Hugh2

People do realize that any pitcher on the FA market that’s going to upgrade this rotation is going to come with an AAV price tag of 20 million plus, right? I’d rather take it on one year than 4-5. Someone is going to give Degrome 40 million per year and he’s in his mid 30’s. Could work out great, could work out worse than Chris Sales extension.

It’s for one year. There’s extreme value in one year contracts. There’s a reason why you see all over baseball teams willing to give higher AAV to get a guy for less years. Also, we’re t you the dude literally going on page for page about not giving a hoot about money and budgets? Now you care?

He’s still in his early 30’s. I thought I read somewhere Eovaldi didn’t have a normal Off-season last year. Maybe that’s what led to his lower back injury, before that he looked great. With a normal offseason he could easily return to form. Sox know his medical position more than any of us and they were comfortable extending him a QO. Everything always comes down to price tag, if Eovaldi can get 4/65 I probably walk away. But if the price tags is 3/45. Sign me up.

You literally just made the argument for why they traded Mookie Betts

And might I add, who is? The top pitcher on the market comes with his own ambulance and he’s going to get 40 million per year. By comparison Nate is archetype of good health, on this years market. He’s still only 32, which isn’t terribly young but for someone who has shown he can recover well from injury and otherwise been relatively consistent I think it makes him overall a good decision to QO

Then how can you possibly be upset the Sox didn’t extend him?

To reiterate my last comment. The Sox will need a combination of smart additions and good luck to fix the rotation

If what you say is true, adding one guy doesn’t fix that, adding two takes up most of your budget and probably destroys your ability resign bogey and Devers MAYBE bogey, unless you’re adding cheaper guys in the mode of hill and Wacha. Those are the types of moves people seem to hate out of Bloom. They want the big splash. BTW, I don’t disagree. I think the rotation is thin and carry’s injury risk.

I actually wouldn’t mind if Nathan rejects the QO. Go out and find two 15 mil types and net a pick. Conversely there’s a real good chance the QO kills his market and the Sox can get him at a lower AAV for the next three years. They need starters after 2023 too.

The Red Sox are top spenders everything single year for the last two and a half decades. They go right up against or over the cap every year. There’s zero chance they don’t spend at least 90 million this offseason. There is a plethora of SS talent with a big 4, and a position the Sox have a huge hole at. I think it’s a bad bet to assume the Sox aren’t very likely to sign one of those guys.

The Angles say no because why on earth would they trace Ohtani for an MLB asset. Betts got you a prospect of similar value to Yorke and 5 years of a good mlb player. And Ohtani is better, why would LA take less?

Yeah I don’t like the 12 year contract, even 10 I’m weary about. The only exception I’d make is for a generational player who is willling to sign it by year two and he’s proven. In todays game, given the need to reset the luxury tax line for big teams I think there’s value in paying a little more AAV for less years. There’s a reason why you’re seeing more of that.

Angels say no but why not? Both are free agents after next year. Sign Bogaerts to play 3B and a stop gap at SS/2B. I wouldn’t trade significant prospects for Ohtani. He may be the first 50 million dollar long term player and he’s worth it. The problem is if he ever goes down, you’re effectively losing two superstars at once. Too many eggs in one basket for me. I’d rather resign Devers who will probably cost 60% of what Ohtani may get AAV.

This is funny to me. Almost any time I’ve seen someone ask you “well what would you do” you pretty always pivot and do not. Just an observation

You're taking Garcia to partially pay for Lopez. It's not out of question he rebounds and has a great year, you don't need him to for it to be a great trade but if he does it's a steal.

Of the three, my money is on Story bouncing back the best.

I think the ship has sailed on AB, I don’t he ages very well at all. No power and when the glove and speed go down he will be a 4th outfielder sooner than later. Nimmo is the high OBP guy who can lead off the Sox have been missing with some pop and also add good defense in CF/RF. Mlb trade rumors projects him to sign for 110/5. I’ll bite

Here’s the problem with resigning both Bogey and Raffy. You had both of them this year and you still sucked. Personally with the shift changes, I think we should go big with Correa, resign Raffy is you can or wait u til next year. After that, unless you land Nimmo, I hope all the focus is on pitching .

Then give him away for free, he's worth every penny if you get Lopez without dealing away Mayer. You're effectively paying $13 million dollars a year for an ACE.

Gallo is also a guy who may stand to benefit the most from eliminating the shift.

I know I'm not the only one who can make this brag.....but told ya'll Nate would get a QO.

If Eovaldi accepts they still need to go after a guy. I think someone in the Bassitt/Taillon/Senga makes more sense for the Sox than going after DeGrome. If Eovaldi rejects I think you need two of those guys, however, I also think the QO might kill Nathans market so maybe the Sox can resign him for 3/35 or somewhere in that range. I would like to see the REAL number the Sox have to spend before hitting the luxury tax. The number seems to be very conflicted, I thought it was around 80 million now I'm seeing it to be 100. Arbitration, the AAV considerations options/buyouts, and player benefits really make things convoluted. Given the market this year maybe the Sox can reset next year and still be able to spend a ton of money next offseason if they can get creative this year. Maybe sign some guys to contracts they're guaranteed to opt out of next year or sign some large 1-year deals. Love him or hate him, I think Bloom is going to make the offseason very interesting somehow.

Supposedly Correa loved playing for Cora too. I wonder if he'd take 270/9 to play here.

True, but I think they lose international bonus pool money too.

Thoughts on free agency this year. The Sox have 100 million to spend, approximately. That is the good news, the bad news is if you could pick one year to not have the money to spend this would be it. The free agent class is pretty horrible. For example, a guy like Nimmo would be a perfect fit for this club. But in a FA class so weak Nimmo is the 2nd best outfielder meaning he's going to get overpaid. The Sox are going to get less bang for their buck with this 100 million. The bright spot is the SS market, which seems to have several big names. It could mean getting Bogaerts for less than he wants to make the decision to let him go to FA a smart one or it could also mean upgrading with a guy who may be an upgrade in Correa or Turner. With the shift changes coming in 2023 up-the middle defense matters more than it has in decades and 2nd base is now going to be a premium defensive position again making Story a perfect 2nd baseman. With a Turner/Bogaerts/Correa addition the Sox may have an elite infield next year but a horrible outfield again. Maybe Nimmo wants to come here and sign in the 17.5-20 mil range which isn't horrible or the Sox make a trade. It's the pitching that concerns me the most. There are some elite names at the top in Verlander, Rodon, and DeGrome but Jacob has serious health concerns as does Rodon who threw a career-high 178 innings last year after throwing 132 in 2021 which was the most he had thrown since he was 23 and he's going to be 30 next year. Verlander, there's no real knock against other than he will be 40 next year and he's probably going to get 2/80 3/120 somewhere. After that, there's a drop-off in the pitching market. Blooms in a tough spot. If I didn't have to worry about my job I'd be looking to build this team up for 2024, but if I was in his position I'd be feeling as if 2023 has to be a year they make a playoff run or he gets canned.