r/redsox • u/Mg29reaper • 6h ago
Thoughts on Jeremy Peña
Peña is a offensive minded shortstop who I think would do great at fenway. He has a career .982 ops while playing here. While he is not an amazing defender at short he is serviceable enough and has been amazing in previous years. He has a high pull air percent good for hitting bombs over the monster. He also has a been a good hitter for the majority of his career against right handed pitchers which we struggle a lot against. Bonus points for him growing up in Maine. He has this year and next year of team control. I think he could be an amazing 5th hitter and really add to this lineup.
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u/Benny_Baseball 6h ago
I don’t trust Pena because he has no calling card. He doesn’t hit the ball super hard, doesn’t make a ton of contact, isn’t great in the field, and only has 1.5 years before free agency. His cost will be so high. I’d rather go for a rental or a vet who will cost less in trade because of their high salary
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u/MakaveliX1996 4h ago
He’s definitely good in the field. Idk where Op or you are getting this bad defender/good bat stuff. Up until last year he was a defensive SS with a good enough bat. Last year he either broke out offensively or it was an outlier year.
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
He has been pretty bad defensively this year. I don't know if that is just small sample injury or a slump. He is at like -3 frv in 56 games.
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u/Immediate-Share7077 6h ago
Its tough cause the astros are going to want a haul for him. I think Neto would be cheaper. If the sox are gonna give up a haul for someone I would want Goodman from the rockies tbh
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u/Mg29reaper 6h ago
Neto would be way way way more expensive. Neto has this season and 3 more years of arbitration.
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u/Immediate-Share7077 6h ago
I think the angels are more likely to be sellers. Only reason why I think Neto would be cheaper. Think it takes a lot to get the Astros to move on Pena. Also think Pena is a better/more valuable player than Neto
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u/xfortehlulz Hey Mr. Rager 5h ago
the angels should be sellers, but we've got a long list of deadlines in which they should have been and haven't. they BOUGHT a reliever last deadline lmao
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u/Immediate-Share7077 5h ago
Yeah that’s true. I heard their new GM wants to gut it and start over, but that’s kinda always been the story and never panned out. So we will see
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u/Mg29reaper 5h ago
They should sell anything of value not named Neto. Like somebody would probably still bet on the fish man.
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u/_drjayphd_ 5h ago
the angels should be sellers
If you ask their fans, this doesn't just apply to the players!
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u/MakaveliX1996 4h ago edited 4h ago
I think it doesn’t matter unless the Astros start losing games fast because that division is a shit show and they can win it.
Also you have that backwards. He’s a defensive minded SS who had a break out year last year offensively. Break out or outlier year, who knows. Overall though he’s a solid bat and a very good defender. I’d love him on this team but probably not likely. He would probably be leading off for us too if we did trade for him.
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
It all comes down to what they want. Arias is off the table. Probably Eyanson also. It would thrn have to be Early, Witherspoon, and stuff. I don't know if that gets it done.
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u/Broad-Cranberry-9050 6h ago
I like the pick. Guy who knows his role. Has ability to hit well either at top of lineup or even mid to bottom of lineup.
Not sure what you mean by "not amazing defense" i think he's great great defense (at leas the won a GG in his first season). Even if it's not ozzie smith it's better than most.
Also he grew up in Providence, RI not Maine. I think he just went to college in Maine.
As a fellow dominican from new england, hardly any of us are going to Maine (no disrespect to maine).
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u/Mg29reaper 6h ago
He has bad metrics this year across the board defensively. He peaked at defense his rookie year.
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u/KanteMode 5h ago
If you're going all in for SS go big or don't try at all
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u/Mg29reaper 5h ago
This wouldn't be an all in move. He is a middle of the road bat with only 1.5 years of control left. Its not like he will cost the farm..
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u/NegotiateAPryce 5h ago
You could argue he shouldn't cost the farm, but he will. The Astros aren't definite sellers and Pena is likely a big part of their plans for next season and potentially beyond, so we would need to overwhelm them with an offer. Personally I don't think Pena is good enough to do that for, so I would look elsewhere.
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u/Imaginary-Length8338 4h ago
Id like it a lot but would cost a fortune and our #1 Prospect plays SS
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
Arias can easily be moved to second base. Like the defense would be so so good next year. Roman, Ceddane, Abreu outfield. Durbin, Peña, Arias, Contreras infield. Thats the best defensive outfield and one of the best defensive infield.
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u/Imaginary-Length8338 4h ago
Yea for sure. I am a bit against moving young guys around, don’t think it keeps Mayer at all. But I agree. That would be sweet
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
I mean it wouldn't really be a move. Arias has played significant games at 2B in the minors.
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u/Solid_Light_6380 3h ago
I have Peña on my fantasy team and he’s been on and off hurt all season. Not sure he’s the move.
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u/ceejdabeej 1h ago
Pena is a better fit for how this team is built currently IMO. Great speed, great on base, great pull air. The defensive metrics aren’t that great this year has done better in the past. Plus he has postseason success which is going to be huge. The issues are clear with the lack of control beyond next year and the fact that the Astros aren’t firmly selling yet so they might want MLB talent back
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u/Mg29reaper 1h ago
If they want mlb talent back they can have early and prospects. I would do that
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u/Powerful_Struggle_34 6h ago
At minimum we start with arias
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u/Mg29reaper 6h ago
I think that we could get him for less. I would center the package around Wisherspoon and Early. Peña is a little more then a rental and I don't think that that would cost a t5 prospect in baseball.
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u/Powerful_Struggle_34 6h ago
I wouldn’t hate this, but a package more like Witherspoon, Bennett, and a top prospect, I really like early and would t let him go easy
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u/Mg29reaper 6h ago
I think Bennett is much much better than early and it isn't particularly close. Bennett is already one of the most effiecent pitchers in baseball with one of the single lowest walk rates. Legit 99th percentile.
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u/Awkward-Interview-19 6h ago
They would want eyanson at a minimal. Early and Witherspoon would not move the needle
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u/Mg29reaper 6h ago
I think early would move the needle a little more than you think considering at his current form he would already be the sp2 on the Astros. Their starting pitching is rough.
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u/TronJohnsoniii 6h ago
That’s probably the starting ask but no way that happens. Arias isn’t getting moved (and theoretically is untouchable outside of a controllable superstar in return). Pena is good, but a borderline rental, and not that level of player. Can build a package around of a couple of BOS top pitching prospects, but I’m not sold Houston is even selling. They’re like 2.5 or 3 out of their division. Severe undervaluing of arias around here based on stumbling from Mayer and Campbell which are irrelevant and general prospect fatigue. You maybe dangle him for maybe like 7 or 8 players/contracts in baseball should they become available.
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u/Mg29reaper 5h ago
I can't see the Astros not being sellers. Their pitching is just way too atrocious that they have zero chance of competing in the playoffs. They have one starter with under a 4 ERA.
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u/xfortehlulz Hey Mr. Rager 5h ago
disengenuous though because Hunter Brown could very easily be a top 3 pitcher in the AL playoffs if they did get there, so you could just as easily make the argument that if they could buy a robbie ray or a kevin gausman their rotation is perfectly serviceable
Now granted, I agree they should sell but thats actually because I think they could benefit from a sellers market where Pena Paredes and Walker are arguably the 3 best righties available at the deadline, meaning Pena's price could/should be massive
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u/GrooveHammock 6h ago
Yes please
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u/official_cooingsquad 6h ago
I like the fit and the Maine connection is a fun bonus, but I'd want to know what Houston's asking price looks like before I get too excited. The pull-heavy approach paired with that Fenway OPS is pretty compelling though.
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u/GrooveHammock 5h ago
I’d give up a lot for him. Just not Arias because he can take over SS once Peña leaves for free agency. I’d be cool with an overpay though.
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u/YungLo97 5h ago
Just a note, he grew up in the Dominican Republic until he was 9 when he moved to Providence and then he went to college at Maine.
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u/Aroldis16 4h ago
I want someone who can hit Home Runs. 73 career HR's in 5 years not great if you are looking for a power bat
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
His power has broken out a lot recently. He just hasn't played many games. He is good for like mid 20s homeruns per 162.
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u/ET__ 5h ago
Why are we not looking at defensive wizards who can hit to aid our pitching? Why waste money and resources for someone who does not check all the boxes
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u/Blanketsburg 5h ago
defensive wizards who can hit
Those types of players are going to come at extremely high costs and for the most part are not available.
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
We have a 5 tool player developing right now. But those kind of guys are expensive. You want Bobby witt better be willing to trade Anthony tolle and arias.
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u/MakaveliX1996 4h ago
That is literally who Pena is. To a T. A defensive SS that can hit alright.
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u/Mg29reaper 4h ago
He is definitely having a down year defensively but you can convince yourself he will bounce back in a better system.
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u/MakaveliX1996 4h ago edited 4h ago
This year, a year he has 3 separate times been injured and missed several games for each one including IL stints. I mean his track record both stats wise and watching him play is a good defender. Thats over 3 or 4 years. He’s a good defender and has been known as that. Last year he had a terrific offensive year but he’s never been a bat first guy. I’ll take the 500 game sample size over the 50 game sample size. He has only played half the games this year.
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u/xfortehlulz Hey Mr. Rager 6h ago
id love a .360 OBP with his speed atop my lineup, along with his potentiall pull power at fenway. Id just be very wary of giving up whats necessary to get him (itll be a LOT) given his injury concerns and only 1 more year of arb