Sarava

Sure. Sign Gerrit Cole this offseason, and many of us will happily say we were wrong about Jerry Reinsdorf.

I agree with this. He might just take that too. A year ago he wasn't sure what his future in the big leagues was.

Kopech is unlikely to be firing on all cylinders coming out of Tommy John surgery. Leaving him at AAA is the best idea for a few different reasons. And yes the extra control is one of the reasons. But the chances of him killing it on the Sox in April or May is probably very low.

There's nobody on this board I agree with more than you usually...but not here. There's a good chance the pitching regresses without McCann (feel free to go back to Giolito's allstar game interviews and how he talks about McCann). Why would we sell out our pitchers for a better bat in the lineup? The Sox are going to have a loaded lineup, especially if they fill the RF and DH spots. We don't need to be bringing in an aging, good hitting but mediocre defensive catcher. Even if McCann falls back with his bat some next year, he's still the better option and much cheaper. Him and Collins platooning, with McCann likely being the main guy is just right IMO. To me the off-season plan should be pretty simple. Sign a TOR starter - Cole or Strasburg. Sign or trade for big bats in RF and DH. Patch a few small holes. Attempt to get Moncada and Giollito to sign longterm deals. The Sox could easily win 95+ games next year.

I would be afraid of letting McCann go. Giolito made it clear McCann is a huge part of his success this year. They should keep him. Forget Grandal. Spend the money on a TOR starter and a right fielder. Or maybe even a DH.

I'm ok with Bumgarner not being convinced, and signing elsewhere. He feels like his best days are probably behind him. If the Sox truly want to make a statement, they should target Cole or Strasburg. It feels unlikely though.

I agree with you on this one. Yeah, 8 would be nicer than 12. But I'm not going to get hung up on it. And I certainly dont want it if it means Cease is getting bombed the rest of the year and other guys important to the rebuild struggle.

Here we go. The Sox 1st round pick will be protected. The following is from last year, but the Sox will fall in the same category this winter as well. They lose a 2nd if they sign a player who had a QO extended to them. If they sign 2 players that had QO's extended to them, it's a 2nd and a 3rd that they lose. Either way they keep their first round pick. https://www.mlb.com/news/draft-picks-for-2018-19-qualifying-offers-c300535882 Penalties for signing players who reject QOs Any team that signs a player who has rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of one or more Draft picks. However, a team's highest first-round pick is exempt from forfeiture, which is a big change that went into effect with the new CBA. Three tiers of Draft-pick forfeiture -- based on the financial status of the signing team -- are in place to serve as a penalty for signing a player who rejected a qualifying offer: • A team that exceeded the luxury tax in the preceding season will lose its second- and fifth-highest selections in the following year's Draft, as well as $1 million from its international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If such a team signs multiple qualifying-offer free agents, it will forfeit its third- and sixth-highest remaining picks as well. Teams that are in this group this offseason: Nationals, Red Sox • A team that receives revenue-sharing money will lose its third-highest selection in the following year's Draft. If it signs two such players, it will also forfeit its fourth-highest remaining pick. Teams in this group: A's, Braves, Brewers, D-backs, Indians, Mariners, Marlins, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Tigers and Twins. • A team that neither exceeded the luxury-tax threshold in the preceding season nor receives revenue sharing will lose its second-highest selection in the following year's Draft, as well as $500,000 from its international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. If it signs two such players, it will also forfeit its third-highest remaining pick and an additional $500,000. Teams in this group: Angels, Astros, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Phillies, Rangers, White Sox and Yankees.

I thought they changed it where you only lose a 2nd rounder now? Was I wrong?

That might of been an inside the park home run if Eloy wasn't admiring it for so long after the swing.

I'd like them to acquire a bat that is better than Leury. But if the Sox blow their wad on SP, and that means Leury is our starting RF, then I can live with that.

Goins doesn't seem like he can be counted on for late game defense. He's flubbed a couple easy ones in the last week.

Yeah he's out

Nice play Goins

Yes the Sox should of given him 300 mil. Hell, if they weren't so cheap all last winter and obsessed with not bidding against themselves, they might of nabbed him at 270 or 280 before the Padres entered the fray.

His 2nd one against the Yankees was left center also. Remember that one well, since I had +200 on the Sox while I was in Vegas

It's going to be fun watching Eloy over the years.

I was thinking the opposite. This whole broadcast has been Red Sox stories. Uggh

Eloy might end up as a DH. Time will tell. But I don't want him moved. He's going to be a monster, and that's valuable whether he slots in as a LF, 1B or DH.

Are you sure the Sox are paying this? I seem to recall from the time of the trade that the Red Sox paid or are paying all of that signing bonus.

Right. But Wheeler might get a $100 mil deal or not far from it as well. Singing Grandal might mean no Wheeler is what i'm getting at.

Well he's the 3rd or 4th biggest name, so that's not really what I was asking.

Of course you can't assume that. But they're not going to upgrade half the team. It might be a bit of a pick your poison thing. If they sign Grandal to replace McCann, but ignore signing a big name pitcher, are you fine with that then?

Can you imagine being the guy sitting in front of someone with a sax? You might get permanent ear damage. Otherwise I'm all for more boisterous crowds. On the same note with latin american countries - I've always thought it would be fun to see a Pearl Jam show down in Brazil or Argentina. The crowds just get so much more in to the shows than they do up here.

Ok I listened to the podcast. It was a good podcast and I like most of what i heard. It was mostly what we knew or expected. His comments about Sox fans on the internet and social media were interesting. Makes me think he definitely reads stuff around here. If so, hi Rick! One thing though. Rick Hahn can piss off with his 5-7 year comment. The Cubs were in the NLCS in Theo's 4th year in Chicago, and they didn't start with anywhere near the assets that the Sox started this rebuild with. I'm hoping the 5-7 year comment was intended to temper expectations, while they quietly plan on going for it this winter. I know we're not getting Gerritt Cole, but everything else could and should be on the table. I have a feeling the Sox are going to be one of the most active teams, both in trade and free agency.