moonslav59

I think it's all about health and the return of Sale, Houck and to a lesser extent, Brasier. These are the likely ones to be replaced... Andriese Rios Maybe Workman for Brasier? (We'll know more about Workman when Brasier is ready.)

Since the draft is so much more hit and miss, one would think it is less important and therefore less reason to disallow trades of picks.

Even if the Sox felt they might make a strong play for Betts after 2020, I still don't think linking any extension or re-signing should be viewed as part of the trade. I get your point, and from the Dodger perspective, counting the extension seems obvious- just like we did with AGon.

I thought the Andriese signing was a good bet, but it's hard to get excited about a career 4.65 Pitcher, nor this.... 1.333 WHIP 8.3 K/9 is not bad 2.6 BB/9 is not so good 9.4 H/9 is meh Previous 3 seasons (2018-2020): 4.91 ERA 1.324 WHIP (3.1 BB/9)

It seems strange not to have already happened.

MLB.com Mayer Leiter Jobe Davis Watson Lawlar Rocker House Madden Frelick NBCsports Mayer Leiter Lawlar Davis Frelick Rocker House Watson Jobe McLain Fangraphs Mayer Leiter House Davis Cowser Lawlar Rocker Watson Jobe McLain Sporting News Mayer Leiter Jobe Watson Ford Davis Lawlar House Rocker Montgomery Prospectslive Mayer Leiter Jobe Davis Watson Lawlar Taylor House Montgomery Rocker

We have not picked this high since the 60's. There is good reason for some excitement. Having the best AL record and picking 4th is a special thing that has never happened in Red Sox Nation.

I agree, but it's debatable whether to include the extension as part of the trade. Since it wasn't part of the actual trade, I think not, but I can understand why some think it should be. It was similar to the AGon trade, where the extension was delayed but always expected.

The thing is, Eovaldi & Pearce turned out to be rather "earth shattering," despite not seeming to be at the time of the deals. As for Cashman, yes... 2020: nothing 2019: Joe Harvey for Alfredo Garcia 2018: Tyler Austin & Luis Rijo for Lance Lynn Shreve & Gallegos for Luke Voit McKinney & Drury for JA Happ 3 players for Zach Britton

The top 5 AL teams are starting to pull away from the rest. You got your three division leaders: BOS, HOU & CWS, and your 2 WC leaders TBR & OAK. The next WC teams are all 3.5 or more games behind Oakland: 3.5 TOR & SEA 4.5 LAA & NYY 5.0 CLE (All others are more than 9 games out) Deadline sellers? DET, MN, KC, TX, BAL In the NL, it's 5 and the rest, as well: The NLW has 3 of the best 4 records in the NL, and look certain to get both WCs. MIL & NYM have good leads in their divisions. Cincy is 5.5 behing the last WC team, right now, the SDP. Philly is 7.5. STL, ATL, WSH & Cubs are all 8 back and may be sellers at the deadline- PHI, too. These teams are 12 or more games behind the WC: MIA, COL, PIT, AZ (They should all be sellers.) Note: due to the rather poor record by the NLE leader, the Mets, these teams could still be in the race for the division crown at the deadline: PHI -4.0 ATL -4.5 WSH -4.5 The 3 weeks after the AS break is going to determine who are the sellers. Right now, it looks like there are a clear 9 sellers with another 6 to 9 possible additions in the next 3 weeks.

If it's $25.6, I think the Sox would have done that. That's still a big chunk of change that would radically alter future financial decisions for many years ahead, and we'd no longer have Verdugo, Downs and Wong, but if you include the extension as part of the trade, it gets more interesting.

None of those 3 had really promising outlooks when traded. Those are the types of deals Bloom may make. Going into this season, Bloom may have been envisioning trades like last summer- seller trades.

Ending up with the best record, or best AL record, would be sweet, but making the playoffs, perhaps by winning the ALE has to be the main prize sought, this year (without messing with our future, of course). More and more, it looks like we are the favorites to win the division and have very favorable odds at making the playoffs. WHAT A SEASON!

Sounds like the type of deal more than just one team would have done, including the Sox. Plus, there is debate over just what the AVV is.

There may be a Rule 5 eligible player or two, we assume will be protected but Bloom may not be all that high on. They may be trade candidates. Also, how much trade value does a guy like Potts have, now?

Yes, and also which teams would like to cut salary in a "lost season." To me, since we won't want to give up any top prospects, our best chance at getting an impact player or two is to trade for salary dump-type players. In theory, we could also trade for a starter, and move Richards or someone else to the pen, but a lot depends on Sale and our plans for how we use him.

I'd be happy with a HS SS, too, but my top 3 hopes are: 1. Leiter 2. Davis 3. Rocker If we end up with Jobe or Watson, I'll be surprised but not upset.

Bolstering the pitching staff and or 1B would likely help our chances, but Bloom is walking a tight line. I'm thinking 2022 and beyond has a higher priority, but you don't want to piss away a season where we have the best AL record near the AS break. These are the 10 guys I see as gone this winter, to make way for 3-4 FA signings and 5-6 Rule 5 prospects: Richards, Marwin, Chavis, Andriese, Workman, Santana, Rios, Arauz, Wilson, Potts I doubt we trade Richards or Marwin, but do any of the other 8 bring us what we need? (Assuming Bloom values the players like I suggested)

We lost 2 in a row and stil have the second best record in all of MLB.

So, you don't think any other team would have paid Betts that amount last winter?

I do, too, especially regarding long term team building.

but, but, but all the black holes in the line-up!

Duran will not be called up to be on the bench. The only guy worthy of sitting is MAYBE Dalbec. We could move Kike to 1B, but I seriously doubt that is the plan.

At the start of the year, if someone had said Judge & Stanton both had over 240 PAs and these Yankees would have these OPS at the All Star Break, one would expect the offense was likely in high gear: .785 Gaby Sanchez/.726 Higashioka .751 Urshela These are the sorry numbers: Odor 161 PAs Voit .688 Andujar .667 Frazier .634 Hicks .627 Torres .627

It's not a lock nobody takes Ward to sit on their 26 all year, but I doubt it.