bmags

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!

DiDi to me only makes sense if his market crashes and he ends up with a pillow contract - but it feels like the Yankees would be there for him in that situation. It doesn’t feel like a fit with the Sox bear term. I like DiDi a lot though.

Certainly leaning that way.

It's almost like large pitching contracts aren't that risky!

You know...charger plates! That's what we all say!

Yes, worst case scenario would be him signing a 2 year deal and then being 2014 paul konerko next year.

Pleasantly surprised by this. This was right move.

You cannot trade future bonus pools, you can only trade within the current year.

Calhoun is fine if we have significantly upgraded pitching. If we have signed Jake Odorizzi and Tanner Rourk and KC, then he is not fine.

I do think last year was instructive that players, elite ones, DO have the ability to create a market. Should Harper have really been able to get a $330 mil deal with only one real team? No, but it’s what it took to sign him and team believed in that number.

Yes, and when it was clear we would not have a surplus of prospects near what braces had with pitching, this became unrealistic for competing.

This is what I worry about. If they are already nodding to needing to be prudent for extensions than our window is already smaller than people think and next year is part of it.

So the real point is that a $125mill payroll will not be championship caliber, but also that we only have 3 years where $125 million even allows substantial outside additions before it just starts moving toward internal assets, especially troubling with a weakening farm and no intl program. Which means they should probably just go high end and seek to trade in a few years imo.

Zach Greinke signed a 6 year/206 mill contract for his age 32 season. He pitched well for that team, and they were even able to trade him for some decent prospects.

Man, always impressive when a national writer can take a detailed view of your team and nail it.

I think the actual issue here is how JDM responds if Boston decides it can’t afford him/doesn’t want him back. Someone mentioned a plausible scenario where they have a handshake agreement that if he agrees to opt out, they won’t give him a QO. JDM could force it, he has a contract, but it would be a weird situation. If he opts in and they keep Betts this year, Sox should see what repercussions are in who they prioritize sending out.