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Anything to support this belief?

So maybe it's time to sell high? Kimbrel tied his career best in fWAR last year. But fWAR emphasizes my belief that fans overvalue the role of closer, since the stat basically says Mariano Rivera had a very similar career to Gary Gaetti. I do think there are other options at closer, some on the team and some others. One available pitcher who would make a very good closer is Wei-Yin Chen. But there are elbow concerns there. Bartolo Colon probably would as well, but who really knows if he wants to. (He probably should at this point in his career. ) But I would be extremely surprised if the Sox dealt Kimbrel.

I can't believe they tendered Holt at all...

JDs agent is Boras. He is going to wait it out. I do agree the Sox will want some sort of splash before tickets go on sale...

In theory, Bradley should be worth more thsn Abreu in a trade. But that doesn't mean Rick Hahn reads those theories....

Too bad he can't use it to hit a baseball. Matt Adams is Carlos Santana at the plate, but without discipline and contact....

The White Sox want prospects, and good ones. St. Louis looks like a perfect fit...

I've been one of the loudest voices saying that. However there are also immediate ramifications of this weak farm that bother me more...

So a third place team is ok? What about a fourth place team?

I was never much of a fan of DD but I absolutely wouldn't fire him now. No one has said its unavoidable and no one has said this is the end. But the mention of the weak farm and that everyone but the elderly will be gone in 3:years seems to anger many. I have said REPEATEDLY there is a lot of time. But that doesn't mean the farm system will fix itself. And we will definitely need it before 2021, which is the much bigger deal. In fact its one big factor keeping the Sox out of the running for Stanton as we speak...

And that's it. And both clocks are ticking. Really if you look at 2021 the Sox have thosre two, along with Vazquez, under control. But also Price making $31mill at 35. Pedroia for one more year. Whoever they sign this off-season. And right now no real trade bait like Moncada, Ko pech, Espinoza, Margot, etc. to fill any holes. Like I said, a lot can happen. Personally I think the Sox weak farm is a bigger issue NOW and will be again on July 31...

Wrong on all counts. No one is saying its all doom and gloom and Dombrowski needs to be fired. And the majority of posters on here DO live in worlds of hindsight. And those who see the farm is at its weakest since Steve Lomasney was the top prospect merely point out this status. It seems like some of the folks who think the farm system is fine want to take personal offense whrn they get reminded it isn't. I've been saying all along yes, its coming but there is plenty of time. Its odd how so many find even that obvious thought repugnant and then get the public lambasted from people who, while they repeatedly say they don't want to offend anyone, have no problem trying to make their point with condescension and insulting commentary. Simple question - while no one can predict the future, how many members of the 2017 team will be around in 2020? Just a guess. It won't be ve.ry many, but that's the case for all 30 teams. (Only 9 players played for the 2014 Red Sox played for the 2017 Red Sox. The thing is, even in 2014 we had some idea who was coming in the future. We knew Betts. We saw Bogaerts and Bradley. Who from 2017 gave you a look into the future?

"Win now" is the optimistic side of the same coin...

There isn't. But how much of that is salary and years of control?

Its not about stopping it Plenty can be done to prepare, however...

I don't mind Abreu but it doesn't matter. He'll be a Cardinal. The Sox really don't have the pieces to make a good deal..

Santana is the better player and Dombrowski has never been much of a drafter anyway, last year excepted..

The Sox probably could and should deal pen pieces for farm. But will they get anyone worth it? We gave up crapshoot for Addison Reed. Do we think Barnes or Hembree bring back better? Closers, on the other hand, seem to command a good haul. I blame all you people who overvalued the role. But GMs think the PR of adding a closer pleases fans. So if the Sox deal a reliever, why not Kimbrel?

The Sox aren't trading for Stanton. As I type this, Brian Sabean and his staff are traveling to Los Angeles to meet with Giancarlo Stanton and convince him to accept a trade to the Bay Area. The fallout then becomes the Cardinals turning to Jose Abreu. The Red Sox cannot and will not top their offer. So after sll tjis happens, Dombrowski will make an offer to JD Martinez. Boras will reject it, because that is what he does. Dombrowski will then sign a more amenable Carlos Santana. Book it..

Sure it does. We have a very weak farm and every key player on this team can become a free agent in the next three years. Sure some might be retained, but every aging free agent the Sox sign reduces that number as well. Saying it doesn't exist yet is like being in the path of an oncoming hurricane and then saying its ok because the hurricane doesn't exist yet. A lot can happen to avoid it. A fire sale if the team is awful, which could happen if enough key players get injured. Maybe a couple prospects make huge leaps forward like Chavis did, and Betts before him. But certainly these things, especially the latter one, cannot be counted on. The biggest factor in the Sox favor is that the Braves have gift-wrapped a farm rebuilding starter kit for Dombrowski. Hopefully he can take some advantage. But right now, certainly the future of this farm is a pending hurricane. Does Dombrowski act on it or is he one of those rednecks who plans to wait it out because those weatherman always exaggerate?

I have to give credit to Dombrowski for his ability to constantly make deals for relievers we can't get 5 innings from. If I'm Bryan Shaw, I avoid the Sox and this Curse of Dombrowski's Bullpen. Something thst has plagued him for nearly a decade now is one form or another...

I don't either. But it's something he needs to consider. Trading Bradley makes a lot less sense than trading Kimbrel, but he is apparently considering that already...

So you think there is anything on tje farm to provide hope going forward? Right now, there is nothing. but a lot can happen in 3 years

Big deal. Make Smith Plan C behind free agent Bryan Shaw and Tyler Thornburg. ..

I know a lot of posters scoff at the cliff idea due to the Sox weak farm. While the cliff absolutely exists, like any disaster 3 years pending, there is plenty of time to take action and multiple options available. The real cliff is July 31, 2018. If the Sox are in contention as they should be, they will have zero ability to make any deadline improvements with this farm...