As time runs out, what do the Red Sox do?

"The roster looks...good. Not great. But good. The starting pitching is better and deeper than last season. Although the "New Number 2" didn't quite materialize as a multi-year option to pencil in behind Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray is a good pitcher. Tolle and Early waiting in the wings or sneaking into the rotation (probably only one of them) is much better than simply hoping Lucas Giolito, Walker Buehler, and Patrick Sandoval all shake off injuries."

"After months of negotiations and all the work that went into acquiring him last year, the saga is over. Only a few people will ever know how whether the Red Sox were genuinely serious or if this was a pursuit designed to fail simply because he wanted more money and/or years than the team would ever offer. Alex Speier, among others, insists that Bregman was "Plan A," but that there could be several Plan Bs."

"First base is settled. But second and third are up in the air. Clearly the team wants Marcello Mayer at one of those positions but hasn't been able to settle things down yet to figure out which one he fits in. This is a problem if you operated with Alex Bregman's name faintly traced in pencil into that lineup card."

Alex Bregman pursuit has concluded without a signing and uncertainty remains about how earnest the Red Sox were in that effort. The roster shows clear improvement in starting pitching depth, with Sonny Gray providing a solid No. 2 option and Tolle and Early offering rotation depth behind Garrett Crochet. The bullpen still needs a high-end arm like Aroldis Chapman, though Garrett Whitlock settled into a reliever role. First base is secure, but second and third base remain unresolved while Marcello Mayer is expected to occupy one spot. Late signings are possible; Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette remain available.

Read at Over the Monster