Could the Rangers and Red Sox Tango?

1 hour ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Red Sox need to pursue a young 23-28 yr old QUALITY SP who is cost controlled for at least 2-3 years and can fit with-in the window of our young players and our prospects. We DO NOT NEED  a veteran #3 or 4 SP on a 1-2 year deal who then gets turned into the next veteran #3 or 4 SP on a 1-2 yr deal. Sox have made their bed of building through the system so let's go all in on that. plan.

I agree. I don't see Jon Gray as an upgrade over what we have. Andrew Chaffin (LHP) at $6.5M/1 might be nice, but he's 34 and has not been very good for 2 years (4.10 ERA/3.77 FIP/1.45 WHIP) Nate has a $20M player option... maybe.

I'm with Randy. I don't see a fit. We need pitching. Those everyday players aren't of interest, to me.

39 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I agree. I don't see Jon Gray as an upgrade over what we have. Andrew Chaffin (LHP) at $6.5M/1 might be nice, but he's 34 and has not been very good for 2 years (4.10 ERA/3.77 FIP/1.45 WHIP) Nate has a $20M player option... maybe.

I'm with Randy. I don't see a fit. We need pitching. Those everyday players aren't of interest, to me.

I imagine they’ll just decline Chafin’s option.

Dunning had a rough 2024, but he lead the 2023 WS champions in wins and IP.

i would also imagine Tyler Mahle could be had for less than nothing.  But he’s close to deGrom on the dice roll metric...

Did any Baltimore spend last offseason pondering arb-eligible players they could add to round out their roster? Nope, the Orioles pulled off a major blockbuster trade for Corbin Burnes, a #1 bonafide ace starting pitcher. 

The O's won 101 games in 2023, but still spent from their deep prospect capital to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starter. Good thing, too, since none of the three pitchers who started at least 30 games in '23 were around or healthy enough to duplicate that -- and only Burnes started over 30, and led the club in innings pitched, ERA+, FIP, WHIP, WINS as the AL's starting pitcher in the '24 All-Star Game.

Do the Red Sox need to sign Corbin Burnes? Not specifically -- but they do need to sign or trade for a NUMBER ONE... even if it's someone Brez and Bailey target, tweak and elevate to that slot by March (like Lugo last year for the Royals, who were more "interested" in him than Boston).

To really compete with the Yankees and Orioles for the foreseeable future, the Red Sox need BOTH Fried and Crochet, southpaws to combat young lefty batters like Soto, Henderson and Holliday - stars who will be around for a long time.

The White Sox will take the best package offered for Crochet. I'd part with Duran, 28 (two years older than Soto) before Casas, 25 in January, or any of the top prospects, who are all 22 or younger. 

We do need an ace, and I agree we should trade for one rather than spend. 

I'd keep Duran over Casas, easily, but Casas alone, does not get us a solid SP'er, let alone an ace. (Duran would get us a better pitcher than Casas, by far.)

I'd see what we can get for Casas, Abreu, DHam and Dobbins/Wink.

29 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I looked at their roster and really didn't see a fit. If Lowe was a RHB maybe. 

Adolis Garcia is just a rollercoaster of a player. His offensive highs and lows would drive us crazy. Pass. 

The pitchers I've seen mentioned as available don't really improve on what we have and just take away from the ability to acquire top level talent. If they wouldn't sign Eovaldi a few years ago, why go after him now? 

They did go back to Nate, so I think they did want him, then. That was long ago. 

I hope we can do better than Nate, but he is still pretty good. I think we need to think about getting someone as good as Houck or better. I'm thinking we may end up settling on someone below Houck's projections, and I won't be surprised if we end up with a Criswell/Chase Anderson type addition, instead.

I'm not a big fan of Crochet, and I wonder if 2024 was just a fluke, but I do think adding him is better than anyone we've added since trading for Nate in 2018.

I could see trying to trade Mayer or maybe Casas + Abreu with maybe some lower level add-ons. The thing about the CWS is that their 40 man is so weak and shallow, that they might be one team that would take a 4 for 1 or 5 for 2 type trade that would open up roster slots for our Rule 5 guys plus not rule 5's like Anthony, Mayer, Campbell, Meidroth and maybe eventually Teel.

DHam and Abreu would be FT players on the CWS. If we included Crawford in a trade for Crochet, he might be their #1. They may also prefer to take prospects, if they view their next "window" as being 2027 and beyond.

I'm also not a big fan of RHB Luis Roberts, but his $8.3M lux tax numbers looks pretty good. ('25 $15M, '26 is a $20M club option w $2M buyout, and '27 is the same option as '26.)

I'm guessing the CWS would like to shed Roberts salary, but they do not view him as a salary dump. I doubt anyone thinks his contract is "underwater."

Would this deal be acceptable by both teams?

Mayer, Abreu, DHam and Winckowski

for

Crochet (2 arbs remaining) & Roberts (Owed $17M/1 guaranteed)

Maybe Roberts comes to life in Fenway.

4 minutes ago, TheSplinteredSplendor said:

Please name the teams that don't need a pitcher like this.

All teams would like one- few have the pieces to offer to get one, or they do not want to part with top prospects.

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I do that trade, but I don't think CWS does. 

Would they do Mayer & Casas (maybe add DHam & Wink?)

Orioles' starting pitchers at the top of their rotation on the 101-win 2023 AL East champs (w games started): Gibson 33, Kremer 32, Bradish 30.

2024 O's: Gibson gone, Kremer 24, Bradish 8. 

The same type of regression could afflict Crawford 33, Houck 30, Bello 30... with Pivetta 26, probably gone.

Getting Burnes saved Baltimore -- at least as far as keeping them a playoff team. 

Who knows what will happen if the Red Sox keep diddling and dabbling in the market of mediocrity...

... we do.

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Maybe, but that's probably a trade I pass on. One arm injury and you are out two franchise pieces. 

How about Mayer, Abreu, Fitts and DHam?

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

I do it. I think the CWS would hold out for a deal where they get a real good arm coming back or are overwhelmed with an offer. I don't know if we can provide the high level arm.

Maybe. I also think you may be undervaluing how some GMs rate Mayer. (Not that you are wrong.)

I think some GMs view Mayer as a major "get." I'm not sure how many teams have a better prospect or would offer one up, plus Casas and Fitts.