JUSTgottaBELIEVE

What would it take to lock this guy up thru the 2025 season?

Small sample or not, it’s still fun to point out that Moncada already has a 0.5 fWAR lead on Machado less than a week into the season.

Given the team’s relationship with Abreu, I’d be surprised if they don’t extend him sometime within the next 6 months unless he completely falls apart this season. Not saying that’s the right or wrong thing to do just saying I think it gets done.

Don’t think he gets extended before then?

I’d be surprised if Abreu isn’t extended before this season concludes, likely thru the 2021 or 2022 season. And why does Vaughn matter in this discussion? Even if he’s as truly advanced as some say, he’s not up until Spring 2021 at the earliest. Obviously Alonso would be gone by then and if the Sox are fortunate enough to sign JDM and extend Abreu, they could work Vaughn into 1b slowly during the 2021 before assuming the role full time in 2022. If Abreu is extended thru the 2022 season and still productive going into his age 35 season then that’s a good problem to have. It’s been awhile since this team had more hitters than positions to fill....

Why does he make zero sense? Alonso and Palka certainly aren’t the answer.

JDM is a perfect fit for the Sox. And paying him ~$85M over 4 years is certainly not an overpay. I don’t care that he’ll be 32 years old. He’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The guy just mashes and has proven to be a strong leader and mentor to younger players in the clubhouse.

Yep and JDM makes everyone around him in the lineup better. Would be a great mentor for Moncada, Madrigal, and Eloy for the next 4 years.

Hurting the rest of the roster would have been overpaying Manny Machado for the next 10 years.

It’s definitely realistic, and I wouldn’t call a 4 fWAR producer at $21M AAV an overpay. Weren’t you the one that said 1 fWAR = $9M on the open market?

They’ve done it before. http://www.espn.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5875860

You think JDM to the Sox is unrealistic because they won’t be willing to spend ~$25M more on a player than what they’ve spent previously?

The list is getting smaller but the Sale and Bogaerts extensions indicates to me that the Red Sox are likely to let JDM walk after he opts out following this season. They still need to extend Betts as well. Sox better be ultra aggressive in bringing JDM into the fold.

Best players available? How do you figure? I already explained my rationale for why the Sox are in a great position to land a player like JDM. You think the suitors for Harper and Machado were limited last winter? JDM’s market will be even smaller but I still think he gets $85M or so to make it worth opting out. Certainly within the Sox budgetary comfort zone.

Keith Law was right!

About what? Take a look at my 2019-2020 offseason priorities thread. I identified JDM as my top target for the Sox. Castellanos as my #2. Pretty sure both will be available.

I wanted Harper. I never had interest in Machado at $30M a year over 10 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Moncada has a higher fWAR at 3b this year than Machado. The Sox RF situation on the other hand is a mess for the foreseeable future. Never understood why Sox fans saw Machado as a better fit than Harper given that the infield is already league average while the OF is a complete mess. Anyways, the Sox should ensure Alonso’s doesn’t reach the PA threshold for the option to kick in and make signing JDM their top priority next offseason. I imagine the Sox will also extend Abreu. A 2020 lineup of Moncada, Madrigal, JDM, Abreu, and Eloy would be a force.

This simply reaffirms my belief that JDM will be available on the open market in another 7 months, who happens to be my #1 target for the Sox next offseason.

An extremely unpopular opinion on this forum this offseason but I’ll be curious to see how this plays out over the next couple years. I think Manny’s numbers will be way down this season from last season now that he got his $$$. I still believe the Sox dodged a bullet by missing on him.

You’ve been Gio’s biggest supporter even while the rest of the board was piling on. I have no idea what that guy is talking about.

Gio feeling it. Big props to Jack Parkman for standing by Gio through the tough times while the rest of the board already gave up on Gio 9 months ago.

Agreed and they’ll be adding another interesting name or two to this group in ~two months. Likely a top 100 MLB prospect.

He’s 23 and just entering his second full season in MLB. Give him some time.

So it appears Moncada’s September 2018 has rolled into the 2019 season rather nicely. No strikeouts through his first 9 plate appearances is also very encouraging. Kid is super talented, just needed a tweak in his mental approach at the plate.

Machado 0-3 with 2 strikeouts. SD fans hate him yet? It’s one game..