GreenSox

Excluding Cease, they are fairly comparable, although I'd still take the Sox.

I like Benetti, think he's a good Sox announcer, and I hope he stays. But he is an elite football announcer.

I'm editing this down to say that, yes from the Mets' standpoint, it's one-sided for the Sox. But from the Sox standpoint, it isn't. By giving up Eloy for prospects, they are giving up any reasonable chance to compete in 2023. They need to be compensated for that lost chance to compete.

He would have to be, if Alvarez is involved. And if the Sox are trading Eloy to the Mets, Alvarez would have to come this way.

Ruiz is terrible. Anyway, my point really isn't that McClure or Santos are good or bad or whatever. My point is that it's the same bloody philosophy that they've been using for 20 years.

Jimmy Lambert was better than Ruiz. McClure probably would have been as well.

McClure's numbers out of the pen are a heck of a lot better than than Santos'. Just reading Santos' scouting report, fastball really hard but really flat. Been grabbing guys like this for years. Same song, different verse. Billy Koch throws harder than Keith Foulke. Maybe, finally, this guy will work out.

Fantastic, but I doubt that the Sox could get Jansen straight up for Hendriks.

Putting major resources into the pen was an intentional decision of the FO and has been its practice from day 1. It's not only FA$, but also trade capital and draft choices focused square on the pen. They can't wake up one morning and say "our pen is too expensive" (at least they can't with a straight face). As one who is not convinced of the great depth of this pen, I say keep Joe Kelly at this point; these relievers are up and down, and if he's up this season, we'll need him; if not, DFA him in June. Escobar's defense is no longer sound, at least per Fangraphs; but if they want him, his price should be about what McCann's was (whose defense is sound).

I hope you're right about that.

I'd call that a downgrade. The only value in any of that would be the prospects. McCann and Escobar aren't worth their contracts.

It's a risk. Escobar's numbers were sub-Harrison until September last year. Probably can find some Andrus type in June if need be. Segura is better; but that's another FA contract. Segura + Benintendi = $23-$25 million range. And I'd ask, just like last year, why not get one good player for that money instead of 2 average players.

Yeah, the Mets' colonoscopies and footlongs are now claiming Eloy. And Mauricio and Vientos (Mets' versions of Sosa and Romy) the plum prospects along with McCann and Escobar, of course.

Quite the coup for the Tigers How about the Mets get Hendriks and the Sox get Batty. Adding declining veterans (Escobar), especially those who are already terrible (McCann), just makes things worse.

If they are going to get Escobar and the certainty of his .295 OBP (September inflated; who is also aging with faltering defense) to avoid playing young players, then they should just trade most of them rather than let them rot on the vine.

True enough, but they don't load up on Josh Harrisons or Seguras either. And in the last decade, the Sox did have 2 MI prospects that they apparently didn't have a clue about, but who are currently under 7 figure contracts.

I'm good with the Astros approach and using our young guys at 2B. Segura/Escobar - naah. Just aren't difference makers.

Lowe is injured and a bad defender. Tampa would hold a parade if they could get Baty for Lowe. I just wouldn't trade Liam for anyone but young talent or a "premium" veteran player (not average; not an up and down player).

Unless Grandal is done, why in the world would the Sox want McCann?

Sox were 19th in MLB bullpen ERA and WHIP (12th in the AL). Maybe the WARs are better; and they seem to project improvement from Bummer and Graveman (which certainly could happen). But I don't see how they suddenly vault over 9 teams.

The other issue with trading Hendriks is that our bullpen is thin to begin with. Oh there are bodies, but Hendriks and Lopez were really the only good relievers last year. Lambert, Foster and Banks were okay and certainly gave yeoman effort, but those are back of the pen guys. VV was probably in that number too. Graveman escapes criticism, but he was bad last season. Diekman and Kelly were indescribable. It's risky to trade him. I'd only take that risk for controllable young talent.

I would think that the Mets would do a dance if we offered Liam for those guys. Re McCann, the Sox walked away from the table 2 years ago; it was a great move. Rack the chips and don't go back.

Mauricio would need to be a stud, because McCann is just another bad contract to take on.

Seattle: possibly, if they think Flexen is a legit #4 or so. Kelenic is just a shot in the dark, but fine for a throw-in. NY: ridiculous to have to throw in Crochet for this. This isn't "top prospect in baseball" Torres - he's an up and down player whose D grades out poorly. Tex: Negative. We have several guys who assuredly can match Smith's c. 550 OPS. Dunning doesn't seem to have made much progress.

I admire your indulgence for 2013, when the team went from 86 wins to 63 wins in the first year of Hahn's leadership.