moonslav59

Yes, and we could even pay part of his salary and still cut a lot from the lux tax budget.

Indeed, but why choose the year he's expected to be on the ML roster to say the trade is basically Sale for Moncada? He did have a pretty decent minor league history (3.05 ERA and 1.21 WHIP)

Or, JD.

LOL Should we be happy Dave got us this number 4?

Kopech does still have 5 years of team control, so I'm not sure writing him off is a good idea, just yet. He is 24 and reached the ML level in 2020.

You'd think with more big games on TV, there's be more money for the pool.

Depends on what they'd have set the budget at for 2022 and 2023, but I'd have liked our chances more.

Okay, I'm no expert on these CBA issues. I did not realize the playoff pool money stays the same while the games increase. That would be a big no from a union man like me. If they shorten the season (and pay) while doing that with the playoffs, I can understand why the union didn't even bother with a counter offer. Like adding the DH makes up for that. The DH is good for the game and owners, too. I get the feeling the next negotiations will be a big pain.

I was for paying Betts. Maybe the hope was we'd be closer to competing by this winter, but they realized one more year was needed, and by not going over in 2021, we could stay big spenders for one more year after we take the plunge. I do think we go over- maybe way over- next winter, despite losing a ton of contracts.

Most likely, but I think it is not unreasonable to think 2021-2022- maybe not to be the favorite, but in the mix.

There are still some high impact free agents on the market, but very few are linked to a possible Sox signing. Personally, I don't think Bauer is "that guy" you put so much of your budget into adding. (Same with Springer & Realmutto.) Here are the top FAs still available (ranked by MLBTR): 1. Bauer 4. Ozuna (We need a SP'er and OF'er, but that doesn't mean automatically sign the top players at those positions.) 11. Odorizzi (Still makes sense, to me, but I seriously doubt we land him.) 14. Turner (We don't need a 3Bman.) 21. JBJ (wants too many years) 22. Paxton (surprise signing, late?) 23. T Walker (see #22) 27. Rosenthal (I doubt we even make an offer.) 46. Porcello (fits the budget but maybe not the need) 47. C Hamels (rather have Porcello) 48. Melancon (would he really be a difference maker?) Honorable mentions of note: Jonathan Schoop Kevin Pillar Brad Miller Shane Greene Jake McGee Brett Gardner Jonathan Villar

They never said we'd go back to spending over the tax line in 2021, but we all kind of expected it. It's not like we're $20M under the line, though, so if we can't put a decent team on the field as the third highest spending team in MLB, something was wrong with the long term plan a few years back. I think we've already done enough to put a decent team on the field but certainly not a top 3 team- not even top 9 or 10. We've improved our long term outlook, for sure. We've set ourselves up to a point where we will be losing some big salary in the next two winter, and much of it is easily replaced when you consider we'll have tens of millions to spend. We would have had to spend like maniacs to be a top contender, this year, so I'm okay with thinking we will go all out next year and be set up for a 3 year window starting in 2022. I'm not sure that is the plan. I'll be more upset, if we don't go over the line, next winter. I'm okay with a longer view. I was hoping we made some big longer term move this winter, but I guess building the farm up can be viewed as "big." Maybe guys like Bauer, Odorizzi and Springer are not the types of players we want to build around. I thought Price was "that type." These three look worse. Now, Odorizzi is not seeking 7 years x $30M either. I tought, and still do, he would fit into a short and long term plan.

I'd say less than 1% on Odorizzi or Ozuna. Less than 20% on Schoop. Less than 50% on Pillar.

This is a tough year to draft, since play was reduced, last year, but you are right. While Trey Ball was a 7th pick, 4th is even more important. We HAVE TO score bigly! Top Sox picks: 3 Mike Garman '67 4 Ken Brett '66 5 Billy Conigliaro '65 7 Beni '15 7 Ball '13 7 Trot Nixon '93 12 Groome '16 12 Adam Everett '98 12 Tom Fischer '88 We haven't had a pick higher than 7th since 1967! Thanks, Dave!

Don't the players get a share of each playoff round they play in? Maybe not enough, but something, right?

b_i_n_g_o!

I'd rather see us sign Schoop & Rosenthal, which I think would allow us to fire sale ourselves back under the tax line, if things go south, but Odorizzi would force a starter to the pen and maybe be even better.

There has been a lot of talk about how very little the Sox have spent in the past 1.5 to 2 years, in terms of new deals and no big deals. I'm just pointing out some needed context. When you are already a top 3 spending team and will still be after the winter moves are made, complaining about not spending enough seems laughable, to me.

Did they ever say he was their 2Bman?

Why should we expect or assume Bloom & Co. do not view EHern in CF as a solid plan?

I wouldn't call it praise. It's reality, and when a poster complains that we are not spending enough, I chuckle. I guess the term "enough" is relative, but I don't expect us to spend more than anybody. I wouldn't praise us for being the third or the highest spending team. I reality, I'd prefer we win rings without having other fans say, "You bought your rings." If anything, I look down on the notion of being one of the biggest spenders. Will I complain wehn we spend large to get us over the hump and another ring? Hell, no, but I'd prefer we win without being a top 5 spending team.

I do think adding a lefty bat would be helpful, but to me, I like the idea of getting someone to play CF, even if it is EHern by adding a 2Bman. I think Verdugo is best in RF. I like a Beni-Renfroe platoon in LF both for defense and offensive reasons. EHern may not be very good on defense at 2B. Markakis could be an option. He's been over .800 vs RHP most of his career (.806 career and .816 in 2019). Reddick allows for a partial platoon in LF and RF as we choose the best two from Beni-Renfroe-Reddick each game. I like Ozuna, and maybe he's worth going over the tax line for and as a longer term player. (You think he will insist on 2 or 3+ years?) As much as I think pitching is still our biggest weakness, I keep thinking about Schoop or Pillar as the most likely additions we might see.

Even if our farm team ranking goes from around 20-25 to 10-15, that difference means little to most fans.

Certainly not right away. Who in America looks beyond today, let alone 4 years from now?

It seems like both sides want something in return for giving the universal DH a go, when both side want or should want it.