Nick

Yankees are in better 'financial' position than the Sox in terms of luxury tax implications. Yankees only have one bad contract, that of Jacoby Ellsbury, $22M AAV for two more years. They have the cap space to acquire mutliple free agents, if they want. They have a deep and cost controlled young talent. But do keep in mind, sometimes young talent fizzles out. Sox will need to thread the needle after 2019 in terms of not letting payroll get out of control and being selective about free agent signing of its own players. But as long as DD is getting 'value' from the players he signs, we'll be okay. Just no more Sandoval contracts please. Pom is gone and I doubt we'll give $18-$20M four/five year deal to Kimbrel. Hanley's $22M comes off the books. We really could do a MINI re-set AFTER we win the world series by 1) letting Kimbrel, Kelly, Pom contracts expire and 2) Hanley's $22M coming off the books. That amounts to about $48M plus we get a bump of $9M in artificial cap space. Cot has Sox at CB Payroll of $233M. Subtract $48M and we're at $185M before arbitration raises and having to replace basically Kimbrel/Kelly. 2019 CB threashold will be $208M, second and third threasholds at $228M and $248M. Looking at second penalty level of $228M, Sox has about $43M to cover arb raises and replace Kimbrel/Kelly/Pom. It's doable.

And someone suggested Holt not be on the team back in spring training.....oops, that was ME.

Delta at catching spot between highest and the lowest rated player is not as great as delta at 3B position as an example.

3B position was not as productive as I'd hoped but you have to let Devers play. Need some youth and cheap options on your 25 man squad. Our starting pitching appears fragile from health standpoint. Last year it was Price, this year it's Sale and E Rod.

Red Sox 32 29 26 23 12 11 Guardians 31 31 29 26 18 12 Astros 33 32 31 29 22 5 Yankees 31 28 26 23 13 10 Oakland 27 20 16 16 15 11 # of starts by AL playoff teams. Advantage Houston?

It's stupid I know but we just score more runs than opposing team night after night. When pitching sucks, we outfit the other team. When we don't hit, we pitch even better.

Right. We'll spend $200M+ going forward. No reason we're not competing for playoff spot.

We decided Shaw was not the long term solution at 3B when we traded him.

Real Magic # is 4. With each win or Houston loss totaling 4, we'll have the home field advantage throughout.

We have Sale for another year at $13.5 (club option)

I think we need to take chance in couple of areas. Shore up the team at trade deadline. Let all FA go this year if we win it all.

Thank you for that. Moon thinks Dalbec is old?

Is Brasier good enough to be a closer?

If that's the case we better quit drafting college kids. Aren't they 21 usually when drafted after junior year? How many position players jump right into majors? Case can be made it's better because at 28 they may still be under team control.

Interesting that Dalbec was both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Devers, Chavis and Dalbec our future DH/1B/3B combo?

Qulity starting pitching is a must. Can we add depth at around $10M? 2019 Sale, Price, E Rod, Porcello, Wright, Vector, Johnson solid 2020 Sale, Price, E Rod, Wright, Vector, Johnson....no way we let Sale go. 2021 Sale, Price, E Rod (final yr of arb), Vector, Johnson

I just think Dustin abused his body by giving 200% on a body that couldn't give 100%. It's pretty amazing what he's accomplished.

I don't think we re-sign Porcello at $20M plus and sign Sale and Xander. Something has to give. After 2018 for 2019 season Sox pick up approximately $56M (22+8.5+13+3.8+9=Hanley+Pom+Kimbrel+Kelly+additinal cap space) Basically we have $56M to cover arb raises ($20M?) and Kimbrel if we want. We'll be good again in 2019 After 2019 for 2020 season, Sox will pick up $19M on Pablo, $20M on Porcello and $6.5M on Mitch for total of $45M. Do we have enough money to sign Sale (additonal $17M), Xander (additional 10M) and re work JD's contract while covering arb raises? We should be competitive in 2020. Whats obvious is that Sox hasn't developed in house starting pitching talent. Can we do another Miller to Baltimore trade? Or do something really drastic and trade one of our best players for cost controlled proven talent.

JBJ is a 4 year arb guy....he becomes FA with Betts

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2018/09/mlb_notes_red_sox_have_been_cornered_without_jose_abreu Great read on what could have been with Abreu

quite honestly, he should just retire. We're going to win 105+ without him. Let that sink in.

He has value on this Red Sox team. No more, no less. What can you get for him in a trade? Not much.

We keep using him.

Can we just stick a fork in Pomeranz?

Only Kimmi approves. Did I just say that?