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Oh awesome. I've been looking forward to this, sounded like it would be interesting based on McGuffy's comments on the White Sox Talk podcast.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ May 22, 2017 -> 01:29 PM) If I am a rebuilding team, I am not trading any of my core prospects unless I am getting a young established star in return. So I'm not trading Burdi for Robles, I also don't think it will come to that I would rank BUrdi as a "nice to have", but not a core prospect. We should be able to get unrefined power arms for the bullpen in the next two years.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ May 22, 2017 -> 01:17 PM) Latin based languages can be so damn confusing. Anyone hear how the Latino sports writers have been pronouncing his name? Latino's would have a much better idea on the correct pronunciation. White Sox confirmed it's Robert as in Robert Kennedy but, Badler today said the announcers mostly said it as Robert too, it just got confused when people assumed it was Robert due to it being of norman origin/latin/french pronunciation likely in Cuba.

Robles is better in ranking now than anything Giles returned so it would represent a strategy to utilize a ceiling lockdown reliever for a potential 5 tool CFer. I would make that deal. I like Burdi though, I think he'll be great. But Robles if he was awesome would be >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Burdi

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 22, 2017 -> 12:41 PM) While I don't really like the guy at all, I would LOVE to see Jackson speak in person. He is a guy who is legendary for being a gifted speaker. I almost throw him in the same sort of category as Bill Clinton. I can't stand the guy, I think he is a spineless con-artist who I have zero respect for. But when he came to my hometown in 2007, I had to go see him speak. Watching him work a room was really impressive. Almost more impressive was watching him work the people in person after the speech. Despite my personal point of view on Clinton, I can't imagine missing out on seeing a President speak. I actually remember going to see Bill Clinton because you or Tex talked about how special it is to see a President/former in person. At the time I hated Clinton, came to appreciate the difficulties he faced after Obama lost the dem congress and was like "ohh, makes more sense now".

I would see any former president up until Wilson, aside from the "back from the dead" novelty. I would not see Trump. He has no respect for the audience, and this isn't a monarchy so I just couldn't.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 22, 2017 -> 01:02 PM) Robles is a five-tool talent who, if he reaches his ceiling, would have WAY more value than Burdi ever would. It's Washington who would say no to that deal, not the Sox. I think Burdi/Robertson could net Robles honestly.

QUOTE (ptatc @ May 22, 2017 -> 10:34 AM) I actually agree with the point of the column, even though it's not written particularly well. There is so much hype before any of these players even play, it's almost unfair to them. I understand why it happens but calling a 19 year old the best player on the planet is a little ridiculous. I'd be more receptive to it if he had written it when that comment was made in January instead of the clear "I need to write a column, huh, sox signed a Robert from Cuba, who is this person, somebody said that, that's dumb, let me write a whole column with that being the entirety of my research"

I think the market will shift, but I think it will be less noticeable this year. Some of the agreements may have started pre CBA, and could drag some players upward. Should be more available at 300k than last year, but I think next year will be much more indicative.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 22, 2017 -> 09:55 AM) Just listened to the same thing. Seems we can cross his arm off the plus tool list. Basically, said the Sox would take him first overall in a draft but other teams might rate him lower...and that he obviously compared favorably with all the high school guys. He didn't try to compare him to a Hunter Greene because he doesn't cover the draft at all. Second, who is Victor Mesa or Meza he referred to? The All-Time Cuban basestealing great and a manager now, or another Cuban still on the island that he said was even better than Robert? Guess we need to keep an eye on Jorge Ona who's now in the MW League for the Padres and played on the same junior national team. Finally, nothing about that Jose Israel Garcia guy we started hearing about recently for this signing period. No agreement on his speed to 1b vs. his recent sprinter's speed over twice that distance in workouts, but seems he falls at 55-60 for the moment. The other thing about swinging through 76 mph or mostly 80's fastballs in Cuba with the watered down pitching is we won't know much until he's at Kannapolis, whenever that happens. Fastballs in Cuba are changeups in the US, especially for someone like Michael Kopech. For time to first, may have the Tim Anderson problem where he just gets out of box really slow but then has great ability to stretch for another base when he gets to full speed.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ May 22, 2017 -> 09:52 AM) Depends on the college bat. Do I think Pavin Smith would get $25 million? I highly doubt it. Yeah more applicable to projectable athletes.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 22, 2017 -> 08:11 AM) I'm guessing it gets done today Badler was on SSS podcast. Said the hammering out at this point could all be about frequency of payments and possibly keeping him in DR until his first payment.

Leury Garcia is someone we should keep in mind for Jacob May. Leury looked awful in his first stints, and when he began raking it in AAA it seemed to just be the sign of a AAA player. May is hitting really well upon his demotion, better than he had for 2 years or so. Not saying this makes him a future starter, just that he may very well still have some MLB years.

If a college bat randomly fell into INTL signing rules I think we'd be surprised how much they get. His tempering wasn't that Robert is garbage, but was at the very least making a distinct line from Moncada, who is incredibly special. Not every prospect will be #1 in baseball.

I think we may need to temper expectations a bit. I thought Badler was one of the higher people on Robert and he sounded a lot more cautious on the SSS podcast today. Said in not so many words he would not be a unanimous top 10 pick in this draft and was probably better than the HS bats available in this draft but not obvious.

Roberts hair is pretty sweet.

I forgot Imrem still existed. What an "I'm old and upset about it!" Article.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 21, 2017 -> 08:42 PM) The next question is going to be about cash flow, with the Robert deal. Obviously we're hoping to clear a lot of salary from July-September, but how much, for example, is JR willing to eat to get a Kieboom or Soto (assuming that Robles is completely unrealistic). If the suggestion is Soto and a secondary starting pitching prospect for Herrera (control through 2018) and Cain (FA), we're going to have to eat at least 1/3rd or 1/2 to make it feasible for the Nationals. Otherwise, they'll just go to cheaper options like Herrera, Hand, Tony Watson, etc. Cash flow would not be a problem. Robertson is already a part of our budget. If they signed Robert needing to then shed salary that would be nuts. We don't need to actually send out the rest of his contract we are eating at once.

QUOTE (SouthSide2004 @ May 21, 2017 -> 07:57 PM) You think one of Soto or Kieboom is unreasonable? I think Kieboom may be that piece that matches up. But in three trades now we know we're discusse with Nats he never came up so who knows how we feel about him or Nats. But the Robles, Soto + for Drob/Jones/kieboom is crazy. But also when you get to that 45-50 range of prospects I'm going to guess there are wider variations among team scouts than we give credit for.

FWIW I do think we can get more now. But I still think we are a notch below where people are riding in trade proposals.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ May 21, 2017 -> 07:48 PM) Ward would be a fine piece, but not the main one. Lazardo hasn't pitched this year due to TJS. I think this was instructive as a counterpoint to the insane proposals around here. Interesting we went after another 2016 pick from Nats.

It amazes me how much leaks out of the Nats btw. That org is a sieve for info.

I don't know I kinda like Ward but obviously can't speak to Lazardo. He's hitting with an .800 OPS in AA now. Good power. Way better than the Robertson for Severino swap.

Very nice outing. In a stretch like this big to get a rest day for our relievers.

Worst rbis ever