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The best UZR numbers from 2019-2020 for available RF are Tyler Naquin (4.1), Nomar Mazara (-0.2) and Yasiel Puig (-1.2). Naquin achieved his total in only 834 innings. All three are behind new Red Sox acquisition Hunter Renfroe (6.8), achieved in only 799 innings. Renfroe (13) and Naquin (6) are also the only available RF with positive DRS numbers in that time frame. So maybe the Sox already have that guy?

If you're worried about the health of your starting pitching, Rich Hill is far more likely to be part of the problem than part of the solution...

If only he could be as durable as Jordan Montgomery...

Oh I am also hoping for depth signings, and ones better than Dan Gossett. But I'd like there to be something in front of that depth for once...

While everyone agrees SP is important, one has to wonder exactly how important. In 2002, in a meaningless final game of the season, Tim Wakefield gave up 2 hits in the 6th inning, and both runners scored (one as an inherited runner with Bobby Howery on the mound). Those 2 runs raised Wakefield's seaon ERA from 2.70 to 2.81, pushing him behind Barry Zito (2.75) for 4th place in the AL. Had Wakefield simply come out after 5 innings, the Red Sox would have had the starters who finished first (Pedro Martinez - 2.26), second (Derek Lowe - 2.58) and third (Wakefield - 2.70) in the AL in ERA. They also would have still missed the playoffs, finishing 10.5 game behind the Yankees for the AL East title and 6 games behind the eventual World Series Champion Angels for the Wild Card...

Well as it stands the Sox have 4 pitchers slated for the rotation in ERod, Eovaldi, Pivetta, and Houck. Certainly getting 2 SPs and bumping Houck to the bullpen seems like it will happen. I am not so sure they bump 2 of them. Of course, there are likely to be a few arms still left in ST who wait for injuries to kick in and get deals. So if the Sox find they need someone then, we will see who is still available...

But you won't be retiring for another 35...

+1 That's why I am not going to root for them when the revolution comes...

Possible, although he has been at least a good pitcher for a few years now. AT worst, 3 years is not a deal that scares me with the years. At with a $12mill AAV and an All Star appearance on his resume, he actually becomes movable if things are not working out...

Oh Lester will be getting a one year deal. If he is lucky, there will be a team option. That is the maximum. AAV of maybe $10mill max. Of course, the Cubs are paying him 8 figures to not pitch for them this year. Porcello only got 1 year $10mill last year. If he gets that this year, he also looks like a steal. Drew Smyly got more money and he will probably spend 3/4 of the season on the IL. If I think the Sox are going to sign 2 pitchers, I would have Porcello as my third option, and I hope Bloom does to. Kluber, Odorizzi and then Porcello if one of them signs elsewhere...

Well, they did add some guy who slots into their top IP range since 2019. I forget his name. Gary Cole? Somethng like that. It's like the guy who voiced Harvey Birdman and played the boss in "Office Space"?

When you have to make payments on a fridgerator...

For some comparison: 1 year ago, reliever Will Smith signed a 3 year $40mill contract. Tanner Roark signed a 2 year $24mill contract with the Blue Jays. Same AAV. This is what that kind of money normally gets you. Odorizzi is a bargain if those are his demands...

3 years $36 mill? That's actually not unreasonable. Bauer wants $36 mill for one season. Is he 3 times as good as Odorizzi?

Odorizzi barely pitched last year but was worth 6.3 fWAR in 2018-2019. And turns 31 in March. Porcello was worth 4.2 fWAR in 2018 and 2019. He just turned 32. Lester turns 38 tomorrow and was worth 4.8 fWAR in 2018-19. Odorizzi has been the best of the bunch and is the youngest. So obviously, he will cost the most.

How many instances of there being multiple qualifying teams in the same season?

And if the Sox can add two SP's, Houck is not likely to even be in the opening day rotation. So if Soxprpsects.com is right, and the Sox add 2 SPs (Kluber and Odorizzi) and only 1 RP (Colome, who is the only name they are connected to to date?), and a 2B (C Hernandez?), a CF (tough call, since none of them ever played for Tampa), and a LHH bench bat (sticking with Brad Miller here) then yes, the Sox could certanly be competitive. A bullpen with Colome(?), Barnes, Brasier, Hernandez, Houck, Taylor, Andreise, Whitlock and Valdez is actually not awful. Especially since you absolutely know that Bloom is going to sign Ryne Stanek at some point. Might even get him on a MiLB deal, since he has been so ineffective since joining Miami. For all of 31 IP....

By the time your 65, Excel will be just as prehistoric as Lotus 1-2-3. You'll be formatting whatever software the survivor from the Amazon-Google Thermonuclear War has ordered you to use, whether it be Google Sheets or Amazon Copyright Violation...

When they say 60 is the new 40, what they mean is at that that age, you still have 25 years to go until retirement..

How come you prop up the Yankee rotation as ready to go despite their equally obvious health concerns and question marks? Jordan Montogomery makes Nathan Eovaldi look like Rick Porcello. Domingo German has not pitched since 9/2019. And not because he has been injured, but because he is an idiot. That's worse, because injuries can heal. Deivi Garcia's start this past year was roughly the same as Houck's, and despite his better pedigree, an equal amount of questions linger. Roster Resource has Michael King, a pitcher who has never dominated in the minors let alone MLB, in the current opening day rotation. So Gerrit Cole and a bunch of question marks....

FAvored? Probably not. But that doesn't mean anything. It is pretty unlikely, but if the Sox signed Kluber, Odorizzi, and 2 good RPs like Hand, Bradley, Kela, or maybe Colome, they would be a very improved team. That still leaves 2B and CF to fill. 2B has numerous good candidates (Wong, C Hernandez, E Hernandez, Schoop, Villar, La Stella, and Semien) even if you cassume the Sox will avoid DJ LeMahieu.. CF not so much, assuming Springer is off limits like DJM, as there is JBJ, Pillar, and maybe DeShields, all followed a bunch of good glove/no bat options like Marisnick, Almora, Dyson, Hamilton who all make JBJ, Pillar and DeShields look like good hitters. If budget allows, a corner OF like Puig would be more exciting, but I do not expect Bloom to sign THAT many quality players. Most likely, expect Bradley, Pillar, or DeShields. Soxprospects.com (Motto: Less Accurate than a Magic 8 Ball!) seems to think the Sox will acquire 2 SPs, 1 RP, a 2B, a CF, and a LHH bench bat. I would hope they get one more RP on top of all that. (They also have Chavis in AAA.) But yes, with the right additions, and minimal health issues, this team could absolutely compete for a playoff spot...

Well, not for 7 years, David Price was a guy the Sox were willing to pay heavily for in his twilight years...

OK but I don't think his Red Sox stint is comparable to pitchers who did join the team in the twilight of their careers like Tom Seaver, whose best days were far behind him. Grove was still a monster on the mound and gave the Sox 1539 IP with an ERA+ of 143. Might as well include Cy Young, who also pitched for the Sox from ages 34 to 41. And gave them 2728 IP with an ERA+ of 147 in that time frame.

Lefty Grove did win 4 ERA titles while on the Red Sox...

If the Sox are only offering a one year deal, Odorizzi will not be in Boston. Kluber will likely take a one year deal, and Boston might even have an advantage signing him, as he lives in Winchester, MA. But Odorizzi is probably the third or fourth best SP on the market and is very likely getting at least 2 years. He’s not signing the same deal as Drew Smyly...