I've been trying to think of a way to put this question in the proper light, because while I don't think Bloom feels this way, I sorta think that the Sox are at a point where the Sox are stuck in position where they're too good to blow the team up and aren't good enough to win a World Series*.
* Yes, I understand that just two seasons ago they were two wins away from the World Series. But I think that Sox team, while fun (and a little frustrating), caught lightning in a bottle and got hot in October at the right time. Does that diminish what that team did? No. Those three weeks in October were fun as hell, but I don't think that you can point to that team and say, "they did it once, they can do it again" with a similar roster.
The fact is Boston has a ton of holes (outfield, healthy starting pitching, bullpen and maybe shortstop) that's going to make assembling a championship caliber Major League team difficult.
True, the Red Sox have a lot of money coming off the books this offseason and can spend in the free agency market. However, this is a pretty top-heavy and a shallow free agent pool and while Aaron Judge would solve some of their problems (very good outfielder and middle of the line up bopper), it might not be prudent to spend all of the money Boston has on him. Trades are another way to improve the team, but do we have the prospects or the depth to trade for good, young ML players that will make a difference? Would Bloom even want to do that (I still can't get a proper read on him and his deal making techniques)?
So the question that I have is, would you rather just completely bottom out and trade anything that has any value (Devers, Story, etc), not sign any major free agents (ie save the money) and just keep building towards 2024 or 2025. Or is the better idea to bring back Bogaerts (or a comparable SS), pay for some arms, start spending that minor league capital now and completely overhaul the team? I really don't know, TBH. I think that if Bloom had his druthers, he'd get trade everybody and continue down that complete roster rebuild road. Keep acquiring high-ceiling minor leaguers, keep getting high draft picks and save that money for when this team turns the proverbial corner and needs one or two free agents instead of a boatload.
But realistically, that's not going to work in Boston where the ticket prices are the highest in the league, concessions are the highest in the league and for better or worse the expectation is that you must contend year after year after year.
I don't think that the hybrid model works and I think that he's going to have to choose a path sooner rather than later.
* Yes, I understand that just two seasons ago they were two wins away from the World Series. But I think that Sox team, while fun (and a little frustrating), caught lightning in a bottle and got hot in October at the right time. Does that diminish what that team did? No. Those three weeks in October were fun as hell, but I don't think that you can point to that team and say, "they did it once, they can do it again" with a similar roster.
The fact is Boston has a ton of holes (outfield, healthy starting pitching, bullpen and maybe shortstop) that's going to make assembling a championship caliber Major League team difficult.
True, the Red Sox have a lot of money coming off the books this offseason and can spend in the free agency market. However, this is a pretty top-heavy and a shallow free agent pool and while Aaron Judge would solve some of their problems (very good outfielder and middle of the line up bopper), it might not be prudent to spend all of the money Boston has on him. Trades are another way to improve the team, but do we have the prospects or the depth to trade for good, young ML players that will make a difference? Would Bloom even want to do that (I still can't get a proper read on him and his deal making techniques)?
So the question that I have is, would you rather just completely bottom out and trade anything that has any value (Devers, Story, etc), not sign any major free agents (ie save the money) and just keep building towards 2024 or 2025. Or is the better idea to bring back Bogaerts (or a comparable SS), pay for some arms, start spending that minor league capital now and completely overhaul the team? I really don't know, TBH. I think that if Bloom had his druthers, he'd get trade everybody and continue down that complete roster rebuild road. Keep acquiring high-ceiling minor leaguers, keep getting high draft picks and save that money for when this team turns the proverbial corner and needs one or two free agents instead of a boatload.
But realistically, that's not going to work in Boston where the ticket prices are the highest in the league, concessions are the highest in the league and for better or worse the expectation is that you must contend year after year after year.
I don't think that the hybrid model works and I think that he's going to have to choose a path sooner rather than later.