Eddy Ballgame

Okay, I can respect your opinion there. You'd start him if he hit .225 with no pop because he's an above average fielder. Personally, I wouldn't want him on my team as a "utility" player, because I don't think he has the right make-up to handle it.

Well, it certainly wasn't a manager giving his "starting" SS a vote of confidence. That's for sure.

Moon mentions that "Bogaerts took a step back this year, while Iglesias has hit .275 in Detroit." Wow. Iglesias hit 45 points lower this year (.255) than he did last year (.300), but that's not a "step back?!?!" Come on. At least argue apples to apples. Now we have S5 reaching new levels of man crush by calling Iglesias a "Mercedes." Wow. The guy hit .245 this year. I'm guessing S5 didn't read the article that I posted above where Ausmus makes it sound like he'd rather start Eric freaking Aybar over Iglesias when he returned from the DL. I love a good debate over a trade, but when you have a guy who is so blinded by one side of the argument, this is what happens. I don't know one single Sox fan personally who regrets that trade, or ever even mentions it, yet S5 makes it sound like it's Cater/Lyle or Bagwell/Anderson. Thanks for the memories, Iglesias, and thank you for that crucial error that was such an integral part of another Sox World Series Championship.

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/08/25/detroit-tigers-jose-iglesias/89340886/ - Now there's a manager who seems to have a lot of confidence in his starting SS returning from the DL! Lol...

"Assuming the move of Bogaerts to 3rd." Pretty big assumption considering the fact that Bogaerts said that he didn't want to play 3rd, but because you seem to base everything on "statistics" and completely ignore the human element of baseball, sticking Bogaerts at 3rd works in your world. The whole problem with your "stat based" argument for Iglesias is that it ignores several real factors as to why they traded him and didn't consider him to be a part of the future. His attitude, his medical reports, his focus (one scout wrote in a report that "Iglesias often loses concentration"...Google it), his power & they felt Bogaerts was a better option. These issues are very real and factors as to why they traded him. I wonder if the reason why he's such a terrible base stealer has to do with his issues with being able to focus? You can keep talking about his .275 batting average, although it was nowhere near that this year, but it has little to do with why he's not here. Again, it's so strange to be having this "argument." All over New England it's "Jose who?" yet S5 can't post something on here without bringing up his love for Iglesias. By the way, Iglesias had a pretty bad year this year. I would't be surprised at all if he's not the "starting SS for a pretty good team" next year.

I don't think you can say he "got worse" on defense, especially at his age. He may not have had as good a year defensively as '15, but then again, defensive metrics are pretty flawed, so who really knows. I know you're more into statistics, but there probably isn't a more "mental" sport than baseball, especially at that level. Yogi Berra was definitely onto something before he started butchering his percentages. Whether or not the move to a position he didn't like playing affected his offense is debatable, but I don't see how it couldn't, although I'm sure he would feel even more comfortable if he knew you were "fine with him at SS."

This doesn't take into account that the Sox very well may not have won the World Series in '13 without making that trade. Also, Bogaerts said that he wasn't comfortable at 3rd and didn't like playing the position. You could say that he would've became used to 3rd and they should've made him play there anyway. I'm just not sure that it's a good idea to take your "all-world" prospect and stick him somewhere he doesn't to be.

Trade proposals are fun to discuss, but as fans, we simply don't have nearly enough information to ever be able to say "I think we could've made this trade." For example, you mention that you think that the Sox could've obtained Matt Moore. The problem with that is that teams almost never make significant inter-division trades anymore and I can't see Tampa Bay having any interest at all in trading Matt Moore to the Sox or the Sox trading top prospects to Tampa. It's just not something that would happen.

I'm not sure what you think you're "right" about. I doubt you'd find anyone in the Red Sox organization who wouldn't make that trade again "Twice on Sunday." Jake Peavy stabilized the rotation when they desperately needed a starter, which would've been enough in itself to justify the trade, but the psychological boost a move like that gives a team is immeasurable. Throw in the fact that he was pretty much holding court in the dugout during games when he wasn't pitching, teaching other pitchers things that you can't put a value on, and it's easy to see why several players were quoted as saying that he was such an integral part of their WORLD SERIES VICTORY. Let's take a look at your obsession (Jose Iglesias). 1. There are articles that you can find that will show you that the Sox were very concerned about his medical reports. Obviously they were right. 2. There are articles that you can find that will show you that the Sox were concerned about his attitude all the way back to Pawtucket. Obviously they were right. 3. There are articles that you can find that will show you that the Sox were concerned about his "focus." Debatable unless you watch him every day. 4. There are articles that you can find that will show you that the Sox were concerned about his ability to hit, and hit with any kind of pop at all. 30 extra base hits in 514 plate appearances this year. Pretty brutal. 5. There are articles that you can find that will show you that the Sox saw Xander Bogaerts as the future at SS. There are probably 1000 MLB executives, and my guess is that not one of them would ever consider trading Bogaerts for Iglesias. There have been several trades in Red Sox history that haven't worked out, and they will continually be discussed forever. Trust me, this isn't one of them.

When you consider all factors, I wouldn't trade any "two" of those guys for Verlander/Iglesias, forget all 4 of them.

I hope he saves his money.

I doubt that even Boras could spin an injury prone, light-hitting SS with some attitude questions into any kind of significant contract.

The Dodgers have reduced payroll the last 2 years and Friedman has said they plan to try to continue that trend, but everything I've read makes it sound like they will at least try to retain him (4/60?). I can't see Boston going there for a reliever who will be 30 next year, especially with Kimbrel in the fold and the likelyhood that they'll have to go well past whatever value that they assign to him.

I agree...Price also has the make-up to be the staff leader, mentor young pitching, stay out of trouble, handle the Boston market, etc....Much more significant factors ever since the Gonzalez/Crawford contracts. Although none of this would've ever mattered if Larry Lucchino didn't completely butcher the Lester negotiations with an initial offer that was so out of touch with the market.

"Listening" is a figure of speech. In reality, Pedroia has significantly greater value to the Red Sox organization than any other. Ideally for both sides, he'll finish his career here and see his number retired.

Pedroia's value goes well beyond "statistical analysis." He's not going anywhere. Now I KNOW you're not from Boston.

Good points...I fully expect Koji to be back next year and I don't think it's a given that Tazawa will definitely be gone. The only guy they can't re-sign is Ziegler, who will go to a team that has ST in Arizona. As far as Janssen & Chapman go, why would two teams that are built to win now and for the foreseeable future, and have pretty much unlimited resources, let either of these guys walk? My guess is that it would have to be a crazy overpay, unless one or both of these guys "want" to leave. I agree on Melancon. Some guys just aren't cut out for Boston. He's supposedly one of them. I don't think they'll spend big on middle relief, either. Certainly not anything close to the 4/32 that they offered Andrew Miller. I agree that they will look at Beltran/Bautista if the EE numbers get past whatever value that they assign to him. My guess is that they will. I'm not betting that they move Swihart, but I have a feeling that they will make a pretty significant trade this offseason. I think there are only two players who they won't listen on (Betts/Pedroia).

Here's one article. There are others. He loves it there, but anything can happen I guess. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/158877538-joey-votto-wont-waive-trade-clause-with-reds.amp.html?client=safari

Joey Votto also has a full no trade and he has made it pretty clear that he wouldn't waive it. Things could change, but I wouldn't count on it.

I remember Francona saying in an interview that they were looking to add bats, but they weren't going to sacrifice pitching to do it. I just think that trying to coming up with trade proposals for those guys is about the equivalent of fans on a Twins message board trying to come up with trade ideas to get "Mookie Betts." Dave Dombrowski said that this was the 1st time in his career that his "Plan A" (Price/Kimbrel/Young) completely came to fruition.

Then again, Kimbrel hadn't just been accused of beating his wife, either.

Supposedly a lot of teams approached the Sox about Bradley last winter and they said he wasn't available. Here's one article: http://www.overthemonster.com/2016/9/2/12769534/chris-sale-trade-jose-quintana-red-sox-white-sox-jackie-bradley-jr

Based on everything that I've read and heard, it sounded like Sale or Quintana may have been available if some team was willing to "overpay" drastically, but you can find plenty of info that shows that Carrasco or Salazar were not available at all. Cleveland made it pretty clear that they were trying to add hitting last winter to "win now." They weren't listening on Salazar or Carrasco and they certainly weren't looking for "prospects." There were some rumors last summer that teams in contention were calling Cleveland to ask about their availability and they flat out said, "No." Heyman also reported that Chicago insisted rhat Jackie Bradley had to be the centerpiece when the Sox called about Sale and that ended the talks.

I think part of home field advantage has to do with the particular "home field." Schilling mentioned the orher day on WEEI how some opposing players were clearly overwhelmed coming into Fenway during a playoff game. Would they feel the same way in Tampa? Probably not. He also mentioned how there were players on the '04 Sox who literally didn't want the ball hit to them because they were horrified of becoming the next "Buckner." Thought that was pretty funny and not the first time I've heard or read that. The post season is a different animal and some guys handle it better than others. That's why you'll see managers sometimes disregard "stats." Some guys love the spolight. Some don't. Jonny Gomes is a perfect example. Farrelll started him in playoff games when it completely went against the numbers.

Significant inter-divisional trades are almost non-existent. I seriously doubt the Rays would've traded Moore within the division or the Sox would've traded the prospects it would've taken to get him within the division.