caulfield12

We heard the exact same thing about Santana...but he was already toast. Teheran put up decent numbers in the NL last year, but has SO SO SO much mileage already on that arm going back to age 15/16. At GRF, I wouldn't think he could do any better than Ivan Nova.

Pressure from the Dodgers on the Indians regarding the proposed trade for Lindor and Cleveland's currently exorbitant demands?

Eaton coming off his peak season had/has a lot more value than Benintendi currently does...especially with the increased focus on homers/power (who knows what baseball they'll use next year). Adam picked up so much defensive value moving from CF to RF and collecting a pile of assists from that position. Benintendi, at best, is neutral. It's all academic, because they will attempt to dump JBJr. on the White Sox, not AB.

The only way that you think about Vaughn or Madrigal is if the Red Sox are sending $60 million and giving you JBJr (I think we can forget about Benintendi.) Even then, do you really want David Price on a 3 year contract for $36 million? Anyone? JBJr. is just a salary dump, again...going into FA next year. The one thing about Bradley is he would improve the defense by leaps and bounds. You could play him and Robert together and DH Mazara and/or Jimenez. But still don't really like it for the White Sox because of all the concerns overhanging David Price going forward...and then losing Bradley into FA and having to fight to fill the position yet again (assuming one of the minor league OFer's doesn't break through next year.)

Everyone in the world though Alexei was a bit older than his stated age...and was nearing a decline. And jumping the rawest prospect in baseball in terms of actual playing experience from AA to the majors was never going to be the best path for his development.

Did he link the Sox to Ryu/Boras yet? It would be funny if he went to the Rangers with how many pitchers they’ve already added the last two cycles...Hahn will quickly out out the statement “we simply couldn’t compete with their sparkling new facility and the ability for him to be reunited and become teammates with his countryman Choo as both conclude their impactful careers.”

Alexei was nearing the end of his effectiveness by then...they projected he (Semien) was just going to be a utility player, the end. A more versatile Micah with some pop and less speed. They also had Saladino, fwiw.

I made a bet with someone about Avi...they said 1/$8 and I said 3/$40, but technically it would be a split decision, since he got two years. Their AAV was still closer, by a bit...to their original guess. But then there were rumors he turned down three years to bet on himself having two solid years and heading into FA again in 2021-22, so basically a draw there. Nobody thought he would get more than one year.

Except we had him playing more third and second... We haven’t successfully identified position players on other teams that turned into studs since Quentin and Eaton. The other two during the last decade have been Alexei and Abreu...unless you want to include Narvaez as well. Not much for 12 years of scouting internationally and the rest of MLB.

I think many would be done until JR sold and/or KW and Hahn were jettisoned. But it would be mostly about the Reinsdorfs, especially if the Bulls also continue on their current trajectory.

They’ve already signed Roark and Chase Anderson, but they might as well get the jump on Hahn for 2021, too. Three now with Yamaguchi, sigh. It still feels like just one backend guy...then hope and pray to get to July while still in contention and make a trade for a rental and/or assume another team’s contract.

Cueto in 2015, Shields, Yordano Ventura

Yes, obviously. Do I have to list all five players, lol? I’m sure Greg will only remember Caruso, Howry and Foulke. Although I’d bet even money just 2/5, because you could blink and miss Caruso’s impact on the organization. Howry would end up as a chair throwing hothead in Texas and Foulke to Cotts to 2005, although Koch was one of KW’s worst moves. If someone can’t recognize the White Flag trade as one of the 3 most important modern-day Sox-related debacles, they might as well follow another team. It’s so obvious, there’s no point to acknowledge it. The larger point is we had two lengthy periods of tanking that led to successes in 93/94 and 2000-2008.

Kopech has been the closest recently to that position...Giolito’s peak in prospect ratings was years earlier. But sure, give him $125 million to extend, might as well spend the money on something. He’s well spoken, comes from a strong family, appreciates the White Sox sticking with him through adversity...about as good a team leader as it gets on the pitching side of things,

Jesus Christ. I’m supposed to be monitoring the internet 24 hours per day here in China? So mentioning the White Sox along with other teams versus substantiating that we’ve had a REAL meeting with Boras Corp on Keuchel and/or Ryu? How many legitimate national writers have connected REAL CONCRETE TANGIBLE discussions with Boras and the White Sox this entire offseason? ANY? You’re really a piece of work accusing others of lying...but it’s whatever. But sure, I saw that article and deliberately ignored it and attempted to obfuscate the truth in order to keep the White Sox/Ryu/Boras negotiations for being exposed before a deal could be struck. I’ve been sitting on it for 2-3 weeks, lol.

Well, there’s always Tyler Chatwood...

That’s unlikely to happen with most teams until mid season now...with the obvious exception of the Red Sox and maybe the Diamondbacks listening on Ray. The Rockies are yet another team with no clear direction, so you have Gray there and Gonzales from the M’s as two more realistic possibilities. Stroman, Porcello, Wacha and even Thor or de Grom could be on the market if the Mets fall far behind in such a competitive division. The first three, at least, are all realistic gets.

Keuchel has a chance to rebound with a full spring training. Look at what Lance Lynn did in Texas in 2019 coming off his disappointing 2018. Maybe not to the tune of a 4.7 fWAR, but we only need 2.5-3.0 to stabilize the rotation and conserve financial resources.

So then all is well. Problem solved...if we just ignore the existence of at least seven other teams and Scott Boras, we are all set.

Yes, I obviously understand the White Flag trade. Some prefer to have selective positive memories.

Where is Jon Rauch now...he was #1 rated as well? That’s still relevant, because KW and JR are still largely running things...at least the purse strings. A year ago, Lopez was projected into every future rotation and Giolito was getting his final opportunity. It’s the White Sox, after all. What can go wrong usually does go wrong. If there weren’t so many with medical questions, sure. Project all you want and don’t add. Even Hahn on numerous occasions said he was looking for a #2 and then a backend guy to stabilize the rotation and take the pressure off Cease and all the pitchers coming back from major surgeries. Ryu is the only 2 left, and Price is a 4/5 going forward. Not a single source has linked us to Ryu.

There’s still EE, Keuchel, Teheran, Wood, Walker...couple more possibilities there that are not King Felix or the Dark Knight....along with Harris, Hudson, Betances in the pen.

Actually, we did have to tank for most of the late 80’s and late 90’s. Not sure where Greg was back in 1997-99.

If we had the same success rate out of 1998-2001 prospects (we also had another #1 BA-ranked class in 2000), we win three World Series titles in the 2000’s. Along with Buehrle and Garland, Garcia and Contreras ended up being the keys. The bust rate of those pitching prospects was 75-80%. Wells and Fogg were the only other two that ended up having decent careers. McCarthy came in the next cycle/wave.

Dallas Keuchel (No. 30): I like Keuchel a little better than Keith did in his rankings, and while Keuchel went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts with the Braves after not signing until early June, there are some possible concerns with him. He allowed a .338 OBP, his highest mark since his breakout season in 2014. His strikeout rate dipped below 20% for the second straight season after peaking at 23.7% in 2015, his Cy Young season. He compensates with a high ground ball rate and by shutting down the running game (no stolen bases allowed in 2019). He's also the bulldog type that teams love. Best fits: White Sox, Angels, Twins, Cardinals, Padres, Phillies Prediction: Twins. Jake Odorizzi accepted the Twins' qualifying offer and Minnesota re-signed Michael Pineda, but those two and Jose Berrios are the only proven starters on the Minnesota roster. There’s the Keuchel argument, in a nutshell. From previous article.