5GoldGlovesOF,75

The fact that Boston's payroll is already high may be the reason they're didn't spend large the past two years... but only they know what they can actually afford. It will be interesting to see how long Henry and Co will wait for Bloom's gradual rebuild. But I'm on record that some Red Sox GM in the near future will sign a big money free agent who will never be as good for a franchise -- in so many ways -- as Mookie Betts.

I'm not a doctor nor I don't play one online, but it also seems like very few larger guys last long. Knees and backs are often issues with large frames over time, from carrying around all that extra weight. Go back and look at the list of Hall of Famers over-30 I posted yesterday; none of them were the size of Stanton and Judge, who break down every year.

They just need to convince him to retire and be a coach (I'm so funny I forget to make Pedey laugh). It's just a good thing they won't have to pay Betts on the next Red Sox team that's a yearly contender. He'll be in his 30s by then... Age 32 Season: Clemente...led NL H, BA Puckett... led AL H, TB Dawson... led NL HR, RBI, TB Morgan... led NL OB, SLG, OPS, TB Age 33 Season: Aaron... led NL R, HR, SLG, TB Mays... led NL HR, OB, SLG, TB Biggio... led NL Doubles (56) Age 34 Season: Molitor... led AL R, H, Triples B.Williams... led NL BA, SLG, OPS, TB Age 35 Ripken... led MLB G (163) Age 36 Schmidt... led NL HR, RBI, SLG, OPS Age 37 Brett... led AL BA, Doubles Age 38 Jeter... led AL H Age 39 Season: Henderson... led AL SB, BB Stargell... NL MVP in Regular Season, NLCS & WS

This has been my point all offseason. Rebuilds have to start adding actual MLB TALENT sometime (if I could get my post commands back, I'd boldface your last line and the word "talent")... especially in a winter where a lot has been available.

Hopefully, Theo Epstein and Ken Griffey Junior will work on saving what's left, because young fans whose parents drag them to live games ain't watching much on the tube and staying up past their bedtimes (and we aren't, either). A lot of kids who play baseball and attend games grow up to become young adults who watch more of the other, shorter sports during waking hours and call in to those shows.

Not even JBJ himself can scale the fiscal fence to keep his Fenway legacy from going, going, gone. But it was fun while it lasted -- watching Bradley roam the pastures was above-average entertainment... ... in a dead pastime that no longer exists for those who tune into a New England sports TV talkshow, where hosts and callers blab about the Patriots 99% of the time, every day, all year, except when they show Bruins or Celtics highlights. The worst part is this is nothing new; even when the Sox ruled the MLB in the summer of '18, hosts and callers cared more about the NFL draft and training camp. Sincerely, Backasoreus, Kneeasoreus, and Tricerabottoms.

Those numbers right there tell me there's as much chance of Bloom signing a closer as there is in him even listening to Scott Boras using the words "Fifty million" and "Bradley" in the same hemisphere.

The Red Sox were reportedly interested in seeing these contract terms to find out how much they saved by not signing them. The analytics dept. is busy adding up the money spent this offseason by the rest of the MLB, and will celebrate the final dollar amount on twitter... then they'll take it down.

Right now, the '21 #4 rated draft pick on MLB.com is a catcher, Adrian Del Castillo from University of Miami... "by just about any measure, the most complete hitter in the 2021 class. A catcher by trade, it’s unlikely he stays behind the plate at the next level, but the bat is special enough to warrant a top pick" (sounds like a report on Bryce Harper, as a teenager). Hope he's still available at #4. The #2 and #3 guys are shortstops. The #5 and #6 guys are pitchers... https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2020/9/7/21407638/2021-mlb-draft-scouting-report-adrian-del-castillo

Admittedly, you have pointed out the one offseason in the history of the franchise that the Red Sox signed a bunch of decent players with one or tool quality assets each that collaborated to produce a world title. That glass was more than half full if we acknowledge that all of those guys named were past All-Stars or received MVP votes before '13... except Koji, whose peripherals show he was still very good (sub 1 WHIP). This Sox 2021 team has only added complementary pieces: Renfroe, Andriese and Hernandez -- three more part-timers to a last-place club who recently told fans to forget about seeing much of our rehabbing staff ace this summer... since there will be no logical reason to expedite his comeback.

... between now and the last significant addition to the MLB roster (though I like Verdugo, we all know that was a subtraction)? Was it Eovaldi, summer of '18... though he and Steve Pearce were intended as supplementary pieces at the time of their acquisitions? How about: JD Martinez, nearly three years ago?

And to think we were only an ox away...

Third-most similar batter is Wladimir Balentien!

Nicky is a power-speed package; projected for 2 triples and 2 stolen bases in '21! https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/delmoni01.shtml

Nicky Delmonico, come on up!

This is why most players are only getting one-year deals; owners know there might not be a next season (not to mention a variant, mutated 2021). It also further explains why the Sox FO "may not be all-in".

We should all be leery of the Red Sox rotation as is, but I don't see how anyone can favor the Yankees to finally win a pennant based on their pitching "upgrades", either. An MLB article today says NY improved their rotation, but all I see is a "favorite" who replaced their #s 2, 3 and 4 starters with injured guys and hopefuls. Nothing guaranteed, there, either. Requesting board assistance: I've lost all features and editing privileges, and even submitting replies is a three-button excursion. Can anyone tech savvy help?

He's another that took time to develop, and with different teams than the one who first traded for him. It reinforces the difficulty of the sport, and why very few are instant stars the moment they debut... and why trading prospects for "sure things" provides more immediate hope (and fun) for rabid fanbases and impatient franchises. I doubt there are many Cardinals fans bemoaning the addition of Arenado or the loss of the minor leaguers it took to get him.

I was also thinking Andrew Miller, but he was a #6 overall pick who kept getting traded (four teams) before getting Cy Young votes and making All-Star teams... as a set-up man?

MLB.com with today's article on every team's "regret" trades One MLB player each team would like back WWW.MLB.COM Every team has regrets. The Red Sox probably wish they didn’t want Larry Andersen so bad they were willing to trade Jeff Bagwell for him; the Cubs will hear the name “Ernie Broglio” in their ears forever; and hey, didn’t Babe Ruth used to play for the Red Sox? There’s ... ... gets the wheels turning. A lot of talent is exchanged in deals, but seldom does one team really fleece another by nabbing a future Hall of Famer -- especially if he's still only a prospect. Tatis Jr. was a steal, but other than that... Arozarena had a great month, but will he sustain success? Gleybar Torres tailed off a bit, but even if he rebounds, do any Cubs' fans regret their title? In the past 30+ years, Smoltz and Bagwell are two traded prospects who made it to Cooperstown. Are there more? Or do teams, fan addicts, and trade simulator sites vastly overrate players who haven't even made it to the majors?

Not basing this on any facts, just wondering if a guy who signed here a year ago and got traded after playing half a season (30 games in '20) would maybe not want to risk repeating that experience. I know money talks, but if there's an equal offer, how many veteran employees of any industry would prefer to keep transferring job locations?

I distinctly remember when Pedroia struggled to start his first year, Remy saying the Red Sox should replace him with back-up Alex Cora. Instead, Cora mentored and Dustin became Rookie of the Year. Pedroia -- a second-round draft pick (65th overall) -- may be as good as any reason for Bloom not to sign Trevor Bauer and lose next summer's 39th pick.

I've got a wood stove ablazing in my basement, but it freezes over whenever I approach it for Red Sox news.

Maybe he doesn't want to live in New York.

February is here, so it's hard to believe that that many free agents are home sitting on offers, waiting for bidding to increase. Then again, with so many major leaguers still available, the Red Sox could easily add another starter, reliever, second sacker and/or centerfielder. The costs would appear minimal vs. the depth still needed for max improvement... because, although the roster is better, we all know -- barring many, many what-ifs -- it's probably not good enough yet for us to watch a winner, much less a contender.