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There is a very big gray area between “not able to play baseball” and “on crutches”...

I’d like to see them reset or position themselves to reset while staying competitive. The big problem is trading g Price doesn’t make sense. With the reported money required to include or take back, plus the money needed to replace Price, it seems like breaking even is the most likely outcome. I don’t want to trade Betts, but it does make sense in some ways, depending what comes back. Trading Bradley will have minimal impact, since Billy Hamilton is available for less money. But I did have a 3 step jumping off point I liked that at least made the team competitive, although I think 2 more steps are required. Tthe one where we add Puig, Hellickson, and Lamb. A Bradley/Lamb trade does make sense for both teams, but only gets the Sox about $6mill closer to resetting. Of course to make that work, the Sox need a fourth OF since you never know if Puig will go AWOL. (I recommend Cesar Puello.). And to fit him in the roster, you need to either make a deal with a Houston to keep Arauz (if you like him) or just send him back.

Especially since you haven’t won anything in over 30 years and you’ve lost two of the last 3 World Series to teams currently embroiled in cheating scandals. The main reason to not make it is you think you’re already good enough, since it might have taken cheating to knock you out...

He’s going to sign somewhere next season. And it’s going to be somewhere that pays a lot. The Sox are certainly on the short list there, and a few other teams have probably already committed enough money elsewhere that they can be easily overbid...

One of only two players in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year, MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger all in his first two seasons...

No. This is a fake punt. But one where the signal call made before the snap is “Fake punt on 3!” Or something along the lines of Chico Marx play calling in “Horsefeathers”. But with a rhyme for “fake punt”...

This is a terrible punt. So far the Sox have not unloaded one big contract, not trade away one veteran player, and not acquired one prospect. If the Sox are rebuilding, they need to learn how to do it...

Perverts have families, too...

Buzzkill

You asked if there would be any issue if Henry didn’t announce the cut in payroll, but just didn’t spend. That was pretty much last off-season in a nutshell, right? Do you think (or know) if their lack of action had an impact?

No that idea came from Beltran’s niece, who was left on the group text after Carlos went to NY...

Were there any in 2019? That was the exact off-season plan...

Since he realized the whole thing could be done for $500 and a trip to Best Buy? Despite attempts to make this scheme look elaborate and advanced, they were banging a garbage can. If Crane was involved, don’t you think he’d say “What? Spend some real money and get an actual messaging system.”

The Red Sox have clearly moved on, but it’s not up to them about whether or not Pedroia retires and walks away from all the money he’s owed (which he ain’t gonna do)...

All the stolen signs in the world can’t turn Hector Velasquez and Ryan Weber into quality starting pitchers...

No, but until it’s confirmed they are, why stand still? Deal with that situation when it’s ofgicial

Exactly. Go with the flow. What’s the record for number of managers used by a single team in a single calendar year? If things break wrong for this team, they could challenge it...

Screw PR. Not having a team and manager causes a ticket sales hit. Much, much worse...

He might like Weber - heck, he clearly does- but the chances of a 30 year old career minor leaguer with no options left passing through waivers unclaimed are somewhere between 99% and 101% ...

Sometimes I think he’s playing solitaire...

It’s clearly fake. Bloom first sign right-handed pitchers. You know that. But if he made those moves and added some bullpen depth, I’d be good with it. I am starting to have some doubts about Bloom, mostly because Ryan Weber is still in this team despite his being a 30yo AAAA pitcher with no options left. How do you DFA Lakins and keep Weber?

Clearly the Mets dialed the wrong number. Later this week, expect them to announce their new manager Dusty Barker...

How about this: 1. Trade Jackie Bradley for Jake Lamb 2. Sign Yasiel Puig and move Mookie to CF 3. Sign Jeremy Hellickson to a MiLB contract. Puig is crazy, but the man can flat out play. After this off-season, if the Sox want to compete, maybe they need to roll the dice on the highest upside player still in the market...

No Yasiel Puig?

I’ve mentioned Baker as a candidate. The problem with him is that his phone is ringing off the hook this past week...