Hugh2

AAV may matter when the contract is signed but when he is traded it becomes a 3 year 39 million dollar deal. The Padres sent that money over to the Sox making it a min hit for them. So I believe the Luxury tax hit really is only the league min.

I think the plan with Houck is for him to start if they have a very lackluster offseason on that side of the ball (or injuries). Otherwise they probably prefer him in the pen.

I highly doubt they're looking at him to be a #2 or #3 guy. Maybe even a bullpen role or swingman if he'd be up to it. I'm not in love with him either but I'm sure they're just doing their due dilligence and checking in with a lot of guys.

They were also throwing WHitlock out there injured. Both are a small sample size but Houcks is still has almost 3 times as many IP as a starter. I'd wager on Whitlock being the better starter in 2023.

Sox do well with those picks sometimes, also it's also about the draft pool money that gives you flexibility elsewhere. Plus lets not also forget one whole year of production from Devers.

True, but that was 30 years ago and he was a top 100 prospects, at least one point he was. So, that kind of makes my point. It's unlikely.

Eh, maybe. But how much will you get for ONE year of Devers? Not as much as you did for Mookie Betts. Maybe without the salary dump you come out ok, but I'd rather go for it with Devers next year, gamble, and make a run at the playoffs in 2023.

With 80 million to spend you still have to fill out the roster when the majority of that is going to Bogey/ SP1? Is Heaney really a bad signing if they are also signing....for example, DeGrome?

When has a fringe prospect won a DH job outright out of spring training? especially when we've seen that spring training offense doesn't always translate into the season? I highly doubt he breaks camp with Boston next year.

Bloom didn't do too bad with Wacha last year so maybe he's on to something with Heaney. Lugo the last two years with NY pitched 111 innings with a 3.56 ERA 1.22 WHIP and 10 K/9 That would be pretty nice in our pen.

the second time through the order ops+ against is high, the third time it's REALLY high. Houck stuff is really good, but with only two pitches most batters have him figured out the 3rd time through if not the 2nd. He'd actually be fine as a 4th 5th type in todays game, but this rotation has a TON of 4th and 5th guys already. I think hi starting is a backup plan depending on how the offseason looks, if he's starting with Whitlock it means they didn't add anyone or only one guy. With that in mind, and the need for both starting and relief pitching, I certainly hope Houck is in the pen next year.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Hosmer/Bobby platoon produces as good a slash line as JDM did in 2022.

If a "Hozzy"/Bobby D DH means more money spent on the bullpen I'm 100% fine with it. If they get a .750 OPS out of that I'll be excited, BUT perhaps Dalbec can take a step forward out of his sophomore slump. I'd like to see him get some at-bats as a 3B/LF/1B as well and if he can really learn to mash lefties consistently then his floor will be that much higher. He just struggles too much vs. RHP to be an everyday player, but if he has some positional versatility and can hit lefties regularly he could add real value to this roster. A Hosmer/Bobby platoon next year gives them time to see if he can take to that role. This is my #2 reason for not wanting to go out and spend money on a DH.

Probably as serious as they were with Bogaerts, Whitlock, Pedroia, and Barnes.....Some guys take the money, others do not.

Whitlock is being told to be prepared to start next year. Houck is being told the same but also be prepared to be moved to the pen.

They do say you need to centerfielders at Fenway. Obviously an error on my part, it might have been PTSD due to an entire outfield of left fielders last year.

Two names the Sox are reportedly looking into: Seth Lugo Andrew Heaney

50% of 20 million is an extra 10 million tops. That's a nice chunk of change, but it's not the real deterrent from going over. You add in lose draft picks and then revenue-sharing rebates that are over a hundred million and that really kills it. But you're right. I think overall it does make more sense to reset this year. If they reset this year, they position themselves to go well over in 2024. That's also Sales last year on the books. Probably not the answer people want in here after finishing in last place.

People do realize that it is and has been a given Devers is going to free agency? Some guys chose to bet on themselves, and unless you dangle absurd money they don't sign extensions. Some guys take the guaranteed money earlier in their careers. It shouldn't be hard to understand that professional athletes of this talent level can have that bet-on-themselves mentality. Xander took the deal, well the first time at least, it still bought the Sox a few extra of his best years. Devers did not. At this point, you either HAVE to give him his demands or wait for him to hit free agency and match. So with that said, any proposed extension that is less than 300/10 at this point shouldn't even be talked about or considered a serious comment in here. That's the Devers price tag right now.

You are literally the one who started complaining and talking about him. Because Moon listed him on the depth chart.....because he is on the depth chart.

uh oh looks like the bloom crew is in town haha

Yes, a lot of guys can't hit AAA pitching. THere's a whole slew of guys who can't and then figure it out and become big-league players. Downs has been around long enough to start thinking that may never happen with him but up until recently his spot on the 40 man was perfectly justified. There's literally a Jeter Downs type guy on every 40 man. If the Sox release Downs, and they probably will at some point someone is going to pick him up. As crappy as he is, he can field his position at SS and 2nd and last time I (checks notes) checked you actually need guys to play defense too. Your 40th man on the 40 man isnt' someone good enough to be a MLB player. He's someone who can come up and field the position while a guy is banged up. Sometimes guys like Downs come into their own, sometimes they do not. But you're literally complaining about the guy who may very well be the 40th man on our 40 man right now. How many teams have a better 40th man? Count. I'll wait. But I won't hold my breath.

It's not like he's on the 25 man, he was a young talented prospect who provided up-the-middle depth. At this point, yeah, his days may be numbered. But how good is the 38th-40th guy on ANY teams 40 man?

Jeter Downs is on the 40 man roster, and when the Sox had both Kike, Story, and Arroyo out they called up Downs for depth. So one can not like Downs but why would anyone build a Red Sox depth chart without putting Downs on it? That's called reality.

HAHA, this is hilarious. Yes, thats' fine but you have to live in a world with everyone elses opinions too. And when your opinions are NOT based in reality you shouldn't be surprised when people call you out on your bull. #truth Here's the reality. If an Owner blew up the cap every year, eventually they stop receiving rebates which take a large chunk of their revenue and return it. If you do the math, you can see a team like the Boston Red Sox would be in the Red. Eventually, they would cease to exist or possibly be sold. As much as you don't give a s*** because "you do you" you do realize there are owners out there unlike Henry who has payrolls under 100K every year. Do you want the Red Sox to turn into the A's? Because if the Sox ran the team with no concern for the budget and started losing money, they'd be sold off and eventually that could happen. People seem to confuse everyone is entitled to an opinion with every opinion that should be respected. I call ********. One of my best friend's mother was murdered in Sandy Hook, people had opinions that the families should dig up the graves of their deceased to prove they existed and used to harass them all the time. They had their "opinions" on what really happened. SO no, not all opinions should be respected. That's an extreme example, those people are evil, this is sports and not so serious, I don't think you're evil so I apologize for using an absurd analogy. But the point remains if your opinion isn't realistic....be prepared to have it attacked and if your only defense is "well that's just my opinion" then you aren't really defending it well.