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On the 40 man, we have 11 SPs counting Sandoval, who. is not long for the 40 man once he can be moved. And I want to say they have 13 relief pitchers. Those numbers could change to 10 and 14 if Fulmer replaces Sandoval…

No other team had 5 prospects in the top MLB.com top 50, so no one else could have. But would other teams if they were in the Sox position? Definitely.

Of course for a long time, some folks debated the existence of that $300 mill offer and assumed the Sox stopped at $200mill, especially after Mookie said he never received a $300 mill offer. Maybe he never did, but it looks like he did get one close to if not in the $290-299 mill range. Depending on the years, that AAV could be very close to the one he settled on…

One - and I think big - reason the Sox fall short on extensions is historically they don’t seem to get the process started until the player is a year or two away from free agency. How often do they attempt to buy out all three arbitration years like other teams do? Granted, it’s more often done by small market teams, but if you’re pretending to be a small market teams, do it right. Lester. Bogaerts. Even Sale. All one year from free agency. I think the Mookie thing started in 2017 or 2018, making it a rare exception if true. Beyond that, is Whitlock the only time they tried? Of course they did not have this option with Crochet. Thsts why I like seeing the change with Anthony, Campbell and Mayer. The earlier the extension, the less risky. Sure there will be some Scott Kingery style flops if you extend too early. But the most common result is a younger player paid like a mediocre vet. If Jackson Chourio doesn’t become a star, he’s only getting Max Kepler money, so it really isn’t a big deal if he maintains Max Kepler production.

Both sides are aware of the injury concern. It’s probably going to be a part of the big reason the Sox won’t have to go as high as 8 years of $200mill to sign extend Crochet…

Technical the article says “didn’t top $300mill.” It leaves it open that the offer might have been $300mill. Just not $301mill…

I’ve been calling Crawford a starter all off-season. I only put him in the bullpen because I don’t think the Sox go to a six man rotation. But they do have enough health question marks in that rotation that Crawford starting feels inevitable at some point..

Short did confirm the Sox went higher than many other stories, but also reminded us the mentality against that length of extension was not limited to Boston and small market clubs,

I question my many call the bullpen a weakness. Granted, it’s got a few questions. But sometimes the answer to a question is a resounding “YES!!” Yes Jansen and Martin are gone, and the 2024 bullpen had its issues. But who is left from the 2024?opening day bullpen? As far as I can tell, just Slaten. Maybe Bernardino, if he starts the year in Boston. Returning arms Whitlock and Crawford started 2024 in the rotation, and Winckowski started in Worcester. Some new faces include Aroldis Chapman, who isn’t the same pitcher he was even 5 years ago. But neither are Martin and Jansen. (OK, Martin might be. Outside of 2023, he’s been hovering around average.) Liam Hendriks did miss the last two seasons, but had a very impressive track record before that. Justin Wilson is (I’m setting the odds here) less than 50% on finishing the season in Boston. I like the potential of Luis Guerrero, and if they can both come back, Michael Fulmer and Jovani Moran are solid relievers. (Moran will be out for a while.). Plus they have some Austin Adams vets and Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, and Zack Penrod for depth. It could easily be a very improved part of the team…

A little hyperbolic. Pete Alonso is a free agent right now because the Mets couldn’t extend him. And Aaron Judge was a free agent last year because the Yankees didn’t offer him what he felt was fair value. And of course Juan Soto left the Bronx without a extension. Yes the Sox tendered poor offers to Mookie, Lester and Bogaerts. But Lester was 10 years and 4 GMs ago. The Mookie situation has been dredged over and Zack Short even spoke out about how it wasn’t so straightforward as we fans want it to be. Plus the Sox did extend Bogaerts once and did extend Sale. Point being, this does happen with other teams. Heck the only reason the Sox have Crochet is another team didn’t extend him…

I don’t think teams value their prospects similarly to what fans do. I’m hesitant to say they’re heavily invested in him. They paid a lot, but what they gave up can be considered fair for two years. Now the goal is to keep him around, but obviously Boston (or any team) wants to do out for as little as possible…

At some point he has to stay in shape…

I was thinking that. For example, year one comes with the Bucc-ee’s pulled pork, but the opt out escalates it to a brisket..

The Sox can get that pick back if anyone else ever signs Nick Pivetta. There’s been surprisingly little buzz for a guy who was supposed to be a hot commodity this off-season…

How about three years with opt outs after years one and two, but in each case the Sox have a “no, you’re opting back in” clause?

Chips included?

I’ve been saying something close to a Chourio deal(8 years $82mill) makes sense for Anthony. Same age, same position, same ranking (or close enough). I think Campbell probably gets priced similarly. He’s a little older and slightly lower ranked, but neither difference is substantial enough to make a big difference…

Sportrac has it as the 17th highest AAV in the game, between Mookie Betts and Tyler Glasnow. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/contracts/ Glasnow, who received a 4 yr $111 mill extension recently, might be a reasonable comp. He has a longer performance history, but nothing as good as Crochet’s 2024. He also carries similar injury history and risks…

Despite the bulk of the posts that want Crochet to be among the 20 highest paid players (by AAV) in the game already, “more evidence” translates into more dollars for Crochet, which is the opposite of the Soxgoal here…

Tanner Scott is, but he’s a fit for everyone. I still think Bregman will happen…

It is insane. You want Crochet to delay his free agency, but that didn’t mean you give a pitcher with 220 IP and one TJ in his history a larger and longer deal than you gave Chris Sale, where the Sox bought out one year of arbitration but he had a much, much bigger and better track record that included more years as a Cy Young runner up than Crochet had as a starting pitcher. Pitchers like Spencer Strider and Hunter Greene both extended for much, much, much less. Their extensions were less combined than $170mill. The Sox leverage here - which Crochet is well aware of - is that Garret is one torn ligament away from his career ending prematurely and not making anything. His AAV isn’t going to be greater than what Max Fried got in free agency with multiple teams bidding for his services. We know Crochet is aware because he wanted an extension done on any trade made last July. He’s eager, likely because he knows the risks. And Crochet has already agreed to $3.8mill. His 2025 salary is established. Now the Sox need to buy out that one last year plus the first few in free agency. I don’t think they need to go to six years here. And I doubt they do. A shorter 3-4 year deal (starting after 2025) is more likely and removes some of the risk for both sides…

Best stuff in the game, but only 219 career IP and one TJ surgery in his past. A contract in the neighborhood of 4 years $80-90 mill is better than extensions given to Spencer Strider and Hunter Greene. (Is Greene a fair comp for Crochet? He signed a 6 yr $53mill deal two years ago.) And any extension Crochet gets will be closer to those pitchers than to what Max Fried got in free agency…

Free agency is getting to the point where a 7 year $200mill contract doesn’t look outlandish anymore. I think the versatility is to ensure they have SOMEPLACE to play and the Sox don’t have to limit their key acquisitions to players that won’t block a top prospect…

I think part of the reason Casas is so available right now is the Sox want to clear the way at 1b for another player already on the Red Sox. I don’t think they want to go get another 1b. It will be Casas or Devers in 2025 (barring injuries)..

But you’re ok with the $3?