Red Sox/MLB Atlanta’s Chris Sale wins the National League Cy Young Award

[RoccoF14]

If they sign Soto then trade for Crochet I can live with that! (2% chance)

If they sign Fried they need to have an elite infield defense between him/Bello/Houck. That means Devers to DH and probably a guy like Adames or Arenado in to play 3B

If you're looking to upgrade your defense, Arenado is the guy you want at 3B. Not Adames. Speaking of Arenado......

Cardinals Trade Pitch Sends Nolan Arenado & Ryan Helsley To AL East In 5-Player Swap

The St. Louis Cardinals entered this offseason with the trade market in mind as the front office aims to slash payroll and open room on the big-league roster. F

www.si.com

I do that deal if I'm Boston, provided additional trades were forthcoming...

 

[sarge88]

I get that in theory, I guess --- but the Sox money is as green as anyone else's.

I feel like they just need to get that first domino to fall, to prove they are serious and then others will follow.

 

[EverettMike]

Genuinely think the dumbest thing they can do is trade for Crochet. He's the furthest thing from a guarantee, but you'll need to give up a massive haul followed by a massive contract. Way way way too much risk for a guy with that many question marks no matter how talented he might be. They aren't "one guy away." They're many guys a way. Better options in free agency and I'd rather overpay for them with cash than prospects and cash.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

If you're looking to upgrade your defense, Arenado is the guy you want at 3B. Not Adames. Speaking of Arenado......

Cardinals Trade Pitch Sends Nolan Arenado & Ryan Helsley To AL East In 5-Player Swap

The St. Louis Cardinals entered this offseason with the trade market in mind as the front office aims to slash payroll and open room on the big-league roster. F

www.si.com

View attachment 936354

I do that deal if I'm Boston, provided additional trades were forthcoming...

Arenado for Yoshida + a mid level prospect. Chaim can get his boy back.

Devers to DH
Casas 1B
Story helps Meyer in camp, then gets injured

 

[RoccoF14]

Genuinely think the dumbest thing they can do is trade for Crochet. He's the furthest thing from a guarantee, but you'll need to give up a massive haul followed by a massive contract. Way way way too much risk for a guy with that many question marks no matter how talented he might be. They aren't "one guy away." They're many guys a way. Better options in free agency and I'd rather overpay for them with cash than prospects and cash.

I get that point of view Mike. But I will say this: If Sox fans are expecting that this team is gonna just open up the checkbook and buy up a bunch of the top Free Agents on the market and not move any prospects, they are going to be sorely disappointed.

I think you gotta do both. Sign and trade.

We can disagree on Crochet. That's fine and that's the fun part about talking baseball. However I do think they have the trade capital to get him if they want him, and not have to gut their prospect pool to do so. They can offer a more competitive package than just about any other MLB team. You can't say that when it comes to signing free agents.

 

[Mr Cartmenez]

Dodgers sure like to ruin the fun for everyone else

Why? Did they force the other teams to not bid on Snell? The contract is high, not way above the estimates. I wish the Sox would be acting like that. They used to, but stopped.

No matter what happens during the winter, they will eventually have to resolve their defensive problems. Basically most of the news are about pitching and Soto. That's fine, but it won't help signing another bad fielder to the richest contract in history and/or getting another GB-pitcher, when you already have two in Houck and Bello. Especially if they are truly after Fried.

This team won't go far in this league if they continue to trot out a bad defensive group. And ironically, one of their best fielders - Abreu, who plays GG-defense in tough Fenway-RF, is rumored in trade talks. How does that help?

If they were truly honest about their situation, they'd move Devers off of 3B and finally make him a permanent 1B / DH. That move (and a legit SS), would come a long way. Not that the potential free agent solutions (Bregman, Adames) are desirable, but they finally have to fix their infield woes. Defense has become so crucial in this league that it's still baffling that the Sox have mostly ignored this for the past 5 years.

The Red Sox could have taken off after the spectacular 18 season, but simply punted. What a gross decision for the fanbase at that time. Even the media is talking nowadays as if the Sox offer some hostile environment when players can only be persuaded to come with money. Are they wrong, though? Without homer-glasses, the Sox are not anywhere close to tier 1 anymore.

 

[DKH]

Genuinely think the dumbest thing they can do is trade for Crochet. He's the furthest thing from a guarantee, but you'll need to give up a massive haul followed by a massive contract. Way way way too much risk for a guy with that many question marks no matter how talented he might be. They aren't "one guy away." They're many guys a way. Better options in free agency and I'd rather overpay for them with cash than prospects and cash.

I wanted Snell but he is West Coast and Dodgers are it

Crochet scares me as well

Abreu & prospects in low A yeh

Burnes always been my guy but seems long shot

Nasty Nate still has great stuff

Could do worse

 

[GatorMike]

Arenado for Yoshida + a mid level prospect. Chaim can get his boy back.

Devers to DH
Casas 1B
Story helps Meyer in camp, then gets injured

If the Cards trade Arenado, it's because they want to create payroll flexibility in future years.

Swapping Arenado for Yoshida doesn't really accomplish that.

 

[CDJ]

I get that point of view Mike. But I will say this: If Sox fans are expecting that this team is gonna just open up the checkbook and buy up a bunch of the top Free Agents on the market and not move any prospects, they are going to be sorely disappointed.

I think you gotta do both. Sign and trade.

We can disagree on Crochet. That's fine and that's the fun part about talking baseball. However I do think they have the trade capital to get him if they want him, and not have to gut their prospect pool to do so. They can offer a more competitive package than just about any other MLB team. You can't say that when it comes to signing free agents.

Agreed- im not anti-crochet, it just has to be the right situation for the right package

And he doesn’t need to be the missing piece to make them a WS contender right away- he’s only 25. It’s not like signing or trading for a 30 year old.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[SoupNazi]

Genuinely think the dumbest thing they can do is trade for Crochet. He's the furthest thing from a guarantee, but you'll need to give up a massive haul followed by a massive contract. Way way way too much risk for a guy with that many question marks no matter how talented he might be. They aren't "one guy away." They're many guys a way. Better options in free agency and I'd rather overpay for them with cash than prospects and cash.

Not an RS fan here, but a Cleveland fan who's seen Crochet enough to agree with you. I think it's stupid to give up the haul Chicago wants for him to then have to sign him to a huge contract, given everything we've heard about him.

Particularly when you have the reports from last summer that he didn't want to pitch in October without an extension, it just seems like there are too many question marks if you aren't just one guy away.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

 

[CDJ]

Not an RS fan here, but a Cleveland fan who's seen Crochet enough to agree with you. I think it's stupid to give up the haul Chicago wants for him to then have to sign him to a huge contract, given everything we've heard about him.

Particularly when you have the reports from last summer that he didn't want to pitch in October without an extension, it just seems like there are too many question marks if you aren't just one guy away.

He’s 25, people are acting like he’s a 33 YO with one year of prime left with this “one guy away” talk. Hes not a mercenary, he’d be a foundational piece. He’s going to be a top of the rotation guy for 5+ years if health permits (the caveat with all pitchers these days)


They should just sign Fried if they’re dead set on a LHP though

 

[EverettMike]

He’s 25, people are acting like he’s a 33 YO with one year of prime left with this “one guy away” talk. Hes not a mercenary, he’d be a foundational piece. He’s going to be a top of the rotation guy for 5+ years if health permits (the caveat with all pitchers these days)


They should just sign Fried if they’re dead set on a LHP though

That's now how I meant it at all. My point was they'd have to give up double the resources to get him (prospects and a contract), but he's a huge question mark.

You that risk if you are one guy away. It doesn't make sense when you're not.

 

[McGarnagle]

Something that may be going under the radar is that Arenado-Story-Grissom-Casas is an absolutely elite defensive infield and justifies spending on ground ball pitchers like Fried

 

[McGarnagle]

But all I want right now is for Theo Epstein to go to Thanksgiving dinner at Soto's house

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

Fried and Burnes and I would be happy. Actually one of the two, another lesser free agent pitcher for the back of the rotation and find a way to "give away" Yoshida and I'm really happy. There will be an impact RH bat that they'll sign or trade for and we're on our way to an improved 2025 team. While a lot of us wanted Snell, he was really wanting to be on the west coast and the Dodgers didn't cheap out and made it happen.

The Soto thing is such an outlier with both NY teams probably fighting it out to the death.

 

[JRull86]

Fried and Burnes and I would be happy. Actually one of the two, another lesser free agent pitcher for the back of the rotation and find a way to "give away" Yoshida and I'm really happy. There will be an impact RH bat that they'll sign or trade for and we're on our way to an improved 2025 team. While a lot of us wanted Snell, he was really wanting to be on the west coast and the Dodgers didn't cheap out and made it happen.

The Soto thing is such an outlier with both NY teams probably fighting it out to the death.

I really don't think the Soto thing is an outlier.

All things considered, money will be roughly the same for all parties making offers. By all accounts, Soto is looking for a situation where they're set up to win now, or the close future, and also can be "the guy". He will never be that on the Yankees, nor will he be that on the Mets while his buddy Lindor is around.

He can be that on the Red Sox. They are also in the best position to have a competitive core with prospects, or able to move said prospects for impact players now and in the future.

I still think he goes to the Mets, but if he's choosing a destination on the above factors, Boston makes the most sense.

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

I really don't think the Soto thing is an outlier.

All things considered, money will be roughly the same for all parties making offers. By all accounts, Soto is looking for a situation where they're set up to win now, or the close future, and also can be "the guy". He will never be that on the Yankees, nor will he be that on the Mets while his buddy Lindor is around.

He can be that on the Red Sox. They are also in the best position to have a competitive core with prospects, or able to move said prospects for impact players now and in the future.

I still think he goes to the Mets, but if he's choosing a destination on the above factors, Boston makes the most sense.

I'm not at all opposed to the Sox getting Soto but I feel as though we are the bargaining chip that Boras loves to have with his guys. I think we're a pawn in his game. If I'm wrong I won't be upset, it just feels like Lucy holding the ball for Charlie again just to see him fall flat on his back for infinity.

 

[gerrycheeversmask]

Something that may be going under the radar is that Arenado-Story-Grissom-Casas is an absolutely elite defensive infield and justifies spending on ground ball pitchers like Fried

Casas, an elite defensive player? I don't think so. He might an elite defensive DH.

I'm not at all opposed to the Sox getting Soto but I feel as though we are the bargaining chip that Boras loves to have with his guys. I think we're a pawn in his game. If I'm wrong I won't be upset, it just feels like Lucy holding the ball for Charlie again just to see him fall flat on his back for infinity.

You're probably right, but if the Sox do sign Soto, I'm going to party for 7 days straight! I'll even set up a bar in my office.

 

[KrugAvoy]

I am not including Anthony or Campbell in such a trade for Crochet

 

[sarge88]

I will never, ever understand any significant player who is under 28 and chooses to go to a team that is already loaded and one of the top few favorites to win a title.

Why wouldn't you want to be the guy who is the centerpiece of the team that knocks them off, rather than a guy who backs into winning a championship with an already stacked group?

I totally get it if you're in your mid-30's and haven't won a title --- but to be young and choose to glom on to a title favorite just rings hollow for me.