So, clearly, the Red Sox valued Graterol quite highly as a starting pitcher -- and when they saw his medicals and realized his durability would likely cause him to be a reliever, that value tumbled. At this point, most of SoSH felt that Bloom was an idiot and overmatched by Friedman.
Now, the Sox get Downs and Wong with Verdugo -- so, in effect, two top 50 MLB prospects each with 5 years of control and a valuable C prospect -- and Bloom made a great deal and the Sox are well positioned going forward? These threads have been quite the ride the last week.
Trading Mookie who has clearly demonstrated going to Free Agency was priority #1 resulted in:
- Alex Verdugo, 23 year OF, 5 years of control, .800+ OPS potential
- Jeter Downs, SS/2B, Top 50 MLB prospect, power-hitting middle infielder, 5+ years of control
- Connor Wong, C, solid prospect (#27 in Dodgers system), probably best C prospect now in Sox system (and likely top 10 overall in Sox system)
- Getting out of David Price 3 years, $96 million commitment -- taking on $48 million instead over 3 years
- Getting below the luxury tax line -- saves $$$, draft picks, and international slot signing $
- Roughly $20 million in "cap space" to go after another 1-2 impact players for 2020
I think it is a heckuva deal for all sides, regardless of what Mookie's future contract situation becomes.
To me, these are the types of trades that great franchises make to enable long, sustained runs. On a message board with Boston fans who have witnessed BB and the Pats do this for 20 years, it is surprising how the majority of people have reacted in these threads this week.
Let's play ball!
Now, the Sox get Downs and Wong with Verdugo -- so, in effect, two top 50 MLB prospects each with 5 years of control and a valuable C prospect -- and Bloom made a great deal and the Sox are well positioned going forward? These threads have been quite the ride the last week.
Trading Mookie who has clearly demonstrated going to Free Agency was priority #1 resulted in:
- Alex Verdugo, 23 year OF, 5 years of control, .800+ OPS potential
- Jeter Downs, SS/2B, Top 50 MLB prospect, power-hitting middle infielder, 5+ years of control
- Connor Wong, C, solid prospect (#27 in Dodgers system), probably best C prospect now in Sox system (and likely top 10 overall in Sox system)
- Getting out of David Price 3 years, $96 million commitment -- taking on $48 million instead over 3 years
- Getting below the luxury tax line -- saves $$$, draft picks, and international slot signing $
- Roughly $20 million in "cap space" to go after another 1-2 impact players for 2020
I think it is a heckuva deal for all sides, regardless of what Mookie's future contract situation becomes.
To me, these are the types of trades that great franchises make to enable long, sustained runs. On a message board with Boston fans who have witnessed BB and the Pats do this for 20 years, it is surprising how the majority of people have reacted in these threads this week.
Let's play ball!