moonslav59

I'm ignorant of prospect values on other teams. I trust you know better. I'd still do this trade, even with Gray onboard. Bello would be our #4! 1. Crochet 2. Gray 3. Lodolo 4. Bello 5. Sandoval, Crawford, Dobbins, Harrison, Early, Tolle, Perales A switch hitting power bat that finally fixes our decade long hole at 2B. Do it! Add Alonso and I'm on cloud 9.

That $20M makes the move fine with me. Now, we can still afford others on our wish lists.

The only way I see adding another SP'er is if we include Crawford, Dobbins or Harrison in that deal. We did lessen the SP'er depth to improve our ML quality level for the rotation, but the 40 man still has the same number of SP'ers.

I've been Ref's top promoter on this site. Nobody comes close.

Probably a good thing. We also are better positioned to make a second trade, as we still have Duran. Duran plus _____ for K Marte? Then spend big on Alonso.

I'm fine with Fitts, but Clarke is a lot to give. Had we included Hicks, I'd be okay. This seems liek too much. I'd still like to get Ryan or Lodolo, too, but we need two bats, so this it probably it for rotation building.

Interesting. Is the second year still at $30M? If so, it's essentially $61M/2 or $41M/1 It was $75M/2 or $40M/1. Why would Gray agree to this?

Ref is a slipper not a shoe.

Is Polanco better at 3B than Mayer? I agree he probably is better than Romy at 3B.

Reports were that we wanted him, but I have my doubts. It makes sense that SFG wanted to cut some cost. My guess is we'd have gotten worse players in return, if we did not take Hicks.

Ryan is not financially expensive. KMarte's AAV is $19,4M. Question: do the Sox have KMarte's $19.4 AAV counted going forward, or did they change the rules to make it adjusted to remaining AAV on his deal?

Gray is 36 years old. He has very nice 3 year numbers but dipped in 2025. 96 ERA+ (50th in ERA- at 105, out of 70 pitchers w 150+ IP) His 3.39 FIP was still pretty nice. (12th) In 2026, only 18 pitchers had more IP (180) 70 pitchers had 150+ IP and Gray placed: 7th in xFIP at 3.07 7th in K-BB% at 21.6% He's owed $35M in '26 and $30M in '27 with a $5M buyout, so essentially: $40M/1 or $65M/2

I hope STL took Hicks to balance the money a little, but maybe some cash is involved. Can't wait to hear the return package. Does this mean no Ryan?

Wow, this is actually one guy I mentioned as a possible trade target! I know: blind squirrel on a broken clock.

So.... He didn't ask? He asked but declined all offers in hopes he would not be selected?

Agree. I like Early's chances more.

I'm not for acquiring Kim to be our next 2Bman.

The only think M Kelly has going for him is a likely 1-2 year deal with no trade capital expended. 2023-2025 (450+ IP- 40 qualified pitchers) fWAR: 5. S Gray 12.8 (trade?) 7. Valdez 12.1 8. Cease 11.7 10. Lopez 9.6 (trade?) 14. Gallen 9.0 15. Peralta 8.9 17. Ryan 8.6 (trade?) 18. Bibee 8.2 (trade?) 19. Castillo 8.2 (trade?) 21. Burnes 8.0 22. Keller 7.9 (trade?) 26. Bassitt 7.4 27. Singer 7.3 (trade) 28. Ober 6.6 (trade) Bello is 31st (5.4) ___________ ERA- 74 Burns 81 Peralta & Valdez 88 Gray, Lopez 89 Bibee 91 Castillo 92 Ryan Bello 93 95 Bassitt 98 Keller & Gore 100 Ober 101 Singer (YUCK!) _____________ xFIP 3.64 Ryan 4.04 Singer _______________ K-BB% 2. Ryan 23.5 29. Singer 13.9 ______________ M Kelly might be their father, but Ryan is Singer's Daddy!

Not bad. I wonder why get RHB N Marte, when we have RHBs Garcia & Campbell for LF. I might try to give Garcia or Campbell and keep LHB Abreu. I'm not sure AZ gives up KMarte for the two you suggested.

You honestly don't remember?

I like Alonso, Schwarber and K Marte about the same. Getting two would be mind-blowing (and near impossible.) Alonso's "ability" to play 1B is not all that big of a plus. He might be as bad as Casas on D, so that aspect is not really a plus, especially if Casas returns to form. One would need to DH, anyway, as Schwarber will likely do, if we added him. The RHB is a big plus, but KMarte is a switch hitter and would check that box, too. I don't see Bregman or Bichette as the big RHBs we need, so Schwarber plus one of them does not really check of the big RHB box on our winter wish list. I get that. Schwarber's age (will be 33) is also a bigger concern over KMarte (32) and Alonso (31) but he might take 4 years over the 5 KMarte has or 5+ Alonso might get. I'm not sure the age issue goes away, if KS takes 4 years. To me, we really need one of these 3. Getting Alonso plus KMarte would be amazing, especially if we can also add a solid #2 SP'er.

It might take MM+ to get KMarte, but that works, too, if we can get a SP2 for Duran (via 3rd team?) Alonso & Bregman seem to check the big "clubhouse guy" box, but I don't have faith in Bregman aging well, and he will probably get a 5 year deal. The Sox and 5 or more year deals don't grow on trees, and most have not worked out well. Also, I think Alonso gets 5 years, so 5 years for Alosno, Bregman and a trade for 32 year old KMarte w 5 years left seems almost impossible. I realize this is just your hope, and I like that infield you constructed (O & D) and the SP'er we could get for MM and maybe others would likely be better than a Duran+ others deal can get us. Given the idea that Brez will have a restricted budget, I disagree on your B- grade for Alonso, Polanco & Ryan. I'd prefer KMarte over Polanco, but I'd still give that 3 player job a B+ or even A-. I think we'd be a top contender with Alonso, Ryan and Polanco. 3B would be a worry. Polanco would be, too. I'd assume no Duran to get Ryan, so the O takes a dip a little there, but the two gains more than make up for that. The D is no better with Alonso & Polanco.

Do you think it's possible he asked what teams would give for Ward and got no offers?

The other one year guy talked about is Peralta. Do you trade Campbell for him? PASSWORD + Crawford? Bubic is another one year guy.

What scares me most about Suarez is his age and recent numbers that are significantly worse than his 2025 age 34 season: OPS+ 128 2018-2020 (prime years) 78 in '21 130 in '22 105 in '23 127 in '24 Okay, the homers got me hooked (lined and sunk) but 34 HRs per 162 since 2021 is kinda what we need. My mention of Suarez, so often is more out of the idea that JH wants Brez to find shorter term deals. I'd much rather have Alonso, Schwarber or K Marte. I think I'd rather have Polanco over Suarez, because he is 2 years younger, but I worry 2025 was a fluke, and he hasn't had over 525 PAs since 2021. I'd also prefer a Mayer-Romy platoon at 2B over 3B, but with the Suarez defense at 3B, that sort of negates that aspect of wanting Suarez over Polanco. To me, two big trades makes the most sense: 1. Ryan or Lodolo 2. Marte If we don't get Marte, then sign Polanco and maybe trade for a 1Bman? Who? or just sign Hoskins/Bell. That would make JH very happier. Maybe trade for BLowe or Donovan not KMarte? My dream: Ryan or Lodolo then.... KMarte & Alonso of Alonso & Polanco/BLowe/Donovan None of these suggestions seem overly expensive or outlandish.