moonslav59

I understand why they let Robbie Ross go. He's coming off a serious injury and would have had a substantial arb cost. In some ways, Ross was our most consistent and effective pitcher from 2015 to 2016. He gave us 55+ innings both years. He walked a few too many guys to be an elite RP'er, but he filled a need very nicely for the Sox. Good luck, Robbie. OPS Against 2015 .729 (.649 v LHBs) 2016 .624 (.545 v LHBs)

So, the cost differential on Gallardo was $11M ($13M -$2M buyout). Close call. I agree on H.I.

As expected, the Sox exercised the options on Sale ($12.5M) & Kimbrel ($13M). Robbie Ross and Josh Rutledge elected free agency after being outrighted. Bryce Brentz and Williams Jerez were added to the 40 man roster (now at 37 as players come off the 60 day DL). Here's the 37 man roster: Betts, Beni, Devers, JBJ, Bogey Sale, Kimbrel, Pomeranz ERod (will be on the 60 day DL), Pedroia, Vazquez Price, Porcello, HRam Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Wright, Maddox, Workman, Thornburg (starts on 60-day DL?),Scott, Johnson, Velazquez, Taylor Travis, Hernandez, Lin, Leon Bubble: Brentz (May sign in Japan) Marrero Holt (with Pedey out, will likely stay) Hembree (out of options) Jerez Elias Swihart (utility man?) Owens (The first to go?) Here's the rule 5 eligible list: Victor Acosta Yoan Aybar Trey Ball Jeremy Barfield Jalen Beeks Danny Bethea Jordan Betts Ty Buttrey Rusney Castillo Harrison Cooney Jake Cosart Enmanuel De Jesus Jhonathan Diaz Willis Figueroa Pat Goetze Daniel Gonzalez Justin Haley Juan Hernandez Bryan Hudson Dedgar Jimenez Raiwinson Lameda Deiner Lopez Isaias Lucena Danny Mars Kyle Martin Algenis Martinez Kevin McAvoy Daniel McGrath Ritzi Mendoza Mike Meyers Mike Miller Samuel Miranda Joseph Monge Jhon Nunez Justin Pacchioli Yankory Pimentel Jordan Procyshen Hildemaro Requena Jeremy Rivera Fernando Rodriguez Jake Romanski Chandler Shepherd Josh Smith Teddy Stankiewicz Cole Sturgeon Aneury Tavarez Carlos Tovar Marcus Walden Jordan Weems Jantzen Witte Minor League Free Agents Brian Bogusevic Dan Butler Ryan Court Jacob Dahlstrand Matt Dominguez Conrad Gregor Shawn Haviland Kyle Kendrick Heiker Meneses Edgar Olmos Mike Olt Mitchell Osnowitz Tim Roberson Steve Selsky Jose Sermo Herny Urrutia Elih Villaneuva

So, your team said no to Iwakuma and Gallardo. Your thoughts?

Jeffery Todd commented that if the Sox sign the 3 players MLBTR projects they will (JD Martinez, Logan Morrison and Bryan Shaw, they will then trade JBJ. He didn't suggest for whom. (My guess is a SP'er.) 1. Bogey SS 2. Betts RF 3. Beni CF 4. JD Martinez LF 5. Morrison 1B 6. Devers 3B 7. HRam DH 8. Pedey 2B 9. Vaz C

Then the fell short of expectations. The three Dodgers obtained from the Sox did not make meaningful contributions to all 5 winning years. 15 total WAR over 12 contract years at untold millions of dollars was not a success. The Dodgers could have won more by better spending those dollars. They paid CC $21M to sit at home this year. That's Pabloesque. They still owe AGon over $20M next year, and he might be the back-up 1Bman. I'm not saying I'd rather have HRam and Pablo than AGon, but that's not the real or only comp that should be made. The Sox won a ring with the money saved. We'd be have been screwed had we not dumped those salaries. I'm surprised that's even up for debate. The "contributions" the three players made to the Dodgers was okay at first, but even the first two years were disappointments. I doubt their combined value ever exceeded their combined salaries, even if their so-so years. The ends of their deals were atrocious, and only the fact that the Dodgers could spend like maniacs kept them winning- not these three guys.

All I wrote was that the Dodgers "survived" the trade by advancing to the postseason five straight years with contributions from Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez in some of those years. The trade was not the Dodger disaster some Red Sox fans make it out to be. The Dodgers could afford the burnt salary. I'm not sure I've heard anyone rant about how the trade hurt the Dodgers. It was more about how we got out of having to pay almost all of their contracts. BTW, you did say more than just what the two of the players did in a few select year. You hinted that Sox players did worse. Napoli and nava did better than AGon & CC, and if you add Beckett to the equation, there's just no way anyone can spin that the "contributions" were worth it. Since the trade, the Dodgers have posted a 491-355 (.580) regular-season record while the Red Sox have posted a 441-405 (.521) record with two last-place finishes. Teams can win despite having under performing players and busts. We won despite Lugo. Boston fans can continue their long-standing tradition of dissing departed Red Sox players but Carl Crawford earned his 2013 and 2014 salaries with the Dodgers, according to fWAR salary conversion: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...ition=OF#value You always seem to selectively choose the sample sizes to fit your position. Even those two years from CC were not that great, and the rest of his deal more than offset those two years. Then you talk of AGon and CC's 2-13 years and compare it to the Sox lack of big WAR players in 2017. CC didn't even play the last year of his contract (2017) and AGon is a shell of his former self. Why not compare 2017 AGon & CC to what we replaced them with? or, 2013 CC and AGon to what we had at 1b and LF in 2013? Isn't that more fair? AGon was clearly a big disappointment- no if, and, or buts. The fact that he had a couple decent years does not take away from the overall fizzle. BTW, I still have very good feelings towards several ex-Sox players, but I'm not disputing how many Sox fans like to roast ex Sox players.

I have no beef with Beckett. I even think the whole chicken gate was blown out of proportion and too much blame was placed on JB. I only have two Sox jerseys with a player's name on the back: one is Ortiz and the other is Beckett. I still wear my Beckett jersey with pride as I mow my lawn.

Come on harmony, any Dodger fan or executive would tell you Crawford was a total unequivocal bust with us and LA. (5.0 total WAR in 5 years on the books. Christ, we paid a dollar to get Nava, and he gave us more than that!) The money they paid him, even with the amount we paid was still a terrible deal for them. AGon was a disappointment. (9.6 total WAR in 5 years) You also conveniently neglected to mention Beckett who racked up a massive WAR total of 0.5 in 2 years. All totaled, they got about 15 WAR for 12 contract years at a high rate of pay. How you can try to sugar coat it baffles me. FYI, some Sox WAR numbers at 1B and LF from 2013 to 2017 at fractions of the cost of the clowns we traded. 3.9 Napoli 1B 2013 2.6 Nava LF 2014 2.4 Napoli 1B 2014 Team WAR at 1B and LF 1B 2013: 5.2 2014: 1.0 2015: 1.7 2016: 4.3 2017: 0.9 Total: 12.1 LF 2013: 4.2 2014: 3.1 2015: 0.0 (The HRam disaster) 2016: 2.2 2017: 1.9 Total: 11.4 Then, there's Beckett, who is harder to compare... 2013 Dempster 0.5 or Doubront 2.2 2014 DLR 0.4 or Webster 0.3 or Masterson 0.1 2015 Miley 2.6 or ERod 1.7 or Kelly 1.2/R Hill 1.1 2016 Wright 2.7 or ERod 1.2 2017 Fister 1.3 So, the Dodgers still won, despite the trade. That doesn't mean it was a good trade for them. It sucked for them and was great for us.

Leaves us very close to the second level luxury tax penalty- probably over, unless we cut or trade some salary. Kinda squeezes out HRam, unless we trade an OF'er (JBJ for a pitcher?). I like the plan. 1. Bogey SS 2. Betts RF 3. Beni LF 4. Martinez DH 5. Morrison 1B 6. Devers 3B 7. Pedey 2B 8. JBJ CF 9. Vaz C Bench: HRam, Leon, Hernandez, and one from Lin/Swihart/Holt/Marrero/Travis S1 Sale S2 Price S3 Pom S4 Porcello S5 Wright>ERod (Johnson/Velazquez/Beeks/Elias/Haley) R1 Kimbrel R2 Shaw R3 Smith R4 Kelly R5 Barnes R6 Maddox R7 Workman/Hembree/Scott/Johnson/Taylor

MLBTR came out with it's top 50 Free Agent Projected Destination Page. JD Martinez ($150M/6, Logan Morrison ($36M/3) & Bryan Shaw ($21M/3) to the Sox ($44M total per year) Moustakas to ATL Santana back to CLE Cozart to SD Darvish to Cubs Arrieta to MIL Tanaka to Philly CC Sab back to NYY/ A Avila to NYY A Cobb to MN Hosmer back to KC L Lynn TEX L Cain to SFG Wade Davis to HOU

No thanks to CC, Beckett and even AGon.

It was a fantastic trade that made room for us to sign the guys that helped us win in 2013. The fact is we traded away bums. I wish DD could have dumped Pablo.

He went from $88M/4 to about $106M/5. He's younger and a better defender than JD, so what's JD going to get?

I still maintain it was one of the very best Sox trades ever made. I guess since Ben made it, and we all know what an idiot he is, it must have been "luck".

I think he said "it will go down as the worst..." which is his opinion. I don't agree. I think Price will come back. Even if he needs surgery and misses a year, he could still give us way more than CC gave us & the Dodgers.

I totally agree, but we were able to find a taker for CC but not Pablo and probably not Price, if he bombs out.

Good points. I will say, I don't think any of the trades he made were difficult to make. IT just took someone willing to risk losing future value in order to obtain present value. By and large, most of his players obtained have performed at or above expectations. That's not something that is easy to do. The Price signing is the one thing that could almost totally tank his work.

He'll be DD's "coffee boy".

Nobody is saying he gets "no credit."

I live just Southwest of Houston (Sugar Land). I'm glad these guys won. This area needed some diversion. Plus, who wants the $Dodgers$ to win?

Just when you start thinking no team can win these days without strong pen , Houston blows up the idea.

MLBTR chat... Big Boss Man 5:06 Potential Stanton rough draft: - To Miami CF. Jackie Bradley 3B. Michael Chavis C. Daniel Flores SP. Tanner Houck - To Boston LF Giancarlo Stanton IF Martin Prado (Nunez replacement) Boston take on 100% of both contracts. Does this seem fair & logical in your view? Jason Martinez 5:09 That would be about what I'd expect if they took on the entire deal. Not sure if they'd have to take on Prado's contract in that deal, although I can see the fit.

Front Office not dugout... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/tony-la-russa-to-join-red-sox-organization.html

Cot's has our luxury tax budget, including benefits at $202.5M. Arb estimates are at: $10M Betts (1st of 3 arbs) $9M Pom (3 of 3) $7M Bogey (2 of 3) $6M JBJ (2 of 4) $4M Kelly (3 of 3) $4M ERod (1 of 4) $2.5M Leon (2 of 4) $2M Holt (2 of 3) $2M Ross (3 of 3) $2M Thornburg (2 of 3) $1.5M Vazquez (1 of 3) $1M Smith (1 of 3) $1M Workman (1 of 3) $1M Wright (1 of 3) $750K Rutledge (2 of 3) We could save close to $5M by trading or non-tendering Holt, Ross and Rutledge. My numbers are different from theirs, but we'll be going way over the luxury limit, if we spend like I think we will be doing. We might even go over the second threshold.