Dick Allen

The gap between Grandal and McCann is a lot bigger than the gap between McCann and Collins in my opinion. So if the Sox could weather losing Grandal with McCann around, they most likely could weather it if Collins or a dime a dozen catcher was acquired. if you believe in Steamer, Collins might be the better choice anyways.

One player can certainly make the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs. Do you really think the 2019 version of James McCann is going to be the one seen in 2020? If not, just remember many praising him were so pissed off the White Sox signed him for $2.5 million last year. His BABIP was .356. Hard to imagine, given his history, that will remain that high. I think last year is peak McCann. I think they should sell. I would see if Cincinnati was interested. They may be willing to part with Inglesias, as he blew a lot of games last year. He and McCann make virtually the same in 2020 but then he is owed some dough. I do know he fell out of favor last year, whether that is something White Sox scouts think is a permanent downward trend, I have no idea. He still strikes out a lot of guys. But it's a thought, and it wouldn't be the first time they traded a catcher for a reliever. Plus, he's Cuban. The Sox could try to collect all the Cubans.

I wouldn't trade Collins, but I would trade someone who would be overpaid for the role he is playing and only around for one season anyway.

There is nothing wrong with depth, but it's a back up catcher. Would you rather have what is perceived to be the stronger of the back up catchers, although steamer has projected them virtually even, or the less of the back up catchers, but a stronger bullpen? Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, money does play a role, and McCann's salary hit can and should be used elsewhere.

I am saying his defense isn't as solid as you seem to make it. Admittedly, pitchers seem to like to throw to him. He seems to call a decent game but he is an awful framer. Whether Collins is a decent framer, there isn't enough evidence to show at the moment. But he should be capable of catching 40 or 45 games, and DHing or playing 1B vs. RHP. Somehow the Sox did win 5 of the 10 games he caught last year. What are you going to do after 2020 when McCann wants starting catcher money, assuming he doesn't regress to the point most projections have him regressing? There is no perfect team, not even teams with double the payroll the Sox can throw out there. Back up catcher with the DH position filled, is one place you can skimp a little. The one team I know of with a back up catcher you would think can be or should be a starter is the Cubs, and guess what? The rumor is they want to trade their #1 catcher. You don't have to have much to be league average at back up catcher.

McCann isn't exactly considered a gold glover.

Yes, but Ozzie was always going to be on the edge. RR is a different cat. He isn't going to say or do anything to get himself in trouble. If he wins the division, he will be here until he doesn't want to be here anymore. But I would rather have him with his meal ticket punched and the Sox win, than the Sox be terrible and it's 50/50 at best he gets replaced.

It's really not a choice of McCann or Collins. Its McCann or Collins plus another pitcher.

Again, if Grandal is hurt, the Sox are screwed anyways. The best back up catcher in the league with one of the top catchers in the league as the regular, is a lot like owning the largest and best house you could get in the worst neighborhood. For a team with limited resources, you re-allocate those funds so they can be better used. What if Eloy gets hurt again? Do the Sox need to sign Puig? What if Anderson gets hurt? Do they need to find a top of the line SS to sit on the bench until it happens? Worrying about Grandal being hurt is shortsided. McCann is a short term employee not matter what. He probably would appreciate RH finding him a place where he will play a bit more.

How come replay hasn't slowed it down? It isn't necessary if they are right or wrong most of the time anymore.

Trading Vaughn would be dumb. Trading Vaughn to the Indians would be dumber.

Sorry for the huge mistake. That probably changes things.

They have 5 catchers on the 40 man, and just paid a guy a team record to be the #1. Either Collins or McCann will be traded. It's pretty obvious. I am going with McCann because Collins makes a lot less money, has a lot more team control, and fits the roster better, in the part time role. Are you really going to sit Abreu or EE vs. LHP to keep McCann from getting rusty? McCann was great in 2019, but just remember a year ago. Many of the same people who seem to think the White Sox now cannot live without a $5.6 million a year back up catcher, were up in arms this same catcher was signed at a rate half of that. There should be some regression. It's time to cash in. If the Sox wanted him to be the every day catcher, they wouldn't have signed Grandal. If they thought he could be a pretty good DH vs. LHP, EE would still be looking for a job or would have re-signed with Toronto. I'm thinking he's a goner.

If McCann was anything but awful, why would he sign to be a back up? Cash in on his 2019.

How would they if he doesn't play? Back in 1981 the White Sox signed Jim Essian to a 4 year contract to be their catcher. Then they got Carlton Fisk. They kept Essian around for a year, and even though Fisk was old then and had some injuries, traded Essian because he was a luxury they didn't need. They got Wimpy back for him and a couple others. The Sox should do something similar here. It's the back up catcher. On the list of important roles to fill, it's really near the bottom because you can find similar guys everywhere.

I do think he could be a nice addition to a package, but spending that $5.6 million elsewahere like on a reliever makes a lot more sense than on a back up catcher when one of you better prospects is waiting there. BTW, Steamer projects Collins with a better WAR than McCann in less than half the plate appearances. But virtually the same.

What is weird is people actually think McCann has a decent shot of having a .356 BABIP again. I think making Collins the back up will give him enough playing time to see what they have. It's time. If he's no good, back up catchers are a dime a dozen. I have no idea with him. I don't think his first stint would be a fair way to gauge him, and I don't think his success later is necessarily an indication of what is to come. He hits homers. He walks. He strikes out. Whether he will be able to do enough of the first 2 things to offset what he isn't very good at needs to be determined, and the Sox will have a spot for him. His swing does remind me of Josh Hamilton, although he isn't the hitter Hamilton was, and when Hamilton was struggling, it looked like an 8 year old could get him out.

If Grandal gets hurt, the Sox are screwed in 2020 anyway.

Because he is a back up catcher to the guy you just spend a team record amount of money to bring in, and you have a decent catching prospect behind him, and he makes more than a typical back up catcher, and he is gone in a season anyway, and he isn't the difference between winning a World Series and not winning a World Series. He is like a back up set of golf clubs for someone who golfs once or twice a year. Not really needed. The Sox made their bed with Grandal, then they thought McCann may DH vs. lefties, but it looks like they chose EE instead. We don't have to be rocket scientists to figure this out. There was a McCann trade blurb on MLBTR a few days ago, saying the Sox are asking for the moon. The writing is on the wall. He is going to go sometime.

If Grandal gets hurt, it's doubtful McCann saves the season, and he is goine probably no matter what at the end of the season anyway. Reallocate his funds to the bullpen.

Let the good signing from last year live on by turning it into something else. I get he probably doesn't get you much alone, but as part of a package, he was a legit All Star last season, is a good teammate, and despite bad framing numbers, pitchers like throwing to him, so he should be a decent piece. Plus you get some financial relief to reallocate.

He isn't going to serve as his personal catcher beyond 2020 anyway. So if Giolito's success is tied to McCann, the Sox made a grave error signing Grandal.

They should trade McCann if EE is added. He's a nice luxury to have for a year, but kind of unnecessary. Either trade him alone, or put him in a package and save some money. Collins will be fine as the back up, plus he can spell EE and Abreu vs. some righthanders. And if he isn't, it's the back up catcher. It's a waste paying McCann $5.6 million for, at most 1/3 of a season of playing time.

This is weird. I actually walked right past JR this past weekend. He had no women at the time.

I just think there are too many question marks to lock into NC. EE on the other hand gives you a year, then you see what you have in your prize losing 100 games in Vaughn, and although doubtful, maybe go after someone like Betts. It looks like most of the big boys won’t be looking for $250 million OFs next year.