GreenSox

Better Getz than Haber (if the Sox must stay inside).

Annoying that the Cards get Arenado for this price, the Mets get Lindor and 3 years of Carrasco for, from what I can tell, not much more than what the Sox gave up for 1 year of Lance Lynn.

Given that they weren't going to spend a pile, I think they did pretty well. The top 3 starters are really good, the bullpen is great and pretty deep- should se up well for post season (if they can get there). Rodon signing surprised me; not that I'm against it, just surprised, as I had inferred from what I read and heard that they weren't 100% on his work ethic.

That would help a lot; and they could have a great pen as currently constructed, although I'm a little concerned with the back end (meaning the 5th and 6th inning guys) should the Sox 4th and 5th starters really struggle. Hopefully another young guy or 2 pops up in the Spring. Not a huge issue, but I'd like to see Eaton recover some of his RF defensive prowess.

The team should be good; I'd be surprised if they're great, but we'll see. A lot of assets to rebuild with + A reluctant owner + a mediocre GM = a good team.

That's because we had Sale, Eaton and Quintana to trade, the latter 2 of whom we (fortunately) traded at the peak of their value. I think it's amazing how thin the Sox are considering all of the trade capital; heck they had to trade a pitcher in the rotation to get a 1 year upgrade and they apparently can't come up with the 2nd tier prospects to get one of these mid-rotation starters.

This nudges toward the Sale price range. He shouldn't be anywhere near that price.

Heresy!

Yes. The SOS of both Centrals was weak (obviously since they only played themselves and each other and were scorched in the playoffs). Trading Madrigal to get Grey - that's just clowning. As for Grey using his secondaries and all of that, fine. Got out and find a guy who is using the secondaries inefficiently and fix him; that way you don't pay a premium price on a pitcher who relies on secondaries.

The NL central is so winnable, why would the Brewers or Reds want to trade their good pitchers? And if they do, I suspect the price will be premium. And in the Hahn era, these trades for vets have bitten the Sox in the rear more of than not, and on both sides of the trade. Get this bullpen squared away, sign another starter and save the young pitching - they'll need it, just like they did last year. As for the Rangers asking for Vaughn and talking them down off of that - well, that's how you overpay: thinking you've accomplished something by reducing some patently ridiculous demand. Heck, in those leaked emails, the astros were asking for a top prospect for Lucas Harrel.

I really hope that the Sox don't emulate the Padres in trading for starting pitchers. But if they go down this road, it appears that the window will shrink from the 5-10 year frame to a window that fits LaRussa. Gray's a good pitcher, but an ace he is not. Trading away young pitching creates more trading away of young pitching, as you have traded away in house options to fill holes. It's a bad cycle. Resist!

Maybe in preschool as a student; no way would he be allowed to teach it.

His salary is 34% of what they paid Jay. Bargain.

Yea. A.J. Burnett was like that too. I've seen him pitch a fair amount and always liked him, but when you step back and look, the results just aren't there. He's an average pitcher, and you just can't trade much more than average prospects for average players if you want to stay ahead.

I thought Davies was basically a throw-in in lieu of the Cubs taking back some salary and to give the Cubs someone competent in the rotation. Certainly not a Cubs target. Davies could probably be had for cheap, although likely more than I'd like the Sox to pay. And I think the Sox need someone better.

That could be true, with an emphasis on "relatively speaking" ... i.e. relative to his production level.

I tell myself that that's implicit in this trade: that the Sox think that they can hold onto Lynn for 3 years so they are giving up 6/3 not 6/1. But I've heard that story before. It worked out with Freddie Garcia (although I think they pretty much knew they could sign him when they made the trade) : he pitched well and was extended. Hopefully it happens again. Although I thought the Sox gave up too much for a rent, I prefer Lynn to Darvish.

It's not a matter of the Sox FO being unwilling to make trades to help the team now; heck they did it a few weeks ago for a 1 year player. The problem is their inability to develop a rich and deep farm system that allows the team to make these trades. To get 1 year of Lynn, they had to trade a pitcher out of their rotation.

Madrigal or any top young player for Musgrove is a joke. Not to mention you close one hole and open another. The Lynn package would have been reasonable.

How about a bench bat; something we had last year, but don't have this year? One advantage to a RF platoon is that you get a bench bat in the process. Now we have 2 utility infielders.

Look elsewhere, please.

Trading a young pitcher off of the rotation for a 1 year rent looks exactly like a Hahn move. This is the same stuff that did in his last attempt at a build-up (that was a disaster). Hahn hasn't learned a thing, apparently. Signing a declining veteran isn't new to his menu either.

I figured if they could knowingly spend $8 million on Yonder Alonso, they might be able to at least hit 8 figures in a year in which they are trying to win.

You're right about that too; that's one area where they develop well.

Until I see otherwise, I am expecting a mid-range arm, with Bummer as closer and Crochet rushed into the pen.