A Realistic View at 2024: Part I

[mvp 78]

The biggest reality check for John Henry, if this offseason is another failure, hinges on the fact that there are no more scapegoats. He fired Bloom, so who's he gonna blame now? They're under the lux tax, so why can't they spend? There aren't any large, long-term contracts on the books, so what's the long-term payroll holdup? The farm system is pretty stacked on the position player side, so why not cash in some prospect capital to get legitimate upgrades?

 

There are no more excuses. No Chaim, no bloated payroll, lots of expiring (or nearly expiring) contracts, and prospect capital. Time to act.

 

They always try to find some sort of excuse. I think there is rot that comes directly from Henry's office. Yes, we got 4 championships because he purchased the Sox, but he is currently holding the organization down.

[mvp 78]

If JH says to Brez, you have $56M or $76M (AAV) to spend this winter, then it's on Brez to get us a top pitcher and a decent second one.

 

If JH says no long term, mega deals to SP'ers, then it's on JH, if it does not happen- not Brez.

 

If the Sox don't spend this offseason, it's on Henry IMO.

[mvp 78]

We do know he pulled the offer to Nate, so that one is on him.

 

I'm not sure he would have been allowed to outbid the Rays for Eflin or give him 4 years, but I doubt the size of that deal was on JH.

 

He also guessed wrongly on both $10M/1 pitchers: Kluber and Richards. That's not on JH.

 

Yes, we don't know how the budgets given to our GMs are set up. Probably, the longer term deals need pre-approval. Apparently the Nate one was.

 

 

I'm sure he would have been allowed to spend up to the CBT. He just didn't trust himself to not go over again.

[moonslav59]

If the Sox don't spend this offseason, it's on Henry IMO.

 

Agreed, unless we spend large but not on SP'ers. (not likely)

[Old Red]

It's probably the approach that OWNERSHIP wants. They just want a CBO that can make moves at the deadline and be a bit more of a difference maker. I don't think Breslow was coming in to tear the whole thing down.

 

Who knows what Red Sox OWNERSHIP wants, or if they even know themselves. Most likely Breslow wouldn’t even be here in the first place if all the potential candidates hadn’t turned down even the chance to interview. On a day when the Yankees are meeting with the Yam Man JH, and Co. are talking about the PGA tour. What a look all the way around.

[Dipre]

Couldn't care less about "the look". What matters are results. He could spend all offseason talking about his love for transsexual clowns and his reptilian activities, but if he signs say, Yamamoto and Montgomery, no Red Sox fan would care.

[Old Red]

Couldn't care less about "the look". What matters are results. He could spend all offseason talking about his love for transsexual clowns and his reptilian activities, but if he signs say, Yamamoto and Montgomery, no Red Sox fan would care.

 

Yes I’m all excited about the anticipated prospect that the Red Sox are going to outbid the Yankees, and the Mets for the Yam Man, and then on top of that add Monty too.🙈

[notin]

Couldn't care less about "the look". What matters are results. He could spend all offseason talking about his love for transsexual clowns and his reptilian activities, but if he signs say, Yamamoto and Montgomery, no Red Sox fan would care.

 

At some point we need to revisit his love for transsexual clowns and reptilian activities…

[Dipre]

At some point we need to revisit his love for transsexual clowns and reptilian activities…

 

We can after they sign some pitching.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes I’m all excited about the anticipated prospect that the Red Sox are going to outbid the Yankees, and the Mets for the Yam Man, and then on top of that add Monty too.

 

I have a feeling the Dodgers are in hard on Moto too. And now they have a nice new selling point named Ohtani...

 

The excitement for Sox fans will be confined to watching the real high rollers duke it out.

[moonslav59]

I have a feeling the Dodgers are in hard on Moto too. And now they have a nice new selling point named Ohtani...

 

The excitement for Sox fans will be confined to watching the real high rollers duke it out.

 

I hope we don't end up being forced to trade for two decent SP'ers. (There goes the years of farm building.)

[notin]

I have a feeling the Dodgers are in hard on Moto too. And now they have a nice new selling point named Ohtani...

 

The excitement for Sox fans will be confined to watching the real high rollers duke it out.

 

As much as the Dodgers do need pitching right now, I’d be surprised, shocked and possibly even flabbergasted if they signed Yamamoto as well.

 

Yamamoto is, I’m going to put the probability at roughly 95%, likely to sign with one of the NY teams.

 

Sox need to pivot to Montgomery. Now reportedly they are also exploring the trade market for a starter. It would be nice if they were linked to any of the available names. Or any “unavailable” ones. One thing I find confusing about their trade market involvement is, per MLBTR, they are reluctant to give up the draft pick to sign Snell or any QO free agent. Ok, so they are reluctant to give up a draft pick but ok with giving up actual prospect talent? That makes very little sense.

 

And there are plenty of reasons to avoid Snell above and beyond surrendered draft picks…

[Old Red]

I have a feeling the Dodgers are in hard on Moto too. And now they have a nice new selling point named Ohtani...

 

The excitement for Sox fans will be confined to watching the real high rollers duke it out.

 

The Yam Man’s price tag has certainly gone up thanks to Ohtani, and now we wait , and see how much. Then Snell, and Monty’s price tag will go up, because whomever ever lo#es out on the Yam Man will most likely shift their attention to them. What a year to be a FA starting pitcher.

[Bellhorn04]

As much as the Dodgers do need pitching right now, I’d be surprised, shocked and possibly even flabbergasted if they signed Yamamoto as well.

 

Yamamoto is, I’m going to put the probability at roughly 95%, likely to sign with one of the NY teams.

 

Why would you be shocked if it's the Dodgers? Like you said they need pitching. And they are obviously going all in.

 

Pretty attractive destination, and now Ohtani is there.

[Bellhorn04]

Don't rule out the Jays on Moto either. They almost came up with enough money for Ohtani, after all.

[Bellhorn04]

The Yam Man’s price tag has certainly gone up thanks to Ohtani, and now we wait , and see how much. Then Snell, and Monty’s price tag will go up, because whomever ever lo#es out on the Yam Man will most likely shift their attention to them. What a year to be a FA starting pitcher.

 

And if you're a Sox fan, what a year to need a FA starting pitcher.

[mvp 78]

As much as the Dodgers do need pitching right now, I’d be surprised, shocked and possibly even flabbergasted if they signed Yamamoto as well.

 

Yamamoto is, I’m going to put the probability at roughly 95%, likely to sign with one of the NY teams.

 

Sox need to pivot to Montgomery. Now reportedly they are also exploring the trade market for a starter. It would be nice if they were linked to any of the available names. Or any “unavailable” ones. One thing I find confusing about their trade market involvement is, per MLBTR, they are reluctant to give up the draft pick to sign Snell or any QO free agent. Ok, so they are reluctant to give up a draft pick but ok with giving up actual prospect talent? That makes very little sense.

 

And there are plenty of reasons to avoid Snell above and beyond surrendered draft picks…

 

You give up prospects and then get a full year to negotiate with the player to extend prior to FA. The goal would be to not have Burnes (or whoever) not reach FA.

[mvp 78]

Why would you be shocked if it's the Dodgers? Like you said they need pitching. And they are obviously going all in.

 

Pretty attractive destination, and now Ohtani is there.

 

They'd be punting on the CBT for the next 5 years. Henry should take note.

[notin]

Why would you be shocked if it's the Dodgers? Like you said they need pitching. And they are obviously going all in.

 

Pretty attractive destination, and now Ohtani is there.

 

At some point, they must have some sort of financial limitations. “All in” doesn’t really give them more cash than Cohen.

 

They should add a pitcher. I just don’t think they are going to add the most expensive one. Especially since, 2024 aside, they did just drop a bundle on a guy who can pitch very well.

 

And while their financial resources must have some limit somewhere, their prospect capital is seemingly unlimited. I could see them as players for Burnes (and Adames?), Cease, or Bieber…

[mvp 78]

And if you're a Sox fan, what a year to need a FA starting pitcher.

 

Better than a year where nobody is available.

[notin]

You give up prospects and then get a full year to negotiate with the player to extend prior to FA. The goal would be to not have Burnes (or whoever) not reach FA.

 

Or.. you give up a chance to pick a player who might never be a legitimate prospect, hold on to the ones that have worked out to date, and simply negotiate with a player upfront about his free agency.

 

Preventing a player from reaching free agency is a dicey proposition if said player is hellbent on testing the market. And the Ohtani deal might have made a few more players hellbent on doing just that…

[notin]

Don't rule out the Jays on Moto either. They almost came up with enough money for Ohtani, after all.

 

Can you imagine the internal uproar if the Dodgers leave them empty-handed again?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We know all the big-time players in these free agents sweepstakes: big markets determined to outbid each other, and legitimate postseason contenders looking for additions to put them over the top.

 

We'd all like to think the Red Sox ownership and front office is rejoining all their rivals' intentions this winter.

 

But none of us will believe it until/if it happens...

[mvp 78]

I hope we don't end up being forced to trade for two decent SP'ers. (There goes the years of farm building.)

 

Part of building the farm is to help your MLB through trades...

[Old Red]

Part of building the farm is to help your MLB through trades...

 

Exactly. That’s how we got Sale, and Kimbrel, and even Pedro for that matter.

[moonslav59]

And if you're a Sox fan, what a year to need a FA starting pitcher.

 

Indeed. Yes, many teams are looking for upgrades to their rotations, but there are more good SP'ers on the market than I have seen in a long time.

 

Most likely TOR, NYM or NYY gets Yamo.

 

Maybe one of those who miss out on Yamo gets Snell.

 

Perhaps a bidding war starts on Monty and Imanaga, but I think the Sox can and should win the bidding on Monty.

 

If we do, the key will be to get one of the best tier 3 guys or trade for a good one.

[moonslav59]

Part of building the farm is to help your MLB through trades...

 

Agreed, but I would prefer we sign 2 really good pitchers and save the farm for later moves needed ot to let them play for us for low salaries.

 

If we have to trade for 1 pitcher, okay.

 

I'd prefer we not have to trade 2 of our top 3 prospects plus more second tier prospects for 2 SP'er.

[Old Red]

Agreed, but I would prefer we sign 2 really good pitchers and save the farm for later moves needed ot to let them play for us for low salaries.

 

If we have to trade for 1 pitcher, okay.

 

I'd prefer we not have to trade 2 of our top 3 prospects plus more second tier prospects for 2 SP'er.

There is NO MOVE more important than getting some SP. like they said on the MLB network if the Red Sox don’t improve the SP now the rest of the Div, which is already ahead of them will just run away from them even more. The future is now, and the biggest need is now.

[moonslav59]

There is NO MOVE more important than getting some SP. like they said on the MLB network if the Red Sox don’t improve the SP now the rest of the Div, which is already ahead of them will just run away from them even more. The future is now, and the biggest need is now.

 

IMO, we need 3 SP'ers, but even two really good ones may be hard to acquire.

\

I agree. If we don't add two, we won't even keep pace with the 4 teams above us, let alone gain on any.

 

It all comes down to additions to the rotation and how well they do.

[mvp 78]

Agreed, but I would prefer we sign 2 really good pitchers and save the farm for later moves needed ot to let them play for us for low salaries.

 

If we have to trade for 1 pitcher, okay.

 

I'd prefer we not have to trade 2 of our top 3 prospects plus more second tier prospects for 2 SP'er.

 

What later moves?

 

If they keep hoarding prospects, more guys will be gone via the Rule 5 process. May as well start clearing up space now. The Dodgers are not known for holding onto prospects until the end of time.