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I know. I also know it is not going to be my job to find his replacement. I'm just a guy predicting the Sox can't afford to offer him arbitration...

Reportedly the Mets have wanted to get rid of him for years...

Lagares only played 600 innings in CF last year. Remember that whole "WAR people never site innings or games" rant of yours? You just did it. Broxton isn't a free agent, but he has been released twice in the past season. Despite harmony's insistence he is in Seattle's future plans, I think he realizes they are far more likely to use Jake Fraley in CF and non-tender Broxton. He'll be available. No one is picking up Hamilton's option. Maybin - playing time issue. 322 innings in CF. You did it twice in one post. Like Lagares, throughout his career, Maybin has put up good defensive numbers. The big problem with Maybin, and the thing that will keep anyone from giving him a multiyear deal is his questionable health history. And any team that does give him a multiyear deal won't give him an expensive one. If he gets more than 2 years $8mill (total), I'll be surprised. And there are lots of others, some might need to be acquired via trade. Roman Quinn in Philly has no place to play. The Cubs have an overload of outfielders in MLB, although not great defensive ones. And for all the complaining about Benintendi's defense in CF, it wouldn't surprise me is the Sox moved him over and acquired a LF anyway. I wouldn't do that because you probably wind up with an offensive gamble in LF, which is less likely to pay off than just getting a weak-hitting CF who can field. The Sox had centerfielders for decades before Bradley. They'll find another one...

We're doing what we can

I think the Sox can get an extremely good defensive CF like Keon Broxton for pennies. He won't hit much, but he has shown the occasional hot streak. Bat him ninth. I would guess Juan Lagares would be in the $3-5million range in FA. Hamilton might be less. Cameron Maybin signed a minor league deal this past offseason...

Only need one of them...

We need a guy who can build the farm while fielding a competitive team. The one guy who has shown he can do that is Theo Epstein...

Two guys. I don't think anyone wants the dual role of President/GM on this team right now...

While there are plenty of big deals the Sox would like to unload, in many cases, it’s going to be just too difficult. Really the only movable ones are Bogaerts and Betts. If the two, Mookie is probably more likely. But I expect Sale, Price and Eovaldi back next year even if they look to move them. Although we did learn from Robinson Cano that no contract is immovable. It’s just a matter of finding that one stupid or desperate GM. Now I have expected a reset all along, largely to get into the lower tax bracket when Mookie is re-signed. Still possible, even if they deal him. But I do think the Devers-Bogaerts-Benintendi core to remain intact along with Vazquez. Just not sure if Betts will stay in the picture for 2020. Right now the Sox are operating with a 3-headed monster at GM. A big jump from technically having no GM. One of the internal guys might get the GM role, but a lot of that depends on if they keep the same internal structure or if the new President of Operations decides to NOT also handle GM duties. And I suspect he won’t, because that positions him to fire a GM (as opposed to taking the fall himself) if 2020 is equally disappointing...

Think Juan Lagares will cost less in free agency than Bradley will in arbitration? What about Cameron Maybin? Billy Hamilton? Jarrod Dyson? Peter Bourjos? Austin Jackson? These are just free agent options. There may be others available via trade. If the goal is solely to save money (for a luxury tax penalty reset?), the Sox might wind up with a lesser all-around player in CF, but some of those players are still good defenders. Or are we going to continue to pretend we live in a world where JBJ is the only player in MLB history who could play defense in CF?

Actually as it took until mid-September, I was thinking maybe I don’t have enough weight...

1. Validates Shauhnessy? 2 months ago? Don’t you read my stuff? (Although interestingly enough, I did get mention in this thread prior to Shaughnessy, as it should be.) 2. It could mean the end of Betts. But it’s not a guarantee...

You do burn up a month of control, but September call ups don’t count as option years...

The pinstripes can be rejuvenating. The dye is laced with stanislozol...

Centeno is a 31yo journeyman who might not even be in the organization next year. Anfd I think DHern is probably already being used in his best role. I hope he isn’t starting next year. Too wild. I also think Travis is being used in his best role - weak side platoon. Ockimey, Chatham and Dalbec could all get a look, but bear in mind - and this applies mostly to Dalbec - if the view is any or all of these players are trade bait, the exposure can work against Boston. And with Dalbec, who gets significant value from 3b defense, playing him at 1b kills any chance he can redeem whatever value he potentially loses if he struggles and has way too many strikeouts...

Little disappointed with the lack of activity here, Bellhorn

Think we'll ever see a team counter the opener strategy by using their worst hitters in the 1-2-3 spots?

I get the idea. Instead of using your best reliever to face whoever is up in the bottom on the ninth, use him when you are guaranteed to see their best hitters...

And then we can sell the cider!!

So Cora won't see what the young guys have and he won't let any veteran pitcher throw more than 4 innings? WTF is his strategy here? Burn out the bullpen for next season already?

I have to agree with you, but only because I think of you as an expert on homer statements

If JD opts out, it will be after 2020 when his salary drops by about $4mill and he might be able to get a better deal. As for Castellanos, he’s already more expensive than Bradley. I’d rather just bring Bradley back in that case. But if the plan is to reset, I think a much cheaper outfielder will be needed. Castellanos is 27 and is probably looking at a worst case scenario of a 4 year $60mill contract. Free agency is kinder the younger the player is. Just ask Jason Heyward...

Not sure why you think Castellanos will be cheaper than Bradley. Catellanos makes more than Bradley already and as afree agent coming up on his age 28 season, is going to cash in to $15-18mill per year easy...

It was a rare move where DD tried to build a killer bullpen and paid what it costs. Had Thornburg actually worked out, this would be different. Dubon was too much for a dirt cheap closer but Logan Allen was an acceptable throw-in for Kimbrel?

The Sox can do better than Travis, but it might be something slightly more expensive like Gerardo Parra in CF. LF won’t be tough to fill with a player better than Travis, (Nick Williams?). But CF makes more sense. Finding offense at cheap wages in LF is a crapshoot. Getting a dirt cheap glove for CF is safer...