caulfield12

Unless Bush can play a premium position like middle infield or CF, his value will always be tied to his bat. Then it comes down to the usual for the Sox, sticking it out at third, we’ve already got Burger in that same minefield.

Eaton and Quentin say hello. Those literally are the two biggest success stories of the last decade...even Davidson finally became a contributor. Or we can only target the NL West, lol.

The demand for round-the-clock Bears’ coverage and footage of past glories (lacking the Yankees’ treasure trove) is one of the few ideas that makes some sense. Imagine how many customers in Iowa are going to be willing to pay $5+ more per month in what will likely be a recessionary year from an economic standpoint...not the best timing for the Cubs. Also a pretty good reason the Sox wanted to build in some budgeting certainty for 2020-2024 first.

Basabe is not the type of player the Dodgers can be patient with at the big league level for 2-3 years. He’s a much better fit for a rebuilding team with time and patience to spare.

But two TJ surgeries...nobody has bounced back from three, like ever. Maybe they can mitigate that in the pen, but he’s suddenly become a max velocity guy.

That’s pretty rigorous analysis, lol. You take away Pederson’s bottom year and Harper’s peak season...they both could be $125-150 million players, especially if Pederson can hold down CF even better in a smaller OF. Of course, he’s likely to have to cover a lot unless we start him along with Jay in RF instead of Palka. We’ve currently got too many LH hitters now for the correct platoons, lol. Then Yolmer and Leury. Who knows, maybe the sum actually becomes better than the individual parts for once a a decade competitive White Sox season that comes out of the blue?

It all depends on how long we think Frye’s health will hold together vs. Bummer’s long term potential to get everything straightened out.

POSITION PLAYERS Hardest hitter: Manny Machado Statcast™ classifies batted balls with at least a 95-mph exit velocity as hard-hit, and in each of the past two seasons, nobody has produced more of those than Machado. He put a hard-hit ball in play 257 times in 2018 -- 28 more than anyone else (MLB batters as a group hit .524 and slugged 1.047 on hard-hit balls last season). On a rate basis, Machado made hard contact on 48.2 percent of his batted balls, a figure that ranked 15th out of 228 players (minimum 250 batted balls). As a 26-year-old shortstop/third baseman with a good glove, Machado's appeal should go far beyond this, but his ability to consistently square up pitches is fundamental to his status as a top free agent. https://www.mlb.com/news/remaining-mlb-free-agents-with-the-best-skills/c-302900918

Either another Disney movie or he’s really good at water polo? And we share the same birthday and an affinity for The Sandlot, lol. Went to Louisville, got into one game his senior year. Majoring in mechanical engineering... After college, he wants to work in space exploration... Person with the greatest influence on his athletic career was his dad, who has always provided what he has needed to practice... Hobbies and interests include disc golf and fishing... Favorite movie is The Sandlot... Favorite TV show is Scrubs... Favorite athlete is Mike Trout... Favorite cereal is Cracklin’ Oat Bran... Favorite candy bar is Snickers... Favorite food is chicken parmesan... Favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds... Favorite restaurant is Chipotle... Earned a score of 33 on his ACT... His father Chris played professional baseball from 1977-87 and is now a sportscaster for the Cincinnati Reds.

Without Machado, it’s going to be a hollow victory...but having Pederson instead of Engel or pushing Palka to DH (where he’s currently blocked by vets) ertainly makes sense. Sending Hill out there instead of Covey, as well. The problem is none of those guys will be around in 2021, so we circle back to the same problem. And those moves would already put us at close to a $100 million payroll...with not much of a bump in attendance without one of the whales. In the end, we need Machado/Harper or a huge jump from our minors and that #3 pick.

Taylor’s as good a bit as any to start at 2B or in LF. They’re not going to just give him and Pederson away.

You’re really going to start Jay or Leury in the outfield, in RF? Still think Rondon is the odd man out... If you look at it realistically, Yolmer has the most value to other teams, so Leury’s ability to play nearly every position on the field and lower salary gives him the advantage.

Notre Dame football contract runs through 2025...that won’t work.

If you just looked at the numbers and threw out Harper’s 10 fWAR season and Pederson’s 0.6 in 2017...Pederson would look like an $80-110 million player when hitting free agency at 28/29. And you’d essentially be getting him without a significant dent in your prospect list. Not to mention, the rotation would be much more competitive on a daily basis, you could slot Covey for the bullpen AND provide Fulmer another shot to get his career back on track.

He still has a role unless we’re going to start Leury or add Markakis/Jones into the RF mix as well. The Dodgers most assuredly don’t need any more LH hitting outfielders who can’t even defend a corner position...and he’s the type of hitter who needs regular playing time with that type of hitting approach.

It seems smarter to get Pederson and Hill for basically table scraps than paying Years 4-5 on Pollock and losing the draft pick. Pollock, on a three year deal, that would be fine. To the Dodgers clearing all that payroll space for Pollock makes MORE sense, because they really need the RH hitting outfielder to balance things out and we could definitely use a lefty for ours. Pollock and Pederson are both hitters with pretty high variability who could end up 1 or 5 but shoul end closer to 3.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/what-mystery-team-is-reportedly-after-manny-machado-process-of-elimination-points-to-a-potential-breakout-club/ Why the Padres are the likely mystery team in on Machado, by process of deduction across all MLB clubs

If Palka could passably play CF, let alone RF, then you’d have an argument. 3.1, 3.6 and 2.7, three of his four years he’s averaged 9.4/3=3.1 fWAR if you throw out 2017. Some team’s going to give Bryce Harper $325-375 million counting on at least 4 fWAR seasons. Palka’s projected at 0.6 or 0.5 for 2019, Pederson at 3 again. The key is to have 4-5 guys who can put up a 2-3.5 (Anderson, Abreu, Pederson) and then you have Moncada, Jimenez and Machado to put up really big numbers. That leaves catcher, DH (Alonso/Palka) and RF. A move for Jones or Markakis here would not be shocking if they managed to get Pederson and Machado in the fold. All of a sudden, you have a potentially excellent offense. 2B Moncada 3B Manny Machado 1B Jose Abreu DH Yonder Alonso/Palka LF Eloy Jimenez CF Joc Pederson C Castillo RF Palka/Markakis/Adam Jones SS Tim Anderson

If we facilitate Harper to LA, we might lose Machado to the Phillies...

Viciedo resents that comp.

Dodgers on the Hunt for Bush, What a Bummer!

Should have signed Hamilton for CF with Pederson in RF. Manny will be happy at least with Jay, I guess. Jay probably has terrible splits against lefties as well, yes?

We could certainly use one lefty in the rotation to give batters a different look...Hill and Pederson off the payroll also opens up money for Pollock/Harper.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/cubs-launch-own-sports-network-221820688--mlb.html Who could it possibly be? Notre Dame football? When does their NBC deal expire? "Is it going to have a time slot for cops showing domestic violence...... maybe they can have their player who beat his wife host it!" Mickey from Hamtramck

it would be funny to see Fulmer regain his Vandy form paired with Buehler...maybe Fulmer, Bummer and Jones? Or Yolmer?