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There’s no crying for Trevor Bauer!

They’d likely sign some short term stopgap free agent like Tyler Flowers, Robinson Chirinos or Tony Wolters, likely with the goal of seeing who signs for less than Vazquez’ $4.5 mill AAV. Flowers does have some comparable defensive metrics, but is also 35.

The Angels are reportedly interested, but the Sox asking price (whatever it actually is) is apparently a deal breaker...

Agreed. Now like I said, I’d trade 2 years of Vaz for 6 years of Marsh. But I have a feeling Bloom’s demands are similar, and that’s why no deal gets done...

Will they include Betts?

If 2b isn’t Hernandez (which it is), I would imagine Chavis or Arroyo are next up. Right now, soxprospects.com lists Verdugo in CF and Renfroe in RF. If Bloom adds another OF, it could be someone like Josh Reddick to platoon with Renfroe in right field...

He’s an option, too. Some sites give him an ETA of 2022. Reportedly the Angels are very high on both. One of Adams or Marsh is expendable. That Marsh is closer to MLB might work against him here, as Upton has two years remaining...

Multiple websites are reporting interest. But also saying in the past the price for Vazquez has been very high. Even I raised it per the BTV guidelines. So unless the Angels overpay, why bother making a deal just yet?

I am aware. But hey, if they want Vazquez, that would be my price. No idea what Bloom would ask for, but the Angels are very deep with outfielders with Trout, Adell, and Jordyn Adams, along with placeholders Justin Upton and Jared Walsh. Marsh absolutely could be trade bait for them. And it’s not like they can afford to deal pitching. Like the Sox, they have too many injury-plagued pitchers already. But I suspect no deal ever happens...

Probably just kicking tires. But for Marsh, it is worth thinking about. Unless Bloom signs Odorizzi. Then you keep Vazquez. I can’t see the Angels trading an established pitcher. They have very little depth and a strong recent history with injuries...

Now the Angels are asking about Vazquez. The Angels have virtually no pitching between MLB and low A ball. For me, it’s CF Brandon Marsh or the Sox keep Vazquez...

I actually think if the Sox do sign a closer, Sergio Romo is on the radar. Bloom has signed him before and he pitched pretty well for the Rays. I think at this point both he and his fastball are just north of 60, but he actually pitched pretty well for Minnesota last season...

Where does Melancon rank among the available options?

Not a fan of the retreads. His one year on Boston was far and away the worst of his career, but it was only one season. He might work out, but I prefer a lot of the other options over him...

OK so I will write the two lines of code that make it happen..

Absolutely correct. It is not the best solution...

If that is important, we probably best avoid Joe Panik...

..who are a growing population..

There are several names there that do not excite me, including Melancon, Kennedy, McGee, Wilson, Watson, Robertson ad the oft-injured Doolittle. And not sure how much Romo has left in the tank. Ditto Cishek and Soria But.. Colome, Kela, Rondon, Greene, Workman and Rosenthal all work for me

Not really. In OPS, it's sort of viewed as OBP's annoying little brother...

That's one of the simplest solutions. And both players have ties to Bloom...

Last year there were 3 from one division

Cannot force him to sign. And there are other closers still out there. Keone Kela, for example. Other available free agents with closing experience include Falmouth native Steve Cishek, Shane Greene, Mark Melancon, Ian Kennedy, Dave Robertson, Sergio Romo, Hector Rondon, Trevor Rosenthal, Joakim Soria, Brandon Workman, Sean Doolittle, Jake McGee, Tony Watson and Justin Wilson. Not all of them necessarily have good days ahead of them...

Well so far the roster has maybe one platoon on it. But really, as they only have 3 outfielders, the platoon is just our assumption. Right now, Verdugo is in CF and Renfroe is in right. But it is still January. If the Sox sign Moreland, then a platoon would be counterproductive to a rebuild, as it would stunt any potential development from Dalbec. Might as well just demote him and let him play full time. Now if they sign Moreland as a backup/occasional starter/insurance policy, that is different. And not sure where a platoon in CF comes from since, if it is not Verdugo, the Sox need two players for the position to platoon. Duran/Puello is probably not going to be the solution, especially since neither is even on the 40 man roster. A platoon at 2B would require a LHH 2b. As of now, all of the Sox 2b options (Hernandez, Chavis, Arroyo, Munoz) bat right-handed. And like I said, the Sox appear to be in a pitching acquisition mode, even with the MiLB signings, waiver claims and the Rule 5 draft pick. A 9 man bullpen is looking likely. This means 4 bench spots, one of which is Plawecki. Which means at most, they could do 3 platoons. And that still looks unlikely given the roster construction to date. I know it is possible they sign a LHH CF and play Hernadez there vs LHP while he plays 2B vs RHP, but I think "possible" is the only word to describe that. I think the Sox see a platoon in LF after getting another OF. And that is it. I don't mind the idea of a platoon in LF with Hernandez in CF and Verdugo in RF. And then 2B goes to the best in ST from Chavis, Arroyo, and Munoz for however long they na hold on to the position. But I have a feeling that 2B is already settled with Hernandez and the Sox will get an OF for either CF or RF...

They won't platoon at 4 positions. With only 4 bench players and one being a catcher, that's not possible...