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OK, that;s something

Oh I wouldn't be surprised at all if even the 9 figure deals were left to DD alone. I would posit the alternative, that he didn't get to be a billionaire by not hiring people to help him run his ventures properly. He's got a lot of diversity, and paying attention to everything seems like a lot. But, like any manager, he hires people who can do the job, and then lets them, as long as it is working out. DD would have bought himself a longer leash with 3 straight division titles and WSC. And certainly, as DD had gotten Henry a title before in Florida, I can see Henry simply trusting DD to run things in a manner DD seems fit. Why is that so outrageous?

There's nothing wrong with liking his trades, especially after 2018. I liked several of them myself, including the Thornburg trade, as i didn't see any reason why it would be the absolute disaster that it was. Had Thornburg actually pitched like he did in Milwaukee, would anyone really be complaining about Dubon? Getting a pre-arbitration closer should cost a bit. Look at other teams prices for them. (Ken Giles to Houston, for example.) But I am wondering if Henry really signed off on any of this beforehand. Did he just let DD do things, as long as they worked out? After 3 straight division titles and a WSC, one has to think DD should have some autonomy. Carson Smith? Reportedly Seattle was happy to deal him due to their fear of arm troubles. DD really didn't give up much, but he also got nothing. Kimbrel was an overpay IMO based on that we gave up two top 100 prospects at the time, plus a third who eventually became one, and also took on the entire contract. Usually if you pay full fair, the trade price goes down. For Sale, Moncada was a lot and so was Kopech. But Sale was on one of the best contracts in MLB. He was supposed to cost a lot. Sort of the opposite of the Kimbrel deal where Kimbrel's contract was, at the very least, fair to high for his position. Espinoza for Pomeranz seemed stupid at the time, but given how Espinoza fell apart, one has to wonder maybe DD had some inkling of his condition? I mean, maybe he at the very least figured "High ceiling, but the arm is risky." I can see that. And Pomeranz pitched very well for the Sox for a while, and even made an All Star team. Not a bad trade, IMO. It did seem like the funds suddenly dried up this offseason. Like Henry finally said "Whoa. you're spending how much? We have limits here. high limits, but still limits." And DD thought "Wait. I need a closer. Oh well. At least I got Colten Brewer finally ." Otherwise, why bring back Pearce and Eovaldi for the whole off-season budget while letting Kimbrel and Kelly walk without replacement, unless there was a change in the plans midstream? That's why I don't think Henry was even involved until he started getting the bill. Really the only other option is that DD is an idiot...

I didn’t like the Kimbrel deal, but in retrospect, it was an odd moment in Dombrowski’s career when he actually paid attention to the bullpen. Not being sarcastic here. Part of me looks at this deal and the other two bad trades (Thornburg, Carson Smith) and notices a common thread. I think the guy just couldn’t find away to value relievers. So while I don’t like and never liked the Kimbrel trade, I do look at it differently now

Are you f***ing serious? I wanted a simple answer about John Henry’s involvement. Someone somewhere probably read an article or a book that mentions something. That’s not a crazy request. But too many get into the “Don’t you think a billionaire....” stuff. I have no idea how billionaires think, apparently unlike most people here. I have no idea how much time he bothers with on the Red Sox. Is it a hobby? Does he have a team of people? Does he just let the GM do everything as long as it works out? That last one wouldn’t surprise me. I’m not looking for legal documentation. Just someone with something like “In his book Francina said...” or “Alex Speier wrote an article about...”. I don’t think that’s an insane request...

But he’s the type of guy who can buy Manchester United. That he’s already bought Liverpool proves my point. Heck, not only can he buy Manchester United, he can put it on his Visa. Bottom line - does he really get involved in every expensive Red Sox transaction or does he trust his GM? I don’t want opinions. Does anyone actually know how involved he is? Or even heard a rumor about it?

Not really. I never said it was an either-or choice. But I prefer the healthier arm. Players get injured. It’s part of the game. I don’t expect GMs to know who and when. But with all the unforeseen injuries, why take on such an obvious injury risk and pay him like he isn’t one?

And we’ll never know. But it is irrelevant as to whether or not the Sox overpaid for Kimbrel. The only hypothetical that matters is - could they have gotten him for less? Now if that lesser package meant we keep Asuaje, big deal. But if it meant we keep Logan Allen, that actually is a big deal right now. No matter what you think Logan Allen has proven, know this: he isn’t Brian Johnson...

But who cares if they swoon this year? They’ve all but locked up third place in the AL East...

Yeah but what’s her batting average?

I’ll say 3 division titles and 1 World Series. Prove me wrong...

Maybe. But when you’re the type of guy who can buy Manchester United, is a $60mill pitcher still considered a big purchase? I wouldn’t be surprised if he left the baseball to his GM as long as the results were there...

No. I just don’t know when he stops trusting his people to make the right decisions. I assume he did hire Dombrowski in the first place because he had some sort of faith in his baseball acumen. Don’t you? And I doubt any billionaire who owns multiple sports teams and has God knows how many other business ventures wants to get bogged down in each and every contract. I am not sure he has the time...

No. But it is innings eater money. Eovaldi is an innings dieter...

Note my consistent attitude on post #49 on this thread...

I hope not. But nevertheless it was a silly deal at the time. Maybe Eovaldi will suddenly emerge as a TOR starter, but I have my doubts he will even take the mound often enough...

That is a silly justification, since Margot is the only one who is even 25 yet.

Chicago reportedly wanted Benintendi. I don't think any combination of Margot, Espinoza, and Dubon replaces Moncada in that trade. And at the time, Sale was on one of the most team-friendly contracts in MLB. It was supposed to cost a lot to get him...

Paxton is a guy I would have never touched. There is something about those Canadian pitchers that just screams "I need Tommy John Surgery" so often, the words should be incorporated into the national anthem...

Well, they did trade Ramon Laureano for Brandon Bailey. Maybe that trade will work out, if Bailey ever makes the majors...

I wouldn't say that. He overpaid for Kimbrel and Thornburg, but I wouldn't say Sale was an overpay. Expensive? Yes, but not an overpay. He also didn't overpay for Miguel Cabrera back when he was in Detroit. He dd extend him for years beyond Cabrera's usefulness and hamstrung that franchise for years and years. But he didn't overpay in the original trade. I think DD's problem is he had no idea how to value relievers. His two biggest overpays with Boston were for relievers, and if there is any constant throughout his history, it's either in ignoring he bullpen or building a questionable one. Some of his questionable bullpen moves have paid off, but a lot have not....

There will be a bunch of them in October...

Hanley Ramirez reportedly had a hand in that, with his agent calling Boston to relay that Hanley would take a lesser deal to return...

If Sale is struggling with his lost velocity, it certainly isn't showing up in his strikeout numbers. His 13.32 K/9 is the second highest of his MLB career, behind last year's 13.50, despite a fastball coming in an average of 1.5 mph slower than in 2018...

Did he? I honestly don't know how involved he gets on this kind of stuff...