moonslav59

Romy could share a platoon with Masa at DH, Lowe or some other LHP at 1B or 2B/3B, especially if DHam (gasp) is involved in playing a lot.

No. His amount of play vs RHPs was because of injury. His amount vs LHPs was earned. He started playing more once Campbell was demoted. That was not an injury. Yes, he was able to DH due to Masa's injury and play 1B due to the Casas injury, but he'd have played 2B vs every LHPs once Campbell was demoted.

There is ample reason to not believe anything this management team has said or promised, but they did talk about replacing the Devers money. Now, that's about $30M, and we may be able to spend around $45M and stay under the tax line, so on this, I'm not sure just sticking to precisely their words will be enough. Make some nice bargain deal and spend the $45M. Add a trade that works and we could be a vastly better team in 2026.

Unless he looks bad in ST'ing, I think he be taken.

I'm fine with trying to find bargain players that will produce better than what we have, now. I welcome that. I do not see many opportunities to improve on many slots without costing more money or trade capital, but we do have a few. 1B is one, and getting Yandy could be nice, as long as we get a big power bat at 3B/2B or DH. I guess it could be SS (Story to 2B) or Catcher, but those slots are expensive to fill at the star level. We shall see how we fill the SP2 slot, and if it is by trade, we may add to or subtract from the budget, but I do hope we don't use the budget as a reason not to improve to the best level we can under whatever budget is set or suggested.

Criswell also has no options, so it's make the 26 on opening day, an IL stint of get rid of him, somehow. He's been better as a SP'er than a RP'er with the Sox, but it's hard to envision placing him above 8-9 others already on the 40. '24-'25 SP: 92 IP 79 ERA- (2nd best on team) 4.19 xFIP (6th best) RP: 25 IP 154 ERA- (Worst among all RP'ers on the Sox w 25+ IP) 5.55 xFIP (worst)

You mean Boobindo?

I was thinking DHam could be traded. I meant my statement to say they might like Sogard better than before- not better than DHam, but it sounded like that's what I meant. (Sogard has options- DHam does not, but if we need one IF utility, it should be Romy not DHam or Sogard. If we go with 2, and we can get something good for DHam, the step down to Sogard might be worth it. DHam cannot play SS well.)

Agreed. A third team (PHI?) might be needed.

Unless we extend Skubal at a decent rate, why trade for him? He's a FA in a year. Kluber and Masa were Bloon guys.

Do you think the winter budget can be $45M? If Alonso goes for $39=0M AAV, we can have $15M for another signing(s.) If we trade Duran, we may save up to about $7M. Dump some of Hicks or masa could help, too, but we've beaten those horses to death several times over. Campbell could save close to $7M and Rafaela a few as well. These are not salary dumps, as they would bring back talent, but if the talent costless, we could add to the remaining balance and perhaps sign a second big contract.

They may have tried hard to do it, but SEA offered more.

It's been brutal watching Casas on D, too.

I think DHam is a keeper or gets traded, assuming they like Sogard more, now. They will likely keep Guerrero over 1 or 2 of the out of options guys. We could see criswell, wink or Moran traded, but how many teams are sure they make their 26?

We will have to have another catcher in the fold before we let him go, but I think he'll be back.

I was thinking the same thing about Schwarber at 1B. Nobody can be worse than Casas, and maybe Kyle is equally as bad as Alonso, or just a little worse on D, but PHI had Harper at 1B, so we didn't see Kyle.

If we go old, I'd look at Merrill Kelly. Any thoughts on Nick Martinez or Heaney- both 35?

Naylor is out there, too. Here in HOU, there is talk Paredes is being shopped.

3B: Suarez 1B: Alonso DH: Yoshida/Romy 1 OF'er: Traded (not DH'd)

YOu make good points, but I actually like his approach. I hate his D. I hate is baserunning. I like his approach. I loved his results, until the 4 weeks to start 2025.

I do not see a 40 man roster crunch, at all, unless we are looking at adding 4 or 5 players over the winter. Even then, having to trade or DFA someone like Grissom, Eaton or Guerrero is no big loss. Counting the 9 players on the 60 Day IL, who need to be added back soon or DFA'd, we have 41 players on the 40. Add Sandlin (not Mullins or Bleis) and it's 42. NOn tender Lowe and Grissom gets us to 40. Add a pitcher via trade (1 forty man gut for 1 forty man pitcher- maybe try for a 2 for 1 deal) Sign a 3Bman>>> DFA or trade Eaton Sign a 1Bman>>>DFA or trade Guerrero If we add anyone else, my guess is we can and will trade or DFA one of these out-of-options players: Criswell Hicks Winckowski Moran I simply cannot believe we start the 2026 season with all these 4 guys in our 8 man pen. Other trade candidates might be: 1 SP'er from Crawford, Fitts, Harrison, Dobbins, Perales or maybe Tolle/Early in the big trade involving an OF'er for a 32 SP'er. DHam or Sogard Murphy Is anybody really worried about losing most of the players I listed above? No major roster crunch, this winter, unless Brez wants to add 5-6+ new additions.

As much as some seem to think we are far away from a ring, I do agree we can become highly competitive with these three major moves. One is just bringing Bregman back or replacing him in kind. One can be made by trading from strength & depth. The last will mean spending largely.

MN may prefer prospects to Duran.

People are free to talk about anything and everything, but Casas will NOT be traded, this winter. Zero chance.

Sounds a lot like the story on Buehler.