moonslav59

Looks like another Plan U, V, X winter.

Indeed, and needing to ask why is a head-scratcher. (Yes, I used that term again- last one was over the JBJ trade.)

Wonder if $168M/6 was even thought of.

Bringing Bregman back is fine, but we get no better than 2025 with just him coming back.

No, once again you are wrong. I said, if the offers were even, "I THINK" he'd prefer BOS. Big difference.

Okay, FIP and fWAR say hell yes, but Gray is a year older and Oviedo is a promise, of which we have 10 of them already. I'm not pulling stats out of the air. I like ERA- and OPS Against. ERA- 78 Bello ________________ 80 Giolito (145 IP) .685 OPSA 104 Gray (181 IP) .726 OPSA 115 Buehler (126 IP).795 OPSA 83 Oviedo (40 IP) .626 OPSA Looks pretty close, to me.

Agreed. I'm kinda surprised we even asked about him.

It's beyond obvious.

You may disagree, but you honestly need me to tell you why I think they will pay something? He'll be 32 in April. He makes $31M x 6 years. He's played about 2 season's worth of games in the last 3 years. Do the math for yourself. Sure, he might get $31M x 6 as a free agent, but TEX wants something back for him, right? I know how much you love BTV, but my guess is they have him at negative value and if they want something good back for him, they will either pay some cash of take on someone like Hicks. Maybe the Dodger trade a bag of balls for him- straight up... okay.

Damn!

What's the difference between TEX giving the team $20M or taking back Hicks?

That's what I am most afraid of, and why I want the best possible first bat, now.

They may not, but they will.

I disagree. Count KMarte as making up for the 850 PAs by Devers and Bregman, which is a rosy view, but then we have Mayer/Romy instead of DHam/Romy on offense and Casas, instead of Casas, some bums and then Lowe. Some more PAs by Anthony and no major injuries, and maybe we get to even. We weren't a top contender in 2025 and were at or near a top 10 offense. We should set our sights on staying even? I'm not sure Gray and Oviedo make up for Gio & Buehler, but let's call that even. No Wilson, Bernardino and others. Let's stretch again and cal that even. When is staying even a winning strategy? In a general sense, we can look at the roster and say, "Hey this team is pretty young and we should see some noticeable progressions. We can see more PAs from Anthony, Abreu and maybe Masa, but we know someone will get hurt. We should expect it and plan for it. We were not one big player away from a ring in 2025, and now we are supposed to strive for brining back the same or in kind players? Then, what if Duran drops even more from his '24 season? What of Story gets hurt or declines? What of 2025 was Rafaela's peak offensive season? What if Narvaez, Anthony and others have a "sophomore slump?" What if Casas is the next Dalbec? Are any of these wonderings way off base? We need to plan on major improvements with an emphasis on the plural. We need bold no status quo.

I agree on Marte, and if Duran or Campbell are part of the trade, the net AAV add is only about $12M. (Rafaela, instead, bring it to $13M or so.) This is probably the only way we get two big bats without going way over the tax line. Marte and 2 big FA bats would likely put us over the second tax line, even if it's Polanco, Suarez & KMarte. (Who plays 3B, if Suarez is at 1B?)

That's how I see it: open a slot for Mayer or mayer/Romy at 2B or 3B or trade him.

They can and will give cash, so no difference. Taking Hicks then DFA'ing him is the same thing.

By the end of the season, Lowe had sort of fixed the major problem at 1B, Romy was playing near FT at 2B and doing better than KC/DHam and others before, Bregman was back at 3B, although he slumped over the last 25 games, and Masa came to life late. Those season numbers are a bit deceiving. One could argue we won more without Devers to counter my point, but IMO, we have a lot to do to build up to just get to even. IMO, we need to boost up from 2025.

Agreed, but it won't change the offense.

I would not make the trade I mentioned.

When Masa or Hicks are included, it's almost always for a very high priced player and usually one that is overpaid. We could just ask for cash back, instead. They could just cut Hicks and it would be the same as cash.

He has been pretty damn good for 4 years, but the injuries kept those WAR numbers down, except for 2024. fWAR per 162 4.1 '22 2.6 '23 0.4 '24 2.9 '25 I think he's an option, because he might take a 1-2 year deal at half the money Bregisheete gets.

I think TEX would have to pay some salary or take Yoshida and or Hicks to help balance the cost. I don't think we should do this trade.

How about not including Wong, and HOU can sign Caratini?

Yes: sign Caratini for 1 year as a bridge to Yanek..