I see almost no chance that the Sox trade multiple top prospects during 2022. Maybe Downs could be dealt given that we now are getting a little flush with middle-infield options; and maybe Duran could be had in the right deal; and while I personally don’t think there’s any chance at all that Bello is dealt under any realistic trade scenarios, let’s assume that there’s some potential for that. Fine. But more than one of them in 2022? That strikes me as very unlikely.
I see Bloom as still being very much in prospect acquisition mode right now and can’t see him straying from that. The Sox will be good this year and I’m looking forward to a very entertaining season, but I don’t think Bloom is going all-in for 2022. For that reason, I expect there to be some holes on the team, and frontline starters seems like the main one, with perhaps an additional sure-fire late-inning bullpen arm in that category as well.
My guess is that they add the outfield bat many have been talking about, and perhaps acquire a couple of additional league-average arms. Then we wait and hope on Sale and Paxton, see what we have in Barnes, and reassess heading into the trade deadline. But even then, and even if the Sox are looking like contenders, I think it’s unlikely Bloom deals the top prospects. I’m not saying that because I think all, or even any, of them are going to hit. I just think he’ll wait to trade them during seasons when he’s ready to go all-in for a championship—and when he’s confident that he’s got waves of replacement prospects behind them. Long term sustainability of the system is clearly a top priority to him.