5GoldGlovesOF,75

At least Bloom admitted he's full of crap when he said he won't be judged on his words, but his actions. The action Red Sox fans have seen for four offseasons now are a lot of inaction. Bloom's deliberate style is to wait as long as possible to make moves, and often it is too long (incompetently... or intentionally?)... waiting until all the best star free agents are signed, then picking through the leftovers; waiting until the last seconds of the trade deadline, when all the expensive pieces are gone. And Sox fans don't really need reminders of the exceptions, like when he jumped on Arauz in the Rule 5 draft, or signed Joely in the first week of free agency... because fans really don't care about the depth Bloom is building with replacement players for the bench or in the minors. Don't even remind us of the good additions -- like Renfroe, Schwarber, Wacha and Strahm -- that he didn't bother to bring back. Not when the New York teams and almost all the clubs out West are stockpiling all the star players available. Especially our own...

Would it be easier to understand if you were a season ticket holder or just a parent who wants to take the family to one overpriced game at Fenway? The Red Sox are the joke of the industry right now. Beat reporters, local columnists, national reporters and talking heads aren't spending as much time wondering WTF is happening in Boston. Instead, they are just lambasting Bloom, Kennedy, and especially the AWOL and MIA owners. Any tired old metaphor can be used to explain the feelings in Red Sox Nation right now. Fond memories of great times. But it's not the same anymore.

First, forget about attaching Sale to any Devers trade this winter. Bloom has at least learned his lesson (though dumping half-price Price at the cost of Mookie will maybe be underrated in his legacy). Second, because there's no albatross contract attached, a really good return -- at least a freaking upgrade from Doogie, Downs and Wong -- will be based on finding and/or pitting two rivals in a bidding war. Because the winner of the Raffy sweepstakes will have the edge going forward... no matter what past statistics say. Even old guys with our failing eye tests know this one.

Not even close to my suggestion... but definitely the inspiration for it. All we ever heard about was that the Dodgers' paltry package was for one year of Mookie, when in reality they were intent on building championships around him for only the next dozen years. No more joking around. Now they'll have to pay up for Devers, or they know the Padres or Giants or Mets or Phils will get him for the next dozen years.

If Bloom is really Bloom, here's how he can trade Devers and save his job: ... approach the true big money markets -- which are really now just owners with big money pockets... afire -- and tell it like it is: Any club willing to deal for Raffy -- because they will do so with every intention of signing him to a longterm contract and keeping him away from free agency -- should offer a trade package of what it would be worth for a World Series title. Because Rafael Devers is a difference-maker, and is good enough to tip the scales for the Mets or Phillies in the East, or the Dodgers or Padres in the West, or even get the Giants back in the conversation. You want his prime? Make us an offer for more than one year of control... it doesn't have to be for the next dozen years that you'll gladly pay him for... just for control of the next half decade of rings and banners. Best package wins. Over and over.

Mookie will still be bowling 300 games. All Judge will be doing is wearing a bowler hat.

And even Bloom would tell you that range can offset anyone trying to strong-arm you.

Checked their prospect list yesterday. Two of their top 5 are shortstops; those we don't need. Their top three pitchers -- Harrison #2, Whisenhunt #7, Crawford #8 -- are lefties. Outfielders are #3, 4 and 10: Matos, McCray, Brown. A catcher, Bailey, is #12 (Joey Bart, 25, is SF's starting catcher right now, with a career 38% K-rate). Brandon Crawford, 35, is the obvious name on their big league roster who is probably available and can serve as a reasonable placeholder at short.

Bloom's Christmas wish: one of the prospects he traded for gets promoted to fill in for an injured guy and hits bombs, like Valdez, or runs wild, like Hamilton... for about a month, until MLB pitchers figure out huge holes in their at bats. If you can't have Lynn and Rice, settle for naughty and nice.

... and offer a lot less in trade, in the meantime.

Whatever... we all know Wendle from his Tampa past as an excellent defensive third baseman. Just in case...

He's a dirtdog; anyone tries to slap him, he'll bite their fingers off. Just don't hit him a high fly.

... in freaking Boston, Massachusetts, please. Baty's oppo swing is made for Wally. Think Kyle Tucker in Fenway... or Marshall Tucker: Take the High Wall

Otis Nixon says he is not a lawman.

I honestly thought they merely viewed that extra $45M as an added cost of having Mookie.

Did any other old-timers sense the Correa news felt like the ARod fiasco a few decades (almost) ago? New York swooped in... and he agreed to shift over to play third base... All that's missing is for Carlos to use blue lipstick and practice slapping at Bronson Arroyo's glove.

I haven't forgotten these deals, and admit Bloom has won a few slight victories. Or Whitlock via Rule 5 (hope he recovers and continues to progress, though nothing is guaranteed). What's missing is really hitting on that gem of a trade that some people predicted was Bloom's specialty, through his intense scrutiny and knowledge of the various levels of the minors. I know, it takes time, but MLB-ready acquisitions become impact starting pitchers or regulars in batting orders every year. Some luck has to be involved, as well; not everyone swings a Yordan-for-Josh Fields or signs a Big Papi, after someone else cuts him right when he's about to enter his prime.

It's the same morning the Mets -- who didn't need him -- signed Carlos Correa. The Red Sox just happen to be a team that could really use a shortstop, and a star player. We're not galaxies apart on this cosmic reality, are we?

The most worrisome aspect of trading Devers is that Bloom will be making the deal. Maybe an owner will refuse to pay market prices for free agents or to homegrown stars, but trades are all on the front office. Bloom's record in Boston trade returns is just brutal, and that's even including his one big win -- the time he swapped two relievers for two future starting pitchers who are serviceable but back-end-of-rotation talent. If someone really wants to overpay for Raffy, great. If not, letting him walk and getting a second-round draft pick may be the best we can do (especially considering where the Sox should be picking, if that round is based on standings).

... maybe reaction has nothing to do with Niko or Worcester, but that it was announced the same day the Mets signed Correa... ... the Mets -- who now will pay market rate to have two All-Star shortstops (which is only two or three less than the Padres!).

It's easy to see the flaws in the plan or lack of plan for the years since '19. But a lot of us are failing to envision the new MLB and how rule changes will impact '23. Bloom may be the Boss, but he's inspired by the words of another... we've got one last chance to make it real, to trade in these wings on some wheels.

Cut him some slack. The Mets stole Correa, so Bloom pivots to Niko. On the way, he stopped at the bank to pick up some coin wrappers. Sam says they're using all resources -- there will be no couch cushions unflipped and unsearched.

If you're asking my opinion, I think those sites based specifically on monetary values may exist to also cater to the industry, may be at least indirectly sponsored by the industry, and very well could be produced by people seeking employment in the industry (if they're not already). My opinions can be totally wrong. But the fact is that Chaim Bloom got his start in the industry by researching and writing at least one analytical article on a baseball website.

Thanks -- compare his $16M AAV to Whitlock's $18.75 total for four years. Jansen may bring some Kimbrel moments, with a mix of lights-out and shaky saves. But a legitimate closer, coming off a season where he led the MLB in saves and games finished, is now Bloom's highest-paid pitcher of his Era. This is interesting, because to the fans' angst, Bloom never wanted to spend market price on a closer before -- so it shows that adults can change and adapt, if they want to... or have to.

Yep, the Guy Ants can't just be sitting on the dock of the bay -- they need a splash. SF's top prospect, Luciano, is a shortstop (we got plenty)... but next in line is lefty pitcher Kyle Harrison. Yes, to him. The #7,8,9,11 guys are also pitchers. In between at #10 is outfielder Vaun Brown, who I like better than two others rated at #3,4.