PREAMBLE
2026 was a very good year, as we all know. The sox drew just under 2 million fans and they have momentum and excitement on their side (but Jerry still owns the team). This plan is two fold, to capitalize on the excitement of a young team that should get better, and to give the sox options for 2027 and beyond.
I'm shopping at the top shelf going to quality over quantity hoping much like in San Diego, the fans will support the team
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
- Miguel Vargas: Tender
- Brenton Doyle: Tender
- Joey Bart: Non-tender
- Huascar Brazobán: Tender
- Jordan Leasure: Non-tender
- Chris Murphy: Tender
If leasure can be brought back on a two year minor league deal where he is not eating up a 60 man spot, then sign him.
I'm brining back Murphy as I think he can get better, but with no options he may not be here long
OTHER IMPENDING FREE AGENTS
- None
FREE AGENTS
No 1. Skubal--3 years 180 million with opts outs after each year and opt in for years 4 and 5. Look how do we get Skubal, by overpaying him. The sox need an ace, and he is the best pitcher available. Will he accept 60 million a year vs a longer deal at say 50, I'm hoping so. With the opt outs, the hope is he shows Hagen and Noah how to be an ace and opts out after year 2. The sox payroll is low as this move is an attention grabber and will increase ticket sales before the lock out.
No. 2. Morejon 4 years 70million (so it averages 17.5 million a year but I pull a jerry and move it around so it is only 12 this year and but then goes up 20, 20 and back down to 18 the last year). He is the best reliever on the market, and he pitches multiple innings....he can be our closer or be used in the Newcome role. This allows us to use Hagen as a starter.
TRADES
No. 1. Bryan Hudson to Yankees for Hunter Deitz....I'm cashing in on Hudson now. Yankees were short on the left side in their pen and he is under control (on the cheap) and if the sox been 75 win good he would have been traded at the deadline. I wanted the sox to take Deitz over Thome and now I'm correcting that wrong. Deitz gives me a tall lefty that worst case is a reliever or best case 3rd starter.....and gives me other chip to trade at the deadline.
No. 2. Kay to SD for Deigo Serna and Robbie Lavey--SD needs starting pitching. Kay is not in the sox trust tree. Kay is making 6 million and is a fine 5th starter. In trade sox get 17 year old lefty coming off TJ and a catcher....more trade chips for deadline
No. 3. Benny to Reds for Edgar Colon. I believe the union and owners will agree to a salary floor for 2027 (both sides are close in what was reporting). If this is true, then Benny has value for many teams looking to hit the floor. Sox may have to throw in 5 million, but to remove him from payroll and roster is a must this offseason. Sox get a low a arm here.
SUMMARY
My plan I have a solid 1-2 punch with Skubal and Burke at the top, as hoping that the young arms are good is not a plan (it is if Kenny/Rick are running things) but I figure Castillo is on the John Danks 2016 plan, after 4 starts he is gone if they are all bad and I don't think we can find a big enough sucker to take him. Davis Martin is also out of the trust tree, but I see him coming back as well. That leaves the 5th spot for a battle of Hagen, Noah, Sandlin and Talyor. For me,Ttaylor is in the pen and Hagen gets slowed played due to innings limits but he replaces Castillo once he is cut after his 4th start. Let Noah and Sandlin battle it out for the 5th spot.
Offensively, with it being young and cheap not making any moves as Bonemer will be up at some point. I think they will strike out a little less but I'm hoping the prospects improve and sox get off to a hot start and we trade for whatever bats we need at deadline (as they don't cost as much prospect capital as pitching).
With the two pitching upgrades, if healthy the sox should be able to overtake Cleveland and win the division and 2.5 million fans is doable.
Everyone remember, as this has not been reported that much, but the current TV for MLB says the owners will keep all money for 2027 even if any games are missed; however if more than 60 are missed the the tv deal gets extended 1 year until 2029 and no new revenue will be coming in for that year. MLB wants to redo everything in 2028, there is no way they will miss 60 games in 2027.
