caulfield12

If last year was the Lucas throwing 94-97, touching 98 that we saw more consistently in 2019/20, then I think they would be giving it more serious thought. Maybe they are, but the fact of the matter is that they're going to be a lot more conservative with Giolito, Cease and Kopech with their TJ histories. The only recent extension for a nearly home-grown player is John Danks, and that was seemingly ages ago. Since then, everything has been limited to three years, and you know Giolito and his agent/family will be looking at 4-5 year deals (at a minimum) if he continues his success in the 2022/23 seasons. I guess there was a report out this spring already that he'd bulked/beefed up and was already throwing quite hard...although I remember we saw that in a previous spring and then he was 91-94 for the seemingly the first half of the following season. Not sure if that was last year or my memory is now failing me.

"Over the span of two days, the Braves signed McHugh and fellow Gwinnett County native Matt Olson to deals. McHugh agreed to a 2-year, $10 million contract to return home to Atlanta. McHugh said the first call he made was to his wife and then his mother." 5 days ago. Lost out to the Wheeler Wife Effect...a different variation.

"What are you doin' Hahn?"

It's also wise to have a softer tossing pitcher like Tepera to give a change of pace from 95+ from everyone. This might be a need that Keuchel can expensively fill throughout the seaon, but it seems pretty certain he will at least start out in the rotation. Someone like Evan Marshall, but they tend to get battered when their location is off. There was another forkball/split guy we got from the Cubs who was really effective but could never manage to stay healthy...think that was 5-6 years or so ago.

Penny wise, pound foolish. Luckily Lucas is not such a hot-head as Jack McDowell back in the day, but hard not to imagine him ending up on the West Coast at some point.

Because the Braves are smarter? Because we'd rather pay Leury and Harrison (this year's Jimmy Rollins) the same amount, even though neither would appear on a Top 20 list, let alone Top 10.

PR like Gore and Dyson in the late innings...getting into scoring position.

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/8/11/4611804/alex-rios-trade-leury-garcia-white-sox-rangers From August 2013, Leury is the longest tenured White Sox over Jose Abreu...nobody back then thought this move would have any future significance for the franchise.

They're the WFT/Raiders of MLB. https://www.eastvillagetimes.com/the-clock-is-ticking-for-padres-cj-abrams/ By the way, looks like CJ Abrams will be playing either 2B, SS or LF with the Padres to start the season, despite having well under 500 major league at-bats (see Vaughn, but coming out of high school instead of PAC 10). That would be four players (along with Paddack, Tatis and Campusano) they didn't hold back for service time manipulation. Editorial Note: Since Harold jinxed Kelenic big-time last year and now the entire state of Wisconsin (NCAABB), there will be no separate CJ Abrams thread in 2022...as we also didn't do one for the TB Rays wunderkind.

That would be so White Sox and TLR, making Vaughn the weak-side of a RF platoon along with Leury. Who knew that under-the-radar Alex Rios deal would have such long-term ramifications back then, or even 2-3 years ago, for that matter? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to platoon Leury and Harrison instead? Or am I missing something here about Leury's non-stellar RF defense?

Not with the new, oversized glow-in-the-dark bases.

They'll find out quickly enough Berrios is not QUITE as good as his reputation that precedes him. A very solid pitcher, but closer to a 2/3 than a 1/TOR.

Well, that would wipe out the career of Nick Madrigal.

Will go with the Braves, post WS hangover. Of course, they have a better pen, and are getting Ozuna and Acuna back at some point.

Are they a top team or just three stars and a ton of pitching question marks like usual? Also, the Indians' pitching staff will continue to give the Sox fits.

Sure, but that will only last a month. Who knows, maybe Engel gets hurt yet again and he gets a shot like Goodwin and Hamilton last year.

Great, too many relievers now with Crick, lol… Maybe, just perhaps, we could trade one to get something we actually need?

I actually thought all these Sox offseason moves are exactly the types of moves a team in teardown mode would be making, like the club approaching 2016-17 offseason...hoping to flip them at the deadline. Well, Graveman and Kelly both would be considered riskier I suppose.

No...that Kimbrel being on roster carries yet another danger. Which amounts to losing a bullpen arm we wouldn't have had to if not for this particular situation. Everyone was already reconciled to losing Adolfo, so he becomes the most obvious aspect of any trade package at this point. Along with an elevated risk of injury to Kimbrel. The Sox would get roughly $8~10 million back, assuming he's insured in a similar fashion to David Wells in 2001.

At least they can't turn around and give that $200k "saved" to Texas for their international draft pool... This time, it goes the other direction to offload Kimbrel from the roster. instead of Nate Jones.

Who'd a thunk outfield defense is important? This just means Pollock to the Sox for sure, lol. Oops. Stuck with Kimbrel again. I remember a time many years ago when we ended up with one of the best LH relievers in baseball because they were going to be a spring training roster cut and would have been exposed...Damaso Marte. Pretty sure Thornton was the other one. Although one would doubt it's Micker Adolfo or a White Sox reliever having similar success if given an opportunity.

One more reason why Kimbrel wasn't a compelling need to bring into the regular season...do we have to keep him in the big league roster or risk losing him like Adolfo?

You’re betting on all these guys like Abreu, Lynn, 34 year old Pollock, Harrison, Graveman and Kelly repeating…the odds are definitely not with the Sox. That’s not even getting into recent club history with such veteran targets. You’re also blocking Vaughn’s development, and potentially spending up to $25 million more over a two year commitment, also blocking Cespedes and Colas potentially. No reason just to not pay the much younger, better fielding, Joc Pederson his $6 million to be a one year strong side platoon. Then that $10 million is better allocated to starting pitching. And Pollock just can’t stay healthy for a full season.

Who would the Dodgers start in his spot? Lux?

Up to six different teams involved? Far easier to go to Oakland with Burger or Lopez and Adolfo. We can’t afford to give up Sheets for a one year rental.