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Maybe you missed my edit but I also said maybe Brantley would've signed with the Sox for a slightly more than he did with the Astro's, There's just no way of knowing. But considering the majority of the Sox MILB OF's were still in the lower minors when Brantley signed. it is conceivable he could have been enticed with 2 years plus an option as a bridge. Remember I am not making an argument about how you think they would've fit or the type of contract that would ve been needed to get them. All I am doing is picking players I think are the most likely to help the Sox within the context of team need, budget and higher player priorities. It is not my job to figure out how the Sox were treating 2019 in the off season or how they will look at 2020. Obviously the Sox were looking at getting better in 2019 with the pursuit of Machado. I just would've added more before the pursuit of Machado which the Sox didn't do. So we now get one more good draft pick and get to see how the Sox fare with this years free agent class. Once Houston finished the rebuild and won a World Series they have not stood idly by and rested on their laurels. Verlander finished off the rebuild and guys like Brantley , Greineke and Yordan Alvarez have helped sustain it. Speaking of Alvarez he was acquired from the Dodgers for a relief pitcher at the trade deadline of 2016 for Josh Fields a reliever with a near 7.00 ERA who supposedly a few teams still wanted so you never know who will get you what at the deadline. Hahn should know this very well since he did nearly the same thing with Tatis. Houston finished 6 games above .500 that year and it was the last year they missed the playoffs. In the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers Fields gave up 2 HR's to the Astros. SO now that trade has bit the Dodgers twice because of how Alvarez has developed and because of what Fields did in the World Series and it may haunt them again if this years World Series ends up being Stros and Dodgers again if Alvarez helps beat them.

I barely mentioned Abreu so I have no qualms with what he said. All i was saying about Avi, Schoop , Brantley and Fiers is that they would have made the Sox better. I wasn't necessarily endorsing them as trade bait though that possibility certainly existed. but since they all signed with good teams or playoffs teams there was no trading them. I also cannot agree with your assessment of Brantley. You cannot make decisions based on your belief that Sox coaching sucks. Brantley was a finished product and if you have some kind of proof Houston made him better then present it. Otherwise it's pure speculation . Everything I wrote was about making the Sox better and my recommendations in the past were as a qualifier for my knowledge going forward. I really made no large point about whiffing on opportunities to improve the team through the trading of those players since that involves knowing what kind of contract the Sox would've signed them to and that's impossible.. For all I know Brantley could've signed for 2 years and an option or the same with Fiers.. It was just a minor point in the failures of the Sox during the rebuild along with the draft picks and international signings amongst others. If I wanted to I suppose i could look at Houston or the Cubs transactions and see if they picked up any veterans to trade during their rebuilds but I don't see it as anything I really need to defend. I'm glad you have no issues with my other suggestions for next year.

Final lines for Sox players Micker 1/4 , HR, 1 RBI, 2 K's. Sheets 0/4 2 K's, Rutherford 0/3 2 K's 1 BB 1 error.. Sousa 1.0 IP, 0 H , 0 R , 1 K , Arobio 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K ,1 HR, Glendale lost 4-2 and Glendale had 3 hits total including Jonathan India going 0/3 with a walk and a K .

I don't think the Sox are likely to make the playoffs next year because too much depends on getting quality free agents in too many positions plus Cease is still learning and Kopech is coming off injury. Lopez also needs time to shed his inconsitencies. So yes I know Gennett and Dickerson will need to be evaluated regarding status of injuries but people had the same concerns about Brantley and that turned out pretty well for the Astros. Of course they had the same concerns about AJ Pollock but I didn't want him because of being RH plus recent history had shown Brantley to be the much better player, While true, Dickerson seems unable to stay healthy he did produce well for the Pirates and Phillies when healthy and that is my main concern in what I view as a non playoff year next year and another year of development for the MILB OF's in the Sox system.. Now if the Sox want to treat next year like a playoff year then there would be other non LH options like Ozuna and Puig.The Sox could decide that the Cubans Grandal and Puig would make Robert, Moncada and Abreu one big happy family. I wouldn't recommend Puig since the best thing I can say about him is that he marches to a different drummer or to his own tune. Castellanos, another RH, is another option but not sure about his defensive capabilities . Of course people might say the same about Dickerson especially in light of a fractured foot and being mostly a left fielder. Dickerson was relatively healthy from 2016-2018 with close to 550 AB's in 2 of those 3 years and over 600 in the other. He also has a career OPS+ of 119 and OPS of .832. Part of my reasoning for guys like Gennett , Holt, and Dickerson is I would prefer the bulk of any spending done to be on the pitching where the need is greater. Plus they are all LH with proven track records when healthy and not overly old and will provide some upside given that they should be relatively inexpensive. Sox are in desperate need of depth and I see these guys as good depth pieces and or possible starters. Holt and Gennett are also extremely versatile. I think the Sox might have a shot at signing 1 good starting pitcher and if they choose either Grandal or Ozuna. if they can succeed at that they won't spend much more and that's where the Dickerson's Holts Gennetts or Moustakas comes into play. If they end up with a RH right fielder then all the lesser pieces need to be LH and all 4 of those guys are LH or the Sox can pick and choose among those 4 . They will also still need money to upgrade the bullpen. So i am looking for 2 decent signings among starting pitcher, RF and catcher then fill in the blanks with the remaining LH guys and BP. That's a lot of signings and I don't have much faith the Sox will pull it off but I 'm trying to stay positive and making these suggestions based on budget and need. We all want much better players but all signings cannot be ideal. Most players have question marks so risks are inevitable. You minimize the risk of injury by acquiring guys with very recent proven track records when uninjured. It's basically the same logic I used with non tendered guys only with a down year in place of injury but with recent decent track records.

After last night's debacle the Sox probably weren't looking forward to tonight's game which would be a bullpen game. But 8 pitchers later the Sox held the Twins to just 3 hits and came away with a 3-1 victory. Eloy Jimenez went 2/3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Most of us probably don't realize it but basically Eloy has been extremely good since June. The problem is he was injured for most of July and when August started he was rusty but finished strong and his September has been red hot. Next year we will see the real Eloy if he can stay healthy. Moncada has also been red hot for a while. He went 2/4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. and is hitting .431 in September. Zack Collins continues to show he can be a force from the left side lately with his 2nd HR in 2 days. He is starting to get more comfortable and has a modest 4 game hitting streak which is great considering his 6 games before this he went hitless. Even though most are aware his catching is suspect, he has to be given some credit for handling 8 different pitchers who held the Twins to just 3 hits and 1 run. If Zack can be guy who continues to get on base and hit for power he is a huge key to the Sox ascending . He might not ever get that chance if the Sox decide someone like Grandal would be a worthy Free Agent but catching probably will be behind a few other positions as far as need goes. Tim Anderson went1/4 in his pursuit of a batting title and is hitting a robust .400 in September.

It's too bad I can't pick the FA's . I think if anyone wanted to do a check of who I have suggested in the past you'd find I have a pretty good record. I wanted Brantley this year when many didn't . I thought Schoop and Avi were the most talented non tenders available, I also thought Fiers would be a good pick up along with Moustakas. I thought the Sox missed some opportunities to grab some cheap vets to trade but they chose relievers instead and that's not worked out real well. Actually nothing but the initial trades for our top talent has worked out real well but hopefully some of the draft picks and Robert change that soon. But overall the drafting has had more misses and internationally besides Robert the Sox are terrible along with being terrible at FA's. So far my early picks in FA are Gennett, Dickerson, Brock Holt Moustakas again if his option isn't picked up which it should be by the Brewers. I haven't decided on pitchers and its really an easy call on Cole and Rendon even if most think we have no chance.

If the Sox somehow get Rendon would be a nice problem to have about who plays 2nd base, Rendon or Yo. This might be a career year for all 3 . Hopefully not, but next year would be fun around the infield. I'm not really sure about Rendon having a career year because he's had a few really splendid years.

Good article. Thanks for posting. His knowledge of the Sox seems good . The only thing I might change about his outlook for Giolito and I hate to be a downer but apparently his revamped delivery puts a lot more stress on his shoulder which is probably why he has the sore lat and the Sox shut him down.

There's no need for Yolmer with guys like Holt and Gennett as free agents, Bench needs an upgrade too.

Easy big fella. Collins still has a lot to prove and until he does McCann or someone else will be the starting catcher.

Let me expound on what I said earlier. Collins has caught the whole game yes ? He has caught 7 different pitchers this game. Now 8 with Colome in. Yet the Twins have 3 hits and thats with the Sox pitchers who are not that good. I do not see how that is any kind of disaster.

Now this is where I wish someone besides you was saying this since everything is a disaster to you in game threads.

Lately I've got the feeling the Twins are like cats playing with mice before they kill it.

I understand the frustration ,I really do . But in the grand scheme of things this loss matters not. Just getting closer to a better draft pick. Ruiz is a live young arm and unless he;s Rule 5 eligible you just don't rid yourself of that. Plenty of guys the Soz will get rid of before him.

Laughably disgusting.

You;s think he would go back to the slider or high heat but he threw the heater right down the middle.

You'd think they'd walk Gonzales but who knows if Ruiz can avoid another walk after that.

98 combined HR's coming up in the 1st 3 Twins hitters.

Make that 20.

Eloy needs another hit to catch Timmy today .

Timmy 4 hits Sox with 19

A little late but Cordell !! ? !

Yea local guy but I'd still rather gamble on Gennett's upside if healthy and the steady plus player in Holt.

Sox should sign Gennett and get rid of Leury and Yolmer Or sign Brock Holt too.

Before this year 7 HR's in 348 ML AB's This year 30 HR's in 290 AB's,