SoxBlanco

I'm bumping this thread to make it easier to get some posts moved from the Moncada thread to this one.

I wouldn't hate that, but considering how much money we have to work with, I think trades should be considered a last resort.

That works, too. What do you think it'll take to get Nimmo?

Just wait until Vaughn comes up.

1. Robert CF 2. Moncada 3B 3. Jimenez LF 4. Grandal C 5. Abreu 1B 6. Calhoun RF 7. Anderson SS 8. McCann DH 9. Madrigal 2B

That's why we should aim for our getting our top priority locked up as quickly as possible, even if it means overpaying. Whether it's Cole, or Grandal, or somebody else...just overpay them right out of the gate, get them on board, and use that to attract other free agents. If you combine our young core with a solid free agent, we become a pretty desirable place. Yes, I know they money still needs to be offered, but the point remains.

If we offer Cole $250 for 7 years right at the start of free agency, does he take it or shop around all offseason trying to get more?

Offer Cole a contract of 7 years for $250 right off the bat. Tell him we want to lock him up right away in an effort to attract other free agents. If he wants to shop around, he risks losing that offer while me make offers to the Wheelers of the world.

Yes, they our.

I believe he worded his post like that specifically for that reason. It was a joke.

Adolfo with a solo HR. Sheets and Rutherford are 0-3 so far.

Your Edit shows a key point that a lot of people overlook. If we brought back Avi and he got hurt and/or struggled, people would be complaining that we didn't give playing time to a guy like Cordell to see what we had in him. There is so much hindsight bias when it comes to evaluating decisions by our front office. And I'm not saying the front office hasn't been bad at times, because they have. But people want to just complain about everything.

For the sake of this hypothetical, either take only those three or let it play out. I’d want more depth as well, but I’d take that in a heartbeat.

Of course. I’d want another bat and another arm as well. But if you had the option to take only those three right now, you would decline it and let the off-season play out as it may?

What if the only three free agents we signed were Calhoun, Cole, and Abreu? Would you guys be happy? In other words, if you could lock that in right now, would you?

What does a package of Stiever, Dunning, and Bryce Bush get us?

If that’s the case, then there shouldn’t be much competition to sign JDM, right? (assuming we even want to pursue him)

Yes, it’s a very strange rule. The one thing I never knew until recently is that a runner isn’t automatically out when a batted ball hits him. If the ball had the opportunity to pass an infielder first (like if the infielders were playing in), then the runner is not out.

Yeah, I edited to finish my thought. Weird situation.

It’s an error on the catcher, but I believe it’s not an at bat.

What do you think the record is for most runs given up without ever pitching from the stretch?

And the 8 and 9 hitters will be replaced with Robert and Madrigal next year. That’s a solid lineup, even without any additions. Throw in one or two free agents, and we have ourselves a legit offense.

Players have a few days after the World Series ends to make a decision on opting out, right? Do they have secret conversations with teams before that to see whether it's worth it to opt out?

In five years from now, when people ask who won the Chris Sale trade, the correct answer will be JD Martinez. He will have won a World Series in Boston with Sale and one in Chicago with Moncada/Kopech.

McCann and Anderson will be on base for Robert to drive in. Our lineup will be so good, that they’ll be batting 8th and 9th.