Lillian

Perhaps the Sox should not be overly apprehensive about giving Conforto a year, or two, more than they had planned. Even six years would only take him through his age 34 season. That would not be paying for a player who is way beyond his prime. Given these escalating salaries, maybe the money they have to give a player 6 years from now, might become relatively less than we now think. I continue to believe that the hole on this current roster is the lack of sufficient offense against RHP. If the Sox can fill that need with Conforto, who plays second base becomes much less important. He could even be a guy who provides good defense and merely not be a black hole at the 9TH spot in the order. Segura would be fine, and if he helps unload Kimbrel, with no more than a one year commitment, I wouldn't complain. Segura actually profiles as a pretty decent hitter for a second baseman, even if $14.25 million is an overpay.

I agree completely with that statement. What is the point of playing 162 games, when so many mediocre teams can qualify for the Post Season? Any team can win a short series in baseball, which makes a World Series victory a lot less meaningful, with so many teams qualifying.

If there were a pitcher, for whom 3 years, at $43 million per year, were justified, I'd be disappointed that Sox ownership didn't want to aggressively pursue him. However, a 38 year old is not that guy, and I can't complain because Reinsdorf is not that reckless. Again, I'd much rather place a risky bet on Rodon, at a much lower cost, than on a pitcher, Max's age.

The Mets should have gotten the opt-out, and not just after the second year. That would have been the only way that this deal could make sense, for them.

Are you as glad, as I am, that they didn't?

Any expensive, long term contract for a pitcher is risky, but this deal is just nuts. Perhaps the moniker "Mad" is on the wrong entity. "Mad Mets" sounds more appropriate. "Mad" as in crazy. That kind of money is hard to justify, even for the best pitcher in baseball, which is highly unlikely to be the case, in Scherzer's age 40 season. How many pitchers, in the history of the game, have been the best in baseball, at age 40? Anything is possible, but the Mets are making a very bad bet.

Three years, at $43 million a year, for a guy who will turn 38 in July. That is an expenditure that this Sox fan is glad that our team's front office and ownership did not make. It makes gambling on Rodon seem like a low risk move, by comparison. I hope that they resign Carlos, perhaps for 3 or 4 years. Then let's see which contract looks better in 3 years.

Looking at the Game Logs, from last season, Gausman was dominant during the first 3 months. His second half was not nearly as good, and he gave up 4 earned runs in two consecutive starts, both against the Padres. The long ball hurt him in the last month. Does anyone know to what his second half decline might be attributed?

Not only would I like it, but it's pretty close to what I have been thinking. I would prefer Sheets, over Vaughn, vs. RHP and Anderson hitting 2ND, but otherwise the lineup looks good to me. Alvarado has serious control issues which have caused his WHIP to be north of 1.60 in each of the last 3 seasons, averaging well over 7 BB's per 9 innings. I don't think he can be counted on, so I agree that the Sox would still need another arm for the pen.

He also hit a batter and then gave up a grand slam

Looking at the "Game Logs" from last year, he was pretty much lights out, with the exception of his first relief appearance against his former team, after being traded. The Mariners lit him up for 4 earned runs, in just 1/3 of an inning. He only gave up 2 hits and a walk, so someone probably homered off him, in that game. Other than that, he had a very impressive year.

That has been and remains my thought. Tony has always asserted that he wants to own the last 3 innings. Hard to argue with that philosophy.

I agree, totally. Schwarber was a beast versus RHP, with an OPS of .990, 200 points higher than versus LH pitching. However, as we all know, the problem with Schwarber is that he's not suitable for the OF and the Sox have too many first base, DH types. I've already stated my preference for Conforto, to fill the void in RF, while adding LH power.

I don't know how you mention Conforto, Schwarber and frickin' Joc Pederson, in the same breath. Aside from the fact that they all bat left handed, they don't have much in common.

That would be very unlikely, unless the Sox paid a significant portion of Kimbrel's salary.

Yes, I agree that there may be other options. However, what those options might be is the question. If Hahn can get someone to take Kimbrel and the entire one year contract, then it would be essentially the same as if he didn't exercise the option, which is apparently what most of us would have preferred. At that point, Hahn can explore a trade and, or free agents, to fill the perceived holes.

I agree. It's not a huge value. However, the question should be; "is it a better value than $16 million for Kimbrel?" Since we don't know what the market for Kimbrel is, perhaps we should simply ask ourselves whether we would rather have Segura on a one year $14.25 million contract, plus the $1 million to buy his option out, next year, or Kimbrel on a $16 million, one year contract? Of course, this is all hypothetical, because we don't even know whether Dombrowski would make the trade, even if Hahn proposed it. I even wonder how many teams would take Kimbrel, if the Sox offered to just give him away, with his one year contract. It's going to be interesting to see what Hahn can get for him.

Thanks, I know better, but had a "brain cramp".

You aren't "going crazy". Perhaps Hahn could simply find some team willing to take Kimbrel and his contract, for a couple of prospects. Then the Sox could sign whomever they want to fill their holes. Not a good look for the GM, but that would work. That doesn't sound like what Hahn is trying to do. He exercised that option, with the idea of trading him. If all he gets are a couple of lower level prospects, it means that he gave up Heuer and Madrigal for less than half a season of Kimbrel, and a couple of low level prospects. Hey, I might do that, but I doubt that Hahn would. I'm just guessing that he would prefer to fill one of the holes, going into next season, with the Kimbrel "asset" (or liability, as some of us might think).

My reasoning is that, since the commitment already now exists with the Sox having exercised Kimbrel's option, they need to trade him and that contract. If they can accomplish that, while filling the hole at second base, that leaves money available for the other acquisitions. I wouldn't have exercised Kimbrel's option, but that is now a mute point.

That's fine, and I wouldn't quarrel with where he would bat in the lineup. He could bat 9TH. It's the payroll flexibility that he affords that is the most intriguing to me. He's a good player and that contract would afford the Sox the opportunity to spend more on guys like Conforto and a starter. It's not that his contract is cheap, but that it's not long term. I'd still be very happy with a short term deal for Escobar, no more than 2 years. But then they still have to find a trading partner for Kimbrel. Do you guys really think that someone will offer more than Segura? I have my doubts. Ideally, the Sox can fill at least one of their holes, with Kimbrel.

There is substantial value in not having to commit to a long term contract. As I stated earlier, Segura is owed $14.25 million for 2022, with a team option for 2023, at $17 million. That would provide payroll flexibility, which can be used to fill the other needs. He's an excellent defensive second baseman, with good speed and a high OBP. He makes a lot of contact and can expected to get on base. He would likely replace Anderson, at the top of the order and allow Tim to move to the 2 hole, where he can hit behind the runner, with his ability to utilize the right side of the field, as has been pointed out.

Well, I guess someone here is even more concerned than I am, about the lack of LH hitters in the Sox organization. I'm glad to know that, and yes, I've favored the Escobar and Conforto suggestion, but that doesn't solve unloading Kimbrel. Nevertheless, I hear you and I won't disagree.

The idea floated here, which has Kimbrel going to the Phillies for Segura, makes some sense. Dombrowski is prioritizing a closer, so it is probably a realistic possibility. Segura is owed $14.25 million this year, with a $17 million team option for next season. He would give the Sox a high OBP, good defensive second baseman, who could play SS, if Anderson gets injured. Not having the baggage of a long term contract would free up salary for Conforto, who would fill the hole in RF and the need for more LH power. The best part is that those two moves would still leave room to acquire a top of the rotation starter and bullpen help. If the article's claim that Mr. Reinsdorf is ready to spend money is true, this scenario would be a reasonable allocation of those additional funds..

He is 29 and 14, over the last 4 seasons, with a sub 3.40 ERA and a WHIP around 1.150. He has averaged about 1 K per inning. He would seem to be a solid addition to the Sox rotation. He isn't Scherzer, but then he won't cost anywhere near what Max would.