CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Basabe was 1 for 2 that game . He stole 2nd ahead of the hit he scored on by Robert. He also had 3 walks and threw out Hiura at 2nd base .

I'm doing a lot of dreaming in other threads but realistically I'm going 0-10% for either/both.

Might be that way this year, might not. Remember how many last year were left over and got scraps like Moustaskas ,Melky and others. Maybe 2nd tier guys sign earlier since what Machado and Harper get is so far above what they ( 2nd tier guys) are going to get.

Phillies are rumored to be the front runners on Harper and perhaps others too. They're a legit big market team and willing to spend.

I really thought I made my over all plan clear. It's get guys to put around Harper or Machado, we trade Abreu and non tender Avi, frees up cash. Don't know who you get for Abreu. Lets ignore that for now. I'm also ignoring pitchers we may have to sign to concentrate on the lineup. Cruz isn't a necessity nor is Donaldson depending on which of the big 2 you get. Lineup on the left is with Harper . Lineup on the right is with Machado. 1b Harper or 1B Keep Abreu or Palka if Abreu traded 2B Moncada 2B Moncada SS Timmy SS Machado/Timmy 3B Donaldson 3B Machado/Donaldson C Castillo C Castillo LF Eloy LF Eloy RF Brantley RF Brantley CF ( maybe the guy we get for Abreu.) CF Timmy DH Nelson Cruz, Abreu,Palka, Davidson,Harper

I've already layed that out. Machado could play third or short. If 3rd no Donaldson . If SS Donaldson and Tim Anderson in CF . Now Engel can be out of the starting lineup. I don't care about great problems to have. Give me more of those kind of problems.

I know that . I'm talking about getting him back to what he did when he was 22 or even what he did when he was 24.

Plans change if you land a Harper/Machado

They can help . Maybe you get Harper or Machado and they come with opt outs in year 3 . We will sure have an idea who amongst the OF er in the minors who can play and who can't. If the opt out last longer then you trade some you keep some and if you know they (Harper/Machado) will opt out then you see who wants them at the deadline and refresh your minor league talent and keep the window open longer.

If you can get him I'm not going to quibble over his supposed diminished value playing 1st base I don't care if he gets the majority of his WAR from his bat. I prefer it. I think we get too hung up on value when all we should want is the best way to maximize how he hits. 1B/DH might not be all that difficult to find but 1.100 OPS sure is.

Probably but I'm dreaming big based on all the rumors remember ? I believe them all . since it's more fun that way. Besides even looking at it objectively if the Sox really are seriousl about Machado then that advances the timetable on the rebuild . It also lines up with the new TV deal and they have the payroll to do it. SO me dreaming is also based on the cold hard facts. I'm just speculating on all the pieces and how they can be moved around. Brantley is a very solid piece when he's healthy.

Why not ? He not so great in the OF and the main thing is his bat anyway. Saves his legs a lot of wear and tear. His bat OBP etc . I'd want to do everything I can to see another 1.100 OPS out of him.

I don't think Donaldson gets close to that. Depends on how hihg theyre willing to go on the payroll. If its an all in year maybe $150M payroll . How much room does that leave ? Another $90M ? That should be enough room for Machado , a starting pitcher like Happ ,another reliever . You can skip Donaldson if you like and have Machado at 3rd or keep Donaldson play Machado at SS and try Timmy in CF.

Not if you move Harper to 1st base.

Might excite you if it was only the beginning of who they sign.

Might not be that way . Last year guys kept waiting and waiting until they got scraps. I expect some early signings and the winter meetings to be very robust.

Sure then put Harper at 1st base, non tender Avi. ABreu traded. Eloy in LF Brantley in RF, easy peazy

I believe everything. It's more fun that way. So in that vein Brantley could be a fall back OF in the likely event Harper doesn't sign with us,

Exactly. Next we'll be hearing about the Sox interest in Donaldson. Book it .

Does anyone ? How can a catcher be a top framer one year and not near the top all the time ? Did he all of a sudden stop framing as good ? I'll always contend and be in the minority that framing is dependent on pitchers catchers and umpires not necessarily in that order. I have seen countless times in games thread what a bad frame job someone did on a pitch the catcher had to lunge across the zone to catch. A pitch no one can frame well. Good framing means your pitcher can hit or come close to pitching where his catcher sets up. If the cacvher has soft hands with minimal movement it still doesn't guarantee a called strike. That's up to the ump. Look at all the complaints on the Moncada called 3rd strikes out of the zone . Is that all good framing or is it umpiring on a young player ? Who can really say ? That's my problem with it.

Are you deliberately missing the point ? Brian Duensing was a minor FA signing yet they gave him a presentation that he loved and he accepted less money from the Cubs because of it. If you go all out to sign a minor FA imagine the presentation for a guy like Harper or Machado. Not saying Harper will sign for less just that you're ignoring how important the presentation is is just pitiful. Yes the money matters but the presentation , showing the player how he and his family will be treated and the direction the team is going matters too. EVERY SINGLE TEAM does it. NO ONE just says here's our offer take it or leave it.

Did you see the Brian Duensing quotes about the Cubs presentation to him in this thread. Dueising signed for less because of a superb presentation. It included how they take care and protect his wife and kids while he was playing and how they would be able to go to playoff games. This was for a pitcher that signed for 2 years and $7M. The pitch /presentation is a HUGE part of wooing a free agent even the minor ones, plus of course the monetary offer. Every post you make you just dig yourself a bigger hole of your ignorance on how you sign a free agent.

And that's a very fair plan if Keuchel and Brantley end up costing less or even only slightly more. Keuchel gave up the most hits of his career and had his highest WHIP in 5 years. He's crafty but how much longer that plays is in question.

Problem is we have no idea when Machado will sign or even if he will give us the time of day unless we prove to him that we are legit contenders. Yes that is putting the cart before the horse and that's a huge gamble but we might need more pitcher anyway since all our starters will be so young or hurt or not what we expect them to be in 2 years. Double the risk if Corbon's lack of a track record and past injuries reappear. I can't say I'm aboard if all this is the case but if it's the plan to speed up the rebuild it's worth considering.

Sale and Quintana are both free agents after the 2019 season . The Sox could go after one or both if they want to next off season. Keeping them would mean no rebuild no Moncada, Kopech, Eloy, Cease and Basabe.