moonslav59

Yes, and my plan is not that expensive.

My suggestions are not predictions, but I don't think the money needed to make it happen is not all that unreasonable.

Counting on Story is counting backwards.

I'd love to say yes, but the future is now, and I have zero faith in Arias in 2027. Remember, my plan was to do the best we can to get Abrams AND also keep our "SS of the future," and since Abrams is not very good at SS defense, we can easily shift him to 2B, 3B or DH, if and when the "future" is now. I'm not undervaluing Gonzales and the others I suggested. In fact, I'm valuing them highly, and IMO, the Nats would likely say no and ask for even more.

A lot of focus has been on the batting, but with the loss of Gray, the banter seems to center around the grand return by Crochet and lesser returns by 2024 ace Houck, 2024 IP leader Crawford and long time Mr. Promise Johan Oviedo. I tend to be on the optimistic side of Sox fandom, and I like the chances that some of these returning pitchers can not only do well enough to replace Gray (and Sandoval, too we should remember) but to also add value to what Sonny gave us, this year. It's no sure bet, and chances are someone gets hurt, or a few do, so even if a few do very well, it may not be enough. For all we know, a couple of these guys not named Crochet may be used from the pen, leaving us with rotation depth of guys like Paez, Holobetz, Wehunt and Ziehl. I'm not gonna lie: this is not something anyone can be optimistic about. Unless we add someone, we will have to rely on stunningly good health or the confluence of a bunch of decent pitchers all having big years at the same time... maybe both. That being said, IMO, the need for an elite bat outweighs the need for a major pitching add. Unless JH does something we haven't see in many year, we can't do both. I'm not going to plan on it or expect it. Knowing Brez, he goes light on trying to add a bat and an arm. Maybe he adds just one (too) light a bat. Ultimately, it's on JH, and I hate counting on that factor. IMO, Brez can trade Duran (save $11M) and maybe save $5-7M by trading Story & Yoshida. Add that to the measly winter budget JH hands Brez and maybe there is enough for one big buy. Maybe.

The dreaded word... "interest."

Paredes has one year, and Abreu has 3. Pena has one as well, and I'm not sure we'd trade Abreu for Pena & Paredes combined. (Okay we probably would, but it's close.)

I know JH is a tight wad and therefore I'm looking for ways to add a few $million to our winter spending budget. Sign Sato. Trade for DLC or Abrams. I'd love to add more, but I fear this is probably a pipe dream, as is. Billy Bean would have loved a winter budget like this.

I like Sogard, Seigler and Romy. We don't need all 3 on the 26 nor should we ever have all 3 on the 26, unless 2 infielders are hurt, but to be the upgrade from these 3 to Dubon is not worth that money. I know- I know, you will claim I'm defending JH's wallet. Joke or not, the restricted budget for real.

It's about limited resources. We should not have spent $6M on IKF this year not should we spend double that on the better utility guy, Dubon. Instead of paying $18M for a good bat + $12M for Dubon, just spend $30M on an elite bat.

and Romy. Like I said, why should we target better bench or utility guys?

Moran, Jones, White, and of course Story. What a AAA team!

It's not about giving up on Justin: it's about adding a proven bat with power. 33 HRs Over 30 SBs in 4 straight seasons. Okay, Justin is 19, but this guy is just 26 and entering prime. Juston could be the next KC. True, he could be the next JD, but I'll take the know guy who just turned 26.

It would be more stacked if certain players still had options.

This whole what they did in the playoffs is near meaningless to me, when it comes to what we can expect/project.