that?
That ship has sailed and is never coming back.
OY
“What makes the pitcher (defensive position) not need to hit as well?”.
First, the rules
Second, the value pitchers provide by pitching dwarfs whatever value they provide with their bats (with very few exceptions). So, they didn’t waste time they could commit to becoming better pitchers to becoming better hitters
@filihok
1. Which rule are you speaking of?
2. My post wasn’t saying, pitchers should hit right now. My post stated that we should be teaching the pitchers to hit. Your reply to me makes no sense in that context. All your defending is the status quo.
“The veteran’s approach was not “universally loved” in the Red Sox clubhouse and contrasted with the style of leadership exhibited by Turner that made the 39-year-old so popular among his teammates last year.”
And yet they didn’t sign either player, so what difference does it make. If you’re a Red Sox fan and you want the team to get better, stay home this season.
Corrado – Yep, or watch the team on the road.
They have enough DH candidates on the roster, faking it in the field. Don’t pay Soler for a career year he will never repeat. If anyone should be considered, Chapman provides superior defence and right handed power. His platform season was not his best, so there is the possibility of getting more from him. Moves Devers to 1B/Dh with Casas.
That want work but atleast you have the right idea. Boston is full of Yes fans they will stick pack out Fenway
Still**
If my memory serves me correctly, the small market GMs who’ve moved onto big markets haven’t done that well as a group(LA’s Friedman has obviously excelled). It will be extremely interesting to watch how the Met’s David Stearns navigates the increased expectations, and volume, in his first year in the “Big Apple”.
mlb – Friedman spending tons of money every year without ever winning a legit championship doesn’t make him impressive.
Right, because every team that doesn’t win the World Series is a total failure and should fire the manager, coaches, and front office people.
Blue – What does that have to do with what I wrote?
Friedman is a decent front office guy who gets more praise than he should because he’s got a lot more money to play with.
But since you brought it up ….. let’s say Ohtani gives up pitching within a couple years and becomes an average hitter. Glasnow doesn’t pitch more than 75 innings in a year. Yamamoto totally flames out within 3 years.
If all that happens, do you stick with Friedman or do you replace him?
If you stick with him after all that, how long a leash does he have? Five years? Ten years? Or does he stay until retirement no matter what?
I’d be curious to hear your thoughts.
The Mets are not only stepping away from external DH options but away from being even remotely competitive. Aside from improving the defense somewhat with Bader and Taylor and re-signing Ottavino, Boy Wonder Stearns has done nothing but add cesspool level crap to the pitching staff. I guess if you throw enough crap at a wall something MIGHT stick. 2024, 25, and 26 are gonna be long, lean years in Flushing.
“2024, 25, and 26 are gonna be long, lean”…”Done nothing but add cesspool”…The Mets are playing the long game and I would bet you ’24, ’25 and ’26 will ALL be much better than 2023, when the Mets signed every shiny expensive object they could find. Baseball just isn’t as easy to predict as what you’re suggesting.
Good seats still remain for Daryl Strawberry’s number retirement June 1st.
Too pessimistic. 24 mets will be 10 wins better than 23, and 25 will be even better.
Patience.
I don’t believe you.
I like it better when Boston acknowledges that RF needs to be filled by someone w CF experience. That’s an acre of weird shaped real estate out there and it’s not wise to just consider it a “corner OF” spot. The best recent alignment they had was JBJ in CF and Betts in RF.
With the current roster, I think O’Neil should be considered for right w Duran in CF. Rafaella fits in this mix as well. Def need a horse in both those postions.
Boston’s RF is easily the most difficult RF to play in all of MLB.
swan – That’s the irony of acquiring the GG fielder O’Neill, as literally 86% of his playing time has been in left field only. We have no idea if he can handle the opposite corner, and it’s a moot point if he doesn’t greatly improve his hitting.
Fever— I’m not sure what to make of O’Neill yet, either, but we also gave up basically nothing to acquire him and he’s got considerable upside. That’s probably the only one of Breslow’s moves to this point that I can confidently say makes sense.
so long as the Sox provide the juice for O’neill
Yeah, Oneill is certainly jacked. I’ll believe he’s au natural until evidence proves otherwise.
ONeills dad was a famous professional bodybuilder in Canada. Do some research before shooting your mouth off about people you don’t know anything about.
crocus – If money wasn’t an issue with the Sox, then I’d be fine with it too.
But for a team crying poverty and pinching every penny, I think it’s foolish to take a $6M flyer on the guy who BTW reminds me a lot of Luke Voit.
I’d rather have Abreu or Rafaela/Duran in RF and put that $6M toward much-needed pitching.
If the Sox weren’t so cheap, sure I’d be cool with seeing what O’Neill has. Maybe he is another Dugie except with more power.
It seems like the only in-house RF candidates are Abreu and O’Neill. Cora has said Rafaela’s future is in CF, but maybe he starts out 2024 in RF. O’Neill-Duran-Rafaela isn’t a great defensive OF, but it’s better than any lineup they had last year.
It would be top 5 defensive ofs. Did u mean offense??
Ketch….. Rafaela is probably going to be in Worchester on Opening day.
You do not have a 24 year old kid as a DH. Mets are making a mistake. Alonso needs protection.
Sandwiched between Lindor and Marte is good enough for this year. Alonso is on his way out so no need to buy him a DH.
Not a mistake. The youngsters need major league ABs if the Mets are going to be competitive in 25 and beyond.
Patience.
Protection from what?
DH is a position the Sox should have no problem filling with existing players as many of their defensive abilities are subpar. Not too worried about that. Turner would’ve been a no brainer to re sign if that wasn’t the case. They need pitching and more pitching.
Agreed. As he can fake it in the field,and if Boston goes ahead with adding what they don’t need, I see Solano as the best fit, because of his versatility, and lower cost. He doesn’t play anywhere well, so he will fit right in.
1986 and rebuilding with Alonso pending free agent and kind of etc. Yankees acquire Soto for 1 year with hopes.
Cohen sounds to me to be a fraud
Mrski, if you have such a problem with Cohen, quit being a Mets fan. You won’t be missed.
You can root for another team and still have no idea what you’re talking about.
I don’t want JDM back (he no longer fits on this roster given his defensive limitations), but the explanation Cotillo references feels like kind of a weird swipe. JDM revolutionized hitting in Boston, Mookie and Xander both made it very clear that his tutelage was responsible for their success. I wonder if some of the younger guys just didn’t feel like putting in the study time that JDM used to after every AB.
I thought I remembered Cora making a comment that JD was too complex for a lot of the guys to comprehend.
Cora: Banging on a trash can is much easier for a batter to understand.
Xander and Mookie were already established MLB all start players by the time Martinez got to Boston. Maybe Martinez preferred to work with them as opposed to younger players that sought his help.
They were indeed all-stars, but the difference in their stat lines between 2017 and 2018 (when JDM joined the team) is pretty striking:
Betts
2017: .264/.344/.459
2018: .346/.438/.640
Bogaerts
2017: .273/.343/.403
2018: .288/.360/.522
Now, there could be a lot of reasons for that leap (MLB was screwing with their baseballs year-to-year a lot at that point in time, coaching staff turnovers, more protection in the lineup, etc.), but you’d have a hard time convincing me that JDM wasn’t a huge part of that given that the entire team started studying their iPads as soon as he came to town. I also found this tidbit in the LA Times:
Betts underwent a drastic swing change in 2018, joining baseball’s launch angle revolution to transform into an unlikely, yet unstoppable, power-hitting leadoff man — batting .346 with 32 home runs while leading the majors in slugging percentage (.640) during his MVP-winning campaign.
“I still kind of see myself as like a regular, typical, get-on-base leadoff hitter,” Betts said earlier this month, his slugging prowess having stuck despite his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame. “But you just kind of step back and look, my profile definitely changed.”
And how, exactly, did that change take place?
“I guess, J.D. and Rob were probably the main reasons why,” Betts said. “Back in ‘18.”
Indeed, while Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers and assistant Andy Barkett helped lead some of Betts’ swing changes, it was Martinez and Van Scoyoc who helped cement them.
—
Why am I putting this much research into one comment? I’m not sure! But when Mookie freaking Betts explicitly credits you for helping him become the hitter he is today, you’d think you’d be the kind of guy any team would be thrilled to have in the clubhouse, regardless of personality.
@thecrocusesareinbloom Sorry to inform you, but Betts prior to 2018 had already had a season very much like his 2019-2022 numbers—that was in 2016, his second best season, career, and third best by oWAR, trailing only 2018 and 2023.
2018 was great, but everyone has a lucky year (though still only a bump from 9.5 to 10.7 bWAR). 2018 didn’t represent some new plateau.
Sox do not need a DH. They need arms and gloves.
any RH bat that will sign a 1 yr deal for 3 million or less will get the Sox’s attention
Quick summary. Not a single option the Red Sox are “interested in” is a difference maker or is a much better option than doing absolutely nothing at this point if their goal was not to have an everyday DH (as stated by the team).
Redsox will be top 5 team from 2025-2030
100%
I would love to here you’re explanation of how they will accomplish this
He meant Pawtucket.
I can’t believe any bad press on JD, he was beloved here. Beloved so much they kept him here at the trade deadline. Now you might say its because Bloom messed up, which may be true, but he was lauded for his help with the younger Sox, always willing to help if asked. A solid ADD to any team.
“….24-year-old slugger Mark Vientos…”
Vientos, of the mediocre record so far in MLB, “slugger”?
Misspelled “sluggard”.
Patience. He slugged in Triple A. Time will tell whether he can slug in the majors.
Lets see how does in 24.
This game of musical chairs is going to start applying downward pressure on salary demands pretty darn soon, especially when the unsigned players begin seeing footage of guys in camp. The top shelf pitchers may still get paid but the flawed hitters (Bellinger, Soler, JD Martinez, etc) better start adjusting their expectations.
the Red Sox are a joke now! last in the East will be the new motto for years to come. No pitching doesn’t win pennants! can’t believe they are haggling over Duvall! as a long time fan I am done .
A lot of fans are feeling excited that Theo is back but I don’t see it meaning anything for us. The Red Sox FO has been done with this team for a few years now . That Full Throttle comment was laughable when Werner said it. All that talk was just to appease fans through one more dormant off season
The Mets are stupid to not take a 1yr with JD Martinez. The guy still rakes. We had Vogelbach and he was awful so why not get a real DH? I like the signing of Diekman I think that was great. But we need bats!
Maybe he’s holding out for 2 years and seeing if there’s anybody around that will give it to him? He’ll probably have to settle for the one year deals here on out though.
Gary – You might be right but JD is worth 2 years, especially if he’s giving discounts like last year. We grossly over paid for JT when JD was almost half the price. $30MM for 2 years of JD would be fine if we traded Devers but that’s not going to happen so there is no need for JD. I hope he gets paid, he’s a quality guy who deserves more respect than was given to him by Bloom and Cora.
JD Martinez would probably help Deavers hit 30 to 40 points higher! The problem that the clubhouse had was JD probably knew more about hitting than the coaches. I would bring him back in a heartbeat
Thec – For some reason I just heard in my head “And Jerry Mathers as The Deavers”. Haha!
As for JD, yes you are absolutely correct about his hitting. Unfortunately the Sox already have too many players that should be DH, so I don’t think they’ll be signing a full-time DH any time soon.
THE REDSOX NATION BOYCOTT STARTS TOMORROW ON TRUCK DAY 2/5/24…IF you do go bring eggs. It’s time to send our tough love message…we can’t choose our selfishness for watching our boys over sending tough love, the hardest kind, for the sake of real love BOYCOTT all time and spending until the tough love helps them see WE BUILT the Redsox over 124 years… not any owners.
No Games
No NESN
No BOSTON Globe
No Merchandise
No Streaming Service
BOYCOTT NOW!
End the disrespect of 124 years of Fans & our dedication. Tough love is the truest kind if you mean it! You decide, I have and commend other TRUE REDSOX NATION members that love the hardest way…tough love over selfishness of self!
The Red Sox plan on being a poverty franchise.
“… with DJ Stewart and Starling Marte also getting time at DH in addition to occasional reps in the outfield..”
—–Hang on. Marte is only expected to get “occasional reps in the OF”?
Bad writing or bad team construction? Are the Mets really going to (try to) go with a primary OF of Taylor-Nimmo-Bader??
As for the DH situation, of course. Were the Mets really, in a lost season, going to either throw away the one slot for whichever of Vientos and Baty is not playing 3B, or hire an antique to DH and trade one of the two at low ebb?
Who expected that to happen? Stearns hasn’t impressed (and spending $34m on pitching that projects to a below league average ERA when the Mets already have a veritable raft of such guys is… questionable), but he’s not a moron. Blocking the likeliest path to the bigs for two young guys with AAA OPS’s,respectively, of .999 and .927, would be actionable malfeasance.
Deeds continues to be clueless. “Meanwhile” cannot come in the middle of sentence, set off by commas—it has to START the sentence.
MLBTR needs = What’s worse a writer with no command of the English language or a baseball writer with no command of the game of baseball?
I haven’t seen a Deeds this bad since Adam Sandler!!!
Must every public comment be erroneous? I guess if you want to be famous as a Boston writer or announcer you need to be really bad at your comprehension of the game. Speier and Browne have to be the worst of all Boston reporters. The stuff they say makes even the non baseball fans shake their heads and ask if they work for the marketing department or reporting baseball. Ian’s weekly report suggested a line-up that didn’t include Rafaela and it’s not even Spring Training yet.
Most intelligent writers would write about the competition at different positions during Spring Training not declare one guy has it over another without even experiencing ONE GAME of Spring Training.
The Yankees get Soto and plan on moving Judge out of his ill advised spot in the batting order making Boone instantly smarter. Too bad Boston didn’t get a good hitter for the two spot so Devers could go to his logical three hole in the order!! WAIT… they have a high OBP guy batting down in the order, maybe HE COULD BAT 2nd since they obviously aren’t going to trade his bloated contract.
There is so much ugliness in everything Cora does that it’s so hard to watch the games, see the line=ups and watch the in game moves. What a travesty that this serial cheater still has a job in baseball.