poppysox

When healthy I like our chances with a core of Moncada, Benintendi, Robert, Eloy, Vaughn. IMO DeJong is a fine bridge to Montgomery, and I think Lopez will get lots of playing time as super-sub. Cease should / will be traded to whichever team fills two of the three remaining RF, 2nd base, and catcher positions with good but perhaps blocked players. They should be ML ready not future hope and dream type players. This assumes of course that JR was serious about competing this year. Finish the Cease trade with however many serviceable arms make the deal work. Use free agency for that position still needing improvement and a couple of arms. Personally, I feel we improved by the subtraction of Grandal, Anderson, and Bummer. The pitchers we lost were nothing to write home about either. It's not the 27' Yanks but this squad would compete for a playoff spot IMO.

I hope we shoot higher than Maldonado. Catcher is the most important defensive position on the field. The old Maldonado would have been perfect.

For the reasons you state...I like DeJong as a bridge to Montgomery. The veteran presence is also a plus.

Two players and maybe a third who will be on the 24' squad and rid us of a player in Bummer who most of us just couldn't strand when he entered a game.

I wish we wouldn't keep acting like this is the Hahn / Williams approach to team building. Getz is a new GM and deserves a chance to show us his "approach." So far, I like the change in coaching / staff building and his first trade was very encouraging.

Both Bevington and LaRussa were far worse than Pedro IMO.

Yes, but correct on the annual salary.

I agree with your view on Eloy, Moncada, and Benintendi staying on the team and playing up to their abilities. We have already improved by the subtraction of Grandal, Anderson, and Bummer. Plug in a right-fielder, catcher, 2nd base upgrade and some decent pitching. Getz has a lot of work to do this week but it's not impossible.

DeJong is a bridge to Montgomery and Lopez is well suited to the utility role. Too early in the offseason to worry about the opening day lineup.

Proof that a million dollars isn't what it used to be.

At worst he will be a useful bench piece. I love players with defense and speed. Those skills come to the park every day.

I love Bummer's stuff but enough is enough. He becomes "a deer caught in the headlights" when it matters. That we got some useful pieces is a nice surprise.

Good post...I agree with you.

I would prefer a former player myself.

The 30 guys who make up the GM's club are regular people who like some members of the club more than others. That is a factor when clubs seem to make trades with the same clubs year after year. I think Getz has a much more likeable personality than Hahn and I hope his circle of trade partners to be larger than Hahn's.

IMO Pedro will never be worse than Tony. Pedro at least stood up a fair amount of time.

Yeah...but he has pote?ntial.

Let's not forget Brian Bannister as pitching adviser. He might be the most important coach/advisor acquisition of all.

What? Speed and defense play in any park IMO.

I like the focus on speed and defense. Those skills show up every day and are cheaper to acquire. We obviously have huge pitching needs, so I don't see the money to pay for those extra homers.

He would be a good placeholder for Montgomery. Can move to second or utility when that happens.

I'm also excited...loved him as a player,

Time to ask ourselves...what would Bill Veeck do?

He is a little old (35) for my taste but as a FA he will only cost money. I like the idea the more I think about him though.

I would focus on speed and defense. Those skills are much cheaper to attain than power bats. A return to go-go White Sox is fun to watch and within our probable budget.