mvp 78

*Black Sabbath riffs intensify*

Yup, that's what counts as news now.

A guy who may climb up the ranks quicker than expected: Chris Murphy A guy well outside the top 20 who may make an impression: Stephen Gonsalves A guy who is well regarded who puts a stamp on his legitimacy nationwide: Triston Casas

I also liked to call the 92-94 Sox the Hobsons.

Slowly killing baseball.

Portland and Charlotte have similar market size. Both have been mentioned.

Looks in shame at my monitor.

The teams that win the offseason don't typically win the regular season.

If Tampa relocated, it'd probably be to Nashville or some other new market rather than an existing market. I think Tampa is more likely to build a new stadium than move. The governor here loves his sports and will find a way to weasel tax payers into paying for a new stadium.

It would be dumb for the owners to lock out the players this year. Last year, the season was shortened because many cities were outlawing gatherings of 10+ people. That hasn't been the case since MLB started up last July. If it wasn't for local government, the season may have gone ahead. Now, there are no such restrictions. NHL and NBA are both doing indoors games. There's no reason for the MLB (a sport played outside and is fairly socially distant) to play fewer games this year.

So the owners are going to lock out the players? You think that will be good for the next CBA? Why should the union ever start off with "let's give something back that is already in our contract?"

That'd be a shame if next season was shortened or didn't happen, since it'd be the first season where you could possibly fill the stands to capacity again. Players got screwed last time, maybe they'll decide to sit out for a few months if the owners try to lowball them? I don't have much faith in Rob Manfred or Tony Clark at this point.

What's the point on opening anything up? The players lost a ton of money last season that they'll never get back. It'd be dumb to give anything else to the owners right now. Why negotiate universal DH for extra unpaid games? It makes no sense.

The owners can't "just decide" on a lot of issues. Those issues are already addressed in the CBA. The owners can't just go against the CBA like that. Also, LOL at the "trying times." These owners are rolling in the dough. They aren't hurting at all right now.

To get a backend starter as a Rule V guy is a straight steal.

They have NO reason to counter. Read the twitter thread I posted above.

https://twitter.com/eugenefreedman/status/1356456806629978112?s=21

Why would they reopen the CBA? It hasn’t expired. Why make any concessions?

Truck Day - Feb. 8 First workout for pitchers and catchers - Feb. 17 First full-squad workout - Feb. 22

Sox finalized Kiké signing. He takes Pedroia's roster spot.

A lot of intriguing names left.

I'm hoping the Sox can swoop in and grab some decent 1 year guys.

@jcmccaffrey Red Sox announce pitchers and catchers will report Feb. 17 with the first game taking place Feb. 27. They're planning to have fans in attendance at JetBlue Park at 24 percent capacity. 24 percent capacity is about 2,400 fans each game; regular seating capacity is 9,909. All tickets will be sold in physically distanced ‘pods’ comprised primarily of 2-4 seats that will allow for at least six feet between groups. Due to the pandemic, all workouts at JetBlue Park will be closed to the public and there will be no tours or open house held this spring training.

49% of FA's are still available per MLBTR's FA Tracker. Matt Adams Albert Almora Jose Alvarez Chase Anderson Tyler Anderson Brett Anderson Chris Archer Jake Arrieta Homer Bailey Trevor Bauer Jorge Bonifacio Brad Boxberger Jackie Bradley Jr. Ryan Braun Jay Bruce Asdrubal Cabrera Trevor Cahill Yoenis Cespedes Andrew Chafin Jesse Chavez Robinson Chirinos Shin-Soo Choo Steve Cishek Tyler Clippard Alex Colome Zack Cozart C.J. Cron Nelson Cruz Daniel Descalso Delino DeShields Jr. Derek Dietrich Sean Doolittle Oliver Drake Adam Duvall Jarrod Dyson Edwin Encarnacion Mike Fiers Tyler Flowers Mike Foltynewicz Logan Forsythe Maikel Franco Todd Frazier Mike Freeman Ben Gamel Greg Garcia Brett Gardner Ken Giles Zack Godley Marwin Gonzalez Gio Gonzalez Brian Goodwin Dee Gordon Shane Greene Junior Guerra Cole Hamels Billy Hamilton Matt Harvey Felix Hernandez Rich Hill Yoshihisa Hirano Brock Holt Jared Hughes Tommy Hunter Jon Jay Jeremy Jeffress Nate Jones Matthew Joyce Keone Kela Matt Kemp Ian Kennedy Brandon Kintzler Jason Kipnis Jake Lamb Mike Leake Wade LeBlanc Jed Lowrie Jake Marisnick Nick Markakis Jeff Mathis Cameron Maybin Nomar Mazara T.J. McFarland Jake McGee Collin McHugh Mark Melancon Brad Miller Tommy Milone Yadier Molina Mitch Moreland Logan Morrison Tyler Naquin Juan Nicasio Haruki Nishikawa Renato Nunez Jake Odorizzi Marcell Ozuna Joe Panik James Paxton Brad Peacock Oliver Perez Yusmeiro Petit David Phelps Kevin Pillar Rick Porcello Yasiel Puig A.J. Ramos Rangel Ravelo Josh Reddick David Robertson Sergio Romo Hector Rondon Trevor Rosenthal Tyson Ross Addison Russell Jeff Samardzija Anibal Sanchez Danny Santana Hirokazu Sawamura Jonathan Schoop Travis Shaw Matt Shoemaker Chasen Shreve Eric Sogard Joakim Soria Pedro Strop Julio Teheran Ryan Tepera Tyler Thornburg Nick Tropeano Justin Turner Jonathan Villar Nick Vincent Edinson Volquez Neil Walker Taijuan Walker Tony Watson Matt Wieters Justin Wilson Tony Wolters Kolten Wong Brandon Workman Jordan Zimmermann

No, you see the hot stove season is now 2/1 - 2/14.