Baker

You would think if the Cubs were involved behind the scenes that they would want a deal this week before their convention. Their fans haven’t been too happy.

I don’t begrudge Boras for working to extract every last dollar in FA negotiations. Where he does a disservice to clients is when he refuses to entertain extensions. Case in point, Carlos Rodon. After Carlos’ strong 2016 he may have been able to get 7/$100M easily out of the Sox. This year he’ll make 2.5M , and only another arm injury away from insignificance. If John Danks had Boras for an agent, he’d be about $75M light.

Really. ESPN doesn’t cover the Sox.

I’ve heard they’re going to replace all of the co-pilots with German Shepherds....... to bite the pilot if he touches anything 🛩

There are 3 penalty tiers to the Luxury Tax. For 2019 they are $206M, $226M, and $246M. For a three consecutive years payor, the Nationals, these brackets are taxed at 50%, 62%, and 95%. The Nats are already at $200M . Add in the $15M that every team has to include as a league-wide assessment and the Nats are already in the penalty box at $215M Add in Harper Aav of $35M The first $11M of that gets taxed at 50%, $5.5M next $20M gets taxed at 62%, $12.4M last $4M gets taxed at 95%, $3.8M Total taxes on Harper $35M is an additional $21.7M or $56.7M/yr Any additional payroll will be fully taxed at 95% Other penalties apply This will go on until Nats reset below the first threshold

It would likely be much more than that. Harper would vault them into the 3rd tier, 95% tax.

That agent would be Boras. Let’s curry favor with him now if Manny flops.

Steamer projects Herrera at 45 Inn, 0.3 WAR.

If the Sox could land Machado and Grandal, that would make Welly and Madrigal expendable. We need to add pitching. Would Cleveland take those 2 for Mike Clevenger? He has 4 years of control left.

Let it be Grandal. Should cost the Sox 4/$75,000,100. The extra $100 is to get a 1st baseman’s glove for Collins. The kid needs to concentrate on his bat.

$1.00 beers.

Excepting 2005, it’s been 100 years since the Sox have won a playoff series.

If Harper goes to LA it puts a lot of pressure on the Phils to sign Manny. They practically swore on a stack of bibles they’d sign one of the Big 2.

If that’s really Ron Insana, he was a mega- financial advisor. Very connected with the wealthy in New York. I wouldn’t take his comment lightly, if it is him.

I get the feeling Jose Abreu has been doing some behind the scenes work for Hahn In Miami. They say he’s chummy with Alonzo and Manny too.

Done. Throw in Ed Farmer.

Ohtani won’t pitch but he’s projected for 30 hrs and 3 WAR as a DH. He’s pretty close to Harper in star power too.

The Sox with Harper + Machado would certainly be awesome. But would you rather have the Angel’s Trout+ Ohtani ? For the next 10 years I think I’d rather have the latter two, given the same money.

I avoid my brother-in-law.

Wasn’t Smith in single digits throwing out baserunners? Frankly, it was embarrassing. IMO a good thrower more important than great framing, even for the pitchers. When Lucas walked someone you might as well just wave him on to second base.

It’s not that simple though. The players owe tax in every state they work in at that state’s rate. For example, with a 3 game series at the Rockies the player will owe the state of Colorado based on 3/162 of their annual salary. If they play 81 games in L.A. they only pay the 13% on half their salary On average the California penalty works out to about a 5% vs Illinois. Still, 5% of $350M isn’t exactly chump change.

Peavy, take another 5% off the Dodgers offer to cover extra state tax on Harper.

Hahn really looked self-assured and poised there. Worth a hundred tweets.

His recent interview on Statcast Podcast is amazing. This man knows pitching.

Also, collegiate gold glove catcher, Langeliers, could be in the mix in 2-3 years.