The original plan was to trade for Machado the year before he hit free agency and confince him to sign an extension. They made a legit offer but Baltimore (Angelos) turned it down so it's certainly not out of the relm of possibility that they would try again with Betts.
We're gonna disagree on that one. I would think if the Red Sox trade Betts they'd be looking for players with higher ceilings. But yeah if they'd take him I'm all in.
I really like Yolmer as a bench guy. I think he'll be non-tendered but unlike Avi he will accept the lower offer to come back. The obvious problem is Ricky will find a way to play him everyday.
This free agent class outside of the top two guys who the Sox have zero chance of signing is very underwhelming. Good GM's struggle filling holes via free agency and Rick Hahn is no where near a good GM so I'd like to see him to acquire upgrades via trades. Hahn seems to be a little better at the trade game.
I don't think you need the dog and pony show of ping pong balls and draft wheels. Just incentivise teams that come the closest to making the playoffs. If they did that the Tigers wouldn't be sitting here with 46 wins. They would be trying to win games to move up in draft position. What a concept.
The team with the best record who doesn't make the playoffs gets the first pick and on down. So this year Cleveland would get the 1st pick and Detroit would get the 20th. That would put an end to the race to the bottom.