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Is that your impression of me with limited alternatives? Ok, it tracks…

FIP suggests he’s pitching basically the same as he did in Boston (2.49 vs 2.47). But I am comparing samples of 9 innings and 45 innings here…

Why would anyone openly campaign for Sean Manaea? He’s the pitching personification of “meh”. If I have ever mentioned him in the past, it was solely due to either limited alternatives or illegal narcotics…

That’s different. Your pot is metric…

Ray has very good “ when healthy”. But really, “when healthy” is going to be an important factor when signing 30+ year old pitchers to deals 5 years or longer. Bassitt was Giolito on a longer deal. Two good seasons for Toronto on a 3 year deal. 4.8 bWAR total vs Giolito and his 2.1 bWAR for his one year he pitched. But even if you like the occasional name on that list, the takeaway is the $20mill AAV 3-5 year contracts for pitchers are a complete crapshoot, too. But when they go bad, they take longer to go away. Think the Mets are happy with Manaea right now? Folks saying Bello’s contract makes him untradable might not realize that for his price, he’s actually not a bad deal…

CeCe Peniston. Successfully repressed until now…

And in theory the pitchers in that $20mill AAV range on mid/short term deals over the past few seasons include Sean Manaea, Yusei Kikuchi, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Bassitt, Martín Pérez, Nathan Eovaldi, and Taijuan Walker. Not since 2022 (Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman) has there been a really good pitcher in the $20mill AAV range on a mid/short deal that we have missed out on. $20 mill just doesn’t buy what it used to. Unless you want to count Sonny Gray, which I didn’t for an obvious reason. Im ok with gambling, especially if you include the success stories (Wacha, for example. Also Giolito was not a total flop.)

Especially if some of the underperforming bats they do have can get going and maintain.

This team never has the luck for Zack Kelly injury…

I think Bello could be a terrific RP…

And most of those prized prospects in 2018 weren’t rookies with 150-200 career plate appearances. Even Devers entered the year with 240 PA. Bradley took quite a while to become a well-rounded player. But Benintendi came on strong as a rookie and was great in 2018, but really hasn’t been the same player since…

Thats the thing. Fans often have the “we need it NOW” attitude, like Veruca Salt. Breslow has to consider the impact on 2027, 2028, etc. That was one rumor on the Sox tepid interest in Alonso - no faith in his play as he ages…

Tommy Pham, Luis Urias, ERIC HOSMER. While bats do get moved at the deadline, pitching is always the bulk of the trades around the league…

I don’t think this offense’s biggest weakness is weak side platoon utility infielders…

Why not a pitcher that gave a better start than Bello? Someone like Suarez…

Far too many times, Ive described free agency as “paying players in their 30s for what they did in their 20s for some other team.” I stand by that, and I think its primary purpose is PR. It sends a message to fans that money will not be a factor. The reality too often is ironic, in that it makes money a factor negatively. There are very few sure things in free agency, and even they often want contracts long enough to surpass the player’s own usefulness. Does anyone think Juan Soto is going to be useful in 2040? I think that’s why many teams like to backload these deals. Less money upfront gives them the ability to surround the superstar talent with better players while he is still at the top of his game. The later expensive years when said star is much less, might as well pay HIM more because the team is less likely to go anywhere anyway. And if you get a title or two early on, it was worth it. But if not, you have probably wasted 10-15 seasons. (A bit harsh, since I’m only considering a title as a successful season.). That’s why I prefer the extensions to younger players - far less crippling. Campbell’s AAV is utility infielder money. And while he might have a few years of high-paid minor league activity (in theory), he’s probably only a financial problem for 2-3 years max, and not even a steep one. By the time he starts making $10-12 mill or more, that could easily be setup reliever money. The same cannot be said about Soto, or even Bregman or Alonso and their much shorter deals…

I think Kurtz is less willing to sign since it most definitely will cost him more money. Or possible they break the bank on him upon moving to Vegas, and he becomes a marketable franchise player in a legitimate market…

Ok I’m confused. (A fancier way of saying “Huh?”) I assumed Butler was part of the A’s young extended core and Kurtz wasn’t because Butler has actually been extended and Kurtz has not (although Kurtz is definitely a corr player, if not a franchise player). Butler, Soderstrom and Wilson have combined this year for 0.0 bWAR. Anthony, Mayer and Rafaela have combined for 3.1 bWAR. Why is the Athletics model preferable? Is this more Hamilton Factor - that the same (or worse) is acceptable as long as it’s someplace else? And yes, I am officially calling it the Hamilton Factor. Although “the monster is always greener” is also acceptable (actually preferable)…

He said A’s, not Braves…

Lawrence Butler signed a 7 year extension and has a .538 OPS, over .100 points lower than Anthony. And Butler’s career OPS+ is only slightly better than Kristian Campbell’s. If Butler was in Boston, he’d be another “extended him too early” candidate…

It’s a deal that looks bad early, but since both players have plenty of control, it’s far from judgment day. As someone who gave up on Durbin 3 weeks ago, but is back on giving him another chance (which apparently makes me more wishy-washy than open-minded), I do think its odd that many have given up on Durbin for a bad two month stretch, but keep insisting Alonso/Bregman types are going to come around obviously. It’s early for all of them. Hamilton vs Monasterio is a battle over which utility infielder you like better. I think Hamilton is better overall, but Monasterio does do some things - notably hit - better than Hamilton. But if the complaint anout this trade is that the Sox got jobbed in the utility infielder department, chalk that up as a fair trade…

Obviously a great year for Xander, but that’s still a really impressive year for Story, too…

Don’t forget about production from the veterans. Duran did homer last night but his overall season has been atrocious. Story played injured and was even worse. Even Abreu lately has lost his thump, with a .716 OPS (and only 3 XBH) since April 24. With the prospects, sometimes it just takes time. Jordan Walker has taken a few seasons, but is off to a great start this season. I think in time, Anthony, Mayer and even Campbell will find their ways. Especially Anthony…

The infield grass is always greener, I guess. Hamilton puts up an OPS+ of 80 in Boston and gets vilified for it. He goes to Milwaukee, puts up an OPS+ of 80, and now he’s having a great year and we can never trade with Milwaukee again. Hes literally doing the exact same thing. But he’s being appreciated more for doing it someplace else…

It wasn’t a home run.