Hugh2

Maybe, but then someone has to be released.

Theory. The Sox firmly believe there’s less money on the table for Bogaerts than Boras and company thought the last year. Sox fully intend to resign him but believe it’s in their interest to let him talk to other teams and see what is out there for him. He’s got too much competition.

I think they offer JD a QO because it’s one year and where are you going to get better productive DH? If the Sox want to pinch Pennie’s and it’s at the cost of upgrading the rotation I’m all for cutting the chord on JDM, but your comment eludes that Devers is a FA?!?!? Is this a mistake? Because he still has one year of team control left. Agree on the catchers, those guys are backups.

I think Downs ceiling is a utility guy, maybe if his hit tool ever develops and/or he can cut down on the K's he could be a division 2 starter for a few years in his prime. Right now he's looking more like an organizational guy, an emergency up/down type. I think Wong can be a good defensive back up catcher, which isn't the sexiest profile but that's still something you need on your roster and hes' going to end up returning more value to this club than Downs between the two prospects received in the Betts trade.

HA, I take that as a statement as much of a question. Sale if he's healthy, but who the hell knows. Regardless, this is why you need another TOTRS, a good championship team usually has two guys at the top anyways. It's tough to beat you when you can throw two aces 4 times in a 7 game series.

Kiermaier is still a plus defender, but not as elite as he once was, at 32 do we think he will lose a step and get worse? or get better? He might be better suited for RF in a year or two, which is fine...except that's going to put more pressure on his bat which has been extremely pedestrian for years. His highest OPS in the past 6 years has been .716 I want this team to compete and put together a championship team, I understand you can't have stars at every position, so I'm fine with a guy like Kiermaier in CF but I want star power elsewhere, signing at least one of the star SS's and Catchers. McGuire/Wong will make a good #2 catcher but I need to see a Vasquez or a Contreras as the starting catcher. I've been vocal about bringing Judge on too but I'd be happy stopping short of him and investing in some pitching, but I was also hoping we'd start to use some of our assets to acquire some young cost-controlled pitching. There are some intriguing arms on the FA market this offseason but they all come with huge question marks. And we all know how that can go, it could end up being an amazing return or a complete waste of money. Still there are some intriguing options for guys who would make a good number two as well. Some names available. Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Clayton Kershaw, Carlson Rodon, Jacob Degrom, and more. Not sure I want to touch Justin Verlander 40 year old arm. I think we realistically need to unload a guy and add two starters to strengthen the rotation.

Why trade for a catcher when there are viable free agent options that won’t break the bank??? If we are unloading top prospects, I think it should be for a front line starter.

Literally, anybody on the Red Sox could get hit on the wrist and break their wrist tomorrow. Chris Sale, aside from the fluky stuff had an elbow injury that was largely predicable being someone who had a high-stress delivery. I don't consider them comparable.

2 out of 4 seasons in which the only 2 he played in 112 and 102. Let’s also Keep in mind his injury history was fluky, he was hit on the wrist by a pitch. It’s not like he has chronic back problems reoccurring from everyday play.

Agreed, he absolutely should have been traded. Realistically you probably offer NE a QO before JDM. Especially if the lengthen the lineup elsewhere. As horrible as this team has been the offense overall has been fine. They need pitching

And we also got what.....5 years of Verdugo for 1 year of Betts? a half a season because of Covid where the team wasn't going anywhere too. If people can accept Betts wasn't resigning here then you really can't bash the Betts trade. The JBJ trade is Blooms real blunder.

Who would you sign to DH? also a QO is only for one year and if you're planning on going over the tax limit it's not as inconsequential at all on a 1-year deal. He's having a down year and is still a .800 OPS guy. I'm fine letting him walk too, offering a QO could kill his market and you could get him on a two-year deal for a lower AAV amount. I think he will rebound, the guy is too good a hitter.

No but it's appropriate for a 148-game player.

That platoon works for this year, it makes for garbage on a championship-caliber team. I'm not interested in having two 5th outfielders platooning a starting position who offer little value anywhere else. Maybe Duran as a pinch runner.

Yes but in two of those seasons he still played over 100 games each year, he's never really missed more than half a season or a whole season save 2020 which I'm just throwing out the window for everyone. I'm not worried about Judges injury history, it's not serious or extensive.

FWIW you could argue this team needs two outfielders. Aside from Verdugo whom I'm only luke warm on I'm not confident in anything we have. Nimmo is a fine addition as well

Is his injury history really that bad? Injury doesn't scare me, it's guys who get injured over and over and over again who do. He's not Stanton, looking at his playing time year to year he's been relatively fine playing most of every season minus 2020.

Apparently Whitlock can’t handle back to back days, and when he does needs multiple days off. Not sure if the Sox are being too cautious at this point or what, but that certainly hamstrings the bullpen overall. If they’re going to rest him that much they should just fully commit to him as a starter. I think they will next year. Barnes laying eggs didn’t help either.

Who is your DH next year, Dalbec? who is pitching? Paxton is your #3 starter right now, then Whitlock and a rookie, and that's with Pivetta as your #2 and a who knows if he can ever pitch half a season Chris Sale. At the very least I'd give one to Eovaldi, baring any serious concerns the rest of the year. I'd have my eyes on his velocity.

If you don't sign Bogaerts or extend Devers, The Sox still have a boatload of money to spend. This is why I don't mind a QO to JDM/Eovaldi, I expect upgrades to the rotation/lineup but those guys can once again come off the payroll next year and that's when you really need the money to extend Devers.

I know this may be a pipe dream, but I'm hoping for a big offseason. Sox do switch direction every several years. They once said they'd never sign long term contracts again and a year later went all in on David Price. The iron is hot to strike in my opinion, Also if you're willing to go over the luxury tax you should be willing to go up against the next threshold which means hypothetically the Sox should be willing to spend 252 million next year. When you think about it, Bogaerts and Devers could be signed for only about 30-35 million more per annum towards the luxury tax. Because right now they're already costing 31.5 million towards it. With all other arbitration costs and options involved that still gives the Sox an additional 65-70 million to spend. You could pick up a few bargains here and there and still go out and get an Aaron Judge, yes I know it maybe a pipe dream....but I'm a dreamer and I want a monster lineup and chicks dig the long ball.

In baseball we all too often end up paying a guy for what he did rather than what hes' going to do. Swanson is a great player as is, and likely cheaper than Bogaerts/Turner/Correa....and he just might be the best chance to beat out his contract of those 4. If you can save 12-15 million per annum on the luxury tax and build your team up elsewhere I'm all for it.

I hope they sign both too, I think they really have to sign at least one.

I’m not opposed to selling off expiring contracts and bringing in prospects, baseball is a business and you need to build a whole team/organization. But I believe in continuity as well. There’s value in a fan favorite like Bogaerts. If they sign Correa, they better damn well extend a Devers. But then they look even dumber for not trading Bogaerts at this deadline. If I’m the Sox…I’m signing Bogaerts.

I think Judge will get 8 years, you’re seeing less of these 10 year deals to guys who are older than 30. It’s the younger guys having their arbitration years bought out signing deals into the decades. I think 8/300gets it done, or at least puts you in the finals. I think Bogarts gets 7/240. I don’t even want to think about Devers. I think he can get 380/12. I’m probably way off…but who isnt