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The big issue with Hosmer is that the "safe money" might be 7 years $154mill. Is that 3 fWAR money?

Moustakas is a tough call for me. I'd prefer Santana. Although that deal lacks the crippling potential of JD Martinez, but at least Martinez gives RHH power and is less likely to spend all 5 years hitting in to a shift. Pass on Cobb. Really good pitcher. Really bad health. Love Shaw. And Dombrowski does go get a new set up guy every year. But if we get him, does it jinx his "Never been on the DL" track record? Pass on Dyson. Keep the outfield intact. Dyson is just a cheaper version of Rusney Castillo with more steals.

If those are the prices, we should get Santana. And it isn't even a close choice. Morrison is a joke at that pricetag. The guy just spent 7 years as a league average hitter. Any guesses what he will be for the next three? And to make it even worse, for $3mill more you can have Santana? Avoid Option Year Heroes at all costs.

I'll try to jinx it by making that call in the MLBTR Free Agent contest. But I'm afraid that's the best I can do (although history will tell you it can be pretty effective)...

His agent must not speak Japanese very well. You KNOW he was pushing him heavily to do it...

Signing JD quickly or even late in the offseason will not lessen the chances Hosmer signs with Boston. It will negate them completely. I'm not even bullish on Hosmer. He is a good player who does almost everything well, but really doesn't excel at anything. I hope he doesn't sign in Boston, because his age makes his contract potentially frightening. Think Jason Heyward 2.0. And then ask a Cubs' fan how that one is working out..

Santana would be my choice, too, all things considered. But I don't have the history of signing "best available" like Dombrowski does. I actually don't want JD Martinez - although I see the appeal - because I want to keep all three outfielders as they are. They're part of what kept our pitching so good with terrific defense. The worst glove out there was Benintendi, and in no way should he be moved. And putting Martinez at 1B/DH? I love the consistent logic there. Suggest moving Devers to first and people are all up in arms. "Moving Devers to first is crazy!!! Let's sign JD Martinez and put him at first. A much better idea!! He has NEVER played the infield in his entire professional career!! And probably hasn't fielded a ground ball since high school!!! He's the perfect fit!!" I'm all for moving an inexperienced guy to first, but I think having some infield experience helps. I also hate 6+ year megadeals for players over 30. Unless there is an early opt out. On an unrelated note, I will say, I do love the MLBTR prediction that the Sox sign Bryan Shaw...

Home runs are not always the answer. 26 teams outhomered the Sox this year, but only 4 teams won more games. Power should help, but this is a pitching-first team. Especially if everyone is healthy. Martinez would be a nice add for a while, but in three years everyone will want to dump his contract. Hosmer? Certainly less exciting. But he does have age and position on his side. Dombrowski will sign Hosmer. You know it to be true. We all do...

Helpful if his house is being broken into by a bird. But what if it was Jon Kruk?

Especially after posting a .474 OPS in rookie ball. Maybe he should go by JD Murdered...

Tony LaRussa is 73 years old and has not managed since 2011. While I do get he probably wants to be around the game as long as possible, I have to think that if he wanted the grind and travel associated with managing, he would have found an opportunity within the last 6 years. I also doubt he is a safety net in the front office, something Dombrowski did not do with Farrell even after two last place finishes. If Cora doesn't cut it, the interim manager will very likely be someone from his staff...

They could send clubhouse problem child Puig for him, which represents a massive savings for the Marlins and gives the Marlins a new Cuban star to ignite the fanbase. Rusney Castillo will not likely have the same effect...

And I'm fine with that. Bradley is a terrific all around player...

I'm predicting it gets driven down Yawkey Way. Sorry...

La Russa has certainly embraced sabermetrics moreso than most, if not all, other old school managers. If he is not in the dugout making his asinine signature moves (which he made with some bizarre frequency, it was almost like he wanted one to be his legacy), I think he'll be pretty harmless. Possibly even beneficial...

Where would the Sox play Morrison? They're going to spend $36mill to prevent save $22mill on Hanley's option? Not likely. And let's not pretend Morrison is the solution to inconsistent offense at 1b. If anything, that's his calling card. The best course of action for the Sox is to avoid all these Option Year Heroes like Morrison, Duda and Alonso. Maybe one of them can build on last yer, but most likely all revert to well-paid mediocrity. I can see the Sox signing JD Martinez. There is an obvious Dombrowski connection. He has the power they need. He hired Boras. which no one does if they intend to re-sign for anything less than maximum money. But in two short off-seasons, Dombrowski has also been fairly reticent in the free agent market. Granted, he has a past history of spending like a drunken sailor. But in Boston, his only splurge has been Price, who has given mixed results. Also with Martinez, there is the issue of position. The Sox have an excellent OF. They have a DH who will probably break if he takes the field too often. Would Martinez move to 1b? Suggesting he goes there if he doesn't want to will likely steer him to another team. It's his choice. And he might go for a team that needs an outfielder. While no one likes Eric Hosmer, if I were a predicting man (and I am, although not always a good one) I would say he is the Sox focus. I know he lacks home run pop. And the Sox really need it. They were 15th in the AL last year in home runs, and a distant 15th at that. The 18 home runs they trailed the White Sox was BY FAR the largest gap between any two adjacent teams on the list. But the Sox were sixth in the AL in runs scored. While not all that impressive on its own, it does mean they outscored NINE teams - or 60% of the American League - that hit more home runs than they did. If nothing else, this should be a reminder that home runs are not the only way to score. So, the question then becomes, are the Sox a better overall team with Hosmer (4.1 fWAR) in place of Moreland (0.9 fWAR)? Or Martinez (3.8 fWAR) in place of Moreland? Not a team with more home runs, but a better team? I wonder if it might be time to start liking Eric Hosmer?

Willie McGee was famously nicknamed "E.T." But how does this discussion get this long with no mention of Randy Johnson?

Of course at some point we need to acknowledge the overabundance of data teams rely on today that they didn't have ten years ago. ...

I really doubt team make trades based solely on needs and surpluses. It might not be fWAR, but some sort of player evaluation is essential. fWAR is a handy and accessible tool we have on this board. But even with that as a soft standard for player performance and capability, there are always other factors. Two easy ones we all know are salary/ contract and years of control. I once heard Keith Law discuss how trades happen. The very first step is contract review for any player you're interested in. I actually think that this is why some GMs appear obsessed with some playets. Stories get out about contract requests and if no deal gets done at that time, it gets revisited later, when contract review can be skipped...

It was tolerated? By who?

The Astros also held on to nearly all their good prospects. Chris Russo on MLB Network ripped them for doinh nothing at the trade deadline last year...

... just became the second pitcher in MLB history to pitch in all seven games of a World Series...

And the ones he traded for Reed? Nogosek and ? Honestly, outside of maybe four or maybe five guys on that list, we probably won't miss most of them. But going in so heavy on a closer (especially given our rotation at the time) will never strike me as a bright move...

Perfectly stated....

That still makes Jansen an awful choker. He's been crushed in save opportunities. Like that awful choke artist Aroldis Chapman last World Series. Unless it's just that these Astros hitters are clutch.