Look at Ray Ray Run

He's either younger than his years because his career IP's are low because of all the injuries, or he's old for his age because of all the injuries. He's had an arm injury (Elbow or Shoulder injuries) land him on the IL every year since 2019 but for 2023.

Bannister was with the Sox when Hicks was in San Fran. Hicks was a St Louis guy. Hicks has a huge arm, but at 12 million and his production last year, he's a negative asset. He's also just getting old. I still don't hate Hicks, and it's hard to believe that arm can't find some usefulness in baseball. I thought he'd pan out as a starter but the command just keeps getting away from him.

The same stats? Bonemer by a mile. The Big Ten isn't even equal to complex ball and Bonemer will possibly get a shot at AA this year and that's a incredibly tough hitters environment. The majority of pitchers you see in a college season will never play professionally. It's why I'm more skeptical than some when it comes to grading a college player. He might be unreal and he can only dominate the situations he is given, but the difference in competition is so stark.

You don't have to be fast to be a good defensive shortstop, but it's also incredibly rare to be slow footed (bottom 10%) and be a ++ defensive shortstop. Of the best defensive short stops of the last thirty years, only Corey Seager and Brandon Crawford registered in that range while having very good defensive years. Both of those guys started their careers in the middle or top 3rd of the league too, so it's not as if they started off being slow. Being an average runner is fine, being a slow footed one can impact your up-the-middle defense, especially as you age. From what I've read, Roch is relatively slow but how slow relatively to the league? Who knows at this point. I don't! I also disagree with you significantly with your belief that Roch is a 2 WAR player right now, or that his floor is Bonemer's median case. There's zero doubt Bonemer's offensive projections are higher than Roch's right now (IMO). Part of that is because Roch hasn't had a chance to play against top competition, but as I said based on their age 19 seasons Bonemer is ahead productivity wise... zero doubt about it. His production in A-A+ is much more impressive than Roch's freshman year production. I also don't think I'm going against the consensus at all. There are people in the baseball circles that agree with my general premise.

He's a dick, unlike Roger Clemens who was a notoriously good guy and teammate. Being a free agent kind of sucks when guys start leaking these things that dont really matter.

4 years, 145 million is where I'm guessing. He probably wants a 5th year, but at 32 seems like a big investment!

His contract would increase his trade value.

I think he's got a good amount of K upside still too, with a better mix and some fine tuning but I also think hed be pretty expensive.

Im a big fan of Bello.

Roch #'s at 19 in college: 308/399/500 34 k's in 198 AB's. Bonemer at 19 in A-A+: 281/401/473 101 k's in 385 AB's. Based on production alone, I think Bonemer was by far the better offensive player at relatively the same age.

Also interesting. I think, at worst, they're relatively even. I'd take the guy who has shown some great success at a young age in professional ball over the kid dominating college baseball typically. Because Bonemer hasn't done it at AA yet, and Roch has been on another level the last 12 months as an Amateur, I call it a wash instead of leaning towards Bonemer. I think in 5 months it's more likely that Caleb is the better prospect, and that wouldn't be criticism of Roch. Edit: Jimmy brings up a good point too in that Roch is the more likely shortstop, although Roch lack of foot speed at this age leads me to question the guarantee-to-stick-at-short commentary on him.

A Civil Rights issue? Wowser, seems like a bit much when it comes to internet forum comparisons!

If you view by fangraphs depth charts, the Sox have the lowest projected WAR of all 30 teams at each outfield position too. It's pretty crazy.

Ill put them at 65 wins, so feels like a toss up. Hoping you cash! I like/have Detroit and Milwaukee over 82.5 and I have Jesus Luzardo to win Cy Young at 50-1.

I think my entire point has evolved and been misrepresented. My point was the Sox having the OF situation they do excludes them from having a "great" offseason. That, and the SP situation id argue. They have arguably the worst OF and worst starting staff (on paper) entering the season. The roster situation itself is a failure. I never said Baldwin doesnt deserve a shot with the given roster. Im not sure where that got lost, but just clarifying.

As someone who certainly pokes the bear for fun on occasion, there is something personal about how some guys take team criticism or peoples words/emojis/etc. I try to respond to the post and not the poster, but admittedly have trolled my pal Eddy a bit of late! I disagree based on the content and context, not the individual. I also just disagree with everyone because writing "i agree" feels like clutter. Some people take it very personally while others get it. I couldn't care less if you call me names, laugh at my posts or get personal. Said it 100 times but none of this is more than entertainment with some occasional laughs. Maybe @Chicago White Soxis right and im out of town stupid on some of the guys. I hope so! Because at the end of the day, I want nothing more than the Sox to be good. I just wont lower my standards to meet them in the garbage heap. In general I agree, but ive always just ignored posts I dont want to read, and ive never been a content cop just like id never complain to an internet moderator about a poster. We're all adults, move on if youre not interested and please leave your feelings at the door. I do apologize to CWS for hurting his feelings by not being as good and detailed a poster!!!!

Agree with this well. But Kelenic would be last on my list of the guys who get a shot.

My stance has been that neither Kelenic nor Brooks Baldwin should be handed an outfield job. The only outfielder deserving of that chance is Acuna. I would obviously take Baldwin over Kelenic 100 times out of 100.

His 100AB running wxOBA on the last day of the season was 314, which is right at league average. Not bad! He was a negative defender who hasn't fared well in the outfield so far, as you pointed out. When I joined the board, fans weren't arguing that players like Brooks Baldwin should be handed a job out of Spring Training. Big league jobs on competitive teams are earned, they're not handed to guys that have proven nothing. 200 Plate appearances? Come on man. I'm still analytical, which is why I'm scoffing at 200 PA's earning a guy a starting nod on a major league team. I never ever said to give up on him too. He should have a right to earn a spot on the team. You're handing him a MLB starting outfielders job with all the flaws you, yourself, point to above. This isn't some elite prospect with loud tools. he was the 25th! ranked prospect in the Sox system last year. I just don't agree with handing a player of that ilk a starting job without truly earning it.

To start in the big leagues at the beginning of this season? Of course not. In 450 career at bats he's a negative player who has been a butcher defensively. He had an xwOBA of 307 last year while being a liability in the field. At most he should be playing himself into paying time as a utility player who can cover IF and OF spots.

Pal, read the quote you're citing. My lord. I'm joking/mocking the money savings, and go on to say it never makes sense, never happens, and isn't a real thing. Have a good rest of the day!

Huh? I've said the exact opposite. The sign to trade strategy almost never happens, never works, and is a fantasy made up by fans. Players don't sign for a market rate and then get dealt for much more 3 months later without fundamentally changing who they are, which rarely happens. They're also human beings so it's a pretty terrible employee relations strategy. I want to sign MLB caliber starters to play and try to win baseball games. The fact that is a foreign concept shows how far your brain has fallen into this perpetual rebuild trap and obsession. Which is really just what shitty owners and teams has sold fans as the reason for being bad.

Conforto is not a MLB caliber starter. Hence why no one is going to sign him to start everyday... except maybe the White Sox. The White Sox aren't rebuilding, they're bad. People should really stop using the word rebuilding to describe BAD baseball teams.

What don't you understand about my position? I believe in investing in the bullpen as the last step of roster development. Not as it being the lynch pin of an off-season for a team who's lost 100+ games repeatedly.

I think Acuna probably deserves a shot to start, but just understanding that he's a pretty limited offensive player. The other guys shouldn't be "given a shot" or handed a starters job anywhere.