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We hope. This is one of the repeatedly questioned deals that reportedly lead to DD's firing and is often named as why the Sox might be moving Betts...

Not to mention, it's a step down everywhere but in the size of the market. The A's made the postseason last year and are positioned to do so again this year...

Not really. If they were going for it short term, they would have just kept Bauer. If they were looking to the future, they would have just kept Trammell. That they settled for the intermediary package suggests they want to postpone any type of rebuild and stay competitive as long as possible...

I thought it was a dumb deal at the time based upon his health history and that, for how much more, Dallas Keuchel was still looking for a job. I would have given in to Kimbrel's insane demands before giving that contract to Eovaldi, and said so at the time...

First of all, thnk you for the input. Trade suggestions do often get disregarded in these forums. Whether or not the Guardians make that type of move, I can see why they wouldn't, but also why they would. Bogaerts isn't a huge step down from Lindor, is someone Francona is clearly familiar with, and is locked up at a $20mill AAV for 6 more seasons. Lindor will be making more than that in 2021 guaranteed, and then leave. I do disagree that the Guardians window is only 2 seasons. They are in the post-season hunt this year with next to nothing from Kluber and Carrasco, and already dealt Bauer. I don't think they fear losing those arms kills their chances. Especially since Bieber and Clevinger are looked up for the next few seasons, and with Bogaerts and a few of their other players, can still keep them in the hunt in the AL Central. Lindor is the face of the franchise, but franchise players get dealt all the time by small market teams, who sometimes need to be bold to stay competitive. And no team likes deciding the window is closing and going into some drawn out rebuild that leaves thousands of empty seats every day. They didn't deal Bauer for some package of younger MLB players with lots of control for the purpose of going into a rebuild...

I disagree. Sale and Price struggled with bad luck and big innings, but both pitchers had higher ERAs than FIPs, and clearly still have something left. I don't think either will be some sort of Carl Crawford deadweight next season, just cashing paychecks while no one figures out why either is still playing. There is some very substantial hope for improvement. The big deal with Eovaldi is the same one that has always been there - can he actually stay on the mound and give you 150 IP? The Sox would probably love to move any of these three, and all will be difficult moves. But I think it would be easier to move Sale or Price than Eovaldi. However, the chances any of the three actually get moved are pretty low...

Resting players is a good strategy if you actually make the postseason. At this point, what exactly is he resting them for?

Are we interviewing Brad Pitt? If so, I withdraw my application...

Eovaldi is a rare freak who is capable of throwing 98mph for 6 or 7 innings despite a relatively average build by MLB pitchers' standards. Or maybe, he is a prime example of why a lot of pitchers don't do this, as it has clearly taken a significant toll on his arm...

Tell that to the bullpen arms...

Would you trade Bogaerts to Cleveland for Francisco Lindor and highly-ranked prospect Nolan Jones? In some respects, this deal makes sense for both teams. Cleveland gets an expensive but cost-controlled SS replacement for Lindor, who is another one adamant about not signing an extension and whose salary is positioned to skyrocket in the next couple years. And will be more expensive than Bogaerts in a couple seasons tops. Boston gets one of the few players in the league who is only a mild step down from Betts, and whose arbitration salaries might fit in with a reset strategy. And they add a top prospect in Nolan Jones, a 21yo third baseman who posted an .860 OPS in limited AA action this year, and would easily take over the top spot on the Sox prospects rankings. (The Sox don't need a 3B, but he is easily tradable or movable to 1B or OF.)

Mixed emotions. Unloading 3 big contracts was a big deal for this franchise and paved the way for a miraculous 2013 team. But that trade itself brought back NOTHING to the Sox. Fortunately they had somewhat of a farm system left at the time, because adding Webster, de la Rosa, Loney, and Sands didn't bolster it in any conceivable way. Even the fallout was nothing. The Sox dealt Webster and de la Rosa for Wade Miley, who in turn was dealt for Carson Smith, who was a dead end. There wasn't even some sort of Brock Holt type throw-in who worked out anywhere in this chain. And of course, Sands and Loney proved to be useless, which surprised on one. But other than clearing salary, that was a dead end. If the Sox are happy just clearing salary, this could be a problem. Because while a reset is a good thing, if it only positions them to sign more free agents and leave themselves with another set of big contracts pushing the luxury tax limits, we will be in the same position again in 3 or 4 years...

I withhold all criticisms pending what any potential deal actually is. I get one year of Betts isn't going to bring back what we all think he is worth...

I don't pretend to know what involvement if any Lucchino had in those types of operations. If Lucchino was involved, then that is a point in his favor. While Hanley was making minimal effort to play defense in Miami and making enemies in the front office and dugout, Beckett was carrying the Sox through the 2007 ALCS. And bear in mind, the original request from the Marlins wasn't Hanley and Sanchez. They originally wanted Pedroia and Lester. ..

Many of us said this at the time of those trades. Had Dombrowski had a better sense of the ceiling of these prospects, would he have been able to hold on to Logan Allen and Dubon and still get Thornburg and Kimbrel? We'll never know. I did think the Kimbrel deal especially was a massive overpay because Kimbrel was already the highest paid closer in the league and San Diego ate none of it. There was leverage there, like DD reminding them "Look you take two top 100 prospects in Margot and Guerra and I'll even throw in Asuaje, or you can foot the entire bill for Kimbrel for the 30 or so games you might have with save situations."

And how much does Happ make? He signed a contract for $17mill when he was 10 years older than Porcello. And he won't win a Cy Young award on it, either. You're again arguing that Porcello actually was paid fairly. Again, it took you over 3 years and 11 months to make this rant on a contract that has only 2 weeks left. That speaks volumes...

I thought that trade was Hoyer and either Cherington or Byrnes...

But you can get it back in a puppy, which is odd...

Really? Still? Porcello positioned himself to reach free agency by age 26 with no history of injury and a track record of pitching 180-200 IP per year, which absolutely has value. He was paid for what he was going to do, and despite your stubbornness, he came through for the first 3 seasons. So drop it. Porcello’s contract expires in a couple weeks. The fact that it took you 3 years and 11 months to rant so frequently about a 4 year deal does mean that it was worth it for the majority of the time. On the other hand, Eovaldi was young, but not as young as Porcello. And also had a lengthy history of injuries and two T.J. surgeries in his past. There was really nothing there to justify his contract at all. He was neither a great pitcher nor an innings eater. He had a great fastball and was a star in the World Series, but I think that’s it. And this is a much bigger deal than Porcello’s expiring contract, unless you hate Mookie Betts...

. Accountants... Jim Barr Eddie Watt

Was I mentioned?

And that line of thinking is why I plan to make you my assistant GM if the Sox hire me. I take my coffee black...

What did Nathan Eovaldi ever do in his baseball life to justify a 4 year $68mill contract? Moves like that are on Dombrowski...

But the starters not only fell short on production, but were also VERY expensive in the process. In this year and the next 3 seasons, Sale, Price, and Eovaldi will be paid over $300 million combined. At that price, you can’t afford so many non-performers...

Now if only someone would fire Michael Bolton. Preferably into orbit...