Nick

100% correct. He's shown more than capable on defensive side and his offense is improving. He also runs well. He'll be good utility player for us in 2020. This is contract year for both Nunez and Holt. He provides us with cheap alternative. My guess is he's first up if Pedey goes back on DL.

After the 2016 season, we thought we had better options than Shaw. Both Hanley and Moreland played over 140 games in 2017. Supposedly, Pablo came in better shape for the 2017 season. That really did not materialize. He played less than 50 games. We also had a phenom that we paid $30M in matching tax that was being groomed to play 3B. A natural 2B but that position was blocked by Pedroia. Moncada later got traded to White Sox when DD decided Devers was the better option at 3B. Red Sox had bet $90M on an over weight no talent 3B. Sox were determined to get some value out of it. Nope. No go. It was perfect storm that took Shaw to Milwaukee. Who knew Shaw would hit over 60 home runs in 2017/2018?

Geez, did he get hurt?

Standing ovation on this thread....."Market Price is for wimps" is tattooed on his left arm.......best line of 2019.....well done sir....lol

I agree. Kopech may have given us bullpen depth but we have guys in similar position..Feltman, Hernandez.

Manuel Margot, Javier Guerra, Carlos Asuaje, and Logan Allen for Craig Kimbrel. Manuel has played 277 games with ops of .700. He's only 24. Not sure if we have a room for him right now. Our outfielders are pretty good. Wade Miley and Jonathan Aro for Carson Smith and Roenis Elias. If there ever was a push....I guess Wade Miley could be an upgrade over Johnson. Who knew Carson Smith would get hurt? Anderson Espinoza for Drew Pomeranz. Espinoza went 6-11 in 2016 in the minors and has not pitched since. I'm not sure when he'll resume pitching. I get it why we made the trade but I still think Espinoza could really turn out to be very good pitcher. Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon, Josh Pennington, and Yeison Coca for Tyler Thornburg. Younger kids have not done much. Shaw's presence would have eliminated Moreland/Pearce. Shaw is only making $4.7M as a first year arbitration player. Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, and Victor Diaz for Chris Sale. I would love to have Kopech (age 22) but we did have to give up quality to get 3 years of team friendly contract of Chris Sale. Kimmi.....you keep talking about 'trading away' young talent but I doubt we win 3 straight division titles without these trades. Kimbrel gave us what we needed for 3 years. Chris Sale is getting to deliver us another shot at the World Series title. What's not to like?

I'm on a diet. PS. Hernandez, Dalbec, Chavis, Chatham, Feltman....

Severino (shoulder) 'highly unlikely' for opener MRI shows rotator cuff inflammation; Yanks to shut down righty for 2 weeks I don't ever want to see anyone hurt. But injuries do happen. Not only to Red Sox starters.

You can't have it all. I will take my chances in playoffs with starters Sale, Price, Eovaldi and E Rod. I will take my chances in playoffs with Betts, JD, Beni, Devers, JBJ (2019-2020), Pedroia, Vazquez. It's about choices. I keep our BEST pitcher in Sale, our BEST player in Betts, and our second most valuable player in JD. Beni and Devers should continue to improve. We'll still have the best defensive outfield for 2019-2020. Do you seriously want to pay Porcello $20M? or Xander $25M? You are not serious, Moon.

Wow, you don't think starting five of Price, Sale, E Rod, Eovaldi and say Hernandez will not be competitive? You still have Betts, JD and Beni along with Devers, JBJ, and Pedroia. We don't have enough to compete? Seriously? You are spoiled, sir.

Tax limit 2019 $206M 2020 $208M 2021 $210M Assume further that the limit will increase significantly in new CBA. Yeah, I get it, it only affects few teams but why limit the spending of these teams? It's not to players' advantage to have luxury tax limit. We'll have Betts for two more years. Why not try to win it all with him next two years? Our tax penalty will jump to 50% from current 30% for 2020 and beyond without the reset. We're at $238M right now according to Cot's. I'm going to say that's the magic number given that we'll want to reinforce the team at trade deadline as long as we're in contention. To win next two years, we simply can't lose two starting pitchers. To me, obvious choice is to extend Sale. Stay with me here. Pablo's final AAV is $18M and it goes away in 2020. That money along with his current salary, $15M, will take care of Chris Sale. We'll still be at $238M. I like JD and I want to keep him. Nunez' $5M should take care of JD going forward and retain him for another three years. Give him a 6 year, front loaded contract where he can opt out after 3 years, 2023. Porcello, Pearce and Moreland adds to $33M in savings. If we don't re-sign Xander, that's another $11M. Total of $44M. Say $30M will take care of Betts, JBJ, E Rod, Beni and other arbitration eligible players. Our AAV for 2020 will be down to $224M for 2020. Penalty of $8M would be worth it to go for #3 after winning it in 2019. 2020 starting pitchers, Sale, Price, Eovaldi, E Rod, Hernandez? Our lineup would be Beni Betts Devers JD JBJ Pedroia Chavis Chatam Vazquez Our rotation should be good and we still have enough offense. We can add a veteran at SS on the cheap if we need to. I'm just afraid Boras will ask $25M for Xander and I just don't believe Xander is worth that. I rather have JD's bat. Betts will be making close to $28M in 2020. I would not extend JBJ at the conclusion of 2020 and instead use his money in part to sign Betts for 2021 and beyond. To Recap 2019 We lose Kimbrel and Kelly. Signed Eovaldi and Pearce. 2020 We lose Porcello, Xander, Pearce and Moreland. They need to be replaced internally by ? Hernandez, Chatam or cheap veteran, Chavis/Dalbec. Extend Sale. 2021 We lose JBJ. We keep Betts, Sale and JD. We lose Xander, Porcello, Moreland, Pearce and JBJ. 2022 will bring new CBA and it's whole new ball game then. Pedroia will be gone and Price and Eovaldi will be in their last year of contract. NO RESET.

$350M over 10 years would do it. I'm not advancing it, just thinking what it would take.

8) Yoenis Céspedes, LF, NYM: $29 million Full contract: 4 years, $110 million (2017-20) Cespedes re-signed with the Mets as a free agent following the 2016 season, which was also the last time he played in 100 games in a season. During the first two years of the new contract, he’s been limited to just 119 games total due to injuries, including each hamstring, his right hip flexor and twin heel calcifications. It’s unknown when Cespedes will return from his heel surgeries this season, though the All-Star break seems like a semi-reasonable estimate. I'm glad we passed on him. Forget AAV. This is their pay for 2019. (per MLB.com) 1) Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WSH: $38.3 million Full contract: 7 years, $175 million (2017-23) 2) Max Scherzer, RHP, WSH: $37.4 million Full contract: 7 years, $210 million (2015-21) 3) Zack Greinke, RHP, ARI: $34.5 million Full contract: 6 years, $206.5 million (2016-21) 4) Mike Trout, CF, LAA: $34.1 million Full contract: 6 years, $144.5 million (2015-20) 5) David Price, LHP, BOS: $31 million Full contract: 7 years, $217 million (2016-22) 6) Clayton Kershaw, LHP, LAD: $31 million Full contract: 3 years, $93 million (2019-21) 7) Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET: $30 million Full contract: 8 years, $248 million (2016-23; 2024-25 vesting options) 8) Yoenis Céspedes, LF, NYM: $29 million Full contract: 4 years, $110 million (2017-20) 9) Justin Verlander, RHP, HOU: $28 million Full contract: 7 years, $180 million (2013-19) Any doubt that Miguel will be Ramirezed in 2023? Tigers would owe him $60M if he finishes top 10 in MVP votes in 2023. Extending Sale for 6 years at $200M doesn't seem so bad looking at the top 2 on the list.

Thanks for that. Cincinnati is a small market team competing with the Cubs and the Cardinals. San Diego is fighting big spender Dodgers and the Giants that have won three world championships in this century (2nd most). Seattle went up first against the Angels and now the Astros. Miami is another no show fans franchise competing against the Mets, the Nationals and the Phillies. I'm just not sure what the answer is. If players want more money then they need to get rid of luxury tax rules. Red Sox would have signed Kimbrel had it not for 52% surtax on top of 30% luxury tax and the loss of 10 spots in the draft.

I was working from home for couple of years. Only no hitter I've ever watched from beginning to end was Clay's. If I recall, and I'm not sure it was the same year but I also seem to remember seeing the back to back to back to back home run.

I sure hope it's the Yankees. No one, within next three years is worth $45M annual salary, even it's only for two years. If my GM comes to me with that idea, he'd be fired.

My guess would be Clay B wanted to be in the rotation. He had no chance to do that with the Sox.

“He can hit,” Cora said. “Both of them. Dalbec, too. It’s good for them to be around here, talk to players and be around. Just keep getting better. They’re a big part of our organization moving forward.” It'll be interesting to watch JBJ this year. Will his off season workout with JD/coach and subsequent swing adjustments pay off? JD certainly appears to have provided benefits beyond his own performance to his teammates.

Mock all you want Moon. He has proven power. You criticize our minor league talent but are unwilling to develop the talent in it. I guess you rather see him strike out every f***ing time so you can be critical. How do you expect young players to showcase their talent? Spring training in front of major league manager and his staff is one venue. Oh by the way, Cora took notice. He didn't say "well f***, he's a hall of famer after 4 spring training games!"

Chavis with another 3 run homer today, his third. Dalbec had two hits. Darwinzon Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings and struck out 3, walked one, two hits. Do NOT trade Chavis.

Thank you Ben, thank you Theo. I don't care who gets credit. As Moon has said often, it would have been great had we signed Miller as a free agent after the season. Little payback to colonel Clink,,,,I meant Showalter.

I'm so confused. I thought you were talking about Robert Kraft.

It's going to be tough to throw anyone out without someone at 1B.

http://weei.radio.com JD's take on current FA situation. It's still hard for me to feel sympathetic for guys making over $10M. Oakland won 97 games with payroll of less than $100M. That in essence is the battle players are facing.

You and I are usually on the same page. I think signing Eovaldi was a big freaking deal is you ask me.