SoCalChiSox

I feel Sox will also go after Manaea as he opted out. They have wanted him for awhile. I think Nastrini will also be in the rotation maybe even to start the year. And one of Flaherty/Giolito due to Katz...although JR may veto the latter even if its relatively cheap and they'll let Eder sink or swim. Basically they can create an entire rotation plus a swing man (Bush?) with very little spending. They got some potentially useful pieces/depth and a bridge SS for Montgomery so it's hard to be upset with the return here.

This would actually be a really cool lineup. Even the bottom third is really promising. If they can get Kjerstad, Ortiz and a close to MLB SP like Povich you gotta do it. Between Nastrini, Eder, Povich, Mena, Bush, Thompson and Cannon, I'd like to think at least 2 can be solid reliable members of the rotation and maybe even 3.

I dont know about Top 14 suitors for Ohtani, but here's a spoiler alert, the Sox aren't among the Top 29 suitors for Ohtani.

For what its worth and that's not much, according to Baseball Trade Values, Cease's surplus value (44.80) is virtually identical to the combined surplus value of Kjerstad, Ortiz, Bradfield and Povich (44.30). I'm pretty sure no one here would turn down that package for Cease.

This. Boras will never allow an extension much less a reasonable one and JR doesn't pay pitchers.

If JR is ok with it, they should bring back Giolito on a cheap prove it deal, they'll prolly sign Manaea who recently opted out as their "splash", Kopech will be the 3, Nastrini 4, and 5 will be between Bush and/or Eder or MLB ready prospect from trades. To answer Sarava, we aren't "trying" to lose 110 games but the end result might be relatively close to that. The rotation will be rough this year but see what you you have with youngsters. If they can get Kjerstad and Ortiz that would be great and solve alot of issues on the field...esp since Ramos and Montgomery are expected in 24. So we could reshape most of lineup quickly.

Then I hope October pain is something they enjoy. Again.

I'm never opposed to more left handed savagery.

Cowser, Ortiz (if Montgomery cannot stick at SS he can be the guy there defensively, if not he can be 2B) and Povich for Cease. If BAL says no, remind them they won as many playoff games in 23 as the Sox.

Holy s%*#. A LHH shortstop with mega OBP AND 70 grade game power? That's literally an actual unicorn.

MOAR over the hill RHH, what could go wrong?

Good moves it seems from most reviews.

Maybe later in his career but if he play well at SS for 3-4 years before moving to 3B that would still be great.

If Vaughn can finish the season around .270 with like 22-23 HRs that would be a pretty solid output for him.

I'm totally ready for Montgomery/Ramos at SS and 3B.

Ramos?

Not surprising but still disappointing. Sigh

Dude will finish up the next few weeks in BHAM go to AFL and then a month in CHAR next year for service time and he should be our starting SS at that point. If TA is still here, he will move to 2B till deadline. And Ramos should be up and starting at 3B on big club before deadline too.

IMO, this is almost certainly the plan. Don't want to handcuff potential buyers with a long term high salary independent minded GM and turn them off, so go with the cheap salary short term yes man option.

If Getz were a savant, the minor league pipeline wouldn't be trash outside of a small handful of guys.

Isn't there a union rep on every team at all times? So he's going to get rid of everyone who ever serves in that capacity?

Bring Gio back...sign him to a reasonable mid rotation contract and put him back at No. 3.

I think the issue is even if they did a legit search no truly good candidate would take this job with the given constraints and the likelihood they'd be out when ownership changes which will be soon one way or another. It's not a recipe for success and therefore it's not a recipe for a 2nd contract. Only someone clearly not qualified and clearly unable to get a similar job elsewhere would agree to be JRs puppet and be micromanage and therefore here we are with Chris Getz.

Nice...good for him. Ramos should also be promoted.

Back surgery can be very risky...especially if it's like a fusion or something. That is a big decision that goes well beyond baseball. He's already made alot of money it might not be worth it to do a major back surgery in terms of quality of life.