Nick

I know I know....many of you aren't enthralled with Abreu, yet but Can he exceed Verdugo's numbers and save the Sox $6-8M? 80 Runs 36 Doubles 13 HR 54 RBI .753 OPS (He's ranked 5th out of 9 eligible right fielders in AL. He's closer to bottom 4 than the top 3, all over .803 OPS) Again, for me, it's like watching Beni and I lost interest in Beni long ago.

Suppose we get two top line pitchers for 2024. SP 1 FA SP 2 FA SP 3 Bello SP 4 Pivetta (yes he's back in my grace) SP 5 Sale, Crawford, Houck Clos. Jansen Setup Martin BP Winckowski, Whitlock, Schreiber, Bernardino, others Do you think this lineup will score enough runs? 1 Rafaela/Duran CF 2 Devers 3B 3 Duvall, LF 4 Casas 1B 5 Story SS 6 Abreu RF 7 Yoshida DH 8 Reyes 2B 9 Wong C Combination of players, LF, CF, RF, 1B, DH, 6 total from Rafaela, Abreu, Duran, Casas, Yoshida, Duvall

2019 team was predicted to win 95 games, just 2 below the Yankees and 3 below the Astros. My recollection was that pitching staff faltered. Wasn't that the spring we held back the starters? Extra month of work in 2018 was the reason given.

This is how I look at it. Despite all the knives thrown at our favorite Japanese whipping boy-son, our outfield improved greatly offensively. Don't forget that many of you didn't think much of Verdugo's defense in 2022. 2023 OF & DH Yoshida Turner Duvall 87 games Duran 102 games Verdugo 137 games, OPS of .753 I think this group for 2024 maybe better Duvall 140 games (previous Gold Glove winner) Rafaela 150 games (future Gold Glove winner) Abreu 150 games (I will leave this site if Abreu can't hit above .750 OPS, that's how confident I am) Duran 150 games (his D improves by refining the stuff between the ears) Yoshida -DH primarily (I will miss his short strides...any analysis on how many steps he takes to get to a routine flyball?) And we shed some payroll....our defense improves simply by not playing Yoshida in left field

Verdugo doesn't interest me anymore. Year 6. $8M for 2024? I rather watch Abreu. He has more power potential. $1M for 2024. The difference will cover Pivetta's pay or close to it. Or throw on top of what we're going to offer the Japanese pitcher. That's how you manage payroll. Verdugo looks like he's following Beni career path. Some say he has no trade value so keep him? If he's as good as many here thinks, he should have some trade value, no?

I still like Dalbec.

Devers raise is taken care by getting rid of Kike. At least that's how think. (Oh no, who will play shortstop?)

Max Scherzer will cost Texas $23M, not the entire $43M. Mets will eat the $20M. Verlander will cost Houston $18M, not the entire $43M. Mets will eat the $25M.

No, it did not. (I am agreeing with you Notin) Despite having these offensive prowess: .940 JD Martinez .939 Xander .916 Devers .915 Betts Sox finished 84-78, 12 games back of Rays for the last wild card spot. (two teams) Despite having opening day starting rotation of 34 GS E Rod 32 GS Porcello 25 GS Sale 22 GS Price 12 GS Eovaldi How did that work out? I certainly didn't enjoy it. Not after what we did in 2018. 12 f***ING GAMES BACK. THINK ABOUT THAT. (We are 9 games back right now). Now I have enjoyed watching Bello, Casas (after April), Duran, Wong and now Rafaela and Abreu. Our future along with Devers. We have $79M to spend according to Cot's. That goes up to $90M if Turner opts out as many thinks he will. Pivetta and Verdugo may cost as much as $15M, reducing the 'available' to $75M. I would hope we spend $30M and $20M on two starting pitchers and trade for third.

Again, we should have been selling not standing still at trade deadline. Paxton and Duvall should have fetched us a solid reliever or two. No?

You may not care but having $90M invested in 3 offensive players probably means no money left over for starting pitching. You can't come up with fantasy baseball team without budget. Is that how your fantasy league works?

Well, there's Pivetta.

No No No.....are you freakin' serious? You are going to trade 5 years of team control of Duran for a one year rental? You have no idea what the ceiling is for Duran. Sure, he may be a bust. But my guess is Cora likes his speed, his bat and probably thinks his defense will improve. Let's be real. So in 2025, Ha-Seong Kim is no longer with the Sox. Meanwhile, Duran is going into his prime baseball years on the cheap in San Diego? No way, Jose. Go sign some freakin' free agent pitchers. We've waited too long to have our young players dismantled.

$90M invested in 3 players and we would still suck? Fun team to watch in19? That was agonizing year. Again pitching imploded. Do you not see the common denominator with our World Series teams? I wouldn't watch 10-6 games that we lose day after day.

I almost threw up when the color guy on NESN said Rafaela reminded him of Kike. A good defender at short, second and in the outfield. He really got me excited about Rafaela. Not!

Bello Pivetta Crawford Sale Houck Even if all five stay healthy and starts 25 games, it's a mediocre starting pitching staff. Need top of line pitcher. Not just an inning eater.

Beni with biggest White Sox signing, 5 year, $75M. For all you Beni fans. We dodged a bullett.

Taking the page out of Bloom's play book I see.

I would love to see Dalbec get another shot as a utility player. I heard he's learning to play outfield. He just looks more comfortable at the plate.

Problem facing Red Sox A Pitching 1 Starting pitcher 2 Starting pitcher 3 Starting pitcher 4 Left handed reliever (that's what I am reading) I see Bello as the only sure thing. Next up is Kutter Crawford, based mostly on his durability for most of 2023. The third spot can come from one of Pivetta, Sale and Houck. Catching is not an issue 1B, maybe a right handed back up that can play multiple positions 2B, Reyes and Urias, they can also back up Story SS, Story 3B, Devers (with a new 10 year deal, he's not moving to 1B anytime soon, get over it.) OF, Duran, Rafaela, Refsnyder, Abreu, Verdugo DH, Yoshida (let him play some outfield and rest some of the regulars at DH) Add Duvall and Turner type, both right handed bats that can play all 3 outfield positions (duvall), DH, 1B (Turner) Love to see an upgrade at 2B. As long as our pitching staff gets organized, we can go do everything else. Soto in 2025?

Red, I respect you. For me it's not about the rankings but the players themselves that are showing up. Sure the list I gave may not work out but it's better than few years back. Nothing is a sure thing when it come to pre-arbitration guys.

I am good with adding veterans on short term deals.

You are probably correct.....then why extend him?

If they hire me to run the team, I will turn into DD when it comes to FA. No doubters, overpay them if you must. I will get the starting pitchers I need. That is my mandate, pretty similar to the one DD got when he was hired on the heels of 3 last place finishes in 4 years.

I'm just not freaking out over prospect of losing Verdugo. His value right now is at all time high. He may garner a $10M Arbitration 3 figure. I really like Abreu to take his spot. Remember that everyone here thought no way in hell can Verdugo play right field. Funny how that works. (I don't see how Duran as an example can not get better) From gathering "core group" to go get the next World Series title, Abreu makes more sense to me. CC Wong, 5 years CC McGuire, 2 years 1B Casas, 5 years 2B Reyes, 4 years SS Story, 5 years (including option) 3B Devers, 10 years LF Abreu, 6 years CF Duran, 5 years RF Rafaela, 6 years DH Yoshida, 4 years By all means, sign Duvall and Turner to supplant the core group above, even STARTING them over our youngsters. My point is we have a core group going forward with good team controlled years ahead. The goal for new GM obviously is to UPGRADE these guys when someone better is available. I am NOT MARRIED TO THE GUYS ON MY CORE LIST. IT'S MERELY A STARTING POINT. I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD ONE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TEAM CONTROLLED YEARS. Now go get some starting pitching.