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I don’t think they traded Lopez silent because that had Bautista. More likely they traded Lopez because the closer role was going to make him more expensive in arbitration than they thought he was worth. Having Bautista ready to step in just made the decision easier…

And sometimes it’s even also why a veteran pitcher gets a longer leash on the roster. Even with the younger starters, I think the Sox potentially showed us the good ones this year in Bello (especially Bello), Crawford and Winckowski. But fans soured on both Crawford and Winckowski already, seemingly because they failed to maintain perfection. But both are also approaching their career highs in IP, and doing so against MLB hitters. It could be their simply worn out…

I’m not even sure it’s about better scouting. Lopez was probably scouted every year by every team, if only by the advanced guys. If anyone saw a breakout coming, they likely try to buy low on the guy. But the reality is some (re: lots of) young pitchers are like hurricanes - very unpredictable. Someone like Darwinzon Hernandez, written off by many already (including yours truly), could have some epiphany that allows him to harness his 102mph velocity and become a useful, and possibly even dominant, MLB pitcher. And while half the board reading this is saying “No f***ing way.,” you’re probably right on my specific example, but this kind of thing does happen every year, be it from Jorge Lopez or Tony Gonsolin. Only 390 pitching spots are available in all of MLB. The level of talent any pitcher has to possess to even be considered for one of these roles is infathomable to most of us. And yet somehow even when it comes to narrowing down thousands of pitchers into the best 390, and hundreds more into the best 13, we as fans demand perfection and anything else is intolerable…

Isn’t is $32mill/3 for his AAV if they pick up the option? So he counts as $10.67mill towards the tax calculation?

Like Cordero, he’s arb-eligible. He’ll still be cheap, but not a minimum wage player. Still his glove does keep him in the picture…

Disagree. Cordero has shown he can’t play 1b. But as a hitter, he’s still only had 395 PA across two seasons in Boston. Some people might not think that’s enough to decide either way. If you’ve given up on the season, there’s no harm in seeing if Cordero can take the next step or two and become a reasonable hitter worthy of a bench role. Or if he can turn himself into a decent trade chip…

Sportrac had no incentives on Sawamura’s 2022 contract and $400k on his 2021 deal. He did have a team option for 2023 for $3mill with a $600k buyout. By DFAing and presumably releasing Sawamura, the Sox still have to pay his buyout. In short, they save no money unless someone picks him up, and even then it’s just a pro-rated portion of the league minimum. They released both because both have been awful. Now if another team claims Sawamura, the new team assumes all his money…

The closest in Portland might be Cedanne Rafaela with his .851 OPS at age 21. Or, at age 26 if you go by MADSTORK evaluations…

Absolutely. Even if Paxton did pitch this year, he would have had a very limited pitch count for each start…

I can see either or both getting hurt

Players I’d like to see play themselves on to or off of the 40 man 1. Cordero 2. Dalbec 3. Downs 4. Kelly 5. German 6. Familia 7. Bazardo 8. Norwood

Why would they DFA D. Hernandez? You can always find a taker for a 102 mph fastball…

We don’t know about Bloom yet as the spending has never been fully Carte Blanche. But it is certainly in the toolbox of Friedman, whose been making a habit of collecting utility infielders from other teams and watching them turn into All Stars (Turner, Muncy, Taylor, for example). Ironically you don’t see the Rays do this nearly as much, even when they had Friedman and Bloom…

I don’t think Bloom is blame-free, but I also acknowledge that he had limitations. Even the Bradley trade -which I liked - wasn’t as expensive as you think since the other option (keeping Renfroe) still required him to get paid. Renfroe made $7.6mill this year. Bradley made $9.5mill. Having that extra $1.9mill to grab another RP just means you get another Diekman …

If the Sox get 100 IP from Paxton, it has to be considered a small victory. It certainly makes his deal more productive than Sale’s…

The fact that the Sox have a pitcher selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft shows how deep they’ve been digging. Those guys almost never see MLB…

Fourth OF at best. As a second year arbitration player, he may get non-tendered alongside Brasier…

I’m 110% certain the contract was a factor. If Brasier survives the season, I don’t think anyone would disagree he is a non-tender candidate…

So you don’t thing the Bargain Bin shopping was related to having less to spend?

Barring the very legitimate concern over health issues, it’s more likely Barnes and Taylor are both back. The only way this doesn’t happen is of the Sox can move Barnes in a contract swap or simply DFA him. But even if Barnes gets DFAd, it won’t be because Taylor was healthy…

Franchy is trying to make himself interesting. In his past 38 PA, his OPS is a ridiculous 1.145. Just keep him in the OF. He’s had his shot at 1b. Let someone else try…

Sure. See if any of them have potential I’m hoping they add German to the 40 man. As for Ort, this might be his last chance. Why not give him one more shot if the season is lost anyway?

The important thing is, Sawamura and Davis are gone. The next step is to stop pretending Kelly and Ort are permanent additions. One or both could be demoted next week. And then back in two weeks. And the Sox still have one open 40 man roster spot if they want to add another reliever…

Barnes will also very likely be back. I think just add two from Michael Fulmer, Rafael Montero, and Blake Treinen. I am assuming Taylor comes back. And that there will be at least one rookie (Kelly? German?) in the bullpen..,

You do realize the Sox best reliever this year has been a 28yo retread who couldn’t make it in the Tigers’ bullpen and was released after all of 28 career IP? Not to mention Kelly isn’t some 9 year minor league veteran. He played college ball, then spent one season on the A’s system and 2 seasons (in which he played at 4 total levels) in the Angels system…