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The only evidence anyone is providing that the Thome pick isn't great is that his last name is Thome. They got a legit 1st rounder at #34 who gave a huge discount on the bonus. The discount allowed them to push better talent down at one slot, and pick an appropriate "best talent available" for another (instead of punting a pick to pay for the rest). Realize that with each ensuing pick, it gets harder to grab back $544k through signing bonuses. Seriously, should they have walked away from that because a couple of grouches will pretend it's a bad thing? The more I look into this, the better the Gonzo trade looks for the Sox.

If this went chalk, Thome essentially signed for the #41 slot. You can argue that Thome wouldn't have been available at #41, but then very clearly Prosek would have been, though again, he was 800k over slot at that pick, which without the Thome savings meant ANOTHER pick would have been sacrificed. Also the 5% bonus is on the slot itself, and not the signing amount. That is not accurate. It is 100% fair to say that this pick either got us Prosek or Thome, but the Prosek pick also came with a significant overslot cost that was above the slot value.

Wouldn’t be nice to do what the Red Sox have done.

TBH, Gonzo said what turned him around was a change that his dad suggested to him that he finally tried.

The Sox didn't have the 35 pick. Thome would have been gone by 41. They wanted Thome Thome got them an extra $400k (plus $144.8k overage) by taking a haircut on his pick; an extra 544.8k to the pool. No Thome pick probably requires another 5th year senior at a $7500 bonus out of the 7th slot (or higher). Without Thome's money, they can't sign one of Prosek, Weingartner or Casteel. So, picking Thome got them Thome and the ability to go full slot in another pick, #4-#7. In reality, it's Gonzo for Thome and one of Weingartner or Casteel, then Scolari or Burdette instead of a cheaper 5th year SR. Thome and two slot upgrades. For Jacob Gonzalez, and an upgrade on Brandon Eisert.

That was part of my downside of the deal when examining why it was done. It should have been for pitching in some form or fashion. But the Sox are always going to be the Sox. Always weirdly the Sox. It had to be for Thome, unfortunately. We can’t ever stop being the Sox until……

Great job @Y2Jimmy0 and the entire team at FS! This is a draft for the history books.

I really hope he gets assigned to the Dash by the time they play the Cyclones, because I'll be at that series.

How many times have the Sox been at 6 games over .500? Sox need to get over the hump tonight and start building on a new season high mark!

Facing former Sox legends Jake Burger and Nicky Lopez. Isn't he a local product or something?

This is a fair argument, but at the same time I appreciate the organization thinking big picture and not just this season.

I think it just feels like that because the team was really bad recently so when you would see someone perform for another team, it stings. I think if they are in first place and headed for 90+ wins and a playoff spot I can't imagine you would see the same (at least certainly not as much as you did the past several years in the same situation.)

I don't feel like anyone has said differently. It is more like could it have been an asset today for a potential playoff team.

If he even sticks there. He has games in the OF as well.

I assume they set it up to get Martin and Burke at home against the Yankees. Try to out slug the Rangers for a couple games and put the two best starters against NY.

@Y2Jimmy0 , excellent write up. Very interesting summary of what the Sox did and what they were thinking for the draft

This is and should be the goal

Can the Sox add pieces this year that will make them a World Series contender or just help them possibly make the playoffs? The answer to that determines how much value you give up to get that piece or pieces. This team is maybe a year away more likely 2, from being a serious WS contender. Until that time comes you can't be giving away any of your top prospects and I will be very disappointed if they do.

We have to remember, Sox were playing with house money with Gonzalez. He was another bad year away from getting cut from the organization. They worked on his swing and turned him into an asset for the future. That's what good organizations do! And to be frank, I hope Gonzalez kills it in Pittsburgh. Kid deserves it after the changes he has made. It was just a solid baseball trade that helped both teams.

On the IR is the most likely place.

This is true for a vast majority of Sox fans. But on social media and message boards, I still expect a vocal minority to dial up their outrage to 11 every time Gonzalez hits an extra base hit or knocks in a go-ahead run for the Bucs.