bmags

My idea is not born from depression and hopelessness. It's borne from taking advantage of one of the best players in baseball being available, and then re-signing him. And then having one of the best outfields in baseball. None of that should prevent them from actually creating a real international operation, or a real player development operation, or a real amateur draft operation and building out a proper youth pipeline. He is only a rental if you don't re-sign him. And the idea that losing a prospect like cease "dooms the rebuild" is the equivelant of saying if cease turns out to be as bad as he performed this past yera, then the rebuild is also doomed. And if one pitcher dooms the rebuild then you are already fucked. The problem is you are all so adament to make sure the rebuild lasts from 2024-2027 that you are shortening the window that could occur from 2020-2023 - one that is much more realistic as it is before the core pieces become very expensive. Many posters on here have no problem factoring in the risk losing financial flexibility but do not factor in the risk of losing time/seasons - which is also valuable.

I may be wrong, but I see Benintendi as a guy that was between approaches. We probably take for granted players like Jose Ramirez, Betts, and Lindor that can just say "oh I'll start pulling the ball more and lift it and hit home runs" and it works. I think if he goes back to what he was he'll find more success. And what he was was a good fit for the white sox, this was a decent walk, great k rate player, which we sorely need to add and why some think Reddick would be a good option for RF as a placeholder. And while I can't be sure, there was enough writers that alluded to it that I think defensive metrics really struggle with defense with the green monster, and I think he's a much better defender than he's graded out as.

Yes, I definitely think the smart money is on pitching this offseason, position players next.

No, you are misunderstanding something. My advocacy for Betts is what I would do with this team if I had this roster. I refuse to contort my brain, at least this early in the offseason, to limit my options for how this team can change based on Hahn and Co's considerable limitations. It's too depressing to quibble over Eric Thames.

If you could identify a single thing this board has guessed and been way off on every offseason it’s how much teams will give up just to rid themselves if bad contracts. But I’m sure this time it’s different, with one of the richest, most well run franchises in the game.

I do that deal in a heart beat

LA took on $250 million dollars 7 years ago, and AGon was market priced at the time. Benintendi is underpriced. Boston is also not in a binary world where this is the only deal possible to get out from their salary issues. They can likely shed much of the price salary without giving up a young cheap asset. OR they can give a non-ML roster asset.

Well that's not the point, rather that people often think removing salary from a team is worth more than it is. The Red Sox would not part with benintendi and price and just say thank you for taking the salary off them. They'd just as soon, in my guess, swap price for a lesser priced, poor contract veteran than just completely lose both to replace them with FAs.

This is where our sweet sweet boy danny salazar comes in.

I mean the real answer is dustin pedroia But I would take that contract from Sale. I also would take that Price/Benintendi deal but that reminds me quite a bit of the mets deal last year and I think you are still parting with more pain than people anticipate.

Maybe getting JR pot committed by trading prospects for Betts is what Hahn needs to do to get him to spend for a top player.

Bulls/sato are good

That’s what I thought he would get before this year and I think it makes sense - but just feels like everyone thinks he’ll make more.

The question wasn’t “is it realistic”, it was gauging how people would react to “incomplete” team of it received an elite upgrade.

Yes actually. April would be rough, but I’d be happier than with the above.

To me this argues the importance of going after the elite guys available. The higher risk of Sox getting scared and striking out is way higher with them, but I feel like factoring that in just forces people to accept the Sox own framing that those players are “riskier” therefore the Sox have reason for their skiddishness - and it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.

Not even sure who you are talking about.

Yeah, the brewers deal was a blessing. Took the QO hit.

Hard to leak what doesn’t exist.

He’s 27

He does seem like a hot potato candidate but that seems low.

Ervin Santana deal guy hopefully.

If he’s ready for spring training (Salazar) he’d definitely be a candidate I’d support for that 1/2 year starter the team probably needs. If he surpasses expectations then good. He may very well flameout as Cleveland would know his medical profile well. But I’ve always been jealous of Salazar when he’s on.

I mean I’d take a flyer on this guy all day. His stuff in bullpen could be electric if rotation is full.

They won a World Series!