Superstar Lamar

some far outside the box thinking: Ben Zobrist on a one year deal. He'd be a placeholder who provides lots of veteran leadership. He played over 100 games as a corner OF for the Cubs last year. He switch hits, doesn't strike out and gets on base better than anyone one the team currently. My guess is he wants the stability of staying in Chicago and would probably come cheap.

I still consider him to be until he has pitched a full MLB season as I expect he will have the peaks and troughs of a developing pitcher

Cease

remember, we have to have room for Collins to get 450+ AB as well in a C/1B/DH role. I don't think next year is going to be a championship year regardless of the lineup. We are relying on 2 rookie starting pitchers, with all the inconsistency that brings, as well as projecting Lopez to be better. Give Collins his AB, Abreu a short term contract and find a reasonable RF. Lots of questions will be answered in one more year.

Did I read correctly that Renteria only intends to give Collins 4-5 starts behind the plate the rest of the way? Why is no one from above having a conversation with him to correct his role in the player development process.

That seems pricey for a 36 year old Alex Gordon whose best attribute is his defense

2 years and 26 million puts him at a nice, even 100 million earned from the Sox.

They understood it last time. Last off season was all theater. Sure they would have taken Machado at their price but they knew they weren't going to compete. They will offer Cole 8/240 but with a team opt out if he doesn't throw 300 innings in each year.

Is there any doubt JR is conjuring up one of his heavily deferred money contracts and telling Abreu he doesn't need an agent to look it over?

I'm aware of that: 1. I think he would fall a bit behind that pace as the season wore on resulting in a final total of about 30; and, 2. While he may gain a bit more power with experience from an eye test, the ball situation will not be as optimal as this year so the total will be the same. I think 30 is his best. 30 is very good

I think you guys are a little generous on his HR power. I think he maxes out at 30. I do think in the future though that he is going to take his OBP to the .400 range

that is not really on renteria

but that's not really on Renteria whoops, I thought I was adding a quote

They aren't going to win anything next year with all those rookie starting pitchers anyway. They may compete but it is a development year.

Ricky is the Washington Generals of baseball coaches. He is on his second job where the implicit, if not explicit job is to lose gracefully. He is like one of those executives who is made CEO for a month as new ownership sells off parts of the corporation. His only task is to hold the position and not do anything to embarrass the organization. In exchange, he will make a great salary (with an extension) and have the title on his resume....at least I hope this is how the Sox view him.