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Do you really think all this talk about Pedroia is for any other reason other than his blatant refusal to retire and forego his remaining salary and how this will have a negative impact on DD’s ability to spend money....

Pedroia was injured playing baseball. Even if the “not me” episode was what you’ve always thought, he was still injured playing, unlike Dempster. Pedroia earned his money and the Sox have plenty...

Pedroia is probably never playing again. It doesn’t seem to bother very many that one of the greatest second basemen in team history is likely done. But a lot of people seem bothered that he is still getting paid...

They can keep him on the 60 Day IL forever, like the Rangers are doing with Prince Fielder...

I get the impression many think the “right thing” is to allow the Sox to sign another free agent. Because we know THAT method never goes awry...

So I take it you don’t realize the Sox cannot “buy Pedroia out” and give him another position within the organization in order to circumvent the CBA? Yes, the CBA actually calls hat type of move out and deems it illegal. The Sox are paying Pedroia and it will count against the luxury tax. The only way e doesn’t is if he retires and forfeits $25mill. Can people stop whining about pay Pedroia? If Dombrowski can’t build a MLB team on a paltry $230mill, he should be fired. End of discussion...

I’m certainly not saying the Sox will sign/claim/trade for Rodney, but the Sox were linked to him as recently as last year...

Well according to multiple reports, JBJ was the most actively shopped Sox player this off-season. He makes $8.85mill this year and likely more next year. One could question whether or not the Sox already felt the $8.85mill was too much. He’ll be the Sox CF this year. Next year, he should be making closer to $10mill. He’s going to have to do something to show he’s worth that kind of money or else he probably gets non-tendered...

Hey I’m not a GM who liked him. I’m just reminding you of one team that has one...

Oakland DFAd Fernando Rodney. Never been a big fan of Sir Walk-A-Lot. But DD has. Rodney has been horrendous this year, but it’s only been 14 innings and he was decent as recently as last year. If Rodney’s career isn’t over, Boston is certainly a likely landing spot...

Naval had a good career. Go look at any Top 100 prospects list from any year. I guarantee you, 40 players on any list you choose either had or will have careers significantly worse than Nava. Maybe even 50 players...

If he doesn’t get to a .700 OPS, he’s non-tender material. I’m not sure what the actual cutoff is, but I am sure it’s at least .700...

I would definitely disagree on the Sandoval/Castillo assessment. Sandoval did nothing in Boston to show he was a Major League talent, which is why he was released with a ton of money left on his deal. Castillo did have some offensive struggles related to injury, but also showed himself to be more than capable defensively (which many metrics agreed with). Of course sometimes his injuries were sustained while performing this defense. (Also, Sandoval was NOT a 5/10 player, meeting neither of the two requirements. He was just awful.) The lineup was etched in stone, but the bullpen wasn’t. Even you admit it was a gamble to rely on Barnes and Brasier. Brasier, who had all of 33IP in the past 6 seasons combined, was a much bigger gamble. As was DD’s longtime man-crush Colten Brewer, who is showing that these gambles don’t always pay off, at least not immediately. DD has a long history of “winging it” with bullpens. He has had success stories but has also been repeatedly criticized in Detroit for this exact reason. But history has shown, when he needs to save money, the first thing he cuts is the bullpen.

He really didn’t compare them, but rather said the 2013 Koji gave him the same level of confidence that Yankee fans got from Rivera...

Not moving posts. Unless you’re saying that doesn’t make the decisions questionable. And more to the point that your reply loses sight of, not spending on the bullpen does provide evidence that spending matters to Henry...

There is a VERY BIG difference between a bad signing strategy and just signing players that didn’t work out. I was 100% against signing Sandoval, but the Sox spent the majority of the season before with Brock Holt and Brad Snyder platooning at 3b. Was signing a 3b really “questionable”? It was their most glaring need. And CF was right behind, with Bradley one day hoping to reach the Mendoza line and Betts as an OF still late in the experimental phase. Big, big, big difference between trying to address needs and it just not working out, and simply ignoring them and hoping for the best...

Is he? The Sox spending this off-season was about as questionable as I’ve ever seen. No bullpen but a backup 1b? The idea of paying Castillo to be a fourth OF might seem foolish, but Henry is paying Sandoval significantly more to play for another team. He clearly likes winning, but it is not a toy to him where he will spend endlessly to get there. The Dombrowski/Henry duo did break up a WS champion Marlins team immediately after winning a title for purely financial reasons...

This team clearly does care about finances. 1. They reset before the 2017 season. 2. They spent nearly nothing this past off-season as they were close to the uppermost limit. 3. They keep Rusney Castillo in the minors - where no one thinks he belongs - despite the Sox having no outfield depth, just to keep his contract off the taxes. At some point, the money does matter...

His age 38 season was better than nearly anyone’s 34-37 seasons. But still, like with Henry, the stats should’ve been in decline. And relatively speaking, a 38yo closer is older than a 70yo owner...

Well, he was 38 years old when we hit him

Does that mean his toe injury was not disclosed? Or that he injured his “undisclosed toe”???

Historically DD’s first place to save money is typically the bullpen, as we saw this off-season and multiple times in Detroit and Florida/Miami. With Barnes up for first arbitration, there is a possibility he is not back next season, depending what his final figure is...

So which immortal pitcher in that Braves bullpen are they misusing in order to let Luke Jackson get saves? The main reason the Braves regular closer was not in for that game is that he’s been injured all year (and his contract was recently traded to Seattle). You’re highlighting examples from teams that have weak and overused bullpens...

Practice Every Day

The Sox are obviously going to sink or swim with Bradley this year. It’s not like outfield depth is a strong suit right now. The big question will be whether or not they offer arbitration one last time or non-tender him. He makes $8.85mill (I believe) and no one ever takes a pay cut. He’s approaching Rusney Castillo money, and salary is what will keep Rusney in Rhode Island. Bradley’s recent hot streak probably doesn’t make him more tradable, since whoever acquires him would be facing the same off-season question as the Sox - namely is Bradley’s $9-10mill salary for 2020 going to be worth it? Especially since most teams don’t have the Sox’ spending limits. It is possible he is non-tendered. Although that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of re-signing him for less money...