Flash

I'm a huge Vaughn fan but he is arguably the most valuable among the replaceable. He will likely start the season as back-up to Eloy in LF and the weak-side of a RF platoon with Sheets (and some DH vs. LH pitching) and he'll be plucking splinters out of his ass waiting for 1B to open which won't be anytime soon. Means is young, cost-controled, LH and posted a 4BWAR in '21 (including a no-hitter). I pointed to 3rd party data and invited you to provide your own to support your claim. I don't much give a rats ass either way but find your response to be a bit aggressive.

Lol, yes. Check surplus value w/Baseball Trade Values or whatever tool you feel is credible.

I doubt Abreu is going anywhere. My guess is he'll be playing 1B Sox another 3 years. The consensus of this board appears to be Vaughn is a subpar OF'r (I disagree). If he can't play a corner OF and Abreu is going nowhere for a while, what are the choices? Other than a small handfull of starters (Robert, TA, Yoan, Gio) Vaughn has the highest trade value and is made redundant by Abreu.

It would take more than Vaughn so you don't need to worry about it.

I'm not offened by the Josh Harrison signing or a 2B platoon w/Leury. I can even warm to the idea of the combo platter in RF (although it marginalizes Vaughns potential). But the Sox need a reliable rotation piece w/mid-TOR stuff (Means?) and hopefully a back-up defensive oriented Catcher. Check those boxes and we're good.

I promoted a Vaughn for Means swap to us fake GMs a month ago and it was widely thrown up on. That said, Means would be a great add given his stuff, cost and years of control.

Hoping the next domino is a quality rotation piece. I am not optimistic re: RF upgrade.

Hope thorough physical performed.

Add another $9M to Mets payroll

Cano is owed a boatload but I suppose you could look at it as a Robert-like ($50M ish w/penalties) player acquisition fee. Of course Cano is not Robert so we'd need at least one controllable, high-value, close to sure thing youngster (Matt Allen, Brett Baty?) in addition for solving for 2B (McNeil) and backup C (Nido). Sox get McNeil, Nido, Allen and Cano (plus maybe another prospect or cash) and Mets get Keuchel, Collins and filler. Probably too much to digest but there is a framework there for the bold.

Not sure Cano can still play 2nd regularly but might be a platooner w/Leury. McNeil might be a better fit than Mauricio or other MILB prospects. Nido is perfect as backup C.

WS should do this in a heartbeat. Doubt Mets would trade Mauricio but they have several youngsters, including a couple of pitching prospects on the farm who I'd love. Mets fans rave about Nido's framing and defense (hitting not so much). Still, this trade is a win-win.

My priority order is: 1) SP (mid-TOR) 2) LHH w/pop (either 2nd base or RF) 3) Backup Catcher Would be disappointed if we don't end up w/at least one of...Comforto, Sonny Gray (or Castillo), Means, K. Marte, Caratini or McCaan, McNeil or possibly Darvish (if Padres shed payroll). I'd be fine going into the season with either the combo platter in RF OR Leury at 2nd but not both (would need a LHH hitting slugger if either/or). I think a realistic aspiration is Means (probably cost Vaughn but I'd do it), Comforto (would settle for Joc) and Caratini (although Met blogs suggest McCaan could be available). I think K. Marte, although a perfect fit, will be too expensive.

Let's see if NYY pursues a SS (Correa, Story?). They have a couple of studs in lower minors but no one ready to replace Torres unless they sign a FA.

Of course we don't know what we don't know but I'm really puzzled on why we didn't QO Rodon. Its not like our farm system couldn't use the comp pick. I'm also puzzled as to why we didn't lock up Tepera before the lockout. Now he'll be significantly more expensive. That said, maybe Boros 'owes us one'. Maybe Comforto at 3yr/$54M?

Aaron Hicks should be at full strength following wrist surgery, in which case Gallo might be redundant but you certainly make a case for NYY keeping Gallo.

I'd hang onto Sheets and Vaughn and try like hell to find a trade w/NYY for Joey Gallo and his GG defense. He had a bad year in NY (still managed 38 bombs) and Yankees might be keen to move him. Yankees also have some young arms (i.e Gil) to package if we were considering moving Vaughn. Personally, I'd rather see Gallo in RF than Comforto. He has 1 yr left at $10M and if Colas makes strong progress, maybe he'll be ready in'23 but, if not, can resign Gallo. The difference in K value between Gallo and Comforto provides $$ fexibility to solve for other areas (i.e. backup Catcher, 2B, RP).

Varsho is perfect for WS. Can play all 3 OF positions and Catcher. Plus hits LH w/pop. But, based upon the Az blogs, he is a fan and management favorite (#2 behind Marte) and cheap, so unlikely Az would move him.

Kimbrel trade made sense at the time and so far neither side has much to show for it. Madrigal hasn't seen tthe field yet and Heuer will miss all of '22 w/TJ surgery. Much will depend on what if any return Sox get if/when they move Kimbrel. So far...big incomplete.

Nice! Agree on Tepera and would love to land Marte but doubt we have the assets to prevail in a bidding war as he will be highly coveted. As to Comforto, I'm a bit torn. I was pounding on the table for him in 2020 (when there was a lot of energy here toward Nimmo) but his Slugging % fell over 130 percentage points in 2021. Could have been injuries/COVID related but I don't see him getting 4/80. Would love to sign him to a one year 'show-me' deal but I believe there is a compensation pick due. Absent Comforto and Marte, I'd focus on pitching...maybe a trade with Baltimore for Means (rumored to be available). Would also look to add a veteren Catcher who can handle pitchers. Someone like Victor Caratini on Padres ( who are deep in Catchers). Padres might be interesting trade partners for several needs.

Especially if that 2nd baseman can also play plus D in OF if/when needed.

This is the right answer. Likely...no but fun to dream on.

Why isn’t Jerry springing $80M on anyone? Like what does that even mean? He basically signed Grandal for that much and offered Wheeler north of $100M. I hope I'm wrong but Idon't see it...not for Comforto anyway. If you’re making that trade, then you better be going all in and that RF combo would be a major liability on day 1. Yes on going all in...if not now when? I disagree on the liability of the combo in RF. Engel and Marte are both better defenders than Comforto and there are scenarios wher you can play Engel in LF, Robert in CF and Marte in RF (just slide Leury to 2B) for arguably the best OF in MLB.

JR isn't springing $80+ on anyone. For me, the single best fit for '22 and beyond is K. Marte. Provides a ton of positional value (72 games in CF last year). Power (same # of HRs/14as Comforto in >60 fewer ABs). SH w/footspeed and immediately upgrades 2B. As much as I like Vaughn, I move him as part of a package for Marte and roll with combo platter in RF (Sheets/Engel/Leury) w/Marte also getting innings in RF and spelling Robert in CF when he isn't playing second. I don't know what the asking price will be but my guess is it starts w/Vaughn.

I believe you can research historical data and quantify the number of chances per game/season handled by RF. Sure there are unique variances based upon a host of factors (i.e, ballpark dimensions) and the relative strengths of certain players such as throwing arm and foot speed. That said, I doubt the marginal difference in performance between Comforto and the combo platter would be statistically significant. What is significant is the financial commitment (likely to exceed $20M/yr). I just don't think JR will pony up. I do think there are trade targets who could be within reach. Ketel is one, Sonny Gray, John Means and maybe Gavin Lux, Ian Happ or ???