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... which is immaterial when I was taking about Minor as a Yankee trade acquisition. The Sox likely can’t afford him prospect-wise...

He’s mediocre and not desirable, but the Sox could acquire him as a swingman. BLtimore reportedly would give him away and he’s probably an upgrade over Johnson. See Cashner comments. Bear in mind the Sox don’t have a lot of great trade chips. Probably worth avoiding, even if healthy in 5 weeks. Maybe I’m underestimating the Sox trade fodder, but I think pitchers like this might be in play. And still might be upgrades over Weber/Velasquez/Johnson, etc. These guys might be the biggest rental starters to move. Both are going somewhere, unless Cincy switches gears and decides to make a run. Ok I admit I missed that. But Eood is always hurt and would be a questionable target even if he was healthy. He has two states : hurt, and “about to get hurt” He is possible, but I hope the Sox don’t get another lefty. And is not someone the cost-cutting Mariners are prioritizing to trade. He’s cheap. And so is his option.

Do the Yankees have two top 100 prospects? They had none in the BA pre-season rankings...

As a California native and ASU alum, he might prefer the west coast. But I think the competitive athlete in him would want to escape the Seattle rebuild. I’m not a huge Leake fan, but getting him would certainly answer any questions about re-signing Porcello. The Sox would likely try to dump salary back at Seattle, like Steven Pearce, for example. Maybe throw in Tyler Thornburg. As we have established, Seattle does seem more interested in jettisoning financial commitments than acquiring talent...

Maybe. But Scherzer has about as much money left on his deal as Verlander had when he was dealt to Houston. The Tigers did get former top 100 prospect Daz Cameron in that trade, along with top 100 prospect Franklin Perez. Verlander was worth about 8 less fWAR over the previous 3 seasons thanScherzer has been worth in the last 3. History doesn’t side with this being a giveaway...

The Red Sox gave up two prospects for Sale who were ranked in the BA Top 32, in Moncada #2 and Kopech at 32. Of Florial, Garcia or Loasigia, only Florial has ever been in the top 30 when he ranked 26 in 2018. But he dropped out of the top 100 (granted, I think he was hurt). So for the differences in contract situation, that seems fair...

Maybe after the season, the Sox can think about Benintendi’s future in Boston. At the deadline, I doubt they do anything drastic to the lineup. If the Sox actually had an outfield prospect within a mile of an MLB debut, things might be different...

Right now Devers is the hotter commodity. Performing better, one more year of pre-arb control, and plays a more premium position...

If the Sox are thinking closer, and Washington decides to sell, he is absolutely in play...

Oh there probably is. But do the Yankees have those prospects? One would think the headliner would have to be highly ranked. San Diego, for example, could probably get him for Gore and Urias. But they won’t do that for multiple reasons. It would be more difficult for Washington to rebuild into a contender with whatever they can trade Scherzer for than it would be for them to continue to build around Scherzer. So any trade for him is asking Washington to jettison multiple seasons of trying to contend. Is a package headlined by Florial, Loasigia, and Garcia worth that to Washington?

No, but certainly any attempt to acquire him would have to involve Devers. Unless the Nats surprised Boston by settling for Benintendi. I don’t see a Casas/Dalbec/Duran offer doing the trick...

H But being better than Middlebrooks is not a guarantee of success and certainly not the border for being an “annual 30 HR hitter” acceptable in a trade for an ace. Much like how Sox fans overvalued Middlebrooks after a small sample, I think you’re overvaluing Frazier’s appeal around the league. And maybe I am too, thinking you can get Minor for him...

Looking around the web, I see a lot of sites thinking the Sox will move on an outfielder. BoSox Injection, for example, lists Yasiel Puig, Adam Jones and Alex Gordon as potential targets. I’m doubtful. Closers and starters are the other positions listed. While plenty want a closer - and it’s certainly a possibility - I think the Sox prioritize a starter who can be pushed back into the bullpen when everyone is healthy. Likely also they want a pitcher not under contract next season and one who can be had for something from their lackluster farm. My thoughts are: Andrew Cashner Chris Archer (really not what he once was) Trevor Cahill Marco Estrada Jeremy Hellickson Derek Holland Ivan Nova Tanner Roark Zach Wheeler (probably too popular for a modest Red Sox package) Alex Wood Jason Vargas Wade LeBlanc (Although he’s cheap even with his option for next year, so he probably stays put) Thoughts? No idea what Pitt would want for Archer, but he has been awful this year, and his $9mill option for next year could spell the end of Porcello’s Boston tenure at the end of this season. Assuming Archer comes back and refuses to suck...

CJ Cron is looking at being an annual 30 HR hitter. He was non-tendered this past offseason...

Getting an ace helps any team, but upgrades are upgrades...

Yeah I’m not really sure the Celtics know who their centers will be next season. I guess they value that first rounder from Phoenix. I didn’t like their draft much at all. Although it’s tough to get an immediate impact player unless you’re drafting in the top 3 or 4 picks any year. At 14 and 22, you’re looking at rotation players at best..

So was Will Middlebrooks at 24. And we got a backup catcher for him, not an ace At age 24, Middlebrooks had an OPS+ of 102 and Frazier has a 106. I don’t think those 4 percentage points are the difference between ace and backup catcher. At age 23, Middlebrooks had an OPS+ of 121 in 286 PA, roughly the same as the older Frazier has in 209PA this year. Both players have K/BB concerns and while Middlebrooks is worse, he has a massive defensive advantage over Frazier in terms of position and performance. Frazier isn’t getting an ace better than Minor, who currently is the ace of a team still in the hunt.

Until they’re no longer in it, which most people suspect will happen. A lot can happen over the next 5 weeks. The idea of the Rangers trading Minor is not an original thought on my part...

It is vital that MLB capitalize on this Euro market for the same success the NFL saw...

Minor is under contract for 2020. He’s not a rental...

That’s the problem with affordable and controllable star players. Sometimes other GMs just focus on them, like Lunhow did. To give up a season that is far from over and a perennial Cy Young candidate, it wouldn’t surprise me if Rizzo wanted a lot more than your A-Ball stars. If so, maybe a Mike Minor/Clint Frazier swap could happen...

Do you want to exhaust those possibilities if the Nationals insist on Gleyber Torres? Holding Torres took you out of the running for Cole. Sometimes with these mega-star trades, the other team can focus on one key player and simply not budge on his inclusion. Would you deal Torres (along with, say, Florial and Garcia) for Scherzer?

... and that’s why the Yankees acquired Jordan Lyles...

I see you’ve been reading my thread

Ok that’s really good.