We are now (at typing) 44 hours 33 minutes and 23 seconds from the MLB owners ratifying the new CBA with the MLBPA. And to this minute Red Sox showrunner Chaim Bloom has done exactly NOTHING. While the Dodgers – Nats and Giants are all over the press bringing back or in the best talent available on the open market
Me to Chaim Bloom right now pic.twitter.com/FjYgGO4J5Y — Conor Commentary (@ConorCommentary) March 12, 2022
First up Replace Hunter Renfroe
Seiya Suzuki, sent 38 balls over the short fences in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp last season. As I wrote months ago, the Red Sox have heavy interest in Suzuki, but so do a few other teams. With the cap number ( it’s a cap people call it a cap ) rasing to 230 million this season John Henry needs to take the cuffs off Bloom and allow him to make this deal and make it quick. The Sox are not alone in the Suzuki lottery. They need the right fielder, they need the right handed bat. Get it done
It’s 6 PM. Get Seiya Suzuki in a #RedSox uniform immediately.#DirtyWater | #MLB pic.twitter.com/0Vb8InIStR — Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) March 10, 2022
Bring Back Schwarber
Yes, J.D Martinez opted back in. But truth is truth and this team exploded when Schwarber finally got on the field. He is built for Fenway. With the DH now in the National Bloom can and should find suitors for J.D but he can’t move him before getting Schwarber back in the fold.
Beautiful day for the Red Sox to sign Kyle Schwarber. pic.twitter.com/fL36mkmeH8 — Red (@SurvivingGrady) March 11, 2022
Rebuild the Back End
The late innings of 2021 are best described by the old bat shit crazy hot girlfriend scale. Matt Barnes was lights out in the first half of 2021 and was rewarded for it with a two year extension that pays him salaries of $7.25 million next season and $7.5 million in 2023. The Red Sox have an $8 million option for 2024 with a $2.25 million buyout. His 2024 salary could increase to $9 million based on games finished in 2022 and 2023: $250,000 each for 40, 45, 50 and 55. .. If Bloom had waited until the end of last season Barnes certainly would not have this deal in pocket. That being said the deal is set up to work around if need be. World meet Need Be . Bloom needs to make a move or even two to solidify the back end of the pen … Re-enter Joe Kelly. Kelly has the history and the backbone to walk back into Fenway and give the Sox exactly what they need at the back end, a man who can work the seventh – eighth or ninth inning if needed and it’s needed. Oakland Free Agent : Jake Diekman in 2020/2021: 82 innings, 139 ERA+, 33% K rate could also fill this role.
Jake Diekman in 2020/2021: 82 innings, 139 ERA+, 33% K rate Who else has hit those marks? deGrom, Bauer, Burnes, Hendriks, Bieber, Iglesias, Rodón, Scherzer, Peralta…that's it. And Jake's a free agent, you say? 🤔 👊 @JakeDiekman pic.twitter.com/E6wuGUW5wI — Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 11, 2022
What’s On second
This has more to do with who’s in right, but if bloom fills that void with Suzuki then i have no problem with Enrique Javier “Kike” Hernández AKA Enrique Suave taking the lions share of innings at second. With two big bats in left and right the Sox can afford to go total defense in center and let Jackie Bradley do JBJ type things ( best glove ive ever seen )
“And here is the first pitch from Cole on opening d- and here’s a drive by Kiké Hernandez, Gallo looking back AND IT IS GONE!” pic.twitter.com/gFZIkr3gv5 — Isaac (@_Gonstradamus) March 10, 2022
This is only the beginning my friends. But for it to be a beginning it has to start, and right now it doesn’t look as if bloom is in any hurry to get out of the block. We may be getting 162 games this year. But the restart of this race began 45 hours ago.
As always you can follow/ give me Grief on Twitter @Tmurph207