moonslav59

I could see a team trading an equal salary dump for him in hopes that a change of scenery might jump start his career. How about we eat the salary difference and trade Pablo, Owens and TBall for Matt Cain?

Keeps hitting? You mean like his one game sample size last night? He was 3 for 14 (.214) and 4 for 20 (.200) before getting on base 5 times last night. Nice to see him bring his OBP up from .316 to .357 in one game, but I'm not sure we can even count on his current .681 OPS to hold up playing close to FT until the deadline. He has a .690 OPS in his 3 years with the Sox. I may be the last one on this board who still views Pablo as our besst chance at nearing mediocrity at 3B this year, unless Devers joins the mix.

I agree, but if the 3B situation still looks like a total mess by the deadline, and Sox management does not want to promote Devers this yeaar, I could see us doing a lesser flashy deal for someone like Frazier or Plouffe that won't cost us top prospects.

I wouldn't either, but that's what it might take. Look what some teams got last year- like for C. Beltran: RHP Nick Green, RHP Erik Swanson, RHP Dillon Tate.

What I hate most is that because of ineptitude of Pablo, we are forced to play/keep someone like Marrero. He does not belong on a world championship team. There has to be an upgrade somewhere in the organization. Can we afford to sign Moreland and give him some at bats backing up Travis and Hanley? This of course assumes letting go of Young. We may add a FA bat (or keep Moreland), so that would shorten the Rule 5 protection list by one- no big deal to me, but I think it would only be for one year (see my answer to your tax question). I have faith that Devers and Travis will fill in nicely for Moreland and Young's bats, but we will have lost all OF depth with Young's departure and Holt's uncertainty. I doubt we keep Selsky around, and Danny Mars may not be considered ML depth, which begs the question: If he is not considered ML depth, who will draft him rule 5? And, if he is ML depth, then we can let Selsky go. Holt's health status also plays a role in our need to add OF depth. Can we afford to go over the luxury limit next year knowing we won't keep everyone after 2018 season, thus the penalty may not be as severe? Moon? Yes, if we stay under this year, I think the idea is to go over next year and maybe the following as well. I don't see us signing a big bat FA for more than a 1 year deal, unless we do not trust Travis or Devers as capable FT players and Pablo has not won a FT job by season's end. Our big tax crunch years begin in 2019, when we have to start extending, re-signing, or replacing, in kind, big named players. Devers must be given every opportunity to succeed in 2018. Let him bat 9th and have him focuse on improving defense. His offensive tools are there. Agreed, and I feel almost as strongly about giving Travis a shot at 1B. Betts, Beni, JBJ, Travis, Pedroia, Xander, Devers, Hanley, Vaz/Leon......Moreland, Hernandez, Rutledge, OF Sale, Price, Porcello, E Rod, Pom Kimbrel, Thornburg, Smith, Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, Scott Pretty solid 25 You have Moreland replacing Holt. I assume you think Holt is finished with the Sox. Assuming Moreland finishes out the year doing well, I'd be fine with keeping him, but he'll want more money and more years, and I'm not sure we can give him what he wants/deserves. Instead, we may add a cheaper 1B/OF type player to give us the OF depth we need.

Callahan and Buttrey would not be missed. While both still have some promise, nobody sees them as becoming significant contributors at the ML level. Buttrey is now 24 and has shown no growth at all. Maddux is having a good season but is 26. He might be drafted, but again, our pen is so deep right now, I doubt he gets a chance in the next year or two, unless we trade some arms. Pimental is a steroid user who has slipped to #34 on soxprospects.com. Yeah, he has some promise, if ever gets his act straight, but I doubt someone will be willing to promote him to the big club for the full 2018 season. If he is drafted, and we lose him, I won't be upset in the least. Lin is having a good season. He's a nifty fielder, but before this season, he's had just one year (2015)with an OPS over .611. With Marco H, Marrero and Chatham onboard, I think we have SS depth covered well enough. If we trade a catcher, we may add Procyshen, but I doubt he'd be drafted anyways. You named 12 players to protect. That would be at least double the players we've ever protected from the draft. I just don't see it happening, but even if it did, I think we can clear room for at least 7 and still have ML ready depth where needed. Travis and Devers take Moreland & Youngs 25 man roster slots, and Abad's slot is easily filled. Bold = added to 40 man roster C: Vaz-Leon with Swihart AAA with maybe Romanski or Procyshen added 1B: Travis (HRam/Pablo/Holt) with Longhi in AAA and Ockimey far away 2B: Pedey-Rutledge (Holt) with Marco H AAA 3B: Devers-Pablo (Holt) with Marrero/Marco H AAA) SS: Bogey- Holt with Marrero AAA LF: Beni (Holt) CF: JBJ (Holt) RF: Betts (Holt) DH: HRam (Pablo) SP: Sale, Price, Porcello, ERod, Pom, Wright RP: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Kelly, Hembree, Barnes That IS A SOLID 25. the rest of the 40 man... (I believe all will still have options.) 26 Swihart 27 Johnson 28 M Hernandez 29 Ross 30 Scott 31 Workman 32 Marrero 33 Taylor 34 Owens 35 D Hernandez-Rule 5 replaces Elias 36 Longhi - Rule 5 replaces Martin 37 J Beeks- Rule 5 replaces Kendricks 38 J Cozart- Rule 5 replaces Ysla 39 Maddux- Rule 5 replaces N Ramirez 40 Bautista or Mars- Rule 5 replaces Abad or Selsky Workman, Marrero, Owens and Taylor could all be traded in some sort of 3 for 1 deal or as straight-up trades for a prospects not needing rule 5 protection. Holt may retire or be traded, and we still have Marco, Rutledge and Marrero as IF depth, although our OF depth would remain very shaky. We may dump Pablo and gain another slot. Since we won't lose Holt AND Marrero, count them as one possible slot. Count Workman or Taylor as one more slot as one could be traded easily. We might want to keep Owens as ML ready depth, but I have to believe we could pick up a replacement level starter at any time that is as good as Owens and costs next to nothing. There's 3 slots not counting Pablo. That could, although I doubt we need to or will, allow us to protect 3-4 from this list: 1. Bautista or Mars (see #40) 2. Lin 3 & 4. (2 from) Buttrey, Callahan, TBall, Pimental, Diaz or Sheppard

We are now hitting, so it must be sucky pitching, right? Did Rutledge's OPS just double tonight?

It would be great, if Travis could play FT 1B next season and Devers FT 3B. HRam could DH and maybe play 1b in NL parks and Pablo could try and get some ABs at 3B, 1B and DH, if he's still around. The money "saved" by not having to replace Moreland and Young could cover arb raises and maybe go towards extending someone early, if possible. C: Vaz-Leon(Swihart AAA) 1B: Travis (HRam/Pablo) 2B: Pedey-Rutledge (or Marco AAA) 3B: Devers-Pablo SS: Bogey- Holt (or Marrero AAA) LF: Beni CF: JBJ RF: Betts DH: HRam (Pablo) SP: Sale, Price, Porcello, ERod, Pom, Wright RP: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Kelly, Hembree, Barnes That could be a solid 25. the rest of the 40 man... (I believe all will still have options.) 26 Swihart 27 Johnson 28 Hernandez 29 Ross 30 Scott 31 Workman 32 Marrero 33 Taylor 34 Owens 35 Elias (or + D Hernandez-Rule 5) 36 Martin (or + J Callahan- Rule 5) 37 Velazquez (or + T Ball- Rule 5) 38 Ysla (or + Lin- Rule 5) 38 N Ramirez (or + J Cozart or T Buttrey- Rule 5) 39 +J Beeks (Rule 5) 40 + N Longhi (Rule 5) If we trade one of our catcherss, another slot opens for a rule 5 or a FA signing.

That's a tough one. With 3B and 1B seemingly our weakest positions over the next few years, I'd hate to trade Devers, Travis or Chavis. I doubt they'd go for Ockimey, Dalbec and Owens. Maybe they'd take Ockimey, Chatham and Lakins, but that might be too much for a 2 month rental. Our farm has already been nearly gutted.

Of course, we'd rather have Moustakas, but I feel his cost will be too high. If he'd agree to an extension as part of thed eal, maybe we'd go for him, but I'm not sure we can afford to pay him on a large and long deal and then keep others.

I should have highlighted Hernandez even though he is only 20, but Pimental is not going to be taken. Who are the 10? Plus, I count at least 10 guys we lose to free agency or we can trade/cut: 1. Moreland FA 2. Young FA 3. Abad FA 4. Kendrick FA 5. Boyer 6. Noe Ramirez 7. Marrero 8. Velazquez 9. Selsky 10. K Martin We could also trade these guys and barely miss them (maybe a 3 for one type trade): Workman Owens Ysla B Taylor Plus.... Holt may retire. We may trade or DFA Pablo.

Several of the players I added to the roster would never be drafted, because they are not ML ready and would not be kept on anyone's 25 man roster for a full year. Plus, I didn't mention dumping Elias. This is the least roster crunch winter I've seen coming up in years.

I could see us trading something like this: Ockimey and Owens for Todd Frazier I'm not saying I like this, but this is something like what I see happening.

Has Farrell lost it?

For sure.

I'd have gone with Pablito

There are different ways to win, even if we have yet to discover them.

Even if he agreed to an expensive extension, it's bad math.

Yes, it could. If Travis flops, we may see Devers or Chavis moved to 1B, especially if HRam and or Pablo can't play there next year. It would be great, if Travis could play FT 1B next season and Devers FT 3B. HRam could DH and maybe play 1b in NL parks and Pablo could try and get some ABs at 3B, 1B and DH, if he's still around. The money "saved" by not having to replace Moreland and Young could cover arb raises and maybe go towards extending someone early, if possible. C: Vaz-Leon(Swihart AAA) 1B: Travis (HRam/Pablo) 2B: Pedey-Rutledge or Marco 3B: Devers-Pablo SS: Bogey- Holt (or Marrero AAA) LF: Beni CF: JBJ RF: Betts DH: HRam (Pablo) SP: Sale, Price, Porcello, ERod, Pom, Wright RP: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Kelly, Hembree, Barnes That could be a solid 25. the rest of the 40 man... 26 Swihart 27 Johnson 28 Hernandez 29 Ross 30 Scott 31 Workman 32 Marrero 33 Taylor 34 Owens 35 Elias (or + J Cosart-Rule 5) 36 Martin (or + J Callahan- Rule 5) 37 Velazquez (or + T Ball- Rule 5) 38 Ysla (or + Lin- Rule 5) 38 N Ramirez (or + T Buttrey- Rule 5) 39 +J Beeks (Rule 5) 40 + N Longhi (Rule 5)

It costs a lot for even a 2 month rental, especially if it is the high impact bat people are saying we need. I don't see a roster crunch this winter. We lose Moreland, Young, Abad, Kendrick & Boyer. We've already added Moreland's replacement, Travis, to the 40 man roster. My guess is Devers will be added this year or over the winter. He may replace Young's bat but not Young's OF depth. , KendrickAbad & Boyercan easily be replaced by someone already on the 40 man roster. We also have "fluff" on our 40 man roster that could easily be traded or DFA'd: Noe Ramirez Ysla Martin Velazquez Selsky Maybe Marrero Maybe Holt retires. Maybe we find a salary dump taker for Pablo. Our Rule 5 situation is not an issue, as there are more players easily replaced than ones in need of protecting. Rule 5 next winter: From soxprospects.com... "The following players will be eligible for the December 2017 Rule 5 Draft if they are not added to the 40-man roster by November 20, 2017: Victor Acosta, Yoan Aybar, Trey Ball, Gerson Bautista, Jalen Beeks, Danny Bethea, Jordan Betts, Ty Buttrey, Jamie Callahan, Rusney Castillo, Harrison Cooney, Jake Cosart, Enmanuel De Jesus, Rafael Devers, Jhonathan Diaz, Jake Drehoff, Willis Figueroa, Pat Goetze, Daniel Gonzalez, Taylor Grover, Juan Hernandez, Darwinzon Hernandez, Bryan Hudson, Dedgar Jimenez, Raiwinson Lameda, Tzu-Wei Lin, Nick Longhi, Isaias Lucena, Austin Maddox, Danny Mars, Algenis Martinez, Kevin McAvoy, Daniel McGrath, Ritzi Mendoza, Mike Meyers, Mike Miller, Samuel Miranda, Joseph Monge, Jhon Nunez, Yankory Pimentel, Jordan Procyshen, Hildemaro Requena, Jeremy Rivera, Jake Romanski, Chandler Shepherd, Josh Smith, Teddy Stankiewicz, Cole Sturgeon, Carlos Tovar, Jantzen Witte "

I once met an old blog buddy from the other site for a Sea Dogs game. That was fun.

Only my wife is allowed to call me Charlie Brown!

I'm not sure DD views any prospect as "untouchable". I could see us trading Chavis.

I'm sure the coaching at Porland can help address any defensive shortcomings Chavis might have at 3B. I think the main thing keeping Chavis at Salem is the fact that Devers is blocking him at Portland. Moving Devers up would allow for a clean promotion of Chavis. The Sox don't seem to like moving a player off his comfort position. It's been sort of a pet peeve of mine, as we seem to keep having to move a prospect to a new position for 10 games before calling him up to play a new position of need. (Although a quick move worked for Betts, I feel like the moves of Bogey to 3B, Swihart to LF, Beni to LF, Moncado & Marrero to 3B were needlessly rushed.

I was down on our pen prospects before the season began. I didn't think Thornburg was enough to compensate for losing Koji, Ziegs and Taz. When we lost Thornburg, I had little hope our pen would be even average. Then, we lost Robbie Ross. Kimbrel has been a God send. He's pitching like the old days. Hembree, Barnes & Kelly have all done better than expected. Scott has done well. If we can get Thornburg or Smith back and pitching well, we should be fine, even if someone doing well slumps a little.