caulfield12

That in and of itself is a very sad testimony to the state of the contention window...because Pollock has been absolutely awful recently.

The Rangers are a sleeping giant in a huge media market/new stadium and the Mariners will turn the corner eventually. Sure, the A’s are terrible and will relocate eventually, but the Angels would be competitive with a healthy Rendon. Ward has been amazing, and Walsh and Marsh are solid. It’s their problem supplementing the core (see the trials and travails of Jo Adell) and developing pitching internally that has doomed them to mediocrity. They are fourth right now behind both Wests, NL East. But the Astros are still THE team in the AL until the Yankees knock them off.

8. Carlos Rodon, LHP, Giants: Drafted with the No. 3 overall pick back in 2014, Rodon was heralded as a potential top-of-the-rotation arm for the White Sox He eventually achieved that status, but not until the seventh year of his Major League career. For Rodon’s first six years, he was an oft-injured power arm who’d flash ace potential but lacked both the consistency and the durability to get there. Durability remains a concern after Rodon pitched just 36 innings over the 2021 season’s final 10 weeks due to shoulder fatigue. He remained effective during that time but worked with a diminished fastball and was not given a qualifying offer by the White Sox — despite his elite production (on a per-inning basis). But what Rodon has done since that 2021 breakout is prove that he is, when healthy, a bona fide No. 1 starter. Over his past 177 1/3 innings, Rodon has a 2.64 ERA with a dominant 34.5% strikeout rate against just a 7.4% walk rate. Since Opening Day 2021, Rodon leads all Major League pitchers (min. 100 innings) in strikeout percentage. He ranks 10th in swinging-strike rate and owns the eighth-lowest opponents’ contact rate on pitches inside the strike zone. Rodon can opt out of the second year and $22.5MM on his current contract if he pitches 110 innings this season. If he can make 30 starts this year, there’s probably a five-year deal waiting for him in free agency — especially when considering the fact that he won’t turn 30 until December. These numbers for the FA rankings are just through May 25th…Carlos should actually be higher ranked than the 8th best FA now, challenging or even surpassing Musgrove and deGrom as most sought after pitcher. mlbtraderumors.com

Moncada and Pollock are nothing alike. They will not be selling as low as possible to replace him with Burger since that would wipe out the infield defense. So who would you start at catcher, knowing nobody will take Grandal’s remaining contract? Carlos Perez? Zavala? McGuire? Or double down by trading for and extending Willson Contreras, costing major talent from the farm system and then making catcher roughly a $35 million position for the Sox in 2023. He’s the only top tier, difference making catcher in FA and is getting a bit older. The parallels with Grandal are a bit scary, starting with NL to AL. 9. Willson Contreras, C, Cubs: Clearly the top catcher on next winter’s market, Contreras has gotten out to a strong start in 2022, hitting at a .258/.382/.458 clip with five homers through his first 144 plate appearances. That puts him roughly on pace for what would be the fourth 20-homer season of his career. Contreras, a two-time All-Star, ranks fourth among all catchers (min. 500 plate appearances) in fWAR and fifth in wRC+ dating back to the 2019 season. He just turned 30 earlier this month, making the first season of a new contract his age-31 campaign. Contreras’ reps will surely be looking to topple Yasmani Grandal’s four-year, $73MM deal with the White Sox. With a strong enough finish, Contreras could reasonably push to join the likes of J.T. Realmuto, Yadier Molina and Buster Posey as catchers who earned $20MM-plus annually during their prime. mlbtraderumors.com

https://www.mlb.com/news/assessing-each-divisional-contender-s-biggest-strength?partnerId=zh-20220629-639353-mlb-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20220629-639353-mlb-1-A&bt_ee=YLap8QMAvbIo3b1camyesD%2BaZ8wWhtz355SN7hPKfVSTrSqyw5qSl3WVYLfDNTsm&bt_ts=1656507934940 How the Twins, Guardians and other division leaders are getting it done

He did have a 3 fWAR last year but very little pressure to produce in that lineup with mostly favorable matchups as a hitter.

Magnolia?

Look at the birthday on the back of his card. Cumulatively being banged up with injuries for much of his career...

Five plus years ago... Just have to hope if Robert somehow comes up again that he doesn't get hurt stretching for a triple if he makes XB contact.

Someone should ask Hahn tomorrow if Conforto and Boras are still engaged in contract discussions encompassing both 2022 rehab with 2023 guaranteed? Then an option for 2024. They so desperately need one for next year, if not two. And not ready to push Colas up until second half of next season arguably.

Kevin Reimer/Pete Incaviglia

Crazy Trout is already ahead of Miguel Cabrera in career fWAR.

Up to 191 now. Baby steps. Surprised Zavala not out for two weeks with a hand injury so they can burn an option on Carlos Perez.

Seems like it. That's what happens when you go on into a tailspin for a week. Not enough work for "A" bullpen.

Burger and then Cueto kept the Sox from falling 8-10 games back and likely out of it.

Not sure Pollock has that. Probably.

Except wouldn't you have to rule he infringed on his path enough to prevent him from scoring instead of merely reaching third? Seemed more like incidental contact.

After that, you just know the Sox bullpen, defense or TLR will threaten to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.

90% of the game is half mental or whatever that Berra quote is...

Can just never seem to get those more comfortable 3-5 run leads.

He did it again. Not clutch.

It's probably Hendriks' health for this season and next. Moncada/Grandal/Jimenez health next. And they really miss Bummer.

Mazara at 816 ops, second homer. Rodon dominating a tepid Tigers' offense. Yermin 1/4 with a single so far...

Batting practice/home run derby swings.

No no hitter the biggest news. No Brandon Inge or Miggy? Sal Perez?