Buehrlesque

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jun 27, 2017 -> 01:41 PM) Who else do the Braves have hitting-wise in their system? I feel like they will have interest but I'm not sure they will end up dealing a package built of mostly hitting. I will accept their interest though. Maybe Albies if you are willing to move Moncada to CF (and you don't believe in Yolmer). That would greatly improve the team's defensive outlook. I think Maitan is a good prospect, but he doesn't seem realistic since the Braves probably wouldn't want to deal him at this point and it'd be risky anyway as a 16-year-old guy with zero minor league at bats.

QUOTE (Sleepy Harold @ Jun 27, 2017 -> 01:24 PM) Braves interested in Q, Archer per Dave O'Brien If they're willing to start a package with Acuna, they'd immediately move toward the head of the line. He's tearing up AA as a 19-year-old (.324/.378/.482 at the moment).

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jun 26, 2017 -> 12:11 PM) Eaton is a very good player on a long term contract. That was not going to come cheaply, not matter what. Giolito/Lopez stock would likely be down, but Dunning's stock should be up. I still feel like it could end up being a fair deal for both teams. I think it could end up being a fair deal for both sides too, which is why I don't like hearing how getting fleeced by the Sox has caused the Nats to be more reluctant to make a trade again. They did well on their end, and TINSTAAPP unpredictability dictates the Sox will need a little luck to come out ahead on theirs.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 26, 2017 -> 11:56 AM) I think he's trying to hold out like DA and some others have suggested, obviously due to the lead they have, but at the same time, see if he can cheaply find a combination of guys, that when put in certain roles, might actually achieve more than the sum of their parts. It's pretty clear that any GM that has a reasonably performing bullpen arm is asking him for Robles, Fedde, Soto, etc., and he is hesitant to empty out his farm system even more after the Eaton deal. How much do you think Rizzo wishes he could have that Eaton trade back, so he could use those pieces to fix his pen? I think this "do-over for the Eaton trade" narrative is overblown. Obviously Eaton's injury changes the team's outlook this year, but the trade itself wasn't that lopsided. Besides, based on their performance this season alone, two-thirds of the return package (Giolito and Lopez) would have seen their trade value drop.

QUOTE (yesterday333 @ Jun 26, 2017 -> 10:40 AM) I really don't see how Rutherford is a better prospect... he is probably putting up worse numbers in A ball than Collins in A+. Only one HR isn't very good. Neither is the .714 ops compared to Collins .781. And Collins has improved greatly in his defense. Rutherford hasn't been dominant this year, but he's hitting .269/.336/.378 in A ball as a 20 year old, a year after destroying Rookie Ball with a .351/.415/.570 line. I think he's a better prospect than Collins, lack of power (up to now — it could still develop) notwithstanding. Most national writers rank Rutherford significantly ahead of Collins as well.

I just don't see a match with the Astros. Outside of Tucker and Bregman, neither of whom appear to be available, there isn't much to be excited about there at all. I'm not trading Quintana for some live arms. I really hope the Sox don't deal with Houston. If I log on one days and see "Q traded to Astros," I am going to cringe, because the return may look good on paper but not actually fit the bill for what this team needs. The Yankees are a much better fit. The Rockies, Dodgers and Cubs would be as well if they were interested.

I think the natural "halfway point" to rate the rebuild will be after the forthcoming Robertson and Quintana trades. One homerun there could swing the rankings hugely. But in the meantime, I would prematurely give the efforts so far a 7. I strongly disliked the Collins pick at the time, and it hasn't looked better in retrospect with Rutherford and Lewis both appearing to be better prospects. I did like Hansen, Call and Fisher. I liked the Duke trade. I liked the Sale trade. The Eaton trade was good value-wise in a vacuum, and it's hard to dislike it. Unfortunately, there was no way to know at the time that the lack of hitting prospects would not be addressed elsewhere. Again, the Robertson and/or Quintana trades have the potential to make a huge difference there. The Robert signing is a win. Hahn's waiver moves (W. Garcia, Hanson, Liriano, Covey) have been generally worthwhile. The minor adds (Pelfrey, Swarzak, Rayburn, Bourjos, Holmberg, Soto) have no real downside and can end up being worthwhile as well. I hope he keeps pursuing opportunities like this — an interchangeable roster plus good waiver position is a nice advantage to pay around with. Re-signing Avi was not a given at the time, and it turned out to be a great move. I don't love the Burger pick, but there wasn't much better they could do there. Overall, I don't think this team is in as good of a position as I originally would have thought they would be by now, but there are bullets left to significantly change the outlook.

TA will never be a Seager/Correa/Lindor cornerstone piece, but he can still be a serviceable SS if he shores up his defense, which he has time to do. His mediocrity does put more pressure on the Sox to develop higher upside players elsewhere though. On a good team, Anderson is batting eighth. Not really a knock on him — still much better than being a bust. It is a little concerning that the Sox have literally zero even moderate-upside shortstop prospects in the system. (Alvarez? Rondon? No one projects to be everyday shortstops in the majors.)

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 19, 2017 -> 02:38 PM) Gleyber needs TJS....yikes Quintana and Todd Frazier for Clint Frazier, Rutherford, Andujuar and Florial. Let's do this!

What's the story with this guy? Is he a legit prospect? I literally haven't heard a single thing about him, and yet he's been promoted from W-S to B'ham to Charlotte so far this year. He's 24 years old and has hit .286/.373/.435 across the three levels. Obviously he's not a top-10 guy or anything, but is there anything here? Just org filler? Does he have a good glove? Is there any report on him?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 16, 2017 -> 09:55 AM) I don't think I'd trade Quintana to Astros without Kyle Tucker. That's a deal breaker for me. Another team can and will beat their offer without him involved. I agree, and it appears they might just be too stubborn to do so. I really hope the Sox avoid the Astros. There are much easier fits elsewhere.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 16, 2017 -> 09:27 AM) from David Schoenfield link So to be clear, Francis Martes + Franklin Perez + Teoscar Hernandez? why move him if that is the package? The farm provided they sign their first 15 picks is loaded with pitching and still needs more hitting. If Q is going to get moved to the Astros, Yankees or Dodgers for Hahn to say yes this season it would likely have to be for a package like this, he still has 8 starts including tonight to turn it around. Astros: Kyle Tucker + Franklin Perez + Yordan Alvarez or Jonathan Arauz Yankees: Blake Rutherford + Chance Adams + Dustin Fowler or Miguel Andujar Dodgers: Alex Verdugo + Walker Buehler + Yusniel Diaz or Keibert Ruiz Haha, that hypothetical Astros offer is laughable!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 15, 2017 -> 03:16 PM) And Calhoun and Buehler QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jun 15, 2017 -> 03:20 PM) Verdugo + Calhoun + ? Just what I was thinking. I liked Buehrler back before he had TJS. Calhoun can hit, but you have to wonder where he'd play with the Sox. Full-time DH? Is he as bad defensively in LF as he is at 2B?

QUOTE (Sockin @ Jun 15, 2017 -> 02:47 PM) Heyman seems to believe that the Dodgers are going to be in on Quintana. He says the Sox have been monitoring their prospects. https://www.fanragsports.com/mlb/inside-bas...prise-quintana/ Verdugo is having a nice season is AAA so far: .314/.390/.433 with more walks than strikeouts (PCL caveats apply). He could be a nice starting point...

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 03:45 PM) Trade him for a max return while you can. Relievers are so fickle from year to year that you need to capitalize on their value while you can, the Sox have a system full of guys that can be high leverage relievers down the road. This. Kahnle is having a monster year, but it pretty much came out of nowhere, and he could return to average-ness next year. The fickleness of non-name brand relief pitchers would prevent other teams from paying anything even close to what is being suggested here. I would be happy with Robertson and Kahnle for Soto, Kieboom and a lottery ticket.

One troubling thing though: I am worried about the Sox lack of regard for defense. It is possible to have an infield of Burger, Anderson, Moncada, Sheets and Collins in a couple of years. Some of those guys could be average-ish, but overall that's not very good.

I'm late to this thread, but my thought on Burger is, while I don't like the pick, I can't really be upset with it considering what the Sox had to choose from. I would've preferred Evan White, but it's not as stark a disappointment as last year (when they passed on Rutherford and Lewis for Collins, a pick I hated at the time). In this case, things just didn't go their way in the top 10. Oh well.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 02:25 PM) What a wasted opportunity. If Q was doing well this season it would be an easy trade for both the Astros and White Sox with what is going on to their rotation. Q gets soft and everything messes up. I doubt he gets moved I understand general disappointment about Q underperforming this year, but I don't see how it affects a potential deal with the Astros. The Astros had their shot over the winter and clearly didn't seem to value Q all that much in the first place, given their long list of "untouchables" and underwhelming offers. Even if Q were pitching well, the Astros would be a tough match.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 11:04 AM) He'd been taking swings in the cage about a month ago, but then he was slowed down again. Intercostal muscle injury. Thanks NSS. I was hoping he could build on his strong start last year, so this must be disappointing for him. Hopefully he can have come back and have a great second half.

So, is there anything at all on Alex Call? He's been out for two months now.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 10:58 AM) If the Sox select White it would clearly be with the intention of having him move to the outfield, where his tools actually profile pretty well. Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55 are MLB.com's scouting grades on him as a 1B. 70 field = good hands, 55 arm is plenty for the outfield and 60 speed gives him solid range abilities. Think of him as a 55 hit, 50 power, 60 speed, 55 arm, 50/55 field outfielder and see if that changes your opinion? I don't think he "clearly" has to move to the OF just because he won't hit a lot of HRs. It would be refreshing to see a good bat, great glove 1B in the Sox system, and there is literally not a single prospect in his way through the ranks.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 10:47 AM) One of Haseley or Beck will fall, That's the Sox pick. This is the best case scenario for me. Otherwise, I'll go for/hope for Evan White.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jun 11, 2017 -> 03:52 PM) The Yankees make a lot of sense but Frazier is in their immediate future, baby bombers and yankees in general are looking pretty good for 3-4 year window starting this year. ... having said all that i could see us matching up with them with something like Rutherford, Sheffield or Adams & Miguel Andujar for Q. Frazier being part of the team's immediate future has no bearing whatsoever. I think they would gladly reallocate that "immediate future" asset from "possible starting OF" to "definite TOR starter." For me, it would have to be two of Frazier/Rutherford/Fowler plus Andujar for Q.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 10:23 AM) The second he got drafted, he would be best defensive player in the organization I know there's talk of moving him to the OF so his bat plays better, but he'd be perfectly fine at 1B for me. Elite defense makes a difference there as well, and though he doesn't have huge power, it's not like he's Juan Pierre either. Guy can hit.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 10:14 AM) I believe Smith is considered to have a slightly better hit tool and more power projection. White is so much more athletic though and could realistically be an asset in a corner OF spot. I really like White. The more I read on White, the more I like him too.