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Pivetta through age 27: 406 IP, 5.40 ERA, 79 ERA+ Jake Arrieta through AGE 27: 409.2 IP, 5.23 ERA, 80 ERA+ Both pitchers were traded in July of their age 27 seasons. Out of nowhere, Arrieta then put up the following number in his next 4 seasons: 751.1 IP, 2.67 ERA, 151 ERA+ Now expecting that kind of turnaround from Pivetta is certainly a bit much, but there are a lot of similarities between the two, and Arrieta has certainly shown that it's all possible. Like Arrieta, Pivetta is one of those arsenal pitchers than teams covet bcause he has the talent to be a very good pitcher. Apparently Bloom is not the only one to think so, as Tampa was also trying to acquire him, thinking he could be the next Glasnow. Now of course, the opposite could also happen. As the immortal Boof Bonser (391 IP, 5.12 ERA, 84 ERA+) also had similar numbers through his age 27 season. Boof would go on to throw only 25 innings for the rest of his career due to some injury issues. So is Pivetta another Arrieta or Bonser or, more likely, somewhwere in between? And if so, which one is he closer to and how far away?

Really there are a lot of rather mundane players who just had good seasons. But that can happen to any team. Having Pedro was a huge advantage, and havig Vaughn and Nomar was also a big deal. But this team in non-Pedro games was on a pace for a 88-74 season with a bunch of starters no different that the staff on the current team. Is there any reason the Sox cannot get Vaugh/Garciaparra type production out of Devers and Bogaerts, get good seasons out of a few others, and then put together an 88 win season? Can we really make the argument that it's impossible because this team has no one as good as Damon Buford?

And only 1 blown save. Plus one awful one in the ALDS against Cleveland...

Maybe. But the other starters were Wakefield , Saberhagen, Avery, Lowe (10 starts), Wasdin (8 stats), and Schourek (8 starts). And those starters put the Sox on a pace for 88 wins. Is this rotation comparable to those pitchers?

The 1998 Red Sox were 70-59 (.542) in games not started by Pedro.

The 1998 Red Sox had an outfield of Troy O’Leary, Darren Lewis and Darren Bragg and actually (gasp!) made the postseason....

Really there isn’t much difference between Renfroe (OPS+ of 106) and Benintendi (OPS+ of 107)...

Well one of the Killer B’s reached free agency. And a second one was going to and wanted a killer deal (and eventually signed for the second largest deal in league history). And the third one stopped killing and just became B. So he’s a Royal now...

Ottavino will be fine as a closer. Barnes is ok as long as he is not required to pitch two days in a row, as he tends to get crushed if he pitches a second consecutive day. The wild card is Darwinzon Hernandez, who has the talent and throws some serious heat, but is also prone to bouts of wildness...

True but I doubt it becomes an issue anyway. I think the Sox are pretty much done with MLB contracts and if there is any activity left, it’s just the occasional minor league deal...

So if oft-injured Franchy Cordero is actually injured to start the season, who are the candidates to replace him? If he is the LF, is Marwin Gonzalez the likely replacement? But what if he is in CF? The 40 man roster has only two other outfielders on it - Marcus Wilson and Jeisson Rosario. Rosario has never played above A ball and Wilson is not all that impressive, but is at leat close to MLB. Duran? But someone has to go to get him on the 40 man. Chavis? Is he really considered OF depth?

Can we assume the player Whitlock and Valdez are traded for is Trevor Rosenthal, since he signed a deal 6 days ago to pitch for the Oakland A's? Porcello is the available player you did not mention...

I think he will play in MLB this year. But he has not even been added to the 40 man roster yet, which is the first step...

I can find a dozen other talking heads who actually point to the alignment I mentioned. Whether or not Cora got a good long look at Duran doesn't really mean much, becuase (as moon points out), there is very likely to be service time manipulation if the yreally like him, and 2) Cora probably got a "good long look" a several other players not likely to start the season in Fenway (sadly and possibly including Tanner Houck)...

That is one thing. It looks the plan for the starting OF really is Cordero in LF, Verdugo in CF and Renfroe in RF. Not wild about a lot of that...

Yes because these February spring trainnig games are sooooooooooo meaningful.. What's that old wives' tale - whoever is in first place by St Patrick's day will clinch the pennant? Or does that not exist anymore? (That's how I do sarcasm)

Yes, there are several reasons not to. His MiLB track record. His subpar defense. Etc., etc. Should service time really be one? (I know it is, but should it be?)

That's so Seattle Mariners baseball. The Sox do have a good argument for holding Duran back a few weeks since his MiLB numbers above A ball were weak and his MiLB numbers in A ball were carried by a very high BABIP...

Well, the implication was that it was Kris Bryant. But you have to remember we’re talking about the PTBNL for Josh Osich...

Sox acquire Bryant from Cubs!!! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/red-sox-acquire-zach-bryant-from-cubs.html

That was the point. That the decline started before Bloom even got here...

Mata will probably have to not suck in AA before he makes it. I have seen some lists than have Jarren Duran as an Honorable Mention. But not Mata...

Also, he DID ACQUIRE one year guys. Richard, Perez, Ottavino. Just because he did not acquire them all doesn’t mean he didn’t do it. And was 38yo Charlie Morton really going to sign with a rebuilding team?

I question how much of it is slowing development vs burning a year of service time. It’s one thing to promote a 19yo or 20yo, but once players reach an age and physical development slows or stops, maybe they’re in a spot where the only way we can know if they can hit MLB pitching is to have them actually face MLB pitching. And as this team is a borderline contender at best, it’s not like a struggling Duran will rank the season...

Ok so Bellhorn is in for $1.09. Who else?