moonslav59

2 a year or at least 3 every 2 years.

Yes, recently Cashman has been as you describe, but you haven't been "this close" in a while. He was a "seller" not too long ago, so it's hard to count his recent M.O. as one that will surely continue, but your point is well made.

I would not do that deal. I'm not sure I'd sign Archer to $9M/1 as a FA.

$9M will be much cheaper than Porcello. If it's $3-5M less, it would mean it might be another cheap FA being able to sign or not.

I do agree, but once you commit to a window, you are more likely to make deadline deals to "seal the deal" and make you the top contender. It doesn't mean you have to, but showing restraint is very difficult, especially if you have a big hole in July, and you think "this is the year." Dumping Happ will help, but losing Didi hurts.

True, but if a trade like Price for Myers was a close deal before, my guess is Price's value has gone up by more than Myers. Finding a 4th and 5th starter to replace Price and Porcello could be more costly, yes.

Upton makes more sense, if we trade JD (in another deal).

One side effect of these skyrocketing salaries is that many teams without large budgets will really be valuing their prospects and young players that are pre-arb or entering year 1 arb. (We should, too.)

He may need to have a great year, first. His defense may keep him from ever making it worth it.

True, but everyone knew he was injury prone. That hasn't changed much from last winter. I'm sure many teams would want Eovadli, right now. It's only for 3 years, now- not 4. The only question is at what cost- financially and in return players given. The Eovaldi-Odor trade notin mentions makes some sense. We get a 30 HR second baseman and save money (even more on lux tax), and the Rangers get a decent SP'er, if healthy.

Yup, their cliff is now looming.

Yes, on empty stomachs.

Maybe not as massive as we once thought.

So will Cole (maybe in a year or two).

If he was on the Sox, you'd be shocked.

...and people were calling me nuts for suggesting $350M/10.

I thought $100M in penalties seemed way too high.

$350/10 for Betts would look like a bargain, now.

On resetting... The incentives for the Boston Red Sox to slip under the luxury tax line in 2020 are manyfold, per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Because of higher penalties for repeat offenders, Boston could save themselves close to $100MM in tax penalties over the course of the next three seasons. Of course, to do so, they’ll need to get under the $206MM tax line. Another benefit takes into account a worst case scenario. Should Mookie Betts sign elsewhere as a free agent next year, the Red Sox could improve their compensation from a pick after the fourth round to a pick after the second round. They could also miss out on a potentially hefty revenue sharing rebate that will come from the phase out of Oakland’s revenue-sharing subsidies. Oakland’s market size has been superseded by lack of revenue, thus placing them among the revenue-sharing recipients, but their free ride is coming to an end. That money will be dispersed among the large-market, revenue-sharing contributors, perhaps proportionately so. That would be a boon for the Red Sox, but they risk forfeiture of the reward if they continue to spend over the tax. Hence, the David Price auction rolls ever onward.

He may have a slight potential to return to "top of rotation" status, but he is not there now.

Teams who really need pitching and miss out on the FAs they want may come back with a better offer for Price or Eovaldi.

One could argue Price is worth $9.5M a year and Myers is worth -$17M a year. Sounds like an even trade.

Returning to reality.

Winter Action from soxprospects.com... Marco Hernandez had a very solid week, going 5 for 13 with a double, two RBI, and two runs. His week included a 4-for-6 showing at the plate on Thursday. Jeremy Rivera was on fire this past week, going 8 for 16 with a pair of two-baggers, three runs, two RBI, two walks, and just two strikeouts. Hector Velazquez appeared in a pair of games and logged just 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (zero earned) on one hit with one strikeout and two walks. These two outings were the first two relief outings for Velazquez this winter. Colin Willis had a 2-for-6 week to keep his season batting average at .450. He's 9 for 20 with three walks this winter, giving him an OBP of .522.

Indeed!