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Orioles signed Kyle Gibson. One year deal…

The maximum value of that package - if you use Mayer, Romero and Lugo - gets you Framber Valdez on BTV. Of course why any team - let alone one with the reigning ROY, ALCS MVP and WS MVP at the same position. - would want three shortstops does make me think this deal is unlikely…

Seems to me if the Sox want to play the market - and I have no idea if they do - then they should stock up on the high-priced bullpen arms, because even at their inflated rates, they never seem to require more than 2-3 years. Sign Jansen and two from Fulmer, Estevez and Rogers. And then deal Houck and Schreiber while both still make roughly league minimum. BTV accepts Houck plus Schreiber for Pablo Lopez. That leaves the Sox with Sale, Paxton, Lopez, Whitlock, Pivetta and Bello for the rotation and Jansen, Martin, Rodriguez, Barnes, Taylor, Kelly, and two from Fulmer/Rogers/Estevez in the bullpen. If budget becomes an issue, Andrus for SS and Gallo for RF make sense given the market buzz (or lack thereof) and that both, while inconsistent offensively, are at least both elite defensive players. (BTV also accepts trading Barnes to St. Louis for Paul DeJong, but I’m hesitant.) Still need a catcher. And, frankly, an upgrade at DH over Hosmer/Dalbec. I also suspect Verdugo is on the market for obvious reasons…

Zack Kelly. Zach Taylor is a former US President who reportedly died of mysterious causes and was not known for having any sort of out pitch. Kelly, with no political ambitions, looked good but the sample size is very limited.

No team - not even Oakland and or Pittsburgh - is trading an ace caliber pitcher with 4 years of control left for Marcelo Mayer plus. I just don’t see that happening, especially with free agent costs going as high as they are…

I doubt the Sox get any pitcher we might consider an ace. I think if that role needs to be filled, the $145million man with low mileage on his arm these past 3 years is going to have to step up without stubbing his toes…

I love the Kluber/Senga tandem being thrown around out here. I really wouldn’t know what to expect from Senga, but Kluber is still pretty good. I don’t see the Sox getting involved with Verlander or Rodon. Who was the last free agent ace-type the Sox signed who wasn’t a complete disaster of a contract?

And $37mill AAV for FIVE YEARS seems like a lot of money for a guy whose pitched 156 IP total in the past two seasons. But here we are…

Elvis Andrus is coming off a season in which he recorded 8 OAA defensively (second in MLB behind Swanson) and also had a 103 OPS+ and hit 17 HRs. And is getting 0 buzz. If the Sox want to spend on Senga, Nimmo, Conforto, Contreras, Narvaez, Jansen, whoever, Andrus is the cheap way to fill a hole effectively…

I do doubt they’re done with the bullpen. Right now, that bullpen would have Winckowski and Crawford in it. Either or both could wind up as starter depth in Worcester. Plus they might be forced to deal from that bullpen for other upgrades. I’d hope to see more relievers. Jansen, Fulmer and Estevez are all available…

You do need 10 starters to start the year. Not all on the 40 man roster. But 10. That’s counting MiLB depth, emergency, etc. Teams will use more. But they need to know their first 10. So if Sale, Paxton, Whitlock, Bello, Pivetta are the top 5 (for now) and Winckowski and Crawford are still around, that leaves 3 spots left. Mata, already on the 40, likely has one. Two openings. If everyone is healthy (not likely), only one would be on the 40 man roster…

Arizona is loaded with outfielders. The problem is - what do we have that they want?

I do wonder how much SP they sign. With Paxton, Sale, Pivetta, Whitlock, and Bello, I certainly see the need to add more starters in case someone gets hurt, but then what happens if everyone is healthy?

If he isn’t going to go big with any players in this draft - and that might not be an good idea - maybe he can sign a slew of relievers and deal Houck and Schreiber for SP or OF or C or whatever…

Best available RPs. It was not a long list…

deGrom to Texas 5 years $185mill

Martin was on my list at one point, but probably the bottom of the list…

Not Rafael Montero…

It might not be a bad idea for the Sox, but it will absolutely be annoying to the fans…

Why would Duran behind any of them? Kelenic is the young guy with potential, but it hasn’t translated to anything on the field yet. He hit worse across the board in 2022 from 2021. Trammell is a league average hitter (finally) whose played for far too many organizations for a 25yo. Marlowe has done pretty much nothing above AA and will be playing his age 26 season next year. Duran is the oldest of the bunch, but also improved in every offensive category from 2021 to 2022. He might be the front runner in this field. It’s not exactly Judge, Soto and Harper out there…

Most likely Rule 5. A DFA to accommodate a Rule 5 player needs to be done prior to the draft. A DFA to accommodate a free agent or trade acquisition can be done afterwards…

Or a World Series appearance

If so, his mind was made up already…

I just remember before WAR became the star du jour, we used WARP and VORP. And at one point, very briefly, Win Shares…

Not to mention fWAR is based on FIP, which is based on K, BB and HRs - aka the three outcomes a pitcher can control. Really they’re the 3 a defense can’t stop. Of course if you play at Fenway, a double that hits the Monster 35 feet up gets ignored by FIP despite the defense really having no possible chance…