moonslav59

If teams are looking to cut their budgets, we may see a lot of decent players that are not really overpaid or grossly overpaid, being shopped around via trades. I'm also guessing that once most of the major players have been signed, there will be some bargain signings late in the off season. Signing a bunch could be the best strategy, even if you end up trading some in July.

I wouldn't trade a guy when his stock is so low. I expect him to bounce back. Unlike many here, I often consider trading players that are doing well- not poorly. Of course, he's "tradable," but I wouldn't, as of now.

In reality, who wouldn't trade anybody for a better return? I put DHern on the list, because I do think he has great upside, if he can lower his BB/9. I also think he can be an Andrew Miller type, who can give us 2 and maybe 3 IP.

Bloom didn't decide on the budget. Perez did pretty well for what he paid him.

I don't like assigning "blame" to Henry for his spending or lack of it, because he is spending more than just about everyone, even when he he requires a reset, but I do think not spending on anyone but Peres and dealing Price due to money was a major part. Here is goes, but I'm putting an asterisk next to Henry: 50% Henry* (budget issues) 40% Injuries and COVID 9% Bush 1% Bloom

Very true, and one can hope we see improvements from those who were down in 2021. It may be hard to replace JBJ's 2021 numbers, even with JBJ returning. As for the pitching, we were 30th in team fWAR pitching at -0.2. The next closest team was AZ at +1.5. We were second worst in ERA- at 121 (DET was 126). Starters: 24th in ERA- at 115 Relievers: 26th in ERA- at 125

I was thinking Desclafani is a RP'er. Moving Eovaldi would solve that "logjam."

I would not trade Devers, DHern or Sale. I am not "for" trading many other players, unless the return is better for the longer term.

This allows for Duran & Downs to win the CF & 2B jobs by 2022. It only adds 1 RP'er, but we could add more at the deadline, or use Eovaldi as the closer. Both SP'ers have question marks, but none are long term signings or high-priced signings.

Maybe this might work, assuming $35M is the suggested guideline: $13 x 3 Odorizzi $9M x 2 Quintana $6M x 1 Hernandez $4M x 1 Desclafani $3M x 1 Marisnik

One by the very guy who took the job! Everyone knows Henry is committed to winning, and Bloom has a nice resume, too. I'm sure Cora is thrilled to be back and is excited about the challenges ahead, knowing we will be adding better players each year, going forward.

That is the type of scenario I could see Bloom working out. I'm worried about adding a pitcher with health concerns, though. (I'd love to see Simmons as our FT SS.)

Said already.

Indeed, but we would not be handing him away for nothing.

Maybe a little. I think we need a few more signings to have a better idea.

I like something like "J", too, but I think we should try to sign at least one guy to 3 or more years, especially if we are seeing "Bargain rates".

With T-Rex arms?

A rare attribute, these days. I really like the Cora-Bloom dynamic. I can't help but think we will be seeing some very highly successful days under these two- hopefully sooner than later. Although I prefer a longer term approach, not making the playoffs for 3-4 straight years hurts like hell.

I respect you and your opinions as much, if not more, than most posters here. Yes, we disagree a lot, but we do find common ground from time to time, and I enjoy discussing the Red Sox with you. On this sensitive issue, I think people and posters tend to get emotional when things are going badly. It seems to be our nature to seek to blame somebody for the problems we have, right now. Some even blame Henry- the greatest thing that's ever happened to the Sox. We've even seen Theo and Tito and just about every person with a major role in the last two decades of the Red Sox history of success get blasted at some point or another. Nobody is perfect, and we tend to let them know when they are not. I guess that can be seen as juvenile, unfair and a lot of other words, too. I get your point, and you have been very consistent and unwavering with it for as long as I've known you. Perhaps, I have been hypercritical, at times, as my passion for winning probably gets the best of me, but it's clear we all love the Sox in our own ways- sometimes in a bit peculiar ways. Anyways, I greatly appreciate your contributions, too.

So, according to cots, the Sox have about $35M to spend under the lux tax and $55M to stay under the second penalty line. I'm not sure, if there is a directive to stay under either line, but let's assume Bloom is given about $35M as a guideline. Going by the numbers from MLBTR, which of these two signing groups would you choose? A. $32M x 4 Bauer $3M x 1 Marisnik B. $25M x 5 Realmuto (Trade Vaz for a CFand/or RP'er) $9M Quintana C. $25M x 5 Springer $9M x 2 Quintana D. $18M x 4 Ozuna $17M x 4 Stroman E. $17M x 4 Stroman $13M x 3 Tanaka $5M x 1 Pillar F. $13M x 3 Odorizzi $10M x 3 L Hendricks $10M x 2 J McCann (Traded Vaz for a CF'er) F. $13M x 3 Odorizzi $10M x 1 Paxton $9M x 2 Quintana $3M x 1 Marisnik G. $10M x 1 Paxton $9M x 2 Quintana $8M x 2 T Walker $8M x 2 K Wong (Duran in CF) H. $10M x 1 Paxton $9M x 2 Quintana $8M x 2 K Wong $7M x 2 T May $3M x 1 Marisnik (Total $37M) I. $9M x 2 Quintana $8M x 2 K Wong $8M x 1 C Morton $7M x 2 T May $3M x 1 Marisnik J. $8M x 1 C Morton $6M x 1 C Hernandez (2B) $6M x 1 A Colome $5M x 1 Lester $4M x 1 Desclafani $5M x 1 Pillar

I hardly bring up DD (or Ben) either, unless in response to someone else bringing them up. Certainly there are posters who post to get under people's skins, but I don't think it gets out of hand. Kimmie may be DD'd biggest critic, but I don't see her as being even close to juvenile. I'm not asking for you to name names, but I'm not seeing what you are, but hey, that's what makes for a lively discussion board.

OMG! Bloom is sitting on his hands! How could he let him get away?

Not sure what's juvenile, but I welcome all opinions.

I see it more as defending Ben against the bashing than praising him. I also see it as an attempt to give Bens some credit for DD's success by providing him with a farm full of desirable prospects who allowed DD to acquire the players needed to get to the promiseland.

That's why many of the very good RP'ers only have a WAR around 1.0 to 1.5.