n_touch said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Tigers will trade him to the Dodgers for a couple low ball lotto tickets and a signed Ohtani jersey.

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No way it is signed.

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After what they gave up JV for, they might pay off Ohtani's gambling debts in the deal.

Steven Matz and Rays have a deal. Believed to be multiyear. @TBTimes_Rays 1st

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2025

Hub `93 said:

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jkag89 said:

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Stumbled across this video about the 1980 NLCS. I was devastated by both Games 4 & 5.

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I'm pretty sure I cried after game 5.

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I know I did...was 9 years old and completely devastated.

I was 8. Same.

Friedman was their GM and is now president. Was regarded as one of the best when they hired him.

What I’m hearing about Ketel Marte’s trade market and more from the winter meetings: https://t.co/1Qd700ldKd

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2025

Quote:

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Free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman still appears to be the Red Sox's No. 1 target, in part because of the defensive upgrade he provided over Rafael Devers. The Sox seem to be pricing every available option, from first baseman Pete Alonso and infielder Bo Bichette in free agency to Marte and Houston Astros corner infielder Isaac Paredes in trades.

Paredes, who is under club control for two more seasons with a projected $9.3 million salary in 2026, is yet another hitter in whom the Red Sox have expressed interest, according to sources briefed on their discussions. He presumably would play first base for the Sox if Bregman returned at third, and the price for him likely would be steep. The Astros, seeking controllable starting pitchers, are interested in one of the Red Sox's two young lefties, Payton Tolle or Connelly Early.

Of course, the Astros are another club operating on multiple fronts, exploring a trade for Tampa Bay Rays righty Shane Baz and offering center fielder Jake Meyers for other starters. They have spoken to the Pittsburgh Pirates about righty Mike Burrows, but those talks may have cooled since the Pirates acquired outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from the Red Sox. The Kansas City Royals, dangling lefty Kris Bubic, are another possibility for Meyers, but they are exploring numerous other outfield possibilities as well.

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Couple of items regarding Skubal / Dodgers

This might be an unpopular opinion here, but I would probably shy away from Skubal. I understand what he offers, but I also understand (1) what it would take to get him (2) what it would take to resign him (assuming you can get him to sign an extension prior to free agency. With the way kids are blowing up their arms every year, you always have to assume the hard throws are one pitch away from surgery. They have it down to an art now, but even then there is no guarantee. I personally would not be interested in a long term pitching contract (6+ years) for any pitcher.

Now that brings me back to the Dodgers. You constantly here about how well the organization is ran. But it sure seems to me that the number of arm injuries (shoulder and elbow) from them over the last several years has been higher than league average. I have no proof of that, so don't quote me. It just seems that way.

Final point. Being a Mets fan, I hate to see the main advantage we have ($$$$$) taken away, but something needs to be done. I am not necessarily on board with a cap, mostly because how do you handle long term contracts and the war that would ensue to get that done would cause significant damage to the game.

ETA: I just read where Skubal had TJ in 2017 and Flexor Tendon in 2022. Thoracic Outlet in 2027?

They also have a GM as well, Brandon Gomes.

The problem with the CBT is that it's

(A) just a financial tax and if you are already so rich you don't care about how much you spend on salaries you won't care about a tax

And (b) it's just one draft pick of a player penalty. But if you are filthy rich and don't care about salaries all you are going to do is pay another FA anyway to make up for losing a draft pick that may or may not even play in 4 years.

The short version? If you are filthy rich the CBT isn't worth the paper it's printed on as a deterrent.

I don't think he embraced it, just didn't properly consider how big a deal it would become in the CBA. Not that ignorance is much better of an excuse.

The Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Isaac Paredes, per @Ken_Rosenthal

Houston is seeking controllable starting pitching in return, with interest in Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. pic.twitter.com/drp5p5XLGO

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 9, 2025

I'd love to get Tolle, highly controllable and ace upside.

Farmer1906 said:

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MaxPower said:

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The Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Isaac Paredes, per @Ken_Rosenthal

Houston is seeking controllable starting pitching in return, with interest in Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. pic.twitter.com/drp5p5XLGO

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 9, 2025

I'd love to get Tolle, highly controllable and ace upside.

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Fenway makes a ton of sense for Isaac.

But the only way it makes sense for Houston is if, 1. We have to believe he's ready to be a top-half-of-the-rotation arm in 2026 2. We're confident we can land another big offensive piece (Lowe, Donovan, Tucker, Belli, etc)

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Wilyer Abreu or Durran and a pitcher for Parades?

txags92 said:

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MaxPower said:

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The Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Isaac Paredes, per @Ken_Rosenthal

Houston is seeking controllable starting pitching in return, with interest in Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. pic.twitter.com/drp5p5XLGO

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 9, 2025

I'd love to get Tolle, highly controllable and ace upside.

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I'd hate to see us give up a guy who is one of the few we have left that knows how to work an AB.

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I get that, but also remember he's a soft tissue injury magnet. Not having surgery to address the hamstring issue is very concerning. Then again, choosing Christian Walker to play first over him is an even more concerning choice unless they're gonna use some of the freed up money to go after Alonso.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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txags92 said:

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MaxPower said:

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The Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Isaac Paredes, per @Ken_Rosenthal

Houston is seeking controllable starting pitching in return, with interest in Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. pic.twitter.com/drp5p5XLGO

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 9, 2025

I'd love to get Tolle, highly controllable and ace upside.

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I'd hate to see us give up a guy who is one of the few we have left that knows how to work an AB.

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I get that, but also remember he's a soft tissue injury magnet. Not having surgery to address the hamstring issue is very concerning. Then again, choosing Christian Walker to play first over him is an even more concerning choice unless they're gonna use some of the freed up money to go after Alonso.

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I feel like trading Walker even if we pay a large portion of his salary for a younger pitcher with years of team control is better than going after a splash FA pitcher signing since we can avoid losing the draft pick for signing a guy with a qualifying offer on the table.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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MaxPower said:

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The Red Sox have expressed interest in trading for Isaac Paredes, per @Ken_Rosenthal

Houston is seeking controllable starting pitching in return, with interest in Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. pic.twitter.com/drp5p5XLGO

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 9, 2025

I'd love to get Tolle, highly controllable and ace upside.

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Fenway makes a ton of sense for Isaac.

But the only way it makes sense for Houston is if, 1. We have to believe he's ready to be a top-half-of-the-rotation arm in 2026 2. We're confident we can land another big offensive piece (Lowe, Donovan, Tucker, Belli, etc)

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Wilyer Abreu or Durran and a pitcher for Parades?

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Its hard to evaluate how much value these guys have.

Durran probably has more than enough value. We might need to throw in a piece. He makes a lot of sense if you like him in CF. That frees up Jake to be added to a package for a SP.

Welcome to H-Town, Ryan! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/v9LnV3bTxf

— Houston Astros (@astros) December 9, 2025

Dodgers strike again

Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies have agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal, per source. @JeffPassan was on it.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 9, 2025

Edwin Diaz and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a deal, league source tells The Athletic.

— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) December 9, 2025

Edwin Diaz’s deal with the Dodgers is for three years, sources tell me and @WillSammon

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2025

Has to be a ridiculous AAV. The Mets were going to go 3, Diaz wanted 5

ETA: 3/69M

Surprised Mets didn't match