Lillian

OK, sure, why not?: 2B Moncada 3B Machado RF Harper DH Abreu LF Eloy 1B Alonso C Castillo CF Jay SS Anderson Please note the left/right sequence: SH, RH, LH, RH, RH, LH, RH, LH, RH. POTENTIALLY, the best lineup in baseball!!!! "Just do it!" Now, about the pitching: Um......?

Is that too front loaded? What would be permitted?

Why would it be so hard to give them both the $300 M? They just need to structure the deal so that at least one of them will likely opt out after year 4 or 5. Give them both the first 5 years at $35 M each and the last five at $25 M. per year. The Sox could manage the early years and then likely lose one, or both of them, when it's time to extend our kids, after we've won a couple of World Series. LOL

It's "over kill". They need pitching.

Why in the world would they still want Joc? The outfield would be Eloy, Jay and Harper. Geez, how much more hitting do you want? They will need 1 or 2 starters, if they intend to make a run for the Division this year.

Thanks. He looks very strong. Those are the widest shoulders, I think that I have ever seen on a Sox player. Reminds me of Greg Luzinski. He might have benefited by gearing his training more toward slimming down.

Would someone please post the picture, or a link, of Jake Burger? Please don't tell me that he has gained even more weight. He wasn't exactly svelte, to begin with. Not smart and one would think not helpful for his achilles tendon.

I think that you missed my point. Yes, Manny and his agents want the most money, that they can get and ownership of the various bidding teams wants the least expensive contract, that Manny is willing to sign. Both sides will be motivated by "greed". However, so what? That's the way it works. I agree with you. Neither side is expected to be charitable. It's business.

YES, that is pretty much the definition of "greed". The issue is, is that good, or bad, or not even an issue. According to Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas); "Greed is good". And yes, the label applies to both sides. It's called self interest. Neither side should be expected to be altruistic about these negotiations. Each side will look out for its own best interests. T

I'm curious, what would you guess the agent's cut of Machado's contract would be?

If the Yankees actually offered him 7 years and $220 Million, then the Sox must have offered the alleged 8 years, $250 Million, or he would have already signed with N. Y.

And just what would that prove? Why not afford him the Major League playing time, in an attempt to find out whether, or not, he might have a place on the team, going forward? In a couple of years, when both Alonso and Jay are gone, Palka could be a useful DH. Moreover, it is likely that the Sox would have to give up a couple of arms, in order to acquire Joc and I don't think that they're in a position yet, to be giving up pitchers.

1) Because he is not a #2 hole hitter. He is a middle of the order, run producer, which places him 3RD or 4TH. 2) Yes, I am always conscious of the need for balance in the lineup, and the Sox have not had much in the way of left handed, middle of the order bats. However, Joc would not figure into the future core of this team, and I would prefer to find out whether, or not Palka might be. If Joc is acquired, Palka would not get many at bats.

I'd prefer that they not trade for Pederson, but rather give the at bats to Palka. A platoon of Guyer and Palka would be fine, with Engel as a late inning, defensive replacement, I would start Jay in CF and move him to LF, to replace Palka, when Engel is brought in. I don't think that Machado would be happy batting second, and I would agree with him. Here is my lineup: 2B Moncada CF Jay 3B Machado DH Abreu 1B Alonso RF Jimenez Lf Palka C. Castillo SS Anderson

What am I missing? What would Kevin Durant know about the MLB Hot Stove?

That doesn't sound "dumb" at all, to me. I agree with you that the contract should ideally be structured in such a way that we retain him for at least 4 and preferably 5 years. After that, I might actually prefer that he opted out, which would ultimately reduce the total effective cost of the contract. How about something like this?: The first 5 years at $40 Million, per year and the last 3 at $25 Million, per year, for a total of $275 million. That should be enough for him to sign, in a heart beat.

I suspect that Eloy will be in RF, Jay in CF and Palka in LF, platooning with Guyer.

The tweet said "Minor League Deal". What would you guess the odds are that he just ends up spending the season at Charlotte?

Yes, he has been a very good hitter vs. lefties, in his career. Looks like a platoon partner for Palka.

Has everyone here carefully considered the consequence of reducing the service time required for players to achieve free agent status? Those who assume that such a move will result in better contracts for players, should reconsider and study the history of free agency. It is a simple matter of supply and demand. Marvin Miller understood the principle, and shrewdly negotiated one of the most significant elements of free agency: "In July 1976, the union and management agreed on limitations to free agency: a player would need six years of major league service before he could seek a deal with another club. That accord seemed like a concession Mr. Miller did not need to make. But he concluded that limiting the stream of free agents would fuel the ball clubs’ bidding wars."

The Sox had interest in acquiring him, via trade, for the purpose of letting him get comfortable with the organization. This is a completely different scenario. They would be paying him a huge amount of money, for a couple years, which are not within the projected window of contention. This would be extremely foolish. If he insists on an opt out, any earlier than 4 years, the front office should not agree. To me, it's much the same as the argument over where he would be willing to play. As long as he agreed to play 3RD, he would add great value. If he had insisted on SS, where he is not an elite defender, that could have been a reason to pass on the acquisition. In other words, if he can come to the Sox and help them win, when and how it seems plausible, fine. If not, I'd pass.

OK, I'll contribute to your Psychological exercise: If Mr. Machado is still pining for the Yankees, then I'm over pining for him. If the Sox have actually offered him 8 years and $250 Million +, and certainly extended themselves in other ways to make him feel comfortable, yet he still doesn't want to come to the South Side, I'd be ok with just moving on. This team is not going to compete for the Division, in 2019, with Manny, even if they sign him. I'm personally ok with one more year of the rebuild and one more Draft, after this year's #3 pick. Therefore, I would suggest the following: 1) Trade Alonso and Jay, at the nearest opportunity, even if the Sox have to pay part of the contracts. Neither has any long term usefulness, on the contending team, starting in 2020. 2) Give the outfield corners' playing time to Eloy and Palka, who might also spend a little time DH'ing or spelling Jose at 1ST, while he DH's. If Palka hits enough, he could be a useful piece going forward, given his age and lack of service time. He might ultimately be a first baseman, or a DH. That left handed bat can always be useful, if he gets on base enough. 3) Let Engel start the year in CF, in order to shore up the questionable outfield defense. Once Luis Gonzalez, who is the oldest and probably the closest to Major League ready prospect, is ready, bring him up and let him vie for the position, until Robert is ready, in a couple of years. Monitor the progress of the promising corner outfielders, to see who might ultimately emerge as a viable candidate. Adolfo, Rutherford, Basabe and Walker all have a decent chance of developing into valuable pieces, but playing a corner, they need to hit. Gonzalez may end up moving to a corner, when Robert is ready, and having been brought up early could help to determine if his bat plays well enough for him to fill a corner OF slot. 4) Move Moncada to 3RD and give him a year to get comfortable there. Yolmer goes back to his natural position at 2ND, which he can very capably hold down until Madrigal is ready, hopefully next year. 5) Don't acquire any more veteran starting pitchers, but instead give the starts to the youngsters in an attempt to find out who can fill the rotation, behind Kopech, Cease and Rodon, starting in 2020. There are enough promising arms in the organization to fill the staff, starting with Lopez, Giolito, Hansen, Lambert, Banuelos and Covey. Fulmer may even finally figure it out. Hopefully, a few will emerge and take the pressure off the need to retain Rodon, on an expensive free agent contract, in 2022. 6) Save the financial resources to extend the younger guys, who will hopefully emerge as solid core pieces. Use the rest of the money to fill any holes which still exist starting in 2020. 7) Let's see which of our Minor League players take a big enough step forward, and begin to use that farm system capital as trading chips, after they have established decent Minor League resumes. 8 Mix the newly acquired, veteran bullpen arms with the best relief prospects, in hopes of sorting out who might be counted on to handle the load, starting in 2020. Guys like Burdi, Ruiz, Hamilton, Tyler Johnson and Fry might be good enough to make up the bulk of the relief core, after Herrera and Colome exit. 9) I don’t know what to think about catcher, as there is a good chance that the Sox could select one with their #3 pick, in this June’s Draft. If Rutschman is available at #3, I suspect that the Sox would grab him. Then too, it will be interesting to see what kind of year Langeliers has. If they take someone else, like Vaughn, then I assume that both Zevala and Collins remain the prime candidates, starting in 2020. There, I feel better now. Thank you.

The two instances, in which he kicked the first basemen, in the Post Season. Throwing his bat at the third baseman, after being brushed back, by the pitcher. It is suggested that he meant to throw the bat at the pitcher, but it went to third, instead, which does not excuse the behavior. Getting all bent out of shape, when Donaldson tagged him out, while he was attempting to avoid the tag. Apparently, Manny thought that Josh tagged him too hard, which did not appear to be the case. The dirty slides at second base, which have exceeded even the old rules, regarding intentionally interfering with the fielder. I don't know, what else? I'm not trying to crucify the guy, or defend him. I'm just asking what kind of guy is he?

Yes, here is an account of what happened, just for the record: "But it was in his first month with the Giants that the only truly disturbing Pierzynski incident took place. After he was hit in the groin by a foul ball during a spring training game, Pierzynski reportedly kneed trainer Stan Conte in the groin when Conte asked him how he felt. Pierzynski, who previously denied the incident took place, now says he kneed Conte to give himself some breathing room after three times asking Conte to let go of his chest protector and back away. Giants sources say the story took place as originally reported."

That allegation has been vehemently denied. I don't know what the truth is. Let's leave A. J. out of this discussion. I'm not the one who brought him into it. Whether, or not, A. J. was a jerk, or a club house cancer, is not the point. The question is; what kind of person is Machado? One has to wonder if his character is dampening interest in him. Why were the Yankees' brass divided on the decision to pursue him? Why did the Dodgers not have any interest in bringing him back, after he spent half of last season with them?