moonslav59

Oh, don't get me wrong. I am, too. I'm actually expecting us to miss out on Yamo and Monty, and maybe Imanaga, too. I think our chances are better than you and others seem to think, but my hopes are not based in any facts, except maybe these... We did just extend Devers to the 12th biggest contract in MLB history. We apparently blew everybody away on a guy we have always wanted: Yoshida. The Story signing was not really chump change. We did offer Eflin the same as anyone else. We did offer Nate more than Texas, but bumbled that by spending elsewhere, before he came back to jus, hat in hand. BTW, it appears Nate wanted to play for the "losing" team, and if anyone knew the Sox, it was him. I know, using examples of where we botched things up seems counter to my point, but if it's about the money, there are 5 examples since March 2022, where we have show we are moving away from the period that began after the extensions to Bogey & Sale and Nate trade & extension- Spring '19 to Spring '22. That was a three year stretch of a near total reluctance to spend big. I'm hoping things have changed and we continue to make some serious investments in our 26 man roster, but again, I'll believe it when I see it.

Many of the exceptions extend with their teams at discount rates, before they reach free agency, and we don't count them. Bogey did. Pedey did. Ortiz did it several times.

Possibly counter-offers. I'm pretty sure some teams said, please come back to us, before you sign with someone else. That being said, I think he signs by Monday night.

They may want to, but they almost always take the highest offer, unless it's real close.

If the big committee has decided we will "spend what it takes" to get Yamo or Monty, does it matter how the choice was made? If not, Jad is right- "Meet the new boss..."

Exactly. In one breathe he says we should not overpay free agents and trade suspects, instead, then acts upset the Royals are overpaying for third tier free agents, instead of us. Those three are all Bloom type signings, hell, two were Bloom signings!

Also, I thought he ended up playing for the minimum w STL that final year, didn't he?

I don't disagree, but both gave us more than just one good October: Lackey 3.52 (189 IP) in '13 3.82 (198) in '14 (3.60 w BOS in 137 IP before the trade) Had we gotten a better return for him, it would not have looked so bad. Price: Led the league in GS (35) and 230 IP his first year ('16) 3.99 3.38 in 75 IP in '17 hurt 3.58 in 176 in '18 helped us have the greatest season in Sox history, by the numbers. Yes, both were disappointments, but we could sure use some numbers like these, now. (Just not at that price.)

I’d do this deal without the OFer coming to us with Miller. I’d even add more.

Like Sale & Jansen?

Could the Giants be a source of a good young pitcher with years of team control? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/giants-considering-trading-from-group-of-young-pitchers.html

I hope I'm wrong. I think the sham continues, at least one more winter.

You mean continue his strategy, but try and show it can work?

Out of all their top signings, I see 2 that worked well: Manny JD Damon is way down on the list, but if you adjust for inflation, you could count him. Lackey & JD Drew were okay to good.

Mahle is out for the start of '24- maybe half the season.

Many of our biggest contracts have been extensions. Here is a list of our biggest contracts- extensions and free agents: Red= FA 314/10 Devers (12th highest contract in MLB history) 217/7 Price (25th in MLB) 160/8 Manny (55th not adjusted for inflation) 154/7 AGon (60) 145/5 Sale (64) 144/7 Crawford (68) 140/6 Story (71) 120/6 Bogaerts (94 w opt out taken) 110/5 JD (106) 110/8 Pedey II (106) 95/5 Pablito (135) 90/5 Yoshida (plus posting fee) 88/4 HRam 83/4 Porcello 83/5 Lackey 73/7 R Castillo 70/5 JD Drew 68/4 Beckett II 68/4 Nate 52/6 Dice-K (plus posting fee) 52/4 Ortiz 41/4 Youk 40/4 Renteria 40/4 Varitek 40/6 Pedey I 39/3 Victorino 38/3 Lowell 36/4 Lugo 32/2 Jansen 32/2 Napoli 31/4 Damon 30/3 Beckett I 30/4 Buchholz 30/5 Lester

Was there a war on Manny? Price? Lackey? HRam? I know SFG made an offer for Pabilto and were upset he took more from BOS. We know there was not one on Yoshida.

Would you give Mayer, Crawford & Wikelman? Mayer & Duran? Mayer, Rafeala & Wikelman

I agree. Do you see Snell as significantly better than Imanaga?

Mayer instead or Duran likely gets the job done. (I should not have included Teel or Anthony.)

So, which do you prefer? Yamo at $325M/10 Or Burnes at $180M/7 Imanaga or Stroman at $145M/5 Mayer Teel

Fair point

BTV says Mayer and Duran for Luzardo is an overpay, but I doubt it gets the job done. A Mayer+ Crawford for Luzardo deal looks about even, but I think the Marlins hang up on that offer. Would this get it done? Mayer, Crawford and Wikelman for Luzardo I'm not sure I'd give Mayer, Teel and Wikelman. I'd say not to Mayer & Anthony or Anthony & Teel.

The trades & extensions are becoming rarer and rarer. I'm not sure the Glasnow trade is a sign of a swing back to that tradition. I will say, I'd love to get Burnes, but am worried about doing it without an agreement on an extension, and if the extension is like what Yamo gets, I'd rather have Yamo, Mayer and Tell than Burnes.

He's good enough, but yes, to fragile for what we need. BTW, is there any signing you think was worth it, this winter?