hogan873

At this point, I don't care that the team is going to suck. This has been a long-ass winter, and I'm ready for baseball. Up until the past few years, I didn't pay much attention to spring training. Now that the Sox have some potentially exciting prospects, it will be interesting to follow what goes on in ST.

It's definitely worth the hassle vs. driving to the park, finding parking, and dealing with traffic leaving after the game. The new stadium would be literally right next to the Rock Island Metra tracks, and it wouldn't surprise me if they add a stop right at (or very close to) the stadium. They could add later departures on game nights, too. If this stadium is built, the Sox and the city will do something to help with parking and/or public transportation.

In the details, there are plans to reimagine the site of the current stadium. This looks like a great project. Let’s hope this happens.

Yeah, that's true. I wonder, though, if the Sox not picking up his option and no team signing him yet has humbled him?

I really thought TA would have been signed by now. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox bring him back on a one year couple million dollar deal. Have him play SS and 2B. If he can get even close to what he used to be, he could be flipped at the deadline, as others have mentioned. I still believe his poor performance last year was more due to his off-field issues.

About who? They had no one on the roster with any record of success playing right field. Went into the season with the idea Colas and Sheets in right.

They'll be better than last year. There was a bad culture on last year's team, and that does have an effect on performance of a team. They won't be dramatically better than last year, but they'll win more games.

This trade should all but guarantee Gavin Sheets never steps foot in the outfield again, and that's a good thing. Fletcher, right now, is probably the starting right fielder. Right field was a huge question mark for years, and it hasn't been addressed until now. If Fletcher end up even close to the first iteration of Adam Eaton, this is a huge win for the Sox. If he's a serviceable right fielder slightly above replacement level, it's still a win.

I just want to see him make a great catch and jump up with that mad look on his face…in a Sox uniform.

But you also don't sell your $1000 hutch for $500 when there's still time for someone to come along and give you $800. Just because the Sox have the upper hand doesn't mean Cease would have been traded. No one has offered what the Sox want and what Cease is worth.

Getz knows that he has the upper hand in any negotiation for Cease. There are still teams that need pitching and could/should be willing to part with what Getz wants in return. There's less pressure on the Sox to deal Cease than there is on other teams to add a pitcher that could be crucial to their season and post-season hopes. If Cease is with the Sox on opening day and has even a decent first half, he will still command a haul in return if traded.

If this does indeed significantly lessen the chances Cease is traded, I'm still okay with not trading him to Baltimore for a likely sub-par return. I get the injury risk involved by keeping him, but that's not a reason to give in and take a bad return. Looking at what Milwaukee got back, and even considering the extra year on Cease, I don't think a deal was ever close with Baltimore. This move could push the Yankees or Red Sox to go after Cease, or maybe a team in the now wide open NL Central steps up. Regardless, Getz did a good job of not giving in. Let's see what happens over the next few weeks...and into the season of it comes to that.

Seems like a very light return for Milwaukee. This board would have melted down if Cease was traded for that package.

They added the 35th Street stop, and it is heavily used on game days. I believe they'd add a stop at or near the new stadium, and it would probably be timed to open around the same time the stadium does.

And there’s really nothing else to talk about.

They'll announce today that SoxFest will be back in 2025...and COVID 25 will hit just in time to cancel it.

I actually expect Moncada to be healthier (not always healthy, but healthier) and for Vaughn to improve some. I foresee Jimenez coming out strong but blowing a hammy or tearing a tit or smoking his melon off a fall if he gets time in the outfield.

Ha. I forgot about that.

Gallo got $5 million, Pederson got $9.5 million. Seems like some RF candidates for the Sox could come pretty cheap. Duvall, Rosario, Pillar, JBJ, Naquin, etc.

I think Moncada has a ton of talent, and we've seen flashes of what kind of player he can be. Unfortunately he gets hurt too easily and too often. Maybe that's due, in part, to a lack of preparation. He rarely shows emotion on the field and comes off as uncaring about his lack of results. But, it seems like he plays through pain a lot. He finished strong last season, albeit in meaningless games. Let's hope we see more of that Moncada this season.

So, is that Schriffen? I like the passion. Hopefully there will enough excitement with this Sox team so he can show the passion.

Money talks. The more JR is willing to shell out for a new stadium, the more likely this is to happen. Regardless, I think we'll hear soon (by the end of the year) if this is a go or not. They'll need every day of the next five years to make this happen.

Ouch.

Quite a few stadiums built in the last 10-15 years or so have been built in cities. The 78 is a great spot for a ballpark with plenty of room. Moving there would not be stupid at all. It would be one of the best things the Sox have done in a long time. Granted, that bar is low, but they have a chance to have one of the best, if not the best, ballparks in MLB with easily the best background.