GreenSox

I hear what you are saying, but even if the Sox hit on Robert, it's only 1/10 he's a Harper. No one gets a Harper 2/10 tries. As for getting productive major leaguers, yes, they should hit better than 2/10. And yes, I agree that part of this is to mask and/or energize a rebuild that appears stunted. Well, so be it.

Hahn's best trade was Eaton #1. He's gone that route only once since: Davidson/Reed, which I still think was well intended and worth the risk. Regardless, 50% leaves you a big winner. So why did he stop? Those are the kind of moves this team needs now, 5 years later. They don't need guys past their prime (like Alonso). Re the rebuild, he's already whiffed on 1 major pitching prospect and likely a 2nd; none of the others have proven that they are even mid-rotation guys. There have been no whiffs on the position side yet, but no absolute hits either. Hopefully we see real progress soon.

The pitching didn't exactly shine either.

That would be terrible for the Dodgers.

Lester was about 60% of the cost of these guys. But Astros, Brewers, Braves, As, etc. Indians didn't need anyone like that. You just have to be able to assemble a large group of ascending young players in order to win (harper/machado or not).

It shouldn't though. Other successful rebuilders didn't need FAs at this level (or at this point in the rebuild) to build the core and complete the mission. I think they need them because, well, Hahn is running this rebuild and I think he needs a boost. But it shouldn't.

Kluber, yes. Pollock is one of those mid tier FA who are best avoided, imo. As for Harper, they'll probably have to break the luxury tax, but I think they'll do it with a shorter term deal. Yes that would mean Harper "leaves money on the table" but he'll be 30 when he has a chance to get it back and more.

Burger was a reach and otherwise dubious pick, but, no, the Sox don't need a bunch of rentals. They need to develop a core, if they can.

Exactly.

And that's that.

That may even be a superior strategy to signing Machado or Harper. But when in the world has this FO ever done such a thing? In a smaller scale, Alonso was exactly that type of player - a team trying to dump salary and Alonso a player barely over replacement making $8 million...the Sox sent a prospect. Edwin Jackson and Shields were clear salary dumps, and the Sox are shelling out the prospects (and in those cases, good ones). They just aren't that creative...and thus I hope they sign one of these guys, realizing the risk that they'll start shoveling prospects for 2 year vets (likely overrated vets) to build around them.

Good one.

Hope you're right - that's a light offer.

Don't be stupid, Reds.

Pollock's not what he was.

That's precisely the kind of trade the Sox should not make. It's a 78 win farm depletion trade that leaves any sort of future up to Hahn/Hostetler drafting.

Just from the Hahn era: Samardzija Shields Frazier LaRoche Lawrie In one sense, Navarro was probably the worst of the last 20 years; BUT, somehow, the Sox FO convinced the Brewers to send 2 solid major leaguers for him. We then won the division. In that sense, he contributed to a division title.

Cleveland has a better cheap young core than the White Sox or anyone else in the division...by a wide margin. And if they're drowning Rick Hahn just gave them a life preserver. Of course they aren't drowning, just figuring this is a good time to retool because they'll still be better than the rest of the division without Bauer or Kluber or both.

I saw on twitter that Levine said something like "He's right" in response to Olney's article. That makes me think that it's possible that Levine is Olney's "source", which probably means no source at all.

No upside? -between Delmonico and Palka they have less than 2 full major leagues seasons. Not that they need upside to be better than Alonso - Palka was miles better with the bat than Alonso was last season. Alonso has been getting worse the last 2 years. This is the "proven veteran" philosophy that Hahn used to build with Sale, Q and Eaton that maxed out at 78 wins. The Sox also gave a big assist to Cleveland in its effort to dump salary. Nicely done. It's Machado or bust.

Yep. Maybe they can hire Machado's father in law as assistant bench coach or something just for extra insurance.

Palka was a better hitter than Alonso last year. And he cost a bit less than $8 million. As I said, Hahn doesn't do salary dumps. It's a cynical move.

I would be stunned if this was anything other than a gasp and contrivance and that they actually had a plan. There shouldn't be any pieces going for a salary dump. Just so overmatched in the FO.

What prospect did we get from the Indians to absorb that salary?

The Rays and Marlins must have done some heavy drafting. Rays haven't rebuilt at all and the Marlins just started last year.