Re: JDM probably opts out

[Sea Dog 23]

Probably opts out later this week, the thoughts of Ken Rosenthal, who thinks Martinez can fine a lot more money in the open market than the $19mil+ he is due from the Sox next year.

"What happens with Martinez also dictates what else the Red Sox do with other players in the offseason. Perhaps no player is more indirectly impacted by Martinez’s situation than Kyle Schwarber. He was an invaluable addition to the Boston lineup after being acquired at the deadline. But he was an imperfect fit, too. He’s a natural outfielder who could obviously DH, positions filled when he arrived in Boston. The first base experiment left plenty to be desired.

"If Martinez leaves, however, Schwarber seems like the perfect option to replace him as a DH who plays the outfield once or twice per week. Then again, if there’s universal DH (in the new CBA), that drives up his price, too.

[longgame]

That all makes sense and JDM will to have to guess if it's going to fall that way.  But can he make more on the open market?  When has a pure DH earned top dollar?  Will teams shell out for a truly one-dimensional player when the trend is turning towards guys who are good at multiple things?  That being said, JDM is a better hitter than Schwarber, end of conversation.  Schwarber appears to be a poor fielder, even in the OF, so he would be a pure DH too.  Right now there's an $11M mutual option, but I don't know if Schwarber would take that or not right now.

[SeaBeachFred]

That all makes sense and JDM will to have to guess if it's going to fall that way.  But can he make more on the open market?  When has a pure DH earned top dollar?  Will teams shell out for a truly one-dimensional player when the trend is turning towards guys who are good at multiple things?  That being said, JDM is a better hitter than Schwarber, end of conversation.  Schwarber appears to be a poor fielder, even in the OF, so he would be a pure DH too.  Right now there's an $11M mutual option, but I don't know if Schwarber would take that or not right now.

One thing I do know is you can't keep both of them no matter how enticing it would be to have both for a full season.  Defensively they might cost us more games than their bats would win.  I would prefer JDM because he is a true DH, has performed well in that role, is a veteran World Series Champion with the Red Sox and to me can pla ythe outfield at least as well or better than Schwarb can play first base.  And he is more consistent with the bat while Schwarb is very streaky.  One other thing, though, we cannot lose both of them.

[Sea Dog 23]

That all makes sense and JDM will to have to guess if it's going to fall that way.  But can he make more on the open market?  When has a pure DH earned top dollar?  Will teams shell out for a truly one-dimensional player when the trend is turning towards guys who are good at multiple things?  That being said, JDM is a better hitter than Schwarber, end of conversation.  Schwarber appears to be a poor fielder, even in the OF, so he would be a pure DH too.  Right now there's an $11M mutual option, but I don't know if Schwarber would take that or not right now.

One thing I do know is you can't keep both of them no matter how enticing it would be to have both for a full season.  Defensively they might cost us more games than their bats would win.  I would prefer JDM because he is a true DH, has performed well in that role, is a veteran World Series Champion with the Red Sox and to me can pla ythe outfield at least as well or better than Schwarb can play first base.  And he is more consistent with the bat while Schwarb is very streaky.  One other thing, though, we cannot lose both of them.

Fred, I'll raise your Schwarber and give you a SanFrancisco treat.  A gut feeling says Bloom lets both JD and Schwarber walk, and we sign Kris Bryant to play LF and part-time DH.  His RH launch angle is tailor made for Fenway.  Also we could very well sign the other Seager, Calvin to play 3B and fill-in at 2B.  The guy hit 35 dingers at Seattle this year.  A LH bat, he did have his first down year at the plate.  Move Devers to 1B/DH.  Spend the rest of the money on the best pitching we can find in FA.

[Sea Dog 23]

A domino has fallen, I think.  Nick Castellanos of the Reds has opted out.  He is a Boras client for one.  Also on Team Boras are JDM and Bogey.  I would imagine the pencil-headed one will advise his clients to follow suit this year and next.

[SeaBeachFred]

That all makes sense and JDM will to have to guess if it's going to fall that way.  But can he make more on the open market?  When has a pure DH earned top dollar?  Will teams shell out for a truly one-dimensional player when the trend is turning towards guys who are good at multiple things?  That being said, JDM is a better hitter than Schwarber, end of conversation.  Schwarber appears to be a poor fielder, even in the OF, so he would be a pure DH too.  Right now there's an $11M mutual option, but I don't know if Schwarber would take that or not right now.

One thing I do know is you can't keep both of them no matter how enticing it would be to have both for a full season.  Defensively they might cost us more games than their bats would win.  I would prefer JDM because he is a true DH, has performed well in that role, is a veteran World Series Champion with the Red Sox and to me can pla ythe outfield at least as well or better than Schwarb can play first base.  And he is more consistent with the bat while Schwarb is very streaky.  One other thing, though, we cannot lose both of them.

Fred, I'll raise your Schwarber and give you a SanFrancisco treat.  A gut feeling says Bloom lets both JD and Schwarber walk, and we sign Kris Bryant to play LF and part-time DH.  His RH launch angle is tailor made for Fenway.  Also we could very well sign the other Seager, Calvin to play 3B and fill-in at 2B.  The guy hit 35 dingers at Seattle this year.  A LH bat, he did have his first down year at the plate.  Move Devers to 1B/DH.  Spend the rest of the money on the best pitching we can find in FA.

That has possibilities but the guy I want is Carlos Correa to play shortstop for us and become the leader of a team he can help lead to a World Series Title.  That and a solid starting pitcher or two.  As for Bryant, what you say could very well work though but I still feel we need to get Bogaerts out of Boston while he still has some value.  I just don't like that guy in the field, as a leader or at the plate late in the game in a do or die situation and I never have.

[longgame]

That all makes sense and JDM will to have to guess if it's going to fall that way.  But can he make more on the open market?  When has a pure DH earned top dollar?  Will teams shell out for a truly one-dimensional player when the trend is turning towards guys who are good at multiple things?  That being said, JDM is a better hitter than Schwarber, end of conversation.  Schwarber appears to be a poor fielder, even in the OF, so he would be a pure DH too.  Right now there's an $11M mutual option, but I don't know if Schwarber would take that or not right now.

One thing I do know is you can't keep both of them no matter how enticing it would be to have both for a full season.  Defensively they might cost us more games than their bats would win.  I would prefer JDM because he is a true DH, has performed well in that role, is a veteran World Series Champion with the Red Sox and to me can pla ythe outfield at least as well or better than Schwarb can play first base.  And he is more consistent with the bat while Schwarb is very streaky.  One other thing, though, we cannot lose both of them.

Fred, I'll raise your Schwarber and give you a SanFrancisco treat.  A gut feeling says Bloom lets both JD and Schwarber walk, and we sign Kris Bryant to play LF and part-time DH.  His RH launch angle is tailor made for Fenway.  Also we could very well sign the other Seager, Calvin to play 3B and fill-in at 2B.  The guy hit 35 dingers at Seattle this year.  A LH bat, he did have his first down year at the plate.  Move Devers to 1B/DH.  Spend the rest of the money on the best pitching we can find in FA.

That has possibilities but the guy I want is Carlos Correa to play shortstop for us and become the leader of a team he can help lead to a World Series Title.  That and a solid starting pitcher or two.  As for Bryant, what you say could very well work though but I still feel we need to get Bogaerts out of Boston while he still has some value.  I just don't like that guy in the field, as a leader or at the plate late in the game in a do or die situation and I never have.

It seems like they almost have to be in play for one of the big SSs on the market, even if they keep Bogey and move him to 2B.  I don't know what happened with Bogey this year as he seemed to disappear in big situations.  You have to figure the Yankees will go after Correa hard.  A Puerto Rican star shortstop in NYC is tough to beat.  Barring that they'd go after Seager or Semien.  Chaim needs to figure out a plan and execute it, not pussyfoot around while the best fits for their needs get snapped up. 

[Sea Dog 23]

According to those keeping score, JDM has until 5:00 PM Eastern Sunday to make his decision on the Opt-out.

[Sea Dog 23]

Great news.  JD to remain with the Sox.  And this probably ends the chances of a Schwarber return, considering his similarities with JD in fielding and position complexities.


JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

â€" Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

[SeaBeachFred]

Great news.  JD to remain with the Sox.  And this probably ends the chances of a Schwarber return, considering his similarities with JD in fielding and position complexities.


JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

â€" Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

Good for JDM and good for the Red Sox.  Martinez should be put in the third or fourth spot in the order where his ability to drive in runs and it for a good average would be spot on for our team.  Now that we have the DH thing figured out we need to get the right people in the right positions and also within our pitching corps.  That means no more of some of those duds who we carried this past season----and you all know by now which pitchers and position players I'm talking about.  And when we DFA a player and he is not claimed by anyone we DON'T bring him back to the organization but release his carcass and send him wherever some other team will claim and sign him---which in our case history is no signing of any of them at all.

[longgame]

Great news.  JD to remain with the Sox.  And this probably ends the chances of a Schwarber return, considering his similarities with JD in fielding and position complexities.


JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

â€" Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

Good for JDM and good for the Red Sox.  Martinez should be put in the third or fourth spot in the order where his ability to drive in runs and it for a good average would be spot on for our team.  Now that we have the DH thing figured out we need to get the right people in the right positions and also within our pitching corps.  That means no more of some of those duds who we carried this past season----and you all know by now which pitchers and position players I'm talking about.  And when we DFA a player and he is not claimed by anyone we DON'T bring him back to the organization but release his carcass and send him wherever some other team will claim and sign him---which in our case history is no signing of any of them at all.

I'd also like to see a fully staffed and consistent OF with a backup player that can eliminate the need to put JDM out there.  Keep Dugie in LF, Hernandez in CF and find someone who can field and doesn't disappear in the postseason in RF. 

[SeaBeachFred]

Great news.  JD to remain with the Sox.  And this probably ends the chances of a Schwarber return, considering his similarities with JD in fielding and position complexities.


JD Martinez declines to exercise optout and remains a Red Sox.

â€" Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 7, 2021

Good for JDM and good for the Red Sox.  Martinez should be put in the third or fourth spot in the order where his ability to drive in runs and it for a good average would be spot on for our team.  Now that we have the DH thing figured out we need to get the right people in the right positions and also within our pitching corps.  That means no more of some of those duds who we carried this past season----and you all know by now which pitchers and position players I'm talking about.  And when we DFA a player and he is not claimed by anyone we DON'T bring him back to the organization but release his carcass and send him wherever some other team will claim and sign him---which in our case history is no signing of any of them at all.

I'd also like to see a fully staffed and consistent OF with a backup player that can eliminate the need to put JDM out there.  Keep Dugie in LF, Hernandez in CF and find someone who can field and doesn't disappear in the postseason in RF.

Renfroe did disappear in the playoffs but we wouldn't have gotten where we went without his contributions during the regular season.  The guy hit for power and DRIVE IN RUNS (you hear that Bogaertws?) for us and was a good clutch hitter (hear that again Bogaerts?).  If we can get someone who can give us the power and RBI strength of Ren and better on defense, ok.  But I don't want to see a dud like Santana getting a second shot or get stubborn and insist that Cordero is the answer for our third outfielder.  He is most certainly not, and why not give Duren a shot at CF. The guy can run and he needs to develop and you can't do that being jerked around as Cora did with him last season.

[longgame]

Fred, I think the absolutely poor bench players the Sox had - Santana, Gonzalez and Franchy come to mind - really hurt the Sox.  Depth is so important over 162 games, especially in this era with guys taking breaks.  You can carry an emerging minor leaguer in one of those spots, but need solid backup guys otherwise. 

[Sea Dog 23]

Fred, I think the absolutely poor bench players the Sox had - Santana, Gonzalez and Franchy come to mind - really hurt the Sox.  Depth is so important over 162 games, especially in this era with guys taking breaks.  You can carry an emerging minor leaguer in one of those spots, but need solid backup guys otherwise.

I'm willing to give Bloom a pass on the bench and utility players he signed for 2021.  Let's face it, the system depth for OF's and IF's was a total mess.  Beni had lost his mojo in Boston and his swing was terrible.  To get to 2021 Bloom thought he could field a contender, but really did not buy in to a division champ.  So effectively he built toward the 2022 and 2023 seasons.  Look at his trades.  The Workman deal was not totally about Pivetta, but for the prospect Seabold, although Pivetta had a prime year in Boston.  The Beni for Franchy trade was not really about Franchy but was for Winchowski and Valdez from the 3rd team in the deal, the Mets.   Now with more depth in the system from his dealing, Bloom can use some of the new stars as trade pieces for prime pitching on the MLB level.

I hate to say this, but Bloom is looking more like warmed-over Tampa dealing than big market Cashman stuff.  I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for the big deals when the new CBA is finalized.  But hope that Bloom acts more big market for stud FA pitchers than little Tampa.  But as his style he'll probably get starting pitchers from trades and relievers from the free-agent list.

[longgame]

I hate to say this, but Bloom is looking more like warmed-over Tampa dealing than big market Cashman stuff.  I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for the big deals when the new CBA is finalized.  But hope that Bloom acts more big market for stud FA pitchers than little Tampa.  But as his style he'll probably get starting pitchers from trades and relievers from the free-agent list.

Being seen as trying to do things on the cheap will hurt the Sox at the ticket office on TV.  I wonder why the geniuses up there don't understand that.