harmony

What was the bench coach's role (if any) in all of this?

Likely depends on the bench coach's involvement in illegal activity, if any.

In the criminal justice system, a person is often placed on probation for a crime, for example, that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. If the person commits a new crime, that's a probation violation that authorizes a judge to impose a jail sentence of up to one year for the first crime in addition to the punishment for the second crime. If the second crime occurred after the first crime, but before the person was formally placed on probation for the first crime, that's not a probation violation (nevertheless it's part of the person's criminal history that may enhance the punishment for the second crime). MLB may have a parallel system ... or not.

Not a good month for Puerto Rico.

The MLB investigation continues, according to the baseball commissioner, who wrote: "I will withhold determining the appropriate level of discipline for Cora until after the DOI completes its investigation of the allegations that the Red Sox engaged in impermissible electronic sign stealing in 2018 while Cora was the manager." https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/cglrhmlrwwbkacty27l7.pdf

We await the MLB report on the Red Sox.

Sam Travis reportedly accepts assignment to minors after clearing waivers:

She's Dr. Harmony (and does not share my last name).

I sometimes worried that my daughters might not handle conflict and yelling well in the outside world because they were not exposed to conflict and yelling at home ... but they seem to be doing well in their 20s (even with the screaming by my younger daughter's college coach).

My wife and I have never raised our voices toward each other in 26 years together ... which may or may not be a good thing.

Likely yes. Friendly advice: calm down.

Agree. 100 percent.

Without evidence to support it, that's a pathetic response. With evidence, it's OK. IMHO

Steve Cishek reportedly signs with the White Sox for a $6.75 million guarantee: ... although Cishek reportedly wanted to sign with the Red Sox:

The luxury-tax watch will not be "fun," according to the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/01/06/for-red-sox-fans-luxury-tax-watch-will-not-fun/wrvUSc2ceZsQMK2KJ3TrVO/story.html?et_rid=1739401789&s_campaign=108stitches:newsletter

But a task that can still be accomplished ... to a degree. The Red Sox are probably waiting for the best offer ... as are the potential trade partners. It's a likely standoff on January 7.

Unless Jose Peraza and Martin Perez were high priorities (and if the pair came in below anticipated cost). Did the Red Sox enter the 2017-18 offseason with a plan to wait to February 26 to sign J.D. Martinez?

Yet.

"Desperate" may be the most overused term of the offseason. But if the term must be used, the Red Sox may be most fitting because the Sox face the most intense luxury tax pressures while trying to improve on an 84-win team that finished 12 games back of the second Wild Card slot.

Steamer optimistically projects Chris Sale, David Price and Nathan Eovaldi to combine for 489 innings in 2020 with a combined 4.0 WAR higher than the trio posted last season. https://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&type=steamer&team=3&lg=all&players=0 ... which is good news for a club trying to improve on an 84-win season that left the Sox 12 games behind the second Wild Card slot. However, regression works in both directions as evidenced by these 2019 WAR totals and Steamer 2020 WAR projections: C Christian Vazquez (3.5, 2.8) 1B Michael Chavez (0.7, 0.9)* 2B Jose Peraza (-0.6, 0.6)* SS Xander Bogaerts (6.8, 4.8) 3B Rafael Devers (5.9, 4.7) RF Mookie Betts (6.6, 6.6) CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (1.4, 2.0) LF Andrew Benintendi (2.0, 2.6) DH J.D. Martinez (3.2, 3.6) SP Chris Sale (3.6, 4.9) SP David Price (2.3, 2.6) SP Eduardo Rodriguez (3.7, 2.8) SP Nathan Eovaldi (1.9, 1.6) SP Martin Perez (1.9, 1.6)** RP Brandon Workman (2.1, 0.5) RP Matt Barnes (1.3, 1.0) * last season the Red Sox got a negative 0.4 fWAR from first base and 0.0 fWAR from second base ** last season Rick Porcello posted 1.8 fWAR for the Red Sox

Pure speculation, but consider this hypothetical: 1. Red Sox ownership interviewed three candidates to head up baseball operations 2. Two candidates said they were convinced the Red Sox could be contenders in 2020 while getting under the luxury tax threshold 3. The third candidate maintained the Red Sox could not be contenders in 2020 while getting under the luxury tax threshold 4. Red Sox ownership appreciated the candor of the third candidate, whom ownership then hired Or not.

That trade gives the Red Sox $32.6 million in surplus value and the Dodgers $5.3 million in negative value, according to Baseball Trade Values: https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/

To be realistic, many American League teams have improved so far this offseason. Within reported payroll constraints, the Red Sox hope to improve on an 84-win club that finished 12 games back of the second Wild Card slot. With the league's seventh-best record, the Sox were followed in order by the Rangers, White Sox and Angels, who have all made upgrades. In climbing to the top of the hill in 2018, the Red Sox have dug themselves into a hole for 2020 and perhaps beyond. Trying to contend in 2020 may only dig a deeper hole. Or not.

How did a thread with such an unappealing title draw responses totaling 63 pages ... and counting?

Because of fewer months of team control, Mookie Betts' trade value may go down as the Red Sox approach midseason. On a more positive note, the underwater contracts of David Price and Nathan Eovaldi should become more valuable because the trading partner would assume less of each player's negative value. Of course health and 2020 performance may have a greater impact on trade value.