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I don't think service time is as big of a concern as actual defense. Right now, Duran is reportedly a bit lacking there. But I do assume he is in the plans for 2022 at the latest....

If that is the case, maybe Moreland is still in play. (I have more serious doubts and I think Pillar makes more sense than Moreland right now.) I think we all hope for more stability - and that may happen in time. But I would not be surprised if Pillar was still in play and Chavis was earmarked to start the season in Worcester...

And none of them should on their own. So far, Bloom has acquired a bunch of supplementary pieces at best. But then he is clearly not working with a limitless budget...

He might have hampered their ability to keep Scherzer with his insane contract for Miguel Cabrera, which still has the Tigers paying him another $94 million over the next 3 season. His extension to Verlander was also looking pretty questionable by 2015, but Verlander did certainly justify it since then. But Dombrowski did not help their cause by being on the wrong side making one of the most underrated lopsided trades in history when he dealt Eugenio Suarez for Alfredo Simon...

Well, they did finish last in 2015 with a full season of Verlander...

I agree. Unless the Sox think of Kike Hernandez as their defensive-minded backup CF...

The problem was the success was very short-lived. 3 seasons. Even the Tigers got 4 pennants under Dombrowski...

He really only did anything in Colorado. But he has managed a decent career as a minor league coach. His kid Nick (Mookie's second cousin) was apparently recently signed by the Dodgers...

Exactly. Which is why Pillar might still be in play...

I hope Uncle Terry (not really his uncle, more like a first cousin once removed - Terry is his mother's cousin) is the salary he made in Boston was the highest of his career and common for a utility infielder at the time, which Terry was at that stage of his career...

I want to see the team competitive every year, but when Dombrowski took over - and I was saying this even back on BDC, the 2020 season as an inevitability, because his methods are good for short term success but not for sustained success and eventually it will be time to pay the piper. The Tigers still have not recovered from his methods. THe problem with the "high payroll / invest heavy in free agents / scrap the farm system" method is that while winning short term is no guarantee, losing long term is. He did win a title in Boston, but Detroit was a lot less lucky...

Yes. If they go with 4 bench players, we can assume 3 spots go to Plawecki, Marwin and Arroyo. Richt now, Chavis appears to have that 4th spot. But it could go to someone like Pillar or another outfielder, as Chavis has options. Now of course, signing Pillar could have greater implications, like putting him in CF as the starter with Cordero/Renfroe platooning in LF and Verdugo in RF. But that kind of thing is up to Cora and does not change whether or not Pillar is in play. Of course, if they use a 9 man bullpen, then he is not in play...

He can be a prick that way. Not like he cannot just come here and take our suggestions. (And I still think Pillar is in play.)

Well, they do if they guess right and there was no signaling involved. That does happen...

Then they need to let the man spend. I'd still like to see this team make some moves more related to 2022 than 2021, like signing Odorizzi. And maybe getting a LF, even if to platoon with Renfroe. I can live with Cordero in CF and Verdugo in RF. That alignment make more sense at Fenway...

Those contracts also obviously impacted the situation, too. Mookie's demands were ofty, but there is also some suggestion that negotiating was possible. Reportedly, he nearly accepted a $200mill offer until his mother told him not to settle. So then suddenly leapt to a firm $400mill and would not budge? But at some point, even if thy could talk him down a few million, the money being spent was crazy, and Henry closed the checkbook.

Bloom has done three things since taking over, despite receiving many criticisms. 1) Cut payroll by probably nearly 25%. He took over an 84 win team with about $240mill payroll and reduced it by about $50mill. This unfortunately meant cutting ties with some very popular players like Betts and Beintendi. And also not signing any big name free agents. Since the Sox signed JD Martinez after the 2017 season, the most money committed to any free agent from another team was the $14mill contract to Enrique Hernandez. (Richards could earn more if his option is exercised.) 2) Rebuilt the farm system. It's certainly not pre-Dombrowski top tier farm, but it is no longer bringing up the rear on the rankings of every talent evaluator. (Dombrowski should get a little nod here for drafting Dalbec, Houck, Groome and Song.) 3) Improved this team to a potentially credible roster in 2021. Obviously, injuries can derail any team. But this is at least not the obvious last place roster from last year, with a pitching staff littered with AAAA arms. When highlighting Bloom's lowlights, many forget he inherited an injured ace who has yet to throw an inning under his watch. Because if Sale was not out for the bulk of 2021, this team might look like an actual contender, and was certainly not a last place team in 2020...

I assumed sarcasm as you do have a past strongly advocating for Dombrowski's methodology...

I am very far from a fan of this deal. Brad Miller was a much better choice. Also, still think the Sox need a LF or a 2B (depending on where Kike's plays). And I do not like Marwin for 2B...

They did have more room, but both that does not mean the existing deals to Price and Eovaldi had no impact...

As of right now, there is room for both. Soxprospects.com has both on the Red Sox roster, but then they also list 27 players (including Sawamura). So someone, possibly Chavis, is going somewhere. But then it could also be Austin Brice, as they list 9 relief pitchers. Or Taylor, who has an option but is also one of only 2 LHP in the pen. It does probably mean Mitch Moreland is not coming back...

So you don't think bloating the payroll impacts the ability to sign other players? Mookie's demands were outrageous, but other teams dedicated amounts very close to other players. Anaheim committed more money to Trout. Philly committed a similar amount to Harper. And yet both had lower payrolls than the Sox...

So that means anyone complaining about trading away Betts is 100% incorrect and it was the right move?

If we needed all that, I would have preferred Brad Miller, who is a better hitter (OPS+ of 112 since 2018 as opposed to Marwin's 93), and plays the same positions the Sox might need (1b, 2B, corner OF). It's hard to compare defensive abilities of the two, since neither really has huge samples at any one position recently. Oh, and Miller is not a cheater (as far as I know)...

The guy who will either supplement Dalbec at 1B or platoon with Renfroe in LF or maybe take over 2B so Kike Hernandez can move to CF where he will be flanked by Cordero and Verdugo. Marwin is Jose Altuve's former double play partner turned super-utility player turned garbage can cheater...