moonslav59

It made a lot of sense to trade him after 2025, too, but of course we weren't 100% sure about Anthony. Some of us suggested trading him, last winter. Many did before he had the nice 2023-2024 seasons.

It is unpredictable. We may have 2-3 guys taken... or none. I'm not sure why Monegro jumps out more than others? He's ranked 33rd on sp.com for a reason. He's been in the minors since 2020 and never got above 76 IP. sp.com says this... Potential up-and-down, multi-inning relief arm. Ceiling of a solid, multi-inning middle reliever. Lacks the fastball quality or changeup to stick as a starter, especially given the effort in his delivery. Throws his fastballs less than 30 percent of the time. Has tried both a sinker and a four-seam fastball, but neither has been especially effective. Has struggled to miss bats with his fastball in the low minors, which will become even more of an issue against advanced bats. Slider is his best pitch and came on strong in 2024, but curveball has taken a slight step back. Changeup has gotten better, but is still a work in progress. Slider is a good enough pitch alone to carry him to the high minors, but he will need to find a second offering to complement it. If he takes a step forward with another pitch, projects as an intriguing relief prospect, as his velocity could jump further in short bursts. To have a chance to stick as a starter, needs to make major strides with finding a fastball that can miss bats and getting more consistent with his changeup. Pitches with emotion and swagger, and extreme confidence; entertaining to watch on the mound.

I thought Paez was on the IL- like Monegro.

Yes, I am aware they are platoon bats, and that was part of the reason I included PAs to highlight that fact. I am also aware that Ref could decline, and the comment you made was well founded. That is concerning. I think Ref got less PAs because he got hurt and Anthony squeezed him out of the OF role, since he can hit lefties okay.

I think they knew after 2018 that serious spending limits were coming. They may have legitimately thought we could still "contend" at a good enough level for a while, even after the 2020 cluster. 2021 reaffirmed that belief. At some point, however, I think they started putting on a show, which is what I call the sham. They were saying one thing and doing another. The "full throttle" statement was but one of many misleading statements, and when they all are put together, their message did not come close to their actions. Then, all the "Sox are in on" this guy and that and always falling short and settling on the Klubers and Richards. I think it was intentional deceptions, and many teams do this to various extremes. They may have actually believed they were in on Soto, but when you come up short so often, it just adds to the fan discontent. When they do spend, it seems like the minimal overture needed at just the exact time a revolt is about to occur. They lose Betts and Bogey plus others, and pretty much had to extend Devers. After 2021, and losing so many key players, they added what kinda looked like a large and long deal for Story, but it was sort of not. Yoshida was not large and long, either. The natives were restless, last winter, more so after the whole Soto false hopes, and the sign Bregman to the highest Sox AAV ever, but the one year deal looks kida hollow, now. They dump Devers as they extend other, but with no Devers, Bregman, Gio and Buhler, doesn't it seem like we have gotten nowhere since this time, last year?

May I ask this, if we don't add a major bat to replace Devers, not to mention Bregman, will you think this was some sort of sham by leading us to believe they would replace him In kind?

Some even whine about whining!

Like feeling more strongly about it being him? I think a few of us have said he should be the one for a long time.

I'm just not sure Monegro is that type of pitcher. Granted, I did not think Bastardo was either. It just takes one GM, but my guess is there are a dozen or more pitchers in a similar situation as Monegro, including 17th ranked Paez, also a Rule 5 guy vs #32 Monegro.

If we don't replace his bat, being angry at Devers doesn't change the fact that the trade hut us, too. (Not that you are saying otherwise.)

It was a play on the "having a face-to-face conversation" being "scary" comment.

No, it's not. I have said I'd be fine having one position like that, as long as we upgrade 3 others (1B, 2B/3B, SP, maybe DH or 3B/2B) I'm okay with Casas/Romy at 1B, with Bregman/Suarez and 3B and KMarte/Polanco/Bichette at 2B, I'm okay with Mayer/Romy at 2B or 3B, with Alonso/Schwarber at 1B and another infielder listed above. I'm okay with Masa/Ref or Masa/Romy at DH, if we fill at least 2 of the 3 slots in a big way. Bregman or Bichette are sideways moves not upgrades. I'm not even sure Polanco or Suarez are updates, except maybe on O, only. We really need Alonso or Schwarber. If The Mets sign Bregman, as some reports are hinting at, maybe Alonso can be had. If DD signs Tucker, maybe Schwarber is doable. Maybe we can outbid DD, anyway.

Indeed, among other things. Many people could have handled it better, including Devers. I wanted Devers forevers, but that became too difficult among the mega egos involved.

Are you suggesting they fear he'd pummel them?

It was a sham and will be, if he doesn't spend the money. He gave the impression we'd spend at the deadline, but he never came out and said it. There is ample evidence of the "sham." The :full throttle" was the most extreme. It's obvious they have been telling the team they are trying to build a winner "this year" for several years. They say there are no budget limits and things like that, and that is a sham.

But from what I heard they never came out and told him to play 1B.

I hated the trade and still do, but I do feel it needed to be done.

One step further: it's more about the non financail penalties for going over. The tax on going over a few million, like last year was minimal. Now, going over by $19M, next season at year 2 rates is significant, but I still think the other penalties (reduction of bonus pool money) are worse, even to miser John.

I could be wrong, but I do not think Cora ever asked him to play 1B, and Brez merely said we need you there. Even the concept of "asking" is off base. You should just have to say, "The team needs you at 1B, so start practicing to play there, soon." I doubt that was said.

No. I did not say that or imply it. The fact is, JH made us think he was back to spending big and then cut salary (Devers.) I do NOT think he planned on trading Devers when he signed Bregman, but he did cut massive salary. Yes, he also extended Crochet and Anthony, as well as Campbell, and that was on the heels of extending Bello & Rafaela. He also extended Chapman to a minor raise, after the Devers trade. This winter will show whether he replaces the Buehler, Gio and other lost salaries. What we do this winter is make or break, for me. There is a wide open window that can stay open for 3+ year, if we do things right. If we don't spend what is needed to fill the obvious gaps, the sham continues. It's not a conspiracy. It's not a continuing sham, unless JH significantly limits winter spending. It's conditional.

It seems as clear as day we need 2 infielders and 2 big bats. They could be the same two players. We have 4 OF'ers with DH blocked. We have 2 very nice looking OF prospects who already have ML experience. Seems like a "dah" to me. Trade an OF'er plus others for a solid $ SP or KMarte. Sign a big bopper (or two, if the trade is for pitching.)

Unless it's a steep "downhill," he has a ways to go to not be worth the measly contract he will get next season. The guy had a better OPS (131) than Bregman (128,) and since Devers (140) is gone, only Anthony did better. 2024-2025 140 Anthony (303 PAs) 132 Refsnyder (516) 124 Duran (1431) 118 Romy (557) 112 Abreu (864) _______ 141 Devers (2 clubs) 121 Bregman (2 clubs)

JH is getting better at "the game of sham." He signs Bregman, then dumps Devers. He signs Buehler to the highest AAV for a SP'er since Sale (who was an extension,) then DFA's him. He seems to do just enough to keep the fans hopeful or just mildly angry. (Of course a few are very angry, but are there enough of them?)

I think Slaten could be a very capable replacement for Whitlock, if we need Whit to close. I also think Tolle or some other converted SP'er could step in to fill pen gaps.

With the babyface Devers????