Sorry, I'm disagreeing with you and Dipre on this. It's better business to sell prospects for an ace and extend than go via FA. Money has been thrown around like crazy lately and I don't really agree with the assertion that you're competing with the same amount of teams in a trade market.
The difference is that you'll be bidding along with a bunch of other teams to get that FA. In the trade market, you can get the guy at a below market deal for guys that may not ever turn into anything special and then extend that starter at a rate less than what you'd spend on Urias et al.
@redsoxstats
Today's promotion of Roman Anthony to High-A Greenville makes him the youngest player in the South Atlantic League.
19.9 Ryan Clifford
19.9 T.J. White
19.5 Jackson Holliday
19.1 Roman Anthony
They have guys to sell, but they don't really have "expiring contracts" like last season.
They could deal a whole hell lot of people including farm capital to fix some of their issues (defense, bad pitching, offensive heavy farm).
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-pitch-clock-and-its-effects-on-pitching-performance-and-injuries/
Pace of play hasn't had a great impact on pitcher injuries or performance.
@redsoxstats
This is the third straight season in which the Red Sox offense has had a disastrous 10-game stretch of scoring 25 or fewer runs.
Aug 7, 2021 (2-8)
May 8, 2022 (2-8)
June 12, 2023 (3-7)