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Mark P
5:17
Hi everyone, let's take some questions!  We'll wait another few moments to let more people join the room....
Mike
5:19
First  do you think the   redsox land Nelson Cruz as
Mark P
5:20
Cruz might bounce back in 2023, but he isn't a great fit for a Sox team.  They're already probably moving on from one mostly-DH type in Martinez, and don't want to occupy the DH spot with another bat-only player
Benjamin
5:20
I read that there’s mutual interest  in a reunion between the team and Rich Hill. I suppose they want to improve their pitching but if that’s a goal what’s the sense of bringing back Hill?
Mark P
5:21
There's plenty of benefit to bringing back a familiar face and respected clubhouse mentor who is also still a quality pitcher.
Ben
5:21
With so much money coming off the book, do you expect the Red Sox to be involved with multiple big name free agents (Judge, Rodon, Nimmo, shortstops, etc)
Mark P
5:23
I think Boston will make at least one prominent FA signing this winter, and quite possibly more.  It seems doubtful that they'd take a season "off" to step back and retrench, plus the Story contract is evidence that Chaim Bloom is open to making the big additions.
Mike
5:24
Tell me why the Red Sox can’t get Ohtani this winter
Mark P
5:25
The Angels would want a ton in return, and probably more than the Sox are willing to give up for a player (albeit a great player) who is only under contract through 2023.
5:26
It's the kind of aggressive, win-now move that I'm not sure Bloom or ownership is prepared to make, especially since their mantra over the last few years has been rebuilding the farm system.  That rebuild will lose several prominent prospects to fulfill the Angels' demands in an Ohtani trade.
AJ
5:27
Any possibility of finding a trade partner for Chris Sale?
Mark P
5:27
He has no-trade protection, for one.  But in general, what team will make a decent offer for Sale that isn't another undesirable contract?
max
5:28
Do you think the redsox will pursue Kodai Senga?
Mark P
5:28
They'll definitely have some talks with his reps.  Boston needs pitching, and Senga is one of the more interesting names on the market.
Sam
5:29
Do you believe that the red sox will lock up bogey before the world series is over?
Mark P
5:30
Nope. There were plenty of hints this season that the Sox were laying the groundwork for Bogaerts to leave, and by this point, they'd need to overpay to keep him off the market so close to the start of free agency
Boston Rob
5:31
If Red Sox would take Christian Yelich in trade for Corbin Burnes, what would trade package look like?
Mark P
5:33
That would be $165.MM remaining on Yelich's contract, plus Burnes....that's an awful lot for "throw-in" purposes.  The Sox would need to be pretty confident that Yelich can bounce back in a new environment, since while he's still been good in 2020-22, obviously that contract was given with the expectation that Yelich would perform closer to his 2018-19 levels.
5:34
I also think that in the wake of the Josh Hader trade, the Brewers are going to think more carefully about these deals that might make sense from a big-picture roster perspective, but would heavily impact clubhouse morale.  Moving Burnes basically in a salary dump would be a real blow to the players and fanbase, and I doubt the Brewers would do it.
FenwayParker
5:34
Do you think the Red Sox are willing to go over the tax again this year? Or use the money coming off to reset
Mark P
5:35
If they were willing to exceed the tax line this past year, one would imagine they'd be open to doing so again for a team that looks like more of a clear-cut contender.

That said, if the Sox are in a similar borderline position at next year's deadline, I could see ownership being a bit more firm about staying under the CBT line
Tessie
5:36
Do the Sox offer QO's for JD and Nate? If they do, is it safe to say JD would accept and Nate would not?
Mark P
5:37
That's a pretty safe assumption.  I can see a scenario where Eovaldi might accept, but odds are he'd reject the QO because he can still find a good multi-year deal on the open market.

I don't see Boston offering Martinez the qualifying offer, btw
James
5:38
Houck and Whitlock: should each stay in relief roles or move to rotation? Hoping to avoid a Daniel Bard 2.0 scenario but the rotation is very much in flux.
Mark P
5:40
Between the two, I suspect Whitlock will get the first look as a starter next year, though both fighting for rotation spots wouldn't surprise me.  The first priority for Houck is to get healthy, of course, but the Sox have some flexibility in knowing that either pitcher is a good bullpen option, if Plan A is still make them starters
David
5:40
Just to follow up on the tax thing, just set my mind at ease. We're not going to be in on Aaron Judge in any significant way, are we? I mean, after the season he just had, the contract is going to be immense in both years and value, and there's just too many places they need to spend without going deep into the Luxury Tax to fill (not to mention the risk of a long term problem salary wise)
Mark P
5:42
It would seem odd to see Judge sign with Boston, of all teams.  Obviously money is a big factor and high-profile players have switched sides in "the rivalry" before, but there has been speculation that Judge will head to the west coast if he did leave New York.
But in general, you're right, it would be surprising to see the Sox suddenly top the $300MM mark to make a serious bid for Judge
Giant Gonzales
5:42
Devers gets paid as DH by the Sox or by another team as a 3B where he plays a couple more years before moving positions?
Mark P
5:43
I think this might have been at the heart of their gap in extension talks last spring.  The Sox were making him an offer based on Devers as a first baseman, whereas Devers' camp was looking for money more commensurate for a top third baseman.
5:44
A defensive switch does probably seem inevitable, yet it's also understandable why Devers is resistant to that label (both for pride reasons, and because a slugging 3B has more value than a slugging 1B)
Liz
5:46
How likely is it that Bloom & co. pursue an everyday catcher, or are they truly content with what they have? I don't want to see another situation like first base this year where they're leaning on guys who have shown flashes of potential but never actually proven themselves over a full major league season, when there are better options out there.
Mark P
5:47
Seems like they'll at least explore upgrades, if maybe not necessarily a big splash like trading for Sean Murphy or something.

I noted this in my Sox outlook piece, but several contenders are quite satisfied with having catchers who are total game managers/defenders, and any offense is a bonus.  The Red Sox might join that group if they like what McGuire/Wong offer from defense alone.
Ebenezer_Batflip
5:48
John Henry isn't known for his patience, how much slack do you think Chaim Bloom has if the 2023 team can't make the postseason?
Mark P
5:49
Cherington and Dombrowski each lasted barely four seasons, and both guys had World Series titles.  If the Red Sox aren't in contention next year, Bloom will likely be on the hot seat, unless ownership is very satisfied that there's more long-term (i.e. farm system) progress being lined up
MoKo
5:50
Crawford Winckowski Seabold Mata Murphy and Walter seems like a solid 6-11th starters, do you see a couple of those traded to upgrade and what realistically could they get?
Mark P
5:51
Maybe, but the Sox will first need to fill the rotation holes before that group is really "6th-11th" and not arms that are being counted on for regular starts.

Plus, with Sale's health issues and Bello's inexperience, the Sox will want a good amount of rotation depth
Relievers are pitchers too
5:52
Explain why moving Whitlock and Houck to the rotation makes them more valuable than a multi-inning lockdown fireman and a lights out closer. How many games did the Sox lose because of their bullpen?  And it seems like starters aren’t the key piece they used to be - looking at you, Tampa.
Mark P
5:53
A pitcher who can produce over 150-ish innings is just more valuable than a pitcher who can produce over 60-70 innings.  Even with the changing nature of starter/reliever usage, teams would still take a solid SP over a solid bullpen arm any day.

Even the Rays, who pretty much went back to a regular rotation model this season.
Bosox
5:54
Thoughts on trading Verdugo and platooning Refsnyder and Duran in LF and spending big on a RF?
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