moonslav59

And, first we'll try Holt and Hernandez before even trying Dominguez (or some sort of L-R platoon with Dominguez).If they don't work out, we may go outside the system before rushing Devers.

I think Branch Rickey is Theo's only true competition, but as always, it's hard to compare cross eras.

I think HanRam will DH vs almost all RHPs and Young vs. almost all LHPs. Moreland plays 1B vs almost all RHPs. Young will play OF only when one of the B's need a rest or are injured. One player that worries me maybe more than he should is HanRam. He's been up and down a lot in his career and has a long injury history. Swihart is the wild card. This could be his breakout year, but finding him a position might take a catcher injury or trade, since both Vaz and Leon are out of options. I know I caught a lot of grief for saying this in the past, but I'm going to say it again; if Swihart is doing very well in AAA, and there is an injury or major issue at 1B, DH or OF, we could see Swihart playing LF or DH as well as being the third catcher at times.

Update on Marco Hernandez... It was a solid week for Marco Hernandez (pictured), who went 5 for 19 with a triple and a home run. He now has three home runs in his last eight games.

Well, sometimes it can be a curse, but in our case, only the Pablo deal looks awful, and even that signing is showing a glimmer of hope. I see it as a blessing for now, but having so many key players coming off the books in a 2 to 3 year window (2019-2021) could make decisions more complicated and difficult. A lot can and will happen before 2021, and winning a ring or two before then will make any possible decline a lot more easier to handle.

I know they've said resetting the luxury tax is just a priority not a necessity, so I do think it could happen, if DD really wants the guy, but I have to think they saw the Buch trade and $13.5M freed up coming when they signed Moreland. I still think the Moreland signing shows DD has not been interested in EE enough think of him as a serious option. Maybe, he didn't foresee his contract numbers and years demanded falling, if indeed they are falling, so a re-evaluation could be happening, but I doubt it. Next year's FA market is loaded, and resetting the luxury tax will allow us to sign a younger star, if going over the limit is something we are now comfortable doing..

If it's Moreland's $5.5M that keeps us from signing one of these "left out" sluggers (EE, Bautista or Trumbo), there's going to have to be some "splaining" to be done!

Mine involves lots of stories involving lots of toilets and trash cans.

Some roster issues related to players out of options: Catcher: Since both Vaz and Leon are out of options, calling up Swihart would mean... 1) We go with 3 catchers (Swi could DH or play LF) 2) Vaz or Leon go on the DL. 3) We trade Vaz or Leon. Starting Pitchers: with Buch no longer on the depth chart and Johnson/Owens having questionable skills, is keeping Roenis Elias on the 25 man roster a stronger consideration? He's out of options and may be our best SP'er option beyond the 6th starter (ERod, Pom or Wright). Pom & Wright have no options as well. ERod has 2, but I feel he's the best of this group. We could park Elias in the pen, so we could keep him around, but then we may squeeze out a RP'er without options as well (see below). The other alternative, assuming the other 6 starters are healthy would be to create a phantom DH scenario for Elias or a Rper or two. Relief Pitchers: Carson Smith may not return until June or July, so that will put off one decision until later this season. Kimbrel, Thornburg and Kelly seem like sure bets, barring injury, but Kelly has been inconsistent and he has an option left . I think Ross is close to a lock as well, but he has one option. Barnes probably looks like he heads the list of bubble players, but he has 2 options remaining, unlike others. Here's how I order then by skill level (assuming a 7 man pen): Kimbrel 0 Thornburg 0 Wright 0 or Pom 0 (Erod 2) Kelly 1 Ross 1 Barnes 2 Hembree 0 Elias 0 (see SP'er above) Abad 0 Scott 3 Workman 2 Martin 3 N Ramirez 1 Ysla 3 Jerez 2 Olmos 0 OF: Bryce Brentz is out of options. I see no way he makes the 25 man roster without an injury or two to our OF. No real competition here.

Vodka is the only drink I can still alcoholic drink without a slight gag reflex... long story.

I've never seen a modern Sox team so locked up for so long with basically no positions up for grabs except the 7th RP'er/25th roster spot. Years of control C 4- Leon & Vaz 5- Swihart (Romanski) 1B 1- Moreland 1 Craig (not on 40 man) 3- HanRam (Travis, Ockimey, Longhi) 2B 3- Holt 5- Pedey 3B 3-4 Pablo 3 Rutledge (Devers, Dalbec, Chavis) SS 3- Bogey (Hernandez, Marrero, Chatham ) LF 1- Young 4+ Beni (Brentz) CF 4- Bradley 4- Castillo (not on 40 man roster) RF 4- Betts SP 2 Pomeranz 2 or 6 Price 3- Porcello 3- Sale 4- Wright 5- ERod (Johnson, Owens, Groome, Raudes) RP 1- Abad (out of options) 2- Kimbrel 2- Kelly 2- Ross 3- Thornburg 3- Workman 4- C Smith 4- Barnes 4- Hembree (out of options) 4- Elias (out of options) (R Scott, N Ramirez, Martin)

I meant swap JBJ and Betts from CF & RF, assuming Betts could become a better CF'er in little time, something I don't necessarily disagree with.

What about Stoli (My fave, but I admit I am a novice compared to you) Vanil & Fanta Orange for an orange creamsicle.

I think it would sell, and with a name like that, how can we lose?

More upside in cost control and years of control, but Buch has a proven upside of performance that is nearly unmatched by anyone on our staff, even if just for a couple of half seasons. I'm glad we got out from under the contract.

You answered your own question. Without sale, we keep Buch.

Maybe butterscotch schnapps and Bacardi 151?

Then, if true, with JBJs better arm, they should be swapped.

Do you really think Wake was near the third worst pitcher since 1956?

Since we got basically nothing for him, holding onto Buch for longer might have netted us a better prospect, assuming he stayed healthy and pitched well. However, if he got hurt or struggled, we'd have missed out on any chance of getting someone to pay $13.5M. It was a good trade, given Buch's inconsistency and injury history. That $13.5 M will save us much more later, and allow us to get someone even better for a third of a season at a cheaper price, if needed.

I'm pretty certain JBJ is our best defensive CF'er, but I agree Betts is better overall. Beni is largely unknown, especially with CF defense.

I was too, but $13.5M is a lot of money. In theory, since the trade deadline is 2/3 through the season, we could trade for two players making $18M annually each and the cost would be $12M total.

Agreed, but McCutchen looks to maybe be in serious decline. JBJ looks to be on the rise and is a better defensive CF'er. I'm not for trading JBJ, but I like him more than A. M right now. McCutchen's decline: OPS: .952> .889> .766 UZR/150: -13.7> -6.1> -23.2 WAR: 8.4> 6.8> 5.8> 0.7 JBJ: -0.3> 0.5> 2.4> 4.8

So, our high ceiling farm now looks like this: Age 17: Mata 18: Groome & Raudes 19: 20: Devers 21: Possibles: 17: 18: 19: Y Aybar 20: D Herndnaez, Tyler Hill 21: Dalbec, Chatham, Ockimey, Bautista, Nogosek, K Washington 22: Lakins, Cosart 23: Travis 24: Hernandez, Ysla 25: Martin 26: Johnson, R Scott Long shots: TBall 22, Chavis 21, Shepherd 24

From what I heard, we were just barely under the luxury tax limit before the trade, but any in-season call ups could change the number as minor-league salaries would be given a raise to ML levels. This trade gives is maybe $14-15M in flex space. If we trade Abad, we'd add another estimated $2M. He's out of options anyways, and I like Hembree more. I'm not sure Elias is any better than Abad, but he can start. That would put us at $16-17M in luxury tax limit space. Remember, although we lose $12M next winter with Young and Moreland's deals, we have to factor in arb raises and Kimbrel's luxury tax number going from $10.5M to $13M and sale's going from $6.5M to $12M. These will more than eat up that $12M and any left over from our surplus from 2017. Now, if we reset the luxury tax, like it looks like we will this year, then going over next year will not be as costly. Next year's FA class is much better, I might add.