moonslav59

Crappy loss after a gutsy outing by Criswell. Before tonight's Oh-fors by Duran and Devers... Duran .541 in previous 13 games. Devers .486 in previous 19 games (.431 last 12 gms.) Our best 2 hitters have tailed off.

I doubt that would ever be leaked, even if true. We ended 2023 at $203M ($226M lux tax.) According to cots, we started 2024 at $171M, but they have our lux tax number at $225M. This counts the $17M player benefit and other costs, so if they are talking payroll budget only, that number would be below $208M. Cots has us at $135M before arbs are decided, but we don't have many, since most players are still pre-arb. Plus, all our arb players are year 1, which is a traditional low cost year. The tax line is $241M, but minus the benefits and bonus pools, it's really like $222M. While I can see JH going light for another year, I hope we spend close to the line. A $200M player budget would still give us money to spend on 3-4 pitchers, but trading for 1 would focus the winter budget on 3 rather than 4 pitchers or 2 rather than 3. I don't know what to expect. I'm not sure anyone, outside the organization knows, either. (Maybe a decision is yet to be made.)

I know the scouting reports don't do Dobbins any favors, but he keeps getting the job done. Today, he went 6 IP, allowing 6 Hits (1HR) 1 ER, 1BB and 5Ks. His AAA ERA is 3.45. Grissom went 2-5, while Anthony went 1-2 w a 2B and 3BB. He's at .961, now. Meidroth went 3-5 and is up to .860. POR lost 9-0 as Early let up 6 Unearned runs. Their season is almost over.

I hope it's more accurate than Renfroe's. We could always move Anthony to CF, if it works out like that. Depending on how long it takes Montgomery, maybe it could be Anthony LF, Rafaela CF and Monty RF.

$200M is $41M under the tax line. Man, we are setting the bar lower and lower.

I might flip Williams with Farrell and would flip Bobby V w Kerrigan. IMO, the talent these guys had really matters when grading.

I do wonder how much SEA still values Castillo. Kicking the tires makes sense, there. If we can somehow include Yoshida, it's break my toe kicking that tire.

It's easy to foresee a situation, where when all are healthy (yeah, right) the utility role will be very minimal. C: Teel could play as much as most catchers can play: Wong plays the rest. 1B: Casas, if healthy, can max out at 1B and maybe play some DH on "rest days." 2B: Campbell or Story can fill this need, FT. SS: Story or Mayer can fill this need, FT, but health seems to be sketchy. 3B: Devers is FT. LF: Duran is FT and can play CF, when the CF'er is resting. CF: Rafaela and Duran cover this 162 games. RF: Anthony and Abreu is actually an overload, here. (Abreu could DH or play LF.) DH: Yoshida is FT, but this could become a catch-all slot, if he gets traded. To me, if Ref does not retire he should play vs every LH'd SP, somewhere- somehow. That limits any utility player's time. A D-Ham and Grissom/Romy platoon works well for 2B, so I'm not sure Wong is any better, there. Our need for depth is at SS, especially if Mayer or Story are hurt, 1B and 3B. Romy and Wong can play 1B, so maybe ditch Romy, if he's out of options. Devers could maybe learn 1B, soon, even if just to sub. Who is the 3B sub? Romy? Story> perhaps, it could be Meidroth. Campbell has played some 3B, but many seem to think his arm is too weak for many games, there. Down the road... C: Jo Garcia (Musett, Brannon) 1B: B Gonzales/Ju Gonzalez (Jordan) 2B: Cespedes (Alcantara) SS: Arias, Riemer 3B: Romero, Nunez LF: Castro, Asencio/Brito CF: Jh Garcia, Bleis RF: B. Montgomery, Yuten

49 innings at 1B and 19 at 2B. If Teel is the real deal, Wong may be riding the bench more or find other ways to get into the line-up, assuming he can stay near .770.

Radical.

How about Mayer at 2B (or 3B?)

Yes, make some serious efforts and hope we get it right, for once... not that other efforts were "serious."

Monty might claim CF.

Agreed. Hey, Grissom actually homered, twice!

True, but to make the deal happen, I'd give a side piece worth $4M.

Makes sense. You know SEA's needs more than I do. Sounds like you need a taker for Haniger and or Garver. Would Mayer make sense w SEA? I'm thinking Casas + Mayer for a better SP'er than Miller (Gilbert or Kirby). Casas, Mayer & Yoshi for Kirby or Gilbert plus Garver or Haniger

This guy seems like the real deal. The past Sox #1's, Beni and Dice-Ks were srt of letdowns. Our OF is strong and deep, so I think someone will be traded, but maybe not.

I don't really want Haniger and or Garver, but getting Miller and unloading Yoshi would make them acceptable budget offsets, even if we cut them both. It would be nice to count on Garver as the #2 catcher, but I think those days are past. Haniger might be okay as a DH, and maybe could stay healthy and provide RH'd power.

This makes a lot of sense. If SEA insisted on a player worth neat $4M, we could probably find someone (40 man roster or not.) I was thinking maybe Wink, Weissert, Kelly or Wikelman, if they are okay with adding to their 40, otherwise, maybe Castro, Zanetello or Hickey.

Wouldn't trading haniger create a need for Abreu? Even with haniger, Abreu would fit w SEA.

I'd say almost any bat is trade fodder, but I pointed out that the drawback to choosing Campbell is that he is the only one that bats RH'd. L Anthony L Casas L Mayer L Teel (Even Duran & Devers bat LH'd- Abreu, too.) I get the fact that trading Casas makes Campbell the hardest one to fit into the infield, but we could play Story or mayer at 3B and the other at SS. Both would be better on D at 3B than Devers. I also think Devers would end up better on D than Casas. I'm also thinking we should not have to trade 2 out of Casas, Anthony, Mayer and Campbell. We can trade for one SP and sign 2-3 other pitchers as FAs. IMO, if we don't trade Casas, Mayer would be my second choice, although middle infield is a bigger need than OF. In terms of need areas, trading Anthony makes the most sense, but he looks scary good. Scary good gets us a better pitcher, but I keep coming back to starting the package with casas and Abreu, so we can keep Anthony, Campbell and Teel. If a second deal is needed, make it Mayer not Campbell, despite Campbell's worse D at SS. Just my take. I can understand choosing Campbell over mayer due to our lack of a decent SS, if Story gets hurt. I do NOT want Rafaela at SS in 2025.

Why would SEA want Baty over Abreu?

He's the one RHB, though... and a good one, at that!

Maybe Mayer can play 3B, Story SS and Campbell 2B.

4-3 and a sweep of MIN, while not likely, is not impossible. I doubt it happens, but I'm not giving up, yet. Close, but not yet. (It's not like the Yanks are playing real well, too.) 22-28 NYY since June 19th 16-22 TBR since July 31st. 19-22 MIN since July 29th, including 4 of last 5, 6 of last 8. 4-9 TOR since Aug 27th and 18-20 since July 30th. Granted, we have sucked since the ASB, but we are playing teams that are not doing well. That keeps a sliver of hope alive.