Nick

Mata and Rafaela to be called up in 23.

We need for Sale, Story and Yoshida to earn their pay. I anxiously wait for

Titles won 2000's 2 2010's 2 We still have 8 years to win 2 in 2020's. And we will have Devers for 8 years along wit Bello, Whitlock and Casas for 6 at the least.

Great News. Now Bloom can continue to focus on building a core group to go pursue our 5th chapionship in 20 years. This came on the heels of locking up Arb #3 for Devers so that Sox can reset in 2023. Now go find a SS.

Absolutely no interest in trading Casas. 6 years of team control. Rafaela is major league ready defensively. Go buy a shortstop. We still have money left.

We have two years to develop additional pitching depth so that we can say goodbyes to Sales (34) $25.6M, Jansen (35) $16.0M and Martin (37) $7.5M. This is Barnes (33) $9.375M last year, another overpaid contract (albeit gamble taken and gamble lost when extended). It would help if Bello and Whitlock become fixtures as starters.

Very good! (also Sox was going to get below the tax line after going over in 2018 and 2019)

Maybe we had money to sign Betts....we bet on the wrong horse. Mookie was already making $20M in 2019. We had already signed Eovaldi starting in 2019 for $17M for 4 years. Porcello's contract for $20M was coming off the books after 2019. Sale was in his last year of 2 year option years he had signed with the White Sox. How things would have been different had we valued Betts over Sale, or maybe wait to sign Sale after he became FA. (obviously he got hurt that year AFTER signing a new deal during the spring training) It's about choices....too late.

2018 Devers, YR1 $564,000 Played in 121 games, OPS .731 OPS+ 94 2019 Devers, YR2 $614,000 Played in 156 games, OPS .916 OPS+ 132 This is where we missed our opportunity. We let Moncada go in Chris Sale trade in part DD recognized Devers as superior talent even though the Sox paid a "fee" ($35M?) for the previledge of signing Moncada. 2020 Devers, YR3 $692,000...... I think you have to roll the dice after YR 2.......I believe that's where we're headed. If you give me 3-1 odds on Sox not extending, I'll take the bet (that it won't happen, I'll pay $300 to win $100)

Thanks for that!!!!

Rafaela was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Sox farm system the last two years. Apparently no one will ever surpass Betts defensively according to a Yankee fan.

Ok I have always treated this Yankee fan with respect. No more. I am not only one to say it. I have seen videos of Rafaela playing defense. He has speed, good instincts, efficient route to the ball and strong arm. Get the f*** off the Sox board. You are the worst kind of Yankee fan. At least they act like jerks from get go. I wont forget your comment.

I believe Devers ranked 9th at 3B in fWar or RPI (I forgot). Is that worth $30M?

Does Devers bet on himself for his walk off year? Aaron Judge made the right decision. But the Yankees had to keep him. If Devers plays well. he will price himself out of Sox reach.

Might as trade Devers for a major league ready player with few years of team control (or just extend him and plug the 3B hole)

Thanks Moon...I don't know where I saw it but Rafaela is major league ready defender in the outfield. He is Mookie Bettsisque.

This is what the future looks to be.....it's a start, upgrade at every opportunity 1B Casas 2B Story SS Mayers 3B TBD/Dalbec DH Turner and his clones LF Yoshida CF Rafaela RF TBD C Wong SP1 Bello SP2 Whitlock SP3 Houck SP4 Mata SP5 Kutter Pen....Young gun non-starters.

I enjoy his contribution to this board but kicking a dog while down gets pretty old. Then he pulls the disappearance act when his team is going South. I am incensed that we went over the cap by less than $5M. What the hell? It's time to move on to 2023. Nothing short of World Championship is good enough for the Yankees. Their luxury tax payroll is up to $289M. They are now committed $143M to only 5 players for at least another 4 years. Sox can get into the playoffs. We'd welcome a series with the Yankees. It won't be a cakewalk. I'd start worrying about the health of HIS team.

That's what I've been trying to say but you said it well. I'm not sure there's much difference between Kluber and Eovaldi health wise. I would think Kluber's chance of pitching 200 innings is little better than Eovaldi's. I don't have the figures in front of me. Bigger issue for me is that anymore the team takes all the risks. Kluber has chance to earn $28M over two years if he meets all of his incentives. And it's not based on K's, ERA's, or won loss record. It's based strictly on games started and innings pitched. If he gets hurt (think Sale), the team is on the hook for $10M. So if Kluber gets hurt during spring training, the Sox still owes him $10M for doing NOTHING. I believe that's reasonable. I like the contract. That and identifying future 'core member' such as Bello and Casas early and buy out at least 2 years of their free agency. They did that with Whitlock. Say you give Bello a 8 year deal for $80M starting 2024. That's the type of risks I would take if I'm John Henry. I'll say it. Players are getting greedy. Many contracts are one sided. Owners have no protection in case of injuries. Incentives based on games played, innings pitched or plate appearance should be utilized more often.

Cleary Sox is no longer interested in giving out mega contracts. Study the Kluber deal with incentives based on innings pitched. It doesn't take a genius to figure out Sox doesn't want another Sale situation. Sox are protecting against injuries by limiting years and also performance measured by innings pitched or games started. I suspect Eovaldi was not interested in performance based contract.I applaude Bloom for that.

I can be a dick sometimes. Probably trying to get a rise out of one of you. I really have tremendous respect for all these guys, even Brasier.

With sincere apology to Red, let's talk about 2023 and beyond. Following players will be with us 4+ years, counting the options. Hopefully we can add Devers name to it for 8 years. Top tier players (in my projection) 6 Casas (1B) 6 Whitlock (SP) 6 Bello (SP) 6 Kutter (P) 6 Mata (SP) 5 Story (2B) 5 Yoshida (LF/DH) 5 Houck (P) 4 Schreiber (RP) Others 6 Wong © 6 Seabold (P) 6 Duran (OF) 6 Mills (P) 6 Winckowski (P) 6 K. Ort (P) 6 German (P) 4 Dalbec (IB/3B/DH) 4 Darwinzon (RP) I'm sure some will be a flop or already is one. I enjoy watching someone like Bello pitch. Great thing about TV is I can always turn it off. I'm probably little more optimistic than most of you. Having won 4 rings over the last 20 years probably has great deal to do with my optimism. PS. I just don't like Bloom telling Kike "we're be MUCH better". Hopefully he was misquoted. Maybe said something like "we MAY BE MUCH BETTER".

Yeah, what about it? He was a great player for the Sox. He is NOT on my roster. He plays for the Padres. Come on Red. He took the most money and I'm happy for him. I've been a Sox fan since 1967. Great ones come and go.

My choice for ss at this point would be Jose Iglesias. He would be my 'placeholder' for either Mayer or Rafaela. I get the sense that Rafaela is more ready now than Mayer. Sox is high on Rafaela at multiple positions. Eventually they will both be starters in my opinion. As a side note, please do not get cute and move Story to shortstop. That's is all we need is for him to get hurt playing short. Keep him at second base, PERIOD. I will be PISSED at Bloom if a move is made.

#1 Identify the core group. 4+ years of team control. #2 Fill the roster around them.... #3 Wait for youngsters to develop...Casas as an example....lock him down after this year #4 Extend Devers for 8 years ..trade him he rejects the offer #5 Xander who?