Hugh2

Bregman FWar the last 3 years has averaged 4.66. If players are getting around $7.5 million per in free agency and Bregman were to average that in Boston he would be worth about $105 million dollars. If Bregman is not worth that, it's because he has fallen off a cliff. If he falls off a cliff, imagine being on the hook to pay him $170 million+ over the next 6 years? That would be worse. The $5 million a year overpay, is not as extreme as people are making it out to be, and it's a more than fair premium to have the player on only 3 years and pay him until 33 years old without having to carry him at 34, 35, 36.

I think we might be edging out Toronto now for that 5th spot. After that it's the two NY teams, LA and Philly.

If the Sox are going over the LT this year, then it makes sense to start extending guys now. I'm not sure whom, but I think we see at least one prominent extension this spring.

I haven't heard what he said yesterday so perhaps he's changed his tune, but middle of last year Crochet had said any team trading for him better be offering an extension if they want him to pitch in the playoffs (paraphrasing). If they're negotiating, it could just be words to up that deal.....or not

Which begs the question, when you're looking to sign or trade for a guy who has been in the league for 4-7 years with no injuries are you getting a freak of nature, or are you getting a guy whose luck is about to run out.

We lose the #54 overall pick. But the Pivetta signing should net us something around 77 we also forfeit 500k of IFA for 2026

Sox stats now has the payroll at $252 million

Doubt it

Odds are this will be less of an overpay than if they went to 6 years with him. the fact that it’s 3 years is important. The money comes off the books after that magical three years and you’re not paying for him in his mid to late 30’s if he just replicates what he’s done the last few years they’re overpaying by about $5 million a year. Let’s just hope they do the smart thing and plug him at 3B. Ill now take my victory lap for predicting the Sox budget would go over $220

He was also only 25 last year and was a ground ball pitcher was hurt the most by Bostons poor infield defense. He has good offspeed stuff, velocity and age on his side. Plenty of room for improvment. Think of it this way, the other guys who started games last year (Houck, Pivetta, Criswell, Crawford) were either in the minors, had awful seasons much worse than Bello around their age 25-27 seasons and then they got better. Bello is still at that age where you can almost expect him to get better this season. As a young 25 year old he was better down the stretch. In the 2nd half of the season he had a 3.47 ERA with a 1.2 WHIP. He was as good if not better than everyone else in the rotation. I'm not saying he will be much more than he is now, but at his age....I can't relate to the "cringe" thing.

I think it's likely any day now we have either Arenado or Bregman on the roster. The question after that comes down to pitching, will we add another reliever? If we don't, hopefully it's because of a clean bill of health in camp.

Relievers are so volatile year to year, with the exception of the very cream of the crop guys go in/out year to year from being good to bad. I don't think anyone can write off the Sox bullpen, there's a lot of swing and miss there. If Slaten, Chapman, Hendriks and Whitlock are healthy it can be dangerous. And unlike other years the Sox have some young guys who might really be able to contribute.

IF you signed Bregman: Line up: LF Duran 3B Bregman DH Devers SS Story 1B Casas 2B Campbell RF Abreu CF Rafaela C Wong Rotation: Crochet/Buehler/Houck/Giolito/Bello Obviously There are other players and a bullpen. But that team has 90 win talent.

if your #3 WAR player isn't a starter then not replacing him isn't the issue.

Why sign 30 year old free agents to 6-7 year deals when we can trade players away to pay a 34 year old for 3 years. Good thing we don’t over pay for those 30-33 years. makes total sense

Because CF and then SS are much more importantly defensively and when pretty much all of your value is tied up in your defense, you're going to find yourself playing the more important positions. Rafaelas best position is CF.

What do you do though if Grissom starts the year on a tear down in AAA, like 1.000 OPS+? There are many scouts who think Campbell is better suited for the outfield. If Grissom turns it around, perhaps his best place is LF. Which does beg the question of who's the 4th outfielder and who is the odd man out between Duran/Rafaela/Anthony/Abreu?

But that won't stop the bombarding questions about the 2024 draft class, I can already hear the response on the soxprospect podcast now. At this point we pretty much now what the national scouting reports say. But once they start playing games, and guys get eyes on them things can change. People will dissapoint, and some will pop.

Clarke is a new name. Insert wide eye emoji here.

Ok that's fine, but there's a difference between what they should be doing and what they ARE doing. That was never my intention to debate, rather just stating the fact.....the team is operating under a budget.

I agree, but for a team on a budget $18 million dollars is $18 million dollars. Also, let me reiterate, I'd like to see what players teams would be asking for. If a team wants Marcelo Mayer I'm hanging up the phone. I'd also like to weight that vs. much salary relief can we get before having to give up anything at all really.

I meant, the Sox would sell Yoshidas salary with a prospect.

I think it would be interesting to see how much salary a team would be willing to take on vs. how high a prospect a team would want to take on ALL his salary. Because depending on the number or player, my mind could change on dumping all his salary, or just paying to get him out off the roster. If the Sox don't make any other moves this offseason, they are better off just plugging him at DH.

I do think he deserves another chance, I just happen to think that doesn't exclude him from being traded. FWIW I'm not that high on Bleis anymore either. I'm only mentioning Blaze Jordan/Nazan Zanetello because it was reported that "alleged sources" have said those are the names being discussed in a trade with the Red Sox (from Cardinals media). I have no ideal how reliable cardinalslive on X is. I just took those names and plopped it into BTV, it doesn't mean I don't want Nazzan to recover or think it's possible (although I'm admittedly pessimistic), but I feel pretty strong that I don't think a kid like him should hold up a trade at this point. Not sure why the 3 mo older Bleis hasn't falled as much. But he did lose time because of injury and at only 3 months older posted an OPS more than 200 points higher and more than 1/2'd Nazzans K rate. So as bad as Bleis season looked, it didn't look as bad as Nazzans. Bleis is hitting the ball more, just not impacting it. As he fills out that could change, it will never change if all you do is K.

Yes, as is with my point, some guys pan out and some do not. The fact that Roman Anthony looks good and 8 other guys do not doesn't mean that me saying Zanetello is a bust means I'm also saying Roman Anthony will not make the majors. Completely not my statement.