Jose Abreu

If you're planning a starting lineup (even a weak side platoon) that requires moving guys around so that you can get ABs for Adam Engel, you're probably doing something wrong

If it’s not JDM, but Boston still makes sense, would we trade for Betts now that we have this high-powered offense in place?

I don't know why they haven't been announced but with guys like Dylan Covey and Seby Zavala on the 40 man, figuring out who to remove shouldn't be that tough

There's a fairly good chance that Madrigal is dead last among our starting 9 in OBP next year, and I'm not even one of the Madrigal haters. I don't see any way he gets on base more often than Moncada, Grandal, EE, etc.

On that subject:

It's a good thing nobody judged the move in isolation.

More people are believing him these days because he has gotten better with deleting his tweets that are eventually proven wrong. Unfortunately he’s still the same guesser he always has been

I think the Angels would be thrilled to get rid of him and actually get something of value in return

They certainly bucked the trend in their handling of Tatis, but I personally think they’re going to regret letting him play those handful of games in April come 2024 when he hits free agency a full year earlier than he would’ve under normal circumstances

I also don't think it's fair to lump James in with all of them. He has a very good track record with this stuff.

I love how after 4 hours this didn't even get a negative response. Soxtalk has really changed

To build off this, I am of the opinion that Revenge of the Sith, "high ground" and all, is the best of all the Star Wars movies. I know I'm in a vast minority, but the story is executed so perfectly.

For 12 or so games, I don't think it'll matter much

Adding EE won't preclude them from adding a backup IF

Agree with both of you. I just think they'd trade Collins instead.

I know your Padres are having a rough offseason but EE is far from "low end mediocre"

Signing EE probably ensures that he gets traded. Or McCann, but I'm guessing they'd rather trade Collins

In the event that the Sox sign EE and do not trade McCann, I think there's actually a path (if everyone stays relatively healthy) where Grandal can still catch ~110 games, DH/1B 35-40, while EE still plays in ~130+ (taking reps from Abreu at 1B on occasion). Let McCann catch the other ~50 and sub in as needed of course.

Castellanos and Willie Calhoun in the corners with Choo at DH and Santana moved back to the infield would be pretty nice.

Wasn't Gallo playing a good center field last year? Why would he of all people need to DH?

It was better the second time I watched it. Not really sure why

It's not just about losing a game on a bad strike call. The difference between an 0-1 count and a 1-0 count, or a 2-1 count and a 1-2 count, for instance, is massive with respect to the outcome of the plate appearance, and calls are messed up extremely frequently that muddle this.

Well if he's the personal catcher for both Keuchel and Giolito, then Grandal is capped at 98 starts as catcher, which wouldn't make any sense. I think McCann has a much smaller role next year than people anticipate.

Brock Holt, Edwin Encarnacion, and a Harris/Cishek type reliever