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LOL Nice save. So a cheap offer hurts his pride, but no offer is respectful? JBJ is not going to take a cheap deal with Boston if everyone else is offering him more. Don't worry about his feelings...

I’d actually be surprised if Benintendi was traded, despite my repeated predictions that it happens...

On that list, I keep Stock, Puello and Wilson. But I think I could DFA the suspiciously absent Phillips Valdez...

I hear because of Kyle Hart, they’re thinking of moving it back up. (Gibson wasn’t solely responsible for lowering the mound. Pitching over all was. Carl Yastrzemski lead the AL with a lowly .301 BA, and didn’t even face Gibson that year)...

Sort of like saying Stealer’s Wheels was better than the Beatles. Just a one-hit wonder, but a damn good one...

The money difference shouldn’t be worth it to sign Jake Marisnick or Juan Lagares. If you want dirt cheap defense, just sign Billy Hamilton. But the money/offense differential might be worthwhile for Michael Taylor. However, Bradley is a known commodity over multiple full seasons. There’s a balance to be struck...

Francona is not available...

And they drafted/signed neither of them. Alcantara was acquired (with Zac Gallen) by trading Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals. Sanchez was acquired in the trade that sent Realmuto to the Phillies. They also have Pablo Lopez (acquired from the Mariners for David Phelps), who might be the best of the three...

I’m on board with Marlin Mania...

So Sox needs: SP: ? SP: ? (Depending on ERod) RP: ? RP: ? 2B: Arroyo? (Thinking they don’t spend here as Pedroia is still technically alive, active and under contract.) CF: Bradley? LHH: Brad Miller? (Calling this slam dunk early.) Fill in the gaps as we go...

One Super Bowl? The Marlins have played 7 postseason series. And are 7-0...

Paul Bunyan Syndrome (which should exist). It’s also a big roadblock in self-driven cars....

Like I said earlier, the Marlins have NEVER lost a postseason series...

So all four second round matchups are intradivisional series...

pway-oh!! Pway-oh!!!

It’s not done manually anymore. It’s software driven. (And it was NEVER one guy.). Now errors. Those are literally “one guy’s opinion”...

The Red Sox should be all over that. The Diamondbacks should not, as they have more years of control with Carson Kelly and one of their top prospects is another catcher in Daulton Varsho...

See, this is why I am against giving out 7 year $217 mill contracts. And sometimes getting another GM to part with a "good pitcher in his prime" is like asking a new father to trade away his infant daughter...

I actually expect Cincy to for Andrelton Simmons at shortstop this offseason, which not only kills their need for a SS, but also takes away the guy I would sign if the Sox dealt X. Vazquez is a decent trade chip, and the Sox reportedly had talks with Tampa about him, although they might not have progressed as far as news interpretations suggest Neander: "What do you want for Christian Vazquez?" Bloom: "Your mother." Technically, those are talks about Vazquez, but not really a strong indicator that he is available. But let's say he is, because, well, what else have we got to talk about on here? Per B-R, Vazquez hs one year $6.5mill remaining on his deal, with a very exercisable team option that turns it into a 2 year $13.25mill deal. There's a bonus for him exceeding 502 PA in 2020 and 2021, but I don't know how to view that since it did not have any known Pandemic Safety Clause. His contract, coupled with his projected fWAR, has made BTV value Vazquez with a surplus trade value of $14.4 mill. Some starting pitchers falling within about $1mill of that on either side include: Framber Valdez (Astros), Domingo German (Yankees), Anthony Senzatela (Rockies), David Peterson (Mets), Kyle Freeland (Rockies), Kris Bubic (Royals), Logan Webb (Giants), and Sean Manaea (A's). The site lists Bubic's availablity as "Low", but everyone else as "Medium". so scratch Bubic. And German, because he is a Yankee. The Astros do control their starting catcher (Martin Maldonado) for one more year, and I am going to assume would be happier with Maldonado and Valdez that they would be with Vazquez and without Valdez. The A's have Sean "Exit Velocity" Murphy, and will not want Vazquez. And the Giants have already started the service time clock for top prospect Joey Bart. From the remaining teams, the Rockies finished dead last in catcher fWAR last season, and have two pitchers viewed as roughly equal to Vazquez. The Mets are losing staring catcher Wilson Ramos to free agency. So that leaves Anthony Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and David Peterson as the best options. Any preference? (Personally, I go Senzatela here. But there is no wrong choice yet IMO.) If you're expecting Bloom to add some budding star like Tony Gonsolin or Ian Anderson or Aaron Civale for Vazquez, it's not going to happen. In fact, even one of thee three named above might be unlikely, especially if their respective GMs don't see Vazquez as being an immediate solution...

Career ERA of 4.66 in 19 IP. I actually like Leake, one of a very small number of pitchers with less than 10 career IP in the minors. (Even fast-tracker Chris Sale has 14.) But I think in Fenway for a full season would not be the best fit...

Sims is a former top Atlanta prospect who just took forever, and really, has yet to prove anything. He has only 142 career IP and an ERA+ of 92. One good game might be proof he has turned a corner. But it also might be one good game. The rest of the Reds staff include Bauer, Sonny Gray, Anthony Desclafini (oft-injured free agent with one good season) and Tyler Mahle. Mahle was terrific this year, but in 47 IP. But if anyone on that staff has turned a corner, I would gamble it was Mahle over Sims. The problem with dealing with the Reds is their biggest need is a shortstop, where they ranked 29th in fWAR. I seriously doubt they see CJ Chatham as the solution. Or even as an upgrade. So is there a match up?

If you like pitchers who throw strikes, the top pitchers likely to be available in that same timeframe (2017-2020) Rich Hill (1st in Zone % with 48.8%. Free agent. Obvious health risk) Joe Musgrove (4th 47.6%. Pirates pitchers always seem to be available in their arb years) Matt Harvey (6th 48.6%. Free agent. Other obvious concerns) Rick Porcello (11th 46.6%. Free agent) James Paxton (15th 46.2%. Free agent) Danny Duffy (18th 45.9%. I have no doubt the Royals would move him if possible) Mike Leake (22nd 45.8%. Free agent, but his pitch-to-contact soft tossing might make him the worst Fenway option available) Reynaldo Lopez (25th. 45.7%. I think the White Sox move him in the right deal) Jameson Taillon (25th. See Musgrove, Joe) Jake Arrieta (32nd 45.3%. Free agent) Dylan Bundy (39th. 45.0%. Rumored to be available last August. might still be) Jeff Samardzija (41st 44.6%. Free agent.) Michael Wacha (43rd. 44.5%. Free agent) Corey Kuber (45th. 44.4%. Free agent) Michael Fulmer (46th 44.2%. Likely available via trade, but has other concerns)

Bauer is a no-brainer to get a QO, but I think the possibility of committing to another David Price contract is a bigger deterrent than a lost draft pick. It's actually pretty difficult for a lot of these scribes to get a handle on Bloom because he is not guaranteed to run the Sox the same way he ran the Rays, just like how Dan Duquette did not run the Sox the same way he ran the Expos. But even then, how many free agent pitchers are actually likely to get a QO this off-season? Bear in mind, some teams might not be spending like they normally do. Beyond Bauer, there are no other definites. And Bauer might even be a moot point as a free agent, since it is possible he might actually accept the qualifying offer and wait out the market another year. He certainly has not expressed a reluctance to gamble on himself before...

Looking at the pitching leaderboards since the 2017 season (which gives the last 3 full seasons plus), Bauer ranks ninth in fWAR with 14.4. Other free agents among the leaders include: Corey Kluber (11th with 14.1 fWAR) James Paxton (18th with 11.9 fWAR) Mike Minor (28th with 9.8 fWAR) Marcus Stroman (36th with 8.7 fWAR) Rick Porcello (41st with 7.9 fWAR) Jon Lester (41st with 7.9 fWAR) (Team Option left. Probably picked up because the buyout is $10mill) Chris Archer (45th with 7.7 fWAR) Jake Odirizzi (53rd with 6.9 fWAR) Cole Hamels (56th with 6.5 fWAR) Robbie Ray (61st with 6.2 fWAR) Mike Leake (64th with 6.1 fWAR) (with team option, but not a likely one to be exercised) Jake Arrieta (64th with 6.1 fWAR) Anibal Sanchez (71st with 5.7 fWAR) And so on. That seems like enough digging...

In yesterday's game, Tommy La Stella reached first via catcher's interference for the 14th time in his career, which is a bit remarkable considering he has only 1500 career PA. The all time leader in CI is Jacoby Ellsbury with 31, but that took him nearly 5400 plate appearances. (Although he got on base via catcher's interference 12 times in 2017 alone, a single season record.)