Emp9

This is my #1 reason as well😎

One of the main reasons I like having a DH is because it can prolong careers that would've/could've been cut a little short. It is less demanding. Is Ortiz at that point where even DHing is too demanding? So it seems. He also probably weighed his options taking his legacy into account, endorsement deals (less work-more $) he can do until the end of time, maybe an analyst even? Who knows? Maybe $25M for one more year really wouldn't be worth it for him. It's still a good discussion. I do dream of him winning another WS this season and calling it quits. To me that would be the ultimate send off. A couple nice trade deadline acquisitions... Maybe that happens.

Of course, that's why we hired him in the first place, no?

Well, say it took $25M... Its for 1 yr not 10 yrs or 7 yrs. Its hard to tell how bad his feet are, only he knows for sure. I think he also said preparing for the season keeps getting more difficult, although he's notorious for his lack of urgency in many of his off-seasons/Spring trainings and starts the season off slow. Obviously this season was not a slow start for him, but he didn't have a great spring and took a lot of time off as i remember. I respect his decision to retire. I'd also respect the Red Sox organization to try like hell to get one more year out of him. I doubt the second he retires he sits down in a wheelchair (except maybe as a gag?). I just hope we're as prepared as possible as a team when he does indeed decide to walk away.

Anyone like Julio Teheran? http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2016/6/3/11853700/braves-rumors-teheran-ogando-markakis-flowers-francoeur-johnson-beckham

One writer suggested convincing Papi to return for one more season @$25M. Does he deserve it? In my mind yes. Would that put a serious dent on the budget? I think that would also be a yes.

I think opposing pitchers realized early last season to stay away from pitching to the inner half of the plate vs Betts. If its middle-in "swing level" Betts will pull it and go yard. At this point, when Betts does get a pitch like that, i think its more of a mistake pitch. The pitcher missed his spot and Betts makes him pay for it. They did adjust to him and it's usually attacking the plate down and away (staying away from that pull power). Now, up until now, if Betts connected with a pitch from the outside part of the plate, he may get a base hit or a 2B or even a 3B, but theres also a good portion of fly outs especailly to RF. For an opposing pitcher that was THE adjustment. Betts hitting HRs going the opposite way has only started to happen this week and to me its a very significant development. I'm not sure how they can adjust to him developing power to all fields. My guess is they continue to pitch him low and away, definitely away, because it's still the least likely location for Betts to hurt them. Only now, its not a guarantee.

I always figured it to be true because of the last place finishes, the need for SP-ing, Mookie being jettisoned to the OF even though he was a 2B. So they had a replacement. At one point it made some sense to consider a trade. Not anymore obviously. Pedroia's deal was not a typical deal to begin with, given his age, a bit banged-up, and it was around the same time as Cano's rumored FA asking price (if I remember correctly). My guess is that some writers overlooked it and & assumed it was more of the usual, typical extension. I am also to guess that we're the handful of ppl on the planet to give a s*** about such things. Lol

Emp, I'd say to give their way a chance. I've been posting on another forum besides this one long before the BDC forums shut down who have followed a similar model. I would say from my experience that the conversation tends to be much better that way. I happen to think redundancy was a big problem over at BDC too so what do I know but in the end they are going to run their forums the way they want them run. We chose to be here, so I think it's more likely we disseminate into their "culture" rather than the opposite. My only complaint was that it was confusing. One complaint ain't bad in the full spectrum of things. I'll take your advice, even though I am trying.

I thought Strasburg was the plan too but he just signed that extension.

If a full NTC is negotiated into the contract it may overrule the 10/5 rights he would eventually earn. Beyond the box score Ken Woolums: "While the no-trade clause appears to be a big deal, Pedroia would have recieved 10/5 no-trade rights shortly after the deal began, so it is a pretty meaningless addition to the deal as it only covers a couple years." Besides Bradford, this is another source that says a full NTC was indeed included in the deal and it supersedes the 10/5 rights he would have eventually earned.

He just saved our $217M SP's season. Yeah... what a bum

No but you and all the other new members should at least try to comply with the wishes of the two people who run this board. I'm not responsible for anyone besides myself. Everyone who has been a member here for a while likes this place and how it is run. Fantastic. Your dissension is conspicuous. Good.

MLBTR says a full NTC. OvertheMonster says a full NTC TheOutsideCorner says full NTC Fansided.com says full NTC Rob Bradford from WEEI says full NTC

Avenues? ... Plural?? No. Avenue. One way. Pedroia would have to sign off on it. That's the only avenue. So, taking reality into consideration, how likely is that going to happen? ... Is what I'm asking.

I never said that. So tell me, how likely is it that Pedroia green-lights a trade? A tag line that says "Trade Pedroia" like it's as simple as that is so very daft.

But the Sox literally CAN'T trade Pedroia, him having a full No-Trade clause and all.

Agreed.

Right, but their defense sure didn't do their Closer any favors.

Well, they did sign Price for $31M a year and traded for Kimbrel already make close to FA $, despite the Sandoval, HannRam, and Porcello contracts. I think our budget right now is at it's smoke point temp. With Papi & Buch (most likely) off the books next season, and whatever SP they trade for this season HAS TO BE COST CONTROLLED, there should be room for some contract extensions to lock up somebody from Betts, XB, or JBJ. Probably not all. Maybe even just 1 of the 3 for now. The sooner they try the more likely it will happen and the more reasonable the price tag will be ... one would think.

I couldn't have said it any better. I have many many Mets fans as friends and some of them still thinks it's Familia's fault. And that's Ridiculous. It was their poor defense. Another good hitter in their lineup would've help though too.

Message boards are inherently Darwinian. The strong threads survive on their own while the weaker ones drift away into the abyss. I wouldn't ruin a strong thread by forcing other weaker threads into it and confusing the s*** out of ppl, but the Mods can do what they want. That's fine. I just don't HAVE to agree with it.

Price is definelty a warm weather SP and we can't ignore his post season record. It's great Kelly had option(s?) left. I wish I was wrong and he found success as a SP but he cld still be a nice BP piece for the future. Buchholz had to truly bomb for him to be not worth his contract this season or next, and he has bombed. Porcello has been consistent enough as our #3 and with our defense behind him, I think that will last. In my mind, Wright is the new Buch, only he'll eat a lot more innings and he's much more durable. Let's not expect or demand #1 performances from him every outing. He is what he is. When trading for another SP, they should temporarily forget Wright is pitching so well and go after the best SP (preferably somewhat cost controlled) they can get their hands on. I hope we keep the Killer B's intact with Papi retiring. Swihart is much more expendable and would have the same value or more.

I'm hoping they both find the security of a long term multi-million dollar contract extention appealing. Is there a chance?