Hugh2

Wait, hold on a second.....how does Rafaela get comeback player of the year?

I can see all three of these guys being available at 33, but what the heck do I know? players never go where they're mocked the further down a board you go. One name I like at 33 is Jack Bauer. 18, left handed, throws 100 MPH........and his name is Jack Bauer.

When I went into the military I had to take a test called the DLAB which measures your ability to learn a new language; most adults fail it. the older you get, the harder it becomes. Learning a new language isn’t for everyone when you get to adulthood. Honesty, I don’t blame people for not having the patience too. Honestly given the current climate in this country I probably wouldn’t want to either if I was in their shoes; if I was, I’d make my money and be out. ive traveled many places, and what i have found is the vast majority of the worlds countries are very multi lingual. We are the exception here in America, at least when it comes to the developed world. i personally don’t understand why people think it’s a big deal. Dudes weren’t born here, they’re working here. Maybe if they plan on trying to stay learning the language would make more sense but some of these guys move back home in the offseason and when their careers are over, this is a job for them.

Well when we traded for Downs he entered his 5th season in pro ball and was 22 when he debuted in the system (technically 4 seasons because of the covid year) Tibbs is also just 22 now, but this is his first season in pro ball. He doesn't have the same prospect ranking right now the Downs had at the time, but if he reaches his ceiling he's going to be a first division starter. I don't disagree the hype was more with Downs, but at the time the Sox kind of needed Downs to develop given that they were not going to resign Bogaerts where the Sox outfield now is loaded. I often wonder how things may have played out differently if Downs hit. He certainly would have made Bloom look a lot more competent. Tibbs could also be a candidate for 1B one day if he hits. Bello is just way too far away for me, he's like a lottery ticket. I'd be happy if he develops into a good bullpen arm but he's so young and you just never know with pitchers. If he takes a step forward he could be a guy. If both these guys hit, the trade looks good, but the odds of both seem low to me.

No, Xander Bogaerts

MAYER is going to be good, I'm still most excited about Anthony, who has some of the loudest tools I've ever seen and he's performed at every level at such a young age. If Storys' rebound is real, then when Bregman comes back the ceiling of the lineup goes up and takes pressure of these kids and guys like Campbell. When is Bregman coming back? I keep hearing soon.

Sometimes really really good players take a while to get going as well. Bogaerts first full season in the majors .660 OPS, never mind the slow month Pedroia had, it took a full year of exposure. It wasn't until his 4th year that he was a guy who you can bat towards the top of your lineup. How long will it take these guys to become who they are? Campbell could turn it around next week, next month, or next year, or never. Mayer could look good for a week then get figured out and how long will it take him to adjust? a week or never? This is what you get with youngsters, a big ass bag of uncertainty. I just hope people are ready for this. A lot of growing pains with this team. I've been one of the biggest prospect advocates and homers for a youth movement but as Lou Merloni always says "you need some adults in the room" I can see why they got rid of Devers when you look at it from that angle. Having one of the adults in the room being the highest paid guy who refuses to do anything for the team outside of some kind of negotiation is the worst kind of example to set for the youngsters. However, his absence still leaves the team without that veteran presence. The only guys to fill the void are Bregman, Story, and maybe a guy like Duran now. It's really hard to listen to a guy and look up to him when he sucks, which is why I think it's been a very big deal that Trevor Story has looked better recently. It's not just the production that adds value, but being the type of guy that youngsters can look up to is a big deal.

Wait......the Red Sox had a human element under Bloom???

Roman AnthonyMarcelo MayerLuis PeralesJuan ValeraFranklin AriasPayton TolleBrandon ClarkeJhostynxon GarciaRichard FittsHunter DobbinsMikey RomeroMiguel BleisJustin GonzalesConrad CasonDavid SandlinDorian SotoYoeilin CespedesConnelly EarlyJedixson PaezNelly Taylor I'm sorry, I know you have all eagerly been awaiting my rankings, as they are supreme and more accurate than anyone on earth. BTW, I give everyone an 80 grade in the top 10

So it looks like Devers will play other positions, maybe that's all the Sox needed to do. Was ask nicely.

I'm not trying to defend Breslow but I suppose I am a little bit with this point. But I can understand the position he was in. What if he didn't land Bregman or anyone else? then he has to keep Devers at 3B. It's almost like, you don't EVER put in your two week notice until you have a new job lined up, it's not so much dishonest as that's the way things are. I don't know how common of a conversation it would be to say "Hey, we are actively looking to replace you at 3B because we think your defense sucks there but hey, if we can't find someone you're going to stay there" THat would have been the honest route.......and I don't think that would fly over to well with people as well, including Devers.

Exactly, and one bad situation doesn't release someone from having to do their job. If I messed up a situation with an employee, and try to rectify a situation that doesn't mean I don't come back and put them on a job if I think it's the best fit for the company. Devers might not have liked how the whole Bregman showdown went in the offseason, but asking him to try 1B after Casas went down was a very natural thing to do.

I don't disagree, but I also don't like painting oneself into a corner of "you have to do something right now in this one area" as it kind of creates the opportunity to make a rash decision or a bad investment. The Sox might be judged by how the use the extra payroll space from trading Devers, but they do not have to necessarily do that at this years deadline. That's not to say they shouldn't be active, but that doesn't mean they have to add $29 million in payroll either.

The F.O. might share some of the blame pie for how they handled things with Devers, but in the end he was hurting his team mates the most by taking the "I'm not going to do what you tell me" mentality. It's really sad, and emotions fly high, and people love to look for someone to blame and a singular person to be mad at which is why we will forever see a debate between Raffy vs. the F.O. but these things just happen sometimes and there's no silver bullet. I don't blame Breslow for expecting him to be a team player and moving to 1B, I don't blame Devers for feeling jerked around, and I don't blame the Sox from moving on, nor do I blame Raffy for willing to play other positions in a new town.

What if? what if the Red Sox had traded Tristan Casas and asked Rafael Devers to play 1st base this offseason and not DH?

again, I don't think Breslow is a liar. He's not the one who made that promise to Dever. If someone hired me to run an organization, and I go in with a plan I try to execute it. If that goes against someone else plan before me I certainly try to handle it in a decent way but if there's no middle ground. I let that person go. It's very telling that the F.O. is seemingly in Breslows corner in this. As I've said before, I'm sure it could have been handled differently but at the end of the day sometimes parting ways is just the right thing to do. It's like when a relationship ends. Sometimes people outgrow each other, it's not like there always has to be one definitive bad guy and that's where I think a lot of people are getting hung up here. Someone has to be the bad guy, we all love someone to blame.

ADD. I think it would happen in the offseason, I can see Raffy sliding in at DH to finish off the year and the team asks him to slide to first in the offseason. Perhaps they expect on a new team, with a fresh start, and an honest dialogue up front that he doesn't have his feelings hurt about making the move.

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe they think Raffy will move to 1b.

Exactly, so you’d think the team sees him as a DH in San Francisco

Have we ever heard of players being afraid to speak up around here? I mean….maybe someone wants to get traded. all I’m saying is, when has a move like this been made in Boston and we DIDN’T hear about it from a player or two?

The key guy you’re forgetting is Bryce Eldridge. Top 25 prospect in all of baseball. 20 years old already in AAA. kid can do everything but field. Sure, maybe the plug him in at 1b and see what he can do. But apparently it hasn’t been pretty so far but Raffys situation on SF isn’t all too different than it was in Boston ADD: to be fair I forgot about Eldridge too

Maybe I've missed something that was said, but unlike other recent guys who were traded away, there isn't any blowback from Devers team mates. That should be VERY telling.

I think Devers starts out at DH in SF, but they're going to want him to play 1B at some point. They have a lot of DH types on their roster right now but no one locking down 1B. or not. who knows

riight, but he's been their primary first baseman since Chapman went on the IL. When Chapman comes back Fores is getting a lot less playing time. And it ain't like Dominic Smith has 1B locked down either

Sox are still going to have the bonus portion of the Devers contract count against the CBT for years to come, but it will free up a nice chunk of change.