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I think the whole notion that the negotiations were botched because fans are unhappy with the outcome is my issue. They appeared to be fairly standard by what I’m hearing, but with some obvious embellishments. Breslow and Boras (or any GM/CBO and any agent have clear and opposing goals in any negotiation. One wants to get as much money as possible; the other wants to spend as little as possible. That Boras came and said “we have a better offer” is far from uncommon, and in many cases untrue (see Bellinger, Cody). Boras is actually well known for fabricating interest and offers. Go read MLBTR commentary regarding the decade long running jokes about the omnipresent “mystery team.” There are some fairly questionable additions to this beyond the shifting timelines. Like some versions say “by the time Breslow countered, it was too late.” No it wasn’t. I can guarantee there was no such deadline. The start of spring training is weeks away and we all know Bregman himself has no issues waiting until late February for the deal he wants. The Cubs wanted Bregman more than Boston did, and that’s really it. And paid a ln awful lot for a players whose best days are clearly on the past. And now find themselves posturing on their infield overload, making nonsense statements like “Matt Shaw will play the outfield.” No he won’t, and we all know it. He’s not starting over either of the reigning Gold Glovers the Cubs already have out there, or even their perfectly capable right fielder who has openly expressed a distaste for being a DH. But gotta keep up some value with that top infield prospect…

So you think they should bid against themselves? I’m confused. Reportedly Boras tried the same “we have another offer” tactic on the Yankees sith Bellinger. But the Yankees called his bluff and got the deal they wanted…

The timeline appears to be shifting. Im confused. Did Breslow up his offer before or after learning about the Cubs?

So now we’re back to the $165mil was the original offer? These stories are all over the place…

You NEVER hear pushback. FO folks who give pushback don’t last long. Heck it was only LAST YEAR when Zack Short finally gave the dirt of Betts’ free agent offers. AJ probably got his info from Boras’ people. Right?

Pierzynski has experience with MLB contract negotiations, but he isn’t necessarily an insider into the specifics an any individual negotiation. It’s not like anyone invites him. Breslow: I think you’ll find my latest offer very… Boras: Wait! Stop! Where’s AJ? Breslow: Who? Boras: AJ Pierzynski, of course. Breslow: Do we really need him here? Boras: I’m not negotiating without AJ. That’s like asking Pixar to make a movie without John Ratzenberger…

Yoshida could sit vs LHPs, too…

Mayer has a career .818 OPS in AAA and only 136 PA in MLB…

I don’t see Houston moving off the 2024 first round pick after one season in which he was rushed to MLB, especially since they already have a fairly weak OF…

So the complaint is the Sox are in the upper tier, but not high enough in the upper tier?

Maybe he means Mayer has insufficient fiber in his diet…

Well, it is if you consider 8 thru 30 to all be the back end of the pack…

The big issue now is the options. No one apparently wanted to give up Ketel or Paredes for Duran. The free agent market still has Suarez, who might be pretty likely at this point. He comes with pros and cons. Legitimate ones on both sides. Trade market still has Brendan Donovan. As I was talking about both Ketel and Paredes before either became real world options, I’m going to throw another one out three that I have only mentioned once before - Lenyn Sosa. He slugged 22 HRs for the White Sox last year, has plenty of experience at 2b, bats right-handed, and horribly unreliable AI projection have him batting .260/.320/.440 with 20-24 home runs as a member of the Red Sox. His pull profile is not as extreme as Paredes, but works for Fenway https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/lenyn-sosa-672820?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb Per Roster Resource, he is behind Chase Meidroth, Miguel Vargas (another potential Fenway monster but reportedly kind of a douchebag) and Colson Montgomery in the Chicago infield…

What is your definition of an offensive hole? It seems to start somewhere between .774 OPS (Duran) and .741 OPS (Story)…

Ive thrown Bello for Paredes around. But as far as I can tell, 100% of that buzz comes from just me. I’m not sure either side is interested. Now reportedly Houston is moving Paredes to 2b, which likely sticks Altuve in LF, which might mean their lineup is all set (until injuries kick in). But to my point, a Duran/Paredes swap isnt just a defensive fixes…

And the Sox haven’t. For all the talk of trading Duran, it’s getting to be fairly evident the Sox were not getting a package they wanted. While discussing trading Bello for offensive fixes makes sense, had there been any actual buzz on that front?

I think the Sox batting order right now might be: Duran Anthony Contreras Abreu Story Mayer Hamilton/Romy or Yoshida/(Romy?) Rafaela Narvaez Which two hitters are you removing? The easy answer for one of them is Hamilton/Romy/Yoshida, but they might just be placeholders for Casas. If so, which two hitters?

And where on the field? Unless MLB is going to re-write the rules for us like they did for the Dodgers, these players are required to field somewhere. At least one of them is…

Duran’s .335 wOBA for Paredes .353 wOBA isnt such the dropoff, is it?

And just where are these two good bats supposed to play?

A lot of talk about pushing Duran back to 2b, a position he hasn’t played since college, I believe. Before I went there, I’d just sign Luis Arraez and return him to 2b where he was awful, but at least doesnt have to re-learn anything he hasn’t done in the past decade. The real dark horse with no mention to date is Thairo Estrada, who posted ungodly OAA numbers in 2022 and 2023 at 2b for San Fran. He was also worth 6.3 fWAR in that 2 year stretch. He’s battled some injuries since and had limited playing time the past two seasons. He is only 29 and looking for work. He might even be available on a minor league deal…

As the team is currently built, is it worth compromising defense at both CF and 2b to get Yoshida’s bat in the lineup? It seems like the options are Duran DH Rafaela CF Hamilton/Romy 2b Or: Duran CF Rafaela 2b Yoshida DH Granted a lot can change between now and ST

I am willing to wager Ive broken more bones (mostly from falls) than most if not all of these posters. And I did ALL OF IT before turning 21…

While it seems logical pitchers over 30 are more likely to get hurt, the reality is that data can be influenced by the dozens upon dozens of Shane Baz/Grayson Rodriguez types that get injured nearly every year and rarely make it to 30. Not to mention all the 30+ pitchers whose injury woes started in their 20s…

Piker!! Say it!! Piker!!