Dick Allen

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.

I hope not. Usually when they are the favorite disappointment soon follows. Let the experts think they are a year or two away like 1990 and 2000.

The White Sox will never have a problem having too many good players. If somehow we luck out and run out of room for some, some team will take the excess off Hahns hands in return for players who play positions of need

If Robert signs something like that, there's a pretty good chance most of his money will be paid out after 4 or 5 seasons.

EE put up a higher fWAR than NC in 2019 despite playing 45 fewer games.

No chance. There is a lot more to being behind the plate than calling balls and strikes.

I think EE to the Sox is about to happen. Next day or so IMO. No source.

1.8 WAR. His best since 2014. Projected at 0.3 for 2020. EE beats him in both

He is going to have to throw to someone other than. McCann by 2021 either way.

I would think the Sox would trade him. He would not have much opportunity. If EE signed, Collins actually fits better. He could be traded alone or to sweeten a package. With Grandal around he is a 1 year guy anyway and if Collins flops back up catchers are a dime a dozen

Steamer projects Collins and McCann both at about replacement level. One makes the minimum, one makes ten times that. Plus if your primary 1B and DH, assuming EE is signed are both right handed, you would think the lefty would be more desirable. It's a back up catcher job.

This team currently has just as many ifs as the failed teams right before the total rebuild. They seem to be better ifs but they are still there. Robert and Madrigal being rookies who knows what will happen. Eloy really struggled for quite a while. Mazara is an if. Abreu a year older. TA isn't going to hit .330 in all likelihood. So really the offense is still short. Pitching wise, Giolito few saw coming, hopefully it's real. Cease and Looez struggled for the most part . Will they step up? How will the others return from injury? How will the bullpen be supplemented? And most importantly will the team be able to stay healthy?