moonslav59

I withdrew my remark about Duran declining based on one year drop. To me, Duran & KMarte are apples and oranges. We have 4 FT OF'ers and 3 decent back-ups. We haven't had a decent FT 2Bman in a decade. That's point one. Duran had a good season in 2025, a great one in '24 and over a half a good one in '23. He has an .810 OPS since 2023 (123 OPS+) He steals bases, but his defense is not good, and his arm is weak. He has splits that point to a platoon situation. He just turned 29. K Marte just turned 32, so he's 3 years older. He's under control for 4 years to Duran's 3. He's a switch hitter with nice splits and way more power. His 3 year OPS is .887 (OPS+ of 141- significantly better than Duran. He averages 35 HRs per 162 : 2x Duran's 17.4) and had a .368 OBP.

Actually, E Valdez was replaced at 2B by Campbell. EV played to the end of 2024 at 2B and some 3B. Campbell began the 2025 eason as our FT 2Bman.

I get that, but he'd be replacing Crawford or Dobbins/Harrison. The issue is how many GS he gets in 2026 and beyond. I share your deep concern.

AZ says no? If yes, how about adding Crawford or Harrison?

I don't disagree. Not many "crazy contracts" work out well, and if they do, it's usually just for 1-2 years. The main issue I see is that this strategy works well, when you have 5-8 slots needing significant upgrades, but I think this team has done a very good job filling almost every slot with capable players or multiple promising options at those without a sure plus player. This year we have 3 major needs and not many decent options to fill them without outside help: Power bat (RH'd) at 1B/3B, a 2Bman (power would be nice) and a strong & reliable SP'er that is better than Bello. Maybe Gray filled that third slot, and we probably have to accept that our rotation is what it is. That leaves 2 bats, and we can't skimp. We don't need to pay Tucker for 6+ years. We should not pay Bichette for 6+ years, IMO. I'm not for giving Bregman even 5 years. 4 is probably too much. That leaves precious few choices, but the good thing is that all of these guys will likely not get more than 5 years and some might take 3-4 year deals. Tier 1: Schwarber, Alonso, K Marte (signed for 4 at 419.5M AAV) Tier 2: Okamoto, Suarez & Polanco (maybe Bregman at 4 yrs) I'd add R Suarez or M King, but I doubt we go there.

"I couldn't be happier [to be a Yankee.]" We talk about GMs saying what they have to say, but players do, too.

Both Tolle and early for any of the ones I listed? Thanks for responding.

Would this work? Rafaela ($6.3M) and Campbell (7.5M) for K Marte ($19.5M) Sign Alonso $28M x 5, Matz $5M x 2 and Refsnyder $4M x 1 That adds about $40M to the 2026 budget and keeps us under the second line. 1. L Anthony CF/LF/RF 2. S K Marte 2B 3. L Duran LF/CF 4. R Alonso 1B 5. L Abreu RF/R Refsnyder LF 6. R Story SS 7. L Casas or Yoshida DH/ R Romy DH/2B 8. R Narvaez C 9. L Mayer 3B/ R Romy 3B Bench: Wong, Romy, Refsnyder, Garcia/DHam/Sogard/Eaton (Romero, Gray, Ward) SP: Crochet, Gray, Bello and 2 from Sandoval/Crawford/Dobbins/Harrison/Early/Tolle/Perales RP: Chapman, Whitlock, Slaten, Matz, Weissert, Criswell, Moran, Hicks and Kelly/Sandlin/Mullins/Uberstine/Drohan/Song or converted SP'ers.

I've agreed nobody is untouchable, but that's no worse than just blindly saying trade them! And of course, you won't ever give specifics, so you can always go back and make it look like you were right no matter what happens. Who do you tarde Tolle and or Early for? Ryan? Lodolo? Gore? Alcantara? Lopez? I'm expecting cricketts.

He did have 186 IP in '24 (3.14 ERA/2.99 FIP) Between 2024 and 2025, he's started 45 out of maybe 65 possible GS'd. That's aout 70%. Mayer has played in 164 games from 2024 to 2025- counting minor league games. That's maybe 55-60%? Do we feel better with Crawford in our rotation? How about Dobbins or Perales? I know, lets put it all on Sandoval! Seriously though, I have major worries about Ragans, especially in light of all those others I just listed already on the 40, but no doubt, Ragans is a damn good pitcher, when healthy. We can't say the same about Sandoval, Crawford, Dobbins, harrison, Perales or even Gray and Bello.

I can't fault the Sox for trying him as a SP'er. Those who blame the injury on being a SP'er are speculating. In 2022, GW started 9 games in a row with a 4.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP (.723 OPS Against.) He was not really that good, and his last game before going on the IL hurt his number (4 ER in 4 IP.) His first 8 starts: 3.60 ERA/ 3.57 FIP 33K and 9 BB in 35 IP In 2023, he struggled in both roles. 5.23 as SP (.841 OPSA) 4.95 as RP (.784)

Casas might be the next Bobby Dee, but I think he can hit over .825. We just need to line his uniform with bubble wrap and braces.

To me, Marte is a big plus over Bregman on offense. I'm not sure it's enough to make up for losing Devers and Bregman and then Duran, but it would be a big step, by itself. I'd hope we add Bregman or Alonso with KMarte, and I'd be thrilled. With those two, I'd be fine keeping Rafaela over Duran. Duran is slightly more expensive and may cost much more in '27 and '28, so trading him as part of the KMarte deal might e needed.

I'm not saying "Wake up!" because he slept through these two signings. I didn't want either. I wouldn't want Cease for a 3 year deal. I'm telling him he better wake up and not cut corners on spending. Even the second tax line should not be an issue, if we can't get what we need by staying under it. A trade of Duran and or Campbell for K Marte would not cost much, and would fill a great need. That should allow JH to spend on Alonso or Bregman, or at least Suarez or maybe M King or someone else. (I'm not high on Bichette.)

I'm just trying to be realistic. I'm not defending JH. I just said, "Wake up, JH!" about spending for this "open window." We should be able to add K Marte, Alonso and maybe a Merrill Kelly on a 1-2 year deal.

If he looks like he's progressing, there will be room on the 40 for him. It will only be an issue if he gets hurt or struggles most of the year.

It's just as early to say these guys should not be traded as it is to say they should be traded. It's literally the exact same time. Call it "early" or whatever you want.

When you fill a high need area via a trade, then you don't really care that much how the guy you gave up did. HanRam did great after the trade, but Beckett won us a ring, and Lowell shocked us a bit- in a good way. Hell, Anibal Sanchez turned out to be pretty good, too, but I could have cared less. You gotta give to get. I'm fine with giving, but the get has to be worth it. I'm fine with the Gray trade, as I think he's better than Crawford, Dobbins and Harrison. He might be better than all three combined, but I had hoped we got a co-ace or solid #2. I see his fWAR projects are as a #2, but I'm not so certain with a 36 year old showing decline over 2 years.

It's pretty sound thinking, IMO. I might add Perales to the list. The guy can pitch!

I think so, too. We probably get neither, which I'm okay with, if we get KMarte and maybe Suarez or Polanco or trade for Lodolo, Ryan or ___.

Agreed, and even if 2 of those 3 amount to squat, if one does great, it's probably worth not trading any of the 3.

Sounds like you are writing them off after just 35 IP.

It would be nice to get a SP'er better than Gray and Bello. Call him a #2, #1 or whatever. Just say, "He's better than Bello & Gray" is fine, too. I doubt we'll have the resources available to get a better pitcher and address our needs for improved offense, unless JH does the unexpected. To me, we have Crochet in his prime. We have many younger players approaching prime and not being paid a lot to deliver high value. There is a clear window open, right now. It should last at least 2-3 years more, if not 4-5, so if there ever was a time to sign a 4-6 year deal or two for top talent, it is this winter. I don't say this every year. We did spend a lot, last winter, but much was on one year deals, and the Gio deal ended. We also traded Devers, so there is more than enough reasons to spend bigly. Wake up, JH!

I don't like using the word "untouchable," as everyone should be traded for a better return. I do think holding onto Tolle and early is a high priority and should be. They don't seem like other highly ranked pitchers the Sox have had in the past who almost all fizzled out- at least for a decade or more. We started seeing some signs of life with Houck & Bello and to a lesser extent with Crawford & Dobbins, and it makes a lot of sense to hang onto these two kids. The way pitching costs have skyrocketed, the value of guys like Crawford, Harrison and Dobbins, when added to a package headlined by Duran or Campbell should be enough to get what we need.

I'm beginning to wonder if he's too expensive, too. I'm thinking the Mets might sign Bregman, and we get Alonso or Okamoto.