Look at Ray Ray Run

Makes sense. Sandlin as a part of the starting rotation is interesting though...

I still find Hicks intriguing, but I just don't see how he starts. His sinker isn't good enough at 96, and it comes too close to the slider in velocity and basically kills that pitch.

Agreed. Two potentially plus pitches that get a little more life and consistency out of the pen. Just odd that 10% of the Sox payroll is going to be Hicks.

I just meant the point where he releases the ball is unique due to his size and the other variables i noted. His arm angle isnt really one that maximizes actual extension.

Acuna is going to be a stud defensively in center. Great speed. Great instincts despite few reps.

We no longer have the lowest projection at all three outfield positions. We have passed the Rockies in Left Field!

Up to 80 million. We sign one more player, we're not quite as embarrassing as the Rays!

The "don't sign big league outfielders" crowd is in shambles! I would have preferred Bader to Hays, but Hays cheaper. Either way, nice to have at least one veteran out there. Hays defense has been trending down, but his arm is still great and he's a viable starter.

Guys like Oppor come around all the time. Doesn't mean he cant be very good, but unicorns are unique and rare. Being 6'9 and throwing with that angle, extension and release point are all unique. Before last year he also had ++ command. He's also still been growing! Guys like Schultz have HOF ceilings, but the injury risk and set backs last year lowered his floor beyond where it had been.

The reason he's dropped are because of things outside of his ceiling/talent level. He's the only unicorn prospect the White Sox have in my opinion.

I still think Schultz is the best player in the system but he really needs a bounce back.

Him and Caleb have that in common then 😂

100%, and sometimes the gain exceeds the loss. It's not a guarantee though. Making big changes to what got you there is always a risk. People are hyper critical of guys who are hesitant to change, but it makes sense why guys are. It's almost like admitting what youve done your entire life isnt good enough. Unless of course you've always been a tinkerer - i was known (mocked) in college for having 90 different batting stances in 4 years. Change is foreign, scary and unknown but also exciting. Hope this one works for Quero positively. Glad he's trying to check every box to be the best player he can be.

Who is arguing? I swear some of you dont understand how a forum works. Imagine if every thread led to "agree, thanks for sharing!" Over and over.

I think Emerson has the best shot of making it a tough choice for the Sox.

Everytime I read these articles every off season I think two things: 1. Glad to see this guy trying to get better and exhausting all avenues 2. Driveline has a great PR and marketing team I'm not saying they don't do good work, but there are many great shops and coaches that players work with in offseason.

No guarantee he maintains that bat control and ability to square up as he gains MPH. Swinging slower makes bat control easier.

Cant trade Bux anywhere without him agreeing and has sounded like he wanted to stay

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.