Lillian

Imagine the power speed combinations of T.A., Moncada, Robert and Villar. That's 4 guys with 25 homer and 25 steals potential, or better. Add in Madrigal's speed and base stealing ability, and you have terrific speed at 5 spots, in the lineup.

Once Robert and Madrigal are called up, there will only be one spot open in the lineup. Therefore, either Villar, or someone switching positions with him, would have to fill the RF hole, or acquiring him wouldn't make much sense. Given his speed, perhaps he could play CF, moving Robert to RF, for one year. Another possibility would be to let him play 3RD, moving Moncada to RF. We know that Yoan has the arm to play there. The best option would be to play Villar in RF, but we don't know if that is feasible. The point is that if you acquire Villar, you should not have to spend additional money on another regular position player. Therefore, the remaining money could be allocated for a 5TH starter and another reliever. Moreover, I'm not convinced that the payroll ceiling is $130 Million. That is merely conjecture.

However, it's only one year, which makes it almost meaningless. It's the long term contracts, that are a concern. I do understand that it wouldn't make sense to simply use him as a bench player. If he could play RF, I'd be very intrigued. He has the speed, but I have no idea whether, or not, he has the arm. Anyone have an assessment of his arm strength and accuracy?

I'll say!!! 24 homers and 40 stolen bases, caught stealing just 9 times (80% success rate).

He's a nice power/speed combination and switch hitter. Do you think his arm is good enough to move him to RF? If so, he might be an intriguing option, at $10 Million, with no long term commitment and no loss of a draft pick. He was especially good as a LH hitter: .280 .354 .465. Here is a quote from an article, which appeared today: This is the one storyline I’m eager to see come to a conclusion soon. I’m also a bit shocked that there are no takers for Villar who is coming off a 4.0 fWAR season in which he stole 40 bases and hit a career-high 24 home runs. Non-tendering Villar, despite his projected $10 million salary for next season, shouldn’t be an option on December 2nd. I’m all aboard the rebuild and support a lot of the moves already made by this organization, but if no one takes Villar this week, paying him his salary and plugging him back in the lineup should be the only option.

I can't imagine that the O's would give up Mancini, with 3 years of control, for just Rutherford, Sheets and Flores, let alone throw in Bundy. If they would do that deal, I'm pretty sure that Hahn would take it, in a heart beat. I don't care if Mancini bats RH. He hits RH pitching very well.

I'd lean toward Strasburg.

The $30 Million AAV sounds about right, but that 6TH year would be a tough pill to swallow. That would be for his age 37 season. 5 years, $150 Million would be pretty intriguing.

Having opted out of his 4 year, $100 Million contract with the Nats, and given all of the other big market teams looking for pitching, what do you think it would take to sign him? Whatever that number is, it would almost certainly be something way out of character, for Mr. Reinsdorf, especially for a 32 year old pitcher. Nevertheless, we can dream.

Au contraire. If the Sox are finally showing a willingness to spend big, even if it's a little "senseless," I'll gladly accept that and rejoice. Better than hoarding the money. JR isn't getting any younger and neither am I. Maybe we'd both like to see a run of winning baseball, before we leave the "yard".

Has anyone been watching a Twins message board, to see if there are any rumors regarding Wheeler being headed there? If there aren't any comparable rumblings, over there, that would be encouraging.

We should make a distinction between the front office using it "as an excuse," and it actually being a significant factor, impeding their ability to make any of those financial commitments. If they are looking for an excuse, they will find something.

Lots of hyperbole in this thread, mostly from the "haters". Perhaps we should wait to see what else the front office does. If they were to sign a top tier pitcher, or even just below that, like Wheeler, I wonder if those, who are so concerned about payroll limitations will feel better about this contract.

I agree with this assessment and my expectations are probably not as high as some here. The one thing that he does bring, which McCann does not, and which is sorely needed, is that middle of the order, LH bat. If he can hit around .250, with an OBP of .350 and with power, he will fill a very important hole, in the lineup, vs. RH pitching.

Your point is valid. However, in that final year of Grandal's 4 year contract, will he really be catching "incredibly well"? I'm not so sure.

I echo these thoughts. I'm not saying that it's a great deal and I concede that it may be a slight overpay. However, I just don't understand this over the top negative reaction. Is this really going to significantly alter the front office's plans? The irony here is that while many complain about J.R. being "cheap," they seem even more critical of what might be considered a display of generosity and gesture of gratitude. I don't get it.

It's not like this is an 8 or 10 year deal, at some huge yearly amount. Moreover, Jose seemed to be in the best shape, I can remember, this last season. While it's always a risk that a player will become lazy an apathetic, once he gets a big contract, Abreu doesn't strike me as that type. All of these players' contracts are a gamble, so I don't see anything particularly alarming about a 3 year deal for a position player. Sorry, I just can't get worked up about this.

Aren't we really just talking about one year of potentially sunk cost, in a contract that isn't producing? Are some of you that concerned that he won't be good. over the next 2 seasons? I'm sorry, but I just don't see this as a potentially crippling deal, regarding J. R.'s finances.

Excellent point. Thanks

Agreed and this just solidifies it. It's easier now to "import" Cuban players and there will always be good prospects there. Having an inside track can't hurt.

With Robert, Moncada, Grandal and Jose, the Sox have the inside track on the Cuban pipeline. Maybe there will be more fellow countryman coming to the South Side, in the next few years. Perhaps that's one of the intangibles in this move. It's all part of the tradition started in the 50's, with Minnie Miñoso.

Peralta is very good against RH pitching. Since he will be a free agent in 2021, he would satisfy the shorter term commitment goal. What do you think it would take to acquire him? Who would you consider a plausible "fringe guy"? How good is his arm, for RF?

I don't think that being LH is any longer a requirement for the right fielder. Whoever can provide solid defense and not be a "black hole" on offense, would work for me, preferably not on an expensive, long term contract. As I said, I'm really not all that impressed with any of the candidates, are you?

Regarding where to place Grandal, in the lineup: At least against RH pitching, I would want to see some separation between the two left handed hitters. That would not be achieved by batting Moncada and Grandal, back to back.

What this acquisition of Grandal does, is fill the void of a middle of the order, respectable OBP, LH power bat. All of you know that has been something that I thought should have been one of Hahn's top priorities. Having accomplished that task, RF now could be filled with any acquisition, which provides some offense, coupled with good defense. I still favor a shorter term contract for that spot, as I really don't see anyone all that intriguing. I agree that the next big financial commitment should go to a #1, or #2 starter, If they achieve that, then the rest of the acquisitions could be of lesser significance and not require a huge additional expenditure. We have to remember that the Sox will likely have 4 new regular position players in Robert, Madrigal, Grandal and a new right fielder. That represents a lot of new talent. It's time to focus on the pitching. If it costs too much to be able to afford a big name for RF, I hope they prioritise pitching and spend the money there. Regarding the DH: With the rotating 3 catchers, between first base, DH and catching duties, along with Abreu, it seems that the DH role is now filled. McCann's future: Given that he will be a free agent, at the end of this coming season, he may, or may not be resigned. That will likely depend largely upon how well Collins develops. In the meantime, the Sox have the luxury of solid depth, behind the dish. In summary; good start. So far, so good.