5GoldGlovesOF,75

Meanwhile, for all we know, Brez may be doing exactly what Henry wanted, and the owner may be so overjoyed he hasn't signed one single free agent that he'll give Craig an extension.

Some here and in the media say the Red Sox have made improvements. I see these swap-outs : Contreras for Devers, Gray for Giolito, Oviedo for Buehler, Nobody for Bregman... or even Refsnyder. Yes, WiLL will play 1B where Raffy refused, but his real position is batting clean-up. We'd all be happy if Gray could duplicate Gio's '25, and Oviedo better be better than Buehler. But even if Crochet and Chapman don't regress too much and are still All-Stars, a lot seems to depend on the progress of four unproven youngsters: Anthony, Mayer, Early, Tolle. Making postseason predictions on potential is folly. The only guarantees are Rafaela will dive, and Duran will sprint -- if they're both back in Boston.

The Big Three's 2025 K-rate: Campbell 27.4%, Anthony 27.7%, Mayer 30.1%. Those were the three worst strikeout men on the team. We can only hope our young learners will improve. On the free agent market, Bregman and his 14.1% K-rate are gone. Bichette fanned 14.5% last year. Geno Suarez, whiffed 29.8% last year, and in 12 MLB seasons has Ked 27.4% overall... in 6,627 Plate Appearances. For baseball CBOs and GMs, you get what you pay for... but maybe not so much for Red Sox fans buying tickets to Fenway Park and subscriptions to NESN.

I was once in the business, so know most headlines are written by editors and not the articles' reporters. So we can take it two ways: does "Bregman's Betrayal" refer to a dastardly deed done by Alex or by Craig? Can we at least agree that the only ones really betrayed are Red Sox fans? Once again. At least the front office is happy they don't have to pay Bregman or Devers any more...

Sure you do: Silver and Gold. Slugger and Glove. Bregman was both, but hobbled in the second half. A diamond dog like him is a good bet to get healthy and contribute on both sides of the ball for more good years. That's a rare combo, silver and gold. But we let him go. Suarez is a career negative dWAR who's never led the league in homers but has led in Ks three times. The Red Sox don't need more swing and miss, but I've said all winter I'll take 25-HR contact guys like Bichette and Yandy Diaz any day.

Green on Friday nights, yellow on Saturdays, white on Sundays?

The Cubs may regret the Bregman deal but their fans won't. Chicago's front office knew that once Bregman signed with someone, that Bichette's pricetag would then be even higher.

I know you're more about quality than quantity, so it's not just the total plate appearances. You were also in the camp with most of us at the beginning of the offseason that this team is going backwards if it doesn't replace Bregman and Devers with two quality bats. We have one: WiLLy C. Unsigned quality free agent bats that don't strikeout 200 times a year include two lefty outfielders -- of which we have plenty -- and Bo Bichette, who wants $300 million. Now what?

Whether you disagree with someone's idea is one thing, but all we do on fan forums is look at a few facts we're privy to and speculate. The very term "conspiracy theorist" could just sum up the one person using it to describe others. For example, the Red Sox front office prides itself in its cutting edge intelligence departments and educational backgrounds. So, is it even feasible that a year ago not one single Assistant Vice President thought it might be prudent to discuss with the team's top star player that he might have a different role because they were acquiring a better fielder at his own position? I may have called Raffy sensitive in the past, but I don't know that for sure because I don't know the man. The only facts we do know is that Devers called on Breslow publicly to add more pitching at the previous trade deadline... and that Breslow fired a scout for calling him a f***ing stiff.

Red $$$$ox, no $$$$, but $$$$, what about $$$$, trade$$$$pend, Winter$, $pring. $$$$hhhh.

Red Sox fans all over New England are pissed today. The average Sox fan that doesn't post on this forum could care less about payroll and competitive balance taxes. They may spend time discussing won-loss records or batting or pitching stats, but hardly ever player salaries. All they see today is another All-Star player, team leader and fan favorite is gone. But yea, Red Sox uniform shirts!

I'm not mocking not signing old guys, just not signing any big leaguers. There's only one MLB team that can brag about that this winter. Get ready for this line-up: Duran-Story-Anthony-WiLLson-Abreu-Narvaez-Mayer/Romy-Rafaela-EATON.

Because I'm a Red Sox fan. That $40 million is now just the price of conveniently dumping another $300 million dollar contract. Another answer -- in the form of another question -- if the Sox wouldn't spend $180 million on their lone All-Star position player and consensus perfect fit team leader and mentor, why in the world would they instead spend $100 million MORE ON Bo Bat Bichette? (emphasis on MORE ON, which I'll gladly be, when they answer my question by spending to fill the gargantuan hole in the batting order)

Ya, because I don't post about the importance of defense every single week. Sincerely, 5SilverSluggers

The Red Sox also need Witt, Henderson and Raleigh. But NOT Judge -- he makes too much money, and someday will become a washed up DH. Then Boston will be on the hook for an albatross contract that will choke our payroll... and, and, and... omg... won't allow us to SPEND!!!!!!

Excellent -- now we just need to trade more young pitching for both of them, since combined last year they hit two more home runs than Bregman, who was only healthy for half a season. Why spend money on talent, when you can waste fans' time cooling their feet in front of the cold stove.

In the end, getting out of Devers' $300 million dollar contract only cost Boston one year of Bregman at $40 mil and a draft pick. A billionaire businessman loves that kind of savings, not to mention the tax avoidance. Does anyone think it's really coincidental that the Interest Kings keep making offers for players that just fall short? Meanwhile, notice the clubs that are really all-in full throttle signing free agents with no opt outs. They clearly want those players as part of a winning culture core. It's hard to shake the feeling that when the Red Sox give opt outs, they're counting on the guy to take the opt out so they don't have to pay him when he gets too expensive. And if the player is mediocre and opts in, at least they get to keep him at their numbers -- -- which still fill a jersey so they can field a team, play the games and fill the seats... that's all that matters in Beantown (that's "bean," as in fans taking yet another one in the noggin that keeps them dizzy in perpetual concussion protocol).

Front office: "Why blow money on another big whiffer who can't field his position? We've already got plenty of those..." "As soon as Story or Mayer get hurt again, we'll still have one of them as SS, Will 1B, Ceddanne 2B and Eaton 3B -- that's as good as last year's playoff line-up! " "Depth like that is guaranteed to go shallow into October!"

Someone will love to counter with "all position players? What about Alonso?" I meant infielders; we all know Polar Bear's position is bat-swinging hard.

This free agency seasonS is going exactly as predicted. Boras and Bregman are holding up basically all the position players from signing, while they're waiting and hoping their prices will rise as Plan B, C, D, Elimenopee!!! Worst of all, the Red Sox can't complete their roster until Spring Training or Saint Patrick's Day or April Fool's Day/April Sox Fans Day or Opening Day of Fishing Season.

WBC

No. I'd say matching it would be good enough... but Boras wants us to beat it. So: $180 million dollars and 99 cents.

Selling different color shirts.

Not for Soto money, but the Sox better be ready to match rival bids that may be $20 mil or so above their current offer. Like I said yesterday, if you believe Early or Tolle will be worth $20 mil in the next half decade, then don't trade either for an All-Star. Just pay Bregman. MLB.com's first Power Rankings just came out, and is anyone here in their camp that the Red Sox right now are the third best AL club (behind the Jays and Ms)? They do mention the Sox "still have some cards left to play." We can laugh since no one knows if Henry has folded or Brez is even sitting at the table.

When it comes to Bregman, I don't really care how much or how many, because we all agree the Red Sox need more good ballplayers. Because when we get right down to it, how many All-Star big leaguers are even available?