WestEddy

Can you define lottery ticket, and tell us why somebody considered a "lottery ticket" isn't a "top prospect"? Or even why a player taking on a label that literally means 10 million to one shot of success is intrinsically worth more than a player who had had sustained success at multiple levels of minor league ball, and maybe even hit in the majors before league adjustments?

All reasonable. I think a team can increase the value of their return by taking on slumping, post hype players, guys soon to be out of options, or other projects to fix. Unfortunately, Robert isn't commanding a knockout return.

3B isn't that radical a change for a good defensive shortstop. They're not trying to "win" this year, so I don't see it as asinine for the Sox to play Monty at 3B in order to get Sosa as many at-bats before the TDL, if that's an urgency of theirs.

Sanchez is a LHP. I've had it beaten into my head that the only way a prospect can learn the MLB game is by being slotted into the starting lineup for a year and stays regardless of whether he's failing over and over.

Unless, due to TV money cash flow and attendance problems, the budget just wasn't there.

I think Dobnak is like attaching Jared Shuster to Houser.

Houser comp? Paddack isn't striking out 10 per 9 anymore.

Houser comp?

But we didn't touch their top 3. We took a catcher, and an injured player who hadn't taken a pitch in their system. It may have been just what Getz was targeting, but it wasn't 3 top 50 guys.

Robert back in the lineup, today.

And perhaps the league didn't see Cease and Robert as the WAR gods that SoxTalk did.

Yeah. The only point of rumors now is for these guys to start the early shitting on Vientos, or whatever reasonable return is available, so that they can troll for the next 4 years after every 0-4 game.

For context...

Sure, but Taylor has a much higher ceiling than a closer. IF you were looking to move Taylor for "bats", a 2024 Crochet workload next season as a starter probably presents him as a TOR starter. I don't think he brings back that level of return as a leverage arm (he's not even a proven closer, yet really) at the TDL. I'm betting the interest Getz is getting right now is from GMs offering leverage arm returns for a TOR starter with oodles of cheap control.

Looking at the 2024 deadline deals, the only closer moved who brought back significance was Tanner Scott, when combined with Brian Hoeing, brought back a couple of MLB ready pitching prospects, and a couple of meh bats. Any other closers of note only really brought back pairs of arms. Tracking every 2024 Trade Deadline deal If the Sox wanted to move Taylor, I would think they'd get better offers in the off-season, as Taylor is really just a leverage arm, at this point, and has TOR starter ceiling.

Closing is Taylor's floor. #1 or #2 is his ceiling, and I would be looking for more of that level of return.

There's one pitcher off the market.

I didn't see the ump's hand go up until the ball hit the ground, which was ludicrous. The ump should have called the IFR with the ball in the air. Dude was trying to keep out of a double play due to umpire error. If he made it to 3rd safely, we'd all be talking about the heads up baserunning.

Dude, their entire draft was shortstops. You've convinced me that the only way forward as a franchise is to acquire Vientos. Veni, Vidi, Vientos.

And the fascination with ex-Sox pitchers continues...

I'm guessing the Mets' GM is on the phone to Getz just making random demands - "Okay, now I want to see if Sosa could run from 2nd to 3rd on a dropped popup". "We're so close. Now have Burke walk the next two batters to show he can pitch under pressure".

They've stated repeatedly that they're using him as a reliever this year to get him innings. They have also stated that they see him as a starter after this year.