JUSTgottaBELIEVE

I disagree. Guys like JDM and Goldy are certainly viable options for an owner like Jerry given their future payroll obligations. I can’t imagine they run a sub $100M team payroll every year for the next decade.

Yep. This is where I’m at. If Hahn is truly authorized to increase payroll by $30-50M (or more) a year moving forward, he shouldn’t have to settle for scrap heap types like years past but productive second tier all star players like Bogaerts, Rendon, Grandal, Goldy, JDM, etc. Those guys won’t require $200M+, $30M AAV contracts. JDM would be my preference. He’ll be 32 when he opts our after this season and perhaps the best hitter in baseball right now. Limited to DH so his market will be naturally depressed to AL only teams and Boston will have other priority FA’s to lock down long term like last year’s MVP. Pairing him with Eloy for 2020-2024 seasons would be a lot of fun.

I’m one of the few that wanted no part of Machado. I’m upset they are apparently out on Harper but at this point you stick to the rebuild. Another year of tanking in 2019 and top 5 draft pick in 2020 combined with this year’s #3 pick, a top 5 minor league system already, and young controllable talent already at the big league level and there is still hope. See how the young guys perform in 2019 and if they take a big step forward stay aggressive in FA next winter for the “second tier” free agent types like Rendon, Goldy, etc. in hopes of competing in 2020. If the young talent does not take a step forward in 2019, no sense in signing a bunch of free agents next winter. At that point, trade Rodon in either late July 2019 or next winter if he is healthy and productive. Trade short term contracts like Abreu, Alonso, Jay, Castillo, Colome, Herrera in late July to further reinforce the minor league system. Target 2021 as the start of the organization’s competitive window with young talent at the big league and all throughout the minor league levels. Supplement with free agency in winter of 2020/2021. This team isn’t ready to compete and may not be ready for another two years. Not a popular opinion but I believe missing on Machado is a blessing in disguise. Much like the awful Shields trade that started this entire process. Signing Machado would have given the front office false hope that they could compete in 2019 I’m afraid. Sorry, but not ready to start unloading prospects to “go for it” in 2019 and likely not 2020 either.

I’ll be surprised if they lose 100 games again. 90? Sure, but not 100 unless they get hit with significant injuries.

Apparently they didn’t with Machado either.

I never wanted Machado on the Sox, especially on these terms. I think the Padres will soon regret this deal. The only thing that upset me about yesterday’s events, is that he didn’t sign with the Phillies and it appears the Sox are out on Harper, the player I truly wanted.

Please no more Adam Engel as a starter. As a 4th/5th OF, maybe.

Also, since when is an OBP of 340 or higher the threshold for an "acceptable" OBP? The best offense in baseball last year had a team OBP of 339, which means they had several starters with an OBP of less than 340. That team also won the World Series.

749 in 2017. Split the difference and I'd be happy with 714 in 2019 (~100 points higher than Adam Engel...)

If used right in a limited reserve role, a slash line of 275/315/425 is completely realistic for L Garcia. Combined with passable defense at a number of positions makes him a nice piece to have when you are already carrying two 1B/DH in Abreu and Alonso. Palka is redundant. If they can hide him in AAA for much of 2019 and then reassess the 1B/DH role next winter when both Abreu and Alonso are potentially free agents, that would be the best course imo. Again, this is assuming the Sox acquire Pederson and Machado and need to clear space on the MLB roster.

I'd rather keep Garcia over Palka due to his versatility if the Sox acquire both Pederson and Machado. Send Palka to AAA when Eloy is promoted unless he's tearing the cover off the ball (and if he is you find a trade partner for Garcia or Rondon or DFA not a big deal either way). Nicky and Engel are definitely the odd men out in that scenario.

Either Jay or Moncada, a good “problem” to have. Both potential 350+ OBP guys.

I’d be fine with that as well. Move Moncada down in the lineup then.

My thought is that there is less pressure hitting in the #2 hole than leadoff as well (easier to let a pro like Jay take it now than a still very young Moncada). At least that’s how I felt when I played. I always much preferred the #2 hole.

It’s quite possible that Jay has a higher OBP than Moncada this season.

Jay (L) Moncada (S) Harper (L) Machado (R) Abreu (R) Jimenez (R) Alonso (L) Castillo (R) Anderson (R) Looks pretty solid, especially if Jay can recapture his 2017 form and 370+ OBP.

Which would still be a better offer than the Nationals reported previous offer, especially if multiple opt outs included.

Seems desperate I know but what's the harm in it from the WS perspective? At least gives their competitors something to think about and whether or not to call the agents' bluff.

So other bidders don't see the White Sox as a viable threat and keep their offers down? 7 years much easier to beat than 10+

Almost 6 years straight. But yea they had a hell of a run until the early 2000s when the bottom fell out. Since 2003, they’ve only broken 2MM total attendance 4 times (and in most cases just barely). Worse than the Sox even, who have 7 such occurrences over the same span. Quite the contrast from their prior 10 seasons after The Jake opened.

You want to talk about eroding fanbases, take a look at Cleveland over the past two decades. That’s an ugly picture. Averaged less than 20k in their World Series season, barely over 25k the following and back down to under 24k last year despite their third consecutive division title.

No need to consider that scenario. They’re signing Harper.

Well said and completely agree

I guess only time will tell! Personally I want nothing to do with the guy at the price he is expected to command from a team like the Sox. I can understand why others would be willing to give him ~$42MM AAV but not me.

Career high in HR, RBI, AVG, OBP, SLG and 146 OPS+ last year even after a bit of drop in production following the mid season trade. His previous OPS+ high of 132 was back in 2015. Not sure how last year wouldn’t be considered a career year.