moonslav59

I feel the same way. I went to a game there a while back, and thought the place was pretty nice. I guess the problem is with people who drive from Tampa are crowded onto one highway, but it's not like TBR have the only traffic issues on game days.

The "if they wanted" is the key. They also just traded away the heart and soul of their team at the deadline, while in the middle of their first playoff race in several years.

They would suck in 2023, if they spent $200M. Their farm does not have 6 ML ready players to supplement the $200M spent. That was my point. Their whole system sucks. They have a good farm, because the draft near first every year. They don't use it, like the Rays did.

Bleacher Report has Brady Quinn ('03-'06) was the only QB from this century to make the top 10 ND QB list. The one before him was Tony Rice ('87-'89): 1989 was the last ND championship. Rick Mirer wasn't bad and came after Rice. Honorable mentions: Powlus no Book

So, we filled one big need- CF. These are what I see as our biggest needs, now: 1. SP (Solid 1/2 type Wacha QO?) 2. 2B/SS 3. Closer or top set-up man 4. SP (solid 3 type -Nate QO?) 5. RF/DH 6. RP (set-up) or 2 RPs (depth)

Not much to talk up about the farm, tonight. We got swept 3 games to nil.

For the first time ever: I was speechless.

Wow! Two HRs with a man on base. Has that happened in the last month?

Red Sox fans are the greatest in the world!

...and? Would they win, if they spent $200M, this winter? TBR might by spending $40-60M.

On the strawman's ledger, yes.

The "This is not a game thread" idea was brilliant. I'm kinda glad it didn't work, though.

You crack me up!

Updated 2023 Luxury Tax Dollars ($Millions) SP 25.6 Sale ~8.5 Pivetta (Arb 2 of 3) .72 Winckowski (pre Arb) .72 Crawford (pre Arb) .72 Mata (pre Arb) .72 Bello (pre Arb) minor Seabold (pre Arb) minor Kelly (pre Arb) minor Bazardo (pre Arb) minor Ort (pre Arb) RP 9.4 Barnes 4.7 Whitlock 1.5 Brasier (Arb 3 of 3, if he's not traded or DFA'd by '23 or nontendered) 1.1 Taylor (Arb 2 of 4) .80 DHern (Arb 1 of 3) .73 Houck (pre Arb) .73 Schreiber (pre Arb) minor Danish (pre Arb) minor P Valdez (pre Arb) minor K Ort (pre Arb) C ~1M McGuire (Arb 1 of 3) .72 Wong (pre Arb) minor R Hernandez (pre Arb) 1B .72 Hosmer (SD pays the rest) ~1.0 Cordero (Arb 2 of 3) minor Dalbec (pre Arb) 2B 1.3 Arroyo (Arb 2 of 3, if he's not traded or DFA'd by '23) .72 E Valdez (miLFA) 3B ~25 Devers (Arb 3 of 3) SS 23.4 Story minor Downs (pre Arb) LF ~6.0M Verdugo (Arb 2 of 3) minor Duran (pre Arb) CF 10.0 Kike minor Ja Davis (pre Arb) RF ~1.5 Refsnyder (Arb 2 of 3) Maybe $120M Total That's 36 players with 2 more having options: 13.0 Paxton 6.0 Pham Certainly some will be traded, non-tendered or DFA'd and we have 5-6 Rule 5 prospects we will be protecting: Rafaela German Walter Murphy W Gonzalez/Paulino/T Ward

I don't like it either. I've argued for a floor cap for as long as I can remember. One reason it is "possible" for the Rays to just spend more and win, is because they have a great system outside the budget. The Pirates could spend $200M, this winter and still suck.

The reality is their owner won’t spend, and maybe partially because it won’t add much revenue

3 year opt out not 3 year deal. Maybe $250M/10 but $35M the first 3, then $22M x 7. He will likely opt out but this protects him from injury or early decline.

Do what it takes. Front end load it, even if that encourages an opt out. Just get me… Devers forevers!

One thing to note: if the Rays win a ring, will their revenues go up significantly? I doubt it. That doesn’t mean that’s why they don’t spend big, even once, but they do make the occasional Charlie Morton signing.

Well said.

Two big reasons: 1. The QO scares some teams away from even talking about signing a QO FA. 2. Yes, he would get a multi year offer but maybe likes $18M/1 better than $40M/3. If he does well two years in a row he’ll make a ton next contract plus $18M

Sox prospects has him with one, and they have never put him on waivers, that I know of.

They care about winning. It’s obvious. The budget prevents rings but trading stars at just the right time is part of why they win more consistently than big spending Boston.

One problem is, we could bring Bogey back, even on a hometown discount and still see a decline at SS over the term of the deal, and I mean from year one. I don’t expect it, in fact I think he’ll do better next year, but who know? Who knows how Turner, Correa or Swanson will do either? Hell, I wanted Baez, last year! yikes!!!

Another big problem is, if Wacha and Nate accept their QO, we can only realistically improve, if both stay healthy and give us more IP without regression (well, maybe Wacha regresses as much as Nate progresses.).