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Trading Bradley makes less sense than X On some levels. The Sox have a weak farm but it is especially barren of outfielders. Milwaukee also reportedly likes X and has a glut of clser type relievers. The Sox could also sign Iglesias to backfill shortstop...

Yet having an elite closer doesn’t preclude having a second rate bullpen. And not having one doesn’t guarantee it. And there is an immense gray area between not spending Milton a closer and “anyone can close.” Just because someone sees why paying Kimbrel what he wants might not be the best idea doesn’t mean they want to hand the ninth inning to Heath Hembree...

There is a lot of that going back and forth out here. DD isn’t working without a plan here. I assumed his comment that Barnes or Brasier could close was merely a negotiation tactic. Maybe it isn’t. But if people have faith in his ability to judge baseball talent and put together a winning team, why does that faith suddenly fall short there? I still have doubts he brings back Kimbrel, but I also don’t think that the bullpen will be ignored between now and July...

Yes. They’re dialing back because they probably need to. And unless he can make some ancillary deals to clear salary, closer will not be a position with a huge chunk of payroll. This is what it looks like he is doing. It is kind of surprising that if anyone echoes this plan, they get derided with “You don’t get how important closer is!!” despite it being reality and not messageboard BS. But if anyone says anything negative about DD Oor praises Cherington, suddenly it’s “How dare you not genuflect at the alter of Dombrowski!!!”. It’s truly amazing how many people place the ultimate faith in everything DD has done and yet still have no faith in what he is doing....

But is your point that the Sox aren’t spending? They have a payroll in excess of $230mill, which is probably the largest in MLB history or very close to it. It’s not a lack of spending here...

Nah. You just described the 2011-2015 Tigers, which many consider it a Dombrowski success story. But for the record, I think he gets two good relievers. Hopefully their arms stay on this year...

And were made at the same time no less...

The velocity drops by both Allen and Brach last season were less than the velocity drop experienced by Britton...

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/yankees-zach-britton-progressing-toward-agreement.html

But Well, a lot of these blogs are written by people no more informed than us...

If Boston was to cut some salary, Milwaukee does make sense as a partner for Bogaerts. But DDmight have to be dazzled until he learns whether or not he can wait out the relief market...

V It was interesting the way he kept talking everything down. “The Brewers really need Bogaerts!! But shouldn’t give up anything to get him!! Boston will take scraps!!! Arcia and Barnes! And we need to get more back!!’”

I know. That was before I found that blog post. The one I read yesterday had them dumping bullpen pieces and today someone else has them acquiring more. The funny thing is, neither might be right. The Phillies also might turn to Keuchel or Pollock. Here it is January 5, and almost no one has been significantly linked to either star player...

I assume taxes are a liability so it would be post-tax, but you know more about that than me...

Yes. That says the same thing. 2,800 million = 2.8 billion. John Henry’s net worth is $2.6 billion or $2.5 billion, depending on which source you believe. Therefore the Sox franchise has a greater net worth than John Henry. This does make sense because Henry, like all sports team owners, isn’t the sole owner of the franchise...

The Sox franchise has been valued by Forbes at $2.8billion, and is expected to be exceed $3billion this year. https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2018/06/18/the-boston-red-sox-should-be-worth-at-least-3-billion-by-the-end-of-this-season/#63f1ad5f1937 The net worth of the Red Sox is greater than the net worth of John Henry...

And some feel Philadelphia might get back involved if they don't sign Harper or Machado https://calltothepen.com/2019/01/04/philadelphia-phillies-craig-kimbrel-consolation-prize/ ...

Or 52,000,000,000 nickels...

Angels, Cubs, Braves and possibly the White Sox, although I think they want their impactful spending to be elsewhere. But for Britton, Ottavino and Kimbrel, those are the suitors. If Britton goes to the Yankees, then the Cubs, Angels and Braves and Red Sox are the market for Kimbrel, Ottavino, and probably Cody Allen...

Of course the cost of hoping for 5 wins from Donaldson did cost $22.45 million more than it did to wish upon a Tulowitzki...

Philly just signed Robertson and now has an overcrowded bullpen they might be looking to move parts of. Reportedly they would like to deal Hunter and Neshek...

Well if your starters get in trouble early, burning up the bullpen might be the only option. But a manager does have to be smart. Burning out the bullpen chasing unwinnable games can cost a team the next game or two as well. Even not knowing whose up in the ninth, the idea of saving the best reliever for the last inning “just in case good hitters are up” probably costs teams more wins in the sixth and seventh than are typically lost in the ninth. (I have no data here, but if need be I will get some.) Really one of the big reasons the closer strategy is such a waste of resources is the usage solely as a ninth inning specialist, and one who starts a clean inning the majority of the time. So odds are strongly in his favor regardless of who comes up. As a manager, part of the job is knowing when the game is truly on the line. We are seeing managers around MLB starting to use the “high leverage specialist. Francona used Miller that way in Cleveland. (Remember him brining Miller in in the 5th inning against Boston in the postseason?). Kapler plans to use Robertson. Trevino in Oakland was also the high leverage guy. Ditto Hader in Milwaukee. It’s catching on...

Given how slowly the reliever/closer market is moving, I wouldn’t take anyone off the list, including Kimbrel. One of the things Dombrowski is probably waiting on is to find this year’s Moustakas - that unsigned player who can’t find a home and ultimately has to settle for a one year deal. On a one year deal, the money might matter less if the Sox plan to reset. If not, Cody Allen might be the cheapest option for money and years while not scraping the bottom of the barrel...

Would you consider Oliver Drake for the Suicase Hall of Fame? Drake was acquired by the Rays today. He has already pitched for 6 teams in a four year MLB career. Tampa will make 7. Suitcase Hall of Fame? Or Suitcase Hall of Very Good?

True. These players are free to pursue opportunities in Japan or Mexico if they like. MLB is just their desired employer...