5GoldGlovesOF,75

This is a fair assessment. The '22 regulars were missing Schwarber -- a big factor in the '21 stretch run -- and Renfroe -- a big factor in the '21 regular sked... but the great athleticism of Story was going to replace them (that's what posters kept telling me). As far as the rotations go, I had no doubt that Hill and Wacha would spend time on the IL, but at least they had pitched in '21. Can't really say that for Sale or Paxton. I consider Kluber as the replacement for Eovaldi, because again, at least Kluber pitched all last year -- which makes him more of a sure thing this winter than his hurtwhile colleagues.

Jorge Alfaro is my darkhorse to be an impact player in any Red Sox renaissance. Just won a winter league MVP, and it's not like he has Fisk or Varitek in front of him on the depth chart. Alfaro is supposed to have a canon, which could also be a factor in the new running rules. An injury to one of the other back-ups could open the door, hit a few Fenway bombs, get along with Cora, communicate with Bello -- and who knows? All in all, it's just another... plank in a span of the bridge.

Two Red Sox in MLB.com rankings for third base: Machado, Ramirez, Riley, Devers, Arenado, Bregman, Turner, Muncy, Diaz, DJ. I'll take Arenado and Bregman ahead of Machado, but Raffy would be the one I'd build a team around right now... Two Red Sox are also in the rankings for first base prospects, including Casas at #1 and Kavadas at #10. The Rays, A's and Rockies also have two in the top 10 (1B/DH prospects?).

Teams may shy away from his full year contract, but go for half when they know they're going for it (and have established that he's been consistent in '23) in July...

If Barnes is back and has his usual good first half, he should be a deadline candidate for a contender to swap for a prospect in return. Considering his history of unreliability and his age, picking up his option is unlikely. Matt's not going to be a core member of the next great Red Sox team. Maybe his son or grandson will be?

Sox tried to bring back Damon for the stretch run in 2010, but he refused because he'd rather stay on the sub-.500 Tigers at the time. His feewings were still hurt from getting booed at Fenway from wearing f***ing pinstwipes. Egobrainiac.

No -- most will spend too much time bashing teachers, while a select few will counter that poor test scores on state assessments were entirely dependent upon grade level budgets and wasting funds at Staples on pencils, notebooks and colored construction paper.

Something may be brewing; MLB Trade Rumors report there is significant interest in Houck -- even coming off surgery. What can the Red Sox get for a trade package of two controllable assets, Verdugo and Houck? Someone actually under 30 who can plug into the starting rotation or middle infield for more than one year?

I'm Soxfanistic.

Regarding young guys making the bigs, Bloom told us last week that Rafaela's timeline wouldn't be impacted by the parent club's needs -- but does anyone think Chaim's might be just a tad tempted by the Prospect Promotion Incentive in the latest CBA? Imagine bringing up a rookie whose success rewards the club both on the field and with an additional pick in the next draft? Fans love seeing a Florida phenom go North... and how can a sustained contender builder like Bloom resist!

It doesn't take a degree in Classics at Yale to make McGuire jokes.

Montero is not a good comp -- he was all PEDs. Mayer is all DQs -- as in vastly in need of considerable Blizzards: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Triple Pecan Cluster, Oreo Dirt Pie, Caramel Fudge Cheesecake, and a heaping helping of Heath... but no GirlScout Thin Mints, Butterfinger, Snickers, and never BenandCherry Garciaparra.

Come on: how many Bloom winters have we already spent absolutely convinced of certain roster needs that (we feel) are never sufficiently filled? Look at it this way: is it feasible in 2023 that Yoshida-Turner-Alfaro-Duvall will out-homer Bogey-JD-Vaz-Story? Now imagine Henry praising Chaim for saving around a quarter-billion dollars (by not signing X) in the process. If all those bounce-back batters -- with Masa bouncing forth -- support our bounce-back pitchers... and our bolstered bullpen does its job, the Red Sox could have the superball boomerang season of the decade! So far...

If Kike does go to the infield, he's talking like it will be at shortstop. He has said all winter (if Xander was leaving) that he wants to play shortstop full time. In a recent interview about recruiting Turner, Kike said an entire season at short, where he played all his life growing up (like most who go pro) has been a goal since he made the majors. He also said he was excited to pair with Story at second base, before the latest surgery news, but that he hopes it will now be later in the second half of the year. This might be why the Sox reported interest in Josh Harrison or Profar to play second makes more sense than a multi-year deal that Andrus must be looking for. It is also telling there have been no rumors of a possible Iglesias reunion...

I'll take Duvall, even if they also add an infielder. A right-handed power hitter who who can actually play outfield in the big leagues -- Red Sox could've used one of those for over a year now.

The more world champs, the better -- especially, guys who know how to beat Houston.

Maybe Hugh meant they suck at getting good free agents to sign their names to contracts in Boston...

The only thing I know about pitching is that it's hard to hit... but if the Rox hired me as an insultant -- from what I've seen of Seabold's stuff, I don't think Coors would be much of a home field advantage.

It's a pictograph

Ok with Alfaro as a platoon guy with McGuire, settling for half of his 162-game averages of 16 HRs, 62 RBI, with a .246/.701. Alfaro is 29, and on bb-ref his most Similar Batter through 29 is... Christian Vazquez. Bloom just re-signed Vaz for $2 million!

What is Boras' talksox alias? From now on, anyone who cites BTV is a suspect...

I know Profar is versatile but he was the regular leftfielder last year for the Padres. He's played 21 games in centerfield in his nine-year career. The last time he played second base full-time was four years ago in Oakland. The last time he played shortstop was 2018 in Texas. At least Andrus is a shortstop. As for offense, Andrus hit 17 homers last year, while Profar hit 15, the same as Bogaerts.

But there is a pattern for a patient GM that waits out -- not the market, but the scramble in reinforcement periods like the offseason and trade deadline. That's where Harm's being choosy and your about-the-money combine... for both guys like Bloom and players he recruits. Neither necessarily guarantees assembling a contender, though I've always favored quality over quantity. As for the dilemma that is Duran: I know he's the bullseye of the '22 debacle, but a player has to have skills beyond speed in college to get drafted, and then to succeed at each pro level in the minors to make the majors. A few years back there was a feature on Duran when he was batting over .400 in A ball. A video of a BP session showed him taking a two-step into each swing; obviously, better pitchers exploited that approach -- which he no longer does. Ballplayers constantly make adjustments. The ones who figure it out stay in the bigs.

We'll take a guy who earns 35 career WAR, wins an LCS MVP, and bats .294 over 15 MLB seasons. The funny thing is that teenager Cespedes is a shortstop, and Kendrick played the following positions in the majors: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, LF, CF, DH. If he can hit, he can play somewhere...

1. NEVER A CONSIDERATION -- many of us assumed the Red Sox were never going to spend big money to replace Bogey -- not when they were focused on using it to lock up Raffy... plus, eight of their top 20 prospects are listed as shortstops, including #1. 2. check 3. NON-MOVE -- but remember, there are some posters whose data shows that signing free agent starters long and large never works out, at least in Boston (which I can't argue)... and then there are those who like to say "the time isn't right" (which I can't stand) 4. NON-MOVE -- for a big leaguer at any outfield position 5. check 6. NON-MOVE -- unless you'd start Kluber in a playoff game over Bello-Whitlock-Sale-Paxton, even Pivetta (the projected #5, who led the staff in starts in '22). Put it this way: if the Sox get to the postseason, the afore-mentioned rotation must have been healthy and successful. All we know about Kluber's last playoff outing is he was the 8th guy to take the mound for the Rays in the game they got eliminated and he gave up the run that did it. 11. Devers Forevers! This was so anti-Bloom that John Henry even flew with the braintrust to the DR to get it done... but it happened on Bloom's watch, and right now is the best signing of his Era for so many reasons...