hogan873

I'm fine with keeping Robert, especially based on what type of packages were traded for other outfielders. I would imagine the Sox will pick up his option, and that's probably more certain if he continues to play like he has over the past month. He does seem to be re-energized and is having fun. Maybe the young guys playing well is having an effect on the clubhouse. As far as Getz's comment on spending over the winter, I think we can agree they will. The question is, how much and on what? Will it be another $20M on 5-6 trash heap veterans and schlubs? Granted, the Slater and Tauchman signings worked out, but let's not talk about the likes of Rojas. Or, will this team actually go out and get a big, or even fairly big, name free agent? The day they sign someone like Schwarber or Tucker is the day I believe they're going to be serious. They have a great young core that is exciting and has a lot of promise. Wasting that by continuing to operate like they have would be a great disservice to the fans and to the players. I suppose time will tell...

Safe to assume Mead is on the 26-man? Maybe (hopefully) a Rojas DFA.

Pretty solid return for a guy who was sitting on his couch two months ago.

Neither does Bruce based on the fact that he misspelled two names.

It might be his value in this market. The Bader and Mullins trades set the market for outfielders at the deadline. He’s more valuable than those returns, as are Bader and Mullins.

No, many say that but would be pissed with any return.

He didn’t trade Robert for trash, so I don’t think he’s been master-classed at all. This board and most Sox fans would have exploded with fury if he traded Robert for a Mullins-like return.

With what teams got for Bader and Mullins, there was probably quite a few phones hung up on both sides. There's likely no way the Sox got any decent offers for Robert.

Yeah, just keep Robert at this point. These returns for outfielders have been less than desirable.

If the return for Bader is any indication, they'd be better off just holding on to Robert. But if they hold on to him, they might as well pick up the option, especially if he shows he can continue to play like he has in July.

Their farm is going to be an empty field after today.

Maybe he is a bot. But AI actually learns, and if Nightengale were to read the comments on his posts, he would get better. He seems to somehow get worse.

Yeah, not sure what this means. Are they still hung up on Vientos, or are they using their "desire" for him to actually get someone else?

Yankees fans are not happy. Not so much about who was sent to the Sox but about Slater.

Maybe better return than it could have been. Not sure where this guy would slot in the Sox system, but maybe not as high as 18th as he is in the Yankees'.

Absolutely. Combined with having a nice year at the plate and being a great veteran presence, he's a fairly valuable asset.

It's not so much age as it is mobility, injuries, etc. I don't think 34 is old for baseball, even for a corner outfielder. Tauchman has had some injuries this year, and that could be concerning. But he's been healthy for a while (of course, since I typed that he'll blow a hamstring tying his cleats today). I'm in the camp of keeping him for next year as a bridge to Montgomery. However, if a team offers the right return, you don't hesitate to pull the trigger.

I'm slightly warming to the idea of holding on to Robert and picking up the option if they don't get the right return. Robert has been more healthy this year, and his offense has improved quite a bit lately. He's a very good defender and can run the bases well. Because of those things, though, I would be surprised if some team does not step up and offer something the Sox will accept. But I'll honestly not be terribly upset if he sticks around.

Agree. My guess is he'd want 3+ years, especially if he was going to join a team like the Sox that won't be a contender for a couple years. Unless he'd be looking to sign a shorter term deal to showcase and move on with a bigger deal in a year or two. I don't see the Sox offering more than what you suggested.

Naylor would be a nice addition for the Sox next year, at least as a left-handed bat. He'd go from the asshole everyone hates to "he's our asshole, so we love him", like when Pierzynski joined the Sox.

Back to talking about Teel and his homer, the interaction with the fan was pretty cool. I'm assuming based on the Rays hat the kid was wearing that he was a Tampa fan. To stick around to get the ball to Teel was nice. I'm sure he knew he'd get something in return, but he seemed like a genuinely nice kid.

I literally laughed out loud.

Yeah, growing up in the 80s, my sister and I watched pro wrestling religiously. Hulk Hogan WAS pro wrestling. As you said, the character was great.

I don't think he would have been used much with the Brewers out of the bullpen. Probably eating a couple innings when the team was up or down big, not pitching in pressure situations, and not doing what he really wants to do - start. He still might end up with a contender this year, but at a minimum he gets to start and hone his craft.

Meidroth, Vargas, Teel, Montgomery, Quero, Smith, Cannon, Taylor, and Burke I see being part of the future core. As 2Deep said, Teel and Quero will most likely be the face of the future and a killer catching combo. At least one of them will need to learn 1B and/or play a lot of DH. Meidroth will be a steady bat at the top of the lineup. Not much power, but an ability to get on base and set the table. Vargas is still young and has shown flashes of what he could be. I think he'll be a good power bat in the middle of the lineup. Montgomery has shut up a lot of the doubters, myself included, and could very well be another power bat. If he sticks at 3B with Meidroth at SS, the left side of the infield will be set. I think all four pitchers will be part of the core. That's three starters and a potential closer...not a bad start to build a pitching core.