Kingface

I wish we were as good as Tampa Bay last season.......

You must be fun at parties.......

I like this deal. Benni is not that far removed from some very solid seasons and he's controllable and is solid defensively. You spend a bit more this year but save money next year when the 're-set' happens and you can spend more. Nothing bad about this at all.

Ok.....I know I haven't been kicking around for awhile but seriously what is hard to figure out? Mookie is not coming back, the Sox will still be good and the offense will be fine. Plus they will still sell out a ton of games, still have a top 5 largest payroll and they will next year too. We still have JD, Devers, Bogey, Chavis, Benni, Verdugo plus a decent Vaz. The offense will be fine as will the defense. The ptching is what needs serious help. If thy can get Gonsolin that will help but they would still need another starter with the question marks of Sale's and Evoldi's health If healthy, Sale, ERod, Evoldi, Gonsolin and (whoever) isn't horrible. The bullpen is a mess though. Anyway, to say the Sox are gonna be thrust into foreverness of bad luck is getting a bit stupid.....

^^^^^ What he said....

Moon used to be enamored with Manny!!!!! Granted at the time he was actually a good prospect. To me though....he was was behind the peeps at the time so was expendable....... Speaking of which, remember when we had a closer? That was cool......

Kimmi and Moon are still around???? I may have to join this party again.........

As already mentioned......I'd keep my eyes on E-Rod. The kid has to me the 2nd nastiest stuff out of any of our starters (Sale obviously #1). He has not had a healthy season in years and is going to be only 25yo this coming April......which is really the beginning of a pitchers prime years. If he can come back healthy I expect him to fill the #4 spot in the rotation quite well.

Hey Moon, With JD, HanRam and Moreland all pretty much 1st baseman or DH's....(the OF is obviously pretty much taken up) how do you see them all getting AB's? Especially with JD saying he would rather play the field full-time. I'm very curious how this shakes out. Not a bad problem to have but you gotta figure they are hoping JD gets about 550AB's.

HAHA!! Hello old friend.

Yes......and I Did Stay at a Holiday Inn Express Last Night...........

Yet another prediction by the King just about came perfectly into fruition............ALL HAIL THE KING!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the Hosmer deal actually helps the Sox in regards to signing JD. He signed for $20 a year with an opt out after year 5 and is over 2 years younger than JD and has been more durable. Yes JD will fetch more as he should, however if using Hosmer as a comp. I don't think he is worth WAY more. I think $25 a year over 5 years seems like it will be the TOP he will fetch. I think he signs for $23 for 5 years $115mil.

It's easy to say "HanRam should be 1B, JD should be DH and JBJ at center. For the record.....I prefer that route as well. The problem is......do the players (Other than JBJ want that?). It's already on record that JD wants to play the field (probably because he'll get more money). HanRam played OK at 1B 2 years ago but considering he's made of glass he really is more suited at DH most of the time. That would leave us JD at 1B who doesn't play the position. I think DD saw this and knew this and saw no choice but to sign Moreland (who plays an excellent 1B when healthy....which he is now), put HanRam at DH, and possibly sign JD and trade JBJ. I'll be upset to see this happen as I love JBJ's defense but we NEED better offense and we also need better pitching. JD playing the OF, HanRam at DH and Moreland at 1B gives of more offense and trading JBJ could net us some much needed starting pitching. Again, I'd prefer JD at DH and HanRam at DH and JBJ in the field but I really think there is A LOT more to this than we know. On a side note........I'd bet my savings that DD and Cora do WHATEVER they can to make sure HanRam does not vest for the following season. They want all the money they can to sign our young core to contracts and to dip into a FAR better FA market.

How's it going my old friend! Doing well....other than the fact it's cold as hell up here in Maine. Haven't been around the forums lately, hoping to pop in more often as I miss the banter!

Possible deal for Manny Machado?? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/trade-rumor-red-sox-manny-machado-yankees-brandon-drury.html

Exactly. I know above some of the crew are trying to spin numbers about how he is fine and he is clutch....... here are his number at this time last year: 2016: BA: .320, HR 29, RBI 94, OBP .359, SLG .561, OPS .920, WAR 9.5 Here is this year.... 2017 BA .265, HR 18, RBI 77, OBP .341, SLG 441, OPS .782, WAR 4.9 Sorry.........numbers do not lie. That is a HUGE difference, he was expected to be the face of the franchise and step up.....he didn't. He is notorious to slow starts......but he never snapped out of it. Right now I lay a lot of blame on this poor offense on him, and followed by Hanley.....and after that....my golden boy and favorite on the team Bogey. They's win the division and do well.in the payoffs because they have the pitching.......but Betts will be the biggest factor down the stretch and I hope he becomes 'clutch' like many here think he is......

It may have been said 100 times already but I just poke in from time to time........but right now Betts has been the biggest disappointment on the team this year. Some may want to put Hanley ahead of him but Hanley is who he is....he has amazing ups and amazing downs. Betts came off an MVP season (should have) and he is downright bad. I hate to say it as I love the kid and bought the shirt......but call a spade a spade.......B.A.D.!!!!!!!

Pablo will be on this team for the remainder of this season.......no questions asked. He's not getting traded. He's also not going to be DH with HanRam, he's not going to split time at 1B with HanRam (HanRam already said he's done with 1B) and he will not be playing for the PawSox unless he's injured. Notice I said "this season". I really think the Sox are hoping he starts playing very well because they would LOVE to trade him this offseason if he can het his stock up a bit. Devers is the future and the Sox would love for that to happen. Devers however will NOT be with the Sox this season. He will eventually get called up to AAA maybe but they will not rush the kid. Next year I see him starting in AAA and maybe being a late season call up.

I was for trading JBJ awhile ago when his stock was quite high but at this point and time I think he's more valuable to us than another team. We don't have the depth at the position and his defense is pretty much the best in the league. I just wish he wasn't such a firkin streaky hitter! Drives me nuts.

Agreed. His reaction kind of shocked me.....

Excellent point and one that I didn't even think about.

Not gonna lie.....I was a bit upset with the trade AT FIRST. Having too many pitchers is only a problem when you're fighting for the number one pick in the draft. Buch had a solid second half when we needed him most. Having an experienced pitcher able to fill in WHEN (not IF) and injury happens is never a bad thing. Yes this team has Wright and others as a #6 which is very good but something tells me this may bite as at some point. However, after thinking about it more, gaining $12mil in space is certainly not a bad thing at all and could help us more in the long run then holding onto Buch just for the sake of insurance. So now I'm for the trade.......yep.....I'm a flip flopper.......

#bdclm!!!!!!!

Agree with you 100% my friend!