Nick

You can't separate Farm System from its major league team. You are ultimately judged by how well your mlb team performs. Only reason to have a good minor league system is to advance its players upward. That's exactly what the Sox has done. (use minor league players to supplant parent team, via promotion or by trading them for a major leaguer) It's all about replacing outgoing players via minor league player promotion, trade or FA signings. These are AFTER the season situation. After 2017 season Clay B, Chris Young, Mitch Moreland and Abad....savings in payroll $27,500 Will need to replace 1B and of depth. Sam Travis could really help out the situation if he comes through during 2017 and be major league ready for 2018 season. Will give the Sox team control until 2023. Sox really needs to be careful with how the savings are spent. Sox may want to think about using the money to extend some of the exisisting contracts. Getting into a long term contract with a new player will have dire consequences later. Can we extend Xander for average value of $25M, say 4 yrs at $100M? That's buying out two arb years and two FA years. He can then still go for a bigger payout before reaching 30. After 2018 Pom, Kimbrel, Kelly, Ross. (Price can opt out but unlikely at this point)....savings in payroll $21,100 (assuming no change to Pom arb #'s). Kimbrel can be resigned, has club option. Our bullpen depth again will be tested if we let Kelly and Ross walk. I think DD likes Pom. Porcello/Sale FA is looming. After 2019 Porcello, Sale, Thornsburg, Workman, Ramirez, Sandoval and Xander....savings in payroll of $82,625. If Kimbrel's option is picked up after 2018, then he's also in this group...savings go to $94M. Do we have enough $$$ to sign Porcello, Sale and Xander? Will need DH, 3B and a closer. Will Devers be ready or is he already on the roster? Will someone already on the team assume the closer role? Maybe Groome or someone else is ready to replace one of Porcello/Sale. After 2020 Bradley Jr, Betts, Steven Wright, Sandy Leon.....where does the money come from if we spend all $94M from previous year? Something has to give..... Maybe Kimmi has been right all along....

But you just said we gutted our future for Sale.....and we'll pay for it 8 years from now.....my head is spinning Moon....

I think everyone liked Ben. It's the march towards second consecutive last place finish that ended his career. Of course having his one hand tied behind his back when it came to signing 30+ something, tons of mileage free agent starting pitchers, did him no favors.

Lets get serious. You buy the Red Sox. How would you build a team? Think outside of box a bit. Presumably you paid about $3B for the team in 2017. Now unless you're shiek with constant oil revenue flowing in, let's assume you have to show a profit. You can't simply transfer oil money to baseball and spend $300M on 40 man roster. 1) strictly through the farm system. You live with it. You also trade out one or two years out of of team control players for fresh meat. You do several 1 for 2 or 1 for 3 type of deals to replenish the farm system. Absolutely no FA signings over $2-3M per year. Now you become the Rays. You are still making good profit but eventually TV/gate revenue will go down unless somehow you're winning on the field because your baseball people are simply better than 29 other teams in drafting and developing. It's doable but unrealistic. 2) DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW WHAT THE COST OF TOTAL MINOR LEAGUE OPERATION IS FOR A CLUB SUCH AS RED SOX. WHAT ABOUT INTERNATIONAL OPERATION? what if we go to the other extreme? Nothing but free agents on the 25 man roster. Maybe the major league rule prohibits it. But what if we trim Sox non major league operation to bear minimum? Will there be an annual savings of say $25M? Or is it more? I'm talking about players, scouts, operations staff and non baseball staff members dealing with non major league matters. What I'm getting at is can you build a team with strictly free agents? I'm not talking about everyone making $5M+ salaries. Many would make close to league minimum. How can we not field a competitive team with annual spending of luxury tax limit plus $25M or whatever the savings amount to? Will this team be competitive enough to keep up the top line? (ie gate, TV and other revenues). Obviously you go somewhere in between. I like the approach of building a team internally. Then you add pieces through trades and free agents. I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT DD IS DOING, ALBEIT HE CAME IN LATE IN THE PROCESS AND HE'S THE ONE THAT'S ADDING PIECES THROUGH TRADES AND SIGNING FREE AGENTS FOR THE FINAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUSH. BEN AND THEO STARTED. (I will give that to Kimmi, unbegrudgingly.) Sox Nation had the sweet taste of winning it all, three times and now we all crave for the 4th. I believe that's what Henry and the whole gang is aiming for. They can feel it. They're close. If we can win one over the next three years, then its been worth it from their perspective. They obviously are bit more optimistic about restocking the farm, knowing they have a bit longer to do it because of several team controlled talent currently on Sox major league roster.

I'm having whatever he's having....well said. Some of our posters should go cheer for someone else's farm teams. I'd suggest Iowa, Tennessee, Myrtle Beach and South Bend teams.

I'm just glad you're not managing the Sox. You really don't have a clue how E Rod is valued by DD, do you? Send him back to minors? For what? Why not send back Beni so we can keep him under team control little longer. DD told John to play the best 3B and not worry about the contracts. E Rod belongs in Sox rotation.

1 Kimbrel, Craig rhp-c 6.066 $10,500,000 $12.00 2 Thornburg, Tyler rhp 3.057 $2,200,000 a2 a3 3 Kelly, Joe rhp 4.029 $2,600,000 a3 4 Ross, Robbie lhp 4.1 $1,800,000 a3 5 Abad, Fernando lhp 5.073 $2,000,000 6 Smith, Carson rhp 2.028 $600,000 a2 a3 7 Barnes, Matt rhp 1.11 $600.000 a2 a3 8 Hembree, Heath rhp 1.106 $600,000 a1 a2 a3 9 Workman, Brandonrhp 3.018 $600,000 a2 a3 Total Projected Payroll $21,000,000 $12 $0 $0 $0 Really not my problem if we're f***ing stupid enough to keep a $13.5M in non closer role. I stand by my post.

I'll take my chance winning a series with Sale pitching twice. That has to make our chance of winning greater than whatever it was previously. There's several ways to look at his addition for regular season. Our fifth starter spot was horrific last year. Inserting Sale in that spot makes us significantly better, not marginally better as some sports writer hack has claimed. Yeah I get it that we mortgaged our future years 6-10 for THAT priviledge. Even with payroll of $200M, we're destined to be doomed after 2020. At some point, I'll be dead and I won't have to worry about it.

Red Sox wisely passed on Koji, Tazawa and Ziegler. The latter two would have cost the Sox $14M per for 2 years. Koji went for $6M. Our bullpen should come in under $20M. DD is looking to future by re-setting the luxury tax rate.

Some fans want EVETYTHING. Win now and also wants a guaranty 10 years from now. You should bury your money in the back yard and get rid of your dog if you don't want to take any risks.

You of all people wanted Sale. Now we have him. Which is it? Did you think we were going to get him for NOTHING? If baffles for me. You've been on both sides. WE DON'T HAVE TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE f***ING FARM SYSTEM. YOU THINK DD IS A f***ING MORAN? YOU NEED HIGH CEILING GUYS TO FILL IN. NOT ALL 9 POSITION SPOTS WILL OPEN UP AT ONCE. WE ARE RED SOX. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT DD WILL PUT A COMPETITIVE TEAM OUT THERE AS LONG AS HE'S DIRECTING THE TEAM.

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (pictured) made his first start of the winter for the Navegantes del Magallanes on Thursday, tossing two perfect innings and striking out three. Dominican Baseball League Marco Hernandez had a big week for the Tigres del Licey, going 7 for 18 at the plate, clubbing a homer and a double apiece on Friday and Saturday. Third baseman Rafael Devers received just two plate appearances last week, going 0 for 2. Roenis Elias continued his strong run this winter, tossing six strong innings while allowing a run on five hits on Thursday, lowering his ERA to 2.06 in 35 innings pitched. Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League Catcher Christian Vazquez was 3 for 14 at the plate this week, bringing his line to .266/.365/.328 in 18 games. Rusney Castillo hit the ground running this week, going 6 for 14 with a double in his first four games in Puerto Rico. Joseph Monge was 2 for 3 in his only start of the week and scored a run as a pinch-runner.

All of you with panties bunched up. Beni 17 18 19 20 21 22 Swihart 17 18 19 20 21 Pedey 17 18 19 20 21 Bradley 17 18 19 20 Betts 17 18 19 20 Bogaertz 17 18 19 Vazquez 17 18 19 20 Sandy 17 18 19 20 Haley 17 18 19 Pablo 17 18 19. Holt 17 18 19 Price 17 18 19 20 21 22 E Rod 17 18 19 20 21 Wright 17 18 19 20 Porcello 17 18 19 Sale 17 18 19 Pom 17 18 AND YOU ARE ASSUMING THEY ARE ALL LEAVING when faced with Free Agency. We're in good shape for next 4 years. You don't think we'll acquire some young players via trade or draft in addition to extending contracts of current players? DD is intent on keeping our outfield intact. What about last year's draft class? Dalbec? Chatam? Throw in guys like Devers who many think will be better defensive 3B man than Moncada. Better feet. Sam Travis? Groome? With a September call up, Devers and Travis will be under team control until 2023. See how that works? I'd get rid of Clay's salary in the spring (assuming everyone is healthy) and then extend Pomeranz after season starts. Don't jump off the bridge yet. You can wait 4 years at least.

So you would have risked not winning the division title by doing nothing? I'm glad we made the trade, I'm glad we won the Division. I want Monday am quarterbacks to tell Ortiz we're doing NOTHING because we don't want to mortgage our future at the time when we were desperate for a starter.

There's a move to get under the luxury tax just to reset it. It's not the gross penalty amount they are concerned with, it's carrying over the high % into future years. Go read the article about the two days surrounding winter meeting. DD wants to stay below cap.

Trade may not happen until spring training when someone goes down.

I enjoy 'constructing' a team that's been my favorite since 1967. I'm a nerd. I enjoy predicting what the team may look like five or six years from now. I will say this for nay sayers. We are one of top 5 spending teams in the league and that will not change. If we can't build a future with $200M annual spending, well I have no sympathy.

Assuming Price does not opt out, I don't think we'll be able to sign BOTH Sale and Porcello for 2020. It's difficult to project out that far but I'm hoping Groome in on track to be a top notch starter. (assuming DD hasn't traded him away, lol). E Rod will be in his 5th of 6th year for FA purposes. Say we sign Sale.... our rotation will be Price, Sale, E Rod, Wright and Groome for 2020. I would like for Drew Pomeranz to be extended through 2020. I think he's on the verge of breaking out. Getting rid of Clay B will make that possible. It's clear what DD's mo is. He prefers big, badass, starting pitchers. DD likes both E Rod and Pomeranz and in the end, it matters little what YOU (all of us part time GMs) think.

What if we did not make the deal for Sale? Is it possible that we won anyway? We got a reliever to go along with Carson Smith returning. Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, Ross are all year older. If healthy, our starting five should have been decent. We also signed a decent 1B for 1 year. Sale's contract is very enticing I'll admit. Don't get me wrong. I'm pretty excited for 2017. I really wanted our OF to stay in tact and got my wish. Best scenario for me? win the next two world series and have Price opt out. Resign Sale and Porcello, Devers and Smith break in at corner infield spots and retain the killer B's. And it would be nice if Groome was ready for 2019 September call up.

I was dead set vs trading away Moncada and Kopech. We invested $60M on Moncada. Kopech was that kid that had a chance to break the stigma of not developing TORS internally. Now there's a tremendous pressure on Groome and Devers to come through for the organization. At some point, one of these kids will have to show up as a star in mlb.

If Price opts out then money maybe there. Otherwise, I just don't see it. Why would we spend that much money with pending FA looming at SS, CF, RF and starting pitching? Best we can hope for maybe for Travis/Devers to come through and give us 6 years of control each at corner infield positions. This is why we also need to get rid of Clay B before his entire value gets destroyed by injury or bad start in 2017. Take the money off the table and put it in your pocket. It may not be full $13.5M, but do it. Price, Porcello and Sale have shown if nothing else to be durable pitchers;

I think you are missing two big FA after 2019.....along with Porcello, Sale and Hanley will be gone. It will cost us $5M to say good bye to Pablo. That means $40M in savings (Hanley/Pablo) to replace Porcello/Sale/Xander. ($70M if Price opted out year earlier). Starters Price 17 18 19 20 21 22 (unless he opts out after 2018, we should be hoping for this?) Sale 17 18 19 Porcello 17 18 19 E Rod 17 18 19 20 21 Wright 17 18 19 20 Pom 17 18 Hanley 17 18 19 Xander 17 18 19 Betts 17 18 19 20 Bradley 17 18 19 20 Beni 17 18 19 20 21 22 Pedy 17 18 19 20 21 Swihart 17 18 19 20 21 Vazquez 17 18 19 20 Leon 17 18 19 20 say Travis 1B 18 19 20 21 22 23 Devers 3B 19 20 21 22 23 24 It would be nice if both Devers and Travis would be ready for 2018 season. Jason Groome perhaps can help the Sox by 2020 season when Porcello/Sale reach free agency. Can Dalbec and Chatam arrive by 2020 (if Xander goes elsewhere)? We just don't have much coming off the books. Anyone still wanting to trade E Rod? You're f***ing nuts. I would also prioritize Porcello and Sale before Xander. I rather have pitching than a SS wanting to make $30M. I also rather keep my OF in tact. More I think about it, there's no reason to get rid of any of our catchers. Swihart can learn to play multiple positions, C, LF, 1B, 3B DH. Just having a chance to get to the playoffs and doing some damage once we're in it, FOR NEXT 3 YEARS, we have to give credit to DD. I can see us being competitive for 2020 if couple of kids come through.

Anyone think players did not get much out of this round of Collective Agreement? Fangraph while back had an article about the gap widening between team revenue and competitive balance threashhold (Luxury Tax). For us simpletons, it just means more money in the pocket for the owners. Henry could always use the excuse of not wanting to pay the tax, therefore suppressing payroll. Big spenders are already close to the gap and unwilling to go over the cap and face what appears to be harsher penalties. What that tells me is that it's unrealistic to award a $40M annual contract to Betts or any one player. There's simply not enough room to fit under the cap if you are paying couple of players $70M. It's possible that more players will benefit by getting a raise to $15-$20 per annum range, thus making the league more competitive. Sox will struggle for forseeable future to keep it under the cap.

Don't we have several 'farm sytem' players excelling in the majors? Beni, Bradley Jr, Betts, Xander, Swihart, Vazquez and Holt. Throw in E Rod for good measure. It's not asinine to think they are still in AAA. We still have Devers, Travis, Groome, Dalbec, Chatham and Oakimey in the minors. Let's just see where we are in three years. Looks to me like we're sitting pretty good. Xander/Holt 3 yrs, Betts/Bradley Jr/Vazques/Sandy Leon..4 yrs....Swihart 5..Benintendi 6...Sam Travis/Dever...7 years.....HOW MANY f***ING YEARS DO YOU WANT COVERED? Price 6 yrs, E Rod 5 yrs, Wright 4 yrs, Porcello 3 yrs, Sale 3 yrs, Pomeranz/Kelly 2 yrs, Carson Smith 4 yrs, Thornburg 3 yrs, Barnes, Hembree, Elias 5 yrs...I'm a half empty type guy but our glass looks to be pretty full.

Unless he can play 3rd, I'd say NO