moonslav59

So, there is a guy at Woo that Mayer could replace, without hurting our ML depth pool.

He's been on the IL and did not play much the first few weeks, so expecting more than the first 3 months is not illogical. I do think just the Casas return might cancel out a sizable chunk of the Pivetta/Jansen loss. The rest are more speculative. There is also a chance Pivetta and Jansen do not do well after the deadline, too.

Yes, they all have things to work on. They can work on them in AAA, and will likely do so, at some point. Yes, 1 or 2 might jump right to MLB, or just spend a brief time in AAA before MLB. I'm not advocating jumping to the bigs. IMO, all are ready or close to ready to face AAA pitching to better prepare for the bigs. I don't pretend to know more about these 3 than the Sox do, and I trust the timetable they choose. I don't see the jump from AA to AAA as being monumental or process of growth hampering, as much as you, I guess. It's just one opinion. I'm not complaining or criticizing the Sox choices on this.

I will not be surprised, at all, if he does not get picked. I'm just saying, as of now, he seems to be the 4th deserving OF'er in the AL.

Indeed, and the talk of our rotten depth may have been exaggerated.

Yes, but I mentioned getting Casas back plus more from Abreu and O'Neill plus Hendriks as maybe evening that loss to .500.

On the money about the money, too. In fact, we could even pay much of Yoshida's contract to unload him. Maybe even add a blocked prospect or two to sweeten the deal (Lugo, Castro, Paulino, Hickey?) I really think pitching, pitching, pitching should be our main focus. A RHB is a need, too, but maybe that need not be expensive. I'm pretty sure the top Sox brass thinks we don't need a solid SP'er for 2025, with out rotation doing well and Gio coming back, but I hope we add at least one solid #2 type SP'er and some depth, along with a closer- making Hendriks the #2, along with maybe Slaten or Bernardino.

I was referring to how losing Jansen and Pivetta might affect our final 2024 record. We agree, a lot, on the 2025 outlook and high need areas.

Losing Pivetta would hurt- same with Jansen, but maybe Casas and Hendriks even it out to some extent. Getting Abreu, O'Neill and others back might help, too. It seems like no matter who we put out there, we are a .500 team.

That's absurd. Bregman never enters any picture. Part of picking the subs is based on who do fans want to see play. I think Devers might be chosen over Westburg and Paredes for that reason. He's a better and more proven batter. Duran looks like the 4th best OF'er almost any way you want to look. He should be chosen as a sub.

I've answered this, already, and how is facing AAA pitching going to hurt his development vs LHPs, if it really was an issue? This whole "can't hit lefties" thing is based on what? 47 ABs in 2024? (.562) While .710 in 2023 wasn't very good, it didn't suck, either (22 ABs is an even smaller sample size, granted.) How about .896 v LHPs in '22 (39 ABs) and .887 in 28 ABs in '21? He's getting promoted, at some point. I'm not for rushing him to AAA, if the Sox don't think he's ready or think it might hamper his progress. My opinion is, he looks ready as ever. I'd like to see him be promoted, to see how he does. The Yorke promotion sure didn't hurt him- not that they are all that comparable, but many felt Yorke had serious issues, too.

I'm not trying to rush him. I have always believed the Sox know when players are ready. I think our big 3 are ready to face a tougher challenge at AAA. I think it is a worthy consideration in their growth process. Your point about maximizing MLB ready depth at AAA is a good one, but to me, the 2024 season is not looking all that bright, and we have more than enough numbers at each of the 3 positions these guys play. We have tons of options, just not great ones: Do we really need more than Heineman and maybe one from Hickey and Gaspar? That's 5 catchers. We certainly don't need any of them as DH depth. Do we need more middle infielders? I'd argue we need better ones. Better than: Rafaela is ok. DHam has been doing ok. Romy is meh to ok. Vadlez is showing life. Grissom will be healthy, soon. Westbrook has been a replacement level infielder. (Wong can play 2B) That's 7 guys who have already played at the MLB level, this year and should all be healthy in a week. At AAA, we have Yorke, Meidroth and Sogard, of which 2 can play 3B. That makes 10 middle infielders, before we get to Karson Simas. If you think keeping Simas at AAA for MLB depth is essential, then I have nothing more to say. One strength of this team is the OF and OF depth. LF: Duran, Refsnyder, Yoshida, O'Neill CF: Rafaela, Duran, Abreu RF: Abreu, O'Neill, Ref with Dalbec, Westbrook and Romy seeing limited action, here. The AAA depth is not great, but I doubt we need all 4 as MLB depth, as long as Westbrook & Dalbec remain healthy and on the 40. Eddy Alvarez Mark Contreras (might be enough, by himself) Matthew Lugo Corey Rosier I think we can make room for Anthony at AAA without crushing our ML depth or demoting/trading/DFA'ing one of these 4. Sorry, but I disagree these three promotions would cut into our ML depth in any meaningful way. Hell, 1 or 2 of the big 3 might be ML ready, themselves by August or September '24.

4th best OF'ers do deserve a slot on the AS team- just not as a starter. I think the fact that Devers is close to having a career year, and has name recognition, he would be chosen, if the choice was made, now. I think OPS matters more than fWAR to many fans. BTW, bWAR has Devers ahead of Paredes. 2.5 Westburg 1.8 Devers 1.6 Paredes

Agreed, but if these three are as close to MLB as many seem to think they are, isn't facing better competition (more like MLB) than AA a step towards reaching the goal: MLB?

It's been talked about. Wong can DH and even play 2B. It's more about demoting Dalbec than anything Heineman offers. I'm fine with not calling Heinemen up and just making him Teels back-up at Woo. Hickey can DH and Gaspar can play some 1B or ride the bench. We don't hold Teel in AA because of Heineman, Hickey and Gaspar.

You have to think our one game lead on TBR and two games over TOR, can easily be lost, even if we keep everybody and have no new major injuries. Of course, the Rays and Jays might be sellers (too,) at the deadline. I'm not sure how much help Hendriks might bring us in August, or if Martin is ever coming back, O'Neill seems like he will forever be on and off the injury report. Good thing Ref is taking up that slack. The return of Casas could be the equalizer, if we do sell-off 3-4 pieces. It's hard to know. This season just screams 81-81, to me- no matter what we do.

Our line-up was garbager than yours! Nah-nah-nah!

Crowded with what? Heineman is a journeyman-type catcher, and I also suggested we call him up to replace Dalbec (or Cooper.) Hickey is a DH. If Mayer can't handle AAA, we'll find out. If he needs to work on hitting certain types of pitches, better to learn facing better pitchers and pitches.

If the $50M is spent on players that produce like our recent additions, even $150M would likely not be enough. $50M invested wisely might get us close. $60-75M, wisely should get us about even. 2 solid SP'ers, a closer and a RHB could be had for under $70-90M.

My point is, he should net a better prospect than what some are suggesting. Jansen, too. O'Neill and Martin need to show something, first.

FA after this year. No brainer. Extend him or trade him. (We could even trade him, then re-sign him, this winter.)

No, our expectations for fries is over the top.

I really like Anthony, but our OF is strong and young, now. I'd even offer Anthony, Fitts and more (any 2 from Lugo, Yorke, Meidroth, Castro, Paulino or Wikelman)

No, it won't be cheap, and nobody is getting duped. Other teams would offer a lot. I doub t we'd top anyone's offer.

That's a separate coupon to be negotiated.