Lillian

What the writer fails to recognise is that the $23 Million per year, which Boston needs to reduce their payroll, is worth more than that, to the Red Sox, because of the Luxury Tax. The fact that other teams know that means that Boston is hardly in the driver's seat, as this writer asserts. Therefore, even if a team can justify paying Price $23 Million per year, on a 3 year deal, they have to recognize that they don't need to. Exactly how much is the Luxury Tax for the Red Sox, at this point? Never mind, I found this: In 2020, they face a bigger potential burden. Every dollar spent above $208 million would be taxed at a 50 percent rate; the next thresholds are 62 percent for anything over $228 million, and 95 percent beyond $248 million. If the Red Sox stay below the first threshold, however, they will reset their tax rate, with the base rate falling back to 20 percent.

The article concludes the following: "Finding a team willing to pay Price a total of $70 million over three years, $23.33 million annually) would largely solve what is considered to be a complex issue." Does anyone realistically believe that Boston is going to find a team willing to take on that contract, without including any more than just $26 Million? I'm not buying it, at least not without the Red Sox including another player.

I'm beginning to suspect that Hahn has a deal in place with Bloom. Otherwise, it does appear that they aren't getting anything, other than a bottom of the rotation starter. It also wouldn't surprise me if they bring back Nova, who had expressed a strong desire to return.

Indications that Bloom is negotiating, albeit; in public: Initial offer: Trade Price and his entire contract, for another team's prospects. First update: Doesn't want to include any other players, but agrees to pay down a part of Price's contract. Still looking for something back from the other team. Stay tuned for more concessions. ??? I hadn't thought about that. Good point. Let's hope that they learned their lesson, and they might be well advised to inform Bloom of their acquired wisdom: "We made that mistake, but we won't do it again".

Good point. If they really think they could use two, sign one now and continue to negotiate with Bloom, for Price.

I wouldn't take any statement from Boston at face value, with perhaps the one exception of something that represents a concession. The stated "demands" are likely merely posturing. I continue to believe that Bloom's #1 priority is offloading salary obligations. If he can dump $96 million, in one transaction, I think that he might consider that a success. From Hahn's perspective, he may be just as happy to take Price and money, but I suspect Bloom would favor not having to include $60 million, as that does not satisfy his primary objective. I can see why he would suggest that. He may be trying to look less desperate to be offloading salary. That would be a smart negotiating tactic. However, think about it; the whole point of trading Price and the biggest reason Bloom was brought in, was to get the team payroll under control. Adding $60 million to the deal does not go nearly as far toward achieving those objectives.

Ok, we are beginning to make progress. Bloom continues to "insist" that they don't want to attach prospects, however they appear to be openly recognizing that Price's value is considerably less than his contract. So, now we have established two critical factors; 1) Bloom admits that Price is worth substantially less than his contract and 2) that he is desperate to unload salary. Any buyer should be asking Boston what they can do to make it attractive for a team to accommodate their pressing need to unload that contract. Sending anything of value back to Boston shouldn't even be in the discussion. I suspect that the most enticing offer to Bloom would be one which did not ask for the contract to be paid down. If I were Hahn, I would tell Bloom the following: We understand that you really want to offload a considerable amount of salary obligations. We agree with your statement that David Price is worth less than the $96 million contract. You concede that it's at leat $36 million dollars more than Price's value. We have consulted various analytics, which assert that it is closer to $50 million over his value. How much would you value being able to reduce your payroll by $96 million, over the next 3 years? We would be willing to take that entire contract off your hands, but we would need to receive enough value back, in return. Which player, or players can you offer to include in the deal, in order to fairly compensate us for the overpayment on Price's contract? You have stated that you do not want to include prospects. We would consider an established player, instead of prospects, if said player's value, is at least as high as his salary, plus the approximately $50 million of excess cost to us, in relieving you of your ageing pitcher and your obligation to pay his contract. If Bloom wants to negotiate. the only points worthy of discussion are the exact amount of the excess cost, over value, of Price's contract and exactly which player we would accept from Boston, to be included in the trade.

That's what Boston says. Count me as a cynic. I'll believe it, when I see it.

It's hard to comprehend why anyone would think that a team should be willing to include any decent prospect, in a deal for Price and Benintendi. Even if the analytics are off slightly, there is no rational argument for a team to agree to take that awful Price contract, without Boston adding something of value, and without requiring any player in return. I assume that every front office is aware of the analytics and gives them credence. Therefore, I will be shocked if Bloom gets his way. Moreover, I suspect that every GM realizes that they can bargain from a position of strength. As I've repeatedly stated, the buyer has the leverage here. It's the seller who needs to get this done. My questions are; how many teams would accept Price and Benintendi, while agreeing to not demand any money back, and if there aren't any teams willing to do that, how much more might a team be able to squeeze out of Boston? I understand that there is always the possibility that Boston would agree to add some money to the deal, in order to get Price's contract moved, or even to acquire some prospects. However, I suspect that Bloom would prefer to get the maximum salary relief, which is apparently the primary motivation for the deal, to begin with.

In the Dombrowski era, the Red Sox would be spending, to keep pace with the Yankees. However, their new GM was brought in to get their fiscal house in order. For the first time, in a long time, it appears that Boston will not be spending recklessly. The money they do spend is apparently intended to be allocated toward things like retaining Betts. It is clear that shedding Price's contract is a high priority. That is the most important point.

I know which other teams are reportedly interested. The question is; are they smart enough to understand that it's a buyer's market, for Price, because Boston needs to unload salary?

Is the consensus here that, if Price were a free agent, with no qualifying offer attached, that he would get approximately $20 million per year, if it were a 3 year deal? If so, then Bloom has to know that Boston is either going to have to add a player, or money, to get a team to bite. I hope that other GM's understand that. It's not only about his value, it's about the degree to which the seller is motivated. It is obvious that Bloom is highly motivated.

Of course, the Red Sox "have no desire" to attach a desirable young player. News flash for Boston; No team has a desire to bail you out of an albatross contract, just as a giant favor. If you want to off load salary, make a reasonable offer. If not, "go pound sand," as someone here said earlier. Enjoy paying your 34 year old pitcher, $32 Million per year, for the next 3 years. If they thought that they were going to "desire" to get out of the last 3 years of that deal, they should have insisted upon a team opt out, when they wrote up the contract. Seriously, I still suspect that it's just posturing. Bloom was brought in to get that payroll under control. I think he eventually gives in, if teams can be patient.

If they acquired Benintendi, I'd use the following line up, vs RHP: 2B Madrigal (If he's successful and getting on base and stealing - if not, he bats 2ND, as a good hit and run guy and TA hits leadoff and steals bases) 3B Moncada LH DH Eloy 1B Abreu C Grandal LH (McCann gets the playing time vs. LHP) SS Anderson LF Benintendi LH CF Robert (Just as a rookie - ultimately much higher in the order) RF Mazara LH (He sits against LHP - Benintendi plays RF & Eloy goes to LF) Collins has no place on this roster - Next year, he could take over for McCann, if he is not resigned.

What kinds of offers are being made for Price? Are most teams asking Boston to kick in money, or another player? Do any teams appear willing to send the Red Sox any decent prospects?

Including prospects, going both ways, complicates any potential deal. I still think that this is about Boston shedding that contract and that will likely be the key. I have read that the Boston front office is insisting that they don't want to include Benintendi, but that could simply be posturing. As you and I have said, if Bloom is desperate enough, he may have to give in to the buyer's demands. The problem is that there might be some GM dumb enough to agree to Bloom's demands. He is in no position to demand anything. Let's hope that Hahn realizes that.

Is Benintendi's arm good enough for RF? I know that he's a better outfielder than Mazara, but Mazara does have a plus arm. Having an adequate arm is more critical in RF, than speed, range and the ability to get good jumps. It would not be acceptable to have opposing teams running with confidence, on our right fielder's arm.

I'm not absolutely fixated on Benintendi. My position is that we should be able to get someone, with additional value and usefulness, if we agree to take on all of Price's contract. Is there another realistic candidate, who would be a better choice?

Thanks. Now let's see if Bloom and Hahn agree with us. LOL. They are probably a lot smarter and certainly better informed than we are.

Absolutely correct. If there is another team, dumb enough to bail out Boston, and agree to give the Red Sox any meaningful prospects, let them be the suckers. This only makes sense, if we get someone extra of value, and don't have to give up anybody who matters.

I agree. That's nuts. If Bloom wants salary relief, he shouldn't be expecting any top prospects back.

I can't imagine that Boston would be willing to include Rodriguez. They still have control over him, for 2 more years, and he's very good. Isn't he considered by them, to be a key part of their rotation?

You are probably right. The question is; Would you rather have some money back from Boston, or try to pry another player from them? Then, which player? I suspect that Bloom would prefer to get the maximum salary relief, and add another player.

This article states precisely what I have surmised. The Red Sox primary goal is off loading the salary. I don't think that they are looking for prospects. Our Sox are ideally positioned to take on Price, whom we could use, and that awful contract. We can probably beat out any of the competition, providing we don't demand any money. Again, whom could we accept, as the carrot, to do this favor, for Bloom?

I thought that the motivation and urgency for Boston was to shed payroll. I think that is more important to them than acquiring prospects. The whole reason it would make sense for these two teams to make a deal is that Boston needs to unload salary and our Sox have the significant payroll flexibility. Therefore, what would likely entice Bloom the most would be to take on the entire Price contract. If we do that, they would probably not need any prospects, save perhaps a lesser guy, just to save face, with their rabid fan base. Now, the question is; Which player would we accept and they be willing to include, in order to entice Hahn to accommodate Bloom's desperate desire to off load that Price contract?