5GoldGlovesOF,75

No one here is underestimating the effects Covid has had. And those ongoing effects are all the more reason not to expect very much change across the industry. Red Sox fans know it can't get any worse than 2020, and eternal optimists provide inspirational boosts for us all. But for so many exhausted by a year of hearing and reading deceptive leaders spouting disinformation, it's hard not to be skeptical when Boston's front office insists it's building a contender for 2021. Many here -- you and I included -- have said that the Red Sox need to make a splash for many reasons. Maybe we'll just have to be content with the splash that brought back Alex Cora to manage.

I want you to hack headquarter computers and orchestrate a mega-deal for Luis Castillo, then replace the traded talent with free agent signings, then hit "Send". Stat!

I'm not mocking anyone who has confidence in Henry because of his spending habits that have made the Red Sox championship contenders many times the past two decades. He has proven himself to be the best owner Boston baseball has ever had. But can anyone else at least acknowledge that those spending habits have radically changed since he hired Chaim Bloom? I understand the need to reset, but we have not seen Henry in public since the Sox traded Mookie. Maybe he's just laying low, staying away from crowds and staying healthy until he gets a vaccine. Hopefully, he's not losing interest...

Any day now 2020 will only be a harsh memory. As far as 2021, for those hoping the Red Sox return to contention, here's one underrated factor: Boston currently boasts zero elite defense at any position on the field. Remember in 2018 in the launch angle era, the Sox had the best outfield in baseball -- two Gold Glovers, and another finalist. They also had Gold Glove winners at second and first in Kinsler and Moreland (Pearce wasn't bad, either, making the greatest stretch in Sox history to end the ALDS). Behind the plate, the platoon of Leon and Vaz was a positive. Bogaerts seemed more consistent. Now? Without JBJ and Mookie, the outfield is average at best. I like Verdugo in right, but according to MLB rankings he's not even as good as Clint Frazier, that pinstriped Gold Glove finalist. The current infield was easily one of the worst in baseball in 2020. Vaz has seen better days, too. Hopefully, Cora's influence will improve the D...

$$$$$hhhhhhh... I hate to an$wer thi$, $ince it will $ertainly irk tho$e with blind faith in guy$ like Henry and Bloom... ... love, $am Kennedy p$: $arca$m alert

$$$$$hhhhhhh... I hate to an$wer thi$, $ince it will $ertainly irk tho$e with blind faith in guy$ like Henry and Bloom... ... love, $am Kennedy

I'm in on all these guys. The problem (with the pitchers especially) now is that Bauer is shooting for the pre-pandemic moon, and a lot of players and agents -- and GMs -- are probably content to wait and see how his actual ceiling affects market rates for the next tier down.

What a dick.

Mr. Hand ate Spicoli's pizza in Social Studies class.

Not judging by Bloom's time in Tampa. The Rays' big league roster that's been so successful the past few years wasn't built developing their own draft picks, but by constantly trading for and hoarding young, inexpensive, controllable, and ultimately expendable players. A key part of that style is to continually deal those guys while they still have value, to acquire more assets and keep pedaling the cycle. The latter pattern is atypical of most GMs, and unlike any Red Sox GM in modern history.

I think from math class that means he'll have a 7 one year, a 6 in another, and a 5 in the third; but not necessarily in condescending order.

Anyone else not? I'm not saying old dogs like Henry and Warner can't be convinced to look at new tricks... but Bloom compared to all past Sox GM/Officers is such a contrast. If they really believe in Bloom's style, then Warner, at least, and Sam Kennedy, need muzzles about returning to instant contenders again after who they traded and who they added the past year.

Believe it or not I'm hopeful of the same thing, too. I'm also hopeful Henry isn't getting ready to sell the team.

I'd argue DJ at second and leadoff would be a better fit in turning around the Sox than Springer. And Realmuto behind the plate and in the heart of the order would be an upgrade over Vaz, who many here want to be swapped for a MLB pitcher who could actually contribute to the starting rotation. Personally, I'd rather not invest so much in an over-30 second baseman when other holes are more pressing. But just throwing out names and numbers: would you rather -- as a fan -- have Vazquez and 20 million dollars for future investments or Realmuto and Taillion for the 2021 Red Sox?

If the Sox continue with #2), it will eventually lead to #1) -- but most likely next offseason. That is, unless, the Resets make a major trade next summer for one of the Big Five shortstops they don't really need... but will still improve the club.

I'm not dropping any specific names -- Bloom himself said the Sox wouldn't rule out anyone who is available. But I just keep reading a lot of experts online dismissing the Red Sox from making any major moves because they're not good enough yet. It's one thing if another club offers a better package of prospects in a trade for a game-changer. The Padres landed Snell; good for them. He's still not Sale circa 2016. It's another thing if a team has the money, but doesn't reinvest it to make it's roster better when they claim they're intending to. I've been saying since the Betts trade that the Red Sox would eventually splurge on another big name splash who will never be as good as Mookie. After the 2020 last place debacle -- that was mercifully abbreviated -- don't be surprised if it's soon. Unless... Bloom gets another pass because of Covid restrictions and adjustments that alter another season's sked...

I'm not a big Bauer fan, but I'll never see the logic in refusing to sign a great player because the team stinks. I also don't agree with those who think it's worthless to sign a great player longterm -- like for five years -- because he may not be around when the window of contention finally reopens. Talent opens windows. The 1997 Red Sox had a losing record and finished in fourth place, 20 games out of first place. And then -- unbelievably -- they traded for the best pitcher in baseball: Pedro. What were they thinking? Possibly that he'd be a huge factor in making them a contender again. The next season they won 92 games, made the playoffs, and never looked back.

They only have about $290 million left of the money they offered Mookie. The Padres just signed Kim, even though they didn't need him: 4 years, $25 million. But the Rebuilding Resets can't use a 25-year infielder who can hit, run and play D for their future dreams at sustained contention?

When it comes to spending, I'm not talking about total payroll (even though that's the factor in reset taxes). Obviously there are leftover commitments from the Dombrowski era... ... but I'm only interested in how much has been invested in the past two years by Bloom to extend (no arbs, just new contracts) or acquire players. How do the Red Sox compare to actual spending this winter and last winter vs. past offseasons in the Henry era? It would also be interesting to see where the Sox rank among other clubs in these past two offseasons. Remember, they keep insisting they are going for it -- they said it last Spring and said again this past Fall...

The national media had fun blasting Boston for trading Betts, but I don't recall any poster here calling John Henry "cheap". However, any diehard Sox fan would be myopic if he or she hasn't noticed a drastic change in the last two offseasons, compared to the rest of this century. You can't keep saying "we're still going to be one of the biggest spenders" without any evidence. There is evidence, though, that MLB drafts are less reliable than signing or trading for bonafide big leaguers. The Red Sox tanked to get that vaunted #4 overall pick next summer; here is over half a century's data of players chosen in that slot: 2 Hall of Famers -- Winfield and Larkin; 3 ace pitchers -- Kevin Brown, Kerry Wood, Alex Fernandez; 1 All-Star closer -- Gregg Olson; 4 All-Star batters -- Ryan Zimmerman, Dimitri Young, Jeffrey Hammonds, Thurman Munson. The highest the Sox ever picked was #3 in 1967, when they chose righty Mike Garman. The #4 guy was the one that got away -- Jon Matlack -- who became a lefty stud for the Mets for five years. That's 11 stars in 55 years from the #4 pick. Most of the others didn't make the majors or stay very long. But at least a 1 in 5 shot at a star gives us a 20% chance at having another top player someday (if we can sign him). Here's the link (obviously, some picks from the last decade still have long careers ahead): https://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-history/mlb-draft-database/#/?pick=4

The Red Sox are just not good enough to get any good players yet. When they're better in a few years they'll be able to get better players. No sense in adding star players now, when they're not going anywhere. Fans would rather watch a last place team slowly improve to fourth place this year, then third place, and finally contend in three or four seasons. And only then should Boston spend resources on really good baseball players... unless one becomes great, then we'll all be rooting to dump the guy for prospects so we can enjoy another rebuild.

I keep seeing this line, and I will keep insisting they won't be until they add better players. Nobody is advocating the Sox "dealing off" their few good prospects... unless there is a major blockbuster that will improve the club longterm. But that certainly and definitely should be considered if it comes up, because the acquisition of star talent at any position improves a team. Ultimately, the newfound reset resources -- money -- can and should be invested in making the club better. If not, it makes fans suspicious about the commitment of current ownership going forward.

... so, which is more alarming this winter for Sox fans: free agents choosing states like Texas and California over Massachusetts, or Boston not showing enough re$pect to lure them here. Surely, such professionals wouldn't consider a competitive factor like playing for contenders over a doormat (the Rangers sucked, too).

Apparently so are the Red Sox owners by hiring Bloom -- but I'm guessing your post is a set-up for someone to reply in this way. I'm not judging Tampa by how far they go in the postseason, just from a possible viewpoint of their fans... the opposite of a line from the recently renamed Godfather III: "Just when I thought I was in (as in, buying my favorite player's jersey), they throw me back out!" Tampa is innovative out of default, but it's not a brand the enamors me, like other sports teams that revolutionized their game -- and caused new rules to outlaw their methods -- like the NC hoop team that won by running out clocks, passing to "four corners", or the NJ Devils hockey team that won by stopping scoring with their neutral zone trap.

But this time they're serious, aggressive loomers! Your rhetorical -- "how many times have they reset the tax and stayed cheap the following season?" -- is disconcerting for those of us spoiled from winters targeting one or two stars to round out the roster of contenders. Still, there are so many decent players available now, I have to wonder if the signing of one or two choice free agents will suddenly cause a massive domino effect on the entire market... or if it is in perpetual quarantine awaiting vaccination reassurance.