Fan_since_Boggs

Interesting thought. I would want to pay Maybin less than 3 million, though. The Red Sox could pursue some kind of low cost CF option, veteran player trying to resurrect his career. That player gets the first shot at CF while Duran gets more minor league experience. If the vet doesn't work out, you promote Duran maybe one-third of the way into the season. The key is go cheap in CF, save that 10 million that would have gone to Bradley. We also have to consider that the Red Sox will have a trade chip in Bradley. He isn't going to bring back an elite prospect, but I would assume that Bradley, due to the dearth of quality CFs in baseball, would bring back a decent relief arm.

The idea that the Braves are going to trade for Betts and then pay him is laughable.

According to your own numbers, the Red Sox don't go over 237 m even if they sign a SP like Wheeler. And after signing Wheeler, the Red Sox would be about 10 million under 237 if we change Betts to 25 million (rather than your 33 m). The Red Sox have Dalbec who is blocked at 3b and they can trade him for bullpen help. The Red Sox bullpen wasn't a complete disaster this year anyway and they have some young guys like Hernandez and Taylor who look really good. The Red Sox can hold on to their three best prospects, Mata, Casas, and Jimenez, while remaining under 237.

No it wouldn't. You only lose 10 spots in the draft if you spend over 237 m. The Red Sox could sign Wheeler, pay Betts 25 m next year, and would be about 10 million under 237. Again, they won't have a lot of money left over to sign a relief pitcher but they can address the bullpen through trades. The relief free agent market is kind of weak anyway and I don't want to pay W.Smith over 10 m, which is probably what he will get.

It is also worth noting that you have 33 m for Betts, but if the Red Sox don't resign him in the offseason, we are looking at paying him maybe 25 m next year? Moreover, the Red Sox could get creative with a Betts extension--that is, they could follow the B.Harper example: make Betts a Red Sox for life, but sign him for about 25 m per year. Harper signed that kind of contract. In any event, the Red Sox don't need to worry about resigning Betts in the offseason--they can just resign him when he reaches free agency. At that point, only a few teams will be bidding on him anyway. The Yankees won't be involved and the Dodgers have been avoiding giving out long term lucrative contracts. Who else will bid on Mookie? The Mets won't. The Phillies won't. The Padres won't. The Rays won't. The Marlins won't. The Angels won't. The Cubs won't. The Royals won't. Sure, a few teams will pop up and make aggressive offers but the Red Sox can deal with that.

I have Chavis starting at 2b, but if Marco can stay healthy and hit .300, Chavis is always an option at 1b too. I like Dalbec, but I just think the Red Sox can get a nice return for him and his above average defense at 3b makes him more valuable to a team that has a hole at 3b.

The free agent class won't be loaded with relievers. Chapman will be out there (he will opt out), but I would expect the Yankees to resign him. I think the Red Sox should spend big on one free agent--a starting pitcher, and then find relievers through the trade market. Again, Dalbec would be a great piece to bring back a quality reliever. Signing Wheeler would bring the Red Sox close to that 237 mark, but not over Will Smith is a free agent. If the Red Sox sign him, they wouldn't have the money for a starter like Wheeler; the Red Sox would need to shop on the next tier down on the starter free agent market. Let's say Dalbec brings back a quality cost-controlled reliever. The Red Sox would still have Workman. Hernandez could develop into an elite bullpen arm. That's three quality relievers. Maybe Braiser and/or Barnes have better seasons in 2020 (so far so good for Brasier in AAA). Of course, none of this works if C.Sale and Eavoldi don't have better years. But a starting staff of Sale, Eavoldi, Rodriguez, Wheeler, and Price could be very good. And it goes without saying that the Red Sox will have one of the best offenses in baseball next year. Lineup: Betts RF Benintendi LF Bogaerts SS Devers 3b Martinez DH Chavis 2b Vazquez C Ockimey/Travis 1b Duran CF

His value is tied to his defense. Since the Red Sox don't need a 3b, Dalbec will have more value for another team that has an opening at 3b. I see Dalbec as a trade chip for a cost-controlled player--maybe a 1b, maybe a CF or LF, maybe a relief pitcher.

I'm not sure what this is. I overlooked Pedroia's contract. Can the Red Sox get out of that contract, like have Pedroia retire and then the Red Sox hire him to a front office position, paying him big bucks but it won't count toward the luxury tax? Wheeler: I'm estimating between 15-20 million per year. According to your numbers, it sounds like they could sign Wheeler but then the Red Sox would have absolutely no money for the bullpen. Like 1b, I'm going with a minimum salary in CF, perhaps Duran if he continues to produce throughout the month of August. There has to be a way to sign an SP like Wheeler and shave off a little money somewhere to bring in a bullpen arm.

This happened to Wade Boggs too. Good to see Ockimey with another HR against a RHP. The guys rakes against RHP. I asked this in another post, but what do people think of a platoon of Ockimey/Travis for 1b next year, with Ockimey facing righties (2019 AAA numbers against righties: 233 AB, 18 HR, .249 AVG, .390 OBP, .935 OPS); Travis facing lefties? Both players would be making league minimum. Duran with his first HR in Double A. After getting off to a slow start, he has really adjusted to the league.

And if the Yankees make it past the first round, which is not a certainty due to their awful starting staff, the Yankees will be the Astros bitch (again). I can't wait to see it. Teams don't repeat anymore. A World Series hangover seems to be a real thing. It would be stupid to tear the Red Sox down and begin rebuilding at this juncture. The Red Sox are only one year removed from winning 119 games. We know for certain that the Red Sox will have one of the better offenses next year. The Red Sox need to improve their pitching, but that can happen, Sale can have a big year again, Eavoladi could put it together, etc.

No, it doesn't. The math works out. What do people think of a platoon of Ockimey/Travis for 1b next year, with Ockimey facing righties (2019 AAA numbers against righties: 233 AB, 18 HR, .249 AVG, .390 OBP, .935 OPS); Travis facing lefties? EDIT: just checked again, I'm at around 200 million with P.Wheeler signed. Maybe 210 is more like it, but that gives the Red Sox a lot of room to add a reliever, a really good reliever. The Red Sox just need to avoid the 237 million mark.

You can just sense the fear in Jackson's posts when he writes about the Red Sox tearing it down and planning for 2023. After all, he does fear the Red Sox, call it the residual effects from 2004 when the Yankees were up 3 games to 0 in the ALCS and the Red Sox came back and won four straight. Do you remember watching that historic series, Jackson? And who can forget last year's playoff series when the Red Sox kicked the living crap out of the Yankees all over the field. Miraculously, the Yankees won one game in that series at Fenway Park. They went home to Yankees stadium thinking they were in it with the series tied at 1-1. Wrong again . . . the Red Sox simply destroyed the Yankees in Yankees Stadium, just like they did in 2004 in the old stadium. If Jackson doesn't remember 2004, I'm sure he remembers the massacre in 2018.

I don't believe the Red Sox have any intention to tear this down and rebuild. There is too much talent here to give up in 2020. There are a few pitching issues, but we are talking about one of the best offenses in baseball. M.Betts will be signed to a long term deal. The Red Sox have the resources for him. The Red Sox need C.Sale and Eavoldi to return to form, and they need to find another starter. D.Price is what he is--a middle of the rotation starter at best, but maybe something below that. The Red Sox don't have the resources to bid on G.Cole (extreme cost: probably over 200 million) and I hate spending more free agent dollars on a starting pitcher, but the Red Sox have no choice. I would expect the Red Sox to invest around 15-20 million per year in another starter, maybe a guy like P.Wheeler. Bradley jr. is gone--that 10 million will be invested in a SP. The Red Sox will go cheap at CF and 1b--league minimum salaries. I suppose the Red Sox could also move Benintendi to CF and go cheap in LF. At 2b, I would expect Chavis to start. I don't know the Red Sox's plans for Dalbec, but I see him as a trade chip for a league minimum outfielder or 1b. Once you add Wheeler and subtract Bradley, there is still money for the bullpen. The Red Sox need a closer, but I don't have any ideas on where they could find one--maybe through free agency, maybe the trade market. I don't believe the Red Sox are totally desperate in the bullpen: Barnes could have a better year, Workman is a solid 8th inning guy, and D.Hernandez has shown signs of dominance. It is quite possible that the Red Sox see Hernandez as a bullpen piece going forward and he has the stuff to develop into an elite relief pitcher. I suppose it is possible that Dalbec could be used in a trade for a relief pitcher rather than 1b or outfielder. The Red Sox can do all of this without trading away 3 top prospects: Casas, Mata, Jimenez. The only prospect I propose moving is Dalbec, and teams will want Dalbec--he has big time power and plays a quality 3b. Thus, the Red Sox can set themselves up to be a really, really good team in 2020, and that is not the kind of team you tear down. Moreover, Casas, Mata, and Jimenez are moving quickly through the minors and will be able to help sometime beyond 2020. Moreover, the Red Sox have the opportunity to add another high end prospect through the first round of the 2020 draft.

Dombrowski had the gumption to know that this team wasn't worth improving at the deadline by trading a top prospect. Dombrowski held on to his prospects and, if I"m not mistaken, didn't go over the high luxury tax threshold. So, the Red Sox don't lose 10 spots in the draft. At this point, the Red Sox are looking at an early 20s first round pick, and if things go really bad for them (I would shut down Price and Sale early this year) they could end up with a pick in the 15-20 range.

Ockimey could play a role on the Red Sox next year. Specifically, he has excellent numbers at AAA against RHP. He could start for the Red Sox next year as a low cost option at first base. However, the Red Sox will need to take him out of the order against LHP, which he doesn't hit at all. I don't know who you platoon him with, but it probably won't be difficult to find a right handed batter who can play first base and has excellent numbers against lefties. The Pearce train has come and gone--the Red Sox need to find someone younger. I still like the idea of trying to acquire D.Smith (by trading Dalbec) but if the Mets have other plans for Smith, Ockimey isn't a terrible fall back option. 2020: 1b: Ockimey/??? 2b: Chavis SS: Bogaerts 3b: Devers C: Vazquez LF: Benintendi CF: Duran (and ninth hitter) RF: Betts DH: Martinez w/ M.Hernandez playing the B.Holt role Since he can hit RHP, I would definitely put Ockimey on the 40 man roster. Even if the Red Sox acquire D.Smith, depth will be needed at some point. Ockimey against RHP in AAA this year: 228 AB, 18 HR, .246 AVG, .387 On Base, .931 OPS

Duran is a singles hitter and so OPS isn't going to be kind to him. But when you consider the guy has blazing speed, he can turn singles into doubles by stealing a base here and there. I'm not looking for another Willie Mays; I'm looking for a ninth hitter who can give you batting average similar to Bradley's production. He won't hit the 15 HRs that Bradley will hit but he also won't cost you 10 million. Even with a guy like Duran in the lineup next year, the REd Sox offense will be one of the best in the league. The bigger problem (challenge) is fixing the pitching staff and getting rid of Bradley's contract helps you do that.

Due to Duran's progress in Double AA, due to the fact that the Red Sox will need to find another starting pitcher, as well as upgrades to the bullpen, I would highly doubt Bradley is on the team next year. It makes more sense to trade Bradley, perhaps for a relief arm, free up 10 million, and invest that money in a free agent starter, perhaps. P.Wheeler. Ultimately, Duran at league minimum is a better use of resources than Bradley at 10 million.

Over the last 10 games, Duran has raised his batting average from .229 to .261. He hit .292 for the month of July. If he repeats that in August, I'll go out on a limb and say Duran will be the Red Sox starting CF next year and ninth hitter in the order.

It is so ironic that a Yankees fan who spends his life on a Red Sox forum would call a Red Sox poster a troll. You are the biggest troll around. If I were truly a troll, I would join a Yankees forum and argue with everyone there, just as you do here.

Another two hits for Duran last night, batting average up to .257. If he continues this type of hitting in August, the Red Sox have a new starting CF next year, and Bradley gets traded. Duran will be the 9th hitter in the order, but the Red Sox are going to have an awesome lineup next year and can carry a ninth hitter. Duran will likely struggle for a period of time as he adjusts to major league pitching. Duran won't hit as many HR as Bradley, but he can match Bradley's batting average and he has more speed than Bradley. Bradley has limited trade value, but due to the dearth of quality CFs, someone will be interested in trading for him. The Red Sox would free up around 10 million in payroll, money that, in turn, can be invested in a free agent starter or reliever.

Notin is right, Jackson is wrong (as usual). Jackson has some kind of hard-on for Brian Cashman and can't see things objectively. Jackson couldn't even figure out that passing on P.Corbin and signing crap in JA Happ was a dumb Brian Cashman mistake. Corbin, 142 ERA+, 4.0 WAR Happ, 85 ERA+, 0.4 WAR The Yankees are paying Happ 17 million this year and will pay him 17 million in 2020 and 2021 (if option vests). As far as the Yankees inactivity goes at the trade deadline, it often makes sense to give up prospects (or future WAR) to increase your chances of winning a championship NOW, just ask the great Theo Epstein who traded future WAR in Torres for a rental in A.Chapman. Brian Cashman has been outmaneuvered over the last 3 trade deadlines: 2017, Astros acquire Verlander; 2018 Red Sox acquire Eovaldi and Pearce; 2019 Astros acquire Grienke as Cashman sits around twiddling his thumbs doing nothing.

Don't get me wrong, I like Garcia but he isn't the perfect pitching prospect, not even close. He is small in stature, too many walks in AA and AAA. He just turned 20 and has a long way to go in terms of development. In an ideal world, you don't trade Garcia for a season and a half of Stroman. I understand that. But the point that some are making is that you sometimes "go off course by a couple of degrees" to get that SP that can help you win a championship. At some point, you have to stop thinking about the future, or a player's future WAR, and make a trade for the present opportunity to win a championship. This is what the Cubs did when they traded Torres for Chapman. In some ways, this is what Dombrowski did when he traded all of those prospects for Kimbrell and Sale. On the face of it, the Cubs deal (Torres for Chapman) was more one-sided and absurd than Garcia for Stroman. That is, Torres was a better prospect than Garcia and Chapman was a rental. Theo Epstein still made that deal--he had the guts to make it even though he knew he was trading a potential superstar for a rental. Unlike Chapman, Stroman is under control for next season and thus he would contribute to two October runs for the Yankees. Championships matter most and Stroman gets the Yankees closer to winning one.

Interesting question: "Did [Cashman] do everything possible to make the Yankees better for the stretch run?" I think the obvious answer is, no.

The Blue Jays asked for Torres at one stage, but they couldn't be serious with that asking price. If the Blue Jays accepted Kay and Woods-Richardson for Stroman, there is no way the Blue Jays turn down Garcia and Gil for Stroman or maybe they accept Garcia and a pitching prospect not quite as good as Gil. According to reports, Cashman would not include Garcia in a trade for Stroman. In fact, Cashman wouldn't include Garcia in any trade except one that brought back N.Syndegaard.