BamaDoc

I think this draft is deep in mid infield and left handed pitching which to me may be the weakest areas of our farm so I would think this draft profiles well to our needs. Obviously, you want the best player available but certainly later when there are groups of players equally rated, I would load up on lefties.

I am sure they will use the rotating dh option primarily in A and A+. However, there is a likely time share in AA at catcher between Zavala and Collins. From a prospect standpoint, they take priority over Hawkins for me. Maybe there will be some trading during spring training. Also, you never know how injuries may affect the best paper plans.

I applaud him for putting his family responsibilities first. Selfishly, I wish he could have been both a good father and played baseball cause he might have helped my favorite team. I will never criticize him for making the right choice.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 08:37 AM) I think after this year the Sox will be the only team where publications are forced to discuss the Top 40 Prospects. The breakouts at the back end are going to blow everyone’s mind. The Yankees made some roster influenced trades and still lost around 5 players in the rule 5 draft. Other systems (Braves, Pads,A's etc) are deep. We are unique in we had valuable assets to trade and accelerate a rebuild. In my years, I have never seen more teams doing obvious rebuilds. The next couple years a lot of teams will win a lot or lose a lot. I hope we have a lot of minor league players explode and think there are several who could. We also have a fair number for whom this year will represent somewhat of a last chance to pop or they will get left/over run by the younger prospects.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 13, 2018 -> 04:40 PM) Keith Jackson R.I.P.: http://www.espn.com/college-football/story...son-dies-age-89 RIP The voice of college football for me growing up and did a whole lot of other sports also. Sorry for the young uns who never heard him.

The opening day starter often slots to other teams top starters. For development, I don't want one of our youngsters dealing with a 6-14 type season. Let the highly paid veteran take the lumps and demonstrate professionalism. Put the youngsters in more favorable matchups.

Wonder if this means Saladino's back is still an issue. If Yolmer at third and Leury in CF, no back up SS. If everyone healthy, get AAA at bats.

Soria is a total flip candidate. Last year 46 of 59 appearances unscored upon. Don't see how often he was brought in to start an inning vs in a jam. Pitch count lot higher in scored upon situations. So while you might be able to identify when he may struggle(poor command) you tend to let your closer ride. Hopefully, he will be tweak able. As many noted, peripherals are there, not like you are spending a similar amount of money in a multi year situation on a guy who dropped 2MPH on his fastball. We had little depth and less for LHP in the bullpen. Now we have options. Peters may make a valuable utility type guy but he wasn't taking second from Moncada.

A Hall of Famer but at this point I don't think he does anything except take at bats from guys you are trying to evaluate. Abreu is your veteran mentor/role model. I don't see it.

I think you could get something of value for Smith near the end of spring training. If we don't have an injury at catcher, I think he would make sense for a team looking for a backup catcher. He would be cheap, fairly decent with some MLB experience, seems to be a good guy. Somebody will have an injury or not like how their situation is looking. Might get a low level flier. Teams would know we have no real place for him as I don't see us keeping three catchers.

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Dec 8, 2017 -> 10:59 PM) You can draft your own guys. Apparently some team years ago forgot to protect a guy but they had a high pick so they just took him. Thanks for the info. I would definitely consider him. Kinda like Burdi and Cortes. Cortes is just turning 23 LHP. In 52 ip at AA three HR allowed, 48 ip at AAA and zero HR allowed. That might work, although he doesn't have huge GB%.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Dec 8, 2017 -> 08:04 PM) Guerrero is about number 12 in the White Sox system. Is theirs really as good? I had just used MLB rankings (which obviously not the be all end all,) had him at #21. Don't get me wrong, I would have protected him and figure we would lose him. Just trying to figure a way to get something for a lost resource. As another poster mentioned, you may not be able to add him to the 40 if you acquire him which would kill his value. Earlier, I even wondered if we didn't like anyone better, could we draft him?

Miami's farm is very weak and have had bad injury luck. If you could take on Prado and his salary it could lessen what you pay for a Yelich. Hope Prado rebounds and flip at or before deadline eating some salary. I would not trade a high prospect but you could put Guerrero in the package as maybe a second or third piece as you will probably lose him and he would be about #12 in their system. If Stanton won't waive his no trade, they may get desperate for salary relief.

Would Nick Burdi make sense for us? We already have his brother and should have an idea as to his medicals. He had TJ surgery in May so he could begin on the 60 day dl. When ready, he could have a decent amount of time on a rehab assignment prior to joining the majors in what would likely be the second half of the season. Prior to injury, his profile was much like his brother's, 80 FB and 65 Slider rating with a lesser change up but potential closer ability. 25 in Jan. We wouldn't need him to be great in 2018, just survive. Second thought. If it is our pick and our targets are gone, can we draft our own player? Guerrero or Peter or Polo? I like all of them better than some we kept.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 13, 2017 -> 07:07 AM) http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/11/12/cub...eetings-trades/ Figured we needed a thread to cover this week's GM meetings and the winter meetings coming in December. I find myself checking this site and MLB Trade Rumors a couple times a day, knowing/expecting us not to do anything. I think Abreu is our veteran mentor. I don't think Avi gets you the offer you would want until he proves/disproves it before next years trade deadline. If Avi is playing well you may want to keep him also. Even when he was not performing, I always respected his hustle which is also a good example for the young guys. I think Rule 5 may be interesting or the first real opportunity to add. We just don't have the assets to move at this time. I think our free agents will be smaller flippable types and we may dumpster dive for late signers who don't get what they want and have to scramble late. At this point we are not a prime destination for a premier guy. I guess the one exception may be the taking on a bad contract in a trade route but I don't see that as very likely.

Several dads here took our sons to Yankee stadium before it closed. He pitched for Toronto that day. RIP

Could one argue that if Zavala and Collins both start in Birmingham, they could share catching and be the primary dh on the other night. They both get full bat development. One other thing might be on the day a player is going to dh, you could do extensive defensive drill work as you know he won't be catching. I could see that defensive work being useful and normally not able to be done due to wearing out the player. If after 6 weeks if one is clearly ready to move up, as the job share isn't working or has served its purpose, then you could move the most deserving up. It may also allow your minor league catching guru/rover to work with the two biggest catching prospects without having to travel.

Add two more teams equals about 24 more pitchers needed than currently not counting injury replacements etc. Yikes!

I was wondering if the rule 5 order follows the summer draft order and whether we will have pick number 4?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Oct 13, 2017 -> 11:01 PM) Boston...New York...what year is it?! If it's 2005, it is gonna be great!

QUOTE (hi8is @ Oct 2, 2017 -> 08:11 AM) Thanks Scoots. While writing that out I actually had a thought wondering if anyone would relate to it as you did. Who are some of your all time favorite players from when you started being a fan in your younger years? Dude - every time I take my boy to a ball game I get choked up in a very loving sentimental way. Can only imagine what it will be like to start playing catch with him, coaching his little league teams, and taking him to games one day after Sr. has moved on to greener pastures. 🙏🏻 It is pretty awesome. I would get as proud of him when he made a great defensive play as when he hit a home run. Really cool when he could point out the fundamental mental errors the big leaguers were making! Treasure every minute cause the old farts that say it passes quickly are correct. Think I met you in 05 playoffs. The little kid that was with me is all grown up.

Except for a brief period in the AFL, Engel has unfortunately never shown a great hitting ability. Expecting him to figure it out or implement major changes at the MLB level is not likely. I thought people stated one of his problems was always changing his approach? He is most likely what he is which is a great defensive cf without a bat. In a rebuild, let him patrol center at AAA and see.

I think we are 3 games ahead of Detroit. After their dumps, they may be in this as well.

Thanks for getting this information. I had asked about him earlier this year because I had seen the results and while I am in Bama, I didn't know his story. He is pretty much league average for age but a whip of .7 is sweet. Maybe something maybe not but sure hoping for the former!

I noticed in box scores, he is playing first and I think dh ing. I double checked and 11 games at third with 7 errors. 17 games at first 2 errors. 20 games as DH. Young enough to improve.