@RJM posted:The Sux hitting will be better. The pitching will be worse. The upside is 74 wins. The downside is 68 wins if the pitching completely unravels. The win number will determine fourth or fifth place.
if Martinez is having a good year chances are he will be traded for prospects. I’ll push in all my chips on Ottavino being traded for prospects at some point before the trading deadline. With the money shortstops are getting Bogaerts will be traded by the trading deadline in 2022. He can opt out after 2022.
Spot on RJM. I have no problem pulling the trigger on trading prospects for Martinez and Ottavino when the time and terms are right. But, I'm having an issue with Bogaerts 2022 opt-out. The issue has nothing to do with the player or the club but the jacked-up shortstop marketplace with many talented free agents (Story, Seager and Correa) coming to market at the end of 2021. Bogaerts (6yr/$120M) has seen Tatis (14 yr/$340M) and Lindor (10yr/$341M) get their monster contracts. I'd like to see the Red Sox front office get creative (yes, I know a big ask) to grow and extend Bogie's contract. He's the leader, core and best player on the team. He is underpaid given the new SS market. Got to keep him!
Tatis is young. I believe SD is taking a big risk there and they overpaid, but it is worth taking. SD is back in the MLB conversation...they got talent. Tip of the cap to the Mets for getting a proven talent in Lindor in his prime years. The way I look at it there are 4 elite shortstops...Tatis, Lindor, Bogaerts and Story. Bogaerts is also entering his prime years. If you have one of these guys you've got to keep him. Certainly, there are new market pressures here.