Hugh2

I’m fairly certain Grissom would get an opportunity to start over Romy/Herbandez

There's no IL during the offseason. There's a reason why guys like Luis Perales and Patrick Sandoval are on the 40 man right now.

That's what I'm saying. Do we have any candidates? Sandoval, Perales, Chris Murphy? I wonder if I'm forgetting anyone. So there will be a few 40 man spots open up by the beginning of the season.

At this point, I think if someone like Braiser was signed, it probably happens later in the spring when they can add someone to the il to make room for him on the 40.

Let me try rephrasing my point. You quote me and pass off my examples as me making definitive statements. I told you that was not the case, and If I led anyone to believe so I apologize. I don't know exactly what the Sox budget is. I don't know what the exact opportunity cost of signing O'Neill for $21 million, what I do know is there is one. So, my examples could be amorphous, this is why I never saw your comment for the "AHH HAA GOTCHYA" moment that maybe you thought it was. If we go by the last several years, one could infer we are at or close to the budget. If you wanted to put a gun to my head I'd say it's about $225. And let me point out once again that this is conjecture but I believe that budget is amorphous and not every player is the same. They'd probably be more willing to break that budget for Soto than Bregman. You're right, I don't know that Buehler was only signed because O'Neill wasn't offered a Q.O. But I do know the roster would look different. We also have to factor in the offseason is not over, we do not know what extensions are coming that play into 2025's budget that also might not of been possible if they're operating under a budget and they had an extra $21 million on the payroll. RHB is a need, and I get people want to replace those home runs. I do too, I also wanted pitching, pitching, and more pitching, a second baseman, a catcher, and extensions for the young kids. If we were the LA Dodgers I'd expect them to just cough up $21 million or have gone out and signed someone else, but they're not LA. There's an opportunity cost, if you want to tell me I don't definitely know what that is? sure, you got me there, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make and never was. Perhaps I should been more clear of my speculations.

I never said it's the exact price point were at now. I literally never said that. But if you go by the last several years one can decipher we are somewhere near that number. Given we don't know what other moves are to be made I don't think anyone can also definitely say a $21 million dollar man would not have affected other offseason moves at this point. Perhaps it has not but I certainly don't think it's absurd to suggest it may. There's a very real chance it may, that what happens when you're operating under a budget. Suggesting that may be the case is a far cry from "forgone conclusion". Also, remember budgets are more than just ONE year. Sox are under budget, but you don't think they would have planned to expand that budget a little bit if they signed SOTO? you don't think access to certain players change that. Maybe they do expand the budget for Bregman who is clearly a better player than O'Neill. But there's a difference paying him $25-30 million for 4 years vs. 7. BIG DIFFERENCE. The years probably plays into their budgetary issues as well. I don't really give a s***, the exact price point where we are on the budget is not a concern of mine, and I consider it a mute point. I don't think it made much sense to pay O'Neill $21 million dollars.

Sox seemed to have their convictions in CF, for whatever that's worth. I'm certainly not convinced that Rafaela can be better and a gold glove CF if he plays there full time. I'm also more than fine with Rafaela playing a corner and keeping Duran in CF as well.

Rafaela can still get 400+at bats in CF slide Duran over LF vs. LHP and spell the infield up the middle

deleted to reduce redundancy.

I'm not 100% convinced of anything, you act like it's a forgone conclusion we get Bregman, I certainly haven't ruled out the chance of it happening but I certainly seem it unlikely. Still, I say the pursuit of Bregman has little merit on the value of paying O'Neill 1 year $21 million. Rafaela and Duran are two of your outfielders and Refsynder/Abreu is a fine platoon with Roman Anthony knocking on the door. Also, if Bregman is going to happen there's a chance Campbell is your leftfielder, there are many scouts who think the outfield is his future home. I'm not inventing parameters in my head, I don't think anyone would argue the Sox are operating on a budget. We also have no ideal what other moves the Sox are making. Do they plan on spending another 5-10 on the bullpen? is another trade coming? are their a round of extensions coming in spring training? Looking at the budget as it is right now and saying we had room for O'Neil also assumes a set of parameters.

I apologize but I have no ideal what you're trying to say here.

True, but if he’s healthy I’d be optimistic his line would be much better than it has been in Boston. one can be forgiven for not getting their hopes up with Story. It would certainly be a good story if he has a great season

He had an .863 OPS in Colorado why set the bar so low? he has a career .785 OPS vs. RHP, If he's healthy....IF HE'S HEALTHY, I'd expect more.

If he could hit .800 OPS with plus defense that would be amazing, and I think he can if he can stay healthy.......IF he can stay healthy.

And if we weren’t cheap, we’d be looking to do a whole lot better than O’Neill anyways. Hence my argument defending not giving him a QO. we’ve done really well in that department. Renfroe/Duvall/O’Neill. We don’t need to spend $21 million dollars on RHB who can play corner outfield if the opportunity cost is not beefing up the rotation.

That’s fine, im just not spending $21 million dollars on O’Neill. Now if we had New Yorks and LAs budget you can get me to budge on that. but if my options are Buehler and bank on Campbell/Anthony vs. O’Neill and bank on Richard Fitts I’ll take the former.

I'm saying he has a .683 OPS vs. RHP the last 3 years and his defense has regressed to below average. Yes, that's not a guy I want starting on a team with playoff ambitions. Or, at the very least it's not someone I want to spend $21 million dollars on.

This whole conversation was about O'Neill not Yoshida, so I'm going to pivot back because ultimately I don't really care I think we are stuck with Yoshida anyways. The front office obviously has a budget, I'm not spending $21 million a year on O'Neill if that meant not signing the pitchers we did this offseason. I think we are fine with Duran/Rafaela and an Abreu/Refsynder platoon out there until Anthony is ready (who hits LHP and RHP just as well BTW).

This is what John Henry has done to you guys. He's reduced you to defending part time bench bats and Yoshida as being the saviors of Boston. I'd rather play the kids than have as multiple DH/LF type who only have one tool on my roster.

So.....we should spend $21 million on a bench bat then? If Yoshida is so good, how come no one wants to trade for him?

You're still talking about paying $21 million a year for a bench bat platoon guy. And yes, even if Rafaela is on the bench if Anthony is ready then you also have Abreu on the bench. I'd rather sign Bregman and DFA Yoshida to get a RHB in the lineup.

At this point your RHB's are going to Story and Campbell.

Sox are committed to playing Rafaela in CF and Duran is in CF. You're going to sign a $20 million dollar bench bat because he might go down and you can replace him with the games top prospect who should command his own timeline? When you're an elite talent you start when you're ready, not when a hole opens up that you blocked in the first place. I'd offer O'Neill a QO and make him a DH/LF in a world where you get rid of Yoshida. Otherwise you can get a platoon bat who mashes lefties for a lot less than $20 million.

yeah that's fine, but you're still trading Abreu in that scenario. Unless you want 3 outfielders on the bench, not counting Yoshida who is allegedly still an outfielder.

So you make Rafaela a part time player and block Anthony? What do you do when Anthony gets called up? Because you're starting Duran/Anthony and that leaves one outfield spot for O'Neill, Abreu, Rafaela, Refsnyder. It makes sense they didn't offer him one, they'd rather of spent that money on pitching and effectively did with a Buehler signing.