Perfect Vision

It would be meaningful to me. It's a short season, but all teams will start in an equal position and on equal footing. Whoever wins deserves to be crowned and celebrated. No one will forget this as the "covid-shortened season," but I personally won't question its legitimacy in the record books. Frankly, if the season actually gets played and finished, whoever wins will be 1000% more legitimate than the 2017 Astros.

How would service time even work in a season like this? I think we all expected Madrigal would be in AAA for a least a few weeks to start this season.

The MLBPA badly botched this situation, so that they will have to vote against their own self interests today (additional games, universal DH, expanded playoffs) and instead get the mandated 50 game season. By making that final counterproposal, which MLB ignored, they can't now accept MLB's previous proposal without sending a signal of weakness and incompetence to the owners, which they surly wouldn't forget come CBA time. It also likely ended any chance the players had at winning a grievance against MLB. It was just a terrible, terrible mistake by Tony Clark, et al.

There are about 5-6 guys that I'd be fine with them taking at 11. The only way I think I'll truly be disappointed is if Detmers is there and they pass on him.

Yes, which may be the point if they're trying to work out a deal with him.

Can't say I agree. The teams picking before the Sox are going to do what they're going to do, and nothing the Sox say or do is going to have any impact on that. The Sox saying they LOVE Crochet a few days before the draft isn't going to persuade the Padres to pick him.

Can someone explain to me the purpose of draft day misdirection. I understand in other sports where you can trade picks, where you wouldn't necessarily want to broadcast who you like in fear that another team will trade in front of you to select that player. But in MLB? Is it all about negotiations with the players (like telling Abel's camp that the Sox are really interested in Crochet so they can cut a better deal with him)?

In Sox news, does this increase the chances that Madrigal is up on April 8th or something like that? If Bryant couldn't win his case, I can't see how anyone could.

This move helps the Twins, no doubt. They should enter the 2020 season as AL Central favorites. But, I've watched too many teams in my lifetime with great offenses but questionable starting pitching to know that is not a formula for success. Just like with the Sox, the Twins ultimate success will hinge on their no. 3-5 starters.

To be fair, he presumably liked Jordan Lyles better.

That random reddit user who nailed everything said that Ryu was the Angels primary pitching target. My guess is that he ends up there. If the Sox step up to the plate and offer Keuchel a 4 year deal, I think the Sox will get him. If not, he'll end up signing a 3 year deal with one of the Braves, Dodgers, Astros, Blue Jays, etc.

This is actually good to hear, as we really haven't heard much of anything recently connecting the Sox to either pitcher. Bruce's sources are certainly White Sox connected and not Boras connected, making it unlikely that this info is just an agent leverage play.

I actually think 4/70 or so would be enough to get Keuchel signed. With so many tier 3 starters getting signed over the last week or so, I don't get the impression that there are really a lot of suitors for Keuchel at this point at his supposed asking price. The Twins and Sox are the two that make the most sense. I could see the Braves, Dodgers, Astros, and other teams maybe jumping in with 3 year offers, but I don't think any of them are going 4 years.

Hahn and company are entirely to blame for the position they put themselves in. What do you think Bloom is thinking right now? He's thinking the Sox can't/won't deal with Boras, so any threat they might be making to sign Keuchel or Ryu is bunk. And they desperately are ready to compete after a painful rebuild. So, yeah, Bloom is negotiating from a position of strength and confidence, and the Sox ineptitude is the reason for that.

Others are on the periphery though. The Dodgers, Braves, or Astros could swoop in and sign one of those guys if the opportunity presents itself, even though they're not nearly as desperate for pitching as the three teams you mention.

If Benintendi is included, Vaughn is probably going to the Red Sox. That just seems like the reality of the situation, even if it seems like an overpay. I like Vaughn a lot and hate that the Sox could end up trading a good prospect when they just could have signed a free agent, but between Abreu, Grandal, and Collins, the Sox have a group of guys under team control for 3+ years who can give solid production at 1B. The rebuild can be successful even without Vaughn.

So Blue Jays and Cardinals have signed starters today. Either could possibly still be in on Ryu or Keuchel, but less likely.

He got Cole to the Yankees, when most were still predicting the Angels.

If Kopech struggles with his command in spring training, then yes, he should go to AAA. If he looks sharp, though, he should be in the rotation. Many seem to be advocating for AAA no matter how he looks.

We're not talking about regaining anything over night. He's probably working on it now, and has all of spring training. You're concerned about him not facing MLB lineups in spring training, but going to AAA is going to solve that. Huh? Then you mention the extra year of control, which is really what people want and is why they want him back in AAA. According to Hahn, today, there is nothing physically wrong with Kopech.

This at least makes sense. But, why not have Kopech pitch in April - July, and then be replaced by Rodon when he is ready?

Not a single starter will enter spring training ready to throw 5+ innings. They all build up arm strength over those 6 weeks. I agree they need to see how it goes. But if/when he outperforms Covey or whoever, he should be in the opening day rotation.

It is a question.