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That theory also makes it more difficult to keep Betts. I think that is part of the dilemma Dombrowski has with signing Kimbrel’...

He might get claimed, but it doesn’t look like anyone wants to trade for him. What might enable him to pass through waivers is that he is out of options. In order to keep him, a team would have to release someone from the 25 man roster, and if the claiming team questions his catching ability, releasing the BUC might not be the best idea. But if he does get claimed, I’m not so sure it’s a huge loss. That goes for Johnson, too...

So the Sox will be buyers - likely looking for bullpen help. And they will have Kimbrel and try to move him? That might make Kimbrel the best reliever on the market, which means no matter who the Sox acquire, trading Kimbrel weakens the bullpen...

I believe only the name is changing...

For contenders. Think the Sox will be buying or selling mid-2020?

Why is he so tradable after 2019 when teams are not exactly lining up to get him now without giving up prospects?

Actually the only person apparently worried about the Sox budget is David Dombrowski. A few posters here have acknowledged he is worried about it, which is not the same thing...

Just raise the beer price by 25 cents - BOOM!! Covered that tax...

I believe so. And the biggest benefit is we get to call the phantom injured list by the friendly moniker of “Phil”...

The Diabled List??!? That’s so 2018. Got to get with the times. https://www.google.com/amp/www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25947020/major-league-baseball-rename-disabled-list-injured-list%3fplatform=amp

While not a popular opinion, I think Leon is the one catcher they should keep. While I’m probably wrong here, I think it should be Swihart vs Vazquez or the starting job. If Swihart wins, trade Vazquez. If Vazquez wins, try to trade Swihart or simply DFA him late enough in Spring Training that most teams will largely have their rosters set and won’t claim him...

What is this “DL” you speak of?

I’m not entirely certain Dombrowski is prioritizing 10 draft slots over a World Series...

Actually “Our American Cousin” was panned by numerous critics, with one going so far as to say “Lincoln was the luckiest guy at the show” that night. Ok, maybe not....

The rumors were unconfirmed as of yesterday. Has there been a new development since? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pinstripealley.com/platform/amp/2019/2/10/18218843/mlb-yankees-news-manny-machado-offer-j-t-realmuto-gary-sanchez-luke-voit-prospects

Ah Jim Duquette. The man who actually made all of the mistakes everyone attributes to Steve Phillips...

Ham Fighters? Lol When I was a kid, the Globe used to have Japanese baseball box scores, often for the Ham Fighters, among other teams. Like most people probably did, I thought that was the best name ever. I pictured their mascot as a bulky Japanese slugger like one of the members of the Gashiuse Gorillas that Bugs Bunny took on, but instead of a bat, he was wielding a large ham that looked like it came right out of an episode of the Flintstones, gripping a knobby bone for the handle. (That all my references were cartoons was a strong indication of my age.) It wasn’t until years later - like 30 years later- that I learned the name of that team was the Fighters and they were owned by Nippon Ham. Oh reality. How you ruin my wondrous childhood fantasies. We need more teams with names like “Ham Fighters.” Even recently I learned there was a minor league hockey team called the Lake Erie Monsters. Now THAT is a great name and their uniform logo was awesome, depicting a lake monster breaching the surface. But even they changed their name to the Cleveland Monsters, which just sounds stupid and non-representative of Cleveland. But anyway - zero chanceKimbrel goes to Japan. He won’t get the money he wants, but he will be in MLB...

I think Harper returns to Washington, Machado goes to Chicago, Philly signs both Keuchel and Kimbrel and the Giants get Adam Eaton from the Nationals...

J So the White Sox, who have been very adamant that they will spend this off-season, get nothing? I think at some point they’re going to up their offer for Machado. They’ve already made several steps towards making the clubhouse a friendly environment for him by acquiring his brother-in-law and his workout partner...

Keuchel? San Diego or Chicago?

Nolan Ryan?

But at least DVDs are easier for you to convert to VHS...

One GAZILLION dollars. And forty-three cents...

Especially if you leave the determination of merit to the very people who issue pay and are incentivized to keep the money spent lower. It’s not human nature that causes the problems. It’s conflict of interests...

I don't think it was a agreed as you say. It looked like many teams were willing to get involved on Eovaldi, hoping he could be the steal of the class and allowing them to avoid overpaying for the older (by 2 years), better, healthier Keuchel. And by the end of the off-season, Keuchel might be slightly older, better, healthier and cheaper and locked up for the same years or less...