GreenSox

I'd call that a downgrade. The only value in any of that would be the prospects. McCann and Escobar aren't worth their contracts.

It's a risk. Escobar's numbers were sub-Harrison until September last year. Probably can find some Andrus type in June if need be. Segura is better; but that's another FA contract. Segura + Benintendi = $23-$25 million range. And I'd ask, just like last year, why not get one good player for that money instead of 2 average players.

Yeah, the Mets' colonoscopies and footlongs are now claiming Eloy. And Mauricio and Vientos (Mets' versions of Sosa and Romy) the plum prospects along with McCann and Escobar, of course.

Quite the coup for the Tigers How about the Mets get Hendriks and the Sox get Batty. Adding declining veterans (Escobar), especially those who are already terrible (McCann), just makes things worse.

If they are going to get Escobar and the certainty of his .295 OBP (September inflated; who is also aging with faltering defense) to avoid playing young players, then they should just trade most of them rather than let them rot on the vine.

True enough, but they don't load up on Josh Harrisons or Seguras either. And in the last decade, the Sox did have 2 MI prospects that they apparently didn't have a clue about, but who are currently under 7 figure contracts.

I'm good with the Astros approach and using our young guys at 2B. Segura/Escobar - naah. Just aren't difference makers.

Lowe is injured and a bad defender. Tampa would hold a parade if they could get Baty for Lowe. I just wouldn't trade Liam for anyone but young talent or a "premium" veteran player (not average; not an up and down player).

Unless Grandal is done, why in the world would the Sox want McCann?

Sox were 19th in MLB bullpen ERA and WHIP (12th in the AL). Maybe the WARs are better; and they seem to project improvement from Bummer and Graveman (which certainly could happen). But I don't see how they suddenly vault over 9 teams.

The other issue with trading Hendriks is that our bullpen is thin to begin with. Oh there are bodies, but Hendriks and Lopez were really the only good relievers last year. Lambert, Foster and Banks were okay and certainly gave yeoman effort, but those are back of the pen guys. VV was probably in that number too. Graveman escapes criticism, but he was bad last season. Diekman and Kelly were indescribable. It's risky to trade him. I'd only take that risk for controllable young talent.

I would think that the Mets would do a dance if we offered Liam for those guys. Re McCann, the Sox walked away from the table 2 years ago; it was a great move. Rack the chips and don't go back.

Mauricio would need to be a stud, because McCann is just another bad contract to take on.

Seattle: possibly, if they think Flexen is a legit #4 or so. Kelenic is just a shot in the dark, but fine for a throw-in. NY: ridiculous to have to throw in Crochet for this. This isn't "top prospect in baseball" Torres - he's an up and down player whose D grades out poorly. Tex: Negative. We have several guys who assuredly can match Smith's c. 550 OPS. Dunning doesn't seem to have made much progress.

I admire your indulgence for 2013, when the team went from 86 wins to 63 wins in the first year of Hahn's leadership.

Benintendi is certainly the "Surest thing" and his the highest floor. But it's still annoying that the Sox can't find someone from minors who can slap it out at .750 and play better defense than he does. Signing him is like using capital on relievers - you can overpay the market by 30%, but the numbers still won't be eyepopping; in the end its hole-plugging and not "premium talent."

A long-term deal at a "beat the Yankees offer" price; yes.

The one advantage of Gallo is that, while he's likely to be terrible, they'd only be stuck with him for a year; to that end, I'd prefer Conforto as the 1 year guy. Completely uninterested in a multi-year encumbrance with Benintendi.

Yea Conforto and Benintendi are decent. I would guess Benintendi. They apparently loved him in draft (and used the Red Sox taking him as their Fulmer excuse); and he played for the Royals, so that's a plus with the FO. I wish his D hadn't taken such a turn for the worse (at least according to fangraphs)

Is there a LF available to sign who doesn't suck?

They've been really protective of their top prospects; even ones that aren't that great; they wouldn't move Clint Frazier, e.g.

Certainly prefer Stripling at 2/$25 over Joe Kelly at 2/$18.5, even if Kelly was good. Stripling has had 1 bad year out of 7. I'd take him.

Any good late inning reliever, closer or not, needs to be able to clean up someone else's mess. Graveman just wasn't very good last year.

But the context in which they decline Rodon but pick up Kimbrel's option, makes the move indefensible. The risks on Kimbrel were higher, and the value much smaller. Part of this, I'm sure, was due to the Hahn/Haber general fixation on relievers, from allocating a large part of the budget to them, to using multiple high draft picks on relievers, and then to Kimbrel over Rodon.

This winter, Rick Hahn has had "a place at the table" and Jeremey Haber has had "good conversations" with other clubs. If the results don't flow from this righteous effort, we can all take comfort knowing that no one will be more disappointed than Rick.