5GoldGlovesOF,75

Value also has to consider context -- Schwarber's power bat and poor D are a better fit for Washington's strikeout pitching staff. But on a pitch-to-lots-of-contact staff like Boston's in 2020, the ball would find him too many times. If Beni can revert to 2018 Andrew, he may be more important to the Sox than Rosario, as well. Bloom and the FO surely have more info than we do about his skillset going forward... and may want to salvage something in return before it's too late.

I'll believe 3. when I see it. I'd welcome Ozuna, but expect Eddie Rosario at about half the cost.

I'm not sure you realize WAR totals profess to be estimates, so they look pretty equal based on quantitative projections. Schwarber can hit home runs, but isn't a base-stealing threat and has never had a positive dWAR in six seasons. Beni has had two seasons with 20 or more steals and was a Gold Glove finalist.

Schwarber just signed to play leftfield in Washington for $10 mil, so Beni (a player with more tools) doesn't make a ton of money, and he's only 26. And yet, Bloom's plan is to trade him for even younger players who may never even make it? We'd all love to strike it rich and nab an Austin Meadows just before his career takes off. But isn't Benintendi -- coming off a miserable, injury-shortened summer month -- exactly the type of bounce-back candidate that a guy with Bloom's rep should be looking to add?

Cole was campaigning in the streets with a sign he made as a kid saying Yankee Fan Forever.

Even writing done in the third-person point of view is driven by subjective reality. At least, 5GGs thinks so.

Bloom's current demands for 26-year-old Beni: "a younger corner outfielder along with a minor-league pitcher not necessarily on the 40-man roster." Bradford: "The belief is that Bloom's motivation isn't all that dissimilar to what we saw with some of his moves in Tampa Bay, dealing more experienced players (Benintendi has two more years before free agency) for the upside and contractual control of a younger player at the position." How in the wide world of Red Sox Nation can writers still be pushing this narrative? Bloom's been here a year-and-a-half!

People keep saying #1, even though no one has ever said otherwise. But a team doesn't have to be one player away in a rebuild to pursue the best available talent. You may be right about #2, but is any free agent a year from now worth a bigger investment by the Red Sox? I'd argue a few middle infielders may be more worthy, but they don't fill a major need by Boston... unless it's a splash -- someone who can make an impact on and off the field, change the clubhouse culture, and put actual fans in the seats. When the Rangers signed ARod they were a losing team in fourth place. He was great, but his chemistry didn't enhance the team enough. The 2002 Marlins also finished with a losing record in 4th place, and the following January signed future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriquez. That signing seemed odd, since IRod replaced Charles Johnson, also a Gold Glove All-Star catcher. Then the Fish won the World Series. When Dombrowski signed IRod for fourth-place loser Detroit in '04 it seemed even stranger... but two years later he was in another World Series.

You're helping to make my points the past two days a bit clearer. In order for the last place, rebuilding Red Sox to recruit a top player, they are going to have to outbid all other clubs, especially those that have a better chance of winning. For many reasons -- some we think we're sure of -- Boston has basically said and shown they're not going to do that. And if we believe what many actual players say of wanting to win, it is a Catch-22 because really good players help a team get really good, and thus attract more really good players.

Admittedly, there are other factors. Clemens refused to play for a team that made him carry his own luggage. Adrian Gonzalez couldn't tolerate a big market so popular that national TV forced him to play on Sunday nights. Cut these guys some slack.

Easier said than done; last year Number 22 was worn by Chris Mazza...

You may think it's funny, but few of us have ever gotten paid for taking selfies.

Mike Lowell, as quoted today by Rob Bradford, about the recruitment of free agents: '"It’s the winning," said Lowell regarding one of the chief factors when it comes to free agents choosing their next homes. "The fact that you’re kind of projected to not be one of the better teams, and you’re in that market, it does affect you. How do you change it? Get the good players and start winning it will be a snowball effect, trust me."' Let it flurry.

Colon reportedly had a 30th birthday party the year before his 31st. His claim to fame as a Red Sox was throwing out his back swinging from his ass, then turning in his uni and going home.

Maybe on a splash position player, but I just don't see many key pitchers out there next winter under 30 beyond McCullers -- unless we want to invest in another TJ-recovery in Syndergaard. The best of the other 29-year olds may be Dylan Bundy and our own ERod. If the latter proves healthy, we better lock him up before the comp gets fierce. There will be Hall of Fame starting pitchers available, but most are pushing 40, like Scherzer, Greinke and Verlander... and all make at least $33 million per.

Could it be that teams aren't offering much beyond '21 with an eye on a restructured CBA and lower paydays?

If the Yankees are actually very close to the top, which players would give them a better chance: Torres at short or instead, Castillo on the mound, and say, Semien or Didi at short?

Epstein and Bloom actually have something in common -- they both began second jobs on teams that got rid of Andrew Cashner. Of course, Theo got back Anthony Rizzo. Chaim had roster space freed up for, uh... lots of guys.

No doubt. Mine was that it also helps to have really good players when trying to recruit and keep really good players.

I read way back to this past weekend that Kluber chose the Yankees because his personal trainer is their team trainer and because he wanted to play with a team with a good chance to win a ring. We don't know if Boston even made an offer -- if they did, I doubt it was $11 million like NY's -- but this isn't rocket Roger science. A lot of players say winning is a factor when deciding where to sign. Some of them may actually be telling the truth.

I never said significantly less, but whether they're posturing or not, many good players -- once they're about to be rich beyond their ability to spend no matter where they sign -- often utter the word winning. It actually matters to some guys. Pete Rose signed with the Phillies for less than he was offered by Atlanta because he wanted to play with Mike Schmidt and win another ring.

Players have influence, and top players' input is often valued by management. It's not all bottom-line dollar signs... or warm weather climes. Competitive athletes actually like to win.

I think the entire term is forbidden in the Steinbrenner book of ownership. Alex Speier today reiterates why the Red Sox -- and I'm paraphrasing -- aren't ready to acquire any really good players yet because they're not really good enough yet. A point that hasn't been covered this winter is the effect that one really good acquisition can have on building back better. Good players want to win, and will recruit other good players. New players will want to join, and old players will want to stay. None of this is a revelation, but it's never noted when discussion is predominantly financial.

Reds would never do that because then they'd have to pay six more players instead of one.

We're definitely spoiled, and loving it. But that's what makes posters like us keep caring when so many band-wagoneers already tuned out before the pandemic.