Sarava

That random DM put him above all the other supposed Sox insiders. Really, Steve Stone is the only insider who's words mean a damn at this point.

If they sign EE, I would think Collins might be moved. Probably for a reliever as some have guessed along the way. There just doesn't seem to be any at-bats for him if EE comes in. Because Grandal, McCann and Abreu are likely to get some DH at bats as well.

Hopefully the Angels panic and offer Ryu stupid money, now that it's down to one potential impact starter left in free agency. Keep him away from the Twinkies. He would scare me with them.

Hopefully not Encarnacion. I'm liking their aggressiveness here.

Arenado wouldn't make any sense if they are alluding to him. If you wanted that, you could of gone for Rendon in free agency, and not given up the couple of big prospects the Rockies would surely demand.

Where it might not be vested is if he's really bad, and the Sox basically stop using him or release him before he hits 160 innings in the 2nd year of the deal.

Do you want to elaborate, or are you just trolling?

I'd like that clarified. Is it 160 innings total for the last 2 years or 160 inings each year? 160 innings for 2 seasons could be an injury riddled pitcher that still vests.

Well now that they broke the silence with Boras, let's do one more with him and sign Castellanos. If Nick is fine being a primary DH, but can play RF when the Sox face lefties (then Grandal can DH and McCann catch on those days).

While I would have preferred Ryu, I'm just relived they did something. We have a chance going in to next year. it's been a good while since we could honestly say that.

Even if they splurge and sign Castellanos, they will of tremendously improved the team, and while not signing a QO free agent.

If they sign Castellanos, this team can win the division. Though it would be heavily dependent on Cease taking a big jump this year (which he very well might do).

Wow, the Sox signed a Boras guy

The Sox have the potential to go through the roof this coming season. I think that's why many of us are frustrated with the *so far* poor off-season. It didn't feel going in to the winter that it would be that hard to patch these obvious holes - given how open the payroll was compared to all other teams in MLB. But there's still time. I mean, if the Sox signed Castellanos and Ryu, then traded Collins for a bullpen arm - the sky would be the limit this season. You could have a loaded lineup and loaded pitching staff if a few things come together.

I'm all for competing now and I feel it's overdue. However, IMO Dylan Cease has ace potential and compromising his development to compete now would be a horrible decision. Lopez is a totally different story. He's been given chance after chance the last few years. It's put up or shut up time for him. If he struggles once again in the first month or two, I wouldn't hesitate to put Lopez in the pen.

Nooooo trading Madigral. Especially within the division.

Wow, short leash you're giving Cease.

I like this move. He is our #5 until Kopech comes up. And if he is still healthy and performing well at that point, he can either become a long reliever for us, or take Lopez's spotin the rotation if he is outpitching him. Now go sign Ryu and Castellanos and they can give the Indians and Twinkies a run for their money in the division.

This off-season has become a debacle. We're debating over which of the bad choices is the better choice to make.

Why would anyone do that deal, unless they are a Red Sox fan? Betts would leave after 1 year. Hell he'd probably go back to Boston to win some World Series' with Vaughn and Madigral. I swear. Some of you want this rebuild to collapse in front of our eyes, before it's even gotten going.

Are they on drugs? They want two high-end prospects in exchange for a horribly overpaid and over the hill pitcher?

Arenado has an opt out after 2 seasons. That's a risk that you send off those kinds of prospects and then he bolts after 2 seasons. And there's the home/away splits. And there's the whole 'who's going to start for the Sox' question, since they didn't sign any free agent SP's, and this proposes we trade off Cease. I think I would say no. We're already in a pickle with the future of our rotation. Trading any of Giolito, Kopech or Cease is off the table IMO. Change it to Vaughn, Basabe and Collins and then I'd do it.

The important thing is that hopefully the Sox had a seat at the table.

I thought he would get about that for 4 years. Interesting.

That they had 6 more wins, while not having 1/3 of their schedule against the Tigers, Royals and White Sox shows there's a gigantic difference at play here.