5GoldGlovesOF,75

Wacha doesn't have to carry the staff, but he should at least carry a tune. Otherwise, peeps who like music aren't going to like this tradeoff. If you watched Sox games on NESN the last month of the season, you'd know Perez gave up a singing career to be a professional pitcher. He told us that in the commercial they ran 78 times a day (but not 78 rpm).

Come on -- his ERA just went down for '22 because he doesn't have to face Boston hitters. Wander how he'll do vs. Tampa, though...

A lot of us would -- probably Bloom, too... but for just one year (definitely not five). The main concern Sox fans should have for any pitcher acquired to give us innings is that the term "innings pitched" requires -- for every IP -- a total of three outs to be recorded. Somehow.

I'd rather spend $7M on a 30-year-old veteran starter than $50M on someone pushing 40... Wacha's biggest challenge will be leaving the ALE's resident genius skipper and having to pitch instead for a guy who wasn't even a finalist for Manager of the Year -- which, to be unfair, some pundits blame on something that happened before 2021 (like getting thrown under the bus by players seeking amnesty, or steering a club with a payroll top-heavy with debts to many ex-Red Sox).

Wacha has a postseason pedigree -- as a rookie he won four in a row with a 1.00 ERA... Joe Buck and FOX made him a household name with Yankee-love features and ads... and he's already a hero at Fenway Park, where he lost the final game of the 2013 World Series. In his final game in Tampa in this year's ALDS, with the Rays trailing by two runs, he only let the Red Sox score six more on nine hits in 2.2 IP. Wacha is 30 years old, so plenty of prime left. And the underrated aspect he brings to Boston is The Book on all the Rays' hitters that only an alert teammate discerns over time. The Sox' analytics department may be pouring over this very data as we post...

Good point, and as Bell alluded to, ever-increasing multi-inning roles of relievers have increased their value, while also prompting a rule-adjustment need for assigning victories to pitchers. I would also add, however, that workhorse starters (currently defined as "going five" or "two times through the order", whichever comes first) provide another asset that can't be overlooked or quantified: eating innings, which gives some of the almost-daily bullpen guys a day of R & R -- recovery and reset. Managers, coaches and players talk about it all the time; in that sense, a pitcher who starts 30 games can positively impact around 45 games... if half his starts "go long," and refreshed relievers are better the next game after a day off.

Total rings in pinstripes for either: 0

I think at least Seabold and Winckowski take some turns in the rotation, even if they don't break camp in March. Hopefully, a younger guy like Bello has a great first half and makes surprise starts in Boston, as well. Though it's just as likely that all three begin in the MLB bullpen and see steady usage at some point as part of some middle-innings plan. I'd be shocked if any free agent pitcher the Sox sign also costs a QO.

Better get used to the idea that some will come from Worcester.

The Red Sox would be remiss if they didn't keep all options open in talks to do due diligence and go all in touching base with targets they're linked to by reportedly showing interest in active conversations at this time.

You mean the White Sox. They sign players for more than two years.

Ban Velcro. That will shorten every game by half an hour. And no mask mandates for catchers, except for undrafted youngsters (their teeth, their parents' dental bills).

Bah, he's only 5 foot, 10 inches. Franco has a good chance to be 28 in about eight years.

I'm not against adding Means to the roster, just not for swapping the Sox' top pitching prospect for a big leaguer with legitimate questions. Half a decade ago, I was angry when Dombrowski gave up the Sox' top pitching prospect for Drew Pomeranz, who had just become an All-Star for the first time at age 27. My only question about Anderson Espinoza back then was how many Cy Youngs the next Pedro would win. The answer is zero, which is the amount of MLB games Espinoza has pitched (so far). But he's still five years younger than Means... I'm still against the Espinoza trade in theory, but it's not like anyone is untouchable in a deal for a proven star player. I'd trade Bello in a package for more of a sure thing like Luis Castillo, who's never been injured and actually got better after the sticky ban.

Not me. Means' 2021: first half 2.28 ERA, second half 4.88 -- during the ban on sticky stuff and a shoulder injury. I need to see an entire year of adjustments and recovery first. Right now, I wouldn't even trade Bello for Means straight up.

Good call... on your part and Bloom's. At this point in his career, I view Vaz as overrated as a catcher, but underrated as a hitter (crappy stats, but has delivered in big spots -- many to the opposite-field -- since the '18 postseason). Plus, without a catcher, all Red Sox pitches will bounce to the backstop.

Is this the first expenditure of the Red Sox' offseason? If so, it is appropriate, because it all starts with AC.

The question remains: who will Bloom add? You know the front office has lists of players from every org on their watch list. Wasn't Arauz the first transaction of the Bloom Era? He may never be a fulltimer, but is still young enough to qualify for a pension someday. One of the cool things for baseball fans is watching a once low-level prospect emerge as a big league star (or even a meteor). Wonder what the ratio is of those vs. Top 20 draft picks who don't ever make it; a cup of coffee doesn't count -- guys would have to have had at least a pint of holiday stout...

I heard she's a good cook, who only uses the finest ingredients. But what if there's another one, who prepares the exact same recipes, only with substitute generic name brands?

This may be viewed as good news for baseball fans: as of January 15, Canada will no longer let unvaccinated pro athletes into its country. Canada has just done the US and MLB owners and players a big favor, because now there can be no political debate for anyone who either plays for or against the Toronto Blue Jays. The new CBA probably doesn't even to have worry about including any official language on the issue, because presumably every big leaguer will now have to automatically get vaccinated. Sure, many teams in the NL aren't scheduled to face Toronto in '22, but a lot of players change teams during a season, and it's unlikely anyone would want to risk losing a roster spot. Plus, the Jays are a World Series contender, so any NL club with likewise goals will want to be prepared accordingly. Of course, this is provided the MLB doesn't try to hose Toronto fans again, and force the Jays to play in Florida or New York for another season. Maybe this news will at least force a division rival like the Red Sox to take the proper steps to help prevent losing half its team again in the middle of another pennant race next summer...

I knew you'd like that. We need about six Duf-- wait, can't say his name.

I know I'll be disappointed when Fox doesn't do a biopic and live interview with one of our new players while the Yankees are batting in the next Sox-NY Sunday night game.

Last time I saw Duffy in person at Fenway, Mookie homered off him in his second, third and fourth time through the order. He singled the first time -- the only Red Sox' hit through the first three innings. JD also went yard in his second at bat.

The key Bloom quote for potential pitching acquisitions is when he said this week, “We’re not too focused on how famous they are..."

Except Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps -- wasn't that one celebrated on Seinfeld? And Mr. Phelps went to become a famous pilot on Airplane! (Shirley, you remember that...)