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The Astros might be the exception and they had higher picks than the Sox which I already gave the Sox a pass on because they were too good during the rebuild to gte the highest picks. I didn't mention the Cubs but they compensated for having mediocre drafts by spending a boat load of money on Lester and Heyward.And the Astro's and Cubs both won a World Series because of their rebuilds. It's yet to be seen if the Sox will win a World Series but so far they have done neither of the things that propelled those 2 teams to championships. Maybe the Sox are the exception in that they haven't yet done what it may take to win a Championship.

And Soxtalk wasn't exactly enamored with Quintana either. I recall the phrase "smoke and mirrors" being applied to Quintana pretty liberally in his 1st successful stint back in 2012. Maybe the Pirates will part with him

Look at who Houston got with their picks during their rebuild and compare it to the Sox. Maybe it's just that the Sox never quite matched being as bad as Houston during their respective rebuilds or that the drafts didn't have the same type of talent available. Rodon wasn't a rebuild draft pick since the rebuild officially began when Sale was Traded Dec 7th, 2016. Rodon was taken in the 2014 draft. 2016 wasn't exactly a banner year for draft picks but their were a few gems especially in the Compensatory round when the Sox selected Burdi. In the 2nd round the Sox took Alec Hansen and later Pete Alonso, Bryan Reynolds and Bo Bichette were taken. 2017 was Burger and Sheets 2018 was Madrigal with Jonathan India selected on the very next pick. 2019 Vaughn who may become very good. 2020 Crochet and Jared Kelley . Injured or a reliever and a HS pitcher pretty far away from contributing to the big club if he ever does. Not an athletic type among the position players except maybe Madrigal but because of his size not the big strong athletic type.

Also the "at some point " started when the regular season ended despite all the hubbub about RF and 2nd base , starting pitching was always the most serious need along with becoming more left handed.

You are so right ! Pilkington for 1/2 season of Cesar Hernandez and not willing or able to muster up whatever Oakland wanted for Manaea which was some pitching and minor league shortstops that are always in demand. The Sox should have learned that lesson when Tatis was traded. I don't want to root for Pilkington to bomb. I hope he has a great career. Just saying the same guys in charge of rebuilding were the same guys who couldn't get trades for MLB talent right before. Even with the international market they play the older prospects game just like they play the older MLB guys in trades. I really wish I could see more positives but Collins being traded leaves us with Vaughn, Burger among our 1st round high picks and Sheets who was a 2nd rounder . So the draft has yet to play a huge part in the rebuild.

I'm resurrecting this thread because throughout it there is a conception that you will either have to subscribe to Apple TV+ or it will be blacked out if the team in your area is playing. As you can see in the post below that may not be the case. Also Jason on the telecast yesterday said pretty much the same thing so I'll be checking it out this Friday to see if it's true. The thing is I have Apple TV on my Android TV and I had trouble with it until I had a telecon with an Apple rep. I wanted that App because as a movie code buyer and seller I like to have all the apps on my TV where the movies transport too once you use the code. Since Moviesanywhere is the main place to use codes if you link other streaming services to Moviesanywhere like Vudu, Apple, and Google Play it just gives me a wider variety of places to watch movies plus certain codes only redeem on certain services. I suggest if you don't have the Apple TV app yet on your smart TV get it now and if you have an Android TV give it a try for the baseball and if you stream movies and use codes. You may have to work out some bugs with it on an Android TV. Also, if you were thinking of paying for Apple TV+ hold off until we find out this Friday if the games are indeed free through the regular AppleTV app by just clicking on AppleTV+ section listed on the Apple TV app.

Nice write ups on Kopech and Cease thrown in there with Sandy Alcantara, Logan Webb and Trevor Rogers. Alcantara has a great chase rate and is very good at getting GB out because of a power sinker. Webb also has a good sinker . He ditched his 4 seamer for i and he just totallly dominated the Dodgers in the playoffs. Rogers really limits hard contact with a great barrel rate. Cease made a big jump last year but still has some issues but if he can just keep improving he can be an ace. Kopech is probably the darkest of the dark horses because he'll experience growing pains like most young starting pitchers do , especially when you throw in innings limits and an off season with Covid.

I'm not even sure he will make the 28 for April . I thought he had a chance before the acquisitions of Haseley and Pollock but now it's looking doubtful. I just hate to see how the injuries have messed with his career. The Sox obviously love his power and we haven't seen any other OF's who can hit ,play good defense with a strong arm emerge among the other OF guys like Rutherford, Gonzalez , Basabe etc.. Plus now with Cespedes and Colas 2 guys who are much older than Micker was when they signed, Micker is kind of redundant. I guess when he goes I'll just have to see how it turns out for him.

Our catcher who the Sox would've picked 1-1 according to the guy Getz replaced is now gone for a guy who was spanking his monkey in his car.

I sort of think "Sox were in on him" in the thread title should really be " Sox had a seat at the table."

$4M in Luxury tax and $3M in Payroll Salary according to Spotrac .

Contract Notes for Pollock from Spotrac Contract Notes: 2022 opt out available ($5M buyout), with 1,000 plate appearances across 2020-2021, or 1,450 plate appearances across 2019-2021 (not earned) 2023 Player Option includes a $5M buyout 2023 Option escalates $1M each for 400,450,500,550,600 Plate Appearances in 2022 2023 option increases $1M per point based on finish in 2019-22 MVP voting, with 5 points for first place, 3 points for second-fifth place, and 1 point for sixth-10th place

Wasn't there a $3M signing bonus too ? I mean I read the whole conversations on it but I never got a clear understanding of what goes under the CBT and what goes under payroll.

Didn't it come to just about $1M gained in the Kimbrel deal ? Or if you are talking about payroll cash then more since the buyout may not count against payroll ?

Hard to think he has an ace up his sleeve when the Sox are pretty close to the CBT since the Kimbrel contract was a wash with the Pollock contract. They are out of Aces in the deck they are playing.

If you are not familiar with the Micker Adolfo situation this article from November of 2021 will get you up to speed along with the developments since then that I will provide. https://www.soxon35th.com/running-out-of-options-what-to-do-with-micker-adolfo/ Since that time he played for Estrellas in the Dominican Winter league and got close to 50 plate appearances and didn't do much. This spring in exhibition games though has opened a lot of eyes. Without getting too carried away ( after all it is still ST and he did have the benefit of some time in the DWL to be more prepared for ST) I'm trying to figure out something that will allow the Sox to keep him. Any way here's what he has done in ST so far in 26 PA which is around 9th on the team. .429 BA, .500 OBP .810 SLG. ,1.310 OPS . As expected with those kind of numbers his BABIP is through the roof . His K rate is still 34.6 % but he has shown the ability to work the count and his walk rate is 11.5%. If you like those numbers look at how he's done against RHP since he is a RHH, .412 BA, .476 OBP , .882 SLG. , 1.358 OPS. He tied for 2nd with Eloy for Total bases only trailing Robert. He has actually looked like Eloy , Robert and TA in his approach in that he's been going to RF and the RF gap. He also has a gun for an arm. He is showing that massive potential that was derailed by injuries. If the Sox cannot retain him it's hard to imagine another team not picking him up. He probably will be the most attractive release out there. So getting back to trying to figure out how the Sox can keep him. For the smarter people in the room could the Sox sign him to an extension at league minimum which now amounts to 2 years $1.4M ? Would that allow them to do pretty much anything they wanted to with him ?

No Jack people don't care about that. That was then this is now and most of us expect a big jump in his production against RHP It was essentially him learning on the job without the benefit of hardly any minor league time because of the injuries that I was down on him last year. I didn't like it at the time. I cared more about winning since I never took making the playoff for granted. I thought he should've been getting every day AB in the minors or sat more since he could hit lefties well. But I never in my life Soxtalk life saw such rabid support for any draft choice as I saw for Vaughn in the 1st half last year even when his wRC+ was 38 against RHP.

Don't ask me but if Vaughn is traded there will be a huge outcry. Guaranteed.

That's why most want to trade Sheets or Burger

I wonder if the Sox keep him if they could sign him to some kind of extension but still keep him in the minors if they have to send him down . He primed for a big year if I start to think this ST means anything.

Great AB by Adolfo. He's been crushing righties.

Freakin Adolfo has looked really good and even good against right handers. Of course a bunch of shit pitchers but that hasn't helped Moncada at all . I was hoping to see if Vaughn kept hitting RH well but Tony wasn't giving him ABs against them as much as Adolfo and Sheets were getting them.

LOL relax Spring training

Love the stirrups rather than the long pants on top of the shoes

Only pitched in high A last year