What does the bluff do tho? Nothing. I just don't get how picking up the option changes his value. He's probably like a 3 WAR true talent at the moment. He's being paid like a solid starter on the option years. There's not a ton of surplus value there. Getting the 1 WAR or so surplus this year from him and then having the time value to eval him and then decide on the option is how a trading club would max his value imo.
Not seeing many scenarios where the Sox benefit from paying him next year, even if he comes out hot.