Palodios

There also aren't many example of pitchers who entered the majors at age 20, either. Cliff Lee took several seasons to become an ace. Scherzer had one great season in the middle of a few mediocre seasons before emerging as a #1. Liriano took a long ass time to finally put up back-to-back good seasons together. John Lackey didn't emerge as the #2 horse until his 4th season in the majors, at age 27.

For Hamels? Absolutely not. I would be looking for someone like Sale/Kluber/Gray/Felix. Maybe Salazar/Keuchel ? I understand pitchers aren't always good long term investments, but getting one of those guys at the top of the rotation would change this team.

Ventura dealing with elbow issues? Esh, that sucks for KC.

MLB TV sucks, it has nothing to do with your connection. I can't believe it won an Emmy, I'd be pissed if I was another option in that category who lost.

I imagine Kansas City has found it dumb to see way too many Yankee/Red Sox players starting every single year. I'm okay with them getting their shot for once -- especially in a year where no Red Sox deserve much of anything, besides maybe Pedroia/Bogaerts.

Normally I agree with this. Relief pitchers are always a crapshoot. It was an awful contract that he could only meet its value, but never exceed it. That being said, he's performed well for almost 4 year, and did everything you could have asked of him.

There's also this Brock Holt guy who probably deserves an every day job.

Call me surprised, but he's earned that contract.

Maybe Masterson is done, but I read a few reports of teams that would be interested in him if he didn't cost salary. Victorino is a great platoon option, with speed and defense that could be very helpful to a contending team. They're not going to bring in top prospects, but maybe some minor leaguers with low, but possible MLB ceilings. Find me a better offensive player on the trade market, and we can change the course of this discussion, but until then, he certainly has value to a team. If they get a top prospect for Koji, they'll eat money. Look at Moncada -- they have no problem spending money to add minor league talent. The Red Sox are lucky that the Phillies have been shopping Papelbon so long... it makes Koji cheap by comparison. Sounds like a plan to me.

Alex Wilson. Remember that guy? In 60 IP between this year and last year, he has a 1.80 ERA and a .80 WHIP. What happened there? Why was he traded, and how did he do this well?

Players to trade Buchholz has value because the contract is as flexible as they come, and high ceiling pitchers are worth gold this time of year. If he's healthy and continues to perform, I wouldn't be surprised if they can get major league quality talent for him. Maybe even more from Theo. Hanley has a career .870 OPS. I can't stress this enough, but someone will want that bat for a stretch run. 3/60 isn't an insane contract for a 31 year old either. Argue with me all you want, there is an elite prospect waiting out there. Koji is expensive, but lock down relievers can be good trade chips. Look at Miller. Masterson/Victorino might be worth something in a trade if the Red Sox eat their entire contracts. Players to Keep Napoli is worth more here than in a trade. Same with Craig. Maybe one of them turns it around. Wade Miley, Porcello too. Worth more here than in a dump. Betts/Bogaerts/Swihart/Castillo/Rodriguez/Pedroia/Tazawa. They're the core, don't trade them. Ortiz. Keep him for the fanbase.

What if the biggest problem this year is change? New pitching coach, new hitting coach, four new catchers. Hanley is at a new position, and a newish team. Pablo is playing outside of San Francisco for the first time ever. Porcello, and Miley are both new here. Rookies. Maybe the Sox need to accept a rough year for this team to click, and avoid shaking things up too much again.

If the Sox had traded for Donaldson instead of signing Pablo, this would be a very different team. I was pissed when the Jays got him for peanuts, but Ben has seemed pretty diligent during the offseasons. We always hear about the Red Sox being interested in tons and tons of players they don't end up signing/trading for. Donaldson is the rare player who would have been worth a Betts/Swihart trade. If there was a match, I would like to think the would have pulled the trigger.

Billy Hamilton had 8 f***ing steals to win me a rare week. Wow.

I don't understand why people believe Hanley is untradeable. He has a career .870 ops, he's still young and 3/60 isn't an insane contract, especially for a 31 year old. What other middle of the order bats are going to be available at the trade deadline ?

Panda isn't going anywhere. Hanley is 31, mostly healthy, has a .870 career OPS, and is relatively affordable. If made available, he's going to be the best bat on the trade market. If Tulo or Car-Gon's names get floated around, they're going to cost the farm.

Blow it up. Trade/Dump the expendables. Fire the entire coaching staff. Consider firing Ben, but stop short only because of the f***ing beautiful Rodriguez trade. Hanley might pull in a top prospect if you're lucky -- a 3/60M for middle of the order bat will be worth it to someone. Move Buchholz to Theo. Stop trying to make Porcello a strikeout pitcher. Move Kelly to the pen. Call up Craig and give him ABs. Porcello/Miley/Wright/Rodriguez/Johnson/Owens for the rest of the year.

I imagine Masterson is going to get traded. I was reading a report from someone calling him a "#2 or #3 pitcher" and was a potential trade target for that team. Ignorant or not, if someone was willing to take half the contract, I imagine him gone.

In all fairness, it was a third baseman and a shortstop. I still can't believe it... it seemed like everyone here agreed about it being dumb, and you know how rarely that happens.

I think someone needs to tell Rodriguez that Red Sox starting pitchers are supposed to be awful. He really isn't pulling his weight in that regard.

Hopefully there's some high quality talent out there in the 7th spot. There have been a few ace-ceiling pitchers going through tommy john lately that will be available, but who knows what they go with. My guess is they go for a 3B.

Thunder Mojo = 20 game winning streak? Let's see it happen.

The big problem with the A's last year was their offense sputtered when it mattered. It seemed like it was a product of their completely awful pitching coach, Chili Davis.

I will miss Fred, but he definitely was at the center of a lot of arguments. Hopefully everyone else can get along.

So far, Steven Wright's outings have all turned out somewhere between 5-6 innings and between 2-3 runs. I am predicting that tonight, he'll throw 6 innings with 3 runs. Crazy, I know.