Capital G

I don't think they will play around with holding out for either. The offer is on the table for MM. IMO MM fits our baseball needs better. BH fits our marketability need more.

I dont even get this for the Ms. They are rebuilding yet they sign a 27 yr old with a history of arm issues. I guess they can make some bank off the Japanese market.

LOL

Statistics are all 50/50. Either he is or he is not................................................. If were not competing I think he should have a decent leash on him. IMO even if we land MM/Harper we still wont compete this year so there's probably an 80% chance Gio is in the rotation by mid season barring an implosion by him.

I am torn as the end game should always be a WS. However, I think the play-off run may be better for the Sox future. Why? -We have seen plenty of people share that were not a great FA landing spot bc were not perennial winners. Being in it for 5-6 years in a row, even if no WS, could work out in the end as more FAs see us as winners (of course we all know $ would still reign supreme) -The more years in a row we are in the play-offs the more money/fan interest

If we swing and miss on MM/Harper I only want the Sox to go after players they think they can trade at the dead line and continue on the path of the rebuild. But if I had to choose between those guys I would not mind: Grienke Also would not shed tears over Longo/Seager only bc we dont have any 3rd basemen on the horizon.

1. Frank Thomas 2. Mark B. 3. Alex Fernandez 4. Aaron Rowand 5. Magglio

He's right. Also, Lynn and Norton are off the board. The mentioned SP would be decent additions for a 1 year deal while they keep the seat warm for Cease. 19: Rodon, Lopez, Gio, Nova, one of the above mentioned SP (Cease comes in later in the year) 20: Rodon, Lopez, Cease, Gio, Nova until Kopech is ready. Also at some point in 20 Dunning would be ready as well as (fingers crossed he finds himself again) Hansen.

I like it. We traded a good hitter, at the catcher position, who could not play catcher...... for a solid RP w/ 2 yrs of control.

What's the worry about Corbin? Just the money or his performance? I don't know much about him.

Typically I would agree. But at those times there was always a team that was a clear cut playoff contender. Tigers/Royals/Indians. IF Cleve sells who is going to be a far and above better team than the team I outlined? Not the Tigers and Royals. Not the Indians if they sell. Minny? Not to mention signing a Haap and Cruz for a couple years wont hurt us if it does not work out. We don't lose prospects and we don't have to worry about salaries. Whether it works or not our rebuild is not impacted at all. We either compete this year or we don't and we flip Cruz. Even if for some reason Cruz bombs he'd be gone before he is blocking anyone in the minors and his salary would not keep us from FA this or next year.

I like this for the same reason I'd like a Haap type signing. If we also sign Machado or, I can dream, Machado + Corbin this opens our window to the AL C in 2019. Especially if Cleve decides to sell. What's the worst that could happen? We have Cruz on a 1 year deal (maybe 2), no one else signs with us, we suck again this year. We can flip him at the trade deadline to a team in contention that could use his bat (and if he sucks we eat his contract. Again, no biggie due to our low payroll). Not like the $ we would spend on him would tie us up in our rebuild window and/or keep us from signing one or more of Machado/Harper/Corbin. I can live with this in 2019 Castillo/Narvarez Abreu Moncada Anderson Machado OF: Palka Engel (we'd likely need him and have to deal w/ his bat if we plan on having Palka in the OF) Eloy DH: Cruz SP: Rodon Lopez Haap/Gio Gonz/etc (If somehow we land Corbin of course move him to #1) Gio Covey With a very weak ALC (assuming Cleve does sell) we could win the ALC in 2019 and still have contracts of Cruz/Haap fall off once were ready to bring up our young guys and still have payroll flexibility.

I dont have an issue. Surround him with better players and let's see what he can do. Not like we cannot fire him if needed and his contract will be inexpensive.

In most cases UCL injuries are due to repetitive stress damages, not a one time movement/occurrence. So, he likely would have had needed the surgery a couple of starts into 2019.

Machado over Harper. But I would take Corbin over either. I am guessing eventually our infield will look like this: Abreu (if gone Palka?) Madrigal Anderson Moncada We have a lot of OF depth coming up in regards to Harper. We dont have any sure studs at SP which Corbin is and would come cheaper than either Machado or Harper. IMO SP > *

I don't think it's about signing him bc he is good. we'd sign him bc he is a need w/ Kopech down and bc he is an innings eater. IMO option 1 is we find a vet that may be around same cost, eats innings, and is a better flip candidate. Option 2 is Shields. Option 3 we roll with one of our prospects. All in all I don't think Shields would be a terrible idea (Assuming he signs for a 1 yr cheap deal).