GreenSox

Certainly hope it's nothing. Good lord. Sign me up for the Reynolds deal if this is the alternative.

?? Those are exactly the guys we should trade (not Eloy, as that's clearly selling low). You want to trade our best prospects. Sheets, Burger, Crochet and a couple of low minors guys for Reynolds? fine. And BTW, we're mired in mediocrity because spent $36 million on Leury, Harrison, Kelly and Pollock, the latter of whom suddenly can neither hit nor defend.

.795 isn't bad, but certainly not "one of the best in the game" unless/until he repeats that 2021 a few times. Sox are 18th in OPS, so, no kidding, he would be one of our best hitters. But not for our top 2 prospects (good orgs don't trade their top 2 prospects and few in the top 5 anyway). The package is Burger, Sheets, maybe Crochet, a low level minor leaguer or 2. That should do it for the Pirates. Re our top 2 prospects, they aren't just out of thin air. They are based on what the Sox do well: Players from Cuba Middle infielders: Escobar, Anderson, Tatis, Semien is top shelf in development. Oh and Hahn castoff Luis Gonzales has a .777 OPS with the Giants. We may not be even having this conversation if the GM was current on analytics and didn't jam the 40-man with high K reliever who can't throw strikes. The Sox farm is better than advertised.

I certainly wouldn't give away good youth for rentals. But this isn't the time of year to trade for long-term guys (price is higher) and if you trade for a long-term guy, you better be sure. The following relievers were each traded (by Rick Hahn) for Rule 5 players: A) 41 games, 48.1 IP, 2.23 ERA, 1 Sv, 1.034 WHIP B) 40 games, 38.2 IP, 2.56 ERA, 16 Sv, 1.164 WHIP

He's a seedling, more than that really. Teams absolutely will want him. High school Pitchers (seeds when drafted) have the lowest success rate; so teams like to trade for, say high A or AA prospects (seedlings). That's what I was trying to say. I see both sides of this; I lean to the reliever side, given the lack of starter depth, the Sox could have stretched him out this season, but didn't.

I don't disagree. But look at this year then .795. Say he's really .820. That's good, not great. And his defensive numbers aren't particular good.

I'd say that if the Sox can't/won't turn Crochet into a starter, then I would be willing to trade him. For someone good - not a middle reliever or that ilk. Everybody wants developed or semi-developed pitching prospects; seedlings have a much better chance at success than seeds.

It shouldn't cost nearly that much to get him. And he has a .795 OPS this year. He had a .632 OPS 2 seasons ago.

There would certainly be a lot of interest in those guys, especially in return for the freak-year rents, middle relievers and utility players Hahn is likely to target. And all because he took a nap in December and wasted $36 million on a group of players who aren't even average. The Sox don't have near enough minor league pitching to fuel the majors over the next few year.

No he wasn't.

Yes, Archer too (on the other side). Let's get some of that action. For goodness sakes don't be dupes to the Pirates. This is the kind of deal where you should move Burger and Sheets along, with a couple of low level prospects. Crochet, okay, but just be sure on this guy. Get the good scouts to look at him.

The Astros didn't give up a single top 100 prospect for Gerrit Cole. Anyway, making a trade like that this time of year is silly. Look for cheap rentals.

Well 10-9 against the central the last couple of weeks is closer to running in place. If Boston is selling Martinez shouldn't cost too much.

Not much right now. But, really, selling low (and buying high) is just not the best approach.

Hahn spent $18 million on Leury, Harrison and Kelly. Then he can't afford a real RF or 2B. And then picking Kimbrel over Rodon. Hahn/Haber is just a major anchor to overcome.

Just don't overdo it. Takes away flexibility, especially if the farm starts generating good players.

Sure he is, but the inputs aren't equal. It would cost 4 Colas' to get Soto for his 2.5 years. And in another couple of years the Sox would look like the Nats, but without a Soto to trade. And beyond that, he would absorb 25% of the Sox payroll. Rick Hahn can't put a team out there without gaping holes as is; how's he going to do with with 25% less payroll room and little young talent?

Neither Hahn (nor Haber) can evaluate talent, so I can only hope that he's starting to listen to his internal scouting and player development department (which I think pretty objectively is on the rise) and not relying on top 100 lists. This Hunter Dollander looks interesting in Kanny. He's older (but just a year out of college) but tore up Az and is blistering Kanny. Low Ks and low walks. Google told me that he was a great player for a NAIA school, and the Sox signed him from out old friend, and now indy-league, Great Falls.

Maybe this is where some coaching could help. Same with all of the high-K pitchers; many walk way too many, including those on the major league staff. More command and control please.

If a pitcher can strike guys out, the Sox will keep him on the 40 man for as long as possible. Also see Aybar, Yoan. Sosa should be the team's 2B next year; one thing the scouts have done well in the last decade or so is find middle infielders (even though FO may not recognize it).

I get why he pulled Lynn; the pitching broke down at the end of last season and he's trying to keep the old guy reasonably fresh. And it's not like the FO added any depth to the rotation this year. LaRussa likes to use his bench, he likes middle relievers and utility players, relying on 3 or 4 stud hitters to drive in the runs. The stud part hasn't happened yet and the bench is well below par. He also used to show some creativity, such as turning Eck into a reliever; haven't seen much real creativity. He did some odd things his first go-round in Chicago. Maybe it will pay off in the end (several Sox are just having bad seasons); maybe (likely) he's not a good fit for this stodgy FO and that his ideas are outdated.

4 top 10 prospects plus other young players for Schwarber's homers and a pile of mediocrity. This looks like a couple of of Hahn's desperation trades. That the farm is really improving is the bright spot this season and should give hope for a continued window (unless they give it away.

They probably will; just on the Rays side of the trade.

Wonderful.

The FO is and has been the problem for a decade; perhaps decadeS. There are so many things they mess up. And there are things they get right: but they squander it as if they didn't even realize they got it right. If the Sox had Cleveland's FO with the the Sox budget, we'd be the Astros in a perpetual window.