Timmy U

Maybe Miller had a bigger number if he went higher? I mean, he signed for $800K less than Gonzalez, but possibly his agent wanted slot wherever he went? Otherwise, none of it makes sense. You wonder about Jacob’s conditioning. Two years in a row, his hitting has dropped off a cliff late in the season. If he doesn’t hit, he has no other tools to make himself a mlb contributor. He’ll be coaching HS ball in 5 years.

Only one person nailed this poll. Whoever voted 43 or under, I salute you. I thought they’d win 55.

At this point, older guys like me may never see a decent Sox team again in our lifetimes. Basically, Reinsdorf needs to be gone in some manner, a new regime has to enter and then that regime will need 5 years to build. We’re looking at a Pittsburgh-style bottom-scraping decade or more. Competing by 2027 is a dream. I think they’ll produce a bunch of pitchers to sell and keep the payroll low and sell a lot of Campfire milkshakes. This period is going to be the nadir of Sox franchise history. And there have already been some serious low points.

Well, in the grand scheme of things, baseball doesn’t really matter, so yeah, but it was still a smart acquisition.

Fun game. Have a goodnight, everybody.

Eflin makes sense for a team that can score a lot of runs like the O's. Rays have to be thrilled to get out of the back-loaded contract for a guy who is essentially mlb average. The prospects have potential. At the very least, they have added depth to a system that already has a lot of hitters.

I like Horvath, but these are more flyers than real solid pieces. Would not have been a good deal for Fedde

Sox prices too high for O’s. No surprise there. Be interested to see what prospects go. Could be a salary dump.

The Sox will not be signing Sasaki, sadly. I bet the fix is in for the Dodgers. Also, future pitching is not their biggest concern. Even if they trade Crochet they have Schultz, Taylor, Smith, Thorpe, and a host of guys not named Nastrini or Burke ready to emerge. Their problem is no one can hit.

With the new limits on Stateside players, it has become a brutal business. You gotta show something right away or teams can’t roster you. Hernandez has been a hell of a disappointment. I think Paddy probably needs to go.

I think they are not dealing Holliday, Basallo, Mayo, Kjerstad, or Cowser. I don’t think they are looking to deal Norby either. I think the strategy is to try to get something for their declining veterans like Mullins and Mountcastle and sweeten it with mediocre pitching prospects like Povich and McDermott. If they have to, they can include Bradfield, who’s a glorified pinch runner or someone like Fabian. I think Horvath might be something, but he couldn’t be the centerpiece for Crochet, Robert, or Fedde.

Good trade for both. Clearly Baltimore is not interested in moving big prospects or taking huge swings. They are looking to swap the guys the prospects are going to replace. I can’t fault them for that.

I don’t blame Crochet. He has had to fight tooth and nail to get on a 5 day schedule, which he says is better for his body. Why not use whatever leverage you can to make sure no one sticks you back in the bullpen? If they have to trade him in the offseason or at next year’s TDL, so be it. They’ll still end up with a Cease-like package and we’ll still get to watch one of the very few actual good players in a Sox uni.

I disagree. Arozarena is a defensively challenged left fielder who got off to a rough start in a down offensive environment. In return, the Rays get 2 up arrow young players. Smith is a 2023 high school pick who has had real success in A ball. That is a valuable piece. Probably not enough for Robert, but a good haul for the Rays.

How do they not fire Pedro? I get he isn’t THE problem, but how can they deny that he is A problem? On talent, this is not the worst team of all time.

For me, he’s a 1b. Maybe an occasional catcher. Kinda giving Michael Busch vibes. Not sure that headlines for anyone but Fedde.

Anyone. Literally. Anyone.

They clearly like Smith better on talent. Let's see if they were right. Lately, they rarely are.

New Sox advertising motto.

Hmmm, I do not care for either of those players.

Burke gave up 3 runs in .2 without a hit. 5bb + 1HBP. I just don't think he's ever going to be a consistent enough strike thrower to make it in mlb. I hope I'm wrong. Seems like a good dude.

I would be underwhelmed. Cho seems like Sammy Zavala without the walks.

Not sure he's a middle infielder. Nacho is currently playing 3b. Can really hit, though.

Thanks. Good overview. I do not want Saggesse or Prieto. The Sox could have had them last deadline. Chase Davis has really struggled in A ball, but he's been hotter lately. I mean, as a buy-low? Would be disappointing, but there is upside. I'd rather trade with someone else.

@hi8is thank you for that beautiful story. And pictures! My mom and dad were both diehard Sox fans before I was born. Even when we lived in Michigan, we'd take the Borman or the South Shore and go to a bunch of games. I remember seeing Chet Lemon headed to the press box after the game as a small child. (I also had a lit cigarette and a chicken bucket thrown at me as a ten year-old. Can't beat fun at the old ballgame.) My brother and I drove up to Milwaukee for Frank Thomas/Alex Fernandez's first game. When things were toughest between me and my dad during adolescence, we could always talk about the Sox. There have been a lot of horrendous Sox teams, the last few years being some of the worst, but I'm grateful to be a fan. And I've met so many great fellow Sox fans, especially on this board. You guys help make it fun, even when it really isn't. Thanks.