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So you just argued that they could have gotten better by slashing even more payroll…

Over the 0 IP they got from Giolito? Probably…

But they could have spent less than $18mill to do so. There were other options…

So doesn’t that logic make this trade more about winning than just slashing payroll?

Probably true. Mainly because Sale was expensive and rarely pitched…

That explanation makes it not “all about the budget.” When I think of a trade as being driven solely by the budget, the goal is to dump as much money as possible. This series of events actually looked like a legitimate attempt to make the team better. They acquired a pitcher who actually takes the mound every 5 days. They acquired an actual potential solution at 2b, something lacking since what? Brock Holt in 2019. Are these or are these not good things? Are these moves made with the goal of winning or saving money? And all of this at a cost of a pitcher who had not pitched in 4 years, and a pitcher who had his worst full season in his last full season 5 years ago. And, at age 35, was not a likely rebound candidate. Who was the 2023 team was a better candidate to move to upgrade 2b? Even Yoshida actually played. They moved a guy who has been contractual deadweight for FOUR YEARS. If they suspected he’d rebound, he’d still be here. And again, not much money was saved. In fact they spent much more on the follow-up. This deal looked to be about actually upgrading the team. They had no reason to expect Sale to play again at all, let alone at this level. They found a buyer, and got a player they liked. The premise that Atlanta clearly saw this comeback borders somewhere between pessimism and ridiculousness; even the Braves clearly hedged their bets here. The biggest issue has been in hindsight, absolutely no part of this deal worked out for Boston. And that they refused to try to address that situation despite ample opportunities, many of which did not have to cost much at all…

Then why not take less back and save more money? I’m asking legitimate questions that you’re not answering, and instead trying to use your theory to support itself. Heck if this trade was “all about budget”, why sign Giolito at all?

With the exception of 2016-2019, hasn’t that always been the case? This is a team that once had to move Marco Scutaro just so they could afford Cody Ross. If Sale had gone more than 150 IP in the previous 4 years or had any reasonably healthy seasons in that stretch, think they still make this trade? Reportedly the Sox had an offer in 2022 to take Sale and the entire contract in return for Diddly Squat. If this was all about the budget, why not take that? Heck if this was all about budget, why not take less than Vaughn Grissom so they pay less than $17mill? The savings here is $10mill for one year. That’s not much of a salary dump. And they spent more than that almost immediately after this trade to replace Sale. If this deal was all about budget, it was executed poorly from Day One…

I’m not sold on that. A $27 mill pitcher constantly on the Injured List is not an asset any team wants. If Texas could move deGrom, don’t you think they would? If the Yankees had the chance, don’t you think they’d move Stanton?

You said that about Duran last year, and now he’s a potential MVP candidate…

Sign: Tanner Scott, AJ Minter, Paul DeJong, Austin Slater, Tomas Nido (or equivalent). Scott will be expensive. The rest, probably not. Trade: Marcelo Mayer (65.4), Wilyer Abreu (29.7) and Richard Fitts (4.3) for Tarik Skubal (95.1) Trade: Wikelman Gonzalez (2.7) and Chase Meidroth (2.5) for Kyle Finnegan (4.5) C: Wong (until Teel gets the call) 1b: Casas 2b: Story 3b: Devers SS: DeJong LF: Duran CF: Rafaela RF: Anthony. Extend him for similar to the Chourio deal DH: Yoshida BN: Nido (or equivalent), Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez, Slater SP: Skubal, Houck, Giolito, Bello, Crawford (Criswell?) BP: Finnegan (CL), Scott, Hendriks, Fulmer, Winckowski, Slaten, Minter, Kelly Biggest issue is - when does Giolito return? It’s probably unrealistic to expect him ready by opening day…

… and take a massive hit in their rotation. For an expensive bat with no power and no position, a middle reliever and a utility infielder…

Why would Seattle make that trade? If they’re even thinking about trading Castillo, that’s an extremely beatable offer…

That’s one way to delete a post…

But even if that’s the case, at least they got the guy they wanted. It was a situation that was handled badly but still worked out somehow. Call it a lucky escape…

The results have been weak, but I am at least satisfied Breslow made deadline trades. At some point, however, Priester probably needs to get the call simply because this team needs arms that are not worn out…

What about fans who don’t spend? I’m in Chicago; I don’t go to games for obvious reasons. I never purchase merch, although my family has found it’s the easy way to get me gifts. I can’t subscribe to NESN. My Sirius satellite is free. (I bought the lifetime subscription back in 2003 when that was a thing. Outside of my MLB.com subscription, I don’t spend on them. Maybe that’s why I complain less.

When they didn’t replace Giolito, that was when it became a problem. Especially since there are still plenty of options still available at that time…

Of course it was about the budget. Specifically the portion of the budget that was repeatedly NOT PLAYING. And had been a problem in this regard for 4 seasons. Reportedly they tried to move Story as well..,

And that will just f*** up his fantasy value..

Don’t know. Call him and ask…

He’ll probably be a very valuable fantasy asset someday. Especially if he never gets a set position and has multiple eligibilities

Agreed. You call Greenburg. I’ll call Breslow.

Crazy thought here - but a fantasy website like Rotoworld MIGHT NOT CARE about defense…

Makes it sort of unlikely Detroit wants him for their only pitching prospect that actually worked out… Maybe if you want Matt Manning or Casey Mize…