5GoldGlovesOF,75

... and he can hit; all these are reasons I said a year ago he'd be the best free agent position player -- and for Boston. The problem now is, he had a great season, and his comp who signed for Mookie money -- Lindor -- didn't. Some of the CBA issues the owners disagree with are counterproductive with what's actually best for the owners; nobody really wants to pay $350 million for the next five years of Correa's prime, and then get stuck with another half decade of downside. The true bargains are locking up the Acunas and Francos at a younger age for lower costs that are a much better investment on likely production. Of course, owners want to pay those young guys $10M per, and letting them free would mean they'd have to probably double that... ... but isn't that still better than paying them triple in their late-30s?

I think you originally suggested Pham, before McCutcheon. The former just makes more Blooming sense, as the latter earned $20 million last year. Andrew knows he will have to accept less to play in '22, but if the plan is to platoon, he'll probably want as much as his partner (JBJ at $13M?)... and that's too costly for a platoon. Even if Cutch humbly seeks half his old salary, $10 mil is more than Kike makes, and is more than Renfroe was projected to make... When Jackie and Mookie were both establishing themselves as starting players in the majors, both were tried in center and right. Obviously, the Sox made the right call; the more experienced JBJ got a better jump and thus covered more ground in AL centerfields, while Betts was quick enough to man the curling configurations of Fenway's rightfield. If Bradley has lost a step, then it makes sense to move him to a corner position; we might find out if they have a Spring Training...

True, but most parks have more ground to be covered in center. I still think Verdugo as the full-time rightfielder is an option, with Kike floating around between LF, CF and 2B. I also envision a fourth outfielder joining the corp, maybe as a platoon with JBJ like previously discussed. I just doubt his name will be Suzuki, Schwarber or Duran...

Recent performance is unfortunately the only thing some fans can focus upon. So to some, Bradley's 2021 means he's washed up forever at age 31. But others who can access bb-ref or fangraphs know that JBJ was also one of the Red Sox' best players in 2020... Jackie didn't forget how to play baseball, and unless he's dealing with an undisclosed injury, I'd still take him defensively in centerfield over Kike Hernandez, who had a great second half in CF in '21 before dropping that fly at the end of the ALCS.

He did in Tampa just a few months ago... and all the new starters were unproven rookies. In the ALDS, we saw what an offense like Boston can do to him in relief. He doesn't have to face Devers anymore, but now there's a guy like Wander Franco...

Agreed on Wacha; he's this year's Andriese, another ex-Ray to fill roles as needed until replaced on the midseason roster by better options. I like this one, sooner rather than later: https://www.yahoo.com/news/red-sox-trade-pitcher-sean-124100002.html ps. probably more available and will cost less than Montas...

Does anyone realistically think the current Red Sox starting rotation for 2022 is good enough for a contender? Without even considering the bullpen -- which is still incomplete, according to the CBO -- here are the starters we know we can count upon: Eovaldi. An argument can be made that Pivetta peaked in October, and will be a solid #3 if he can stay consistent. Some may expect a fully-healed Sale to reclaim past glory, but first he has to show he can excel again against good teams in big moments; he did neither in his '21 rehab. Wacha and Hill were both rejected by Tampa, the smaahtest organization in the AL... We're all intrigued by seeing either Whitlock or Houck as a full-time starter, but not at the expense of an already weak bullpen. It would be great if a young guy like Winckowski or Groome suddenly evolves into a phenom and wins a job in Spring Training... but that may be cancelled due to lack of fun.

But barring a trade for something actually reliable, he's the best option of someone who might sign for less than the dreaded longterms... and there's no doubt that Rodon is definitely good. He's more of a sure thing than Wacha, Hill or Pivetta (who had some good games), or one of Whitlock or Houck, who we think could be good. As for Sale, let's all hope he takes some different vitamins next season, to prevent getting Covid a third time.

I like them all, but the first combo is the best for 2022 (if there is one). I've come around to a lot of new playing styles and methods of analysis, but can't see past the value of good starting pitching -- which the Red Sox just cannot claim right now; the current rotation beyond Eovaldi is too full of Ifs and Butts.

His arm is too strong for LF in Fenway; Dalbec's throws would go over the backstop. He could probably play in the Green Monster seats and throw back home run balls... or he could throw some from the mound, in late-inning relief. Man, this no-season offseason is already too non-existent.

Also the answer to a Red Sox trivia question: which pitcher ruined his season with a non-pitching injury... like, I dunno -- tearing a back muscle swinging from his ass in the batter's box?

Kike is trending, so Bloom will do the opposite of our preferences. Remember, Kike's biggest value to management remains his versatility, and he has played more games in his career in LF than SS... and also, more games in LF than JBJ has played in RF. Kike was arguably the Sox' best player last year, so it's hard to keep in mind that Bradley was also arguably their best player in 2020 (especially to miserable fans -- most probably in Milwaukee -- who only go by the most recent season). p.s. when I suggested Pham as another outfielder to acquire, it was to platoon with JBJ, but to play LF vs. lefties... with Kike moving back to CF

A few posters say they expect it, but I'll bet it will still be a stunner if the Sox sign anyone to say, five years, for as much as $50 million. But if it happens, it might be like trying to eat just one spicy corn chip...

I can see the Sox justifying a high, short AAV to a pitcher rather than a position player -- the only regulars making over $10 Mil per were all signed by other GMs/CBOs...

I'm not assuming JBJ will play RF, but if that's his part-time position, then a cheap righty bat like Souza would fit the platoon. If Verdugo moves over to RF permanently, and Kike splits fulltime in CF and LF (when Jackie starts), then a righty bat like Pham is a much more affordable option than McCutcheon as JBJ's platoon partner. The projections for Suzuki, who has never played in the MLB, are five years for $55 million? Does that fit Bloom's MO in any way? I can't even see $11M AAV for one or two years; not when Kike is still the longest term contract Bloom has given out for an outfielder, at $14M for two (Bradley makes more AAV, but we all know he is the cost of Binelas and Hamilton).

I just believe beat reporters who are closer to the pulse of the team they cover than anyone else on the internet. So my personal opinions of guys like Alex Speier, Pete Abraham, Rob Bradford, John Tomase, Peter Gammons, etc. aren't a factor. Same with a national guy like Ken Rosenthal, who is always working and knows everybody. Whether you like him or not, he's more credible than most. You're right, there are no reliable sources. It's arguable the very term is a misnomer; otherwise, why is someone afraid his name will be used? It's not like any of these reporters, team employees and player agents are at risk of having to go into the witness protection program... or are they? Some may risk their jobs, whether through being fired for spilling the beans, blackballed for breaking trust and thus, losing future scoops, or just from fabricating or feeding misinformation campaigns (oops, that's ok with half the country these days). Some are certainly being used as pawns by both sides of management and labor, but that comes with the badge...

I heard from reliable sources the Red Sox are interested. Does reliable actually mean liable to be libel, over and over again? Or to lie once more?

Those in the industry whose predictions sometimes come true. Today's bowtie is cut by Chris Sale scissors in dishonor of the knights (and daze) of the keypads... because anyone is gooder than us.

It's so obvious Jose just likes East Coast cooking better: .356/.915 in '21 for Boston, .373/.956 in '20 in Baltimore... compared to his time last year in LA of .259/.670. Not all ballplayers like constant warm and sunny weather (I just don't know them). But even when he wasn't playing in the postseason, Iglesias looked like he enjoyed being in the dugout, cheering guys on; Arroyo even credited Jose with a bunting tip -- which ultimately helped win the ALDS. Those are the kind of guys a well-rounded roster craves. Maybe he'll even make a good MLB coach someday.

Wonder what Iglesias wants to finish his playing days in Boston and transition to a coach -- which is basically what happened last September and October. Joe Churches seemed to love both Beantown experiences and may even make a good organizational mentor for Marcelo Mayer...

It's ok if they're just talking about recipes for the holiday feast: "Five boxes of ziti? I'll need at least seven -- I gotta big family to feed."

Renfroe in '21 was -0.5 dWAR... correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that mean -- according to this metric -- he was worse than the average replacement player? In other words, the Sox would've been better off -- defensively -- if Taylor Motter was in RF all season?

I think he's below average, but just from what I saw the past two years. For example, Verdugo looked pretty good to me in RF in 2020, compared to Renfroe in 2021 (I know we're not supposed to say "Mookie would've had that" -- but I definitely thought it more last season, especially on pops or flies that fell in down the line...).

Geez... now we're straying into almost half the genders in the history of the world.

Agreed. Oldtimer's priorities are what we see as fans, but certainly not for what Bloom is prepared to pay at the cost of payroll or prospects.