SoxBlanco

Good point. He's definitely #1 on my realistic wish list right now.

I actually want Ryu as well, so I'm agreeing with you that he's the next best option. But Ryu is probably more likely to get injured. It is true that they've missed the same amount of time due to injury, but based on their injury histories, I would say Ryu is more likely to miss time over the next couple of years. That being said, I wouldn't worry about that at all. He was fairly healthy last year, and we have reserves coming back from injury to fill in for him if he does go down.

We've also won a World Series in the last 24 years, so it's not ALL bad. ?

Ok, now you need to call the guy and have your wife act as the translator. Make sure to record and post the audio. It could go down in SoxTalk history.

Right now, the rotation consists of Giolito, Cease, and Lopez. We need two starting pitchers even if they are extremely high on Lopez.

You have to call it. This could be hilarious.

Doesn’t that go against Hahn’s comments about not wanting to compromise the extended window just to get a quick bump?

I think you’re reading into it too much. He’s just saying that they aren’t going to make a move just for the sake of making a move at the winter meetings. If the move makes sense, they will make it, just like they would have if it were last week or next week.

You can’t throw Engel in there as well. That’s too much.

Is this Hector's way of saying we should be on the lookout for some sort of Frank Castillo update on Ozuna?

No, just speculation from people around here after raBBit said we could trade for a coveted starting pitcher. I don't think the Rays are trading Snell.

I think Kinander has the same sources as @raBBit And I don't mean that as a knock. This just seems very similar to what raBBit was tweeting this morning.

Haha, I actually typed out almost exactly that same response and then thought, "I don't feel like getting involved in this discussion" and deleted it.

If we include Cease in a package for a SP, then all of a sudden Keuchel on a multiyear deal as our second best starting pitcher acquisition isn't so bad.

Does anybody believe we haven't even been in contact with Ozuna about a deal?

And last year, "Whale" was batting cleanup for us.

Thanks. This whole thing is so strange. I might be crazy, but I still think there is something to this, despite what JR said. I don't think a deal was ever reached, but I think a deal was discussed and perhaps was close.

Orlando, ask him if he has talked to Frank Castillo about this report.

Do you think we haven't even had discussions with Ozuna yet?

Perhaps when he said "I don't recall any conversation about Marcell Ozuna", he meant that he doesn't recall any conversation about a deal being finalized. Semantics, yes, but this is very strange either way.

This seems most likely to me. If the Sox simply made an offer, they would deny any rumor that a deal was in place (and they'd be telling the truth). If Ozuna likes the offer and tells his family he will fly to the US to complete a physical and sign the deal, it could leak to this Frank Castillo guy.

What do you think the chances of are of Ozuna being a $50M+ bust? Seems like his floor is a solid 2-3 WAR player.

Of course he doesn't know for sure. I respect his opinion and like talking baseball with him. I'm not looking for an official announcement of a deal.