beck72

I also like the fact that for teams in need of a proven reliever, signing Graveman improves the market for Kimbrel.

The Sox needed a proven RH arm with Tepera likely gone and Kimbrel to be traded. I still think Kopech will throw innings out of the pen before moving into the rotation as the season moves on. Getting Kopech to 125 innings with him stronger for the 2nd half should be the goal. That would mean adding a SP with Keuchel of course. As bad as Keuchel was in 2021, he could easily bounce back.

If Eloy shows he’s healthy in 2022, and has a full year like 2020. I wouldn’t trade him at his lowest value now. The way Vaughn took to LF, and adjusted to MLB pitching for the first time (before he got hurt in September) shows he’s got a future.

Long term, Vaughn could be a better fit than Eloy with the other pieces the Sox have. Eloy would garner a better return sure. So could Vaughn plus the other additons be better than simply Eloy? Yeah, depending on who. Kimbrel was lights out and then flopped. That was on him not management. All the other playoff contenders would have added them if the price wasn't too high.

The two year window is to get the most out of the vets they have. The Sox aggressiveness to get Kimbrel shows they probably will be aggressive this offseason to fix the big holes they have. I think it's the two open position spots, and adding two guys to the bullpen-resign Tepera and a LH like Chafin. Free agency won't fix everything.

If Semien is the Sox #1 free agent target, improving RF with another big addition [lefty bat] should be the next item of business via trade. The Sox should look at this offseason thinking they have a two year window to win a World Series. [While they have Grandal, Jose still playing well, Lynn and Hendriks]. The Sox would still have talent to be playoff competitive past the next two years. But some risky moves should be made that make some big improvements over the 2021 Sox. Right now, TA and Robert are the two most irreplaceable Sox-Grandal is a close 3rd. Semien for 2b would also provide insurance in case TA goes down. Adding a lefty bat who can also play CF to improve the OF defense. Going after Cedric Mullins or Bryan Reynolds would be the moves that may be risky. But they both have key upside and add to the existing team with their versatility and athleticism. Of course, trades like that would mean either Andrew Vaughn or Garrett Crochet headlining. I really like Vaughn esp. with what he did in LF. And Crochet has done everything the Sox have asked and needed from him. [I don't know if he has the 3rd pitch necessary to be a TOR starter]. But BALT or PITT may see him as a guy who is. But Vaughn's 2022 could be replaced by a full year of Eloy and Robert. And both Mullins and Reynolds would be around for 4 years. And a case could be made that with Vaughn's impressive 2021, he may be someone to stick with over Eloy for LF, and have Eloy be part of a win now trade. I know people want to add to the rotation. None of the current 1-5's are going anywhere. I see adding more depth in AAA as the key. Cease is likely to improve, enough to be the #1 or #2. Keuchel certainly has the talent to be a #4 or 5, with a likely bounce back year. Getting Kopech 150 innings is the biggest rotation question mark.

He could. But Leury really showed that being a back up is very valuable. The kind of versatility Leury provides usually take up two 2 roster spots.

If Leury gets a better offer he will sign elsewhere. But the Sox need a guy like him to play at multiple spots. The Sox may match depending on the offer.

I think Leury will play the Leury role.

He’s more like a trade asset at this point. Unless he’s called up and fills in when someone is injured, he could be used to fill holes a playoff type team needs. He won’t get a long run in the bigs and would be more valuable as part of a package.

In the Comments section from MLB Trade Rumors, Mets fans are sure glad to be rid of him. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/michael-conforto-to-reject-qualifying-offer.html#comments

The more I think about it, the Sox will probably extend the QO. If he accepts (which he may decline thinking he can cash in) the Sox will get compensation if he bolts. Getting him on a 1 year deal for the QO for his top of the rotation stuff he has is fair. Getting both Kopech and Rodon to 150 innings will mean being creative with time off mid year or going to a 6 man rotation for parts of the year. I still think Keuchel will rebound and be effective enough to eat innings.

They won’t tender him a qualifying offer. But some incentive laden deal that could work out for both the Sox and Carlos. Not many teams if any will offer a few year deal.

You get the best two way players for both RF and 2b. Sign one and trade for the other. Semien you target for 2b in free agency. That way there is insurance in case TA gets injured. Right now the Sox can’t win without a decent back up plan. Plus he’s had success in the AL east and west. For RF, trade for Cedric Mullins. Don’t go crazy but a package around Cespedes and Sheets could get the conversation going. I don’t want to include Vaughn as he’s too valuable now that he can play LF and only getting better.

Reylo has had a real lively arm and getting ahead of hitters. Looks a lot more confident. With his poor showing in Charlotte this year, he probably got into his head. Thinking he should have been in the majors. Relief sure looks good for him. Nothing wrong with being a guy who gets outs in the bigs. No matter the inning. He sure could eat up innings going down the stretch so the starters workload decreases and keeps them fresh.

Without a doubt, adding Kimbrel improves the Sox this year and sets them up for the playoffs. Looking years down the road at who “won” this trade, or what the Sox will do in the off-season for the 2022 roster, let’s save for another day and enjoy this season.

Great move. I really liked Madrigal and he will be solid for years to come. But the Sox are going for it-without mortgaging the future, salary or young talent. This is the kind of trade deadline that only other teams have to put their teams in position to win a World Series. Hahn and front office, take a bow!

Spending it now on Kimbrel makes sense. For 2022…not so much.

Kimbrel just isn’t any 8th inning guy. Adding Kimbrel makes it a 7 inning game. And the Sox are only paying the remaining $5 mill or so (or having the Cubs pay some salary). I agree paying out $16 mill for an entire year for both he and Liam isn’t wise. The Sox can trade him in the off-season. The Sox also should want to keep Kimbrel away from other AL playoff teams.

I see Kimbrel as for 2021. Trade in the off-season. They would get back some talent that they traded. And it wouldn’t be Crochet or Vaughn.

Getting Kimbrel would make the Sox the favorites to win the AL pennant. I still see them adding a lefty reliever as well though. Kimbrel would take the 8th. It’s Liams team until it isn’t.

I'm sure they'd run it by Abreu and guys in the clubhouse. Baez has to be known to Sox players. If he'd be a distraction and freak show, they wouldn't want that no matter what he could contribute on the field.

I think the Sox add someone for 2b with the added benefit of injury protection. We get our 2 OFer's back. But what if someone else goes down. Jose gets hurt, Vaughn could move to 1st. Yoan or TA get injured? Up a creek. You add a Baez...The Sox could still win in the playoffs with him filling in at SS or 3b. Escobar works for 3b and 2b. The only thing that makes sense is the Sox are thinking bigger or not liking his health status or he'd be on the Sox now. I couldn't see the asking price as that outrageous for Escobar.

Vaughn will see a lot of time in RF. Eloy will be mostly in LF. I guess if you're looking at a playoff game OF, you have Vaughn in LF, Robert in CF, and Engel/ Goodwin in RF. Or have Eloy, Robert and Vaughn from LF-RF.

Predict the Sox add Javy Baez. Escobar has seemed like the best fit-lefty bat, power. Unless he’s their fallback option or he’s hurt/ dinged up. I do like Story. But he hasn’t played 2b in the majors. Baez could fill in the 2b hole with his defense and power. But he can also be valuable come playoff time. Tell me you can’t see him get on base by legging out a slow roller and running the bases like a wild man. I don’t want anyone else to do that. Sure he can be a dick but he leaves it all out on the field. He also provides insurance in case of injury/ needed days off for TA and Yoan. Baez has every incentive to play hard the rest of 2021, put in his work, be a good teammate, for his next contract.