Boston writer advocating acquiring Jason Heyward in the off season
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rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
So he thinks two players and two prospects will get 'er done.
Henry Owens, check
Mookie Betts, check
Will Middlebrooks?
Rubby de la Rosa
Heck, do it now.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Fenway's RF is tricky, but Heyward's plus defense wouldn't be fully realized in that park.
It would take a boatload for me to trade Heyward. It would start with prospects in the tier of Betts and Owens, but it would take at least two more guys, one of which would have to be a major leaguer. Red Sox have some interesting prospects, but I don't think one can turn their back on Heyward's still likely upside.
It would take a boatload for me to trade Heyward. It would start with prospects in the tier of Betts and Owens, but it would take at least two more guys, one of which would have to be a major leaguer. Red Sox have some interesting prospects, but I don't think one can turn their back on Heyward's still likely upside.
I think you have to resign either Heyward or J-Up this offseason and trade the other one. I think it's pretty clear we aren't going to resign both. So offer them both similar contracts this winter in the $90+ million range. Whichever one doesn't take it is the one you try to trade this off-season.
DirkPiggler
Well-known member
That's too much for just Heyward. We would have to include our center fielder as well.
If the Sox want Black Jesus, they have to take Bad Upton as well.
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
This is from early in the season on MiLB.com, and consider Betts has reached the majors since:
Betts has been one of the hottest prospects in the Minors, slashing .407/.459/.651 through 20 games and reaching base in 50 consecutive contests, dating back to last year.
In order to figure out what's made Betts so good this season, I watched 18 of his recent at-bats via MiLB.TV in games from April 19, 25 and 26. He was 8-for-18 in that sample, and two things in particular stood out in his first taste of Double-A -- his pitch selection and contact ability.
Betts took the first pitch in 16 of the 18 at-bats I watched, including seven of them for strikes. The only first pitches he swung at were fastballs near the middle of the plate -- one he fouled straight back and the other he lined sharply to center for a single. Some pitches he took were hittable, and he does border on passive early in counts. That said, Betts is stepping to the box looking for specific pitches, and he's sticking to that gameplan strictly, which is impressive for a 21-year-old.
When he did swing, he literally never missed. Betts took 23 cuts during the 18 at-bats I sampled, and connected on every one. This was in large part because he didn't appear to chase any pitches outside the strike zone -- just one swing came on even a borderline pitch, and that was a quality 2-2 curveball from Trenton's Matt Tracy. But he also showed an ability to speed his bat when behind on fastballs or to hit off his front foot if he was out ahead of offspeed pitches.
Making contact is a strength for Betts, and though much of that contact was sharp, his swing produced mostly ground balls and low line drives. He also hit two homers in these at-bats, and both were line drives that just cleared the outfield wall. The first was on a 2-1 curve on April 19. Betts had jumped ahead 2-0, then fouled a fastball straight back with an aggressive hack, indicating he had right-hander Matthew Summers' heater well-timed. Summers came back with a curve but hung it, and Betts punished the mistake.
The other homer came in the 14th inning of Portland's 9-8 win over Trenton on April 26. That blast also came on a 2-1 pitch, this one an 86 mph fastball. The ball was left over the plate, and the swing was by far the most aggressive Betts used on a ball in play out of the sample I viewed.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
So we trade one of our 3 best players when in playoff contention? Same thing as when people were all about trading Kimbrel cause we weren't gonna be able to do it, bottom line we want to win we don't make that trade. If we're stinking midseason we trade one of them. We may never get a chance to win again.
BremanFan88
Playing the Waiting Game
That's nice. Jason is well on his way to another 6+ WAR season. Let me know when Betts gets to that level.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
And so far in the majors Mookie Betts has been no better than TLS.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
And if the alternative is watching Heywood walk for a draft pick? Would you say the Rangers were stupid for trading Tex?
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Not comparable. Rangers were a losing team. Cards didn't trade Pujols despite a real good chance of losing him, Brewers didn't trade Fielder, and so on so forth. Rays are only team I can think of who've been winning and traded off key parts. If someone pulls a Shields offer for Jason or Justin then yeah you consider that. But Mookie Betts isn't the centerpiece of any jason trade I like.
BremanFan88
Playing the Waiting Game
We could of let Tex walk for a draft pick that could of been Mike Trout. Instead we traded him for nothing.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
The way I see it we can either give Heywood 20+ mill a year or trade him for 3-4 young/cheap players and spend the money elsewhere.
BremanFan88
Playing the Waiting Game
Keeping your best player is always the right option.
If the return is worth it, absolutely. Heyward hasn't exactly been a world beater offensively. And while we would miss his defense, depending on the talent level of player we are getting back, it not matter all that much.
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And the alternative is to lose Heyward in yr anyways and be stuck in the same situation of no Heyward. Only this time, we have nothing to show for it (aside from a draft pick)