poppysox

I don't disagree. My comment was meant to say I trust RH to get an extension on fair terms or be wise enough to trade a player while he still has value. I never want us to be in the Brandt position the Cubs find themselves in with any of our top players. You just can't end up empty-handed with that type of player. Better to trade them a year too early.

Everyone should relax and take a breath. The off-season isn't over yet. Lot's of good players still available and no one knows what the FO is going to do. RH isn't talking it up with the next-door neighbor and JR for sure isn't giving his financial intentions to anyone. It's fun to speculate and play GM but our FO is one of the tightest lipped management groups in sports. My "guess" is something good will be happening soon. Keep the faith.?

Yermin Mercedes should get a tryout while holding down the fort for Vaughn. We might find a valuable trade chip in our own backyard.

Absolutely True !!!

Since it would be ridiculous to trade key pieces from both our starting lineup and bullpen plus throw in a future TOR arm for a #4 in our rotation...I pick B. I would rather have Mike Leake but he wasn't given as an option.

"Pigs get fat...hogs go to slaughter." ?

One year of an ace will get you two nice prospects every time. I'm not worried...RH does extensions better than anyone in the game IMO.

Yermin still deserves a look see...and this first few weeks of the season would serve that purpose. I understand the enthusiasm for Cruz but I would prefer spending the money on starting pitching and handle DH internally in the way I suggested here.

It is a sad day for baseball. RIP Hank. Thanks for some wonderful memories.

We tend to rush our promising players to the majors as well. Kind of overwhelming I would expect.

Eaton is a fun and scrappy player to watch when healthy. I look at his career, not a shorten season snapshot to evaluate if he will be an upgrade. Obviously, the baseball evaluators on the WS agree with me. I find optimism much more enjoyable than pessimism. Baseball is supposed to be something to lose your cares over for a few hours...not aggravate the snot out of you.

Hendriks just had some interesting comments on facing Eaton on NBC Sports a few days ago. Called him a "little gnat" that just drives you nuts with his pesty hitting. Was very up about Eaton and Madrigal as a matter of fact. I love players that can do more than hit a bomb every 5 days.

Not blind...I saw almost every game.

The RF upgrade will look phenomenal compared to what we are accustom to IMO.

The guy in my avatar is Nick Madrigal as you know. One of my favorite players because he is a throwback to the way the game was. Soxtalk is about having opinions and I have a strong opinion that Madrigal is going to be a fan favorite for years to come. I find it laughable that Madrigal makes a couple of bad defensive plays and he becomes a butcher defensively after 29 games. If you bring up his .340 batting average it is because of a small sample size.

I want to keep Madrigal if it comes down to it.

Good post...I agree with you.

The "ace upstart" with the lifetime 4.48 era. I get he has potential and we might make a trade even up for a Vaughn type. No way are we making 3 or 4 to 1 trades for a #4 rotation piece. Frankly...I would prefer Mike Leake and give up nobody.

Leake should be on that list.

I would go low 20's with lots of bonuses for innings, quality starts, etc. Bauer thinks he is better than everyone else...let him put his money where his mouth is. Keep his contract from being a disaster if he is just a little more average than he thinks.

He means trading important players from the major league roster or top prospects for a player whose equal is available in free agency for only money.

And you can get that without giving up anyone.

Why would you want to believe there is an ounce of truth in getting screwed like this?

I think not getting Q at this price means it's a sure thing that something bigger and better is brewing.

I ASSume you are correct.?