SCCWS

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.

But this franchise has had considerable success on their balance sheet. As I posted previously, that may be ownership's top priority. Now credit for that does not automatically go to the FO but rather the success of MLB and the coat-tail effects that every team gets. For all we know, Kenny , Hahn and others may be making a killing if they have incentives in their contracts tied into bottom line profits.

But again, I ask the question how much is an 83 year old involved in the White Sox operation since you indicated he is hands-on. He owns multiple businesses. Some at that age have health and/or memory issues and others are more alert than people half their age. I was asking those who live in the Chicago area if they have seen Jerry lately do any interviews relative to the status of the White Sox.

I would add, from a fan standpoint, RH is a failure. With the present format of divisional leaders and two WC spots, going 7 years w/o an appearance is failure for the fans. But the owner picked him and he has stuck with him despite the failure on the field. That tells me the top priority of the owner is on some spreadsheet, not on the field results. JR must feel Hahn has produced the results he wants where he wants to see them. I know you said that JR is one of the most hands-on owners in baseball. It appeared he was years ago but he is 83. I do not live in the Chicago area. Does Jerry regularly appear before the media to answer questions and give statements on the franchise? I know on the 2nd place comment, the team released a statement from him "with no recollection". But I didn't see where he did a live interview. Where I do live, the Tampa and Boston owners are seen and heard pretty regularly.

Betts' status is a major topic in New England media these days which is not surprising. But there must be 30+ baseball media people spread throughout the 6 states. The media is filled with inaccuracies so often it is hard to judge true/false. But from several interviews I have seen w Betts going back to ST, he indicated he loves Boston and Cora. But he always says he wants to test the FA market. So I doubt he will allow any team to negotiate w him. In interviews he seems pretty humble but maybe he wants his day in the sun next FA period. I have never seen a rumor that he wants a destination i.e. New York, West Coast etc.