Comments on: Chris Sale Is a Luxury the Red Sox Didn’t Need

By: greggb

greggb — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 11:12:32 +0000

The Red Sox lost arguably the major league’s leading offensive force in 2016 — and several players had career years, unlikely to be repeated. Dombrowski had to make a major move to keep the Sox even with last year.

By: Chris Buckley

Chris Buckley — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 20:05:58 +0000

Couldnt agree with you more. I get a sinking feeling everytime buchholz pitches. Pomeranz is over rated and wright is like wakefield was either unhittable or he sucked

By: Randy Downes

Randy Downes — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 02:15:23 +0000

I totally agree and also wanted to see Kopech pitch in Boston.

By: Erik

Erik — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:33:54 +0000

That “Post 2018 defensive move only goes to 2019, as Sale WILL become a free agent then. IF Price does leave, SALE will have even more leverage, since the team can’t have a three year rental for the price they paid.

Either way, the Red Sox are the ones at risk because of this trade.

By: Raymond Allen

Raymond Allen — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:30:51 +0000

All very good points. 100 % agree

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:21:55 +0000

Is Yoan Moncada a five tool player? Yes. Is Michael Kopech positioned to become a top MLB closer? Yes. With a power mullet? Yes. Could the other guys be quality players. Possibly. But when you can make a good team better, and not financially wreck them, you do it. Pitching wins in the postseason, and left-handed starting pitching is the unicorn of the baseball world. Kudos, Mr. Dombrowski.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:11:47 +0000

I find it interesting that you list Wright as a reason that we don’t need Sale. I cringe every time Wright starts a game. If the moisture in the air, the wind (or lack thereof), the temperature (sweaty hands) or probably the barometric pressure isn’t perfect, the ball may leave the park more often than it stays in it. I’d rather have a dependable starter than a pitcher better suited for a long relief role when the bullpen is thin.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:08:46 +0000

Mathew, if you accept the fact that Chris Sale makes up defensively with what we may lose offensively with the Ortiz retirement, you may find the trade more prudent and palatable.
Of course I mean Sale over replacement vs. replacement compared with Ortiz. Find any wisdom in this perspective?

By: PVANDER

PVANDER — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:53:56 +0000

I felt the same way, but I’m not sure it’s so obvious. These arguments really pertain to the regular season, where 2-3 wins have only a modest probability of being important. But maybe in the postseason, having 3 really excellent starting pitchers can increase the probability of success quite a bit over having 2 excellent pitchers and 1 lesser pitcher.

By: Binyamin

Binyamin — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:52:03 +0000

Moncada might be a superstar and he might never be a really good major league ballplayer. I was disillusioned by our small sample – not the flailing at breaking balls, but more by the lack of highly developed general baseball skills. Maybe there’s no such thing as a pitching prospect, but Kopech was the kid I really wanted to see in a Sox uniform. I’m sorry we traded him for Sale.