Nick

I use simple math.....count the number series won. +2 if we sweep and -2 if they sweep. The goal is to get to +15.

Sandy is set to make $2.475M. Swihart is under team control for 4 years.

Woke up happy today catching up reading all things Chris Sale. Watched his presser and it struck me how 'normal' players are.... His home is near the Spring Training facility. Playing for Sox allows him to be 'home' for additional two months. Mentioned how he's made it to his son's baseball practices. He has seen 6 of 14 games that his son has played. He's a dad, a husband. He's not going to squeeze out every little dollar. Let's not kid ourselves. He's still going to make boatload of money. How can you not like this guy?

What can we get for Betts after 2019 season? Won't there be a club out there who goes ALL IN in 2020 season? Having Betts only for one year may seem detrimental in terms of trading away a top prospect or two but what if that is that is exactly what a club is looking? One year financial commitment of say $28M. Major league ready shortstop along with both pitching and outfield prospects come to mind. My dream scenario is to acquire starting shortstop and outfielder for Betts and then sign him as a free agent in 2021 after we reset for 2020.

Who is our next priority? JD is set to make $23.75M in 2020. Then it drops to $19.375M Is is slam dunk that he'll opt out after 2019? How much more can he garner in open market? Why didn't he get more last year? He had a stellar 2017 season, no? I think he's as valuable to the team as Sale is in terms of intangibles and leadership in the clubhouse. Don't think that gets unnoticed by Henry and DD.

Starting Rotation 2019 Sale, Price, Eovaldi, E Rod, Porcello 2020 Sale, Price, Eovaldi, E Rod 2021 Sale, Price, Eovaldi, E Rod 2022 Sale, Price, Eovaldi Pretty strong line up for the playoffs. Next extension target should be JD Martinez. Get a front loaded six year deal done with opt out after third year.

1. Trout had two years left on his contract. That contract was VOIDED by both sides. New contract was signed and covers 2019 and beyond. He has new CB payroll average. 2. Sale has a 7 year contract that he signed with White Sox which ends in 2019. Red Sox assumed the contract when the trade was consummated. Sale will have a new contract that will go into effect after 2019 season. New contract has no impact on 2019 CB payroll. I'm still not clear if the signing date has any impact. Likely not since it covers services and payments for future performance.

He has two separate contracts, no? My final answer is this. IT WOULD BE f***ING STUPID FOR RED SOX TO PAY 92.5% PENALTY WHEN THEIR PAYROLL IS CLOSE TO DEATH PENALTY IN 2019. If I'm wrong, my apologies.

Trout's case has nothing to do with new rule. His old contract was voided and new one replaced. You got me on JD Martinez though. I have no link for you. But it seems silly to wait to sign on April 1st (a la Porcello) versus announcing on March 22nd.

12 years/$426.5M (2019-30) signed extension with LA Angels 3/20/19, replacing final two seasons of previous contract Trout signed a NEW CONTRACT that covers 2019 and beyond. Sale will sign a NEW CONTRACT that covers 2020 and beyond. 2019 is under the old contract.

It's great news about Chris Sale. Not concerned about Betts at all. Trade him after this season if he's going to test the free agency. Get something for him.

Severino had one year contract with Yankees for 2018. Chris Sale is on his last year of 7 year contract. Different scenario. Moon is right.

I thought replacement level meant average, thus it would lead to 81 wins.

Planning for the cliff Projected 2019 roster, Under team control 5 yrs Devers, Johnson, Velazquez, Brasier 4 yrs Vazquez, Beni, Eovaldi, Price, 3 yrs Dustin, E Rod, Barnes, Hembree, Workman 2 yrs Betts, JBJ, Sandy 1 yr Moreland, Xander, JD, Porcello, Sale, Pearce, Nunez, Holt, Thornburg I guess the good news is that we don't have any 10 year deals on the books. No bad deals right now as long as Price remains healthy. Final year of Sandoval.

We have five more years of Devers under team control and I'm going to just sit back watch him blossom. He's least of our worries.

What is enough for him? Trade him after the season. Surely we can get one bona fide young player for him.

Can we get one young, major league ready starting pitcher? I.m thinking either Dodgers or NL East team going all in.

This is how you reset after 2019. Starting point is $243M, luxury tax will be $208M in 2020. This is only if we intend to reset and rebuild quickly. Pablo $18M Xander $11M Pearce/Moreland $13M Porcello $20M Nunez $5M Holt $4M total savings of say $70M. Now you're at $173M. You trade Betts for 3 major league ready players and shed additional $20M off the books. Now you're at $153M. Extend Chris Sale, delta of $18M, CB Payroll now at $171M. Extend JD Hernandez, delta of $5M, CB Payroll is now at $176M. You still have $32M to take care of arbitration raises. "Major outlay" is only for Chris Sale. 2020 Line Up Beni, Devers, JD, JBJ, Pedey, Dalbec, Chavis, Chatam/Lin, Vaz....you have money to sign a veteran for $5M-$8M range. Pitching, Sale, Price, E Rod, Eovaldi and Hernandez Keep in mind that we'll get quality in return from Betts trade. 2021 Line Up You offer Betts $40M per year, you've reset, will stay below the last threashold, penalized at 20%, CBA will expire. Resign JBJ also. Beni, Betts, JD, Devers, Pedey, JBJ, Lin, Vazquez, Dalbec, Chavis, player from Betts trade can fit in here....this will be a poten lineup Pitching, Sale, Price, E Rod, Eovaldi and Hernadez. I'll take my chances in 2020 with a wild card birth. Starting pitching will take us from there. We're back in business in 2021.

Suppose we take care of Sale with his current salary plus Pablo's $18M this year, that's total of $33M. I'm not opposed to trading Betts after 2019. I would think we would get at least a young, established starting pitcher for him. You can then use Betts' $20M, Pearce/Moreland's $13M and sign two quality FA's. Trout and Betts can have greater impact over 162 game season. But I will take an elite starting pitcher over any position player for the World Series. Betts and JD did very little in the World Series. No way in hell I'd give Betts $40M for 10 years.

You have it correct, Moon. This is what DD has said all along. No one has said that they don't think he's a starting pitcher. Just that THIS YEAR, he may become a reliever to help the big league club. My guess is he will replace Porcello in the rotation next year.

You always want to be the best....we have the best worst record.

I honestly believe Sox just didn't want him based on his second half performance. Sox signing Eovaldi was the final nail in the coffin. Sox was unwilling to negotiate the length of deal with Kimbrel while everyone in the league was courting Eovaldi. Sox obviously wanted Eovaldi situation wrapped up as soon as possible.

It's silly to look for next 'Chris Sale' when we have the original ready to be extended.

You simply can not give up on this guy. Strong starting rotation is a must to field a world championship caliber team. Offense can come and go. Great pitching still trumps great hitting. This is what we're doing. We're replacing Sale/Porcello with Sale/Hernandez in 2020. Porcello's $20+M will take care of Sale's new contract. I expect the Sox to announce the extension in early April.