5GoldGlovesOF,75

MLB radio discussed how the consolidation of the minor leagues will obviously hurt dreams of fringe players who may now never get a chance at pro ball. One guy noted how there have always been players who weren't considered prospects, but were only drafted to fill out minor league rosters -- just so the real prospects had a team and a place to develop. This sounded like the 2020 Red Sox -- a club that recruited players who weren't actual big leaguers, just so they could surround their handful of bonafides with enough bodies so they could play the games. But this didn't just start with Bloom; remember the last month of 2019, when we were treated to too much Owings, Gorkys, Chacin, Shawaryn, Trevor Kelley and Josh Smith. After three straight years in first, the '19 Sox were a letdown, but still fun to watch with four stars over .900 OPS and at least one stud on the mound. But let's face it: ownership has been stingy since the '19 trade deadline, when they wouldn't let Dombro add to the bullpen of a team that went 60-46 from May-August...

But the point is -- in all of those years we still watched and rooted and even attended. Last year's team was often unwatchable to a lot of fans by mid-summer (basically when it began). Even Cora said he turned off games before the last outs. The Sox still had stars, but most were no-shows -- with injuries, illness or brutal off-years. Many may rebound, but an injection of new blood (and not geriatric blood) could be as potent as a second dose of the vaccine.

The Red Sox hitters would have had better numbers if they were allowed to bat against Red Sox pitchers... but maybe not verse vice-a.

I have to agree, and I think this strategy might just be the plan for the Reset Sox: wait until all the other clubs make their one or two moves, and then reap the harvest from among dozens of unsigned players, who may have no choice but to settle for less than they hoped for in a pandemic winter. There won't be many big spenders left... I think teams shopping expensive stars will also be forced to take a lot less in talent return because; 1. no-fans-in-stands economics, and 2. a lot of these guys will be free agents in a year, when clubs can sign them and only lose a draft pick instead of multiple, ranked prospects. Boston's big splash trade, if it happens, may also be closer to Valentine's Day than Christmas.

NOW we know why all those dozens of Red Sox pitchers in 2020 had 5+ ERAs... ...Knot (look -- a visual and silently verbal pun!)

At the time, Beni's two-year contract at $10 mil seemed reasonable, certainly not an overpay for a 25-year old starting MLBer who was an All-Star Final Vote candidate and Gold Glove finalist. But now we see David Dahl signing for $3 mil with the Rangers. Michael Taylor, a glove-first centerfielder, signed for half that with KC. A lot of decent players are still available that can improve a team ready to invest. Most likely Bloom and Co. are focusing first on shoring up the pitching staff; Alex Speier notes the Sox have interest in Sugano from Japan, Odorizzi, Kluber and Hill. Since all bring more question marks, I'd like Boston to sign them all... then we can hope that maybe four of our eight injured or ill can be answers in establishing a legit rotation.

I guess the same could be said in reverse to explain great "seasons" by players like Ozuna and Abreu (while guys like Soto and Acuna are just good). But another kind of question some GMs have to at least wonder: did JBJ finally figure it out, or did he just get hot?

Martinez wasn't alone in his off-"year". All names on the list were 20-30 homer hitters and .800-.900 OPS guys before the pandemic that had worse batting averages than JD. There were plenty more in the NL (including half the Cubs). Established players all over the MLB had brutal 2020s... and now teams have this winter to decide if struggles were aberrations due to slow "starts", difficult adjustments, or declining skills. JD Martinez is a student of the game whose main focus is his swing. He remade his career once, with video as a vital resource. Chances are he's already working hard on developing new ways to regain and sustain old success.

Why we maybe shouldn't worry too much about JD Martinez' 2020: 7 HR, 27 RBI, .213 (traditional stats)... Bottom 10 AL Power Hitters Gary Sanchez 10, 24, .147 Edwin Encarnacion 10, 19, .157 Rougned Odor 10, 30, .167 Joey Gallo 10, 26, .181 Shohei Ohtani 7, 24, .190 Willie Calhoun 1, 13, .190 Matt Olson 14, 42, .195 Carlos Santana 8, 30, .199 Kris Davis 2, 10, .200 Miguel Sano 13, 25, .204

Ok, I didn't know that Reed and Ort can play in Boston's minors, but not Whitlock, even though he's also a minor leaguer. The famous Clemente draft story is that the Dodgers tried to hide him in their minors by not playing him, but Branch Rickey was working for Pittsburgh by then, so there was no fooling them.

The Sox have overrated their own. But now with three more Rule V guys, they're going to have to work out compensation going the other way, right? Or can we carry three Arauz guys this year -- and, you know, contend -- like the front office insists?

So Bloom drafted a Yankee pitching prospect; does anyone else ever think NY (media, fans, franchise) may overrate their minor leaguers a tad, almost as much as Boston? You know it's a cold stove season (so far) when MLB Trade Rumors Red Sox' top story is Casey Kelley, ex-prospect, just signed with Minnesota via Korea...

I think he meant Brandon Lowe (rhymes with Owww) for second; but I don't see even the Rays dumping their regular-season WAR leader from a pennant year, at age 25, after an All-Star season at age 24.

He just offered Bloom three prospects for JD. After Bloom agreed, DD insisted he take a fourth prospect.

I like it, and since there are no big expenditures, I'd add Ozuna. Kiermaier and Beni as lefty platooners and late-game D would give Cora the flexibility to find PT for both Marcell and JD in LF and DH... until someone got hurt. If Martinez doesn't rebound, the heart of the order is shot, and Devers will lead the league in intentional walks -- or failing Ks. I just don't know which stat to trust more from 2020: that JD is now a .219 hitter or Ozuna is a .338 hitter. edit: flailing Ks

If I'm positive PEACE does that make me a negative WAR?

Sox may be waiting instead of having to overpay early to entice players to join a last-place team. Morton reportedly signed with the Braves to stay close to his home in Florida, but for a veteran looking for a chance to win, there's no comparison between Atlanta and Boston.

Sounds kinda Rusney to me...

Then again, smoke and mirrors can kill you... it did in a few pitchers in the 1980s at least.

Changing my choice: the 2nd baseman will be Bogaerts... after the Sox trade for Francisco Lindor. If the argument against that idea is that shortstop is not an area of need, here's the counter: on a last place team, really good players are an area of need. This is the splash to put this franchise back in the spotlight. Boston needs pitching, and free agent pitchers certainly consider a team's defense and a club's chances at winning when mulling offers. The Sox need better players in a lot of places to contend, and adding a new face of the franchise will show peers and fans alike they're serious (plus, keep a guy like Lindor from joining rivals). Lindor will thrive under Cora, the Sox will extend him with some of the Mookie money (7 for 210), and invest the remaining hundred mil on starting pitchers and relievers... They can still afford a platoon centerfielder like Marisnick, and re-sign Moreland to share first with Chavis, while awaiting the debuts of Duran/Jimenez and Casas. Cleveland reportedly wants a Betts-like return for Lindor, so the first to go in the deal would be Downs, and next would be Dalbec. The trade simulator approved this swap... but only after the Tribe also kicked in Carlos Carrasco, also rumored to be on the block. The block between Lansdowne Street and Renamed Street would welcome him, too.

Merrifield can hit, run, play the infield and outfield -- the kind of multi-purpose guy Bloom covets -- except that Whit is a proven MLB starting position player and top of the order man... something Chavis, Munoz and Arauz are not (yet), and Peraza and Lin were not (in Boston). But the real reason to trade with KC is to pry pitching out of their young stable. The Sox position prospects may appeal to a (nother) rebuilding team.

Whit Merrifield. KC is my new trade partner. Dalbec, Downs and Duran for Merrifield and Brad Keller. Bloom will ask for Brady Singer, but settle on Keller, the Royals' ace and already a three-year starting pitcher at age 24. Gotta give up something to get something... ps. trade simulator accepts this proposal as fair

Type in three more pitchings and I'm in.

That does it, I'm changing my name to 5Goldbergs, where those boys are always Beastie.

KC's MVP was their bullpen; many have tried to duplicate their success, few haven't failed (thankfully). At least the 1990 Beastie Boys had Jose Blame-it-on Rijo...