I hope you realize my own druthers are to find a way to keep Bogey and Devers and to fix the pitching.
And the pitching is complicated by the fact that Sale, Wacha, Pivetta, and Bello just might be a good start on a rotation next year. If that comes to fruition--and you have mentioned that possibility-- the Sox should be looking for relievers.
I'd like to keep both, too, but unless I'm convince JH will open and keep open his wallet for the next 3-5 years, I don't see how it will work. If a reset is planned in the next 2-3 years, and remember, the penalties for year 3 are enormous, how can we field a competitive teams, unless the farm jolts us to prominence.
Bogey + Devers will be $55M+ on the tax line. Add Sale and we're at $80M, or more than 1/3 the player budget on just 3 players- one who may not even be playing.
Just taking 2023 and forgetting about future resets, how can it be done?
Bringing back Bogey and Devers fills no holes. At best, we stay the same, and likely will get worse beyond 2023 at SS/3B.
We'd have $25-30M to spend on SP, SP, SP, Closer, RP, RF, DH without even touching 1B or C, which are also question marks for 2023.
It's impossible, unless and until JH changes his tune.
Sox 4 Ever
One problem is, we could bring Bogey back, even on a hometown discount and still see a decline at SS over the term of the deal, and I mean from year one. I don’t expect it, in fact I think he’ll do better next year, but who know?
Who knows how Turner, Correa or Swanson will do either?
Hell, I wanted Baez, last year! yikes!!!
Sox 4 Ever
"Fans have become more entitled than anything. So they're starting to question our motives for the game, or how we approach the game. The ones that do question -- like who are you? Just shut up and watch the game tonight." --Kevin Durant on players' lack of effort in regular season games.