Chisoxfn

Money talks. They will have no problem signing people if they change in what they spend and operate and with new owner. This thing can change pretty fast if done right.

I wouldn't go long term on any starting pitcher - so I agree with you completely. I do think the Sox either go short term with some investments next year to be able to turn them into assets at next year's deadline while you wait for the new CBA...or you do a little bit of both - and potentially go after one or two younger impact guys in free agency to start to build a better core - and quite frankly - you got to find ways to start to turn things around and instill the right presence in terms of where the franchise is going. Tucker & Bichette would be two pieces that should be around and high level for a while and fill major needs. Bichette is a bit up and down so would be curious where the market ultimately was with him - but a good piece nonetheless.

This was my point - and this would just get us to a middle of the road payroll. From there over another year or two - maybe get into top 10 in payroll. Shoot - I wanted them to trade for Bellinger at a discount - would have worked out nice right now flipping him! Now I agree - I would spend some of the money building a better front office and development staff - but it would have to be under Getz watch and I would splurge on some shorter term deals for guys to flip - but if they could swing big for a young star - you do it too.

Personally I like Jace more than the prep shortstops. Feels like with where Sox are - you get a legit power bat and strong athlete who profiles in corner - overtime he pairs with his former college teammate Montgomery. Elite exit velocity - tons of upside - yeah he’s got some stuff to work on but if Sox can get him for right price and than splurge in next round or two even better. Have no issue with the prow shortstops either - but Jace is a strong sec player who has all the tools.

Lets suspend disbelief for a moment and just state that things fundamentally change in '26 from a financial perspective with JR knowing he has a transition plan in place and access to new capital - both to support the stadium as well as player payroll. As part of that initial mandate the new owner basically tells JR - lets add $100M per year in recurring payroll - basically get this payroll to being an avg payroll club (150M in payroll puts the team basically at 14/15th in the majors in annual payroll). In my simple exercise - lets assume Sox move on from Robert and Benitendi (even if it means paying half of Andrew's payroll) - so for simplicity lets just state that after those two moves and with arb etc, Sox are starting next year with $50M in payroll. What would you do and how might we accelerate a competitive team (or use of 1yr deals or other options that leverage payroll) to fast track this rebuild. Said another way - you have $100M to spend between now and the '26 season - and big, long term contracts are on the docket (but for sake of this exercise - lets assume no funny business - so any deals aav is # of years divided by total $). How would you do it? Build your roster - can you build one that turns the club into a legitimate wild card contender with longer term upside??? Do they just spend 80% of it on Tucker and Alonso and hope addition of 2 stars at positions of need can be enough to jump star this franchise and form a core with younger players who will emerge over time???

This - they really got to hopefully find the right bidder on him and Tauchman. Not saying they will get a ton - but these guys are good enough that if the scouting department hits and front office does the right thing - they could get some LT productivity out of these two short-term moves. Robert unfortunately is going to be a waste - but maybe with enough money or taking on a different buy-low candidate that maybe Sox can salvage (but help a team shed salary), they can get something for Robert (cause someone is squinting hard enough - but clearly nothing that great).

Exactly - they can always bring him back in the off-season or bring someone else back. Payroll is low and I kind of expect we'll maybe see them go short-term on a guy or two they think they can flip this upcoming off-season, knowing that they won't be ready to go all-in (by any stretch), however, at the same time, they won't get a top 10 pick, so no harm finding a few guys who maybe sit on the market and giving them at bats for 2-3 months and paying them to help fill other voids (while not getting in the way of development) and than you flip them for some additional talent.

The Dodgers have people playing all over the field at times and have for a long time. It hasn't impacted their production at all. Now if a guy gets injured because he's playing a position he is completely incompetent at - fine. But I don't think playing 2B instead of SS is going to be such a big deal that an otherwise great hitter ends up being bad. Not a chance. If they were that weak - they would fail anyway in baseball - its a hard sport.

Exactly - and if they can take advantage and get a possible long time first basemen for a journeymen who is hot - awesome.

Rip - A total legend on the mound who overcame a lot of challenges in life.

I think you use the term game changer loosely - but I don't disagree he could be a solid big man addition if they move Vuc - as a bridge candidate.

I would trade for Kuminga and take a chance on a young athletic 22 year old and see if he hits. Feels like he won’t be a massive overpay either given it’s his 2nd contract vs 3rd. Vuc and Ayo or Vuc and Portland pick. Than at some point deal White - but at least the Bulls would be a young and athletic team with some talent - they also will be bad but far more worthwhile and interesting than last handful of teams.

Now if they follow this up and trade Vic and Pat for Beal and some assets I’m happier. I don’t mind that the team has a lot of young players - that part is at least good and plenty are solid - not likely any hit into a star but I get that concept at least - but when you are doing that strategy - you need to also accumulate assets at stages.

Ak and Reinsdorfs are such trash. Had a frp from Memphis instead we get a meh rotational player. I’d prefer the pick.

In the smaller sample size - what was the injury he was coming back from? Was HBP but it was hand/wrist injury? My half glass full hope would be he still wasn't all the way back and that impacted him a bit and he's now dialing back in to where he was those first few weeks after coming back from Arizona.

I will say - if the Bulls acquired Beal and bought him out and they gave up Patrick Williams and got Malauch that would be stellar. I'd even give up the Portland pick at this point and just be happy using our cap space and accelerating flexibility (ie dumping Williams longer term to take on Beal's higher up front $'s) while getting a big in Malauch that becomes quite interesting with the other young parts. Team will still be crazy raw - but at least you can see a lot of young athleticism with tools and over time you figure out who sticks and those that maybe don't get to where you want you can still package up to take on better veteran players and/or use cap space, etc. My presumption is if that was going to happen though it would have happened during the draft not after...but I think value wise it probably would be a pretty fair trade.

Know nothing about him - but like the profile at the minimum.

In fairness - if you are in contention, yes, when you aren’t contending I think you can do more of this to see what flexibility exists and how to stretch people or try to get them there over time cause in grand scheme those mistakes while they can cost you games - are acceptable given fact we are not contending for anything - as long as it fits within a clear plan and they are doing those things to teach amd develop.

Agree. I’m giving Vargas as much time at 3rd as possible.

Best case he gets hot and you maybe get a reliever type of prospect for him. In meantime at least he is here to kind of protect the rest of the arms. Vaughn was gone no matter what at end of the year anyway.

*KNOCK ON WOOD*

This is fantastic - timing is great too. I want to see stadium deal announce at 79 or alternate site in Chicago by end of year with 29 opening date. Means we should see them spend in 28 offseason and maybe even in 27 offseason heading into 28 - so they are dialed in and excited for new stadium etc. Timing lines up well with rebuild cause him coming in now and spending massive money while exciting probably would be too soon to blow the wad - in another year / 2 - hopefully system continues to depend and major league roster has added some attractive pieces from system including some guys making it up this year.

The Crochet trade on paper is looking pretty good early - for both teams - but Sox needed positional talent and while Montgomery is slumping, he is high upside and high character and Meidroth isn’t sexy but a damn solid ball player and OBP machine and Teel looks like a potential long time stud catcher. Hopefully we are even more excited a year from now about those three and I’m still thinking Wiki can be a solid reliever in time.

Id take him back - but I am a thibs fanboy!

Isn’t this as simple as they want to make sure him and quero are both getting lots of reps and at bats? Teel the better catcher but having him get time at 1B isn’t a bad thing either to keep him fresh too.