moonslav59

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.

Agreed. We have basically punted all decisions until next winter. EHern will be back, if not traded, and Richards has an option for 1 more year. We have done nothing for the longer term.

I think Ozuna would cost too much and doesn't solve the CF defense issue. I still think Schoop and one of the cheaper RP'er options you mentioned might be the most realistic and possible scenario we can expect. A Pillar and RP'er signing is equally possible.

No way we sign JBJ to 3 years-let alone 4 or 5. Rightly so!

He shouldn't have been, except that he was never really tried in the closer role. He was one of baseball's best set-up men for 2-3 years before 2013. Year WHIP K/BB 2010 0.955 11.0 2011 0.723 9.4 2012 0.639 14.3 2013 0.565 11.2 2014 0.917 10.0 2015 0.917 5.2 His biggest drop in WHIP came between 2011 and 2012. His best K/BB rate was in 2012. One could argue that was his best career year. That 0.639 WHIP in 2012 was better than any season from Mo Rivera.

I think we are already the third highest spending budget team, as of now. We may be done spending, this winter, and are saving any budget space for the summer, but I'm thinking there may be some real bargains coming up, and why not pick up a few. We could also end up trading them for decent prospects at the deadline. I think signing Schoop and moving EHern primarily to CF would be enough to solve the OF situation for opening day. We could also add a cheapy like Marisnick or some other near min wage defensive OF'er. I doubt we are even kicking the tires on Rosenthal or any other costly RP'er. (I'm starting to wonder about the Ottavino deal, when I see what Colome and other good RP'ers signed for.)

I read somewhere, we are paying the full bonus, but cots is a very trustworthy site. "The Yankees are reportedly sending $850,000 to the Red Sox, who will be on the hook for most of Ottavino’s $8 million salary and a $3 million signing bonus." -Boston Herald

LOL! That being said, we will still be a top 3 or 4 spending team in 2021. We may still have some spending to do.

If we sign Schoop & Rosenthal, I'd be thrilled. I doubt we sign even one.

The Sox are paying his $3M bonus, which is paid in Jan '22. 3 + 8.2= 11.2, so yes, 6.5 is almost half.

For us, yes. Wong and Colome are off the boards.

Only $6.5M guaranteed. That's about half what we will pay Ottavino.