notin

If he told them when it happened, he might have been non- tendered...

It’s a really, really safe bet John Henry cares about taxes. He didn’t get to be a billionaire by paying too much for everything ...

The Sox, along with fellow normal big spenders LA, NY, and Chicago, appear to be trying to avoid long term heavy deals that don’t involve their core players. DD isn’t just thinking about 2019 and “back to back.” He’s also thinking about 2020 and beyond and making sure he keeps as many of Betts, Bogaerts, Sale, Martinez, and maybe another name or two as possible. I don’t think he views Kimbrel as part of that core. That means any big deal for Kimbrel gets in the way of keeping that core...

I have no idea what Thornburg has left, but Dombrowski did sign him after the season to avoid arbitration. The Sox probably start the season with 7 relievers. But the only guarantees right now seem to be Barnes, Brasier, Hembree, Workman and Johnson. Thornburg should grab one of the last two spots, but that’s not guaranteed. The other options on the 40-man include Poyner, Brewer, Lakins, and the distant possibility of Hernandez. Some of the NRI players are certainly trying to impress. At his relatively low salary, I think Thornburg does get a shot. DD has shown he has no problem releasing players making much more...

Maybe, but I bet he’s turned down better deals since...

Apparently Hicks, the other recipient of a Yankee contract extension, is also out with some soreness. Exactly what does the Yankee top brass do to their players as part of the negotiating process? A little “physical encouragement” to make sure they sign something team-friendly?

I don’t think Nunez is “deadweight” compared to Lin. He did have an .832 OPS after the Sox acquired him. Last year he did struggle but was hampered by injuries. Also depleting the Sox bullpen depth - already questionable - to accommodate a situational lefty might not be the best move. The kids will get their time this year. There’s no reason to not keep everyone possible and have some depth...

Says the guy whose job is to see if the players qualify for that rule...

Not if they don’t trade a catcher. The Sox already have 26 players on the roster and would have to demote someone if they don’t make a move (assuming Pedroia is healthy). The only player with options are in the bullpen along eith Benintendi and Devers. They shouldn’t cut back on a weak pen and demoting Benintendi or Devers to keep Swihart would be stupid. So if everyone is healthy (a big if), the four man bench would include Leon, Swihart, Pearce, Holt and Nunez. That’s already too many. Even putting Pedroia on the IL doesn’t create room for Lin. And if Pedroia is on the IL, the Sox have a weird bench with Leon, Swihart, and Pearce backing up catcher and first and Holt backing up everywhere else...

He’s versatile and on the 40-man roster. He’ll play in Boston at some point this year. 2019 is his last option year, and with Nunez likely departing and possibly Holt, too, his shot st the 25 man roster for opening day 2020 is very legitimate...

Gonzalez isn’t the most talented pitcher, but he has demonstrated the ability to give a team 170-180 IP. It’s really an unknown if German or Loasigia can do that against MLB hitters without completely falling apart. This might be important to the Yankees because by the time Severino returns, someone else might be injured...

The Yankees also have a less-publicized rule that players have to be circumcised...

For most players, spring training isn’t a tryout. The players under contract know they have spots and aren’t so worried about performance. Their goals are 1) shake off the rust and 2) don’t get hurt. The marginal and young players like Lin and Chavis do seem to like using these games as a tryout and an opportunity to make an impression, but sometimes there just isn’t room. The Sox will very likely NOT trade Nunez and keep both players available...

Maybe their “restraint” was just holding back in case of an emergency. Reportedly they have already been connected to Gonzalez...

They need a starter to get them up to 4, but they have other internal options (Cessa, Loasigia, German) who aren’t coming off multiple surgeries this off-season. And hey, Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez still need jobs ...

I think he might need an injury or two to make the opening day roster. He will certainly be with the team at some point this year. But the Sox already have two utility infielders with guaranteed contracts and no options...

So basically turning it into a Yahoo auction league...

The Yankees are holding him back until they need a fifth starter because he is coming off heart and knee surgeries...

Where was this? Baseball-Reference doesn’t have him in the top ten, but it’s also not broken down by position. Fangraphs has him second among CF (behind Cain) for the defensive component of fWAR...

Lots of guys who won’t pitch

Travis Shaw?

We have lots of guy to do that, too...

I think jacko needs a small lesson on Dombrowskiball. Jacko, THIS is how Dave Dombrowski runs a team. 1. He trades prospects. Lots of them. It’s like he hates them. 2. He gives out big contracts. Also, lots of them. He pays for top tier talent unabashedly, never settling for any sort of discount. “Market Price is for wimps” is tattooed on his left arm while his right arm writes checks that redefine player valuation. 3. He doesn’t spend for bench players. Need a utility infielder? That’s what the minor leagues are for!! And you’d know that better if your minor league roster spots weren’t wasted on prospects! 4. For all the money he likes to spend, not so much for closers. He likes in-house options. While he does publicly say he thinks the ninth inning takes a special pitcher, history tells you he doesn’t believe it at all. Kimbrel was a rare case for him. 5. He really likes making trades. Possibly a bit too much, and he can get a little too focused on a player sometimes. That it took him three tries to get Colten Brewer feels like two too many. And he can’t do all this without the occasional reset. You can only save so much money with minimum wage utility infielders and dirt cheap closers...

Are you referring to a different Dombrowski than the one I’m watching? Dave Dombrowski? It seems that most of the behaviors you attribute to him are simply flat out incorrect. Resetting is a fairly new concept around MLB, and he’s already done it once...

The Arenado extension works heavily against the Sox for Mookie. Arenado has been worth 25.3 fWAR in the past 5 seasons. Betts has been worth 24.9 in the last 3....