AL East Thread

[TheGoodMan19]

Reports say Bregman will play 2b in Boston. I thought the big idea was to get stone gloved Devers off third and Bregman won the Gold Glove last year. If Story or Grissom can play short, the Sox have a formidable lineup. Is there enough pitching or will they be the early 80's Sox, hoping to win every game 12-10.

 

[bksballer89]

Can’t believe Baltimore going to finish 3rd this season

 

[TheGoodMan19]

Can’t believe Baltimore going to finish 3rd this season

Best line up in the division. Holiday will hit and be a force, as will Kjerstad and Coby Mayo. Losing Santander will hurt but not a catastrophe

Pitching however...

 

[steveringo]

I don't hate it. Only downside imo is the draft pick

I never wanted them to sign him, but the fact they got him for only three years is awesome. (Anything to make Boras look bad, is ok by me)... They had to overpay a bit, but this is great insurance in case Grissom/Campbell don't pan out...

The Sox can now prepare Devers for his eventual shift to DH...

 

[steveringo]

Is there enough pitching or will they be the early 80's Sox, hoping to win every game 12-10.

They are considering a six man rotation. And they have kids at AAA with ML experience just waiting for a chance.... Yes, there is enough pitching...

 

[redseat]

Reports say Bregman will play 2b in Boston. I thought the big idea was to get stone gloved Devers off third and Bregman won the Gold Glove last year. If Story or Grissom can play short, the Sox have a formidable lineup. Is there enough pitching or will they be the early 80's Sox, hoping to win every game 12-10.

Wait...

They need Devers at DH not 3rd with this signing!

 

[TheGoodMan19]

They are considering a six man rotation. And they have kids at AAA with ML experience just waiting for a chance.... Yes, there is enough pitching...

Crochet and Houck will be fine. Then what? Giolito, if he can come back by the AS Break (haven't seen a timetable). Brayan Bello, who hasn't impressed me a bit. Is Walker Buehler okay or was the postseason a mirage. And Cutter Crawford. Thankfully, Whitlock is back in the bullpen. It's better than Baltimore but an ugly stepsister to the Yanks rotation

 

[steveringo]

Crochet and Houck will be fine. Then what? Giolito, if he can come back by the AS Break (haven't seen a timetable). Brayan Bello, who hasn't impressed me a bit. Is Walker Buehler okay or was the postseason a mirage. And Cutter Crawford. Thankfully, Whitlock is back in the bullpen. It's better than Baltimore but an ugly stepsister to the Yanks rotation

Definitely a lot has to go right... I'm hoping Bello finally steps up.

 

[steveringo]

And, i just read that Pivetta signed with SD, so they'll get a draft pick back...

 

[redseat]

Definitely a lot has to go right... I'm hoping Bello finally steps up.

and who knows if they even will be healthy

 

[nynasty]

Last marquee name off the list

Now where do former Sox JD Martinez and Alex Verdugo land?

 

[navamind]

Crochet and Houck will be fine. Then what? Giolito, if he can come back by the AS Break (haven't seen a timetable). Brayan Bello, who hasn't impressed me a bit. Is Walker Buehler okay or was the postseason a mirage. And Cutter Crawford. Thankfully, Whitlock is back in the bullpen. It's better than Baltimore but an ugly stepsister to the Yanks rotation

There are question marks, but it feels like there's a lot more depth than in previous years. I thought Bello looked a lot better in the second half of 2024 and while I don't think he's going to be an ace, I still feel like he can turn into a mid-rotation guy. Giolito could be ready by Opening Day. Sox also could have Patrick Sandoval back later in the season. We'll see about Buehler, I thought he looked pretty toast up until the postseason... question is, was the latter a mirage or an indicator he's back to his pre-injury self? Who knows, but I like the Sox taking a chance on him. Sox also have Fitts, Priester, Criswell and Dobbins in the pen/AAA. I don't think it's going to be the 90's Braves, but I think it's going to be a solid unit with a fair amount of upside, and there's something to be said for compiling starting pitchers even if you only have 5-6 rotation slots. Depth matters, and being able to use some of those guys in the bullpen helps as well.

I don't think they're winning the division, but I feel good about them winning upper 80's and grabbing a WC. And with Mayer/Anthony/Campbell in the wings, I'm really excited for this season.

 

[navamind]

Last marquee name off the list

Now where do former Sox JD Martinez and Alex Verdugo land?

I'm sure teams are just vying for a corner OF coming off an 83 OPS+ campaign. At best, he's a ~100 OPS+ and 2 WAR guy. Martinez is coming off a 106 OPS+ year, but he's strictly a DH. He had a 136 OPS+ season in 2023 and 117 in 2022, the former looking like an outlier.

 

[Pastafazul]

Boston just stole #28 from yanks losin Bregman!

 

[redseat]

Last marquee name off the list

Now where do former Sox JD Martinez and Alex Verdugo land?

Both should retire

 

[chappee11]

Not sure how to feel on Bregman. On the one hand, $40m/year seems absurd given his decline in recent years. But the 3 year term and the opt-outs keep him motivated and don’t crush them for many years if he underachieves. They have the payroll space and it’s a fair move for this year.

He’s one of the better 3B in the game, so playing him out of position at 2B makes no sense. I hope they DH Devers more and let Bregman play 3B. Devers would probably be a better 1B than Casas, as well, so I hope they experiment with that. Hopefully Devers isn’t such a diva that he can’t move around a bit.

2B was going to be an open competition with Campbell, Hamilton and Grissom. This complicates things and figures to start Campbell in AAA now. Meyer waiting in the wings, too. They figure to have a logjam in the infield early in the season. Especially if Story is healthy(never a given).

Overall, this is a good move for 2025 and it’s nice to see them actually spend a bit for a change. Maybe they are a fringe wildcard team now.

 

[steveringo]

Not sure how to feel on Bregman. On the one hand, $40m/year seems absurd given his decline in recent years. But the 3 year term and the opt-outs keep him motivated and don’t crush them for many years if he underachieves. They have the payroll space and it’s a fair move for this year.

He’s one of the better 3B in the game, so playing him out of position at 2B makes no sense. I hope they DH Devers more and let Bregman play 3B. Devers would probably be a better 1B than Casas, as well, so I hope they experiment with that. Hopefully Devers isn’t such a diva that he can’t move around a bit.

2B was going to be an open competition with Campbell, Hamilton and Grissom. This complicates things and figures to start Campbell in AAA now. Meyer waiting in the wings, too. They figure to have a logjam in the infield early in the season. Especially if Story is healthy(never a given).

Overall, this is a good move for 2025 and it’s nice to see them actually spend a bit for a change. Maybe they are a fringe wildcard team now.

I don't get a diva vibe from Devers... To me he just seems like a child in a grown-up body. Basically a shy kid that doesn't want the spot light... He'll be their 3B to start the season, just because that's all he knows... I expect to see Papi chatting with him this year, about the glories of being a DH.

I think he'll shift over full time next season...

C - Wong/anyone
DH - Devers
1B - Casas - (Guerroro Jr?)
2B - Campbell/Grissom
SS - Story/Hamilton
3B - Bregman
OF - Abreu/Duran/Rafaela/Anthony

 

[chappee11]

I don't get a diva vibe from Devers... To me he just seems like a child in a grown-up body. Basically a shy kid that doesn't want the spot light... He'll be their 3B to start the season, just because that's all he knows... I expect to see Papi chatting with him this year, about the glories of being a DH.

I think he'll shift over full time next season...

C - Wong/anyone
DH - Devers
1B - Casas - (Guerroro Jr?)
2B - Campbell/Grissom
SS - Story/Hamilton
3B - Bregman
OF - Abreu/Duran/Rafaela/Anthony

I hope they get Devers some reps at 1B this Spring because I’m not even sure who is the backup 1B to Casas. If Devers can play there it would help a lot. Casas seems fragile and he will need some time at DH, as well. If he’s hurt, Devers can shift there and they aren’t stuck finding an emergency guy like Domenic Smith again.

I’m pretty sure they will increase their efforts to move Yoshida now. He doesn’t seem to have a place to play much anymore.

 

[nynasty]

Not sure how to feel on Bregman. On the one hand, $40m/year seems absurd given his decline in recent years. But the 3 year term and the opt-outs keep him motivated and don’t crush them for many years if he underachieves. They have the payroll space and it’s a fair move for this year.

He’s one of the better 3B in the game, so playing him out of position at 2B makes no sense. I hope they DH Devers more and let Bregman play 3B. Devers would probably be a better 1B than Casas, as well, so I hope they experiment with that. Hopefully Devers isn’t such a diva that he can’t move around a bit.

2B was going to be an open competition with Campbell, Hamilton and Grissom. This complicates things and figures to start Campbell in AAA now. Meyer waiting in the wings, too. They figure to have a logjam in the infield early in the season. Especially if Story is healthy(never a given).

Overall, this is a good move for 2025 and it’s nice to see them actually spend a bit for a change. Maybe they are a fringe wildcard team now.

He mashes at Fenway. That's something

 

[chappee11]

He mashes at Fenway. That's something

But he won’t get to face the Sox shitty pitching anymore. lol.

Fenway is definitely a good spot for him, but HOU is a similar park for hitters. I’m not sure how much of an advantage it will be.