Red Sox: Off Season '23-'24

[Bellhorn04]

Death, taxes and fans getting nervous about a slow start to free agent signings.

 

Hard not to be nervous when there are only a handful of real difference-makers.

[Dipre]

My thought processes have never been consistent -- at least, I don't think so. But it's so reassuring to have posters on a forum based entirely on discussion consistently point out the flaws of others' opinions.

 

Then don't come to an internet baseball forum where the whole point is to present opinion-based arguments.

[dgalehouse]

Hard not to be nervous when there are only a handful of real difference-makers.

 

Obviously, Yamamoto is the big fish, even if he is a bit of a mystery. Snell is probably next. The rest can probably be classified as " better than what we have now ". At least we are done with the " In Bloom we ( misplaced) trust". I do think Breslow is trying hard to land the big fish.

[notin]

Hard not to be nervous when there are only a handful of real difference-makers.

 

The trade market has numerous options.

 

Cease, Burnes, Glasnow, and Bieber could all be dealt this off-season…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Then don't come to an internet baseball forum where the whole point is to present opinion-based arguments.

 

My mistake -- I only joined to talk with other fans about our favorite team. But thanks for ordering me to avoid your arguments.

[Dipre]

My mistake -- I only joined to talk with other fans about our favorite team. But thanks for ordering me to avoid your arguments.

 

Whatever.

 

Back on topic:

 

The Cardinals managing to sign Gray to such a short deal is not very encouraging.

[Bellhorn04]

Whatever.

 

Back on topic:

 

The Cardinals managing to sign Gray to such a short deal is not very encouraging.

 

Not encouraging in what way - as in we snoozed on a pretty good deal?

[Bellhorn04]

The trade market has numerous options.

 

Cease, Burnes, Glasnow, and Bieber could all be dealt this off-season…

 

I'm probably just having bad flashbacks to last off-season...

[notin]

We saw maybe 5 higher quality SP'er option: Yamo, Snell, Nola, Gray and Monty. Two have been signed by teams not considered to be the one of the big 2-3 spenders, this winter.

 

There are 3 left. The chances the Sox get one has fallen.

 

"Nervous?" maybe.

 

 

No.

 

That two have fallen doesn’t mean the rest are eager to sign with anyone who answers the phone.

 

Unless instructed otherwise by their clients, the agents for each of these pitchers will be checking in with any and every team with an open Walker to make sure nothing is left on the table.

 

Now it’s possible someone like Montgomery will say “anywhere but Boston.” But I wouldn’t bank on it.

[Bellhorn04]

No.

 

That two have fallen doesn’t mean the rest are eager to sign with anyone who answers the phone.

 

Unless instructed otherwise by their clients, the agents for each of these pitchers will be checking in with any and every team with an open Walker to make sure nothing is left on the table.

 

Now it’s possible someone like Montgomery will say “anywhere but Boston.” But I wouldn’t bank on it.

 

Most of the nervousness is about the judgment of our front office, I think...

[moonslav59]

No.

 

That two have fallen doesn’t mean the rest are eager to sign with anyone who answers the phone.

 

Unless instructed otherwise by their clients, the agents for each of these pitchers will be checking in with any and every team with an open Walker to make sure nothing is left on the table.

 

Now it’s possible someone like Montgomery will say “anywhere but Boston.” But I wouldn’t bank on it.

 

2 of the 5 are off the boards. Our odds of signing one have fallen.

 

Yes.

 

Of course, we still have a chance, but the odds are lower once Nola and Gray went elsewhere.

[moonslav59]

Most of the nervousness is about the judgment of our front office, I think...

 

I don't trust a word they say.

 

My expectations are at zero, well, I do think we add 2 SP'ers, but the floor, to me it Flaherty & Lugo.

 

I'm hoping we do way more, but I'm not optimistic. The Nola and Gray signings have not changed a thing, in terms of my lack of optimism.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't trust a word they say.

 

My expectations are at zero, well, I do think we add 2 SP'ers, but the floor, to me it Flaherty & Lugo.

 

I'm hoping we do way more, but I'm not optimistic. The Nola and Gray signings have not changed a thing, in terms of my lack of optimism.

 

You really have become a non-believer of the Sox FO, even more so than me. For now I'm convinced they'll make a big signing or trade or two. And no one will be much more upset than me if they fail.

[Bellhorn04]

Let's just hope we don't hear the Sox "made a strong push for Gray but he preferred to pitch for a team in the midwest."

[notin]

2 of the 5 are off the boards. Our odds of signing one have fallen.

 

Yes.

 

Of course, we still have a chance, but the odds are lower once Nola and Gray went elsewhere.

 

Another way to look at it is two potential suitors have spent their allowance.

 

I liked Gray. I didn’t want Nola anyway,

 

How many “big money” teams are left for the last 3? (Or 4, since someone is going to sign Ohtani.)

[Randy Red Sox]

The trade market has numerous options.

 

Cease, Burnes, Glasnow, and Bieber could all be dealt this off-season…

 

i don't see any way the Rays trade Glasnow to Boston

Edited November 27, 2023 by Randy Red Sox

[Bellhorn04]

Another way to look at it is two potential suitors have spent their allowance.

 

I liked Gray. I didn’t want Nola anyway,

 

How many “big money” teams are left for the last 3? (Or 4, since someone is going to sign Ohtani.)

 

There are more big money teams out there than before. That's part of why we dropped to middle of the pack in spite of coming close to the tax threshold.

 

The Rangers might keep spending for all we know. The Phillies' owner likes to spend and Dave is happy to help.

[dgalehouse]

There are more big money teams out there than before. That's part of why we dropped to middle of the pack in spite of coming close to the tax threshold.

 

The Rangers might keep spending for all we know. The Phillies' owner likes to spend and Dave is happy to help.

 

Even that Kia Soul costs a lot more these days.

[notin]

i don't see any way the Tays trade Glasnow to Boston

 

Why not? They dealt Eovaldi to Boston.

[notin]

There are more big money teams out there than before. That's part of why we dropped to middle of the pack in spite of coming close to the tax threshold.

 

The Rangers might keep spending for all we know. The Phillies' owner likes to spend and Dave is happy to help.

 

Some of those big money teams are also not spending. San Diego leaps to mind…

[Bellhorn04]

Some of those big money teams are also not spending. San Diego leaps to mind…

 

Great, but that still leaves the Yankees and Mets and Dodgers and Giants and Phillies and whoever else has some cash lying around.

[Randy Red Sox]

Why not? They dealt Eovaldi to Boston.

 

I think Glasnow is in another category but you never know I guess. Don't see it though.

[Duran Is The Man]

Forget about Bauer.

 

what if he's cheap?

[Randy Red Sox]

I don't trust a word they say.

 

My expectations are at zero, well, I do think we add 2 SP'ers, but the floor, to me it Flaherty & Lugo.

 

I'm hoping we do way more, but I'm not optimistic. The Nola and Gray signings have not changed a thing, in terms of my lack of optimism.

 

I would rather just run out Crawford and Pivetta than add Flaherty or Lugo. Same goes 10x for Stroman. If either he or Manoah ever end up in a Red Sox jersey I'm done as a fan.

[Bellhorn04]

what if he's cheap?

 

It's too risky for non-baseball reasons. Just look what happened with Dermody, a guy who pitched 4 innings for the Red Sox.

 

As mvp suggested, I think he'll go to a lower-profile team where he can try to mend the image a little, if that's possible.

[moonslav59]

Another way to look at it is two potential suitors have spent their allowance.

 

I liked Gray. I didn’t want Nola anyway,

 

How many “big money” teams are left for the last 3? (Or 4, since someone is going to sign Ohtani.)

 

I did not want Nola, either, but he's better than those beyond the top 5.

 

I did not view STL as one of the 3 biggest spenders.

 

Maybe LAD will stop at Kershaw.

NYY

NYM

Then, there is rumblings that several teams, besides the Sox, are looking to spend more, or are cutting some salary, so they can:

BOS

TOR

SFG (missed out on Correa, last year)

ATL

PHI is rumored to maybe spend more.

BAL?

I might be missing another 1 or 2.

 

[moonslav59]

Gray actually is guaranteed $80M/3, as the deal is $25M x 3 with a team option at $30M for year 4 with a $5M buyout.

 

I was thinking someone might offer him $90-100M/4.

[Randy Red Sox]

Gray actually is guaranteed $80M/3, as the deal is $25M x 3 with a team option at $30M for year 4 with a $5M buyout.

 

I was thinking someone might offer him $90-100M/4.

 

So are you giving the Sox a pass on not matching this ??

Edited November 28, 2023 by Randy Red Sox

[moonslav59]

So are you giving the Sox a pass on not matching this ??

 

It looks like a fair deal. I'm not sure matching it gets him to BOS. We might have needed to beat it by $5M- maybe $85M/3 or $95 to 100M/4.

 

Depending on what Yamo and Monty make, and assuming they don't sign with us, I would not give Brez a pass.

 

I guess, if we sign Snell, he's off the hook.

[notin]

So are you giving the Sox a pass on not matching this ??

 

Maybe Breslow wasn’t so sold on Gray?

 

Maybe he did match but Gray chose St. Louis? We really don’t know to what extent the Sox were involved, if at all, and may never know.

 

Or maybe (re:most likely), Breslow didn’t bother with Gray because he was focusing on other pitchers. He’s already been connected to Montgomery. Msybe they’re talking to Yamamoto’s people? This was the fist week anything could happen on that front.

 

I won’t hold what Breslow doesn’t do against him until he actually does something…