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I think it’s impossible to really know if CF X doesn’t make some play that JBJ makes. He does make some great ones, but we’ve all seen other CFs do that. It’s just that because we watch JBJ more, we see him do it more often. But for example, one of Bradley’s best was that robbed HR of Aaron Judge at Fenway last year. Definitely a play that inspires comments like “no other CF makes that play. But then we also saw Austin Jackson duplicate that play against the Sox. But as any of us rarely bother with watching Jackson unless he’s playing the Sox, it’s easier to write it off as a lucky fluke play. All of the CFs I mentioned are extremely gifted defenders, but that doesn’t take anything away from Bradley, who shouldn’t be traded regardless. Really the only one who makes plays no other CF makes is Laureano, because none of them have that cannon he has where most people have a right arm. Did you see his 8-2-4 double play this week? He covered a ton of ground before he leapt up and robbed a HR from the hitter. Turned around and threw the ball over 380 feet overthrowing the first baseman from deep left-center on the warning track. The catcher then backed it up and nailed the runner at second. Or his 350 foot strike to first last year that sailed back to the base in the air to double off Eric Young. THOSE are plays no other CF makes. But neither of those plays make Bradley any worse in CF. And as Bradley bats 8th, I can live with whatever he does at the plate...

Or the bad 26 at bats by the rest of the team?

Bradley’s defense is outstanding, but there are quite a few CFs who are close or as good, including Kiermaier, Pillar, Buxton, Hamilton, Taylor, and Inciarte. And Laureano might be more exciting than any of them...

Still more complicated. But certainly possible...

The only people who can accurately predict the future are the ones who make it. Everyone else is just using varying degrees of education to make guesses...

Shane Greene has saved all 10 Tiger victories and is on pace for 81 saves...

But by virtue of requiring multiple trades, you’re already creating a more complex scenario. It might work out better. It might not. But already it requires 3 GMs to agree to moves as opposed to just two...

Very true. I believe Travis Shaw is the only exception. I would actually expect Dalbec to be the one dealt, but Devers would easily get a bigger return...

He bats 8th and lower. I think some fans need to stop hoping to fix the bottom of the batting order where the fewest plate appearances come from...

Maybe. But if $$$ becomes an issue, who is this minimum wage DH from within? Chavis?

That’s along the lines of where I’m going here. They aren’t going to get a good SP for anyone else except maybe Benintendi, and then the Sox would need to replace Benintendi as well. I think Dalbec comes closer to replacing Devers than anyone on the farm comes to replacing Benintendi...

Bullpen arm or arms is really, really dependent on the names involved. If Milwaukee didn’t want to pay Josh Hader and offered him for Devers, would you reject it?

Why not? If you look at the Sox farm, who is most likely to be able to replace (most of) their MLB counterpart next season?

I wouldn’t deal him for, say, Michael Taylor (who would actually be a good acquisition since he’s basically a right-handed Bradley buried in the Washington depth chart). But for replacing Porcello or Pedroia with a quality cheaper controllable piece? Even for the right bullpen addition(s)? But that’s really situational. The Sox don’t have another player as valuable in a trade who also has a player behind him ready to step in and contribute a significant portion of his overall contributions...

No I’m establishing some perspective on Devers. FV is what he has, but present day, he hasn’t really been some untouchable contributor. On his side is age and salary. But expecting young players to always improve is a mistake as well. And if the Sox need to get a really good player for next season, they’re more likely to get one without taking a noticeable step back at the position by dealing Devers. I’m trying to establish Devers as their best trade candidate. The best way to counter is to come up wit a better one. We do have a trade-happy GM/President...

It was more of a plan for 2020. I know Devers is your man-crush, but all things considered, he might be the best trade bait the Sox have. Bradley really isn’t...

Sometimes in the minors, teams make pitchers and hitters emphasize weaker aspects of their games. So if a pitcher has, say, a great curveball, the strategy will be “no curveballs today. Work on your other pitches.” This makes the stats and outings look worse, but can make for better pitchers in the long run. It also can make “eye test” judgements deceptively worse...

It is possible. Bogaerts was reluctant to sign for a long time as well...

There was a whole paragraph after it that acknowledges the point in the season and pace. Devers has only been worth 1.7 fWAR in 178 games over the past two seasons, and the big detriment has been his defense. Corey Spangenburg has also been worth 1.7 fWAR over that same stretch...

All the more reason to consider him the Sox most valuable trade chip. He’ll probably switch over to 1b next season. But when the Sox go trying to replace 1b, CF, SP to replace Porcello, RP (always a need) and possibly 2b, and only so much can be spent on free agents, who is better to offer around to other teams? The Sox don’t have much depth anywhere else...

No rush, but it would be unwise to ignore the potential need...

That’s not what it says and you know that...

0.1 and 0.3 are pretty much 0. Granted, the season is only about 1/8 over. But even at this pace, Devers would pace for 1.8 fWAR. Of course, WAR can go down, too. Devers really isn’t a good third baseman. And when the off-season rolls around, the Sox will need to add some players. Free agency will be tough, especially after extending Sale and Bogaerts . So if they have to trade, who should it be? The best options are the ones that can be replaced internally. Devers tops that list...

It appears to be a more common strategy this season. I’m not sure if this is the case or just how it’s all playing out, but Seattle, Minnesota, and Philadelphia also don’t appear to have dedicated closers. Milwaukee probably wouldn’t either, but two of their 3 best bullpen arms have been injured...

I never wanted Eovaldi back at that price and duration because of his injury history. But I give him credit for being the only starting pitcher in MLB capable of throwing that hard for that many pitches in s single game. Kind of freakish. Especially since he isn’t all that physically imposing. Of course maybe a lot of his problems are caused by throwing do insanely hard on every pitch...