moonslav59

Good one, so decimated is a step up from that.

Not to the team or the 25 man roster, but to the farm? HELL, YES!

It's not far from 30 either. Those bottom 9-10 are not far apart. (Note: I loved the trade and have been accused of wanting to keep all our prospects.)

It became one and was in hindsight, but not really at the time of the trade. It wasn't bad, but it was near the FA cost, per year. At the time, I argued it was like we signed him at top dollar and gave up 4 prospect as well- 2 of which were blue chippers and the throw-in, Allen was very promising. Once the closer cost sky rocketed, that part of the deal became a plus. (Even still,many teams had non FA closer who were making way less.)

'Stros in 6.

Looks way better than Nats-Cards.

There's an NFL game?

Chatham might, especially if we look for a deeper rebuild in 2020. Duran may be called up in September. I agree on Mata. DHern, Chavis, Dalbec, Houck and my longshot, Ockimey could be up near the start of 2020.

It's a tough balancing act. If we want to be stronger for 2021 or 2022, it would likely help to trade away several or all players that are under team control for just 1-2 years. If we want tom compete for the next 1-2 years, we should keep several or all players that will help in the next 1-2 years. Playing it "in between" might be the worst choice of all. One plan could be to deal every player with 1-2 years of team control, which would get us way under the tax line and help stock the farm or roster with younger players with more years of team control, then, sign a bunch of mid level, short term FAs to help us stay semi-competitive for the next year or two. The only way this hurts the extended future is that it lowers the draft picks a few notches, but the fam ns might enjoy it more. We'd still have a pretty solid core or players like Bogey, Devers, Beni, some injury & aging SP'ers and a few prospects showing what they got. We could even make a strong run at Betts after 2020, or use the money to sign other higher level players to make a more serious run in 2021 or 2022 and beyond. FAs after 2020: Betts JBJ (if still here after this winter) Workman Wright Leon FAs after 2021: ERod Barnes Hembree Pedey

What word would you have chosen had DD also traded Beni, Devers, ERod, DHern and others?

Of course, that's a great plan, but to get there (for the Sox), we may need to have a year or two of mediocrity or worse, hence the whole idea of "the cliff."

Yes, and the crapshoot is one reason a GM might feel like he and actually does need to go "overboard" to increase the odds of a ring. I'm not defending going overboard or way overboard, but just saying why it likely happens.

Same with players. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for everyone.

You don't have to bunt, although that can work. Just hitting the other way works, too.

Yes, but that was after not at the time. I've said any times the deal looks better after the closer prices skyrocketed

I get it, but you said "at the time," and at the time he was being paid more than any other closer, so I don't see the word "gem" as fitting.

I never said either was great . I like Dalbec better than Chavis because he's better on D

That makes it less like a gem.

I like Dalbec way better than Chavis, but he is not too 100 like many DD traded away. I'm okay with moving Devers to 1B to maximize the defensive value of Dalbec, but my guess is you and the Sox disagree. I'm fine with that choice. That being said, Dalbec is likely more valuable as a 3Bman to another team than to us. Why is that so hard to understand? Also, I'm not for further decimating the farm. If I trade Dalbec it would be for another young player but at another position.

In terms of what the other top closers closers were getting, there were many getting way less than CK. I think he was top 1 or 2 his first year and 3 to 5 his last 2 years. Yes, it would have been a good FA price, and maybe even a "gem" of a FA deal but several others were more cost effective, so they had gem deals

GMs get things right and wrong. It's gray not black and white.

Shocking from such a respected poster. I'm wondering if it was a typo or five of em.

It's not "all of a sudden." Stop, please. THose who have been defending Ben and critical of DD on trading prospects are not against ever trading prospects, especially ones that may be blocked, may be over-rated (in our opinions) or who we want to maybe trade for another very young player at a higher need position. Trading Dalbec for another prospect is is not the same as trading 4 for a vet. Nobody is saying "wait forever" on every single prospect. I'm glad we "waited" on Betts, Bogey & Devers.

It turned out the contract was okay to good, once the cost of top closers doubled in 2 years, however, I wouldn't call it a "gem".

Yes, but who knows why anyone would leave that much money on the table. It was a shock with Dempster, and it would be with Pedey, too. That was the point made.