data-mm-id=”_po6n5zlne”>In yet another example of how we've seen the impact of shame completely disappear in society, the Boston Red Sox have refused to spend basically any money all offseason. They traded away most of their big salaries and let any free agent who wanted a raise walk. The front office leaked that it was "interested" in most big-name free agents but was never actually close to signing them. Now, with spring training underway and the roster mostly set, it has become apparent that the Red Sox were operating on a budget that kept them far from the Competitive Balance Tax in order to save ownership money and effectively punt on the 2024 season. This is quite embarrassing for one of baseball's most historic franchises and one of the most successful teams of the 21st century. It is fair to say that throwing money at the most expensive free agents available is not a sustainable approach to winning, but sitting out of free agency almost entirely despite several obvious flaws in the roster that will not be fixed by internal development this season is clearly just giving up. Accepting that the Red Sox will not be in a position to win the World Series this season so they're better off filling the owners' pockets instead. It is, frankly, an offensive stance to take in front of one of the most passionate fanbases in baseball. And it's one that is even bothering the players. Rafael Devers, the only expensive player on the entire roster, is soft-spoken and goofy and has never had any kind of quote make the rounds on Boston sports radio (an impressive feat for a guy who's been there for five years). Yet even he was bold enough to tell reporters that he told ownership what the team needed and they did not listen to him. One of the most embarrassing clips in recent memory for the Red Sox. Your franchise player, Rafael Devers, saying everyone knows what this team needs to compete.Shameful. pic.twitter.com/IchoT0GKZw— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) February 20, 2024He spoke out even more strongly later in the day. Rafael Devers on wanting more from the front office: "They need to make an adjustment to help us players be in a better position to win. Everybody in this organization wants to win. We, as players, want to win. I think they need to make adjustments to help us win."— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 20, 2024A sure-fire sign of how bad things have gotten. For Devers this is close to a full-on mutiny. He's watching one of the prime years of his career being thrown away because ownership refuses to spend despite quite obviously having the money. You could see how this might be frustrating to players! John Henry is a joke. He's scrimping up loose change, entirely content to watch his baseball team limp to a 81-81 record. And apparently immune to the embarrassment of having the players of the Boston Red Sox, who won a World Series only four seasons ago, openly request ownership help them out a little bit. During Spring Training! How bad are things going to get once the team starts to lose games for the exact reasons everybody expects due to the lack of spending?It's just brutal to watch, man. Even if you're taking great pleasure in the fall of the Red Sox you can acknowledge that this is shameful behavior. The second-most famous franchise in the sport has its players borderline begging their billionaire bosses to throw them a bone instead of sitting on their hands and staring at their bank account. How far they've fallen.
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The Bianconeri decided to turn their attention towards the La Liga star after having several bids rejected for FC Porto s Alex Sandro.
The latest reports have suggested that Juventus have agreed to pay €1.8 million for a season-long loan, while obligatory purchase option will be set at €6 million.
Siqueira will in turn sign a three-year contract worth €2.2 million per campaign and will challenge Patrice Evra for a starting berth in Turin.
The well-travelled defender has represented Udinese, Ancona, Granada, Benfica and Atletico Madrid since moving to Europe, having had begun his career at Figueirense.
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Jose Mourinho insists that Fernando Torres has a future at Chelsea, despite his faltering form since a big-money move from Liverpool.
Following his transfer from Anfield in January 2011, Torres has failed to hit the heights scaled in his Liverpool days at Stamford Bridge, scoring 19 Premier League goals in 105 appearances.
Mourinho has suggested in recent weeks that Chelsea s problems in front of goal are an issue that needs to be addressed, but the Portuguese insists the Spain striker remains in his plans for next season.
Yes he has a future here, he said. He s contracted, he s a good professional.
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Dani Alves believes Real Madrid are a more dangerous side after selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.
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Former Barcelona right-back Dani Alves played in the Juventus side that lost in the 2017 Champions League final against Madrid before joining Paris Saint-Germain, and he feels Los Blancos now present a more varied threat.
I think that, contrary to what everybody thinks, Madrid is more of a team without Cristiano, he told Marca.
…
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Solari was named caretaker Madrid boss after Julen Lopetegui was sacked in the wake of his side s 5-1 El Clasico loss to Barcelona on Sunday.
The former Argentina and Madrid midfielder steps up from his role as Castilla coach – just as Zidane did in 2016 – but Solari played down comparisons.
Let s just let him live in peace, he s one of Real Madrid s greatest icons, he told a news conference on Tuesday.
There s not enough words to describe Zizou, let s leave him live with his greatness and not compare [us].
Nobody can compare with him.
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— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
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