Sox75

Realistically? https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/01/andrew-benintendi-trade-rumors-boston-red-sox-outfielders-66m-salary-should-temper-any-expectations-of-a-strong-return-report.html The headline is likely pretty accurate. https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/red_sox_chairman_we_expect_to_be_competitive_next_year/s1_13237_32897294 https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/red-sox/tom-werner-we-spend-and-were-not-a-small-market-team TW: "We don’t have any excuses. We’ve got a lot of assets and, as everybody knows, we spend and we’re not a small-market team. We’re going to be back next year." I'm kinda thinking this was ********. We are clearly selling off & rebuilding from the ground level. Just managing my expectations.

How exactly do we know "a player to be named" is of equal or greater value to the Sox?

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/please-stop-whining-about-dustin-pedroias-place-40-man-roster https://www.overthemonster.com/2021/1/18/22235773/boston-red-sox-2021-preview-second-base-depth-chart-chavis-arroyo-aruaz-chatham Where is the Globe story about Pedroia announcing retirement in 2 weeks?

But.... things are looking up! https://nesn.com/2021/01/chaim-bloom-red-sox-complete-trade-with-dave-dombrowski-phillies/ A player to be named? VERY EXCITING NEWS! THIS could change everything!

Very sad!

ok... now we're talking https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/01/marcus-semien-rumors-boston-red-sox-among-teams-that-have-been-involved-to-some-extent-in-negotiations-with-free-agent-report.html

I do agree that PITCHING is the #1 & #2 priority... BUT... It is clear we are in the midst of decimating our outfield outfield, and our corners are pretty iffy? We can not become myopic in looking at our deficits! I like the potential of Verdugo, and we have some decent 2nd & 3rd tier supplements, but our OF has essentially been wholesale gutted from 2018. Nowhere near locked down. BOGIE is THE MAN, but let's face it, the rest of the IF is suspect at best. If we are in fact re-building, pitching is #1, but a shite infield can kill a SR in a hurry. Vaz is good, but 2nd tier. I'm not sure I'm seeing the path to rebuilding, but rebuilding can't be based solely on the SR, especially when it seems we are bent on signing bargain 3 year deals? DON'T GET ME WRONG, I like bargain 3 year deals on 2nd tier pitching, but that ain't gonna bring us far in the post-season?

or.... we could go ahead, ignore the cap, and simply focus on smart contracts with top quality players. What the hell? Why not? Instead, we let Mookie essentially walk, 100% BECAUSE past GM's made s*** long term contracts with risky players. I would argue that the Sox need to worry less about the current cap and baked in BAD long term contracts, and sign no brainer great players. I understand that no team has an unlimited cap, and that we have other serious needs, but I'd still argue that you can't pass on all great players. There is a huge cost to lost opportunity. Right now, we're in the process of gutting our organization up the middle. No legit CF, 2nd base, ... A glaring double whole up the middle. I don't thing this is a crazy prospect? https://nesn.com/2021/01/dj-lemahieu-reportedly-frustrated-wants-to-reconnect-with-red-sox/

I think there is a 50/50 shot to get Beni off to a good start. That's when you decide.

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/01/red-sox-trade-rumors-boston-in-serious-trade-talks-with-multiple-teams-involving-andrew-benintendi-report.html So... If the Sox do end up dealing Benintendi, how much sense does the Hunter Renfroe signing make? Renfrone was ostensibly brought in to platoon in LF with Beni? If not, I just don't see him having a ton of value with the Sox?

NO DOUBT there are strong arguments on both sides, and I have no doubt that even poor mlb players can be GREAT COACHES! GREAT COACHING stems from confidence and ability to teach and lead. You don't need to be a GREAT or "accomplished" scientist to teach the basics of science, but even your GREAT HS or college science teacher is not going to coach an astronaut on how to do a space-dock at a scace station. YES! A truly GREAT college science teacher might be tapped to work at NASA, and be an integral part of a space mission to space dock at a space station. I guess the equivalent would be an average college softball player studying hard to work in the MLB? Starting in the minors seems appropriate. Not sure she has the resume or experience to leap from college softball to Major League Baseball, but I'm willing to accept some do. Perhaps she has the personality and PRESENCE to command the respect and trust of young talent, but only time will tell. I'm doubtful that a young Chuck Yeager is going to take coaching from a college hang glider pro., but I'm willing to hope so. I'm not sure if NASA taps talent from Carroll University in Wisconsin, but I fully understand why the Red Sox would want to. Time will tell? In the mean time, I would LOVE TO KNOW what Bloom has planned to make the 2021 Red Sox a legitimate contender.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/report-red-sox-hire-first-black-female-coach-pro-baseball-history Congrats to ... um? Ah... Well, I've forgotten her name, but I'm sure this was a bold PR move none the less. Still, I'd say any help we can give minor leaguers in Fort Myres is a good thing. No doubt this is a bold and interesting move, but I do look forward to some bold moves with respect to 2nd base, 1b, the OF, SP, & our BP. Congrats to Bianca Smith.

Somewhat? But... at a certain point, you do begin to wonder what the plan is? We assume Chaim has a plan, but I don't think anybody has a solid grasp on what that plan is? We have so many major league holes to fill... from 2nd base, 1st base, CF?, to SP & BP, that I'm beginning to wonder if we are destined to go 2nd & 3rd tier at every gap. Long term? That could well be the right move, but it certainly doesn't necessarily comport with what Bloom & Warner, others have been saying. Obviously, i don't expect or want Bloom unzipping his fly, just to show what he can do, but I do worry that they haven't already missed out on guys they were targeting? Who knows? We can guess all day long at the ultimate targets, but none of us really know s***. I'm not too worried yet, but that's more because I don't see our big guns from the farm ready for another year or two. Either way... the rebuild continues, and we all see when we see.

This seems to sum up where we are at... https://bosoxinjection.com/2020/12/28/red-sox-chaim-bloom-miss-acquisitions/

https://nesn.com/2020/12/mlb-rumors-latest-on-red-soxs-pursuit-of-superstar-korean-shortstop/ We need to lurk harder! Kim emerged as a star during his seven seasons in South Korea’s KBO League. He hit .306 with 30 homers, 109 RBIs, 23 stolen bases and 75 walks last season for the Kiwoom Heroes. Apples to oranges , but I like the risk reward!

If we keep "aggressively pursuing mediocrity" with our pitching, it could be another mess, but I have to think they are just making some insurance moves to cover Sale & Rodriguez for the beginning of the season, and are going to aggressively go after available talent. I would love to see them also go after Marcus Semien for 2nd base, and we need one more solid OF. WE STILL NEED 2 SPers. & a closer? TALL ORDER!

I agree 100%. Each of those teams were incredible to watch, incredibly talented, and easily could have broken the other way, with the Sox winning. The fact that they lost, in no way diminishes just how special these teams and years were. In fact, I personally cherish all of those seasons every bit as much as the 04 curse breaker. Some of those teams may even have been as historically talented? The way the Sox won in 04 also holds a special place in my heart, as it was a Fever Pitch beginning of the relationship with my wife & family. Sometimes all the metaphorical and literal baseball stars align for the win, or the loss. Without "67,75, 78 (sort of), and 86," ... 04, 07, 13, & 18 would not mean 1/2 as much to me. Win or lose, I just want compelling and competitive players. Even underdogs. Bellhorn was an incredibly compelling player in 04, and was not an historic all-star. The same goes for Roberts, Millar, Mueller, Kaplan, Mirabeli, Lowe, Arroyo, Wake, & many others. 04 & 13 were the sum of the parts, and 07 & 18 also if you really look at the parts. The win or loss means everything and nothing. I just want compelling, competitive, and talented enough to step up TEAM.

Career 183 26 34 7 4.57 So damned depressing!

Dude! At what point did we move on from Fisk? We never have! Of course we move on from season to season, and EVERY single Sox team, every single year, will be special. No doubt about it! Last year's season was an all time low, and there was nothing worth diving into. I've never felt so detached from a season, as I'm sure is the case for many Sox fans. Still... it was particularly tough to see Mookie gone. I'm ready to move on, and I'd love to see Verdugo surprise the hell out of us, and show us everything he's got. & I think the kid has untapped raw potential that excites me. It's all good! It is what it is. I'll learn to hate Mookie's perfection in a fun way, and then we go to war hating the Dodgers with the passion only a Red Sox purest can muster. But for now... we can still mourn a little longer. We don't rush into it, so let's just see the next team & young Red Sox star who makes us forget. Red Sox forever!

I agree. They were legit either way. But.... the season was a joke. Their WS however, was legit. They had one gell of a team, with our ex-MEGA STAR! LEGEND!

I tend to agree. LAST YEAR will have an asterisks next to it for most. Still.... I think letting him walk without a dead serious, big time, record breaker offer, will go down in mlb history as perhaps one of the greatest opportunities lost. There is nothing that should have stood in our way, of making Mookie an offer he could not refuse. He was, is, and always will be, a franchise making, mlb history making player. God willing, without serious injury, the kid is a generational talent and LIFETIME FAN creating player. Smart GMs know how much that is worth in the long run. It was an EPIC MISTAKE to let him walk without an offer that he could not refuse. Everybody has their price, and he deserved a record breaking offer. The Sox simply let past BAD MEGA-DEALS control a once in a generation decision. The bottom line? They made a decision that was as bad as Pablo, Hanley, Price, or any other bad Red Sox contract. Any BAD deal to keep Mookie would have been a long term bargain! A true heartbreaker!! & can not be stressed enough! We move on, but until the team is back in real contention, with players we can LOVE and rally around, this non-deal will hurt, & hurt badly! Ultimately, this non-deal will always hurt, and hurt badly.

Not to pick the scab.... https://dodgersway.com/2020/12/20/red-sox-already-lost-mookie-betts-trade-dodgers/

idk I really want to see what Groome becomes. Any chance he's ready by 22?

Definitely not. Both would be great... maybe? But, what do we have to give up to pick up that 1 year $17M contract to get him. I have no problem going 4 years on a quality pitcher. 1 year is no risk, unless the Yankees want a big return on their investment. I assume they would want something substantial? If they can pick up Happ & give up next to nothing, I say we do both. OBVIOUSLY, the Sox are desperate for pitching. Who knows how long it takes to get Sale back? Yes. We got a World Series with Price & Sale, but right now they both look like major busts. It's a tough pitchers market out there, but we've got to put something together to anchor this starting rotation.

Going with Houck sounds even better. https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/tanner-houcks-debut-leaves-red-sox-fascinated-see-what-comes-next