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And no longer battle-tested...

I think two names often overlooked at 2B that won't command $200-300mill are Eduardo Escobar and Jonathan Villar. Neither are going to win a Gold Glove (and maybe both will look like they are fielding with one instead), but both have pros and cons that make them intriguing candidates. I liked the Taylor idea but I think the QO is a deal-breaker for the Sox. The incredibly underrated and often underappreciated Cesar Hernandez is another very interesting 2B candidate. Last year, he signed a 1 year $5mill deal, which seems pretty light for a reigning Gold Glover.

If the Sox non-tender him, it is probably to free up the 40 man space, which means Wong might be the backup. Sure, we once traded Leon to get Plawecki, but this is just re-arranging backup catchers and is about as low of an impact as trades get...

There is no trade market for Plawecki. Every team has at least one Plawecki on their 40-man already, and if they want another, free agency always carries a few who can be had for less than $2mill...

Well, if he is dealt, the $7 mill price tag is part of the deal. We all make trade proposals based on our own feelings about players. But when the deal is based on the strategy of "we need to get rid of this guy," we enter some flawed territory thinking his is movable at all. And salary dumping is certainly a good reason to unload a player that can be outside his abilities, but the Sox are typically a team positioned to take advantage of salary-dumping as opposed to engage in it. Mookie Betts trade notwithstanding...

I still think there is a possibility Plawecki is non-tendered. It might come down to what's more valuable. 1. Plawecki as a $2-2.5mill backup catcher? 2. Or the 40 man roster spot?

If Vaz is the weak link you promote him as being, why would any other team be interested?

Here is the thing about the Angels - their biggest problem over the past several seasons has been injured pitchers. So to fix this problem, they are looking at a guy with 2 IP in the past two seasons?

If the Yankees sign Corey Seager, Olson becomes less of a priority, especially since they still have Luke Voit lumbering around the clubhouse. Until then, certainly I epxect the Yankees to be linked. But now that we have seen Detroit make a move, i would suspect the offensively-challenged Tigers to be linked to Olson as well, especially given their poor performances from the first basemen last off-season. (Superstar prospect Spencer Torkelson might have to move to DH.) The Brewers are another team that could clearly use Olson, but unlike the Tigers and the Yankees, the cupboard below the MLB team is pretty barren. If the Yankees make Jasson Dominguez untouchable (which might be a deal-breaker), BTV accepts a package of Oswald Peraza, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt (or another aof a few names). Detroit could offer Tarik Skubal and Akil Baddoo, which BTV accepts. And probably better fits the A's needs Milwaukee could offer Luis Urias (who has regained some of his lost luster) and 2021 first-rounder Sal Frelick. Urias plus Bryce Turang is an overpay per BTV, but probably more realistic. Although overall, it doesn't make me all waarn and fuzzy...

I actually fully expected you to be either flabbered or gasted, but not the combination of the two...

But then signing big name free agents really doesn't guarantee anything either. If it did, one might think the Angels would make the post-season once in a while.

It is possible, but I think it might be a bit risky from the Sox to put both Whitlock and Houck in the rotation. I prefer neither, but I do believe at least one will make the jump. In their brief careers, both have shown to be elite relievers while questions remain about them as starters. Moving both to the rotation not only raises those questions but also might raise questions about whoever replaces them in the bullpen. While certainly sometimes the answer to these questions is a resounding "f*** yes!", I still like the idea of simply not having those questions at all...

I remember Lugo actually having a pretty good World Series at the plate. Of course, I also remember him committing the error that might have cost Schilling a perfect game, as that was the only runner to reach from the first 27 hitters Schilling faced before he lost the no-hitter with 2 outs in the ninth on a clean single by leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart. I wasn't as down on Lugo as many, but there were both bad and good memories of his time with Boston. He was also once traded to the Cardinals for 1B Chris Duncan (son of legendary Cardinal pitching coach Dave Duncan). Sadly, neither player from that trade is still with us. And I liked all the tweets by players lime Will Middlebrooks talking about how he worked with the young infielders in the Sox system. Lugo had his struggles with the Sox, but he clearly will be missed by many...

It's actually possible that, as a team up against the tax limits, Bloom wanted to know what the parameters of the new CBA were before signing anyone. Detroit has no such worries...

There is a very good (roughly 100%) chance you're reading way too much into this. One thing I have learned over the years of watching baseball - while players do occasionally leave teams because they want off that particular team, it's nowhere near as common as fans think. I've seen players sign with teams they had on-field brawls with the season before. Signing with a new team is almost always about 1 of 2 things - years and/or money. Bottom line with ERod is, Boston probably did not match Detroit on both...

Replacing ERod with Houck/Whitlock is already a step down. Not sure why people think replacing him with either of two pitchers who have never thrown 6 innings before is such a lock…

Archie Bradley and Lou Trivino?

Taylor rejected his QO...

I think the logic is easy. Both are outstanding relief pitchers and unknown commodities as starters. It doesn't strike me as being all that difficult to believe, Especially given how important the bullpen is rapidly becoming...

Can someone dazzle me with the appeal of Matz?

Not to mention the notion that we have to keep all of our good prospects out of trade consideration is very counterproductive. The very ones we want to keep are the ones most teams will want. And in the long run, some of them are going to suck. But sometimes prospects are like cryptocurrencies. Deal them when you think they're at the most valuable, and then let someone else HODL...

but more likely he will be traded...

I'm not sure sure. The Tigers ranked 30th out of 30 in team UZR and UZR/150 last year. The Sox actually ranked 11th. The Tigers ranked 29th in DRS. The Sox ranked 19th...

I would venture that not all of them are future conrnerstones. Now, Castillo might be one. If the Sox can get Luis Castillo for Houck and Duran, it's probably a wise move. Houck is good, but Castillo is better....

To be fair to him in Philly, he inherited a few good relievers that have just struggled to stay healthy...