Nick

Can you list Boras free agent clients?

It would certainly help if another young bat emerges during 2018 for second half call up. Hey call me crazy. Beni, Devers, who's next? I'd love to see one starter added every year. That means turnover every nine years. That's not really expecting a lot.

Sign Nunez and let him DH also. Limit Hanley's at bats. If we get rid of Hanley's contract for 2019 (ie vesting option), Moreland essentially costed Sox nothing.

Agreed. It's time to think about what we actually have....if we sign JD, great, if not, we move on. Basically we have every position starters back from last season. If someone is unable to go, we have back ups. My guess is Price will be ready to go as long as there are no setbacks. Price, Sale, Porcello and Pom should start most of the games in April with some fill ins...Wright? Our bullpen appears to be in pretty good shape. My team is on the field.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Chavis is working out at 1B.

I suggested this while back but I'd like to see 'a home team cap' for any FA signing with his 'rookie of the year' home base. The cap amount can fluctuate just as Qualifying Offer amount does. Suppose it's $25M for 2021. As an example, no matter how much the Sox pay Betts when he becomes FA, his 'luxury tax' implication to the Sox is say $25M. It would only apply to those players who stays with the same club where his rookie status season was spent. This would encourage teams to develop home grown talent and keep them. I think it rewards teams that draft well and develop players.

We have the highest payroll in majors. Maybe we should live without another big contract.

Both Kimmi and Moon simply fails to acknowledge the fact that coming on heels of two last place finishes, DD did what he felt necessary to turn the club around. He was hired to get the f*** out of last place. Maybe he overpaid, so what? We are now in a different place. DD has not rushed to to sign JD at any cost. Hell, he maybe willing to go with what he's got. He has entire staring position players back with the promise of many of them might perform better in 2018. if you are going to blame anyone for DD's overpay his first year, blame it on the previous management. Hell they get all the credit for last two years, they should also get the blame for putting DD in a difficult situation.

Is it possible decision makers are tired of Borass schtick? At some point will he be accused of conflict of interest charge? How many top tier talent can he represent at once? How can he not prioritize his clients?

We don't win the division without Price in 2016. DD did what he had to do, 3 last places in 4 years. Do you honestly think he wasn't going to sign Price? Hell, we could have just kept Ben if you wanted to come in dead last.

it's all Ben's fault for signing Sandoval.

Sometimes good signing is that one you let it get away.....

"show me the money"...if Sox gives him the most money and most years when he becomes a FA, Betts will sign with Sox.

Wouldn't Arizona have some concerns about J.D. playing outfield in out lying years?

http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/01/dave_dombrowskis_boston_red_so.html#incart_river_index Masslive has excellent summary of 27 players traded by DD. On the surface the one that really hurt was the Thornburg deal. Of course things can still change as some of these young players mature. Right now, for me, Kimbrel trade looks fair (Moon will argue we are paying FA money plus gave away prospects). I simply can't fault the Sale's trade no matter how good Kopech and Moncada turns out. Margot is starting CF for the Padres but his path was blocked with the Sox. Anderson Espinoza (Pomeranz)has dropped to #7 in Padres organizational ranking. He's still young and can recover from his surgery. Another solid year from Pom will go long way in justifying the trade. Dever's success will also go long way in erasing memories of couple of these trades. Moncade and Shaw. Carson Smith with 3 years of team control for Wade Miley definitely looks to be a winner especially if he can lock down the set up role. We still may get some mileage from Elias. I'm anxious to see where Micahel Chaviz's game is in September.

I'm anxious to see who gets the 'call up' this year. We've had Benintendi two years ago and Devers last year. Who are likely candidates? Perhaps a pitcher this year?

Wouldn't the other way around also be true? Who else is lurking?

Who is still in running for Martinez? Sox and the Diamondbacks?

nms

We already have an offer to Martinez. I'm sure DD has consulted with Henry about having to pay that $10M in penalty and he's received Henry's blessings.

Cot's Baseball has updated Sox payroll using estimate of $9M for Betts. Our projected payroll is $204M, $7M over the limit without any other FA signing. Martinez offer will take us into the 12% surtax territory (on top of 20% for going over $197M). Basically we have $33M to play with before hitting the 42.5% death tax. I don't see us offering more than $125M/5 year deal to Martinez. We'll need $8M for contingencies at trade deadline, assuming we sign Martinez for $25/yr deal. It's imperative that we don't pick up Hanley's vested option for 2019. We will absolutely not extend Porcello after 2019. I can see Sox shopping him if a viable alternative surfaces in our farm system. It would also help if we don't have a need for Kimbrel in 2019 and beyond. Basically we can use Hanley's money to sign Pom (his $8.5M for 2018 is already baked in, so it's a delta of say $11.5M to give him a $20M deal). That still leaves around $9M from Hanley's contract that can even go for Kimbrel. He's already making $13M. Sale's new contract can come from the money we're paying Sandoval right now. That's $19M in savings plus what Chris is making right now to get him to $30M plus. Luxury tax limit will jump to $206M in 2019 or $9M increase. That amount should cover much of the arbitration raises from 2018 to 2019. Basically we're good through 2020, window of 3 years. Younger kids need to emerge over the next three years.

Franchise value in baseball is based solely on future cash flow. CBA is a major part of cash flow. The last one was a winner for the owners.

THAT makes me fell better. Contract isn't as bad as........

Quite honestly, I'm hoping he retires after realizing he can't perform at the level he wants.