Choi to the Red Sox

by delomir on Mar 25, 2006 2:32 AM EST

The Red Sox claimed Hee Seop Choi off waivers from the Dodgers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2382860

Said Dodgers' manager Grady Little, "I think it's a good opportunity for him to go to a ballclub that wants him."

Ouch! :) Though he's absolutely right.

Anyways, I like the move for both the Red Sox and Choi. Boston's FO appreciates his skills, and he could be in line to do a David Ortiz impersonation soon. I guess right now he backs up Youkilis at first, but in the likely event of Lowell injury/suckitude, Youk can slide back to third and Choi can man first. He'd also seem to be a logical candidate for an arrangement like Pena, where he platoons with a veteran this year with an eye on making him a full-time starter in 2007. Only problem is, I can't think of anyone he'd platoon with off-hand...

One problem I do foresee is that he's yet another guy who can only really play first base or DH. A problem with having a full-time DH is that it makes it harder to rest the other old guys, and the Sox have at least two candidates in Manny and Varitek, as well as Trot Nixon's fragility to manage. Choi adds to that log-jam instead of adding someone who could spell them in the field. On the other hand, depth is good, and I think Choi is talented enough to assume a lineup spot and be productive if one of the older players goes down for an extended period of time. Juggling the defensive spots could be dicey, though.

One final angle that strikes me upon reading this -- in 2003 the Sox grabbed a relatively anonymous slugger in his prime on the cheap after a deceptively productive season. That of course was David Ortiz. He's playing on a relatively modest contract right now, and the Red Sox will almost certainly pick up his club option after this year, but then he'll be a 30 year old DH with old player skills. Rather than sign him to the monstrous contract he'll likely be seeking, might they have just found his successor?

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A question?

does offseason waiver priority follow the same rules as the do during the season? Like the Royals would have the first shot and so on. If so.....Why weren't the Giants, Florida, or possibly even the Reds (Dunn back to the OF) willing to jump on a almost no risk/extremely high reward type of guy like this.

Just give the guy at bats. He may be streaky but in the end you will end up with a good player. I am still reeling from the 6 bomb 3 game series he had playing the Twins last season.

by Terry Ryan Jr on Mar 25, 2006 3:13 AM EST reply actions

yes

As far as I know, the waiver priority determination system doesn't change. A lot of teams passed up on Choi for the Sox to get him.

Then again, look at his stats - they guy can't his lefties at all, so he's really only a platoon guy. And against righties, he's only average at best.

by sabernar on Mar 25, 2006 6:51 AM EST up reply actions

Platoon.....

You would think the Reds couldn't turn down a chance to get some free talent with upside. And with about 3/4 of the pitchers being right handed you would be getting a guy who is at least on the more useful side of the platoon split.

Choi is supposedly still awful on defense, though. I have never seen it personally with my own eyes but everything I have read says he has the mobility and feel of a semi out at first.

"Strikeouts are good...groundballs are better. Home runs are okay...but walks SUCK!" Mike Caldwell

by Torncuff on Mar 25, 2006 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Waivers

Yes, it's based on 2005 final standings.

He went though the whole NL without being claimed and then most of the way the AL.

It is suprising to me that somebody didn't take a chance on him though. There are plenty of teams that could use a guy like him.

by FredUD on Mar 25, 2006 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

platoon?

re: Only problem is, I can't think of anyone he'd platoon with off-hand...

I'm not sure if this is tongue-in-cheek.

May I suggest Kevin Youkilis, whose career line against RHP is .265/.365/.395? Choi's is .253/.353/.455. Youk has done that in better hitters' parks, so I would consider Choi to be his equal in BA and OBA as well as out-slugging him by a ton. They were born in the same year, so it's not like Youk's growth curve is likely to dramatically out-pace Choi's.

Or, if Youkilis really can handle 3b, Lowell's performance against RHP seems to have become detached and fallen into the Florida swamp. Do they have dogs that can help track down missing performance?

...

I'm not a big fan of guys who strike out around 30% of their AB, and I think they are quite over-rated by people who look first at OPS. BUT, I agree that cutting players like Branyan and Choi seems ridiculous to me too. A good manager can work around weaknesses while leveraging strengths. Do the Dodgers even have a lefty option for 1b now?

by BobbyMac on Mar 25, 2006 11:00 AM EST reply actions

another excellent peak performance

evaluation by the bosox.

A left-nanded power hitting with plate discernment who has done it in spurts...

his defensive limitations mostly a matter of bad footwork and tehnique, not physical limitations - has good speed.

these other teams need to wake up.

by dryice on Mar 25, 2006 11:16 AM EST reply actions

The A's

Would have surely claimed him if they had room on their roster. Otherwise, great move by the Red Sox. I can't see why the Reds didn't get involved... Choi could be a real monster there.

(After pitcher tells GM he will pitch half of the games, complete them and they will all be QS)The GM has an orgasm and a heart attack at the same time.-Shamus

by ohad @ Minor League Ball on Mar 25, 2006 12:18 PM EST reply actions

The bodyquickness twins

Well, since the Sox have already ponied up for Lowell and Snow, there's absolutely no harm in stashing Choi in Pawtucket for a couple of months to see if the geezers can catch some lightning in a bottle of Geritol.

And while I'd like Choi to be the next Ortiz, I'd happily settle for him being the next Ryan Klesko -- that'd still be quite a coup for Theo the company.

Regardless, I sure hope that Choi's name gets brought up when McCourt fires Coletti in a couple of years, once the LA Times decides the team should go in another direction...

by igreen01 on Mar 25, 2006 12:23 PM EST reply actions

Royals

Would have been a perfect place for him, especially since they announced that Stairs is going to be strictly a DH/1B this season...it makes more sense to have Choi on this roster than Stairs...at 750K but I guess that is why the Royals are the Royals....

by gashousegang on Mar 25, 2006 12:56 PM EST reply actions

I hope the Red Sox ...

at least give Choi some AB's. First, he's saddled with playing for Dusty Baker, the master of the "I'll take the 39 year old over the 23 year old" managerial style. Then he's traded to the Dodgers, and things go from bad to worse.

Personally, I hope he absolutely rips it up while getting around 350 to 400 AB's.

"Sports do not build character - they merely reveal it". Chris Schenkel, Sportscaster

by Pigs57 on Mar 25, 2006 2:12 PM EST reply actions

AAA Pawtucket

Is probably where Choi starts out, with JT Snow in front of him, it really doean't make sense to have him in the majors. Nor, when looking at the numbers does it seem to be a place for him on the 25 man roster, especially with Stern having to spend the first 18 game sin the majors due to his having to fill out last seasons rule V status. I am surprised that Choi slipped this far in the waiver list. maybe some teams were waiting for Carlos Pena to get released by the Tigers this week(i think that will happen)

by gashousegang on Mar 25, 2006 2:33 PM EST reply actions