Pasta is not an RFA

I am aware of that

No? Why do you think you get Pasta for a 4th and 5th?

It's a fantasy, pretend post. I am "pretending" that Boston can't figure a deal out for Pasta and moves his rights a few days before Free Agency opens up.

It would certainly be more than that, but UFA rights generally don’t return a lot. Definitely all fantasy though, because if pasta is taking 8x11.5 on the island, he’s taking 8x11 in boston.

If he's signing 8yr x $11.5 then he'd do it with Boston. Also even if you trade for his rights in the off-season I don't believe you can offer him 8yrs. Iirc the rule is a player has to be on your roster the previous season to get 8yrs.

You'd need Boston to sign and then trade him and at that point it's going to cost way more than a 4th & 5th

It's all fantasy and pretend. Almost nothing I post is supposed to be legit, it's all my shower thoughts.

-I think Arizona would ask for more here. I get the vibe behind swapping out a dead cap hit in Little for a live body in Bailey that they could possibly flip, but McBain has looked intriguing as a defensive minded 3C this year - I think they would want more than a 5th rounder coming along in this one. But it's a fun thought, for sure.

-I would say that Philly shouldn't make this move because they're not in a contention window and a 31 year old Kyle Palmieri is a luxury they don't need, but Chuck Fletcher hasn't got that memo yet. I also think Palmieri flexes his NTC - he was born on Long Island, he lives here, he just had a kid - I could see him not wanting to commute to Philly for the last 2 years of his deal.

-Pasta's contract situation is incredibly intriguing to me - it does feel weird that there's no contract extension yet (although I admit I haven't been following Boston reporters all that closely). I still think it's most likely that he sticks around in Boston long-term, but hooo boy that top line looks incredible to me.

-Lou loves Cal too much to ever move him, though this value feels about right for him.