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The simulator takes money into account. So someone like Albies who signed an insanely undervalued contract is a more valuable trade chip, but it doesn’t make him a better player..,

We got Taylor for Deven Marrero, which is even better...

Trout is the only player better than Mookie. Maybe one day (soon?), Acuna, Bregman, and/or Soto can achieve that rank...

For years, I have been pointing out that every team will win between 40% and 60% of their games, and the few that don’t do not miss this range by much. Could Mookie make the 70 win Padres a title contender? No but he could be a big part of a turnaround that does. Worst-to-first isn’t the anomaly it used to be...

Notin never said that. I said some people might be overvaluing the right to pay Mookie $30mil for one year. I have also said the Sox can be good without him, because I have faith in Bogaerts, Devers, Rodriguez, Martinez, Sale, etc...

That really depends on what you consider an overpay. Was Kluber an overpay or underpay? Shelby Miller was a notorious overpay.

Or a team where Betts represents an upgrade in RF. This does limit the Sox’ options to only 29 other teams...

Unless we move Eovaldi and Bradley, whose combined salary is roughly the same as Betts...

I was only talking about hitting. Mookie is a better fielder. That someone thought the two situations were not comparable is the bigger joke there. Both teams had superstar former MVP right fielders the same age, and actually they were arguably the two best right fielders in the game. The Nats lost Harper for nothing and still won a title. The Red Sox are faced with losing Betts, and to many this is a clear white flag...

So you’re saying no one wanted the 25 year old mega star until there was an injury?

You’re kidding, right? He’s still one of the best players in the league, a former MVP and, surprisingly has been a better hitter than Betts. From 2015-2018, Harper’s OPS+ was 150. During that same timeframe, Betts’ was 134. And while Betts is poised to enter his prime years, Harper is as well. Harper is 9 days younger...

Yes. They just wrote a whole article on why his trade value is 50...

No impact players left, assuming you look at free agents. There are moves to be made. One thing we don’t know is if LA would give up any of Pollock, Stripling or Gonsolin for Betts, let alone all three...

I hope it helps. We shall see. As there has been so little bump on the Dodger thing, I suspect the whole rumor was either a little too overblown or someone asked a bit much. Given the Dodgers were reportedly not touching any of their top 11 prospects, one has to think it was not them. At least it shouldn’t have been..,

Here is my thoughts. 1. Price is replaceable. The 2018 version really was not so great that we should want it. Pick in Ivan Nova, but he’s pitched 187 IP twice in the last 3 years to Price’s 0 times in that span. And despite not being a strike out pitcher, his K/BB isn’t much lower than Price’s. (Now you might argue the Sox need a strikeout pitcher given their defense. Fair point. But they also need one who pitches.) 2. Betts is not replaceable, but not necessarily a white flag. This is a sport where every team wins between 40% and 60% of thei games, and the few that don’t, don’t miss by much. To me, it depends on the deal. Salary dump him with Price? Going to be tough. Trade him for some MLB-ready players and prospects? Maybe. (The infamous simulator says Betts for Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin is fair.). What about one year of Betts for one year of George Springer plus another? Still a white flag?

First of all, Price was worth 2.4 fWAR in 2018. Not much of an improvement. And he is two years older now, so are you expecting a return to 2018 or just hoping for one? Second, are you. saying a team with Bogaerts, Devers, Martinez, Sale, Benintendi, Vazquez, Chavis and Rodríguez should just fold? Should they just punt the year and play for better draft picks?

I think that depends on the rest of the off-season. Losing Bryce Harper clearly didn't end any chances of a Washington World Series title...

Straight up salary dump, yeah it is tough. Deal them seperately so you actually get something for Betts, and I will call it conditional...

Actually, I would say replacing Price isn't necessarily that difficult. His 2.3 fWAR last year wasn't that much better than Ivan Nova (2.0 fWAR) or Jason Vargas (1.8 fWAR). Betts is obviously another matter. The best option - and I cannot believe I am about to type this - is clearly the wild card known as Yasiel Puig. The dude can be an absolute monster and his super high batspeed uppercut swing from the right side could be devastating at Fenway. He also can actually field pretty well and has a superb arm. But - he also carries a significant and well-known downside in the form of being absolutely crazy. The question is - can the same fans who embraced other professional trouble-makers like Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison and Randy Moss also embrace Puig? Or is he just too nuts and - to take a figurative cliche and interpret it literally - in a different league altogether?

The Sox did sign two last year, most notable was Bogaerts, which seemed unlikely as he is a Boras client. The Sale extension looked (and still looks) like there were too many concerns about the injury. Otherwise, why would a 29yo elite pitcher have signed a deal that short for that little? It seems to me DD took advantage of the situation to get Sale at a potential bargain price for a very short number of years, but with substantial risk...

Most of Tanner Roark?

Just trade Eovaldi and Bradley. Much simpler solution. If we need some youth, maybe trade Vazquez for a piece or two and let Plawecki start full time and bat ninth...

Sorry. You never used the word “hapless.” You just said their chances were the equal to those of me flapping my arms and flying to the moon...

But f you’re going to trade Betts, do it right. Fleece someone. Get something good! Set the team up going forward somewhat (which is admittedly difficult for one year of a $30mill player). Don’t use him to clean up the Price mess...

It is possible Betts’ adamant public standing of reaching free agency is more than just financial - as in he doesn’t want to play in Boston. If it is, he should be dealt today. If he could be extended, great. I’m not opposed to trading Betts, but I’m actually not in favor of attaching him to Price in a salary dump. That’s probably the worst way to get rid of a superstar, by using him to clean up another mess. But it’s also very naive to think the Sox don’t know what Betts means to the franchise. People out here say fans will revolt, which is hyperbole to say the least. But Bloom and company can tell you the exact dollar value they expect to lose. They know what he means. So why hasn’t he been extended? Heck we had the biggest free-spending GM in MLB running the show 4 seasons and even he couldn’t extend Betts. And this is a man who signed 36yo Miguel Cabrera to a contract that STILL owes him a minimum of $124 million!! It might be possible that Betts’ agent had advised him to wait it out. It certainly looks that way. And while there probably was a time he would have recommended extension, at one year away it does become a lot less likely. Or maybe Mookie just wants another city...