Bellhorn04

They just signed Rendon for 7 @ 35, so money is not a problem. Trout and his salary certainly aren't the problem either. According to Fangraphs he was worth about $70 million in 2019.

Possibly, but not necessarily. The grudge might be against the front office for letting them go. Or they might just think what was done was wrong. Notice that it's mostly pitchers...and Fiers of course was a pitcher.

That seals it then.

Lou Merloni speculated: Wright, Kelly, Barkett (coach?) and maybe Porcello.

Winning titles isn't the critical factor, of course. Kershaw hasn't won any but has contributed to a lot of playoff appearances. As have many of the others.

Simply not true.

But if the Angels do a better job putting players around him it's a whole different story. Plus I assume a lineup with Trout puts more people in the stands and watching on TV than a lineup without him.

As far as the Yankees are concerned, there is one key figure who could drag them into this: Carlos Beltran. Beltran was with the 2017 Astros, of course. In December/18 he was hired by the Yankees as a 'special adviser'. After one of the 2019 series between the Red Sox and Yankees, Cora made some slightly cryptic comments about Beltran helping the Yankees with 'details'.

From the Globe article: One member of the team confirmed to the Globe that there was constant traffic in 2018 to and from the area where the real-time feed used for determining whether to challenge on-field calls was broadcast. However, that source noted that the real-time video replay system was located next to the BATS video consoles that players use to review in-game at-bats. According to that team member, Red Sox player traffic around those systems was constant — in no small part because players were constantly reviewing their swings and pitch selections from previous at-bats. Indeed, that same team member noted that it could have been possible for sign sequences to be stolen via the BATS system, albeit in a fashion that was slightly (at least one batter) behind real time. ...the proximity of the BATS system to the real-time feed also would have created what was characterized as an almost unavoidable temptation to crack teams’ sign sequences, something that could be used to relay pitch types and/or locations via traditional means.

Good article about it: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/01/07/red-sox-sign-stealing-allegations/Oc6PFgPthS0rJAiIHBjSuI/story.html

And I think we'll hear one of the same justifications - assuming that everyone else is doing it, so you have to keep pace.

I'm reasonably sure that by the time the dust settles on all this we'll find out that a lot of teams were cheating this way.

Here's what's a little absurd about this: MLB took extra measures to make sure there was no cheating in the postseason. Sounds like they were pretty sure there was going to be cheating during the regular season, doesn't it?

What did he say that makes him a self righteous hypocrite?

By the time the Red Sox cut enough payroll for new signings, there won't be anyone left to sign.

I'm highly skeptical of it, that's all I can say.

There were alternatives of course. They could have told JDM if he didn't opt out they'd trade him. They could have non-tendered JBJ.

The story on MLBTR makes it clear that this is very different from what the Astros did.

Sort of, yes.

I was just referring to this developing story.

Yeah, I really don't think the plan was to start making moves in mid-January.

Wait till all the facts come out please.

Seriously, how can McAdam possibly know that?

Oh yeah. And I'm a big Henry fan. But we can't forget that he personally stuck the knife in Ben and hired DD, knowing exactly what DD's game was.

I think if there's blame John Henry deserves a share too. He's been a great owner, but I don't think his grumbling about the payroll and the tax was necessary at all.