ptatc

Isn't the Suzuki deal 5 years for around 100 including the posting fee? I would not have signed an unknown for 5 years when you are trying to win.

Agreed. I see him doing well in LA.

This is a little revionist history. Kimbrel was not an aging player with the hope he could squeeze a little more out of him at the trade deadline last year. He was by far the best relief pitcher on the market.

Why couldn't he be a full time starter in your scenario in the majors? He would be a full time starter by year 4. His limit was 50-60 with never being a full time starter college and only 13 innings in the COVID year with an injury. If your point is that you only wanted to see him in the majors as a starter and wanted gim to work as a reliever and part time starter in the majors that's fine. He would be in the majors in 2 more years or so. But he would would have followed the exact same innings and plan either way. So what is of more benefit to the White Sox and his development? Following that plan while helping the White Sox win now or having him as a fulltime starter in 2024 and no help now?

I agree but thats a separate discussion. That doesn't mean the way they handled him made him a reliever. He only pitched 13 innings his last year of college. There was no way he could have been handled differently "to stretch him out." It was just going to take longer to build him up.

What would have been a better way to use his 50-60 innings limit?

You would think so. That team will win a lot of games.

There was really no other way to handle him, innings wise. Unless you only wanted him to pitch part of a season.

Focus on defense? That would be the only reason to play Engle over the othets.

Sure. They'll admit that. Just like all bargaining units do.

Calling people out for contrary opinions? This is what you were doing when nothing was happening.

After his role in the CBA they had to make him work for it .

All mangers love veterans. So everyone complains about winning this year. They make a move for this year and the complaints start about not looking to the future.

It won't be. They are going to try to get them ABs where possible.

It's always tough. While reconstruction is at 85% return to PLOF, there is still a chance he won't. So if the joint isn't too lax its tough to advocate for surgery.

Interesting. I wonder if they are debating between surgery and conservative or reconstruction and repair.

If he needs it, they'll have nearly 12 months before next season starts. Maybe they'll try conservative care first. That could change things. Or if the do a repair instead of a reconstruction.

I'll go from a C to a B. Filled RF with a player who will play 120 games. Still would have preferred to trade him for SP.

At least it happened early enough that he will be ready for the start of 2023.

Where's the thread about grading the off season?

Pitching, always pitching.

"You are just carrying water for the FO thinking they will get RF worth anything for Kimbrel."

It not even really the Tommy John surgery any longer with the advancement they've made. Same concept though.

That is one way to go. But again with their innings limits its not like they would have been starters in the minors. They would still only have reliever innings limits.

I was not a fan of his last year either. But is was his first year and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's a tough job this year with more game compressed into a smaller timeframe and a shortened spring training.