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How much of that can the Sox control?

And let’s add some context. If the Sox get the third wild card and lose in their first series - acceptable or not?

If you’re judging ownership commitment, that’s one thing. But judging their record relative to other teams is unfair. And statements like how they should never lose out to Kansas City or Minnesota are just ignorant…

Nothing screams “entitled fan” like calling a three year post-season drought “unacceptable”…

Henry Ford once said “if you need a machine but don’t buy it, you will ultimately find you paid for it but don’t have it.” Apply that to pitching…

A-something. Not so sure it’s I…

That sounds like you’re confessing to writing that clickbait headline…

It’s also SI. Sure they’re not as reputable as they once were, but they’re not Barstool Sports either. i could see the Sox shopping Mayer, especially if they like what Kristian Campbell is doing at SS in Worcester…

I wouldn’t say great pitching “always” wins out . I remember Detroit once started Scherzer, Verlander and Price in a postseason series against Baltimore and lost all 3 games…

If so, the inclusion of the word “shockingly” does surprise. i mean, that would mean the headline writer fabricated Mayer being on the block, and was then shocked by it.

Mayer is reportedly on the trading block this off-season. https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-shockingly-place-top-prospect-on-trading-block-in-proposed-winter-move-colin3

They were two separate transactions but they were clearly linked. If Boston didn’t move Sale, they also were very unlikely to sign Giolito…

Did you propose on your prom as well? That offer wreaks of overpayment, desperation and loneliness. Yes that offer will absolutely get Skubal. And possibly the Detroit CBO will throw in his wife, kids and lake house…

BTV lists Mayer (65.4) and Kutter Crawford (31.1) as being an equal trade for two seasons of Tarik Skubal (97.4). Not so sure Detroit agrees, however…

I didn’t mind “only Giolito” because I had more faith in Houck/Bello/Crawford than most, and my faith in Sale dwindled to absolute zero. Giolito is unexciting, but he fit what I saw as their biggest need - an innings eater to take some heat off the bullpen, which could get taxed with 3 starting pitchers who each have low IP for their career high. It was obvious August would take its toll. So Giolito was fine. Not replacing Giolito felt like a white flag, especially since there were still plenty of options available. You have repeatedly said this trade was about “saving $10mill” but I don’t see that. Sale was due a salary of $27mill, and Boston paid $17mill of that. But they also paid Giolito $18mill. So this set of moves cost them. Also reportedly the Sox paid more money to acquire Vaughn Grissom. Reportedly the talks started with Atlanta just taking the whole salary and sending back minor league dreck, similar to an offer made previously to Bloom (not sure if it was Atlanta, but probably). If the Sox simply wanted to save cash, they could have dealt Sale for nothing. And not replaced like they didn’t in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 when he wasn’t pitching for them…

Guaranteed multi year contracts only. Giolito was one year with an option. Eovaldi signed 3 months before Sale did back in March, 2019…

So he’s doing the “sustained roster from within” thing. The Sox haven’t signed a starting pitcher to a multi year deal since who? Chris Sale?

Not sure what your source is, but I don’t think Henry is ever going to “heavily invest “ again….

Ohtani, Betts and Freeman went back to back to back in the first inning off Merrill Kelly. Corbin Carroll lead off the bottom of the first with an inside-the-park home run. crazy start…

TBD

No one is arguing this trade was a win for Boston at this point. And probably hasn’t since maybe mid-April. I get why Breslow made the deal. I get why Atlanta did as well. I understood all that in December. I no longer think this is a slam dunk good deal for Boston like I did then, although I have more faith in Grissom than many others and think the Sox can recoup something.

Per BTV, Garret Crochet to Boston for Kristian Campbell and Wilyer Abreu is a fair trade. Crochet has two years left, but is upfront about wanting an extension. Granted, at this point in time BTV severely undervalues Campbell, giving him a surplus value of $17.1 mill. This makes him far less valuable than even Abreu ($28.6mill). Disregarding this little flaw - fair trade? Would you do it? Would Chicago, in your opinion?

So the negativity is more of a prediction than what you think they should do? I mean, at one point someone agreed that waiting until 2026 was a good idea or the right plan.

I’ve said it a million times about Sale and a few other. - Sale’s problem is not talent. What were your thoughts on Sale from 2020 through 2022? I was one of the few optimistic ones about him, and was repeatedly told “you can’t count on Sale.” Were you optimistic about Sale in that timeframe? Or among those who thought they couldn’t count on him?

Jon Lester?