steveno89

Think of the QO purely as risk management for the Sox. It craters his potential FA market, and bides time for the Sox to negotiate.

I'm willing to overspend on his 2020 season if it means it's only a one year deal. If he declines we can cut bait and have $18 million essentially freed up to spend next offseason. At this stage of his career we should be going year to year with him.

Donaldson is interesting, in that his position is not one of need, but his bat would be a welcome addition to the middle of our lineup. He's still a solid 3B, so I do not think we are the best fit for him to sign with. Could see the Braves wanting him back.

The QO was smart by the Sox to essentially prevent Abreu from receiving offers from other clubs. He's not the type of player teams would be willing to sign for multiple years and give up draft compensation for. I think he would be wise to accept the QO, because I could see the Sox pulling it and only offering 1/12 later in the offseason. He'll be back, but I like that they do not seem to want to pay retail for an aging player.

I expect the Wheeler market to be fierce, but I'm not sure he will get a fifth year guaranteed given some past injury history. I see a bidding war that gets to four years with a club option for a fifth with buyout. The main thing will be to see how high he can get teams desperate for #2/3 starting pitching to offer annually. Giving Abreu the QO was a smart move by the Sox, as it really will ding his chances of signing elsewhere with compensation attached. He would be wise to accept it, because I truly feel the Sox want to go year by year with him moving forward with Vaughn looking to quickly rise through the minors as an advanced college bat. I can see the club really wanting to spend the money they have been paying him on other areas to improve the club in 2021/2022. Keuchel/Roark/Wood/etc. could be solid #4 starters for this club and we lack reliable depth. I think we certainly add two starting pitchers this season.

Hell no to giving him three guaranteed years. I think the QO tells you all you need to know about the Sox desires.

Agree with you here. Abreu would be wise to accept the qualifying offer, and the Sox are smart to not get involved in multi year nonsense for him. I doubt another club would be willing to sign him with a QO attached now as well.

The FA outfield market is pretty thin, especially for true Right field. Puig/Castellanos/Calhoun? Ozuna does not play RF really.

Calhoun bats left handed, plays solid RF defense, has power and could be signed reasonably. Makes a ton of sense as a one to two year stopgap? On the downside he is prone to long slumps and has never really posted strong a strong OPS. One year deal might be mutually beneficial with a club option for 2021? He is not the sexy option, but would allow us to plug him in RF and spread money around to fill other needs.

Wheeler and Martinez are not out of our price range, my argument was moreso that the Sox do not have the resources to ink Cole, Wheeler and Martinez this offseason and still field a competitive overall roster. We have needs beyond those three guys.

5/200 would be crazy, I cannot see that happening despite how good Rendon is.

1) Unknown if Martinez will opt out. If he does and the Sox want to sign him it would have to be for at least $70 million over the next three seasons. 2) All of us would love Cole, but he's getting at least seven years, likely getting opt outs, and will be at least +$34 million per season. Rumors are he prefers the west coast, and expect the Yankees to be involved as well. 3) Wheeler is likely to get around $20 million per season on a multi year deal. Those three players combined will earn at least $78 million in 2020 and beyond. I see us being active and spending in FA, but not to that level.

Would have to imagine Wheeler is the Sox FA pitcher of choice, along with likely Grandal on the position player side. Then again, they could cheap out and we are way off.

I think given the lack of quality FA starting pitching, Wheeler is a strong candidate to get paid after Cole/Strasburg. He's going to get at least $80 million, and potentially far more if teams are willing to go five years.

A solid number #3 starter is a valuable pitcher, something we definitely could use more of. He's in our price range and still has some upside. A three/four year deal would not break the bank

Correct. It would be considered tampering to discuss contract parameters with the agent of a player currently under contract.

No way a team gives Abreu three guaranteed years at this stage for that kind of money

That would be an incredible offseason. Not getting my hopes up, but damn we would be a much better club in 2020 onward.

Only way he opts out is is he has a guaranteed $70 million on the table. I'm not sure I'd want to go beyond three years with an aging, bat only player.

I do not think JDM will opt out at this point.

If I am the Sox I do not mess around. Grandal would be a rock solid addition and lock down the catching position for the next three years. McCann simply is not the long term answer as a starer, do not let his hot first half fool you.

Have the Sox actually made any statement about where they want to end up payroll wise for 2020? Where they are willing to go payroll wise for 2021 onward? The average MLB payroll is $138 million, and if we aren't willing to be at $140 million in 2021 then this whole rebuild was a sham. We do need to save $20-25 million for next year's free agent market I would imagine.

What assets do the Sox have that we can truly afford to trade? Robert is untouchable, Dunning's value is down due to the injury, Stiever? Vaughn? Madrigal is expected to contribute by June at the latest I would imagine? Not saying we cannot figure out ways to be creative, but we really are not set up to swing a major trade at the moment.

Agreed. That contract is not going anywhere.

We shall see if the recent trend of clubs being particularly stingy about years. Fewer and fewer guys are getting multi year agreements.