Not surprisingly, the rich get richer and the Sox get to bank more money: Freddie Freeman is headed to the Dodgers for 6 years, $162 million.
Wow, yeah, that is disappointing, I was hoping we would be in this. 6 years is too much though. There will be decline, probably in 3 years.
Contrast how people are currently reacting negatively for signing Sale while at the same time insinuating that the Sox are being cheap for not signing Freeman. Long term contracts for older players are risky. They turn out bad more times than not. Teams have to take some risks sometimes though. I am OK with not outbidding the Dodgers for Freeman. I would rather see them trade for an overpriced pitcher. We have Dalbec, it is fair to assume that he will progress. He might give us, what, 70%, 80% of Freeman at a fraction of the cost.
Freeman was 0.300, 31 HR in 600 AB last season. Dalbec was 0.240, 25 HR in 417 AB. Post All Star, Dalbec was 0.269 with 15 HR in 175 AB. Is it unreasonable to assume that a young player will continue to improve? Prorated to 600 AB, Dalbec's post all star HR pace would result in over 50 HR. That is probably not going to happen but is say 0.275 with 30 HR terribly unrealistic for Dalbec? Vs. maybe 0.300 and 35 HR max for Freeman? Is that 80%?
It just wasn't worth it to pay that money over that length of contract for Freeman. I don't view that as cheap. I view that as good business, so long as the do end up doing something else.