Lillian

The Red Sox "kicking in money" was my assumption. Those two acquisitions could both be made, within the likely parameters of our projected payroll, while not taking on the risk of a long term, expensive contract. I suspect that is the kind of strategy, which is being contemplated by Hahn.

Would you guys be satisfied with Ryu and Price, if it could get done?

That is precisely what I thought and posted in the thread, regarding trading for a starting pitcher. With all of our regular positions now filled, there is no need for Boston to include Benintendi, in a deal for Price. If Bloom kicks in enough money, Price would be a very reasonable solution. He wouldn't require one of those long term, huge contracts, which our front office is understandably wary of making, with a pitcher.

Having now acquired Mazara, thus filling the RF slot, there is no longer a need for Benintendi to be included in a deal for Price. How much of Price's contract would Bloom have to assume, in order to make him appealing to our Sox? We shouldn't have to give up anyone, unless Boston is paying a significant portion of the contract.

Just to add a little less hyperbolic perspective: Below are Mazara's Career Stats. Putting aside the fact that he is considerably better against RHP, the numbers are still pretty decent, especially for a player as young as he is. As a 22 year old, in just his 2ND season, he had 30 doubles, 20 homers and 101 RBI's. The following season, he matched his home run total, in 20 fewer games and actually improved his Slugging % and OPS. Last year, while dealing with a thumb injury and missing most of the final 2 months, he still hit 27 doubles and 19 homers, while putting up his career best Average, Slugging % and OPS. If you project his totals for last season, over a full 162 games, he would have had 37 doubles, 26 homers and 92 RBI's. I frankly don't understand how those numbers haven't ever translated into a better WAR, but I guess it's the negative defense. At any rate, the kid has actually performed pretty well, and with arguably untapped potential, he's not a bad gamble. The biggest concern is that he only has two more years of control. Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards 2016 21 TEX AL 145 568 516 59 137 13 3 20 64 0 2 39 112 .266 .320 .419 .739 93 216 12 6 0 7 1 *97/D RoY-5 2017 22 TEX AL 148 616 554 64 140 30 2 20 101 2 2 55 127 .253 .323 .422 .745 90 234 12 4 0 3 6 *97D 2018 23 TEX AL 128 536 489 61 126 25 1 20 77 1 0 40 116 .258 .317 .436 .753 96 213 13 4 0 3 2 *9D/7 2019 24 TEX AL 116 469 429 69 115 27 1 19 66 4 1 28 108 .268 .318 .469 .786 96 201 5 6 0 6 2 9/D 4 Yrs 537 2189 1988 253 518 95 7 79 308 7 5 162 463 .261 .320 .435 .754 93 864 42 20 0 19 11 162 Game Avg. 162 660 600 76 156 29 2 24 93 2 2 49 140 .261 .320 .435 .754 93 261 13 6 0 6 3

As many of us have said, settling for Mazara to fill the hole in RF, even if only vs RHP, could be acceptable, if the money is used to acquire other more significant pieces. If that move were to end up being the Sox 2ND most impactful move of the off season, I doubt that anyone would consider the off season a success.

Just to clarify, I wouldn't be very pleased, if they settle for Mazara, as their right fielder for 2020, especially if he costs any decent prospects. The Benintendi comps were just for information purposes, not an attempt to argue for Mazara's acquisition.

Career Stats vs RHP for Benintendi and Mazara, respectively: vs RHP 449 1536 1348 219 387 95 12 41 200 44 9 157 265 .287 .363 .467 .830 629 23 12 4 15 9 8 .327 108 vs RHP 503 1615 1448 201 393 76 4 64 240 5 4 138 320 .271 .337 .462 .799 669 31 13 0 16 11 16 .305 112 Mazara has been the better power bat, but Benintendi has the better OBP. They're actually pretty close, vs. RHP. However, he is considerably worse vs LHP. I assume that Mazara's arm is better suited for RF, than Benintendi's. He's also one year younger than Benintendi.

That is what I wanted to know. Thank you.

What are the prospects of Price being able to pitch, this season? Does anyone have an update on his health?

Conceptually, this idea of taking on another team's burdensome contract, in order to fill both the SP and RF holes, is very intriguing. With the cost of acquiring free agent pitchers having gotten out of hand, why not attempt to exploit the fact that a few teams need to dump some salary? The Sox are in the enviable position of having lots of payroll flexibility, and lack the Minor League depth, to use as trade bait. It seems like a logical strategy. If signing a free agent pitcher is almost certainly going to require committing to more years, than can reasonably be expected to be sufficiently productive, why not at least limit the number of years of potentially sunk cost. For example, David Price may not be worth much in the 3RD and final year of his existing contract, but at least it might only be one year. By contrast, some of these 5 and 7 year deals may end up being sunk costs, for more than a year, or two. Moreover, any pitcher on a long term, expensive contract, is a huge risk, considering how fragile pitchers are, especially in this era. Given the inherent risk, the fewer years, the lower the risk. There is a principle worth remembering, from the investment world i.e.; "Motivated sellers, usually have a greater sense of urgency than motivated buyers". A buyer has the luxury of being able to patiently wait for an attractive opportunity. By contrast, an owner, who is "stuck" with an undesirable asset, is usually in a much more desperate circumstance, especially when other pressing financial needs are factored into the equation. Think Mr. Bloom, in Boston.

This is all very bizarre. Do the other front offices, around the League, have these kinds of theatrics and drama, associated with their acquisitions? These last two off seasons have been just nuts: 1) Pederson - Deal pending but is ostensibly canceled because of leaks. 2) Machado - Going to the Sox, right up until the last moment, and then ends up in San Diego, which was never reported to even be in the running. 3) Wheeler - Supposedly coming to the South Side, after being offered $122 Million, but signs with the Phillies, for less money!!! 4) Now, Ozuna, with the owner commenting on his unawareness of any interest in the player. Reminds me of when Tori Hunter was coming to the Sox, right up until the point, when he went elsewhere. Wake me up when it's over.

That is correct, I believe. If it were past tense, it would be firmó, or ha firmado, which is "has signed".

The translation of the Spanish, in the tweet is: Marcell Ozuna would sign with the White Sox. It's the conditional verb form. The future tense would be "firmará"

That looks pretty realistic and appealing to me, although I question why they would need Gennett.

Wow, that is way off. That's less than $15 Million per year. I guess they're not worth paying much attention to, regarding projected salaries. Never mind.

I don't know. Why, are they notoriously bad with their projections?

A few days ago, MLB TradeRumors had projected Ozuna to sign for something around 3 years, $45 Million. That would be great with me. Then sign Ryu plus anyone who could be a 5TH starter and call it an off season. That is, of course, unless his arm really is shot.

Wow, I didn't remember that. That is really strange. How do you give a Gold Glove to a guy who didn't even play the position? Are you sure?

He just turned 29, last month. Why do you contend that his best years are behind him?

For the Ozuna haters; here are his projected stats vs. RH pitching, over a full 162 games last year, during which time he missed 32 games: vs RHP as RHB 649 460 568 141 26 1 32 97 0 0 79 127 .249 .341 .473 .814 I'll take those numbers, (26 doubles, 32 homers, 97 RBI's and a .341 OBP) versus RH pitching and that was not as good as his 2017 season. I realize that those are projected stats, over 162 games, but it provides some perspective, since he missed 32 games.

Yes, that is what I read. It's a very important question. If his arm has recovered, he would be adequate in RF, but if his arm is shot, how is it even feasible to play him there?

If that is really the case, then he cannot be a viable candidate for RF, period!!! I wonder what happened. the update I read, last Spring, said that his arm was progressing nicely. What is the normal prognosis, following the kind of shoulder surgery, Ozuna had last winter? A couple more things to note about Ozuna: 1) He missed the entire month of July, last year, and still hit 29 homers, with 89 RBI's. 2) His 2018 was understandably difficult, while he was dealing with his shoulder condition, for which he had to have surgery. 3) He will playing in his age 29 season, this year.

I'm surprised to learn that. How did he ever win a gold glove?

My understanding is that Ozuna had a strong arm, before his shoulder condition, which led to surgery. I read where he was throwing much better, last Spring, but I can't seem to find any recent updates, regarding his recovery. If he is close to being back to normal, his arm is not a problem and he has always been considered a good defensive outfielder.