Can You Win With This Core?

[TheBlackSox8]

Either the great contract guy Hahn misread the market or the bid was a publicity move.

Or knew the market, and refused to go higher than he needed to to overpay?

 

[witesoxfan]

Either the great contract guy Hahn misread the market or the bid was a publicity move.

 

It's extremely likely that they offered Tanaka and incredibly friendly contract, somewhere around 6 years, $120 million with an opt out after the 4th year, similar to the Yankees. The Yankees were willing to go a 7th year and included $35 million more. Kudos to them, I guess, because that's a move I'm glad the organization didn't make.

[southsider2k5]

Either the great contract guy Hahn misread the market or the bid was a publicity move.

 

I have no idea what this even means? Bidding under the highest bid means Hahn doesn't know what he is doing?

[Eminor3rd]

If they offered $155M and lost, maybe they get credit. Offering anywhere from $35-55M less, no credit.

 

Why do you want to make a stupid move for the sake of making a move? They get credit for NOT outbidding the Yankees. I'm not sure what outcome you are rooting for -- we all want the team to manage their assets well so they can win the WS. You seem to not care about what happens so long as the players you like are on the team.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Either the great contract guy Hahn misread the market or the bid was a publicity move.

 

 

Haha. This guy is unbelievable.

[beautox]

Good post, but the numbers for Viciedo just don't add up. There is really no way that he could hit .257 with 34 HRs and end up with a .412 SLG. Assuming he ends up around the 505 ABs he had in 2012, he would end up with 130 hits. Even if the rest of his hits were all singles, he would end up with a .459 SLG. I would say a much more realistic SLG for Viciedo if he hit .257 with 34 HRS would be about .100 higher at .517 or so. That would be 34 HR, 25 2B, and 2 3B.

sorry that was a late night miss type should've been 19

[VAfan]

Why don't the Sox know how to add lefty bats to their lineup?

 

Of all the new "core" guys they've added, only 1 is a left handed hitter -- Eaton -- and he's replacing one of the few lefties the Sox already had -- De Aza.

 

The Sox have now "filled" all the normal spots usually filled by lefties -- 1B, RF, 3B, LF -- with right handers. The only spot they have left for power hitting lefty is DH, which is currently filled by a lefty power hitter, so when Dunn moves on, we won't be gaining any left handed power.

 

When AJ was here, we had a decent lefty hitter at catcher, but that's pretty rare.

 

So my answer to whether you can win with this core is NO. The Sox need to have more power, a better balance of lefties, and more guys who know how to walk. Until they do, their offense will not be able to compete.

[ILMOU]

Why don't the Sox know how to add lefty bats to their lineup?

 

Of all the new "core" guys they've added, only 1 is a left handed hitter -- Eaton -- and he's replacing one of the few lefties the Sox already had -- De Aza.

 

The Sox have now "filled" all the normal spots usually filled by lefties -- 1B, RF, 3B, LF -- with right handers. The only spot they have left for power hitting lefty is DH, which is currently filled by a lefty power hitter, so when Dunn moves on, we won't be gaining any left handed power.

 

When AJ was here, we had a decent lefty hitter at catcher, but that's pretty rare.

 

So my answer to whether you can win with this core is NO. The Sox need to have more power, a better balance of lefties, and more guys who know how to walk. Until they do, their offense will not be able to compete.

A lot of young catchers are lefty or switch hitters, we'll need one of those soon. Also, if we move Tank to DH next year, or dump him, we will have an opportunity to fill that with a lefty OF, preferably one with power.

 

The more I look at it, the more I think Colby Rasmus will be ours in FA next year, if we really want him. The Yankees have ARod back on the dole next year, don't have any major salary coming off the books, and need 2B,3B and SS if Jeter retires, and they'll need righty power more than lefty. Boston's loaded with lefty OF's as are the Dodgers. The feared-by-some biggest spenders likely won't even be involved.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Stan Bahnsen

[beautox]

A lot of young catchers are lefty or switch hitters, we'll need one of those soon. Also, if we move Tank to DH next year, or dump him, we will have an opportunity to fill that with a lefty OF, preferably one with power.

 

The more I look at it, the more I think Colby Rasmus will be ours in FA next year, if we really want him. The Yankees have ARod back on the dole next year, don't have any major salary coming off the books, and need 2B,3B and SS if Jeter retires, and they'll need righty power more than lefty. Boston's loaded with lefty OF's as are the Dodgers. The feared-by-some biggest spenders likely won't even be involved.

I agree the best looking free agents and strength of next year's class would appear to be Hanley Ramirez (I doubt LA lets him slip away), Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie for middle infielders. Headley and Sandoval for 3B, Gardner and Rasmus for OF and a ton of pitchers that will all likely get paid way to much for their actual production. Looking into '16 if this core develops we might have a shot at Jason Heyward if the braves don't lock him up or he opts to test free agency. If our core develops either Rasmus and Heyward fit with our teams profile and age curve.

[Marty34]

Why do you want to make a stupid move for the sake of making a move? They get credit for NOT outbidding the Yankees. I'm not sure what outcome you are rooting for -- we all want the team to manage their assets well so they can win the WS. You seem to not care about what happens so long as the players you like are on the team.

 

I think it's more like it's ok if the Sox don't spend money they know what they are doing. My question is what makes everyone so confident in this team's leadership.

[ILMOU]

I agree the best looking free agents and strength of next year's class would appear to be Hanley Ramirez (I doubt LA lets him slip away), Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie for middle infielders. Headley and Sandoval for 3B, Gardner and Rasmus for OF and a ton of pitchers that will all likely get paid way to much for their actual production. Looking into '16 if this core develops we might have a shot at Jason Heyward if the braves don't lock him up or he opts to test free agency. If our core develops either Rasmus and Heyward fit with our teams profile and age curve.

And Markakis may be available as well, depending on whether Balt. exercises $17.5M option for next year.

[Eminor3rd]

I think it's more like it's ok if the Sox don't spend money they know what they are doing. My question is what makes everyone so confident in this team's leadership.

 

I think we all just have to judge for ourselves. Personally, I really like the offseason we just had. I really didn't like the two before.

[Vance Law]

And Markakis may be available as well, depending on whether Balt. exercises $17.5M option for next year.

 

Baltimore would be nuts to exercise that. He's not remotely the player he once was. He's well below average defensively and has put up WARs of 1.7, 1.5. and -0.1 the last 3 years. He's been notably worse than De Aza each of those years, is a a half year older, and crazy more expensive.

[witesoxfan]

I think it's more like it's ok if the Sox don't spend money they know what they are doing. My question is what makes everyone so confident in this team's leadership.

 

Because they've had a great offseason and it appears as though the team actually has a plan that extends beyond the next calendar year.

[Dick Allen]

A lot of young catchers are lefty or switch hitters, we'll need one of those soon. Also, if we move Tank to DH next year, or dump him, we will have an opportunity to fill that with a lefty OF, preferably one with power.

 

The more I look at it, the more I think Colby Rasmus will be ours in FA next year, if we really want him. The Yankees have ARod back on the dole next year, don't have any major salary coming off the books, and need 2B,3B and SS if Jeter retires, and they'll need righty power more than lefty. Boston's loaded with lefty OF's as are the Dodgers. The feared-by-some biggest spenders likely won't even be involved.

JR is buddies with LaRussa. LaRussa hates Rasmus as a player and a person. I'm sure the White Sox know all about him. I doubt very much they will pay decent money for him.

[caulfield12]

One would think the Red Sox will definitely be in play for Rasmus unless Jackie Bradley, Jr., becomes a star this year.

 

Victorino was very very solid last year, but can you expect that again at his age? Nava and Gomes are more like complementary pieces, and then there's Sizemore.

 

Unless something really crazy happens and they move Bogaerts to LF, they'll still probably be short at least one legit outfielder going into 2015.

[witesoxfan]

One would think the Red Sox will definitely be in play for Rasmus unless Jackie Bradley, Jr., becomes a star this year.

 

Victorino was very very solid last year, but can you expect that again at his age? Nava and Gomes are more like complementary pieces, and then there's Sizemore.

 

Unless something really crazy happens and they move Bogaerts to LF, they'll still probably be short at least one legit outfielder going into 2015.

 

It's way too early to speculate on anything like that.

[ILMOU]

JR is buddies with LaRussa. LaRussa hates Rasmus as a player and a person. I'm sure the White Sox know all about him. I doubt very much they will pay decent money for him.

That's interesting. You may be right.

 

Still want a power lefty bat, or two of them, preferably, to come from somewhere by midseason, or next offseason. Maybe trades will be the best way to go.

[caulfield12]

It's way too early to speculate on anything like that.

 

 

But it's part of the fun of being a baseball fan, I suppose.

 

Nobody in a million years would have named Jose Abreu as our Opening Day 2014 starting 1B at those contract dollars a year ago, either.

 

 

[ILMOU]

Baltimore would be nuts to exercise that. He's not remotely the player he once was. He's well below average defensively and has put up WARs of 1.7, 1.5. and -0.1 the last 3 years. He's been notably worse than De Aza each of those years, is a a half year older, and crazy more expensive.

You're right they won't exercise it. He'll be available and maybe not expensive as a fallback.

 

He has a chance to bounce back, as he's not that old. Not my preference by any means, though.

[witesoxfan]

But it's part of the fun of being a baseball fan, I suppose.

 

Nobody in a million years would have named Jose Abreu as our Opening Day 2014 starting 1B at those contract dollars a year ago, either.

 

You're right, it is fun to speculate, but the only thing I want to speculate the Red Sox organization getting is syphilis.

[Jake]

Just remember, we're talking about the same guy who ridiculed us as a losing franchise for not signing Josh Hamilton last offseason. Marty's turning into the voice of the generic disgruntled fan, perpetually pissed about not spending money while simultaneously being pissed about every expenditure of money

[royoung]

But it's part of the fun of being a baseball fan, I suppose.

 

Nobody in a million years would have named Jose Abreu as our Opening Day 2014 starting 1B at those contract dollars a year ago, either.

 

 

As soon as it was rumored he was going to be available I was actually very confident the Sox would sign him. It was a perfect fit in my mind; increased commitment to signing internationally+huge need for long term solution at 1B+Cuban connection+more salary flexibility.

[Vance Law]

You're right they won't exercise it. He'll be available and maybe not expensive as a fallback.

 

He has a chance to bounce back, as he's not that old. Not my preference by any means, though.

 

If he ended up being really cheap, I agree, he could be useful probably for an already good club who could use him a good amount at DH.

 

With our current situation, I'd hope we add another quality outfielder that pushes Viciedo to DH within the next year.

[Balta1701]

If he ended up being really cheap, I agree, he could be useful probably for an already good club who could use him a good amount at DH.

 

With our current situation, I'd hope we add another quality outfielder that pushes Viciedo to DH within the next year.

Personally, I still think with his arm, Viciedo can make an adequate corner OF if his bat measures up...his defense in 2012, when the team played like they cared, wasn't all that bad. He will never have the best range but the fact that no one in their right mind would take an extra base on him if it was close makes up for a decent fraction of that. If he'd gotten a tiny bit better in 2013 than he was in 2012 he'd have been a perfectly adequate defender, but the whole team forgot how to "grab the white sphere with your glove" in 2013 and he fit in nicely with that.