We all know there are going to be a lot of moving parts going on this offseason for the Red Sox, and things may become chaotic. I also need to find more things to write about so I’ll be doing a weekly recap of what has gone down and what those events could mean going forward. Go ahead and call me the Edward R Murrow of ABE, because I know my mom will.
The Shake Up Begins (12/2): It’s been a while since the last update and that’s because literally, nothing has happened since the Pedroia news. But with the GM meetings ending and the Winter Meetings looming this weekend, Chaim jumps early on the action. Earlier this morning Sandy Leon was traded away to Cleveland for right-handed prospect Adenys Bautista. Admittedly, I have zero idea who this guy is but I do love this move regardless. Vazquez is a far superior catcher than Sandy, especially this past year at the plate. Maybe Sandy calls a better game from behind the dish, and that’s why Chris Sale and David Price prefer him, but those two lost all bargaining power this past season with their mound performances.
Roster Effect: Sandy wasn’t terrible, I’ll miss him, but when it comes to bringing in younger pitching talent while also clearing money to PAY THE MAN come next offseason… well, sayonara Sandy. As for Bautista, he’s nothing special. His stats reaffirm that. Maybe Bloom is banking on the Red Sox farm to raise him up, but his +7 ERA in 2019 is not exactly what this Sox bullpen needs more of.
Pedroia feeling Optimistic(11/12): Bloom announced he talked to Pedroia within the last week about his readiness for the 2020 season and how healthy his knee is feeling. The news was optimistic if you’re a Pedroia stan like myself. Bloom reported Pedroia is “intending on playing”.
Roster Effect: This fills my heart because I’m a stupid baseball fan. I want to see a comeback so bad just so my man can be happy in retirement and ride off into the Arizona sunset. My knee jerk reaction (sad laugh) is completely different than people who only care about championships. Yes, I love watching the title runs just as much as the fake fan looking to just get drunk at a parade. However, unlike the blowhards on the radio or Dan Shaughnessy, I’m a fan of the team. Those guys aren’t fans because they aren’t romantic about the team, they just care about Boston continually wining so the target audience won’t tire of listening to them talk into the airwaves like a bodiless Charlie Brown adult.However, I do see the issues this creates keeping Pedroia. Pedroia is a huge tax on the Red Sox payroll, especially for a team so focused on cutting costs to bring in better pitching or prepare for contract negotiations for FAs. One of those FA is Brock Holt who this effects most.
I want Brock to get all the money in Boston but I also know he’s just a utility guy. And in order to justify keeping an aging utility guy, you need to get rid of dead weight(sorry Pedey). Holt is a solid player that can be stuck anywhere on the field and wherever in the lineup. He won’t put up All-Star numbers but he does enough to give position players rest days. If you get Pedroia to retire this offseason then you can justify giving Brock the extra change to be the second baseman for at least two-thirds of the season, possibly mixing him in with Chavis when he’s not playing first.
This won’t happen though, Pedroia is ready to die on the field. So, the way I see things going is that the Red Sox just take half of what Moreland made this year and add it on to what Brock made this past year. This values Brock at a tick above $6 million yearly while setting aside $3 million to toss somewhere else, AND keep Pedroia around to see what he can do in 2020.
JD Opts In(11/4): JD Martinez decides to forgo his opt-out in his contract and plans on playing a third year with the Red Sox for $23.75 million.
Roster Effects: The biggest implications this has on the Red Sox is no doubt on the Mookie decision. What the Red Sox should or shouldn’t do with Mookie Betts will be the number 1 issue the front office will attempt to tackle. Chaim Bloom has given zero indication as to how he feels on the matter, besides trying to fluff his feathers and not put Boston in a tizzy. What he isn’t saying is that paying JD Martinez may be taking in the same amount this upcoming year as he has made the past two years, though after 2020 JD’s front-loaded contract comes into play. The offseason Mookie goes into the FA market, which he 100% will test out as he should, JD will have a decrease of $4.4 million in his yearly earning. Freeing up $4.4 isn’t a whole lot but it can be reassuring that even our best hitter will be freeing up money before what will be the Red Sox biggest signing since picking up a young Ortiz in 2003 off the wishes of a fellow Dominican.
Anything But E 