Nick

“Zero — zero concern,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “Not at all. He dialed it up when he wanted to. It’s there. But he knows how important he is to his team. He can pitch, regardless of the velocity.” After Sale's first start in 2019 (after the extension), his velocity being down from norm I hope we fired this guy.

"Shoulder trouble limited to Sale to 17 innings the final two months of last season, and he didn't look much like himself in the postseason. Shoulder issues are always worrisome, but the Red Sox know Sale and his medicals better than anyone, and they would not commit nine figures to a pitcher if they were worried about his health. They're confident the shoulder is a non-issue." Here's one article from CBC MLB Mike Axis Sox fan base is much smarter than the management, medical staff, and writers. Thanks again for setting me straight.

I will go with the group think.....Red Sox signed injured Chris Sale to $145M contract. Period. Okay, you all convinced me. Thanks for setting the record straight.

I don't care what Sale thought....... I'm concerned that your claim that he was injured prior to 3/29/19 and despite that and the physicals which more than likely were given than not, Sox signed him to a $245M contract. It doesn't seem good business practice.

Come on Moon....I'm being sarcastic Original Poster said WE GAVE A $245M CONTRACT TO INJURED PLAYER. I'm asking for a proof. I don't like posters making a claim that I don't think is true. He pitched in 4 spring training games prior to his signing on 3/29/19. Do you have evidence that he was a injured player on 3/29/19? If you don't, we shouldn't speculate. I'm trying to refute the claim. It seems implausible that he didn't have a physical. So did we miss it? Or more likely he hurt himself later. In which case to say that we gave $245M to injured player is false.

Let me get this straight. Chris Sale started 4 spring training games and pitched total of 14 innings, striking out 19 right before he signed his extension. So, Sox management had injured pitcher pitch 4 meaningless spring training games? On top of that, they figured he was just fine and gave him $245M for five years? Come on, be precise. OP stated that he was 'hurt' when we extended him. You stand by that, Doctor? Or did he get hurt after he signed? Or maybe it's an ailment that is difficult to diagnose? That I would understand.

Sale signed his extension on 3/29/2019. For 2019, he was still under the contract signed with the White Sox. His new five year deal was to start in 2020. So we gave $145M to a player who was injured? No physicals? Wow, I'd freaking fire the entire medical staff.

What the hell are you guys talking about? Sale was HEALTHY when he signed his extension. Maybe he gave the Sox a hometown discount. He loved it that he could be at HOME with his family during spring training. Quit rewriting history. At the time of signing he was healthy.

There's been times I wished for a K instead of a groundball with less than two outs. You know what I'm talking about. Hitting into double play is absolute momentum killer. That included Pedey last couple of years when he was playing. Jason Varitek was another example.

I don't get the inflexibility of having 14 pitchers on opening day. Why? Why not ride the hot bat of Chavis to start the season? Why in the hell do we need 14 pitchers in first ten games? We have two off days before our 8th game is played. Can't you simply send down Chavis and bring up a pitcher? More than likely one of position player will get hurt and the whole thing becomes moot. Am I stupid? I want to hear from pitching experts.

Jimenez gained muscle during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was listed at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds in the 2020 Red Sox media guide He’s listed at 5-11, 221 pounds in the 2021 media guide. “A lot of workouts on the beach. Strengthening and running on the beach,” Red Sox assistant GM Eddie Romero said in December. “He’s just a natural athlete with a lot of just freak strength.” Sounds like a good prospect, but can an elite athlete really gain 61 pounds in a year?

Buiding a playoffs sustaining ball club Part II by Bloom Position players assuming club option excercised C Vaz $ 4.52M-$7.00M 1B Dalbec $ 0.80M-$0.80M-$0.80M-Arb1-Arb2-Arb3 (not sure if qualified for 4 arb years, Arb 1 in 2023?) 2B E Hern $ 6.00M-$8.00M 3B Devers $ 4.58M-Arb2-Arb3 SS Xander $20.00M-$20.0M-$20.00M-$20.00M-$20.00M-$20.00M LF Cordero $0.80M-Arb2-Arb3 CF Renfro $3.10M-Arb2-Arb3 RF Verdugo $0.80M-Arb1-Arb2-Arb3 DH JD $22.00M-$22.00M Unless Vaz has a complete meltdown, his option will be picked up. He came into the season best shape of his life. It wasn't as though he was out of shape previously. If he's willing to sign a team friendly extension, I can see Sox doing it to give younger guys time to develop. If Dalbec can make enough contact, then he's a keeper. Very good 4th round draft pick. Hernandez is a placeholder for Jeter Downs. He can then become a valuable utility player at the right price. I just don't see Xander getting more money after he ages two more years and opt out. He stays. Sox will do everything to keep Devers. Position may change but his bat will be valued. Based on what Bloom has said, CF will belong to Duran in near future. Hopefully JD will revert back to pre-2020 days but his price is too high once his contract runs out in 2022. Keep an eye on Casas. He will eventually inserted into the lineup no later than 2023 if not sooner. At that point, Dalbec, Devers and Casas can rotate the 3B, 1B and DH? Left field can be platooned until something better shows up. Cordero and Renfro can supplement outfield spots. We still have Chavis as a depth piece for now. I'm hoping we select a college starting pitcher with the #4 pick this year. This team looks much better than last year's squad.

Can you just give us a little? We're trying to rebuild. My team just got knocked out of NCAA after a very successful season. Talk about feeling empty. You know the feeling.

“I’ll tell you exactly the same thing we told him when we reassigned him the other day,” Bloom said Friday on MLB Network Radio. “He has the physical ability not just to be a good player but a great player. And that stands out every time he takes the field. He’s strong. He’s powerful. He’s fast. The athleticism is there. He re-worked his swing to where now that strength can play in him driving the baseball. And this is what Bloom thinks of Duran. Hell, they want him to take over the center fielder position and move Verdugo to right and have a platoon situation in left. Many of you many disagree but he's our top guy on baseball side and I would listen to him. He's piecing together a sustainable playoff contending team.

Days of paying a starting pitcher $30M plus may become fewer and reserved for top 3 in the majors. Look at how Bloom is constructing our rotation. Assuming we pick up club option. 1. Sale Singed thr 2025 2. Eovaldi $17.0M-$17.0M 3. Richards $8.50M-$8.50M 4. Perez $4.00M-$6.00M 5. Pivetta $0.80M-A2-A3-A4 6. E Rod $8.30-FA 7 Houck Six yrs of team control 8 Whitlock Six yrs of team control I guess we'll see what happens to E Rod.....we can walk away from E Rod, Richards and Perez after 2021. I know many of you disagree but I like what Bloom is doing.

Garrett Whitlock a lock for Boston Red Sox roster after posting 1.00 ERA in 9 spring innings: ‘We have a good one,’ Alex Cora says Speaking of team control coup, Whitlock's six year service starts in couple of weeks.....3 years at less than $3M....accountants approve...I didn't realize he could be a starter material in future...

Yeah that was him......he was always cocky vs Red Sox...he had his little run but came back down to earth.....

Was it the Cubs manager getting criticized for not using his best reliever is a loss? Maybe it was someone else....

may opt out of contract after both 2019 ($2.5M buyout) and 2020 seasons (no buyout) 2021 and 2022 seasons become mutual options if Martinez has a Lisfranc injury or complication to his right foot causing him to be: 1) on the disabled list for 60 days or more in previous season, or 2) on the disabled list for 10 days or more in the previous season and 120 days or more in the two previous seasons combined, or 3) on the disabled list at the end of the previous season and found not able to play at the start of the next season Not a big deal to me.....but I just go by Cot's.....accountant's reference book. The guy that runs the site is a good guy......I actually e-mailed him few years ago for a minor correction. He thanked me.

His opt out options were last two years. He's on our payroll for two more years.

We've had this discussion earlier and I was told that Dalbec is not an improvement over Devers at 3B. If all three become 40 homer types, my initial thought was can Dalbec play left field, so Casas can play 1B and Devers remain at 3B. JD can remain at DH if he continues to hit.

Especially with 3 run lead.....ugh. Did you say save?

I'm thinking non productive assets for 2021. We'll dispose one after 2021 season and another after 2022. Third asset maybe placed in service latter third of 2021, so there's that.

Good point....

My point is as follows. Mgmt wants Houck to be a starter. Mgmt thinks he needs a reasonable third pitch as a starter. We already have five starters as we start 2021 season. It's not his age that I'm concerned about. Why not have his 'clock' start later if we don't need him and give him additional time to develop? If someone goes down and we need him, then by all means, f*** the player controllable years, bring him up.