SouthSideGeorgia

Even after losing Abreu’s contract, along with I assume Harrison’s team option, the Sox are staring at a heavy payroll in 2023 comparable to this season. You have to consider some cheap alternatives at the position players and maybe even the starters to make it similar. Anderson, Robert, Jimenez and Moncada have significant pay increases coming up in 2023 ($12.75 million combined), not to mention Cease and Kopech getting a big well-deserved pay bump in their first arbitrations (I’m assuming an increase of about $8 to $10 million between the two). The Sox could save some money (easy to think like Reinsdorf) by not resigning Abreu, and rolling the dice on Vaughn/Sheets at first base, Romy/Sosa/ J. Rodriguez at 2b and possibly Colas in RF. Obviously, Davis Martin may have to be considered the 5th or 6th starter. I have us right around $170 million next year, losing and not resgining Abreu, Andrus and Cueto. And getting rid of Harrison. That’s losing a lot of talent off a not so good regular season team, and still not being able to do much in free agency. Davis Martin may be a necessity. We also have potential starters in Reynaldo Lopez or Jimmy Lambert, but not sure we entertain that.

For this season when TA returns, the Sox should move Anderson to 2b and keep Andrus at SS. There can be no doubt that Elvis is a way better fielder for us there than Timmy. Maybe it would be too emasculating to the face of our club, but we definitely would be a better fielding team in my mind. 2023… no to signing Elvis. Only because we have a number of potentials in the pipeline. We need a starter in Romy, Sosa or Rodriguez to step up and give us a cheap alternative since money will be tight.

I believe the record is 7-3 now.

I don’t understand why Ethan Katz is on staff and Giolito looks so damn bad these days. I definitely don’t consider extending Giolito, and may consider moving him in the offseason for the right deal. Obviously, we would have to resign Cueto to another year and probably another starter or two. we could permanently bring up Davis Martin in ‘23. I do wonder if they would consider Reynaldo Lopez as a starter in his final year. Yeah, I know been there, done that… but his stuff looks much different. Would weaken our bullpen losing Lopez, but it’s just a thought for 2023. Cease, Kopech, Cueto, Lynn, Martin, Lopez, (Giolito)

Ride out this season and don’t trade away future pieces on a marginal team. If we streak to the playoffs this year, we probably are not setup to take it the distance at this point. Either don’t resign Jose Abreu, or sign him to a one-year deal only. He is arguably our best hitter still, so it’s hard to not try another year. But I kind of want Vaughn to get to his natural position at first. And Eloy should be our DH for now and not in the field. Basically, I could give or take Abreu. Try to resign Cueto for a one year contract next year, and not multiyear. If Giolito recovers decently in 2022, attempt to trade him for prospects, preferably with a young MLB starting arm or a AAA arm that is ready. If Giolito recovers amazing in 2022, I guess roll with him in 2023 and try to resign him. I don’t know how comfortable I feel on a multiyear deal with him, but he’s going to command it. If there is a good trade out there for him with a projectable arm, I would consider it. Deny option on Harrison and promote Lenyn Sosa. Go with him as starter. We need some position starters that give us a discount. Vince Velasquez walks. Heck, I would possibly try to build up Reynaldo Lopez to starter in his last arbitration year. Maybe extend him before doing that. If it doesn’t work, he’s a good bullpen arm moving forward. Cease, Kopech, Giolito, Lynn and Lopez/Cueto…. not too bad. I assume Pollock is back since he has underperformed $10 million for next year. Look into lefty outfielders in offseason.

Get Rodon and a lefty outfielder from Giants… how about Luis Gonzalez too. Zing…

Could the Blue Jays hire LaRussa away from the Sox…. Please?!?

I guess Zavala is the obvious choice to go down since he has options and McGwire does not, but Seby has shown a little more this time that gives you pause. Yes, it was a small sample size, but even his defense behind the plate which was his weakest point last year improved a lot. Mcgwire has thrown out the most base runners I’ve seen from a Sox catcher in awhile and the bat is coming around slowly. We’d have to DFA McGwire if we wanted to keep Zavala on the MLB squad, I think Its Seby to AAA… right?

So this makes Harrison the player on roster with the hottest seat? Disappointments in Grandal, Garcia, Pollock, and Moncada all have extra years on contract. So it has to be Harrison. Especially with 2-3 viable minor leaguers excelling at 2b right now.

Let’s count it out to 13: Cease, Giolito, Lynn, Kopech, Cueto (5) Hendriks, Graveman, Kelly, Bummer, Banks, Lopez, Ruiz, Velasquez, Foster, Sousa, Keuchel (11) Sousa and Foster at least have options, but Foster working his way to almost an essential piece in bullpen these days. Sousa would be dropped (down to 15). I don’t see how you justify Dallas in the bullpen with this lineup. Velasquez and Lopez become long relievers. Banks and Bummer your lefties. It may be Keuchel and Ruiz (or Foster). Not sure. But certainly Dallas is pitching on a hot seat these days, especially with Cueto pitching lights out so far.

With Cueto dealing across two games, we seem to be closer to DFAing Keuchel. Once Lynn returns, we’ll have 7 starters with no options. Unless they want to bullpen both Velasquez AND Keuchel it seems like they will have to DFA one of the starters.

Nice to finally see a starting pitcher from deep in the Draft, come up and actually perform very well. It was better than anything from Stiever or Lambert. About on par with Dunning in his initial games pitched (Of course Dunning was a first rounder). I hope we see Martin spot start here and there and maybe get a shot as fifth starter next year after Keuchel and Velasquez are gone.

If Harrison and Garcia continue to underperform, I have no issue them testing this kid out this year. If it happens at all, I guess we’d be looking after the AS Break. Also, it’s nice knowing we also have 2b Lenyn Sosa raking in AA behind him (soon to be promoted to AAA I assume sometime). Also, Jose Rodriguez played very well through five levels of minor league ball. Obviously, he’s struggling at his newest stop in AA, but I’m hoping he will come around. And this doesn’t even mention Romy as a possibility. Lots of (cheaper) solutions for 2b in the minors that may help us in MLB very soon. I think they may even make up for the Madrigal trade… maybe.

Giolito needs to get the Cubs monkey off his back tonight. Career 8.71 ERA against the Flubbies…

Another Quality start for Rodon

Should Sox push Tanner Banks to high leverage Left arm over Bummer? Aaron doesn’t have much control this year so far.

Kopech pitch count coming inline with innings now.

Let’s jump on Kluber early here…

Burger would easily start over Kevin Smith in Oakland, be cost controllable for that organization for awhile and never look back. Probably some other teams that could use him pretty badly. I mean… Burger is almost like Matt Chapman again for them.

Ok, so I’m really thinking that Burger looks like an MLB starting 3b. Obviously the White Sox have Moncada secured there for another 3 years, so we probably need to showcase Burger and move him for MLB help or future farm pieces eventually (maybe this year). I am challenged to see how we keep him in MLB when the rosters are reduced and Moncada returns in May. We’re paying Leury as the utility guy, and Mendick offers more flexibility of defensive positions compared to Burger, at this time. Unless they start considering Burger at 2b too, it’s hard to imagine him sticking even with his way better bat. Sox already have limited basher in Vaughn and Sheets, so if Burger can’t offer more defensive flexibility, hard to see him sticking with the Sox’s squad. One interesting, high risk thought is moving Moncada. I can hear the laughter now. Obviously, Moncada is a much bigger ceiling over Burger and I’m not going to dispute that. He’s also one of our two (switch) lefty smashers with Grandal. So moving Moncada for Burger also makes the Sox more righty, which wouldn’t be a good thing. Where the potential to move Moncada makes sense is the cost of him now and where his contract goes over next 2-3 seasons. He’s going to get paid a hell of a lot of money. $13.8 million this season, $17.8 million next year, $24.8 in 2024, optional $25 million in 2025. So the questions are is Moncada worth that amount going forward? Has he underperformed that moving $$$ amount to where his trade value suffers (he costs too much)? Would there be other MLB teams interested in Moncada at his upcoming contract salaries? Is the gap in talent between Moncada and Burger so great in comparison to the gap in money right now (Burger paid $700k now and cost controllable during same timeframe as Moncada). Obviously, a cost savings of moving Moncada and starting Burger could help the Sox with some long term moves, like extending Giolito or getting another starter next year in RF (if Pollock opts out). Sox could try to play it out for a bit and see if Burger continues to increase his stock in MLB or MiLB. Also, we would want to see where Moncada performs before Allstar break. Regardless, Burger is talented enough to be a starting 3b. Sox will need to be creative to move him at some point if they don’t consider him a 2b. He may be a trade deadline piece to move to cover any gaps.

Rodon on the mound tonight against the Guardians. Therefore. GO GIANTS!!!

Could be caution, but I also think it’s a tad easier to give Pollock more “injury” time off due to paternity leave. Gives him time with the kid’s first 2 weeks or so. Probably a combination of both… Just my 2 cents…

Time for a Burger bomb if one or more of the batters in front can get on…

Leury made “a play.” Maybe that’s all he needed… hey, I’m trying here.

Pitch to Kelenic was bad. I will say the ump missed the strike two to Kelenic the pitch before in the zone. May have been a different location and outcome if it was 0-2 compared to a 1-1 count. Oh well…