SonofaRoache

I'm behind DHs that can rake. For me that is their job and what this team needs desperately. My fear is that we will not be able to land Grandal if we miss out on Martinez. Martinez has only a few realistic options and we are in a great spot to get him. Grandal will have about 5 or 6 teams looking at him and can be selective.

Valid points. I like the idea of Grandal and his versatility but his numbers are too similar to guys who come here and face plant from the NL. I'm not worried about Martinez's back since he will DH and can focus on being a great hitter. Either way, it is a fun time to be a fan.

I'm not all that impressed with his offensive numbers, although I do love the .380 OBP from last year. If we are gonna DH and play him at first a lot, I want a little nore offensive production. He is the type of guy that comes to us and just bottoms out. However, If we can't get Martinez, I'd be fine with him.

Watch his best offer be 3 and 50 lol.

We need to be at 160 in 2021. The team saved a lot of money and that would put us above average in payroll.

We have nothing to trade really for good baseball players.

I envision a scenario where Boras tells the Sox 4 and 90 or he opts in.

Teams were not in the market to pay for starting pitching. Teams like the Sox, Twins, Brewers, Cubs, etc will probably not wait for Cole and Stras to sign. They will be hot after Wheeler and Bum, and no one wants to end up empty handed. No one also wants to play the Ryu and Jake O game too quickly.

We will know quickly if we want Cole or Stras. We will not be able to lowball and should offer one of them a good contract early on. We should also go over contract details with Wheeler and Bum. Whoever agrees first should be signed.

I think Wheeler is looking at a 4 year deal anyway, as his injury history is too great. He would have a chance to get those years and if he pitches well, he is likely to stay or get a nice contract again if there is a split. If he sucks or is hurt, he is screwed either way. I would prefer the Sox step up and offer him 5 or 6 years if we miss out on Cole, Stras, and Bum.

In a down year Martinez had an OPS of .939 and an OPS+ of 140. His down year was essentially the year Yoan had at the plate. The question is, can he go a little higher at the plate? I don't think great hitters fall off the complete cliff at 32. I think he has another 3 years of good baseball left in him.

In a perfect world yes. There will be 4 teams in desperate need of a guy like him, including the Sox. That is what drives the price up, not necessarily market value. Machado would have gotten a much lower deal had the Padres not got involved and raised the bidding. And no, teams will not all agree on a value for him and say, pick one of us at this rate. There will be bidding. The risk can be reduced by having mutual options in years 3 and or 4.

20 million per is the starting point now for good but not great pitchers. Add in desperation and bidding wars and the price gets ridiculous.

I think Wheeler gets 6 years and 150, so about 22 million per. I think some team will get desperate and increase his true value. Wheeler is the best pitcher on the market for those who are out on the top two. If the Sox offer Wheeler 130 million, I can see the Twins trumping that as they are desperate for pitching.

I think the premise is that Wheeler has been hurt a lot and may now find look much better with consistent playing time. He has the talent to look elite, he just can't stay healthy.

Wheeler is gonna top out at 150 or 160. There will be a bidding war for his services.

Sounds a lot like Carlos Rodon.

You ain't going anywhere, so sit back, relax, and strap it down.

The fans haven't gotten over it or forgotten. We are willing to give this front office one more offseason to prove themselves. If they fail again, that will be curtains.

Yeah, there are about 6 teams that are going after Wheeler because he can be quickly signed with a big offer. The bidding is gonna get high for his services. We need to go after Stras and Wheeler hard. I think Stras would take a 5 year deal at 160 million. This deal wouldn't hamstring the Sox if he falters a few yeats into the deal. At the same time I'd be working on a deal with Wheeler for 6 years and 175 million.

These teams and players already know what they are gonna do for the most part. A few weeks back Cole's teammates all but said he was leaving for the West Coast. They aren't actually waiting until 5 days after the WS to decide their fates.

Not really. They were cocky about getting Machado, but the players and coaches weren't really talking playoffs and big moves like they are now. I think Hahn and Kenny know better this time around. If they mess up, they backlash from the fans and media will be too much for them to save face. I think they get it done and even sign one of the pitchers we think will be impossible to get. He may love the West coast but I think we will blow him away with an offer if he hits the market. We also need to still back some good vibes from a certain NL team.

He and all of the players, coaches, and staff have been saying they expect big things next season and playoffs. The only folks doubting things are is fans. I will still believe it when I see it.

I got bad news for ya....

There is nothing wrong with putting Lopez in the pen and signing Hamels as your 5 if you also sign Cole, Stras, or Wheeler. Hamels is a productive pitcher and Lopez is maddeningly inconsistent. I wouldn't mind giving Lopez another shot depending on how FA goes, but he needs to be on a short leash.