Waiting on a FA class isn't your best bet. They were lucky Price didn't get a new contract during the year.
If I was GM last year, they would have Max and Lester, but no Hanley, Panda or Price.
Ben is just shorthand for "Front Office." No one really knows who did what and it doesn't matter. When things go wrong Ben, Larry, Tom and John were all equally to blame. When things were going well they can all equally share the adoration.
Ben did a great job with the 2013 team (not a fluke). He did a good job with the farm system. He s*** his pants in 2014 and 2015 though. Boston isn't a small market and shouldn't have to have disastrous results like that when ticket prices are so expensive and the payroll is towards the top of the league. His undoing was when he signed Hanley and Panda without adequately addressing the starting rotation.
JBJ is a terrific 4th outfielder at the moment. I hope he develops into an everyday player. He hasn't reached that potential yet.
If he doesn't get there this year, he probably won't ever.
You didn't hear it, because it didn't happen. He said they were leaning towards moving Betts to RF but that it would be decided in ST. He said they'll both spend time in CF in ST.
He was a fatty in SF and fielded the position just fine. I think he struggled so much at the plate that it affected him in the field. I think he'll be better this year, but he still won't produce like it's the 2014 postseason.
Panda loses weight every offseason and gains it back during the year. There is also no correlation to lower weight and higger performance for him. Some guys need a year to transition to a new league. I hope that's all he needs.