moonslav59

I saw some video where I heard "insiders say the Sox are willing to go over the first tax line but not by much." If that is true, we have about $21M to reach the line, so maybe $25-30M to spend, not counting any salary losses via trades. That might mean Alonso is the limit and nobody else. Maybe we could trade Duran or Campbell for KMarte (net $12M add) and then sign Suarez for $15-18M AAV. No more pitcher adds. No Schwarber or Alonso or Bregman/Bichette. Is Gray, Oviedo, Marte and Suarez enough?

Another "interest" report for the Sox: Ketel Marte. All along, I thought trading for a #2 SP'er was the best idea, and we did make two trades for SP'ers, but I don't see either as a sure-fire #2. I doubt we make a mega deal for a #2, unless we trade a couple SP'ers in the package or make a seperate deal for Marte, using SP'ers as bait. It's hard to know if AZ wants Duran, Abreu, Rafaela or Campbell, and if not, I'm not sure we can offer enough without severely affecting our promising young pitcher numbers. Maybe a third team can be pulled in- like Duran for Painter, then flipping Painter or Early/Tolle along with Arias and others for KMarte. KMarte checks a lot of boxes: Power (5th in SLG in last 2 yrs and 64 Hrs - 10th in MLB) RHB (and LHB) Switch hitter with nice splits (over .890 vs L & R in '25) 2B (Fills a decade long massive hole.) His $19.5M AAV is doable, and if we send Duran (7.7) or Campbell (7.5) in the deal, he'd only add about $12M to the budget. This might be the only way we can add two big bats without hurting JH's tight wallet.

1. We need offense and Bohm is not that. 2. Painter and hundred of other prospects, including in the Sox system have "amazing stuff." 3. Matz has other skills. Brez liked him for some reason. 4. No. I want Alonso not Casas. I'm not big fan of Masa, and feel he has to prove he gets the FT job at DH. I see Casas the same way.

All three had some blame. I could see going 33-33-33 or 50-25-25 or whatever, but in no way is it 100% on anyone. That's my opinion. I can't see how Devers and Cora are 100% blameless.

You've said this a 1000 times, too. I guess you remember Devers playing 1B, where we needed him. I don't. It's all Brez's fault,,, LOL!

I get the argument on Sandoval, but Crawford missed the whole '25 season and pitched worse in '24 than '23, so I don't see him as ahead of Sandoval. Harrison was supposed to be the gem in the Devers trade and was healthy all of 2025, but I have to ask why Brez kept selecting others, everytime we needed a spot start or everyday starter. Brez traded for DMay, gave Criswell a start and ended up adding Tolle & Early to the 40, so they could start over Harrison. Maybe I'm reading too much into that, but I don't see Harrison as above Sandoval and maybe not even above Dobbins, Tolle & Early, as well. Oviedo just came off a major injury and a lot of missed time and got 9 starts. His 11% BB rate is frightening, but I do think he has a good shot at the #4 or 5 slot, and I'm ok him 4 or 5, but that still leaves Sandoval in the starting 5. This is all conjecture, and so much can change by the time opening day arrives. I think we all know that, and trying to order them, now may seem pointless or skeptical to some or many. I realize I may be way overboard on just how good Sandoval can be or was a couple years ago. Some look back at his record and are far from impressed, and to those I ask, "What's so impressive about Crawford or Harrison? How much can we value small sample sizes by Dobbins, Early and I guess Tolle, who did not look all the good in his short stint. Everything can be shuffled, especially with injuries or surprises before or during ST'ing.

I'm not sure I'd go that far, but 14 IP is next to nothing. Minor league numbers do count, though, and Sandlin has looked awful, of late, whereas Early was looking pretty damn good. That's why he was chosen over Sandlin, Criswell and Harrison. Unless sone guys get hurt or look awful or great in ST'ing, I'd make out the rotation order like this: 1. Crochet 2. Gray 3. Bello (may pass Gray) 4. Sandoval (not by much- could be the 5) 5. Oviedo 6. Crawford (the toughest choice) 7. Harrison T8. Dobbins, Early, Tolle AAAA: Perales, Sandlin, Uberstine, Drohan

100%? A player won't play where he is needed and he gets 0% of the blame? A manager is too chicken to ask the player to play a new position: 0% blame? Not sure how Bregman factors into discussions about trades, but if you go down that rabbit hole, then the trade is TBD.

First of all, are you counting every single trade since DD, including no names for no names or just the significant ones? Who determines which ones are significant, as in if a non name for no name trade yields a good player on either side, does the trade then become a good or bad trade? For example, had we traded Priester and he amounted to nothing, it would have never been mentioned, unless Holobetz shines, later. No doubt the Betts trade sucks in every way. Go ahead and blame Bloom, despite the fact that DD was close to trading him, too. No doubt the Devers trade sucked, and it will suck more if we don't use the money saved to add more talent. No doubt the Sale trade ended up sucking and the frail Sale suddenly found health for the first 3/4 of two seasons with ATL, and the hope of Grissom fixing out 2nd base issue fizzled out quickly. What other major trades were clear failures? Hembree and Workman for Pivetta? Did Beni do so well that his trade for Wink and others was some horrible trade? Aldo Ramirez for Kyle Schwarber? Vazquez for Abreu and E Valdez? 2 scrub pitchers for T O'Neill? Ammons for Slaten? A bunch of prospects for Crochet Are these major trades? Cash for Ottavino? Cash for Y Rios? Scherff for H Robles? Dugo for Weissert & Fitts? Renfroe for JBJ & DHam was a bad one, but Renfroe was no big loss. Springs for Ro Hernandez was pretty bad. Barnes for Blier? 3 scrubs for Danny Jansen? Yorke for Priester? Then Priester for Holobetz & others. Some minor ones I thought of: (Do they count?) Chavis for Austin Davis Diekman for McGuire Blalock for Luis Urias/ Urias for I Campbell Bolivar for Paxton Schreiber for Sandlin Gaspar for Moran Booser for Fajardo Recents: Fitts & Clarke for Gray/ JGarcia for Oviedo + I probably forgot a few, so please list them out. Show me more bad trades than good. Now, on FA signings, I'll drive the "We Have Sucked Bandwagon."

Bohm is a 10-15 HR guys who has never hit over .780. Painter is no sure bet. If we could flip him for Ryan, I'd do this trade. I'd sign Matz over Wilson. I'd give Casas the chance to beat Masa for the DH job. (BTW, Masa has options, too.)

He's done very well with trades. It's his FAs that have a not paid off. I still don't blame him for Sale, but it's the nature of the job to be blamed for a 35 year old injured pitcher to find a second life. The Priester trade was also understandable, and maybe Holobetz steals the limelight. The Devers trade was a situation caused before the need for the trade. Blame Brez for that, if you want, but a few people have to share in that blame, along with Devers and Cora. Crochet, Narvaez, Slaten, O'Neill and the Dugo dump tip the balance to plus. I also think the Gray trade will be a good one, despite the fact that he might not be a #2. Maybe Oviedo surprises us. There is also Fajardo, Sandlin & Holobetz TBD.

I wouldn't be demanding anything for these two. Just keep offering more than the next highest bid or secondary offers. You gotta think Bregman and Bichette are waiting to see what these two get. Maybe Tucker signs first and gets a mega deal. If he goes to TOR, I hope that doesn't puch Bichette to BOS. I know he's young, but his power is not good enough, He should not play SS and is not really a consistent .800 guy. For the money he will get, he should be a lock at .850. 1. Alonso. K Marte or Schwarber 2. Ryan, Lodolo or Bregman 3. Polanco, Suarez, M King, P Lopez, Ragans, Peralta, Bubic 4. Bichette, F Valdez, M Keller, L Castillo, M Kelly

I could see him trading prospects for a one year window, maybe 2 years. Getting Duran might make it 3 years, if he keeps Schwarber in Philly. I'm not sure he gives up Painter, but we might flip him for Ryan.

What a great day for the Hoosiers! WOW! I'm thinking Alabama lost by enough to bounce them, but even with 3 loses, they are probably a better team than ND and MIA. I can't see how the committee jumps MIA over ND, when neither played nor saw their strength of schedule get better or worse with any action today. MIA did barely beat ND, but they lost to Louisville and SMU. ND lost to MIA and TEX A&M. VA lost, so I can't see Duke getting in at 8-5. I think this will be the final rankings: Byes: 1. IN 13-0 2. OSU 12-1 3. GA 12-1 4. TX Tech 12-1 __________ 5. Oregon (I'd put Ole Miss 5th) 6. Ole Miss 7. TX A&M (I'd put ORE here) 8. OKL 9. ND 10. ALA 11. Tulane (What a joke these conferences get preference) 12. James Madison (Gotta go over Duke.) MIA should be #11 Vandy or TEX should be #12. So.... James Madison at Oregon Tulane at Ole Miss Alabama at TX A&M ND at OKL To me, ORE might be the worst home team.

Off loading Masa would clear a spot for Casas or even some sort of Campbell-Romy- Duran combo. Get Alonso is primary. (Schwarber, if not, and then off-loading Masa is priority #2) I like Bregman more than Polanco, because I don't want Romy at 3B in a platoon with Mayer, but it would be ok. Polanco will cost less and maybe for half the years. Alonso and Marte would be king, but trading for Marte probably means no trading for a #2 SP and just rolling the dice with Gray.

I've only worked for companies with make-believe money.

HOU is platinum.

Pick up a bong, dude! Pack a big bowl and light er up. My stoney memory is better than yours! I'm looking at Brez and seeing more good than average or bad. Good: Crochet, Narvaez, Slaten, Fitts & Weissert for Dugo, scraps for O'Neill, Yorke for Priester OK or TBD:, Sonny Gray, minor deals- Steve Matz, Sandlin Bad: Sale, Devers (so far) Priester (so far), minor deals-L Garcia, L Sims, Paxton, D May

Okamoto is growing on me, but I've had my mind set on player that are proven and durable- something novel to this team's 7 year strategy.

Except Crochet...and oh yea...Narvaez...

Can we trade Masa and Hicks for Devers? Maybe throw in Harrison?

The Contreras deal is about equal to Masa's, so if STL is trying to dump salary, I think cash has to be part of the choco-deal. (Maybe just add Casas not Crawford, or sub Sandlin or Mullins for Kutter.)

I know Alonso's D at 1B is about as bad as Casas, and maybe one will end up being the DH before too long, but the guy has the power we need. 80 XBHs, last year. He hit 38 HRs and still managed to lead the league in doubles. We know none of them were "leg doubles." He K's a lot, but he walks more than enough to make up for that. He had a .347 OBP in 2025. That was better than any Sox player with 350+ PAs, except Bregman, who might be gone. He's a RHB that hits well in both splits. He has career reverse splits, so he's not really a lefty killer like he is to righties. Schwarber has had reverse splits, recently, but he hits both types very well. He's not ideal for 1B, but if Casas gets hurt, he can't be all that mush worse than he is on D. To me, K Marte is the only other big bat that is seemingly available to match those two, and he plays 2B. K Marte & Bregman would be a nice combo.

Harrison won't be the headliner for a big bat. I'm not even sure K Campbell, Harrison & Arias would be enough, but probably would be.

Duran is win now plus 2 arbs, so now and soon. Pitchers like Crawford and Harrison are experienced ML'ers and have several years of control. Thay could be viewed as win now & soon, as well. K Campbell, Dobbins and Perales are longer range, as are Tolle and Early. The Sox can tailor an offer to meet the needs of almost any team. If not, then pull in a third team. Not many teams have SP'ers to spare, even #4-5 types.