Jack Flap

Hooray for stuff happening! I'd really love to know what swung him to the Angels...

I wouldn't go overboard with this stuff until something is confirmed. The rumors and speculation seem to change by the day (before today there wasn't any indication he wanted to go to New York, or anywhere besides the west coast, really), and I'm not convinced anyone truly knows what's going on. I don't think I've read anything about Stanton specifically objecting to Boston, and if New York can re-enter the talks after being previously presumed out of it, I would guess there's at least some chance we could as well...but that's just speculation on my part. All of the hurdles that made it a long shot to begin with would still remain, of course.

Henry Owens was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks.

Rob Bradford‏ Verified account @bradfo 10m10 minutes ago Source says Red Sox talks involving Jose Abreu significantly overstated. Very little traction at any time. Seems Abreu is staying put in Chicago.

I promise I did NOT mean to restart that discussion, lol. There's a lot of speculation now about the Yankees getting into the Stanton talks, the mere idea of which is going to make me anxious until we get some further news. I never really expected him to come to Boston, but seeing him end up in pinstripes would make this offseason turn to s*** in a hurry (and put more pressure, rightly or wrongly, on the Red Sox to make a "big move").

We're in agreement there. It was definitely odd, I just don't see it as a big deal.

Thanks, man. Yeah, I still don't know what that was all about. But whatever...moving on.

Lots of Giancarlo rumors from last night, with some ominous hints about the Yankees... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/giancarlo-stanton-rumors-12717.html

Oh, I didn't think you were specifically. And I don't disagree with you...I guess I'm just accustomed to taking statements from any GM with a grain of salt regardless.

Et tu, Spud?

I don't know where you see an apology in there, but whatever you need to tell yourself to get by. Detente, though? That I'm always down for. Not tag-teaming anyone, I assure you...I'm something of a lone wolf myself. And feel free to query away, if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

That's what I thought. Listen, dude, I don't know you...been posting here almost 2 years now and have never had a hint of a personal issue with anyone until you traipsed in with whatever this internet tough guy ******** is. If you have an issue with something I've posted and want to discuss it, then I'm around...but if substance-free insult attempts like the post I'm replying to are your thing, then knock yourself out, but I'll not be playing that game. Good night to you.

I don't "come from" there....registered at one time, posted sparingly for a bit, didn't care for it much, left and haven't been back in probably a year or more. Your point...?

S5Dewey will be by to note his disapproval any moment.

The surgery thing was more amusing to me than anything else...not sure why some people are still so hung up about it. All of the surgeries were known about almost immediately in the following days, so it's not like he was trying to conceal something. Wasn't this right around the time Farrell was fired? Maybe he just didn't give a f*** about Hanley's shoulder that day... He could/should have chosen different wording perhaps, but you know it's a slow winter when we're still talking about this 2 months later.

Agree. Those early 2000's Yankee lineups were stacked, but Matsui was one guy I always hated to see come up to the plate...

I also didn't read it that way. I don't expect any GM or executive to speak to the media/public with complete transparency about things that may or may not happen in the future. With regard to Dave saying Hanley can play 1B next year (which is what started this exchange), I would imagine that is dependent on other moves that may be made and is most likely a negotiating tactic.

If Ohtani was eligible for the draft he'd be projected to go 1st overall...a team like the Red Sox is seldom, if ever, going to have a shot at drafting that type of talent. If you want to judge him based on the "hype," that's fine, but I'd rather focus on what he does on the field and whether it's worth the investment placed in him. No, he's almost certainly not going to be the "Japanese Babe Ruth," but he doesn't have to be. I remember when Jose Abreu came over from Cuba there were some similarly hyperbolic statements thrown around - "he might just be the best hitter in the world," one article proclaimed - and while he hasn't turned out to be that, he is a very good player on a fair contract and well worth having. I suspect Ohtani will turn out similarly (though he'll cost much less to acquire) - or he could be an utter bust and never provide any value. Who knows? The bottom line is that the winning team will have to risk very little to find out, which is why you have so much excitement and intrigue surrounding his situation.

This post really has nothing to do with the rest of the thread up to that point... Agreed...the international market is simply another avenue of finding talent, and one that any club would be foolish not to take advantage of to the best of their abilities and resources. Naturally some misses are going to come with the territory - no different from the domestic draft, where you can drop a big bonus on a Mark Appel (or a Trey Ball) and watch them flame out, and where it's understood that only a small percentage are ever going to amount to anything significant.

The first rule of the cliff is that we do not talk about the cliff.

Nothing burger!

This post reads like he's going to be signing a $200 million contract or something...in reality, it's the $20 million posting fee (which does not count against the luxury tax and therefore may as well be Monopoly money for a team like the Red Sox...remember how much they dropped just on taxes to sign a teenaged Moncada?) and a signing bonus of a few million (in line with what a high- to mid-1st round domestic draft pick or a well-regarded international amateur signee might get), after which he's on a regular minimum salary contract like any other rookie player. Whatever team signs him will be taking very little risk for the chance at enormous upside, and even if he "doesn't live up to the hype" and only ends up, say, a mid-rotation starter, that should be money very well spent. I'm sure the Red Sox made their best pitch, but you can't make him come to Boston if he doesn't want to. All signs point to him wanting to play on the west coast...

Luxury Tax 2: Electric Boogaloo.

I mean, his finalists include both LA teams and the Cubs, so "small market" in this case just seems to mean "not New York or Boston."

Best of luck to you! It sounds like you guys are in good position...