The Red Sox head into the trade deadline looking to deepen their starting staff, and WEEI’s Rob Bradford reports that there’s a “strong likelihood” Boston will be in the mix for left-hander James Paxton, whom the Dodgers just designated for assignment yesterday. The Sox are quite familiar with Paxton, who spent the 2022-23 seasons in the organization.
Injuries prevented Paxton from taking the mound for the Sox in 2022 and led him to exercise a player option for the 2023 season. He bounced back with 19 starts and 96 innings — both his highest marks since 2019 in New York. Paxton’s 4.50 ERA wasn’t much to look at, though metrics like SIERA (4.11) and FIP (3.77) painted a friendlier picture. He fanned a sharp 24.6% of his opponents last season against a tidy 8% walk rate.
Things haven’t gone as well in a similar workload with the Dodgers. Although Paxton’s 18 starts, 89 1/3 innings and 4.43 ERA all generally mirror last year’s numbers with the Red Sox, the rest of his numbers are markedly worse. Paxton averaged 95.2 mph on his fastball last season, per Statcast, but is down to 93.2 mph on average in 2024. His strikeout rate has plummeted to 16.4%, while his walk rate has ballooned to 12.3%. Paxton is getting fewer whiffs, fewer grounders and yielding far more hard contact in 2024 than he did in 2023. The primary difference has been the lefty’s dip in home run rate (9.5% HR/FB, 1.11 HR/9) and a career-low .267 average on balls in play.
Even if Paxton’s K-BB and batted-ball profiles are diminished relative to his 2023 levels, he’s still been a perhaps surprisingly durable arm this year. He’s made all 18 starts asked of him and has yet to land on the injured list. He’d also be highly affordable from a financial standpoint. He’s playing the season on a one-year deal that came with a $4MM base salary, $2MM bonus for making the Opening Day roster and $3MM singing bonus. Paxton’s deal also allowed him to earn $4MM off incentives based on games started. The lump sum of that signing bonus, Opening Day bonus and all of his incentives have already been paid out. The Red Sox (or another new club) would only owe him the prorated remainder of that $4MM salary — about $1.48MM as of this writing.
The Red Sox currently have Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello in the rotation. Righties Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski have both made starts out of the fifth spot in the rotation. The Sox have lost Lucas Giolito, Garrett Whitlock and depth starter Chris Murphy to season-ending surgeries. Bryan Mata is on the injured list and just had a setback. Paxton would at least give the Sox a stabilizing force at the back of the rotation. (The Red Sox have also reportedly looked into the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon as an option.)
Mr. Glass!!
They call me Mr. Glass!
They call me Dr. Worm.
hayzee – They call me Bond …. James Bond.
Not this year!
Haven’t had enough yet? Hoyer is like that with Smyly. and Straily. Maybe Breslow picked it up from him.
I’m not a fan of any of the involved teams
I do find it amusing how up in arms fans get about a team being interested in a player. None of us have any idea of what they would offer for him, nor do we have any idea of what it would cost for a better pitcher
For the right price (quite cheap), I think it could be a good acquisition!
We have every idea what they would offer him and it’s the prorated veterans minimum with the dodgers paying the rest. This your first mid season?
Gotta love the unprovoked condescension, especially when the person is incorrect.
The price I am referring to is what he will cost to be traded for. He was designated for assignment, not placed on waivers (AFAIK). DFA often leads to waivers but does not need to. Based on the interest in Paxton, I would not be at all surprised if a trade is worked out before it reaches that point, hence my comment. Also, if he were claimed on waivers then the team would be responsible for his remaining contract. It would only be the veterans minimum as you said if he isn’t traded, he IS placed on waivers and IS NOT claimed and is then subsequently released and signed by the Sox.
I understand all of this can be confusing (genuinely).
To answer your question, I’ve been commenting on this site since 2006 (I think thats the year?), back when it was a black background on white text! I remember being upset when Tim changed it, which seems silly now!
Let me know if you have any other questions
For the right price (quite cheap), I think it could be a good acquisition!
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I agree. He likely isn’t worth much, but won’t cost much. At the pro-rated league minimum, the cost will be about $250,000 plus someone unlikely to make F5 next year.
Even two league-average starts out of him, to rest the rotation a bit, would be worth the $250k. Sometimes you can get that by a pitching coach tweaking his approach.
Joe: Agreed. Any team that needs pitching and can spare a 40 man roster spot should take a chance on Paxton at prorated league minimum.
Dodgers are gauging the interest in Paxton. A trade likely won’t cost much but the Dodgers are unlikely to eat the contract and just release him. With their penalty status, they probably will pay half or so and put the savings into another player.
All – Another money example. He’s either a good fit based on skills or he is not. I’d suggest Boston kick the tires on him but he’s so injury prone he’d spend the next two months on the IL.
Boston needs talent not the soft filling of an oreo cookie and price is irrelevant. Ownership’s pockets are deeper after 2024 simply because their “floor level” of profits is so high they could drop $60MM on players and still turn a nice profit.
Think about that for a minute and you’ll understand why so many fans are angry at prices and money spent on the team.
Dewey – So true but the Dodgers will negotiate to pay it to Paxton when he turns 65.
If you send a splintered fungo and a bag of gently used batting practice balls for Paxton you overpaid. I’m sorry I assumed it was financial only because I can’t dream a scenario where you trade anything for Paxton at this point. Apparently some can. Have at it I’ve had my turn with the guy. He sure keeps a seat on the IL warm
Agreed. I don’t want the Sox giving up much at the deadline. I’m fine with this add. Low risk. This team has young arms who haven’t pitched a full season. Expect that to show by year’s end. Fun team to watch most of the time. Bad news bears some of the time. They’re building something. Let’s not try to do too much this year.
It’s why I didn’t understand why they fired Chaim Bloom. I’m a Cub fan so I have no skin in the game. But Bloom probably did what management wanted him to do which was bring down costs and develop a farm system. And as a big thank you they fired him. But then they brought in Breslow, Who is a fine choice BTW, Who is basically known for helping the Cubs build up their farm system. They fired one guy and brought in a clone IMO. I still say there has to be way more to that story that hasn’t been written yet.
Waste of money. Guy is well past his prime
and yet the dodgers likely offered him no better of a contract than other contenders for him in the offseason. the benefit of having such a great reputation is guys will sign with you, even when you offer what other teams are offering, or perhaps even a little less. that is why there is interest in paxton, and the dodgers’ big deadline plans + knowing he would have interest even at that price point because he has been respectable, are how paxton ended up on waivers
My guess is that LAD saw his #3/4 level stats with Boston, and decided that they needed an injury-risk arm until their other guys returned. And to be honest, even with his stats, they needed him badly.
Agreed Joe and if there are setbacks, they don’t trade him.
Hang on ! Big week of dumpster diving coming up !! Get out your biggest ladder as it’s a long way down to the bottom of the dumpster!
This sounds like a move the Red Sox would make as many fans have pointed out.
acoss – Yup, as soon as it was announced the Dodgers were cutting him loose I immediately wrote the Red Sox would be all over him.
Only if the Sox are not sellers, which has yet to be determined.
Even if they are sellers, they’ll need SOMEBODY to start the remaining games. Can’t trade Pivetta without replacing him somehow.
tff – If they become sellers, they will give rotation tryouts to the kids and also probably guys like Winck and Criswell. When teams officially give up, it’s all about evaluating players for the future. One thing they have plenty of is bodies.
tff – How about Criswell last night!!!
Funny how pitchers can give 7 quality innings and throw over 100 pitches, when Cora allows them to. And the only reason he allowed Criswell is because the bullpen was such a shambles.
This is why I never buy into the “he’s never done it before, therefore he shouldn’t try” way of thinking.
Just because he had never thrown more than 104 pitches or pitched more than 6 innings doesn’t mean he can’t or shouldn’t.
No.
This is a dumb move. I had really liked most of Breslow’s moves so far, this would be a gigantic step in the opposite direction.
They need pitching help, but Paxton ain’t it. Unless he goes into a bullpen role.
That might be what they need. There SP arms now are reaching max innings pitched. Paxton can be someone to start every now & then to push off a day.
Paxton’s issue is he can’t stay healthy.
The team has some options in AAA that they should explore instead (Jason Axander, Fitts, Gambell).
The poor planning in the off-season is coming back to bite them.
Joe – There is nobody in the minors that is really tearing it up. If the Sox do decide to pretend to be buyers, they have been expected to acquire at least one pitcher and a RH infielder …. both purely for aesthetics, to make it appear they are GFIN.
If they lose the Colorado and Yankee series, they will likely be sellers IMO.
Fever – makes sense to me, they won’t want to part with the prospects to get an impact player at the deadline so do the bare minimum. I think this would lead to Cora going elsewhere next year, and I’m a Cora fan.
Bare minimum to me would be calling up Yorke and finding two pitchers (SP, RP).
Joe – According to Will Flemming, every reputable media guy in Texas last week says Cora is definitely gone.
twitter.com/user/status/1815450737993810380
That’s unfortunate. I was hoping a new CBO and an over performing, young team would have convinced him to stick around. Maybe behind the scenes it’s the same old same from FSG and Cora is sick of it.
I think we will have a good idea on Cora’s future based on the Sox deadline activity.
He’s also going to get paid a ton, like Counsell, and that would require FSG to actually spend money on the team..
Doubt that is enough at this point… They really torched their playoff chances with those four straight losses.
Breslow needs to worry about the team direction. If Cora is on board with that, then great! If Cora isn’t on board with that, then wish him well and part ways. I like Cora okay, but he is replaceable.
tff – You know my thoughts, anything is possible as long as they remain within 5 games of a WC. They have too much talent to be ruled out before Labor Day.
Cleveland replaced Tito, his replacement seems to be doing okay. I agree Cora is definitely replaceable.
Anything is possible, but four games is a lot to give up… poor play, a thin roster, and mismanagement
Cora is ….fine. I really don’t think they would miss him much. He has his strong points and some obvious faults too. Personally I think the defensive miscues year over year, from a revolving cast of players, could be improved on. It is not like Alex Cora is some indispensable commodity. I’d probably be happy to have him back but wouldn’t give him a second thought if he moves on
Cora is a cheater. Let him move on.
Fever, how is Tito doing in retirement? How about Theo getting involved and bringing Tito back? I know this is more of a movie script than reality but it would be a fitting ending even if just to further groom Tek.
Fever – Great clip. Let’s prove how right I have been about Cora. Put him in Colorado where his stupid mistakes will cost them EVERY game. Let’s put him in Chicago with the other Sox or Miami. Then, it will be so clear that he has no clue of what to do as a manager they’ll be calling for his deportation.. Better yet lets get him a job as the announcer of Dominican Summer League games so he’s never in the country!!! He should have been exiled when he cheated in Houston or Boston so maybe we’ll finally witness the old saying what goes around comes around with regard to Cora. I can’t think of anything better for baseball.
dewey – This may shock you, but Tito is actually getting healthy and has expressed the possibility of managing again in 2026.
However in life, timing is everything …. I can’t picture them hiring an interim manager for next season just to keep the manager seat warm for him.
And there’s still friction between Tito and Henry/Werner, so I don’t see Tito returning to Boston in any situation.
TF – If the Red Sox do become sellers and the team fades, the real Cora will likely come out …. it will probably be a repeat of last August/September.
TF – This would be more fitting …..
magnoliabox.com/products/sad-man-in-business-suit-…
I liked when he traded Chris Sale for a minor league bench player and ate the salary to boot
Moley – It would be quite ironic if Sale wins the Cy and has another couple great years, while Grissom turns into a bust.
Both could happen ….
He’s bilingual. Yay!!! Can we sing Sweet Caroline now??
Sooo many teams need a lefty starter.
Contract aside who would you prefer Paxton or Trevor Rogers?
Teams would prefer Rogers of course but the big difference here is that Paxton will be ‘free’ (no prospects needed to acquire him, just the remainder of his $4m salary) while Rogers would cost at least 1 Top 10 prospect to acquire along with a wildcard or two.
I don’t think Paxton is going to be free I think someone will offer up a prospect or 2 for him.
Rogers hard to say what he’s worth. More than Paxton I assume.
Not one person has ever said the Mariners need a left handed starter. They have five righties that are doing just fine. It’s about talent, not handedness just for handedness sake.
Playoff teams prefer to have at least 1 lefty starter. Mariners don’t have a lot of playoff experience but I imagine they still know this.
But if your lefty was the #5 SP, would he even make the roster?
If Paxton goes to a new team and pitches well he would be in the top 4. And if he doesn’t so what? He didn’t cost much of anything to acquire.
One word to describe last two losses… Kick in the baseballs with pointed cleats on!!! Can’t describe in one word sorry…
Olm – Sunday’s loss wasn’t that difficult to digest, but last night and Saturday night and Friday night were all brutal. Very poor managing, lack of fundamentals, lack of clutch hitting, awful pitching, you name it.
As Howard Cosell would say, “We need Brasier! We need Brasier! We need Brazier!”
Didn’t Brasier get sent to the minors?
Down goes Brasier!
My Friend ’ ( trying to move on so uncle DBH won’t be disappointed) is on the DL.. If they let Paxton go…( due to come off shortly). Maybe… just maybe… Cue the band…REUNITED……
olm – Little known fact, FPG’s very first album purchase was Peaches & Herb …. but it was NOT their “Reunited” ….. it was their iconic “Shake Your Groove Thing”!!!!
FPG.. 1- thanks for Baffert info on derby, he and derby guys had a brief interaction BEFORE Silver Charm won derby 97?? ( nick zito another friend of the gang we yelled his name and he waved back in paddock lol..) 2- not the way any Redsox fan envisioned it out of the break.. I mean when you get a three run bomb from Westbrook,YOU have to win that game.. I hope they still add but not by giving up the farm… I feel Nate/ JT from Cubs) can be had for this .. 3- afraid Houck is running out of gas..( Matt Clement 05) BOOM… Crawford just gave up another… 4- Relievers …same( even though KJ was first HR given up) so LA gave up on Paxton.. When a certain player comes off DL for them ?? ( won’t mention his name as uncle DBH 1969 is patrolling this board LOL) Whatever they do the expectations for 25 is going way up. Especially if they bring up any of big three and they perform down stretch… Feel they can get some decent pieces for Jansen/ Tyler to name a few.. Not giving up ship yet but row boat taking on water and red solo cup to bail…
olm – Those are two of the three wise men …. Baffert, Zito and Lukas, the greatest trainers in history.
Did you see the couple who filled their house with like 10,000 red solo cups …. just so their dog can play with them?
Talk about a waste! And here we can’t even get a damn plastic bag to carry our groceries in ….
I called this (among others) when he was DFA’d. He would be a good add but I don’t think it will drastically help our playoff chances.
We need to win the next two against the Rockies or our hopes are greatly diminished. The last three years we’ve tinkered around having a winning record and making the playoffs, then faded down the stretch.
Breslow needs to be smart. We can’t go all in because it will backfire if we get rentals and go nowhere.
Overall, I think we have made a step forward this year but I’m not sure that’s enough for 2024.
Good for you
It wasn’t a big call, so I don’t need your encouragement, sarcasm aside. I was simply pointing it out and don’t need credit for it.
What’s your take on the other things said or are you just going to post three inconsequential words and move on?
I agree with you, CBP…. Sell the expiring contracts and build toward next year.
If we make it, we make it. If not, plan for 2025
Don’t he Chaim and stand pat. Sell like they should have the last 3 years instead of doing nothing.
The red stockings are a true pretender. Fruitless to add.
Not surprised they are interested in Paxton. They have a shortage and a new pitching coach who will turn him into a complete junk ball pitcher which might work if he can maintain his control.
The flip side of the argument is that the unique pitching approach is being counter acted by other teams so the numbers for the staff will climb in the second half and Paxton doesn’t have stuff comparable to the current four full time starters so going to the new approached that has been adjusted to by other teams will make Paxton less effective.
The simply solution is to fire Cora so the mismanagement of the pitchers isn’t such a huge influence on the game in the late innings.
Agreed. He was DFA, league minimum cost or a crap piece to be named later.. Value of the signing will be determined by how he is used. If the idea is to make him a #3, then this will blow quickly. If it’s a long arm out of the pen to eat up innings during a blow out, or during a bp game it makes sense..
Either way, they need to start selling and mark the season as a great start toward next year.
To use the cliche saying, I feel like politics will come into play here.
With the Celtics for sale, I wonder if Henry/FSG feel a little pressure to *try* for the playoffs instead of yet another year of possibility that they don’t support the roster and it all backlsides.
Not just for the optics of not fielding contenders either. After last winter’s ‘full throttle’ and related puff pieces to encourage fans to pony up for the tickets, finishing the year with a wildcard and the promise of more prospects to graduate to mlb, (and, hopefully some quality FA activity) and you’re filling the coffer to make a run at the Cs
GASox – I don’t think Henry ever feels pressure to win.
He feels pressure to produce solid financials, but not to win. He’s got 8 rings, losing doesn’t keep him up at night.
Fever, what would fan reaction be if they did absolutely nothing at the deadline; neither buy nor sell? Would fans riot or see that as at least better than selling?
Fever, deals like Devers got show Henry can feel the pressure.
It’s not enough to make him go all in to win this year or bust. But he *does* have a track record of being forced into taking an action
GASox – My understanding is Henry didn’t really care which of the trio (Mookie, Xander, Devers) was retained, he just wanted the payroll lowered and it was up to Bloom to decide which two would be let go. Once Xander left, it was inevitable Devers would be extended …. especially because of his young age. Believe me, John Henry didn’t make his fortune by allowing anyone to pressure him into anything.
Did you ever watch Moneyball? The theme was pure fiction, but John Henry’s lines at the end were real.
And this one more than anything says all you need to know about John Henry:
“One of the great things about money is that it buys a lot of things. One of which is the luxury to disregard what baseball likes, doesn’t like. What baseball thinks, doesn’t think.”
When he says “baseball” he is referring to everyone, including fans.
Ignorant – No need to wonder, that’s what happened last year when the only player they acquired at the deadline was your current .580 OPS backup 3B.
Fans held their fire and gave the team a chance to show what they can do, although part of the reason was the team selling the fanbase on the pending return of several key players (Story, Whitlock, Houck, Sale). The team used the tired old analogy “think of all those players returning from injury as acquisitions”.. It wasn’t until after they fell out of contention that the anger set in.
So to answer your question, I believe the same thing will happen this year. If the Sox do virtually nothing, fans will take a reasonable wait-and-see approach before passing judgement.
DBH – They need a #4 to replace Whitlock. I don’t foresee Paxton in the pen, physically he can’t handle it and the Sox already have Criswell and Winck and Anderson and Horn who can all go long in the pen.
Man the fan backlash if the Sox sell will be fierce!!
TF – Magnificent post as usual, I totally agree! Plus what the Sox really need is innings, and that’s something Paxton simply cannot give.
Fever – So true. He’s an injury waiting to happen.
I like the idea of a quality left handed pitcher. I’d rather have a Crochet to finish out the season than Paxton. He leaves you with options based on performance. If he doesn’t translate well to the new coaching staff, he’s a trade-able commodity. If he does prove to be as effective as he is for Chicago he slots in nicely next year at a good price while some of the Bloom garbage gets closer to falling off the books.
TF – I still can’t believe how much Bloom gave Paxton over 2 years for just 96 innings … dumb, dumb, DUMB!!
BTW there’s something I’ve mentioned elsewhere but not on this site, last Sunday’s starting pitchers was Paxton vs Crawford ….. and 24 years ago the Red Sox had a pitcher named ….. you guessed it, Paxton Crawford!! For real, no joke!
What are the odds???
Their pitching is falling apart, so go after a pitcher who’s falling apart. The Red Sox need to face reality. They aren’t going to the playoffs. Mark my words.
let – The odds are against them, that’s for certain. Devers needs to get hot again and Houck needs to stop sucking, both of which could happen.
Fever – One thing is consistent about the 2024 Red Sox, they are inconsistent!!! You can bank on it!!! As soon as they give you hope they pull the plug for several games and then when you think they have tanked they go beat up on a great team to give you hope!!
To me, guessing the direction on the Red Sox is like predicting which direction a party goer will walk after someone quickly spins them around a dozen times. It could be anywhere!!!
TF – Very true, no such thing as a sure thing!!! That’s the beauty of baseball.
But there’s far too many factors pointing to yet another missed postseason, as always time will tell.
Yeah, not interesting in this at all.
I didn’t know Paxton could sing.
I saw Tom Paxton in concert back in the 80s. Clever and talented guy.
Is that the brainchild behind the band Boston ?
Ignorant – There’s so many bands that came out of Boston, but the only one I really liked was Aerosmith. They used to own a bar across the street from Fenway called Mama Kin’s.
One of my least favorite Boston bands is Extreme, I often express my feelings about them with more than words. LOL!
Yeah but did the band Boston come from Boston ?? You know I’m a rock and roll lover and listen to all kinds of music but I’m wracking my brains to think of a band on my iPod from Boston. Okay here’s two: The Pixies and The Modern Lovers.
Ignorant- Yes Boston is from Boston.
I’ve heard of Pixies but not Modern Lovers.
Lots of great bands from Boston … The Cars, J. Geils, Godsmack, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Lemonheads, Dropkick Murphys, Letters to Cleo …
If he’s waived, the Red Sox could sign him for league minimum, otherwise he’ll look great in a Twins uniform!!
Paxton for Jansen trade about to happen….
Isn’t this year,Just to not finish in last like we were picked to do?Enjoy the team.Maybe not get so uptight.In three years, you will have a new favorite player.My life has gotten more positive by not living and dying on each disappoinment.Even great teams lose 60 games.Watch the development of the younger guys.
TB – It’s Boston, a city far too passionate about sports and especially baseball.
Didn’t you see that Red Sox movie starring Drew Barrymore?
Fever,
If there was ever a passionate city about sports in general, I’d pick Boston everyday of the week. You guys do not take kindly to losing, which is how a lot of cities should take it.
Meanwhile here in Chicago, super loyal even when the product on the field is mediocre, and that goes for all sports lol
Ditka for manger in 25!! Warden, so true.. that being said no body feels pain like Cubs fans ( before 16) sure the baseball gods would throw them a bone … 84/ 03 but till 16 it was hitting wall with fore head thinking it could be made softer
Do you think Philadelphia is near Boston -levels of fan engagement,:or is Boston still way ahead?, ( I’m West Coast so hard for me to gauge.)
Ahhh philly…. the one city that took the phrase ‘assault and battery’ too literally.
For my part, Boston probably has more overall passion across all sports, regardless of how they’re performing at the time.
acoss – Just curious, which city do you think is second-most obsessed about sports? I’d say Philly.
BTW – I’ve never been in Chicago, probably never will. Closest I came is St Louis (where I met some really nice Cubs fans), Cincy and Louisville …. remarkably all three the same distance away. .
Ignorant – I swear I wrote about Philly before reading your post!
I’d say they are not that far behind Boston, mainly because Boston has a lot more to offer outside of sports and Philly is obsessed due to their lack of championship success.
GASox – Of all the things Philly fans have done over the years, the guy who intentionally vomited on a cop’s young daughter was the worst.
Carllllll Yastrzemskiiiiiii!!!!!!
olm – Can you believe it!!!
Mr TB well said!! As a kid from Chicago growing up a Redsox ( die hard) fan in mid 70’s , pathetic as it seems it did ruin my day/ week/ month and year if they didn’t do well. Cue 86 , I would tell my Cubs buddies we’re not the same!! You guys never get asked to the dance.. we do and girl goes home with another dude!!! So after 86 I was( (Bulletproof) numb to anything.. then came 04/07/13/18 I can enjoy the riches and continue to brag most championships this century.. life is good… Now for my Dallas Cowboys that’s a different story
Olm – You must have a great story about running into Rusty Kuntz one day, right?
Fever,
Literally danced around Chicago by going to Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis lol
If you ever come to Chicago, it’s a great city, you’ll appreciate Wrigley Field way more over White Sox Park because of Fenway Park.
Definitely Philadelphia sports fans come in second place overall. Philadelphia fans can get aggressive, not saying all of them, but enough of them lol
acoss – I’d love to visit Wrigley someday, but Chicago is one of the few cities that I’m kinda intimidated by …. same as Detroit, LA, Oakland and DC.
It would be different if I was familiar with the city, like I am with Philly, Baltimore, Anaheim, Miami, etc.
Fever, L.A. shouldn’t intimidate you. I went out there for a week+ as a dumb 26 year old kid and wandered during the day, took busses around, even fell asleep on muscle beach and got sunstroke lol. I wouldnt want to drive around it in a car due to hassle, but wandering around wasn’t bad.
D.C. sucks. They’re always closing off routes and putting up barricades that keep you from getting places and really screw up your day. Can’t blame you much there. Parts of it *look* nice enough but man what a PITA.
I think Olm would gladly be your Chi-town guide and stuff you to the gills with deep dish pizza, kielbasa, and beer. That would be a fund visit.
As for Detroit and oakland… just how expensive is Kevlar and ceramic plates these days?
GASox – My biggest concern with first-time visits is that my unfamiliarity can lead to being in the wrong place, especially if traffic jams force me off my route. I would need to know the areas to stay away from, such as Compton. And even near Dodger Stadium I’d be worried about my rental car being broken into, my personal possessions being stolen, and my insurance rates going way up. So I may never go to Dodger Stadium, instead preferring to go to The Big A where I’m familiar with. Not sure how long ago it was when you were 26, but chances are it’s gotten a lot worse in LA since then.
DC is among the highest crime rates in the country, I’ve seen and heard a lot of things that have happened near the stadium there.
Deep dish better than Uno? I’m in!
I was in Memphis earlier this year, literally 2 blocks away from my hotel someone was murdered in the street a few hours before I arrived. I don’t mind occasionally gambling on horses or the stock market, but I prefer not to gamble with my personal safety!
Fever…. 26 was… a lifetime/few decades ago. So you got me there. Although, sister still lives out there with a different husband. But, from what they’ve told me, overall it hadn’t changed that much. However, these days, I honestly just buy the damage waivers on anything I rent. Yeah, its overpriced, and, added a good $20 or $30 a day. But, it no longer matters what happens at that point. People are too disrespectful of others and their property these days to where I pretend it’s just the cost of one additional nice dinner out per trip.
Funny you mentioned Memphis. I’d been there a few years ago to pick up my 496 powered suv. I wasn’t impressed either!
Boston plays the Yankees in Boston after the Colorado series. It wouldn’t shock me if Colorado wins 2 of 3 and the Red Sox sweep the Yankees. it also wouldn’t shock me if Boston clobbers Colorado the next two games and comes home to be swept by the Yankees. It’s like forecasting the weather while indoors with your eyes closed. Who knows?
TF – The Rockies actually have a decent pitcher starting today, so let’s hope Pivetta is on today …. because we know what happens when he’s not.
Hey, with Albies injured you think we could deal Grissom to Atlanta for Sale and $17MM dollars pro-rated for the season? hahaha
TF – The Red Sox owners have no money, so they would have to trade Jansen, O’Neill and Martin to free up enough payroll for your trade. LOL
Paxton? We came in last with him last year. That means nothing really. I just wonder why the Sox, if they are really buyers, are throwing out mediocrity and platoon/bench option players as targets unless their goal is to just capture 3rd place, and perhaps a wild card. If your not trying to build at least a competitive team through marked upgrades, why bother?
Asking prices for top end talent are insane. 6 years of the guys they’d give up to secure one just aren’t worth compromising the future that is on the doorstep to get 2 months rental, or, a year or two extra based on the high prices.
George Kirby to the Orioles for Kjerstad, Norby, Mayo, and Basallo. Lol.
GASox – I think it depends on the team, their history and their situation.
If I’m the Orioles, Pirates, Royals, Brewers, Mariners, Twins, or Guardians (to name a few) and I’m a legit contender this year, damn right I’d sacrifice a bit of the future to finally end the championship drought.
Same thing with the Dodgers, who haven’t won a legit WS in almost 4 decades. And the Yankees, who haven’t even been in the WS since 2009. When you spend that much and it’s been that long, you don’t let a prospect or two prevent you from getting that much needed deadline help.
Agreed fever, I was speaking from the red sox perspective.
Dumpster diving can be fun. Just ask creepy boy who refuses to open his wallet
Moley – I prefer to refer to him as Creepy Thin Man.
youtube.com/watch?v=-l4IghDNzW4
He is right up Breslow’s alley, CHEAP! I would only give him an incentive laden contract because he is labeled “Fragile Handle With Care”.
Al – The Red Sox could always bring Rich Hill out of retirement.
Fever…I would rather see that happen!
After dropping 5/6 to start the second half, they are giving Henry and Breslow what they want to be sellers by the trade deadline. Breslow will trade Tyler and Jansen for more prospects.
Just makes free agents a touch more skeptical of playing here unless they get an overpay themselves.