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In the cases of both Ramirez (Pedroia) and Moncada (Benintendi), another prospect was reportedly asked for first and the final trade was a result of some negotiation. If the Sox approached Seattle about any of their younger starters, Anthony would be the first name Dipoto mentioned. The Sox are in a position to offer lesser yet still intriguing prospects, and the Mariners might be ok moving Woo or Castillo. (Castillo being far, far more likely.) If I had Breslow’s job, my goal would be to get the best pitcher possible for a package of Braden Montgomery and Franklin Arias. Of course, I have no idea who that pitcher is. I will say, part of the fascination with Miller is his age. The notion that the Sox need “young, cost-controlled starting pitching” is a fallacy. First of all, that’s all they have right now. Houck and Crawford are their graybeards, each being all of 27 years old. And second, with arbitration and contracts being as they are, it’s a rarity to hold on to a pitcher for too long anyway. And quite often when it does happen, it wasn’t worth it…

The problem is, if you have any faith in BTV, not only is Anthony (surplus value - $52.7mill) a reasonable ask for Bryce Miller ($48.4mill), he’s actually the most reasonable ask…

Or this a s simple case of scapegoating. “The team isn’t playing well!! It’s the scouts’ fault!!”

What if Seattle wants Roman Anthony for Bryce Miller? Or, more likely, Roman Anthony plus. Should the Sox agree to that deal? Should they switch targets to (likely) more available Castillo, who will cost less?Or just refuse to upgrade the pitching altogether?

Considering that in each of the last two seasons, the Sox have replaced his glove at shortstop by moving a GG caliber defender in CF, the effect his absence has had on the defense is more than just about him…

Trying to figure out the budget is a Fool’s Errand. There is no reason to expect it to increase and it’s much easier to see Henry rationalizing a decrease…

Castillo will not cost top prospects. He’s a $72mill gamble at this point. BTV values him at -$28.4mill. That’s probably a bit low. I think he has some positive value, but he’s not worth any of the Sox top 6 prospects. More in the Meidrith/Sandlin range…

More Yoshida’s and Grissom’s! Fewer Casas’ and O’Neill’s!! In all seriousness, the Arraez comment feels like a straw man. The return of Tatis along with and the emergence of Merrill along were probably much bigger factors. Not to mention their pitching…

Is that the Sox plan? Or your plan? I’m sure the Sox, like 29 other teams, would like younger cost-controlled SP. Just not sure they’re turning down older SP solely due to age…

Relief pitching is the one area where contracts have never caught up completely. If you need to improve fast on low money, RP is the smartest way…

Well, some fans like having more meaningful games. Plus the format was weak with 1 wild card team (unbalanced schedules were too big of a factor) and with 2 wild card teams (single game elimination was just anticlimactic). I wouldn’t mind if MLB just abandoned divisions and just sent the top teams. Once they made the divisions and guaranteed a winner got to the postseason, they took chances away from better teams. We’ve seen teams win 99 games or more and not go, and that’s ridiculous. Especially since it meant they had to play an unbalanced schedule against even an even better team. Plus - more baseball. And I like that…

Then look at next winter and find one on a bad team. He will be available via trade. Kyle Finnegan is an example. But I think odds are pretty good Hendriks has the role in April, assuming he’s healthy…

The chances of Crawford being in the bulllen next year are certainly greater than the chances I am. But not by enough to consider it a realistic option…

So you’d prefer more teams just get eliminated and play out the string of meaningless games?

Up until 1969, it was two teams. Was that really better? One thing that ruins any sport is when the playoff invites are decided by one team playing an opponent that is clearly tanking or just playing out the string. Does MLB really have a higher crapshoot factor than the NFL and their single game elimination format? Fans do love postseasons. And large ones are more popular. You needn’t look beyond college basketball to see that. Was that tournament as exciting when only 16 teams went? Arguably the crapshoot factor adds interest. Look at the NBA, which allows 50% of the league into the postseason, drags the playoffs out for 3 months, and then gets to a series fielding two teams seated two or higher in each conference. So unnecessary. But also very popular, despite the predetermined outcome. My only issue with MLB increasing the postseason is the games already go into November, and not every city will have playable weather beyond that point…

Why? In 2006, the Cardinals won a very weak NL Central with a record of 83-78 and went on to win the World Series while 5 teams with better records (including Boston) missed the postseason altogether. This exposed a major weakness in have divisional play and the accompanying playoff format. And yet no uproar…

It keeps more teams (and therefore more fans) interested. How is that bad? Do you prefer the old system where teams that fell lout of it called up 8-15 minor leaguers and had them starting and playing in games that decided the postseason for other teams?

He has only one year left plus an option. If they’re going to move him, time is not on their side, shine or not…

Not rooting. Just observing the trend…

Kimbrel had a great career but he’s 36 years old. Father Time never loses. Except Selma Hayek. Father Time is clearly not winning that one…

Well, they still have Luis Robert. I know the issues with taking low level players, but it’s what they were doing at the trade deadline..

They might get better offers with more or higher ranked prospects. But most of the talent they acquired at the deadline they was in A ball or below. I don’t think level matters to them right now…

And he’d probably get all depressed about it. “Woo is me”, he’d say. Over and over and over and over. Until someone stuffed a baseball into his mouth…

True. It’s not like Rendon does much for the Angels on the days he does play…

The Angels couldn’t even get him to agree to move to a corner OF slot to not only help him stay on the field but also accommodate Brandon Marsh. Maybe now that he’s missed a lot of time, he’d agree to LF/RF. But DH seems like a stretch…