Lillian

World Series Lineup vs. RHP: SS Anderson 3B Moncada 1B Abreu RF Gallo DH Eloy CF Robert C Grandal 2B Beckham (He would only receive $1.3 million, if he is added to the MLB roster) LF Eaton or Engel, which ever one is healthy and producing

What is Gallo likely to receive, in arbitration, next season?

Precisely. If the goal were merely to win the division, the Sox don't need to do anything. However, if they have serious aspirations to go for a title, Gallo would help tremendously, both this year and next. Moreover, with Gallo in RF next year, the Sox would not need to add any position players, next year, leaving more money to resign either Carlos or Lance.

Teams have not been receiving the haul of prospects, that they did at one time, in return for players who are soon to be free agents. We might be surprised as to what Texas would accept for 1 1/2 years of Gallo.

If Texas would make that trade of Burger and Fry for Gallo, I think the Sox would make it. With Gallo's LH bat in RF, you wouldn't need to do much to fill this year's hole at 2ND base. You could bring up Beckham, or use Mendick. The lineup would look a lot better with Gallo in it. Next year, you leave Gallo in RF and perhaps by 2023, someone emerges out of the system to take his place.

If they were to acquire Escobar today, would you put him and second and still call up Burger to fill in at third? That would be interesting.

I agree that getting on base is very important. However, having an OBP of .400 doesn't make a guy one of the 10 to 15 best players in baseball.

So, excluding their contracts, would you really rate Moncada as better than Bellinger, Yelich, or Arenado? I wouldn't, and it isn't even close.

I had understood that Heyman said Burger, or Collins, not "and" Collins. At any rate, that's too much to give up for a half season of Escobar.

That is Barry Bonds like. Quite remarkable.

I have no idea what physical issues he might have, which could explain why he is playing below expectations. I was simply asserting that this version of Moncada is hardly one of the 10 to 15 best players in the Majors. He's 42ND in batting average, 106TH in SLG% and tied for 193RD in Home runs. He is 52ND in OPS. He does have a great OBP. I'll give him that.

Moncada is hitting .275 with a .393 SLG%. He's on pace to hit about 30 2B, no triples and 11 homers, while driving in about 75 runs. He has attempted just 3 stolen bases and been caught once. He's a good fielding third baseman and takes his share of walks. I don't know how most people here feel about him, but he has certainly not performed like most expected, or up to his potential. Let's hope he starts to do that, and soon. He's hitting more like a prototypical second baseman, than a guy at the hot corner. He's one of the big reasons this team is not hitting the long ball.

Although I'm not suggesting that the Sox trade Moncada, I really doubt that he is one of the 10 to 15 best players in the Majors. Not unless one considers OBP the most important stat. Maybe if he were playing like the guy we saw in 2019, but not based upon what he's done since the beginning of last year.

You would have to ask someone with the proper medical background. However he had surgery, so I would assume if he has been cleared to play, that he's not any more vulnerable to a hamstring injury, than anyone else.

The goal should be to acquire the pieces needed for this year. The prospect cost would be too high to fill the RF hole, longer term. Free agency would be the better route. Calhoun is about ready to start a rehab assignment and he would be better than anyone currently on the roster, to fill the RF hole. I have no confidence in Adam Eaton staying healthy and he doesn't provide enough power, for this injury riddled and power challenged roster. From MLB.com OF Kole Calhoun (left hamstring surgery) Expected return: Early July Calhoun continues to take batting practice and is doing some light running out of the batter’s box. He could start a rehab assignment soon. (Last updated: June 26)

A.V. will eventually learn to lay off those sliders, far and away, but he is not there, yet.

NO, unless you think that they are giving up on the expectation of a deep post season run. Very unlikely. They're almost certainly all in, for this season and Rodon would be key to their hopes, especially if one of the starters gets hurt. Although the Sox have had several devastating injuries, they haven't lost anyone from the rotation, for any significant length of time. It wouldn't be wise to press their luck, given how many pitchers around the League have gone down. Having the depth to their rotation is probably the greatest single key to their chances for a ring.

If the Sox added Escobar and Calhoun to their lineup, it would look so much better than what they have been running out there, vs. RHP. SS Anderson 3B Moncada 1B Abreu 2B Escobar C Grandal DH Lamb RF Calhoun CF Engel LF Goodwin/Leury

Actually, I think that Bob did "exactly say it". What other interpretation could "soon on his way from the Dbacks to the White Sox," possibly have?

If you want a RF too, Kole Calhoun is expected to start a rehab assignment, any day now. As has been suggested, both Escobar and Calhoun would help and probably wouldn't cost much in prospects. Th Dbacks would save about $8 million in total salaries and would likely be willing to take 2, or 3 prospects, in return. Although most of us wouldn't consider many of our top 10 MLB Pipeline prospects all that great, they might look ok to Arizona, given their rankings. I would guess that a package like Stiever, L. Gonzalez and one more guy, might be enough. After all, it's just for a couple of half season rentals, from a team that is out of the race.

It does make sense to be thinking about the roster for the Post Season. However, it's also important to be mindful of the possibility that they won't make it, unless they field a competitive offense. Moreover, as has been mentioned, limping in as a wild card, or having a lower winning percentage could mean much tougher Post Season match ups. It's also important to factor in Eloy and Robert, by that time. If they acquire one decent left handed power bat, the lineup should be fine, without Vaughn. I love the kid and think that he will become a middle of the order bat, for many years to come. For now, it's understandable that some are more interested in this year. Once we have everyone back, minus Madrigal, the lineup might look something like the following vs. RHP, with 4 LH power bats (3 of them switch hitters) and overall solid defense: SS Anderson 3B Moncada SH 1B Abreu DH Eloy 2B LH Bat (Escobar) SH CF Robert C Grandal SH LF Lamb LH RF Engel I left Eaton out of the equation, as I just have no confidence that he can stay healthy and productive. Vaughn would be a great piece to insert into the lineup vs. LHP, perhaps platooning with Lamb in LF, in the Post Season. Why not let him work on his approach versus RHP, in AAA and gain that extra year of service time?

How about the following?: 1) Send Mercedes back to AAA 2) Bring up Burger to DH 3) Acquire Escobar to play second 4) Continue to search for a better bat to play RF, preferably LH, and especially if he's more than a rental 5) Play Lamb vs. RH pitching,

So, what do you think that shiny spot on the back of his cap is? Why do you think he goes there so frequently, and rubs it with his index and middle finger? I don't know, so I'm just asking. It looks awfully suspicious to me.

I did notice that Liam did not alter his quirky habit of going to the back of his cap, although I couldn't detect any discoloration there, as was previously the case.

I remember when the Sox acquired Fernandez from the Royals. From the research I did then, he was very highly regarded as a good defensive catcher. His bat hasn't been good, but I understand that he has been Major League ready to catch, going back to the time that he was a Kansas City prospect.