Look at Ray Ray Run

The Rays trading Snell doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Although the Pham trade was odd given their window as well. For how envious Sox fans are of the Rays organization, their fanbase doesn't share your level of excitement. The Rays just sold a 3-4 WAR outfielder in maybe the best year they have had to win/compete in a decade +. The Red Sox are not trying to compete; Toronto and Baltimore are bad. The Yankees are really the only team their competing with, for once, and they have a really good team. The Rays NEVER go for it, and that is maddening. They just traded Pham to accumulate another middle infield prospect, but why? They have no room for him in the system, and the Rays never trade from their prospect wealth to acquire high end/elite talent to compete in a given year. They consistently reshuffle their deck, and put rosters that are watchable and talented but not good enough on the field.

I don't have them available at my fingertips, but it's not far fetched to think a Dominican Reporter could get a scoop on a Domincan player who lives their in the off-season ahead of a US reporter. Orlando said it above, but the Eloy extension and the Machado talks; he was definitely more accurate there than someone like Heyman.

Why? Gallen had a nice year last year - a nice pro-debut - but he was never a big prospect - never even breaking the top 10 for his team.

What reports have said it's not that far along? I have missed those I think. Regardless, why would this guy lie about what Ozuna's family is saying to him? Why does anyone trust Heyman or Nightengale more than this Domincan Reporter? Those two have been wrong just as often as anyone else.

Damn, they are quite high on Thompson.

The Sox could easily have agreed to a deal in principle, pending physical and incentives/etc. The Sox would not announce a deal like that as final as there are things that can hold a deal up at the last minute, but from Ozuna'a perspective he accepted a deal in principle to the White Sox. That way, neither side is lying; the Sox are merely doing what they're supposed to and Ozuna is telling his family it's done. I don't think the Sox care about Bruce Levine's reputation, FYI.

Only way trading Cease makes any sense is if your internal evaluation is lower than what the market values him at. I like Cease, and he has certainly had his market detractors.... so far, he's proven every doubt about him wrong, which is a kid I like to hang onto, but if the Sox view him as a back-end guy or a high-leverage reliever down the road then moving him for a Snell or something would make sense but again, I think Cease is one of those guys that has overcome a lot of doubt to get here... and I don't think he's going to stop now. His size has always been a concern and always will be a concern. It is what it is; that was a concern when you traded for him.

I'd be second in line calling the FO embarrassing, behind BMags, if this is true. Pushing back a signing just to show some random Domincan Reporter that he wasn't right is about as silly as it gets.

This is a tough one for me. I actually think both bats could play up in this situation; I'd give the slight edge to Castellanos as he made some changes last year that really seemed to take off and he's always had a nice profile, he just didn't get the most out of it. I would be happy with either, but I'm also a huge believer in Roberts defense. With defense in mind, while Ozuna is a complete bonehead some times which is what causes his reputation to exceed his defensive metrics, I'd probably lean very slightly to Ozuna. Regardless, this team is talking about adding Castellanos or Ozuna for their 6th/7th spot in the lineup and I just don't think the Sox can go wrong there. Neither will break the bank and kill the team if they don't get better either, so I'd take either one. I don't think the Sox are winning a Betts bidding - I doubt he'll even leave the Red Sox in the first place - so that is my train of thought.

Yeah, seems incredibly risky for Boras to wait out the Cubs with a market that could close up really quickly if the other suitors go in a different direction. I am a fan of waiting the Ozuna/Castellanos markets out until the end, and signing whichever one is stuck out there late in the off-season hoping for a decent deal. I don't think the Sox will do that, and maybe they already got one to agree at a level they wanted.

If the White Sox feel there's next to zero chance Cole will come here without a significant overpay from the White Sox then why waste your time? Cole is already going to be "overpaid" in regards to expected salary because of the teams bidding but if you knew you had to overpay that overpay significantly to lure him from the West Coast or the Yankees then why waste your time in the market? I don't think the Sox would sign him from 7/280 tomorrow - I don't agree with Rosenthal but he surely knows far more than me - but if they would and they don't think Cole would sign for that from the Sox then what's the point?

I get it, but he's always had those elite numbers. He is the greatest strike out pitcher, by rate, in MLB history. There's no doubt that his stuff can dominate people. I think this trading for Darvish for his age 34-37 seasons isn't exactly a great gamble given all his red flags. I thought it was a risky overpay by the Cubs at the time, and it has become that which is why they're in this position. I'm not sure the White Sox can just take on 81 million in dead money; might as well sign Ryu if you want an aging hurler with injury concerns. I like Darvish, I just don't think I like him for the tail end of his career. He doesn't strike me as a guy who will learn to pitch as his stuff continues to deteriorate.

I'm sure they do take it personally when they offer the most money but they're used as a bargaining ploy to get another team to up their offer when there was no intent on signing with the White Sox in the first place. I'm sure every single front office in the world would be bothered by that.

He's 33 years old, and has repeatedly been injured almost every year of his career. He'll be 34 next season, and his signed through his age 37 season. If he was a FA, he would command no where near 4/81 million; hence why he didn't opt out. I don't think he suddenly figured something out at 33 - he's always been dominant K-wise when he's on the mound. His problem has always been command and consistency; he had a real nice second half, but I don't think he suddenly became a .77 BB/9 guy with an adjustment at 33 years old but who knows?

I mean, yeah, but I think it's possible the White Sox just don't have interest in Strasburg. Strasburg seems significantly more risky than Cole, imo.

He's owed 81 million over the next four years and his projections are: 3.8 3.2 2.6 2.2 11.8 WAR projected and that assumes good health. If he stays healthy, he's worth it, but from 2015-2019 Darvish has only thrown 504 innings; a little more than 100 innings a year. If he does anywhere near that number, he's worth 1/2 his 11.8 WAR projection and his contract is well underwater. Steamer is pretty aggressive with his projection given that he has not reach his projected WAR since 2013.

I didnt understand Rosenthal's point last night. He said the sox would be in on Cole but they dont want to bid against the Yankees and Angels. Claimed if boras called and said if you offer 280 we'll sign now, the sox would do it. Well, if he doesnt get to 280 why wouldnt Boras make that call? That excuse sounds like BS. Willing to go to 280 but not even gonna waste their time bidding.

Yeah, that's a real nice lineup from top to bottom. Big power, great speed.

Embarrassing for the Cubs. If the Sox close their window early because of a couple bad FA contracts that'll be horrible as well.

Assuming Vaughn pans out, and that's no guarantee obviously but feels likely, the lineup with Ozuna is rake city. 1. TA 2. Yoan 3. Robert 4. Eloy 5. Abreu 6. Yaz 7. Ozuna 8. Vaughn 9. Madrigal Jaysus

Every bit as bad as the Tatis trade; similar scenario too - neither had gotten into any game action prior to the trade. Although, at least Fields was good for the Dodgers as long as it wasn't the postseason.

And he traded Yordan Alvarez for Josh Fields. Even the best make mistakes in the trade world.

Not all 4 even need to pan out for those to be solid trades.

The dinky trades? I think getting Gio, reylo, dunning, Eloy, cease, Kopech and moncada out of three players is pretty good. Lost tatis and lost Samardzija.

Hahns won more than hes lost in the trade market, imo.