JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Up to Mitch now. Will he rise to the occasion?

I’m telling you man, they have a different look this year. Alexander is a stud, Savage looks like a playmaker, Amos is steady, and they look they are going to generate a fairly consistent pass rush this year.

This is the most confident I’ve been with a Packers defense in a long time. They’re really young in the secondary so still susceptible to rookie mistakes but this defense looks fast. And adding Smith at edge has changed the entire look of the pass rush as well.

This is the best I’ve seen the Packers D look since 2010. Consequently, that was the last time they had a top 10 defense and won a SB.

When your RFs and DHs have combined for -5 fWAR, even plugging in seemingly mediocre FAs like Puig and Dickerson at those two positions would result in a massive upgrade next season.

As you may recall, I said back in April I’d do an extension of 10/$200M for Moncada that starts next year. So, yes, I’d do 10/$195M now. I’d imagine the last two years would not be fully guaranteed and include team options with relatively high buyouts. I’d certainly rather be spending $20M AAV on Moncada over the next 10 years than $30M AAV on Machado.

I’m not worried about Eloy. The offense has been bad this year but I’m far more concerned about the pitching than the offense in the future.

And the good news is that 3 of those spots should be addressed internally next season (Robert, Collins, Madrigal). Hopefully the front office addresses another 1 or 2 externally via free agency.

Swept by the Nats at home

A rumor that originated with Soxtalk I presume?

What? Never heard that. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/triple-threat/Puig-and-Abreu-Face-Off-in-Dodgers-White-Sox-Series-261547021.html "It's a normal day. We're going to take it like a normal day in the past. It's good to play against friends. He's a friend of mine,” Abreu told MBL.com about playing against Puig. https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN0TY08820151215

But the guy they gave up is a 33 yo journeyman.

If they want to go the cheap route with position players to prioritize pitching instead, which they should imo, Moustakas and Puig would be logical signings. Shouldn’t cost more than $25M AAV for those two on relatively short term contracts.

Has Puig ever played on an MLB team with multiple Cubans? Not saying it’s guaranteed to work but having the veteran presence of Abreu as well Moncada and Robert may be enough to keep him in line.

Yep. Just connect the dots. Plus, he’s going to be relatively cheap, limited number of suitors, and the Sox already have several other Cubans on the roster to make him feel at home. I’d be surprised if it didn’t happen tbh.

Well, it’s going to happen so better get used to it now

Puig

I’ve answered the question in other threads. Option 1 would be JDM. Option 2 would be Castellanos. Option 3 would be Moustakas.

I guess I want to see what the Sox have with Collins before spending big money at the catcher’s position. He’s been on a tear since his demotion. Let’s see what the kid can do. McCann has bought the Sox some time to break Collins in much more slowly than expected coming into this season.

All of baseball was against that type of contract for him last winter. Yes, he had a QO attached but he was also a year younger.

I’m not a fan of giving that kind of money and years to a catcher like Grandal who turns 31 later this year. I’d rather ride it out next year with McCann and Collins and then make a big splash with Realmuto next winter if you’re still looking for an upgrade at catcher.

Yep. With the emergence of McCann this season, it allows the Sox with the perfect opportunity of breaking in Collins slowly without asking too much of him (e.g. only starting in games where the opposing starter is a righty, splitting time between catcher and DH, etc).

Will they be willing to pay a platoon player $5/6M next season and potentially even more than that in 2021? https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2019/08/02/considered-pillar-future-nomar-mazaras-future-could-question-after-rangers-recent-roster-moves

The Padres best player by fWAR this season after Tatis is their closer. They have decent depth and a higher payroll but no real standouts after Tatis. The Sox currently lack depth, severely, but have a few stars with a few more on the way next season (both internally and externally I hope). Padres have to hope for additional internal stars to emerge or trades because they already blew their load in free agency with Hosmer and Machado. Unlike the Padres, the Sox have a ton of payroll flexibility heading into this offseason. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/2020/

I think that’s an overpay on the Sox’ part. I’d give them a couple low level minor leaguers but that’s it. Quite frankly, Mazara is a non-tender candidate, if not this winter then next winter if he continues as a 0.5-1 WAR type player that he’s been his entire career thus far.