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I agree. Kimbrel was great, but it's time to move on. And use that money Kimbrel wants to 1) sign a closer and 2) sign Benintendi to a Christian Yelich-style contract, as he is well on his way to being Yelich 2.0...

The MLBTR Free Agent Prediction Contect is out. The staff predicted the Red Sox sign Eovaldi and Andrew Miller. Pearce was not among the top 50 free agents, and therefore had no prediction. The prediction for the Yankees is Corbin and Ottavino. Not sure why anyone thinks the Yankees need bullpen help...

This, for example, is sarcasm. And well done sarcasm. It felt authentic at the beginning, but it built nicely and the completely laughable last line clinched it... Well done, dgalehouse. Take a bow...

Huh? Aroldis Chapman had 32 saves in 34 chances. Kenley Jansen had 38 saves in 42 chances. Kimbrel had 47 saves in 52 chances. Any reason to believe if we had Jansen or Chapman, the Sox would have had less than 52 chances for their closer?

At least it had a happy ending. My daughter's softball team lost their first playoff game, and then BOOM. Season over. But she knew most of the kids on the other team and was actually happy for them, and was hanging out with them after the game...

No point in trading Leon. He has virtually no value in a deal. Simplest thing is to non-tender him. In fact, many people have described players as "more valuable to the Sox than they are in a trade," which I've heard to describe Holt and Swihart in particular. I never agree with this, but it might actually apply to Leon. As he is Sale's primary catcher, he has a value to the Sox. But to the rest of MLB, he is another all glove/no bat backup catcher, the likes of which can be had for minor league deals every off-season and can already be found in most organizations...

Or Tony Fernandez, whose error on a routine grounder in the 11th inning of game 7 of the 1997 World Series is always overlooked...

The award to me is about best debut season, not future outlook. Should 30yo Ryan Brasier not be considered because players like Torres might have a brighter future?

Dig up the corpses of the 1927 Yankees and challenge them to a winner take all best of seven for the title!!

You clearly have more faith in Marco Hernandez than I do. I see him as a utility infielder with limited offensive potential and a hard time staying healthy. I think if there is a 40 man roster crunch, he’s a DFA candidate....

Unless Joey Wendle (3.7 fWAR) and Shohei Ohtani (2.8 fWAR) beat them out for it...

And if there is an early season need, Esteban Quiroz was signed for that reason...

I don’t expect a busy off-season. The focus is likely to be pitching, with the Sox lookin to add a starter and two relievers. The Sox will certainly try to re-sign Eovaldi. If that fails, maybe try to re-sign Kimbrel. Or both, which is possible. In the bullpen,I expect a trade for one reliever, possibly involving Michael Chavis and Brian Johnson for someone like Jose Leclerc or Will Smith. And the last arm added via free agency. Joe Kelly is in play here. Or a lefty arm like Justin Wilson, Jake Diekman, or Aaron Loup. If they bring in a starter (because they signed Kimbrel and not Eovaldi), some possible names include Pomeranz (who, if he is healthy, could be a steal), Charlie Morton, Matt Harvey (could also be a steal, but, really, he’s never healthy), Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Tomlin, Lance Lynn, or Gio “Walk And Home Run Machine” Gonzalez. I suppose they could also go heavy on Dallas Keuchel, assuming his demands are not insane. Unless they deal someone like Swihart or Holt, I don’t think Pearce comes back. If Pedroia is a question mark, it is possible Esteban Quiroz gets time at 2b. That is why he was originally signed, after all. And other than a decision on Tyler Thornburg, that’s about it...

It comes off the books just in time to lock up Betts...

If you take DD for his word and the Sox are keeping Swihart, Pearce becomes a lot less likely to return. There are simply not enough roster spots if everyone is healthy...

Hey, depending on Pedroia’s health, 2b might be a position of need. According to this guy, the Sox would be better off signing Kinsler instead of Dozier. I would expect Kinsler to be a cheaper and, more important, shorter deal. But which one makes the Sox better?

Ahead of Dozier. How is Dozier lower than Kinsler?

Maybe you can’t cure it, but you can sign stupid to a minor league contract...

Both 04 and 18 went 11-3 in the postseason. The only losses for the 04 team came to set up the greatest comeback ever. Also the 04 had the lead after every single inning in the World Series except the 5th (or 6th?) inning of game 1, when the game was tied. The only reason that series was ever in doubt was those of us still fearing 1986...

About 19 hours by car....

And the Sox won’t get him for that even if they offer it. He’s not accepting. This is his payday, and probably his final one...

Kimbrel, Kelly, and possibly Hanley. (“Possibly” referring to eligibility, not likelihood. He’s ot getting one.) I suspect Kimbrel is the only player getting one...

You have to pay me to eat a taco from Taco Bell...

Kimbrel and Kelly and actually I think Hanley might be (although it doesn’t really matter if he is or isn’t). Kimbrel definitely is. I’d be surprised if Kelly got one...

Bogaerts has one year left and isn’t extending this year. While unlikely, he makes some sense to be the first one to move...