JotCast | Red Sox Outlook Chat

Red Sox Outlook Chat

Darragh McDonald

12:00

Okay, hello.

Let's go Red Sox. Erin Go Bragh. Sweet Caroline. Etc.

Drew

12:00

it seems that the Red Sox are in a position to be very active this offseason, but the same can be said for many teams. Do you think they’ll make any big splashes or will we be in store for another offseason of “Red Sox we’re also in on [insert name]”

Darragh McDonald

12:01

It's tough to say before they've made a front office hire. But I think the safer bet is to expect modest moves.

Most new GMs don't come in guns a-blazing and use up all their bullets right away.

12:02

The Sox have a lot of prospects that are sort of near the majors, so I wouldn't be surprised if they used 2024 as a sort of evaluation year.

But that's just a guess.

Sox fan

12:02

Polanco, Edman, or Ward: who would be the cheapest to trade for?

Darragh McDonald

12:03

I'd say Polanco. Ward still has three arb seasons, Edman two.

12:04

Polanco has two seasons as well, theoretically, with the two options. But the prices on those are higher than what Edman will make. Edman also has more positional versatility.

Sam "Mayday" Malone

12:05

I have also declined to interview for the Red Sox GM job. Too busy running the bar.

Darragh McDonald

12:05

Plus, that groin injury could get in the way.

Nick P

12:05

What’s a realistic Yamamoto contract in your view? As a Sox fan he’s my number 1 target.

Darragh McDonald

12:06

I don't want to spoil our Top 50 predictions, but I'll say this. His prediction could be the highest of anyone who will pitch in 2024.

RedSoxfan Bob

12:07

Do the Sox sign or try to trade for middle infield help?

Darragh McDonald

12:07

I would lean trade, I guess. Not sure how much interest they'd have in signing, say, Whit Merrifield.

Tom Cox BoSox

12:08

As a lifelong Sox fan, I'm not interested in Soto or even Ohtani. What 2 SP will we acquire?

Darragh McDonald

12:08

Well, since my guess is that the new GM will avoid making big moves right away, I would leave towards the Lugo/Flaherty/Giolito/Stroman/Clevinger/Lorenzen tier.

12:09

They could probably fit one of the bigger names into the budget but does the new GM want to lock up over 100MM right away for some ace when there are other question marks on the roster?

John

12:09

Casas at 23 is 6th percentile speed and 2nd percentile fielding range. Doesn't it make sense to cash him in for a young starter and keep 1B/DH open for Rafi?

Darragh McDonald

12:09

I love Casas but I can see this being a consideration at some point, sure.

12:10

I mentioned this in the outlook but having Devers, Casas and Yoshida all on the same team is tricky because none of them are great in the field.

Alec

12:11

Is Duran a future CF? Seems more like he fits in LF for the future

Darragh McDonald

12:11

Well, defensive metrics were mixed in 2023. DRS had him at -5 in center but OAA had him at an even 0.

12:12

The problem is that you usually want your corner outfielders to supply some power. Having one guy that doesn't fit the mold isn't so bad, but Verdugo and Yoshida aren't big power guys either.

Soxfansince80

12:12

Hello, who do you think winds up being PoBO? And if you see the Sox making a big splash or two, who is the player(s) you think the Sox wind up getting?

Big Papi

12:12

Who do you see as the next Boston GM ?

Darragh McDonald

12:13

I got a lot of questions about the new front office and I don't really have any inside info.

It's a bit of a tricky one to predict since I think the Boston job has a lot of attraction in theory. Big market, lots of prestige, etc.

But the recent history is so weird. Even a World Series win doesn't get you any job security.

Faded Bloom

12:14

Who do you think can turn things around faster, Sox or Yanks? Sox can hit and lots of FA pitchers this year, n Yanks need hitting and there's not much out there. I'd go with Sox

Darragh McDonald

12:14

Who can turn things around faster?

Sox (60.5% | 107 votes)

Yanks (39.5% | 70 votes)

Total Votes: 177

12:15

Sox probably have a stronger farm system but I would guess the Yanks are more willing to spend on free agents this winter. So, it's a good question.

Pedro4eva

12:15

Rate Blooms tenure. I would give him a B minus. He jacked the farm system up which was one of his main goals, but he did not put a competitive product on the field which was another goal

Darragh McDonald

12:15

Hmm. I'd maybe be a bit below you, so, C plus?

12:16

The farm system does look good, but there were some weird whiffs that seemed avoidable, at least from the outside.

Going barely above the tax in 2022 is one.

Spending on free agents that everyone else was worried about, like Story and Yoshida, doesn't look great right now.

But I agree that the prospect pipeline seems to be in decent shape.

red sox fan

12:17

what would you rate yoshida's production

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