moonslav59

I've been agreeing with you far too often, lately.

I think it will be a big trade not a big signing that puts us over the top. Think Pedro, Schilling, Beckett and to a lesser extent Porcello for the 4 ring years.

So, we spend much of our winter spending budget to just not get worse at SS and 3B. We are left needing to fill the innings left by Wacha, Hill, Nate and Strahm and the declining bat of JD. The only solution to "going all in" in the "PRESENT" would be to spend significantly over the tax line for year 2 OR trade a few top prospects to improve at some higher need areas- most likely both would be needed to be a top contender in 2023. Do you really think this is what JH and the top brass wants Bloom to do? If your answer is no, why would they look to replace him? He'd be doing what they wanted. I do think we could see a repeat of Ben, as he was expected to create somewhat contending teams during a rebuild, but failed badly in 3 of 4 years. Bloom needs to hit on his additions, but IMO, he did pretty well in that area, last winter, but the results were a last place team. I do not see a DD type replacing Bloom, if the axe does fall after 2023. It will be someone with the same outlook as Bloom, but maybe better at it.

You said it much better than I.

I think the problem with your position is this is that JH and upper brass share the longer term priority strategy they hired Bloom to put in place. Why would they get someone to switch to new philosophies they don't share? They also see the falling attendance and NESN subscriptions and have to walk the thin line. I understand you and probably the majority of Sox fans want more immediate success, especially after going pretty long with near total disappointments since 2018. I'm frustrated, too, and I'm probably one of the most extreme "in for the long term" Sox fans in existence. In my opinion, the Sox will push hard to make the playoffs in 2023- harder than 2021 and 2022, but they will not go "all in," just yet. If they fail to make the playoffs, again, perhaps heads will role, but I seriously doubt they bring in a DD type GM who will trade away much of the farm. I think upper management is sold on the idea of sticking to a sustainable winning system being pout in place and adhered to for the long haul. It's just my opinion. At any moment, they can turn on a dime, like they have in the past. With so much budget flexibility, this winter, one could easily argue "NOW IS THE TIME," but with so few major impact FAs out there, I don't think this is the year to spend large and long on several players. We could try to sign some mid-tier FAs to 2-5 years, who we think will not only help in 2023 but beyond, as well. A big trade is probably needed to make us highly competitive, but that might not happen until the following winter. This should be a very telling winter, and if Bloom does not go "all in," it shouldn't be viewed as his choice, alone.

Bloom may need some arm-twisting to pull off a big trade involving a top prospect or two. I think it will happen, as I felt Ben would have eventually done, too, but I'm just not sure this winter is the time they choose to pull the trigger. We have a ton of young talent that will get some playing time on the big club in 2023. I count 14-16, not including Whitlock or Houck. Maybe we wait to see who shines, and where we need the most help. I know the natives are restless, and maybe that will force a deal sooner than planned. I'm not sure those fans can be placated with a bunch of one year signings, as we punt the major decisions down the road one more year.

A true Sox fan. I'm with you 100%. I'm pretty sure many of our younger players will struggle of fizzle out into obscurity, but with so many coming up in the next few months, I'm pretty certain quite a few will shine and some will fill some lesser, yet important roles on our team going forward. Bello Casas Rafaela (late '23?) Mata (mid '23) Walter (late '23) Wong Kelly German E Valdez (mid '23) Murphy (mid '23) TWard (late '23) R Hernandez Bazardo Winckowski Seabold Duran Downs 2024? Mayer Yorke Lugo Kavadas Abreu Drohan Binelas, Koss, Hamilton, Politi, Wallace, Granberg

They also wrote that their end of year rankings will come out Thanksgiving week.

soxprospects.com answered my query about Enmanual Valdez's Rule 5 and Minor League Free Agent status, thusly... He will be a minor league free agent unless resigned or added to the 40 man. If he's signed to a Minor league deal he would be rule 5 eligible. Otherwise we don't list minor league free agents on the rule 5 list cuz they're technically not eligible. We anticipate he'll be added to the 40 man.

Boggs in NY was demoralizing, too. I'm actually hoping some GM forces Cashman to wildly overpay for Judge. His contract will cripple them for years to come.

For the longest time, the Sox hardly ever got a top 10 pick, so maybe I just wasn't all that into reading about the top players in the draft. I'm not doubting what was written, but I honestly don't ever remember hearing Groome was so highly regarded. It's interesting we just traded Groome for Hosmer, a ton of cash, Ferguson and Rosier.

I guess I wasn't paying that close attention back when we drafted Groome.

I don't recall all the hype about Groome being the best in the draft. IMO, on draft day, Mayer was the best draft pick the Sox have ever had. Personally, I don't think Groome, Beni, Nomar or Billy C were close.

Maybe the closest but still not close, IMO. I don't think anyone had either of those two in the top 2 or 3, let alone 4. Our highest draft picks: 3. Mike Garman '67 4. Mayer '21 4. Ken Brett '66 5. Billy Conigliaro '65 7. Beni '15 7. Trot Nixon '93 7. Trey Ball '13 12. Nomar '94 12. Adam Everett '98 12. Jay Groome '16

I know Mayer was not drafted 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Maybe "consensus" was not all that accurate, but I recall reading some writers saying things like that. Many services had him going #1. Have we ever drafted anyone like that before? We've never had a draft pick with this hype. I'm certain of that- well since the early 70's when I started following the Sox, anyway.

I'm torn between the idea or trading or not. When have we ever had the consensus best pick of any draft? I'm not one that thinks extending Bogey blocks him, either. By the time Mayer is ML ready, Bogey can be moved to 3B or 2B. I'm thinking our best chance to win is not in 2023, so now is not the time to trade him. Then, I think of what we might get for him, and if it's 5 years of a top pitcher, then I start wobbling.

BTV accepts Casas & Wikelman for 4 years of Luis Garcia Would anyone give up Mayer & Wikelman for 3 years of Singer & 2 years of Barlow? Mayer & Wikelman for 4 years of McKenzie & 6 yrs of Oscar Gonzalez?

Since I started following the Six in 1971, these have been our top fWAR pitchers: 76.8 Clemens 2776 IP w Sox 51.9 Pedro 1384 28.5 Tiant 1774 27.8 Lester 1519 26.5 Wakefield 3006 21.3 Beckett 1240 20.9 Stanley 1707 19.8 Hurst 1459 18.8 Eckersley 1373 18.4 Sale 568 18.3 D Lowe 1037 15.1 Schilling 675 15.0 Bill Lee 1414 14.6 ERod 857 14.2 Buchholz 1168 14.1 Papelbon 429 13.1 Porcello 964 11.9 Oil Can Boyd 11.5 Mike Torrez 10.6 Price 10.1 Tom Gordon 9.5 Aaron Sele 9.0 Boddicker 8.8 Eovaldi 8.7 Lackey 8.6 Ojeda 8.4 Rick Wise 8.1 Cleveland 7.8 Dice K 7.7 Johns Tudor Everyday Players 70.8 Boggs 1625 gms 64.3 Evans 2505 50.8 Rice 2089 48.8 Ortiz 1953 44.5 Pedroia 1512 38.9 Nomar 966 38.4 Fisk 1076 37.1 Betts 794 34.4 Yaz 1764 (1971> only) 34.2 Bogey 1264 31.2 Valentin 991 30.7 Lynn 828 29.6 Manny 1083 28.9 Youk 953 27.6 Vaughn 1046 25.7 Greenwell 1269 23.3 Nixon 982 22.2 Ellsbury 715 21.6 VTek 1546 18.1 Devers 689 17.8 Burleson 1031 16.7 Burks 733 16.6 JBJ 965 13.9 Damon 597 13.8 Reggie Smith 405 (1971>) 13.7 Gedman 906 13.0 JD Drew 606 12.7 Jody Reed 715 12.6 Rico 734(1971>) 12.4 Vaz 698

Jamie Moyer?

Probably not too near, and maybe they wait to expand to 32 teams, first.

Here is the list of the top valued SP'ers according to BTV: https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/players/ The ones listed as "high" availability: 30.2 Luis Castillo (6 yrs) 10.1 F Montas (1) 6.5 A Sampson (3) "medium" availability: 45.6 Luis Garcia (4) 43.7 Brady Singer (3) 42.4 Triston McKenzie (4) 42.0 Christian Javier (3) - I suggested Bogey for javier, last winter, when they had identical values. 38.7 Pablo Lopez (2) 34.4 Garrett Whitlock (6) 27.1 Jesus Lazardo (3) 21.0 Matt Manning (5) 19.6 Braxton Garrett (5) 19.5 Bailey Ober (5) 17.5 Jeffrey Springs (2) 16.6 Jose Suarez (4) 15.4 Bryce Elder (5) 13.1 Adbert Alzolay 11.2 Tyler Mahle (1) 10.4 Brock Burke (4) 10.2 Cal Quantril (3) 9.4 Jordan Montgomery (1) Notables: 8.8 Irvin Cole 7.4 JT Brubaker

How about Varitek for Murphy? We could throw in D-Lowe.

I'm positive it's coming. It's about money. Slam dunk.

Mine was a joke. I wasn't so sure about yours.

True, and if he's replaced by a min pay guy, it's no change, at all.