5GoldGlovesOF,75

Only the posters who keep insisting that size matters in a sport where a 5'6 second baseman edged a 6'7 outfielder for MVP (it was a few short years ago). Martinez was only able to coax his slight frame into making All-Star teams or getting Cy Young votes in 10 of 11 straight years -- the other one in the middle he missed too much time on the DL; I guess they were right...

Good one on maybe the only Lefty known for his southpaw swing. There was also a bat-left, throws-right guy -- Bob Lemon -- who did it in reverse and became a Hall of Fame pitcher. Sox fans might recall he eventually managed the '78 Yankees after Billy Martin was fired for the 89th time (that was the year Boston tied NY for the division in Game 162, after trailing by 3 1/2 games in mid-Sept... only to fall one-run short in a supplementary round).

But Bloom's Rays did promote McKay last year as a pitcher and DH. Wish Ball could morph into a Rick Ankiel for a few years...

Except what they value might be considered subtracting value -- as long as that doesn't include a guy most deem their most valuable...

I agree with this, unless there are two mid-market teams that know they can't spare nine figures on MadBum and both looking at Price as a consolation prize at nearly half the subsidized cost (only eight digits -- wotta a bahgin).

I like your ambition, SGhost... Vaughn does seem like a Bloom kinda guy; I just looked him up on b-ref and his listed position is first baseman and relief pitcher.

Ya, because according to the magic formula, Texas just "overpaid" -- based entirely on assigned dollar values -- to get Kluber. What in the world were they thinking? Quick, send them the link, maybe it's not too late to undo.

There should be separate columns for small market teams trying to tank, mid markets seeking improvement, and big markets pushing for the promised land. Then it'd be more reasonable to assign plus/minus values... ... for example, veteran starters with large contracts would definitely be negatives for the tankers, but maybe positives for big-timers looking for one more piece to get over the top. On the other hand, prospects would seem to have positive value for the small markets, but not so much for those in win-now windows. Without some sort of modifications that consider individual needs, it's hard to take something so formulaic that seriously...

I'm ok debating baseball with Yankee fans, until they get arrogant. As a Red Sox fan, I don't need constant replays of all the failed decades that Fox TV obnoxiously tries to revive every time Boston loses a game in the fricking standings. It's old, tired, and so last century. I'm also close to a lot of older Yankee fans who no longer expect the ghosts of Monument Park to work their voodoo on Sox players. Neither do those NY fans need reminders that their team has lost in all seven postseasons they've participated in in the past decade. The Yankee dynasty around the turn of the century was legit, and I'll always acknowledge it; it wasn't luck, except for how fortunate one club was to have the greatest player in baseball history at his position. Rivera was the all-time difference-maker -- especially in Octobers -- and it wasn't until he was finally human that other teams had the chance to take a few rings away. He's a good guy and even Sox fans were happy to see him go to Cooperstown (plus, that means he's been retired for five years!)

Agreed, and then maybe Bloom can save a little face by acquiring some teenage arm in return (like the ones Dombro gave away so we could watch Cashner pour gasoline on our last summer).

If there are indeed five teams "intrigued" by Price (as reported by MLB.com), then there remains the possibility that a deal can be made that brings back someone that may contribute something in 2020. Any prospects, at best, will be most likely be A ball flyers -- the kind of guys Dombro shuttles off in win-now mode. But for the good of the team's payroll structure -- for the coming season and beyond -- I think we should also accept that anyone taking Price's salary off our hands -- for nothing -- is better than keeping him (though the average fan may not accept that).

Claiming a team is in a down phase or at the end of its window sure sounds like opinion to me. The only definite facts about a lot of good players on both Boston and Houston is that they are proven winners.

I'm not going to say you can't read, but apparently your psychosis comes from regularly visiting a RED SOX forum and constantly having to defend yourself and your storied franchise that won so many titles last century... because in my post I personally didn't mention Price (who's a goner), Perez (a cheaper Porcello) or ERod (who I've never championed, but instead have pointed out that he led the AL in walks). My post was in response to your optimism and reality. The living-in-the-past facts -- again -- are that Sale and Eovaldi have won the World Series recently, like 14 months ago... unlike Gardner, who celebrated the last pinstripe title 122 months ago; or compared to the never-in-the-past rings of Cole and Severino. That's not to say that the latter two can't or won't win soon -- or that my guys can't or won't again (because at least there can be no dispute that Sale and Evo know how). A lot can change in one year -- no one here needs to be reminded of that -- except maybe the most optimistic NY fans who refuse to acknowledge that's it's not automatic that they'll have another Next-Man-Up 103-win club. Reality is how many fellow Yankee fans aren't just a tad uneasy about who their powerhouse is counting on manning the two most important defensive positions on the field (SS and C).

Also, if you look back at posts last winter when the RED SOX -- not solely the GM -- signed Sale and Eovaldi, most fans were happy the ORGANIZATION was investing in the most important commodity... that just won a World Series: starting pitching. Sure, there were concerns about health -- as there are with any veteran pitchers. But who here or anywhere suggested any better options a year ago? There were no 26-year-old Cy Young winners available (like the once-in-a-lifetime Pedro deal). And after the kajillions thrown around at free agent arms this past month, the Sale and Eovaldi contracts no longer look exorbitant across the industry. Maybe instead of harping on bad financial planning, we should finally accept that the staff injuries/off years were both coincidental, unlucky and more likely attributed to poor recovery/preparatory planning by the coaches. I know I'm far from ready to agree with Yankee posters who insist that Sox pitching will suck now and for-evahhhhh more!!!!

Old Man Moyer?

There are a number of reasons to root for Price... 's departure -- and I won't mention the PR damage his raggadocio causes to the Red Sox brand (after these parenthesis). Most obvious is 96. The other is 208, which once achieved becomes the next: 100 (that's in millions saved; or not paid in penalties). Now a lot of guys here would probably want that extra 100 invested in more pitching, but there won't be many attractive free agent arms in 2021. Trevor Bauer? I don't think Boston would send one mouth packing just to replace him with another. The best may be Robbie Ray, who'll be 29, but his career W-L is one game over .500, with a 4.11 ERA... in the NL. I also doubt the Sox intend on stockpiling 10-20 more mediocre arms. Maybe the strategy is to give that extra 100 to Betts. Locking up star core position players and building around them may already be the plan. Query: if you were GM of the Red Sox, and got under the you-know-what, what would you do with that extra 100 million dollars?

Might as well trade for Oliver Perez, too. David Peralta would be a good target, an outfielder with a bat and glove only making 7M. But please don't unretire Jhonny Peralta, at least not until he turns around the ho to oh (that's what he wrote)

Spelled reset wrong. And it's only for one year (and maybe not for awhile after that, since the "cap" is sure to increase with the next CBA...)

But, but... Madrigal is only 5'7", 165, and will be disintegrating in pounds and inches as he ages! Plus, second basemen are near nugatory in this age of shifting and launch angles. Now good third sackers, who often have to man an entire hot-side, are more valuable than ever.

Just for you: in this century, only 6 AL outfielders age 23 or younger had a higher WAR than Benny's age 23 season of 3.9 -- Trout, Betts, Austin Jackson, Sizemore, Markakis, Crawford. In this past decade, only 3 AL outfielders age 23 or younger had a higher WAR than Benny's age 23 season of 3.9 -- Trout, Betts, Jackson.

Obviously, they're hoping Arauz can be another Arraez... ... the 22-year-old utility man who just hit .334 with an .838 OPS and 1.8 WAR in 92 games for the Twins (who were really smart before they started a rookie Uber driver instead of an All-Star in a must-win playoff game in Yankee Stadium)

I like all five of these points, especially the middle one (the reverse of which I fear most... but which I've been assured by others that our new GM won't do). It sure sounds and reads like the Price market is heating up.

Price will be a pain, even after he is gone. The pain for Boston will be the other Red Sox player sacrificed to get rid of Price. Some posters here are down on Benintendi for one down year, but forget how good he was for a title winner in 2018. Here's a reminder: in the past half century, only 18 AL outfielders age 23 or younger had a higher WAR than Benny's age 23 season of 3.9. Four did it twice: Betts, Trout, Henderson and cough, Crawford. It wouldn't be surprising if a guy who was once the top prospect in baseball bounced back to post another near-4 WAR. The number of guys who did it twice by age 25 increases to include Reggie Jackson, Willie Wilson, Amos Otis, Nick Markakis, Lloyd Moseby, Austin Jackson, Bobby Murcer. Not all Hall of Famers, but All-Stars, durable and dependable...

Maybe Groome or Mata or Song take a big step forward... or Bloom grooms Houk or Ward as an opener... something, someone has to come from within. Or Bloom stockpiles A Ball arms in the hopes of promoting some by 2021... Maybe with the new three-batter rule, modern pitching is not about innings any more; it's about getting outs.