Hugh2

I mean, there’s guys on that list who project as middle relievers and up/down depth fielders. Out system has always had plenty of guys. But easily 5-6 years ago the system was as strong, maybe much stronger than it is now

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You do not make MLB roster decisions based on guys still below AA ball. So much can happen from here until there before we even talk about fielding a team before the next two years. Lars Anderson Casey Kelly Ryan Kalish Will Middlebrooks Blake Swihart Yoan Moncada Michael Chavis Jay Groome All top prospects ranked #1 and at least one of those ranked higher than Mayer who were mostly or complete busts. Mayer could be a stud, I think he will be a stud, I want to see him stay with the Sox and become a stud but I'm not planning the team around him. He could move off position, Bogaerts/Correa could move off position, Mayer could get hurt, Mayer could bust. There's just too many permutations to put all your eggs into that basket. Heck if the Sox traded Mayer + for an Alcantara (not happening making a point) after signing Correa would people really be upset? It would be pretty dumb to complain about this team then hate the best SS in baseball plus the best pitcher being brought in....but hey STRANGER THINGS have happened.

I think we get PTSD from bad offseasons and losing seasons and forgot the Sox still are and continue to be one of the biggest spenders in MLB baseball. Every time they go a few years without spending big they go out and set the market time and time and time and time again. With close $100 million to spend and a BIG 4 in SS I think it's a good opinion to have to expect them to go big at SS.

They could easily go Senga ($15) Kluber ($12) Conforto ($15) Correa ($32) and spend 74 million. They'd still have around $15-20 million to improve the bullpen after that, and Conforto could be a 1 year deal. giving them 30-35 million if they want a Devers extension to kick in next year and lower the AAV a little on it. If Eovaldi signs elsewhere you net a pick.

I didn't say they are signing one of Rodon/Verlander/DeGrom, it's, in my opinion, they're not in on any of those guys. Yes, I agree and I think we are in agreement here the Sox are signing two guys from this FA group or at least should. If it pushes someone to the pen that's a good sign....it means Sale and Paxton are healthy. But someone always goes down at some point. You can never have enough pitching.

5 makes a great point, however he could be talking about the entire 2023 FA pitching class as well.

One thing I've learned over the last decade of watching baseball is people have a very warped view of what a #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 starting pitcher is. I suppose it's a little subjective as a team could hypothetically have 2 #1's or even three warping someone's view of what a #3 is.

I think it's the exact opposite. They need two guys, to reiterate my post above they will go with a higher end option and more of a value signing. Eovaldi is not going to cost a lot AAV, and Senga isn't getting what DeGrome/Vernlander/Rodon will get. They may not, but they easily could afford both and still sign a SS/RP/OF. Eovaldi also comes without any draft pick loss which other teams can not say making him much more appealing to Boston. Unless of course you think a Senga signing allows the Sox to go big with either Rodon/Verlander????

The problem is there are only 3 guys you can consider ACES on this years class: Verlander, Rodon, and DeGrome. All of those guys are going to blow up your budget (which would be fine if there weren't so many holes to fill) and carry significant Injury and or age risk. I love Verlander, but there's very high-risk next year is the year he hits the wall and can no longer be a staple in anyone rotation, and if it's not next year then maybe it's the next. Does anyone think that's not a massive risk for 40 million dollars per year for his age 40, 41, and 42 seasons? I really would have to see 70 million wasted on him and Sale with little to nothing to show. DeGrome is a safer bet with age but has the injury track record to scare anyone and he's looking at a massive payout still. A team without as many rotation holes to fill will pay him. I almost want to remove Bassit from my suggestion, I like him, but I don't like losing the pick. This is why I love Senga, no QO, but I still think we need two names and likely have to lose a pick to sign a guy. I think we need two names from the Senga/Walker/Bassitt/Manea/Kluber/Heaney/Eovaldi/Syndergaard group to fill out this rotation. I think one needs to be one of the better betts and the other can be who the Sox think may be this years WACHA type. Go into the season with 7 pitchers who are NOT Wink/Crawford. I really like netting picks and going with a Senga/(Syndergaard or Eovaldi) addition. Heck I'd do the same at SS with either Bogaerts/Correa and call it a good offseason while netting picks.

Oh me too, Wink is very low on my list of guys I expect something from. Still, 99 mph out of the pen makes one wonder.

Everything always depends on Price, but I’d check in on Senga/Taillon/Bassitt. If I trust my scouts and they think Senga is the real deal he’s my #1 because he’s probably costing significantly less than the other top pitchers on the market who all pose either serious age or injury risk. This probably allows me to pick up two guys and still have the budget to either resign Bogey or upgrade at SS. Like I said, everything always comes down to Price. I’d check in on the trade market as well. The Marlins have publicly stated their desire to shed payroll, I would consider taking on Garcias contract to lessen on package for Lopez. Sale Lopez(or Senga) Kluber Bello Pivetta Whitlock Paxton. Sure that’s 7 guys, what are the odds they all stay healthy? If by some miracle they do, you can push a guy to the pen and start the season with a 6 man. As the old saying goes….you can never have enough pitching. People can pick that rotation apart as much as they’d like….but at least it’s an opinion.

The thing is we know the Sox need to get more than one starter. There’s no way they’re dropping prize money on two of them. And there’s no way they should with the amount of roster construction they need. If the Sox pick up a legit #2 type and Kluber is the second guy who they think is this years Wacha….it’s not a bad look

Yeah, we can close the books on this one. Not sure Rosa or Gambrelo will ever amount to anything, but it’s not exactly like Andrew lit the world on fire after the Sox traded him. Still Winck has touched 99 MPH out of the pen, I wonder if he could reestablish himself as an effective reliever if the Sox want to close the book on him as a starter. They could hypothetically win this trade if that happened. I don’t ever want to count on him as a starter so I’d love to see them try him out there. Perhaps they still view him as a swing man.

So then how do you not now there isn’t a better option?

Who would a700hitter have as the #1 #2 #3 #4 #5????

Also everyone is interested in everyone at this point. Depending on the price does anyone doubt the Sox wouldn’t bring back Bogaerts? Or depending on the price take Correa over Bogaerts? You also never know who you may be trading for mid season. Teams talk to players to build rapport. Everyone talks to everyone

This is fair, but when is the last time the Sox went significantly under? It’s a fair assumption they will spend close to the tax line

Why do people assume because there’s a rumor attached to a guy that A.) The Sox are very interested B. The Sox will sign them C. If the former is true it’s somehow their priority. The Sox have a 40 man roster to fill, and people act like every move that isn’t an all star is a horrible one or the roster has to be filled out top to bottom with stars first. Look, it’s well within the rights of fandom to critique ownership, but this line of thinking is just stupid. The winter meetings have not even taken place yet. Just stop with the stupidity please people.

The thing about Cody is his defense gives him a higher floor, he’s still on the right side of his prime snd has an MVP under his belt. It’s a low risk/high reward move. The money saved in the outfield during a year the OF market sucks gives you the financial flexibility to focus more on pitching/SS/extend Devers

I’m going to go cryogenically freeze myself now. Can someone wake me when the off-season starts???

In a world where money doesn’t matter Judge would be my #1 target. Unfortunately we don’t live in that world.

Most IFA guys sign when they’re 16. Devers is an exception not a norm

Yeah but it was reported by Lou too, and I trust Lou.

I'd believe that. I don't think there are very many "unplanned" leaks within this organization.

Sorry, Bogaerts at 17. Devers at 16