Nick

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.

DD made the right call. He decided hot shot Moncada was expendable because of Devers. One of best trades we made to get Sale. The extension of Sale was the problem in hindsight. Sale does have two more years to redeem himself. I think Sox will pick up his option in 2025 assuming he stays healthy all of 2024. Big if I know.

Duran has 5 years to Verdugo's 1.

It's a good starting point. Jansen has another year left so he's our closer for next year. I would pencil in Pivetta, Winckowski, Crawford and Bernardino on the roster for pitching.

Stick him in left field. He has athleticism to get better defensively, unlike Yoshida.

AMOUNT UNDER THE CAP FOR 2024 $103M LA Dodgers $ 80M Atlanta Braves $ 70M Houston Astros $ 80M Boston Red Sox $ 40M NY Yankees $215M Baltimore Orioles $ 96M Toronto Blue Jays I don't list Tampa because they won't spend money. This is what we're up against. We will need to break the first threashhold to keep up with the Jones. Good luck. And this is why we don't sign players such as Paxton. Bundle the money and spend it on QUALITY, HEALTHY PLAYERS. ps. Yankees are in bad shape.

Geez, it's all about business. It took Verdugo's fifth, team controlled year to finally be productive, offensively and defensively. Negative is whatever it is that Cora always has to set him down for a fireside chat. I'm going to ignore that aspect. I don't see much of drop off playing Abreu. He can hit. He sees the ball, he puts the barrel to the ball. Some guys just do that..... He is under team control for six years beginning in 2024. In theory, he has four years and in his fifth year to match Verdugo's stats from this year, mostly at a minimum wage. Use the savings towards PITCHING. That is what is all about with the Sox right now. SHIFT THE f***ING FUNDS TO PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING. We've already saved $10M by getting rid of a narcissist. That money will help pay for Devers new contract.

Why would we want Paxton? He ended up on the injured list. He is broken down. This is what Sox needs to get away from. Sign healthy players.

Neither was Verdugo in right. You do realize Duran has the athleticism to get better? Unlike Yoshida?

Can you imagine how bad this team would have been without Turner? Nice job by DD signing him.

I don't see him effective in 2025. We'll have Yoshida to DH. So essentially you want to pay him $25M+ for one year of service?

Anything is possible but it's hard for me to imagine a player that was drafted in the summer of 2023 to make the team on April 2024. I expect him to be a September call up at best.

How much more can Turner get with another club? He's 38, ready to break down at any moment. Nothing worse than being bad and collecting paycheck. I don't think that's Turner's MO. He loves Boston. I think he'll opt in.

Possible starting lineup? CF Duran/Rafaela 3B Devers DH Turner/Yoshida 1B Casas/Turner RF Abreu/Rafaela LF Yoshida/Refsnyder SS Story/Reyes CC Wong/McGuire 2B Rafaela (this was brought up by Cora, not me)/Reyes/Urias OK, that's 14

I would trade Verdugo and see what we can get this winter before committing to extending him. Our goal is to be in the playoffs annually starting in 2024. He should be replaced. I don't see much more upside from him to warrant a big contract.