This touches on the source of a lot of spats on this board. Some of us believe that money is the determining factor above all, and that players will rationally play for whoever offers them the most. Others believe that money is one of several important factors. This boils down to something personal about how we view the world, and may be irreconcilable.
Those who believe the former place the burden on the Red Sox ownership for not spending what it takes. Those who believe the latter think that while the money offered obviously matters, there are, or could be, a variety of factors involved for each player, many of them unknown to us.
I think what we're seeing this offseason is — short of "proof" — but
evidence that a lot of would-be targets have wanted to play elsewhere.
Thank you for highlighting this. It stuck out as one of the more significant of his comments, reading them again today. I think the perception is that the Sox have been shut out of the offseason — and maybe that's true! — but I see a lot of blameless reasons for why these guys aren't Red Sox.
- Gioliito - Signed with Boston.
- Gray - Wanted to sign with St. Louis and was very public about it.
- Imanaga - Wanted to sign in Chicago, took their offer over higher ones.
- Lugo - Not better than Crawford/Houck/Whitlock.
- Montgomery - Returning to Rangers is his "first choice," reportedly. South Carolinian.
- Nola - Signed very early in the offseason with Philly. Could be worth speculating what Breslow might have offered to get him to reconsider, but clearly it's in the realm of 8/$200M+.
- Rodriguez - Family comfort is significant. Rumored (by Sox Prospects guys) not to consider playing with Alex Cora.
- Snell - Reportedly wants to play in Seattle/West Coast.
- Stroman - Not really an option. Bad character fit. Reportedly close friends with David Price, who rightfully wouldn't recommend Boston. Signed with his hometown team.
- Urias - Not an option.
- Wacha - Not better than Crawford/Houck/Whitlock.
- Yamamoto - Wanted to play in Los Angeles, per Rosenthal.
It's worth considering
just how much we would have had to overbid to land some of these guys. And then maybe risk a situation where a player is unhappy here?