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I had to work Campbell in there simply because he could enter the OF mix…

The Sox could move 3 outfielders and still field a lineup. Trade away Duran, Abreu and Password? You can still start Campbell, Rafaela and Anthony…

With the exception of 2b, a lot of those can be handled in house. Even if they offload Yoshida, they still have Casas and Campbell in search of positions/roles. 2b might come from moving an OF. I’be mentioned Duran for Marte a dozen times, but other BTV Fair trades include Abreu to Detroit for Colt Keith, Campbell to Miami for Xavier Edwards, or Password to Miami for Otto Lopez. Obviously I don’t of those respective CBOs are so aligned with BTV or even looking to deal. But that Miami got mentioned twice does indicate they have depth. (Although I believe they do use Edward’s at SS.)

Breslow did praise Hicks after the trade, referring him to a high leverage bullpen arm. Granted, it’s not like he was going to trash some Player he just acquired, but most of us probably (correctly?) suspected Hicks was only included to offset some salary. Maybe Hicks can return to being the 100mph gas throwing reliever he was in St. Louis before the Giants decided for some reason to make him a starter. Yoshida, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be on Breslow’s list of favorites. I think he gets moved with lots of money for very little…

So I guess the Sox are keeping Hicks and Yoshida…

The Sox could FINALLY stop losing those salmon races…

But would Texas and Atlanta? I think they make some sense for both. But those crafty CBOs and their fancy “data analytics” sometimes just refuse to see it my way…

I had ChatGPT do home runs projections for both Alonso and Hoskins at Fenway. Interestingly, it had Hoskins hitting 27 to 35 and Alonso hitting 25 to 33. I should point out that with ChatGPT, the AI stands for “Always Inaccurate”…

Breslow will be relieved. Your (lack of) approval held up several trades. ;)

Two BTV-acceptable salary dump trades that make some sense but will not happen. 1. RHRP Jordan Hicks(2yrs $25mill) for C Sean Murphy (3 yrs $45mill). Boston gets some pop at an unlikely position. Atlanta saves $20mill and maybe can resurrect Hicks by keeping him out of the rotation. 2. DH Masataka Yoshida (2 yrs $36.4mill) and LHSP Kyle Harrison to Texas for 2b Marcus Semien (3 yrs $72mill). Texas saves roughly $35mill and gets a young, controllable SP. losing Semien (3.5 bWAR) is tough on their defense but a plus on their offense, given his recent decline..

Houck and Dobbins so far. Criswell might stick simply because he hasn’t been horrible. He might start the season as 8th man in the bullpen…

I am hoping Arizona does the following: 1. Realizes their top outfield prospects from a couple years back has produced one star (Carroll), one serviceable starter (Thomas) and one AAAA bench player (McCarthy). And also that Lourdes Gurriel cannot field. and 2. Maybe they need to move on from malcontent Marte, who has reportedly lost the faith of some teammates this past year. And maybe put some faith in young infielders Blaze Anderson and Jordan Lawlor, at least for now. Marte’s deal isnt that team-friendly any more. He is 31 and signed for 5 more years at $91mill followed by an $11.5mill player option. The contract has numerous incentives as well…

But 11 names on a 40 man roster alone is quite the crowd. 12 names if you count Criswell, who I believe is out of options as well…

I’m assuming Refsnyder retires and Duran is traded. But Eaton might be a 4th OF. Password is a trade candidate as well. I figure Alonso is a long shot but will be linked to Boston. Hoskins is a more realistic target…

Trade or DFA. Any trade will likely be inconsequential…

Romy Gonzalez would be a continuation of the struggles at 2b since Pedroia. If Bregman opts out, I can’t predict but I can recommend Ketel Marte for 2b. Mayer moves to third, where Story, possibly with impure motives, favorably compared him to Nolan Arenado. Duran for Marte makes sense for both teams. 1b/Dh are the big questions. While Ive said positive things about Lowe, Ive repeatedly said he will be non-tendered. The Sox have Casas and Yoshida in the 1b/DH mix, and possibly Campbell as well. Bullpen? They could move Fitts and Tolle there, but it’s unlikely they move both. (Really, it’s unlikely they move either.) But they should at a minimum move Fitts. SP is already crowded. Once Houck (out for 2026) and Dobbins (out until June/July?) move to the 60 day IL, they still have Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, Harrison, Crawford, Early, and Perales. (And maybe Fitts and Tolle.)Perales definitely starts in WOO. Harrison, Crawford, Early, Fitts, Tolle and Harrison are TBD. Some to WOO? Some dealt?

I know. And that guy was only averaging 98mph on his fastball and only for 8 innings. I mean 98mph seems fast. But not when you realize it’s only 44 meters/second. And if you can’t hit throwing 44, you dont belong in Little League, let alone MLB…

Robles and Raley are bench/role players.

Wong, Hamilton and Eaton are just bench players. Any replacement isnt likely to be an improvement. As of now, the Sox have the following starting pitchers who will all need a spot on the 40 man roster, at least until March: Crochet, Bello, Sandoval, Houck, Early, Tolle, Harrison, Fitts, Perales and Dobbins. Houck is out for 2026, and Dobbins likely until July. I’m assuming Giolito opts out. Criswell, I think, is out of options, so he likely makes the team but not the rotation. If it was up to me, I’d move Fitts, Tolle and Perales to the bullpen and package Harrison and Password for a SP. No names yet, but probably someone with a contract or arbitration price that some cheap ass team wants to move on from. I’ve been pushing for Fitts to go to the pen for 2 years, but history has taught me with Whitlock that I need to push for 3 years before the Sox listen. OF should be set. INF is up in the air, with only Story and Mayer most likely in the picture. Lowe will be non-tendered and Casas, well, he probably injured himself watching the game tonight. I think Bregman returns. But few else do. Im a Yoshida fan, but I think Breslow isnt. We’ll see what happens to him. And I like the idea of swapping Hicks (2 yrs $25mill) to Atlanta for Sean Murphy (3yrs $45 mill). I think Atlanta would, too, but if I’m being honest, I haven’t discussed it with them…

Is he a fast driver?

And it will differ from the autopsies performed on the last two game threads?

Two down. Three to go. I think the trade route is more likely. As I mentioned before, the Sox already have 10 starting pitchers lined up for the 40 man roster. Thats already a lot. But since most of them make little to no money, I could see a trade. Package one or two from Tolle, Early, Harrison, Fitts and Perales for an upgrade? Or maybe one of them plus the Password?

If, say, Wong was coming up, maybe. But if he sends Eaton and the Yankees don’t throw it around, Eaton is dead at the plate. This isn’t the heavily fictionalized ending of Major League where Willy Mays Hays runs somewhere close to 45 mph. Thats faster than Usain Bolt on NOS…

I’m fine with that. I’ve already thrown my good name behind one whiny bitch for next year. I can’t back them all…

The body is still warm…