MiddleCoastBias

Man, imagine being a Jays fan watching this all unfold today, thinking it was happening. It's like us when Machado had that custom black mitt made, or when he was seen in the batting cages with what looked like a Sox hat in blurry photos, or when Hector said the deal was done, or Harper's name was on the banner in the United Center, or that photo of Harper wearing a Sox hat from years ago resurfaced, or

There's no way the Yankees would part with Volpe and Dominguez for two years of Cease. Volpe is one year removed from being a top-10 prospect in all of baseball, and Dominguez was looking to crack the top-50 last year before tapering off a bit. Personally, I would kill for Volpe and Dominguez for Cease, but it ain't happening.

Meanwhile the Braves have also acquired Bummer, Reynaldo, and Leury Garcia. Baseball is weird.

Narrator: "It was the mushy middle."

I'm curious what the "hit" rate is in getting, say, #3 in 2024 and #10 in 2025 vs. #7 2024 and #1 2025. Seems to be the latter option would have a better chance at landing on guys with the greater chance of success.

"Can you imagine a rotation of Giolito, Flaherty, Soroka, Toussaint, and Fedde, with Kopech in the bullpen?" - 2019 Soxtalk Picking up a bunch of former first rounders feels reminiscent of our attempts at all of those outfield reclamation projects, though in this case we're cobbling together an entire rotation of them.

Feel like they would've just worked a 3-team deal if that was the goal

Looks like he's only under contract for this next year at $23M and then he's a FA. I want him to be good for the sake of fun baseball, but hope he turns into Jacoby Ellsbury for a year if he goes to NYY.

That's a good thought too, I like that.

Right, sometimes there are teams that want to make a move before someone else sets the market for them. Others may see these initial deals for pitchers (Severino 1/$13M, Reynaldo 3/$39M) and realize they're going to be priced out and need to get one of the best pitchers on the trade market.

I wonder if we can get India out of them? /gr

Did he say why he wouldn't want to play for the Sox?

Honestly, I'm not sold on trying to fix 2B and RF with guys that immediately slot in as 25 or 26 year olds. As much as I've hated the inevitable that we'll sign Merrifield, I'm viewing this next year as a wash. If he signs for a year as a bridge while we get some other younger guys in and give them more time to develop, that might have more value in the long run, even if 2024 is putrid.

...sounds like an Opening Day starter to me!

For people that think we're going to sign the middle-tier starters to round out our rotation, take a good look at this deal for this caliber of pitcher, and now reconsider what our rotation will really look like this year.

Didn't it use to be a thing that we'd make a big signing or trade the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for a few years running? Vaguely recall something like Thome being announced on Wednesday, might be making that up. Obviously a bunch of new faces making decisions but maybe we get a little Thanksgiving appetizer again this year.

Did I miss the Cal signing or is that just speculation?

Obviously the Sox signed Nicky to lure Benetti back with the friends and family plan again.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. 2017: Jake Burger #1, traded for nothing. Gavin sheets #2, possibly DFA'd this week 2018: Madrigal #1, traded a piece that actively set us backward. Steele Walker #2, fart noise 2019: Vaughn #1, plenty of people calling to trade him. Matthew Thompson #2, going nowhere fast 2020: Crochet #1, huge ??. Kelley #2, going nowhere. I'll take the Braves' draft failings with their perennial World Series aspirations over our draft failings and *gestures at steaming pile of s%*#*

My personal hope is that he ends up in Seattle. I think he would be so fun up there with Julio. Wonder if they're still stung by the Cano contract but it seems like that's fading into the rear window.

I'm a sucker and easy money for Jerry. I pout and moan about this franchise, and then I'm over on '47's website looking for new hats to wear to the one series the Sox come to Boston every year. It's an abusive relationship and I can't quit it.

The Robert jerseys are on sale as well. All of the jerseys are on sale (you can get a Keuchel jersey for $49 if you hate yourself and money doesn't mean anything). Don't read into the sale prices for off-season stuff. They're just trying to move inventory to free up space and capital for next year's products. '47 Brand just had a huge sale on all of their MLB gear too for the same reason.

That's an interesting perspective, haven't thought of yet. So you're suggesting they won't be in the market for the hired gun to put them over the top, like the Cubs' move for Lester? I can see them not making the trade with the intention of extending him, but they may look at the 'contention window math' see that two years of "win now" Cease is worth more than five+ years of "sustained success" with whichever prospects are being considered.

Just helping folks narrow down teams that might be interested