Nick

Not sure when his two year commitment ends..Ranked #5 by FanGraph Song did not pitch in 2020 and instead began his two-year military commitment, which is just as well since there was no minor league season and next year’s might start later than usual. I’ve updated some of the stuff related to his commitment’s timing, but his scouting report is exactly the same: It’s fairly common for a prospect’s trade value to be affected by something circumstantial, but Song’s situation is unique. He was clearly a first round talent ahead of the 2019 draft, but it was unclear where he’d be picked because of his military commitment. At the time, service academy policy stated that Song had to complete two years of Naval service, after the Trump administration repealed an Obama-era rule that allowed athletes to petition for an exemption in order to pursue pro sports or some other activity that might bolster recruitment or the military’s image in general. Then, weeks after Song was drafted, the now-outgoing president reinstated the rule, with the exemption slated to take effect again in 2020. But Song’s application for a retroactive waiver was denied by the Navy. He is eligible to apply for an early release in May.

Righty Garrett Richards, who starts Wednesday, has made three starts against the Blue Jays this year. He has allowed 10 runs, all earned, 22 hits and 12 walks while striking out 10 in 16 ⅔ innings. We better score some runs....early

Budget by Nick So Moon and I do our 'budgets' little differently. He always starts with zero. I like to start with current year's tax payroll and then add/subtract to it. Either way gets you to same place. 205.466M 2021 Luxury Tax Payroll add 004.125M Increase in Barnes new contract substract 010.000M Garrett Richards, $10M club option for 2022 007.150M Ottavino's expiring contract (FA) 008.300M E Rod's expiring contract (FA) 004.517M Vaz expiring contract (club option for 2022) 005.000M Martin Perez (club option for 2022) 003.000M Marwin Gonzalez (FA) 002.100M Matt Andriese (club option for 2022) 001.000M Brandon Workman (FA) 013.750M Dustin Pedroia 002.800M Beni 004.534M Amount under the tax line of $210M 058.026M Amount Available to the $210M tax limit assuming this does not change in new contract. Assume $ 25M for arbitration raises...(Devers, Renfroe, Plawecki, Braiser, Cordero, Pivetta, Verdugo, Arroyo, Taylor, Chavis, Rios), it maybe little high. We now have $33M to spend We lose following that needs to be replaced E Rod...SP Richards....SP ($10M club option) Martin...SP (6M club option) Ottavino....RP Workman..RP Andriese...RP Vaz....C ($7M club option) Gonzalez..Utility Priorities $7M Sox will pick up Vaz's club option (I think we'll pick us his $250K option payoff if we use the club option for 22) $15M. short term deal for E Rod? Now we'll down to $11M to get to the $210M tax line, assuming no change to the tax limit. SP Sale, Eovaldi, E Rod, Pivetta, Whitlock RP Barnes, Sawamura, Houck, Taylor, Darwinzon, Brasier, RP, RP C Vaz/????? 1B ????? 2B Arroyo/Kike SS Xander 3B Devers LF Verdugo CF Duran/Kike RF Renfroe DH JD Utility ?? Utility ?? I'm going with 13+13=26 We have $11M to spend....it can come internally I'm counting on Devers to get $10M raise via arbitration so we can use $11M to extend Devers....work his annual value down to $25M. 2 relievers 1 1B...Biggest Need in my mind.... 1 C 2 utility players This is the budget I'm submitting to Sox brass, if asked, and not going over the 'tax limit'. If replacement all come via internally, then there's chance we can stay below the tax line for another year.

Will the Sox pick up Richard's $10M club option for 2022? Or will they use the same strategy as they did with Perez and attempt to re-sign for less money? What is his market value? Can he get a multiple year contract? I suppose what he does for remainder of season will tell.

Barnes, Ottavino, Sawamura, Whitlock, Taylor, Darwinzon, Houck, Richards/Perez in the pen. Sale, E Rod, Eovaldi, Pivetta should be a decent starting four for the playoffs. Unless Houck jumps in front of Pivetta.

It was a rare contest under the lights for the FCL Sox, and the on-field events were worthy of the event. Connor Seabold, out since the start of the season with right elbow inflammation, took the mound in a rehab start against fellow rehabbing hurler Chris Archer. Seabold, currently ranked 6th in the system, went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on one hit. Seven of the eight outs he recorded were via strikeout. Seabold also walked three and hit a batter. A trio of relievers followed, with Wilkelman Gonzalez the most impressive. Gonzalez was perfect over five innings, striking out nine batters. Here you go Moon, blurb came on 7/13 so I'm assuming Seabold pitched on 7/12.

Time to go big was at the beginning of 2021 and not on July 31, 2021. Sox took calculated risks and for most part it has paid off. Locking up couple of players will be expensive. I think we'll extend E Rod, start the conversation on Dever's extension and maybe rework Xander's contract this winter. Sox likes Eovaldi and JD also. It'll be expensive without really adding new talent. That means 'fringe' players making any money will be considered for trade, etc. Richards, Martin and Ottavino (obviously he's not a fringe pitcher) comes to mind. We only get relief from Pedey's contract this year and Price's contract next year. I doubt we let JD go. We have no replacement and he's one of our top 3 hitters. We can't afford to lose Devers, Xander and JD.

It maybe easier to find an outfielder/infielder and move Kike to 1B. If we trade for an average 1B, we're basically stuck with him and he'll get the bats that he may not deserve.... Arroyo going to IL has screwed things up. I'm inclined to go with the lineup we had when Arroyo got hurt. Just change positions. I think you've said it before, turn Kike into a super utility guy that plays every day, just at different positions.

My buddy Santana is back in the lineup. Oh Gooody!!!

Connor Seabold is pitching again, may have just pitched in his second rehab stint.

Obviously there's a stud at 1B from Toronto, but Most disconcerting thing about our 1B production is that our team OPS at the position is .393 behind the leader. There are 4 AL teams with OPS greater than .800. Compare that position to catching, where the Sox are close to bottom but the difference between the top spot and the Sox is only .144. There are no teams posting ops greater than .800 in the American League. Not sure how to fix it now that Arroyo is hurt and I doubt he returns to that position this year. I wanted so much for Dalbec to succeed but he looks completely lost at times.

I worked for a small firm (30+) so we did tax returns, mostly for our clients, in addition to year end audits. Thus I did not see the sun except on Saturday afternoons and Sundays....January through April. Pretty depressing really.

I have higher hopes for everyone below Mata, including him. I think he'll come back stronger than ever.

Yes, He just said it in MassLive article couple of days ago....subscriber only. I don't make up everything......I'm talking about Bloom and and he was hired in October 2019.

Looking to 2022.... When I graduated from college as a future CPA, I was counseled to buy good suits. My buddy went the other way, he bought several suits on the cheap. The logic was that I would always pick a nicer suit out of my closet when given a choice. Free agents will not deplete our farm system. It's just money. Losing draft picks will not hurt as much when you're expected to pick in lower spots. Is it better to give out a $30M contract as opposed to three mid level contracts, hoping to get a greater value in return? Richards, Perez and Ottavino is on our books for $22.1M. Wouldn't it be better to add a $30M stud to go with Sale, Eovaldi and E Rod? Yes, I'm beginning to think E Rod will be extended before the season is over.

Supposedly he has plus arm but not much else behind the plate defensively.

It's always a mistake to pay for the past performance. You have to put a value on what's expected in future. It's not okay to pay for 10 years knowing you are hoping for 5 productive years. You are conditioned to think there will never be another Betts. Or Trout. Or.... Look at the current crop of young talent. There's few guys I take over Betts, especially at his contract price.

As they say, you dance with the dude that brought you.....something like that. Bloom will stay the course. He'll make a trade if he thinks it will help the club this year and next and next. He definitely will not give up on his young talent that he sees potential.

Bloom has repeatedly said that he won't go for a rental. He would look for someone that can help the ball club not only for 2021 but beyond. And he won't mortgage the future of this ball club. He envisions having a team that can be in the thick of playoff chase every year. That's the goal.

Do you have a better one with current roster?

He's looking more like Pedey clone.

It's interesting 90% on this board thought we did not need offensive help because of our 2-5 hitters. How's that working out? You need 9 guys that can make contact.

He's got no chance with 2 strikes

I've been harping about doing everything you can to put your best line up on the field. I've taken some heat but this is what I'm talking about. 1. 2B Kiké Hernández 2. LF Alex Verdugo 3. DH J.D. Martinez 4. SS Xander Bogaerts 5. 3B Rafael Devers 6. RF Hunter Renfroe 7. CF Jarren Duran 8. C Christian Vázquez 9. 1B Christian Arroyo Who the heck knows. Maybe Duran will be a bust. This looks like it can be our best lineup. Next up is Vaz picking up his game or get someone else next year. Good call with Dalbec. There has to be consequence for not producing. Against lefties, Dalbec in and rotate Verdugo and Duran is my guess. Maybe another cheap bullpen arm for the stretch run.