2018 Red Sox roster building

You might be the only person who thinks Martinez's pre-2014 stats matter at all here.

Yeap. I think the play is to try to sign J.D. Martinez to a 5 year deal and if that doesn't work, then possibly trade for Nelson Cruz mid-season and then pursue Harper.

Edit- this strategy will cost you a few wins (maybe the division) and risks Hanley's option to kick in.

ITA. He couldn't grow a beard and had short hair at 19. Looking at him now tells you that he was uncomfortable with the attention at 19. With all the hair I can't get a read on him and since I've left the Beltway lifestyle I don't get to many Nats games. I can tell you that watching Harper take BP is a treat, he still needs to improve on his defensive footwork to take full advantage of a plus++ arm. Other than that he has adapted rather well. I think he has more plate discipline than even Trout. All I can say is if he signs with the Yanks, I'm quitting MLB.

If you want to find out - maybe start a poll.

I say no as the 6th year guaranteed is too long at 25/yr (if it were an option with a small guarantee it may be ok)

I say no to 6 years. 

So now, only Mookie remains unsigned.

www.providencejournal.com/sports/20180112/sox-ink-deals-with-9-players-incuding-pomeranz-bogaerts

Would you do 5/150? If so, then 6/150 should be a no brainer. I wouldn’t let Just the years drive you. I do agree 6 years is too much but if you’re adding a year and not money then of course you do it.

I think if you want JDM you have to give 6 years $150 million. I know AZ is trying not to spend above a certain point but they're nowhere near the luxury tax limit and I don't see why they wouldn't make a 5 year $120 million type of offer.

If AZ offers something close to Boston then he's going to go to Arizona. I think that 6th year will be the difference maker.

It comes down to whether you want the player. I mean on the pitching side there's Arietta or Darvish (don't think the Sox have the farm system talent to spare for Cole and emptying that talent for 1 year of Machado isn't overly appealing), so if you don't sign JDM how are you actually improving the team? And it does need improving and yes the hitters should improve anyways but counting on the team ERA to necessarily stay around 3.7 is questionable. Basically you'd be trotting out the same team that wasn't good enough last season.

Last year the team finished with the same record as their pythag projection and used a 15-2 record in extra innings to aid their final record. The 2016 team felt like a 100 win team that fell short in a lot of close games (not exactly a clutch offense despite their prolific offense). Last year's team was actually pretty clutch - when they were down a run late it didn't feel like a death sentence the way it did the year before, despite the offense not playing so well.

The offense should be better but we're also assuming complete health. Who knows? As far as the pitching side of things I don't know that Sale will quite as dominating or that Kimbrel will be quite as perfect. Not convinced that Price will be completely healthy and I think Pomeranz's numbers won't be quite as good. Don't know what to make of E-Rod yet. I have an optimistic feeling that Wright could be better than expected. I'm not convinced that Porcello bounces back. They were hitting him hard last season.

I think the pen is questionable. Don't know how well Smith will bounce back and I have little faith they're going to get much out of Thornburg - this deal will wind up being a killer - others here knew that the moment it was made, while I was cool with the deal. I was wrong. It's hard to come back from what Thornburg has.

It's a good team but they truly lack a middle of the order bat - I'm not talking just a guy who bops homers, but a true middle of the order bat. Devers will be that guy but it's unfair to ask that of him now and put that kind of pressure on him and I never want to see Moreland batting cleanup again.

I never really truly felt this team was really better than New York last year, and the Yankees have improved themselves and I suspect they're not done yet. Perhaps it doesn't really matter - the Sox have finished 1st twice in a row and it hasn't mattered a bit, so maybe being a 90 win wild card and hoping for them to be blazing hot in October isn't that big a deal after all.

I would say no to 5 years $150m. And I would say no to 6 years $150m.  

I can remember many pitchers through the years who had up and down seasons like Porcello has. He did just win a Cy Young and now nobody expects anything out of him? I think it is just as likely he has a sub 3.5 era than a 4.5, look at the history.