BPJ's Early Offseason Plan

[TravelersFan]

So the Red Sox are going to take on $120 million in bad to horrific contracts, including $43 million next season, and trade away a 25-year-old 1B with 6 more years of control due to make $760k next year who looks like a 30 homer, .850 OPS guy?

MLBTV has this trade at -$50 million to +$20 million lol... a difference of $70 million in value.

I think MLBTV is wrong... I'd put Castillo's value more at more like $0 considering the money. So even then, you're likely going to have to eat all of Haniger's contract + like 1 year of Castillo's contract to get a deal done.

I consistently am in awe of what solid people want to do with this team. They advocate for people who'd be horrible in this park. This park was made for '94-96 Junior, a power left handed hitter who could also make contact and take a walk. Yet, all that is ever talked about acquiring is a RH power bat that will be significantly less powerful in T-Mobile. Why? Really, the best RH hitter in the past 2 decades, is Nellie Cruz, and that was with an incredibly good LH bat in front of him. We need the left handed Julio to really balance the lineup. Was nice to see Arraz being mentioned, but he does not have power to be dynamic. I think Brendan Donovan is who we need. He plays 2b,3b,1b, LF and RF. I like him at 3b. He had a horrible start where he played through a tough April then was a really nice hitter on his way to a 112 OPS+ for the season. My deal is Donovan and Nootbar for Woo and Dawel Joesph. Woo will have trouble staying healthy so I am for trading him if one of our starters is going. Donovan is not the LH Julio but he is a bat we need in the lineup.

I appreciate you suggesting a trade. I also would like a lefty power bat but am unsure about who is available.

Issue is, there's a 0% chance Woo is traded. Donovan can play 3B... but he only played 9 games there in '24, 37 for his career. I'd also prefer a guy at 3rd with a bit more pop.

As for a lefty bat... BPJ is suggesting one. I like Casas and think he'd be a good fit. Not sure Boston is wanting to move him though.

I like Matt Olson better, I'm also not sure he'll be available.

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

[Seattle or Bust]

I consistently am in awe of what solid people want to do with this team. They advocate for people who'd be horrible in this park. This park was made for '94-96 Junior, a power left handed hitter who could also make contact and take a walk. Yet, all that is ever talked about acquiring is a RH power bat that will be significantly less powerful in T-Mobile. Why? Really, the best RH hitter in the past 2 decades, is Nellie Cruz, and that was with an incredibly good LH bat in front of him. We need the left handed Julio to really balance the lineup. Was nice to see Arraz being mentioned, but he does not have power to be dynamic. I think Brendan Donovan is who we need. He plays 2b,3b,1b, LF and RF. I like him at 3b. He had a horrible start where he played through a tough April then was a really nice hitter on his way to a 112 OPS+ for the season. My deal is Donovan and Nootbar for Woo and Dawel Joesph. Woo will have trouble staying healthy so I am for trading him if one of our starters is going. Donovan is not the LH Julio but he is a bat we need in the lineup.

I appreciate you suggesting a trade. I also would like a lefty power bat but am unsure about who is available.

Issue is, there's a 0% chance Woo is traded. Donovan can play 3B... but he only played 9 games there in '24, 37 for his career. I'd also prefer a guy at 3rd with a bit more pop.

As for a lefty bat... BPJ is suggesting one. I like Casas and think he'd be a good fit. Not sure Boston is wanting to move him though.

I like Matt Olson better, I'm also not sure he'll be available.

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

[bpj]

I appreciate you suggesting a trade. I also would like a lefty power bat but am unsure about who is available.

Issue is, there's a 0% chance Woo is traded. Donovan can play 3B... but he only played 9 games there in '24, 37 for his career. I'd also prefer a guy at 3rd with a bit more pop.

As for a lefty bat... BPJ is suggesting one. I like Casas and think he'd be a good fit. Not sure Boston is wanting to move him though.

I like Matt Olson better, I'm also not sure he'll be available.

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

Signing good starting pitching isn't as easy as you make it sound either, imo.

The Red Sox have kept their wallets closed for the most part recently.

Who knows how the market develops, maybe they can get a 1B like Alonso on the FA market, but at that point Castillo represents a better upgrade than what's available on the market, especially given the reasonable contract.

Not many ace-like pitchers you can add for 3yrs/$66M.

Maybe it takes a good prospect instead of Haniger, but if Dipoto wants to add bats without spending on the top free agents as Stanton indicated in the column I just read, then it very well could come down to Plan Z, imo.

[Seattle or Bust]

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

Signing good starting pitching isn't as easy as you make it sound either, imo.

The Red Sox have kept their wallets closed for the most part recently.

Who knows how the market develops, maybe they can get a 1B like Alonso on the FA market, but at that point Castillo represents a better upgrade than what's available on the market, especially given the reasonable contract.

Not many ace-like pitchers you can add for 3yrs/$66M.

Maybe it takes a good prospect instead of Haniger, but if Dipoto wants to add bats without spending on the top free agents as Stanton indicated in the column I just read, then it very well could come down to Plan Z, imo.

Corbin Burns, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Roki Sasaki, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Nate Eovaldi only cost you cash.

They could easily trade for Sonny Gray who the Cardinals stated is available today. Garrett Crochet will be on the market.

The next few free agent classes are very saturated with starting pitching and won't cost them Casas.

I think the M's will make similar moves like they did getting Arozarena.

Players like Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Josh Naylor, Max Muncy, Luis Robert, Rhys Hoskins, Lamont Wade, Wilmer Flores... watch out.

[bpj]

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

Signing good starting pitching isn't as easy as you make it sound either, imo.

The Red Sox have kept their wallets closed for the most part recently.

Who knows how the market develops, maybe they can get a 1B like Alonso on the FA market, but at that point Castillo represents a better upgrade than what's available on the market, especially given the reasonable contract.

Not many ace-like pitchers you can add for 3yrs/$66M.

Maybe it takes a good prospect instead of Haniger, but if Dipoto wants to add bats without spending on the top free agents as Stanton indicated in the column I just read, then it very well could come down to Plan Z, imo.

Corbin Burns, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Roki Sasaki, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Nate Eovaldi only cost you cash.

They could easily trade for Sonny Gray who the Cardinals stated is available today. Garrett Crochet will be on the market.

The next few free agent classes are very saturated with starting pitching and won't cost them Casas.

I think the M's will make similar moves like they did getting Arozarena.

Players like Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Josh Naylor, Max Muncy, Luis Robert, Rhys Hoskins, Lamont Wade, Wilmer Flores... watch out.

Guess we'll see how many of those pitchers reach free agency. I'd guess a couple at least, get extensions.

And we'll see if the Red Sox want to pay the going rate for any of them.

I'd rather have Castillo than most of those pitchers, especially on bloated free agent contracts.

[Seattle or Bust]

Signing good starting pitching isn't as easy as you make it sound either, imo.

The Red Sox have kept their wallets closed for the most part recently.

Who knows how the market develops, maybe they can get a 1B like Alonso on the FA market, but at that point Castillo represents a better upgrade than what's available on the market, especially given the reasonable contract.

Not many ace-like pitchers you can add for 3yrs/$66M.

Maybe it takes a good prospect instead of Haniger, but if Dipoto wants to add bats without spending on the top free agents as Stanton indicated in the column I just read, then it very well could come down to Plan Z, imo.

Corbin Burns, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Roki Sasaki, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Nate Eovaldi only cost you cash.

They could easily trade for Sonny Gray who the Cardinals stated is available today. Garrett Crochet will be on the market.

The next few free agent classes are very saturated with starting pitching and won't cost them Casas.

I think the M's will make similar moves like they did getting Arozarena.

Players like Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Josh Naylor, Max Muncy, Luis Robert, Rhys Hoskins, Lamont Wade, Wilmer Flores... watch out.

Guess we'll see how many of those pitchers reach free agency. I'd guess a couple at least, get extensions.

And we'll see if the Red Sox want to pay the going rate for any of them.

I'd rather have Castillo than most of those pitchers, especially on bloated free agent contracts.

Maybe you would rather have Castillo. Difference is, none of those pitchers cost you Casas in return.

Only way you get Casas for Castillo is if you attach a top prospect to the deal. The M's seem weary to do that, instead always trading fringe top-10 prospects in their system like Jonatan Clase and Gabriel Gonzales for players with short-term contracts making middling money.

[bpj]

Corbin Burns, Max Fried, Jack Flaherty, Roki Sasaki, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Nate Eovaldi only cost you cash.

They could easily trade for Sonny Gray who the Cardinals stated is available today. Garrett Crochet will be on the market.

The next few free agent classes are very saturated with starting pitching and won't cost them Casas.

I think the M's will make similar moves like they did getting Arozarena.

Players like Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Josh Naylor, Max Muncy, Luis Robert, Rhys Hoskins, Lamont Wade, Wilmer Flores... watch out.

Guess we'll see how many of those pitchers reach free agency. I'd guess a couple at least, get extensions.

And we'll see if the Red Sox want to pay the going rate for any of them.

I'd rather have Castillo than most of those pitchers, especially on bloated free agent contracts.

Maybe you would rather have Castillo. Difference is, none of those pitchers cost you Casas in return.

Only way you get Casas for Castillo is if you attach a top prospect to the deal. The M's seem weary to do that, instead always trading fringe top-10 prospects in their system like Jonatan Clase and Gabriel Gonzales for players with short-term contracts making middling money.

They've traded quite a few prospects to make deals happen.

I'd expect this one to be no different.

Casas only has 1 more year of control left than Luis Castillo does.

[TravelersFan]

I appreciate you suggesting a trade. I also would like a lefty power bat but am unsure about who is available.

Issue is, there's a 0% chance Woo is traded. Donovan can play 3B... but he only played 9 games there in '24, 37 for his career. I'd also prefer a guy at 3rd with a bit more pop.

As for a lefty bat... BPJ is suggesting one. I like Casas and think he'd be a good fit. Not sure Boston is wanting to move him though.

I like Matt Olson better, I'm also not sure he'll be available.

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

i wouldn't expect them to trade Casas for Castillo. that would be stupid on their part, considering Castillo's salary. they could sign a FA for what he's getting and keep Casas. only way the M's get Casas, IMHO, would be for someone like Kirby or Gilbert, which i think, would be a good trade for both teams. not that it will happen. Evans, Morales and Garcia will all be in Seattle eventually, i have no doubt.

[desbcoach]

Boston needs pitching -badly. they have an abundance of positional talent and no pitching which is pretty much the opposite of Seattle. i wouldn't be surprised to see them trade Casas for a starter, but i don't expect that to happen.

Sure. But they're not trading Casas for Luis Castillo unless the M's eat a lot of the remaining contract.

The point is also moot b/c Dipoto said they are not trading from their rotation. Unless Boston wants a mix of Hancock, Evans, Morales, or Garcia... a trade isn't getting done with them or any team.

Also, hardly any team trades producing players from their young core. Why would Boston trade a cheap player who has a career 125 OPS+ over 3 seasons and hasn't even turned 25 yet?

i wouldn't expect them to trade Casas for Castillo. that would be stupid on their part, considering Castillo's salary. they could sign a FA for what he's getting and keep Casas. only way the M's get Casas, IMHO, would be for someone like Kirby or Gilbert, which i think, would be a good trade for both teams. not that it will happen. Evans, Morales and Garcia will all be in Seattle eventually, i have no doubt.

Or they send Castillo and a high prospect along with to entice them

[HawkandMariner88]

I like adding Walker & Donovan.