moonslav59

...and how well or poorly Price does.

Well, if Beni is the 2020 Beni, what's to replace? Yes, Eovaldi was second in IP for us, this year, but who know what to expect in 2021. I get the risk, but keeping them is a big risk, too... and a known cost.

It has to be viewed as a win for us. The shortened season made losing Betts more bearable. Verdugo looks like a keeper. Yes, Downs and Wong could be bonuses. I know I have people that disagree, but dumping half of Price's contract will be a plus, too.

Yes, and with Mookie having just one year left, had we kpet him and reset in 2021, we'd have gotten nothing for Betts but a comp pick.

For us and that team on paper, "bad," but it is average. I admitted I wrongly called 2019 the start of the cliff. I do think the disappointing 2019 season set things in motion that may have waited another year or two had we done well. We went into the 2019 season with high hopes, much like we did in 2014.

Yes, and the choice on when to re-set. Had we done well in 2019, we may not have traded Betts & Price to re-set, so soon.

Agreed. It was, however, the season that decided the rebuild was upon us, and the cliff was to begin.

...and his knee, earlier.

No, but 3 losses from .500 with that roster was a major disappointment, regardless of the injuries.

He could be re-signed through arb or not, show he can pitch in 2021 and then be traded next summer, assuming we are not in a playoff race. I agree, we are not likely going to be able to sign and trade him, this winter.

If we non tender him it's because his 2021 health outlook (last year of control) is scary. It would be scary to NY, too.

So, their over 100, now! WOW!

Okay, $38M to spend- maybe $58M, if Henry allows us to go over the first limit by $19.9M- doubtful, but possible, especially if we are in the race in July and need a couple expensive pieces. It might be a tough pill to swallow trading some big contracts and paying part of the deal, like with Price, but maybe a deal like last winter's suggested Price for Myers type deal might work. Eovaldi for Odor plus a cheap but decent player would cost the Rangers $5M more but save us $9M on the tax budget. (Just an example of the type of move that may be sought.) Here's some possible budget cutting choices: Non tender ... $8.5-$10.5M ERod $3-3.5M Peraza $1M Godley $1M Brasier $1M Covey (I think we keep $4M Barnes, $1.5M Plawecki & $1M Pivetta) Letting some of all go could "save" $10-17M, but then we have more slots to fill.) Sale $25M will not be traded, at least until he shows he's back. JD $22M may be dealt in the summer, if we are out of it, but it's doubtful we trade him this winter, unless we pay some or take back salary. Beni $5M could be traded, but his stock is low. Vaz $4.4M could be dealt, but adequately filling a catcher hole usually costs more than that in money or asset value. My guess at the top trade probabilities are: 1. Barnes 2. Eovaldi 3. Beni 4. JD 5. Vaz (We could sign ERod & trade him. If we can sign and get something for Brasier, Peraza, Godley, Covey or Brice, sure.) I wouldn't be surprised if we trade none of these guys, but I think we will. Bogey $20M, Pedey $14M or Perez $6,3M will not be dealt, IMO. $1M Brice

Updated

Agreed. When you see the money Oprah rakes in, it's hard to single out sports stars for making too much. It is what it is.

Done.

Pillar may come at half the cost and maybe 1 yr vs 2 yrs.

Isn't that something else TB has been known for for years? Getting marginal players to have a career year- sometimes 2-3 with them, then bye-bye.

I do, too, but he is over-blowing the loss of velo point. I've brought this up several times, but he keeps making the same misleading point. Yes, his velo is down, slightly from 2015 and 2017, and maybe a little more than slightly from 2018, but it is nearly identical to 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016- all pretty amazing years. See for yourself: https://www.fangraphs.com/players/chris-sale/10603/graphs?pitchgraphs=true&statArr=&legend=1&split=base&time=daily&start=2012&end=2019&rtype=mult&gt1=15&dStatArray=FA&ymin=&ymax= He's already proven he can pitch well with 1-2 less MPH on his fastball. His highest Velo year was 2018, but even then, he had several games at or below his 2019 numbers. His overall average dipped from about 95 mph to 94 mph, and we're acting like it's the end of the world.

I never said it did. My point was about us having a strong "will" to spend and spend like hardly anyone else.

I guess the word "will" is subjective. They spend a lot. Yes, they make a lot and "could" spend more with "more will," but they clearly have the will to spend a heck of a lot of money.

Okay, I see where I messed up. Thanks. So we have about $50M to spend, not $66M. If we decide to go $19.9M over, we can spend about $70M.

Is this on Netflix, prime, ???

Excellent post, cp.

We've been one of the biggest spending teams in MLB the last 5, 10 or 20 years. We've led the league in spending several times in the past 5-7 years. The will and the spending have both been present. We reset the tax, this year. It's not an indication we are becoming the Pirates. We've reset before and went right back to heavy spending. My guess is we will stay near the tax line in 2021 and go over in 2022. The will is there. It's just not "unlimited."