tray

Totally agree with that strategy. You have to believe that the Sox anticipate who they need to sign long term - Moncada, Robert and possibly o a few others. The Sox are not just being cheapskates by not blowing their budget on FA contracts this off-season. Given that, if they stand pat as far as mega million dollar FA acquisitions I would be quite happy with Grandal, Mazara and Gio Gonzales, plus re-upping Abreu. Meanwhile, dumpster dive for a few inning-eating pitchers and wait until Spring Training,,,, unless of course some team makes Rick & Kenny an offer they simply can't refuse. Patience is sometimes rewarded in these circumstances.

The decision to add contracts is not only based on the payroll for 2020. The Sox need the financial flexibility moving forward to sign some of their premier talent like Moncada to long terms deals.

Several teams are reportedly in on Ryu and Keuchel including the Angels. Given the current market for premium starting pitchers, and Boras representation, it will probably take a substantial overpay (i.e., 4/80) to land one of them. Then of course there is always the possibility that you make the highest Offer and they Wheeler you.

We are talkin' about another edition of the SS Hitmen in 2020. Perhaps close to100 homers just from Eloy, Robert and Mazara.

From the dinosaur age: Wilbur Wood, Ron Santo, Don Kessinger, Smokey Burgess, and old aches and pains, Luke Appling, although he could still jack one at 75.

There has been a lot said here about Castellanos not being a decent RF in terms of his D, I wonder how Mazara will do for us in RF. Our fans tend to be pretty unforgiving when a player makes a few errors or misplays.

What if Mazara sucks in RF? Engel and Leury and DH him?

AB has played CF. Robert might be better suited as a RF with his arm strength and he might be less prone to injury from diving for balls in the gaps.

They could also leave Eloy in LF, AB in Center , Robert in RF and DH Mazara.

True.

Ostensibly, one of the reasons that the Sox would want Benintendi would be to have a starting RF who plays decent defens, bats LH, .and is under control for 3 more years. That would allow Mazara to DH which would really strengthen the line-up vs RH pitching. Thus: Madrigal (RH) Moncada (LH) Tim Anderson (RH) Abreu (RH) Grandal (LH) Eloy (RH) Mazara (LH) Robert (RH) Benintendi (LH) One argument against acquiring AB seems to be that Mazara is going to be sufficient defensively in RF and at the same time, that Collins can make the roster and be the designated LH DH. I am hopeful that Mazara could be a decent RF but I am less confident that Collins will hit enough or retain enough value to the team to stick as a platoon DH.

It appears that the two sides are not on the same page. The BoSox/Bloom might imagine that Madrigal is the second coming of Dustin Pedroia, and therefore, they consider him as a key to any deal with Hahn/WSox. That's not going to happen. Realistically, Bloom is not negotiating from a position of strength. So no worries, Hahn is not going to bail him out of bad contracts and send him one of our core players.

By the way, I haven't started Christmas shopping yet so take my caveat about panic shopping for FA pitchers with a grain of salt. Yea, maybe start snatchin' em up before they're all gone.

I think the logic used in signing a guy like Eloy was controlling his cost while making him happy, all the while avoiding the uncertainty of the arbitration years. Also, if you think a guy is going to be an absolute stud (like some is think Robert will be) you try to reel him in now while you can.

C - I don't know how much Gio has raised his value because of his awesome 2019, but I would rather sign him for the big money than some of the older pitchers like Ryu that are out there. Gio clearly developed as pitcher so I discount his stats from earlier seasons. I think the prospect of gambling a bit by signing unproven but potential stars like Madrigal and Robert to multi-tear deals is intriguing. Moncada is already a stud so there would probably be not be any home team discount. Nevertheless, I would at least try to lock him up to a long term deal. That would be amazing., especially after a fifteen tear search for a decent replacement for Joe Crede.

There is strategic difference when seeking to make a trade versus the acquisition of free agents. A trade requires patience and is the end result of a deliberative process. In contrast, free agency can become a trap for those seeking to gobble up assets before the next guy does like a shopper for plywood before a hurricane. I would not be surprised if Hahn has some intriguing proposals for a possible trade or trades involving pitching and that he is considering them. It is too early for fans to panic. As far as spending money, there are plenty of ways to do that, like locking up some of the premium talent that we already have on long term deals.

exactly.

BoSox need another catcher and do not want to add much salary. https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/12/10/after-trading-sandy-leon-red-sox-begin-search-in-fairly-robust-market-for-backup-catcher/

Despite the desire some of us have to give Collins half a season in the majors to prove himself, it is probably unrealistic to think that he would be able to hold down a roster spot as a DH/third catcher. Collins has very limited trade value. Actually, it may never be higher than it is right now. I hate to imagine Collins having an unimpressive Spring Training and being issued a one-way ticket to Charlottesville. If McCann isn't traded, that could make that more likely to happen.

How was Eovaldi's velocity after he came back from injury? That guy used to throw gas.

Hahn can get Benintendi plus either Sale, Price or Eovaldi, depending (obviously) on the compensation. I think the possibilities are intriguing. BoxSox need a catcher, at least a back-up catcher and we have one to spare. BoSox need to cut salary so that they can re-sign Mookie and the Sox have already priced in money to get pitching help this off season. I think Chaim Bloom might be afraid to pull the trigger on any major deal along the lines of what we have discussed.

I guess Florida is good for him and his family if he doesn't mind stifling heat and humidity, home schooling his kids, tourist trap restaurants, and retirees. IMO< he would have been better off in Seattle or on one the California teams.

Shields sucked but became serviceable for a time. The problem with that trade was that instead of getting a Benintendi that would be controllable for 3 years, we GAVE away Tatis Jr., a future All Star. Eovaldi contract is less but he might be a larger gamble. Really any pitcher is a gamble in terms of unknown durability, possible TJ surgery and other arm issues that could creep up. There is no perfect pitcher or perfect trade. If you aren't going to take some risk you probably aren't going to win.

I guess the idea of getting Price is so foolish that several other teams are inquiring about him.

I wish we could detach body parts and construct the player we want, but we have to take these players as they are, with their strengths and weaknesses. AB is a better defender. Mazara has a better arm.....after he gets to a ball in the gap and the runner has already reached base.