poppysox

By waiting until the 11th hour they received 5 no name minor league players from the Dodgers. I sure hope we don't mishandle any of our studs if they refuse to reach extensions. Not very worried about it since RH is the best at this phase of his job.

If your 3 years left was accurate next offseason would have been my target date. On the one hand teams get hamstrung by signing players for many years at zillions of dollars when they wait to long to get it done...on the other hand you can't let them walk for basically nothing. Hahn has been excellent at saying the magic words that get good quality players to sign team friendly extensions early in their contract days.

1. Yep 2. Thank you 3. Yes I think they both got good deals 4. Of course any of us who step forward with an opinion risk the ridicule of half a dozen posters. After all...it's much easier to criticize others ideas than have one of your own. I stepped forward immediately upon learning that Yolmer signed with the Giants and said it surprised me and it still does. I was correct in my Grandal "hunch" and not looking good with my Pence "guess". I didn't realize that only people like yourself with insider information were allowed to post. My predictions are based on a lifelong following of the Sox and my 100% positivity (you must have missed my Ricky bunting rants) and guesswork is just the same as your 100% negativity and guesswork.

I didn't say trade them for prospects. Trade them for whatever you need or want. Just don't pull a Baltimore.

I said trade them with 2 years left on their contracts so you maximize return. To be clear...I want RH to be generous with an extension offer to each of the players mentioned and have them in the fold for the next 13 years or whatever. Trout signed a huge extension (470 + million) and could have gotten more in free agency. I think player and team did the right thing by their fans.

I am a bit surprised but have not totally given up on that opinion. He certainly gave it a good shot this offseason. Might take a little longer than I had hoped. I think JR proved he isn't cheap which is the primary point.

I haven't forgotten you wanting me off the Madrigal bandwagon either.?

Machado.

You touch on many valid points and areas where fans can differ: 1) I am not saying a player can't fulfill his contract...file for free agency...and leave. I am stating that it is unwise to announce from the beginning that you intend to wait for free agency and go to the highest bidder. Doesn't make him sound like a team first kind of guy. 2) Secondly, if Moncada and or Giolito don't want to accept an extension...that's fine. I hope RH trades them with two years left on their contracts so we get the major haul be are entitled to in return. Don't pull a Baltimore and have your star walk out the door with nothing. 3) Your notion that the Sox are being self serving is half true of course. Both parties are looking out for themselves. Teams want to save money and players want financial security in case of injury or are less success than they hope for. 4 ) The same posters who disagree with me about my hope that Madrigal is extended...disagreed with me when I indicated Robert should be approached with an extension. Those people said Robert already had his payday so wouldn't be lured by dollar signs. You were probably one of those posters. In any event...quite a few posters told me how ridiculous my thought of Robert signing an extension was. Not one of them has come forward to say they were wrong.

Eloy and everybody else in this lineup will be setting personal best in rbi and runs scored. Runners always on base when you get up to bat and someone behind you that can get you in. Third base coach might need rotor cuff surgery.? As far as Eloy HR's...I think 45 sounds right.

Yeah...never bothered me. Maybe I'm wrong but we as fans give our hearts to these teams and I expect a certain return on that emotional investment. I expect loyalty from the players as well. That's why I don't care especially for Bryant type players that announce right up front it's about the money.

When I first heard Bryant say he wouldn't consider an extension I had a neg. vibe against him.

I am swayed heavily by the belief that when a kids favorite player is lost to free agency...a part of that kids fandom is lost forever. My brother and I were both huge Blackhawk fans when we lost Bobby Hull do to Wirtz being an idiot. Neither one of us has ever bought a Blackhawk ticket since. The Cubs absolutely sucked but they had Ernie Banks. Now this Bryant situation will undoubtedly lead to many distraught kids who don't care about any of the money issues. I love that the WS have shown a willingness to try to lock up good players with extensions. Extensions will be good for the future of the ballclub. The occasional John Danks suckage is the price you pay.

I am trying to say the motivations are the same for many players not just super stars. Only the zero's change. RH has shown himself to be among the best at working out exceptional deals which have ultimately led to our current star studded situation.

Adam Eaton was a similar player to Madrigal when he signed the extension in 2015 for 23.5 million for 5 years with 2 option. By similar...I mean not a HR hitting star. When Eaton flourished the next year he was traded to Washington for a boat load thanks largely for the number of years under control at a relatively cheap price. I don't believe only Eloy & Robert types warrant extensions. Eaton's extension of less than 5 million per year seems small compared to many...but players of Madrigal's level might very well want to lock in lifetime security. Even Sale alluded to signing his extension for less than potential market in order to lock in lifetime security.

Last Fall when I brought up extensions for Robert & Madrigal many posters said maybe Madrigal would accept but no way would Robert because he already had the big payday. Now Robert has signed the extension and I'm being told Madrigal is unlikely to sign. If Madrigal is a huge success the Sox can save some money by extending him now...Madrigal signing early insures financial security in case of injury or less than hoped for success.

Obviously the word extension doesn't mean everyone gets the same sized paycheck. Hahn seems quite capable of finding the number that gets results.

Rick Hahn will want the team firing on all cylinders from opening day. I believe RH will work his extension magic sometime during ST.

What's wrong with being a whiny curmudgeon? That description fits half the people on this board.

Just for the record...I said that I expected to resign Yolmer in the 3 to 4 million range and that his skills would translate well for our needs.

I didn't say Renteria is highly thought of by anyone. My point is that a 34 year pro baseball career probably qualifies him for knowing as much about baseball as most of us. Managers get fired all the time after being manager of the year a year or two earlier. Good managers are made by good players and no manager wins with bad players. I hated RR passion for the bunt and said so throughout the season. Just trying to be fair...no one would have won with last years crew. If we win 105 games in 2020 if probably doesn't mean he's the best strategist of all time either. By the way...Dusty Baker keeps getting hired in spite of my opinion that he couldn't find his ass using both hands.

Cruel and unusual.

A manager is responsible for the X's & O's of the lineup construction and in game management. His other responsibility is clubhouse and attitude management. The jury is still out on Renteria's in game management but he seems to have the players respect and they seem to play hard. RR has been in professional baseball for 34 years. We as fans toss around how dumb managers are but you just can't spend 34 years in pro ball without knowing when to bunt, send a runner or pitch hit, etc. I am prepared to see a much better job of managing now that he has the players to contend.

Good point.

I imagine we were one of those major league offers. You can call me surprised.