Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
America wrote:
They probably won't be available until Sale is gone. IF they can't move Sale there's no point dumping Q and Eaton.
There are a lot of hack GM"s (that Coppy in Atlanta) that think they are so clever and will try and insert Q's name into talks to get what he wants for cheap. Like he did to dumbass Dave Stewart. Saying Q and Eaton are off limits neutralizes these tactics.
I understand why so many Sox fans want to "blow it up". They're rightfully frustrated with the shitty teams of the last few years and even if they don't outright admit it, they have absorbed the narrative of the Cubs doing it "the right way" even though there are many teams that tried that and are struggling as much as the Sox.
First, if you trade Sale the chances of ever getting a guy back as good as he is are slim and none. I can't deal Sale to a team that has "untouchable" prospects. With the contract he has, there has probably never been a more valuable guy on the market than Sale. I can't talk to you if you're going to tell me your top two minor leaguers are off limits. If that's the case then Sale has to be off limits too.
This Sox team can compete. And I even think you can trade Quintana for a bunch of prospects and still compete. But you have to spend some money. You can't try to bargain shop and hope you get lucky with Lawries. You can pay Fowler on a 4 or 5 year deal. Now you have one of the better outfields in the AL. You sign Castro to catch. Whatever he gives you at the plate, he gives you, but you covered a key defensive position. Then you pay what you have to to get Beltran on a one year deal. He can still probably play 30-40 games in the outfield so he gives you a little depth and he's your regular DH. Second base is still a problem and I don't know what you could get there. I don't want to live in fantasyland. I've already spent more money than the Sox probably would even consider, so I'd try to get away with Saladino at second. He may be okay. Once I get that done I address the farm system by moving Quintana. You've still got Sale-Rodon-Gonzalez which isn't a bad start to a rotation.
Of course, the Sox want to trade every guy except the one they actually should, Losing Pitcher Jose Quintana.
The Sox aren't close.
Even if they sign all those guys you listed they still have James Shields starting every 5th game and a terrible bullpen. The cupboard in Charlotte is almost completely barren, so there's no hope for useful reinforcements for inevitable bullpen failures and injuries from within the system.
The thing about Sale is it not only adds some punch to the farm, but if done right adds at least two (ideally three) starters for 2017. Forget about getting Mookie Betts, one its unrealistic and two I'm not sure it makes the team better. But if they get a JBJ/Benintendi, Moncada, Swihart + some farmhands deal for Sale that is three starters (OF, 2B and C/OF) for 2017 AND minor league depth. What has held the Sox back a lot in the past is going into the season with absolute dogshit at critical positions. Sale's value is immense, but its only poured into 1/5 of the team's games, if they can spread that value over all 162 games AND across a bunch of positions around the diamond that's a win. The minor league depth is really only gravy.
That trade alone changes the Sox dramatically. From there they can make (or not make) moves with Frazier, Abreu, Eaton and Quintana (Q and Eaton should fetch MLB ready players like those guys in the hypothetical Red Sox deal) that decide whether they want to compete immediately or more towards 2018/19. But only Sale can really reinvent the franchise.
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