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Obviously there is a limit, but if you think this guy can stay close to healthy, extend him before he prices himself out of Henry's comfort zone. I'm thinking 3 year $48mill as a starting point. He's making about $5.75mill now, but has only put up 7.5 bWAR over the past 3 seasons, largely carried by his 6.1 bWAR in 2021. Teoscar Hernandez is a good comp with 8 bWAR in the past 3 seasons, and he got $23.5mill for one year. O'Neill's injury history should affect his AAV, but Hernandez is definitely be his ceiling. If O'Neill prefers years over money, he might go for a multiyear deal now rather than risk being derailed again and taking less than the much more durable Hernandez. But maybe I am not being realistic. mvp comes up with some extension ideas that are probably more realistic, leaving the debate on them only on the minutiae of the offers.

It's still a stupid idea for LA, who has other options but for some reason likes Teoscar Hernandez in RF and former SS Chris Taylor in LF. Of course, for their best defense, they could simply plug Miguel Rojas back in at SS, put Betts back in RF, and move Teoscar to the other corner. But apparently they like exposing Betts' knees oncoming runners. And you gotta get Chris Taylor's .184 OPS in that lineup.

And back on that list is Matt Chapman. He's off to an awful start with the bat, but already has 4 DRS (tied for 4th in MLB). But unlike every name on that list except Bellinger and Snell, Chapman is ineligible for a Qualifying Offer. He would create a logjam at 1B/DH with Casas, Devers and Yoshida. But that can be worked out in a couple different ways...

I'm willing to bet a full season of Hamilton won't get you anywhere near -16 DRS...

Do minor league infields get the same level of care and maintenance as MLB infields? That can make a big difference. I don't know if it is done anymore, but MLB grounds crews used to tailor their infields to meet the capabilities of the infielders. I remember when Detroit had Whitaker and Trammell up the middle, and neither was a bastion of solid range, so there were numerous stories about how the grass on the infield was grown more densely and thickly so as to slow down ground balls. And the infield dirt was not as packed down. I have no idea if any team bothers to pay this level of attention any more. Or if this was all just some legend spread around the league...

Story may not be a prototypical number 3 hitter even with the new philosophy on batting order, but "that's how it's always been done" is almost always a poor counterargument. The argument for a hitter like him in the spot is he does represent RHH power, and the #3 hitter is the hitter who comes up the most often with no one on base and two outs. The argument against is, that hitter will be third on the team in plate appearances. Story has not done much since coming to Boston, mostly due to being severely limited with playing time, but he was a career .272 hitter with Colorado. For this Sox team, I'm not sure who is a better option, especially after LHH Devers. Yoshida is one guy who might be able to take that role despite hitting left-handed, but he would have to return to being the hitter he was last year between April 23 and July 25 when his OPS was around .940. That's a good prolonged stretch of offensive success. Of course can he do it again and for longer? TBD. He's not off to a great start. Of course, on last April 18, his OPS cratered to .560. So hopefully he is due for another good stretch. Beyond him, not sure who else...

I think their best lineup and defensive arrangement is probably Rafaela at SS and O’Neill-Duran-Abreu in the outfield. They probably need Refsnyder back so they have a 4th outfielder…

I think it’s a Cora thing. I think he values offense more than defense…

How about … Pelvis Mandrus? I don’t want to have to keep saying his name…

I said that yesterday and was told I don’t believe in practice…

They should could that. But will they? I have several doubts…

Ok. Certainly possible

Reportedly they were trying to unload Story, so I don't think that was any part of the plan...

When Grissom arrives, it would not surprise me if he played SS. But the that means more of Enmanuel Valdez, who is to defense what ptomaine is to dinner time...

Did McDonough really say Henry won't let him do anything?

Adrian Beltre sees your knocking out of Ellsbury, and raises you one knockout of Jeremy Hermida…

I have my doubts there. But certainly Hamilton isn’t an improvement…

What’s Duran supposed to do? His only job there is if the ball gets dropped, pick it up and throw it in. He’s an outfielder, not a medic…

Ok to question. Why not are Reyes?

There is a decent chance we see whether or not Grissom can be a stopgap shortstop...

Last year it took them longer to move Kike off shortstop. They put him in CF, and let him play there for a week and he played very well.. But then Chang got hurt and Kike went right back to SS, continued to botch plays and was just left there with no end in sight. And he stayed there until Chang came back and then finally got traded...

So the Sox would have been correct in making that move. Yet you lump it in with the failed Bradley trade. Interesting...

I am not opposed to Rafaela at SS. The Sox have an in-house replacement in Abreu (and some re-arrangement in the OF). But until Breslow and/or Cora agree he s should play there, other options should probably be pursued. Particularly ones that can easily be undone,like starting Andrus at SS. If he flops, DFA him and cut bait and Rafaela will still be there…

I’ll say it again - Elvis Andrus is still available. Not sure why Breslow is so hellbent on repeating the biggest mistake Bloom made last off-season…

You’re still missing the point. How do you know how much they practice anything? What are you basing this complaint on?