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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.

That's a much better argument than you have ever made on the subject. Of course all it does is leave the entire debate in limbo...

I said it once. Does that count?

Epstein was either GM or President of Baseball Ops when two of the three longest droughts in MLB history ended. Counts for nothing? Coincidence?

Have not heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me. I have speculated on this board that the southern California native might prefer his hometown Dodgers or Angels...

So.... bad deal for Boston.

When it comes to Stanton, it really also comes down to how much other willing snd interested teams are prepared to give up. The Marlins want to divest themselves of that commitment, likely because their chances of success during that deal took a hit after the Jose Fernandez tragedy. If it comes down to a bidding war with the Yankees or Dodgers, our chances are slim. A bidding war with the Cubs, Angels, Nationals or Giants? The Sox have a much better chance...

Schwarber's ceiling is Adam Dunn. But until he learns to take pitches the other way and beat the shift he constantly faces, he looks a lot more like Chris Carter. He'll hit 30-35 home runs, but his other 600 or so plate appearances will be a lot less productive and his OPS will not be much better than that of Jackie Bradley. And Scherer has also somehow managed to be so bad defensively, he can barely adequately field the position of DH. Hopefully the Sox avoid this over-hyped one trick three true outcome pony...

The chances of the Cubs dealing Kris Bryant for Andrew Benintendi are roughly the same as the chances of me flapping my arms and flying to the moon...

At least not one who can stay healthy. ..

And was announced right before the Red Sox were about to win the World Series in a transparent attempt to steal thr headlines...