moonslav59

We've seen some major swings in how our GMs approach the trading of top prospects. Ben hoarded them and DD traded away over 20 prospects that at one point were ranked in the top 20 by soxprospects.com. We could probably count on one hand the amount of top 10 prospects traded away by Bloom, and many more of his traded involved acquiring prospects than trading them away. Even his trades for vets often has a prospect or two thrown in- like DHam with JBJ and Wink with Franchy. Maybe this is part of the cycle of winning strategy I have mentioned JH & Co. loosely following. Maybe it was more team philosophy shits rather than the individual choices made by the ever-changing GMs. I may have missed a few trades, but I'm pretty sure Brez has traded away more top 20 prospects in each of his last two years with BOS than Bloom did in his 4 years combined. Blooms major prospects traded away: 9. Aldo Ramirez (Schwarber) NR (was 13th once) Scherff (Robles) (Graduated but was a #1) Chavis (A Davis) Let me know if I missed some. _____________________________ Brez prospects traded for 2026: soxprospects updated their rankings list based on a few moves: Traded away: 4. Perales 6. Jh Garcia 8. B Clarke 8. Fajardo 20. J Travieso 36. Aita Lost to Rule 5: 21. J Paez Added: 6 Bennett (for Perales), 22. Ryan Watson (for Riemer), 30. Samaniego (w Oviedo & Guzman for Garcia & Travieso), 32. A, Guzman (see trade above), 33. L Heyman (obtained in Hoppe trade) Was ranked 34th before, 50. I Jackson (Obtained in Grissom trade) ______________________________ Brez prospects traded for 2025: 4. Teel (Crochet) 5. Montgomery (Crochet) 7. Tibbs (D May) 8. Meidroth (Crochet) 18. Wikelman (Crochet) 19. B Jordan (Matz) 25. ERod (20. Narvaez) ________________________ Brez trades for 2024: 6. Yorke (Priester) Added: 8. Fajardo (Booser) 12. Fitts (Dugo), 14. Sandlin (Ammons), 8. Fajardo (Booser) 19. Holobetz (Priester) ___________________________ There has been an obvious shift in our willingness to trade away prospects, but Brez has kept the top 5, unless you count Teel or Montgomery: Anthony, Mayer, Campbell, Tolle & Early.

Cots has us about $4M under the tax line. I think I heard somewhere that KMarte's remaining lux tax would be just under $14.7M. If we traded Duran ($7.8) + Crawford (2.7M) we'd be real close to the line. Maybe we can also sign Okamoto and trade some other salary- like Rafaela ($6.3M) Sandlin and Hicks ($10.2M) for Lodolo and stay under. 1. L Anthony CF 2. S KMarte 2B 3. R Contreras 1B 4. L Abreu RF 5. R Okamoto 3B 6. L Yoshida LF /R Campbell LF 7. R Story SS 8. L Casas DH/ R Romy DH 9. R Narvaez C Bench: Wong, Mayer, Campbell, Romy

Contreras turns 34 in May, but has just 2 years left. Does this make Casas trade bait or in the running for the DH slot? Do we still feel like we are logjammed at SP'ers from A+ to MLB? I gotta think 2B/3B is still a major need area. I'm not sure Brez is still looking for a #2 SP'er. Maybe we add a RP'er and 3B/2Bman (KMarte? Bregman? Bichette? Paredes? Donovan? Suarez? Vientos?)

I still think KMarte is our best shot at a major gain with one guy added. I think we need Duran's bat, so maybe AZ wants Rafaela plus ____. I hope it's not Tolle or Early, but I'm not sure we can pull it off with Rafaela, Crawford & Harrison. Maybe they want Romy or Arias or someone like Valera or Witherspoon, if we don't give them Tolle or Early. Not many 4 or 5 for one deals like Crochet's was, these days.

One of these two asks should make us better than 2025, but I agree- two puts us in serious competition mode.

He's a major plus over our 1B offense in 2024 and 2025. .734 in 2024 .691 in 2025 If we can fix 2B and not lose so much at 3B, we might be okay.

Gray has a $30M 2027 option w $5M buyout.

2022-2025 OPS Leaders Contreras is 31st at .817- ahead of Cal Raleigh, Lindor and Tatis. 45th in SLG .461- tied with Y Diaz & E Suarez (45th in ISO) 72nd in HRs w 77. 22nd in OBP at ,356- about tied with KMarte, Seager and J Ramirez

I think Fajardo will be more productive than Dobbins. Wow. 3 pitchers! I had a feeling we’d lessen the rotation logjams at a few levels

Contreras surprised people with his decent defense at1B in just a short time. He’s a good hitter but not much power. if we can add KMarte, I’d be okay with the winter moves. kinda surpyrised that Fajardo was included but the $8M might help us to afford one more addition.

Possible 1 or 2 year FA signings left... 3B/1B?: E Suarez 34, Moncada 31, Okamoto 30 2B: D Moore 33 1B: Hoskins 33, O'Hearn 32 SP: Bassitt 37, Corbin 36, Verlander 43, Scherzer 41, Eflin 32, Heany 35, Lorenzen 34, Monty 33 RP: Wilson 38, Newcomb 33, Junis 33 C: Realmuto 35, Caratini 32 DH: Ozuna 35

I see the point. Trading Duran takes away from the gain of adding KMarte.

I seriously doubt he could talk JH into spending more. He was nearly forced to trade Betts in 2019, but the team started winning. He failed to convince JH to spend on Kimbrel and Kelly or their replacements after 2018. I don't think it's tha simple.

What would DD do differently than Brez, with the Sox and the same limited budget? He might have done better than Buehler, but what about Bregman, Chapman, Wilson and the Crochet trade/extension. What if he has signed Burns or Snell?

I'm not saying I'd want to trade away this much of the future, but this could keep us under or near the tax line and significantly boost our chances. Trade Rafaela, Crawford & Harrison for K Marte Trade Duran for Lodolo Trade Dobbins & Mullins for Y Diaz Sign Wilson 1. L Anthony CF 2. S KMarte 2B 3. R YDiaz 1B 4. L Abreu RF 5. R Story SS 6. L Masa LF/R Campbell LF 7. L Casas/Masas DH/R Romy DH 8. R Narvaez C 9. L Mayer/R Romy 3B SP: Crochet, Lodolo, Gray, Bello, Sandoval/Crawford/Tolle/Early

I miss major FA additions.

Okay, but they cant be worse on D than Casas.

DD would not have much energy without some more JH cash.

To me, it's about his health, which is a major concern and might always be one. I agree that we need to add a more sure bet 1Bman, this winter, but to me 2B/3B is the biggest hole we have by position. A big bat (RH'd or a LHB with great splits) is actually the #1 need, but if he plays 2B or 3B, we'd be fine. If we won't sign a great bat who plays 2B or 3B, and I'm not sure Bregman & Bichette are big enough bats to work, and Suarez might offer more offense, but to me, K Marte is the best one player addition option. Two players could be: 2B/3B: Paredez, Bregman, Bichette, Suarez, Donovan 1B: Paredes, Suarez, YDiaz, Contreras

24 of 40 players on the 40 are pitchers.

Good point. Those teams did need at least one big FA to win the ring.

This is exactly why I have been suggesting a big trade or even two. I'm assuming JH will not be spending large and long.

I'm against continuing that trend- 100%. Even deals like Kluber, Richards and Buehler -apparently healthy- bug me.

Yes. Maybe as a DH.

I can't imagine us going through this winter without 1 or 2 significant FA signings. If we make a big trade or two, maybe not so many signings.