moonslav59

Exactly. I wonder where those two would have been drafted in the amateur draft. That would show just how valuable these type of prospects are. I like the trade. Longhi is just about ML ready. We have HRam to play 1B for 2 more years. Pablo could be moved to 3B. Travis is beating down the door. Chavis might be moved, but probably not to 1B. Ockimey is long away but has serious upside. Dalbec could play 1B. Guys like Moreland and Logan Morrison are available every year. What's not to like?

I'm fine with 4th as well, but 3rd is better than 1st.

It might mean we won't trade Ockimey at the deadline as our 1B depth chart is shortened.

Exactly. I'd be shocked, if we don't make at least a minor deal for a 3Bman to bridge to Devers, unless we plan on using Devers later this year. . I'm not saying I want a deal, because I don't know hat the cost will be. I can see us looking for another Aaron Hill type, but I hope the next deal works out better than that one..

With Jhonny Peralta already in house and Marrero not costing games, the urgency isn't there. Marrero is not the 3Bman we want or need for the playoff push. He's done very well his last 15 PAs, but does anyone really expect that to last?

Yes, and I fail to see any hypocrisy.

Agreed, but that wasn't the point I was addressing.

Great reads. Thanks!

It's not just about replacing a pitcher as good as Price for $30M, assuming he is strong this and next year combined. It's about what is expected from Price on the downside of his career. He's going to turn 34 during his 4th year of his contract and 37 during his 7th year of the deal. I would think we can probably replace his projected production from ages 33-37 with a $30M offer to a guy in his late 20's or early 30's.

I expected the Sox to be hurt by the loss of Papi's retirement, but I still expected a top 5 offense, or even top 3. I'm looking at some of the teams with more runs scored than us, so far, and I do not think I am alone in thinking there is no way anyone expected the rays to have a better offense than the Papi-less Sox. The Rays have scored 15 more runs than us. Before the season started, who liked these players on offense? C Derek Norris (.637) 1B Logam Morrison (.916) More shockingly good than Moreland! 2B Brad Miller (.645) 3B Longoria (.752) The one guy we thought might be great! SS Tim Beckham (.757) LF Colby Rasmus (.896) Better than any Sox OPS CF K Kiermaier (.737) RF Steven Souza (.853) WTF? DH C Dickerson (.938) Better numbers than with COL. Leads AL in hits Top 6 bench guys by PAs have OPS between .662 and .768. Other surprising teams scoring more runs than the Sox: CIN and NYM-- nobody here thought these two teams had a better offense than us, even without Papi. We all knew Cincy had Votto. His 1.046 OPS is a big part of heir surprisingly good offense this year, but here's the rest: .966 Zack Cozart .915 Scooter Gennett .904 Adam Duvall (we don't have anyone over .855 and Cincy has 4 guys over .900! .875 Scott Schebler .828 Devin Mesoraco .813 Eugenio Suarez I'm not in any fantasy baseball leagues, but am I the only guy that hasn't even heard of some of these guys?

Question - once again - why would anyone give up anyone for a rental third baseman for a team that is currently leading their division? Ask why we traded for Aaron Hill last year, when we had a better 3B situation than we have now.

I've never been against trading prospects. There's no hypocrisy. I'm usually for making a bigger package deal for a better player than trades like Espi for Pom. (I loved the Sale trade and have often suggested those sorts of trades.) Now, that doesn't mean I want us to trade our whole farm away either. I'm more in Kimmi's camp when it comes to not wanting to empty the farm, but I'm talking more about saving more top prospects. I like the Ziegler trade last year, and that was a rental. I'm okay with trading a mid level prospect for a rental, if I think it significantly improves the team. I like to balance the short and long views, but now that we seem to have just about broken the farm for a 3 year window, I don't think it is hypocritical to think it might be a good idea (key word: might) to trade someone like Ockimey or Lakins for a 3B rental. Our 3Bmen suck badly. It is such a weak link that I do not buy the philosophy that we are winning now with Lin/Marrero, so there is no need to make changes. When we reach the playoffs, every little edge can be a difference maker. I want to keep Devers, Groome and Travis. I would not trade any of them for any rental. I think between Devers, Travis, Longhi, Chavis and Dalbec, we should be fine at 3B, 1B and DH into the extended future without really needing Ockimey's chances at being a force.

He can't hit and never will. The 15 PA sample size is a fluke.

I agree on not panicking. I do think we need to make a minor trade or two, like we did with Ziegler last year.

The Yankees lose! Thaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh Yankeeeeeeeezeeeee LOSE!

True enough. Also, if Price has two great years, it might not be so bad keeping him either, despite his age and contract cost years 4 to 7.

I said I was fine with the Price signing. I do not want to go back to last place finishes, although we wouldn't have come close to last without Price last year. I was talking about hoping Price opts out after 3 years. That is not the same as saying I wish we never signed him. It's way different.

I thought we should have traded Swihart after his first ML season. His stock is not as high as it was then, and I'm not sure we'd get what he is worth by trading him now of this winter. I'd keep Swihart. Yes, I do think Swihart could be our 4th OF'er, 3rd catcher and maybe even back up corner IF'er some day. Maybe that is where his best value could be. If Holt retires, that idea makes even more sense. I think we are best suited trading an Ockimey and or Lakins type(s) for a decent 3B rental. I think we stand pat with the pen in hopes that Ross or Smith give us a boost when needed. We also have Workman, Taylor, Maddox and maybe even Brian Johnson to fill out the pen, if we need help. The starting pitching situation should be clearer by the deadline. Hopefully, ERod will have had 3-4 starts by then, and maybe B Johnson might look like a healthy depth option by then. To me, I'd address the 3B need at the deadline and maybe look for a waiver wire deal in August, if another serious need arises.

I'd take him out now, after 7 IP and 116 pitches.

Yes.

Fair enough. He won't opt out unless he thinks he can get close to the same money (highly doubtful), but if he thinks he can (highly doubtful) this whole mess with the media might tip the scales.

Not many winning teams have such a weak link as we do at 3B. The Sox have a long history of addressing glaring weaknesses during seasons where they think they have a good chance at winning it all. Last year, we traded for Ziegler. We even traded for Aaron Hill, when we had a much better situation at 3B with Shaw. I am 90% sure the plan is to at least trade for a decent 3Bman like Lowrie or call up Devers and giving him a significant role at 3B. I do not think Sox management is prepared to risk it all on putrid 3B production. (I'm fine without trading away anymore prospects. I'd also be fine, if we trade away a mid level prospect or two to go for it all this year. I'm not for trading Devers, Groome and Travis. We will need these low cost-hopefully high performing players to fill out our future roster and allow us to keep oiur fine young stars and Chris Sale.

I'm not saying $31M a year will alone be enough extend Sale, Betts and sign a top level FA starter, but keeping Price and his contract will probably not allow us to keep all our top young players and replace Porcello with a top starter. With the Price and Porcello money freed up, I think we can keep everyone and have enough to find a top starter. We'd be over the luxury limit but probably not by the $20M added penalty level that keeping Price and replacing Porcello would almost certainly entail doing.

True. It could be gone in a game or two. Bad choice of words.

It would be fantastic for him to opt out as he reaches the end of his prime years. Not only would we not have to witness his post-prime years, we'd have his $30+M to use on re-signing Sale & Betts and getting another top level FA starter.