SCCWS

I think $25 per year is really high for him. I think $20 will be the max but some team may get desperate

But NL vs AL. Got to pay an NL pitcher more since they also bat.............................................

I think that would get him. Corbin got $23 and Eovaldi got $17. I think Wheeler at $20 is a good number.

Understood. But a Grandal/McCann catching duo leaves very little catching opportunities for Collins.

I follow your thinking. I also think Grandal is farther down the FO wish list than many posters seem to think.

So if they sign Grandal, you would see them moving McCann?

As the backup or the 3rd catcher?

McCann 's 2nd half numbers other than HR/RBI dropped during the 2nd half. The 1st half as you say may very well be a fluke. But Grandal 's 2nd half numbers drop almost every year he has played. In his case, I think he plays too many games (130ish) and he wears out. The AL affords him the chance to play less and DH on the days he doesn't catch. But I thought I saw something that he insists on catching a lot of games.

I agree. He has said numerous times he really likes Boston and Cora. But he wants to be "the FA" next year. I think the package starts w Cease+ since they have young IB and 2B options. Boston always seems to need pitching because they struggle to develop it.

I think they will end up w a budget of $125-120 Mil. That to me( 50% increase) will be middle-ground.

FYI--- Speier is a real stat geek but he is very much in the know. Just to add, the timing also had some impact. This was before Pedroia's injury problems. So Moncada was pretty much blocked, hence the move to 3rd. Behind Moncada in the minors was Devers who also played 3rd. So Boston felt they had a future 3rd baseman so they could trade Moncada but would not include both. In 2016, Speier ranked their prospects in order Benintendi, Moncada, Devers and Kopech Here are profiles of the top-10 Red Sox prospects: Andrew Benintendi, OF. 2016 Level: High A Salem, Double A Portland, big leagues. ... Yoan Moncada, 2B/3B. ... Rafael Devers, 3B. ... Michael Kopech, RHP. ... Jason Groome, LHP. ... Sam Travis, 1B. ... Mauricio Dubon, SS/UT. ... Luis Alexander Basabe, OF.

I don't think we really know "what he is" at age 24 with 86 MLB at bats.

But that is a real longshot. Hahn has to get the best RF that the budget will allow. If Betts becomes a FA and JR is willing to go around $35 Mil after what they already add in FA adds this season, you can always trade whoever you sign this year.

There was a good amount of speculation he would not be returning to Boston when the season ended. He thanked the team/fans in an instagram post and even gave all his bats away to fans outside the stadium after the last game. I think if Hahn wants him, he would be a low price 2yr $4-5 Mil utility guy. He is LH but no pop in his bat. The article indicated there is a FO connection to Holt in AZ. Clubhouse cheerleader kind of guy.

He got $3.5 Mil for one year in his last contract. He has had 2 pretty good years in a row actually. Supposedly loves Boston but sounds like he may want 2 years versus 1.

https://bosoxinjection.com/2019/11/05/red-sox-rumors-holt-heading-elsewhere/

Rumor is Holt to Arizona for $8Mil/2 yrs.

That really kills their Luxury tax. They don't pay Greinke, AZ does.

I would agree that $130, which is a 50% jump, is very realistic. I think Haniger is somewhat a risk but his value is down because of it.

They are but they would only sign a Wheeler type if Cole goes. So they start $13 Mil less and Reddick's $13 MIl comes off next year. They do get a break in that Greinke is paid by AZ. I think Wheeler can get 5/$100 even though he has had an up/down career w injuries.

I would assume the Astros will put on a big push for him to replace Cole. So Sox will have to overbid them since they will be an attractive destination unless Wheeler wants the spotlight.

I would agree. But I would wait for FA and take a shot at him. I would assume the trade pieces for Betts, even for 1 year, would be very pricey

Thye may be empty but the tickets are sold. The seats you tend to see on TV are almost always corporate tickets. Teams offer give attendance as ticlets sold not people through the turnstile. Also notice in New York that seats empty in the first few innings fill up by 3rd-4th. I used to think it was people moving down but I found it was late arrivals due to traffic and eating dinner before the game. Boston is pretty much the same for 7:00pm starts.

last time they were in this position, they did a blockbuster w the Dodgers sending Beckett, Crawford and Gonzalez. Not sure they have enough pieces this time but we shall see. Their new nerd-guy will have a lot of pressure on him.

I doubt they will trade Benintendi because of Betts' status. But if trading Benintendi w an Eovaldi or Price attached gets them what they want payroll-wise, I am sure he can be had. But Vaughn or Madrigal would not do it. They got good production from their 2B they brought up mid-season and their highest rated MLB ready prospect is a IB in AAA. So it would probably take an MLB level OF in return. I would love to see Benintendi in our OF but I am not sure we have the outfield piece should Boston try and trade him. Now they may be enticed by a young SP.