almagest

I think the K rate improvement is great, but it's just one piece. SSK25 added context on his control issues keeping his xERA about the same and control was the reason I said bullpen for Burke. Strikeouts + elite extension + high walks + an xERA of 5 = probably a reliever. Does he have a chance to keep that K rate, lower the walk rate, and become a solid starter? Probably. I sure hope you're right. Right now it doesn't look like it's going to happen though.

I was looking at his 99 ERA+, but yes I don't disagree. He wasn't very good and doesn't have much of a ceiling. He'll probably end up in the bullpen as a good outcome.

If they need to save 10 million so badly they'd take a return of injured guys and a pick worth $1.5 million then MLB needs to step in because Jerry doesn't understand how to run this business.

If the Sox think any of these guys are worth it, and can get a comp pick in the deal, then do it. Otherwise don’t trade him for players you don’t think will have any impact just to get rid of him.

Whatever Getz needed to do to get this signing through.

Burke was about a league average pitcher last year, but his Baseball Savant page is pretty mediocre - only his extension measures as a plus. He's average to below average in everything else. He's probably a #4, #5 or long reliever best case, unless he suddenly adds a great pitch or adds 3-4 mph on his average fastball. I think people are hopeful Kay can continue the Fedde type success, but I'd guess he'll be closer to what Fedde is now (i.e. a 5.something FIP). If we can catch some lightning in the bottle due to lack of familiarity with his pitch changes and turn him into a prospect or two at the deadline I think that's best case scenario. Doubt most teams are going to fall for that though. Maybe he'll turn into a decent bullpen option. Thorpe I have more hope for, as he absolutely dominated the minor leagues. Yeah, the list of guys who washed out/went to the bullpen with stellar MiLB numbers is long, but I think it's worth giving him some time to see if that changeup can carry the rest of his stuff, and what stuff improvements he can make (if any). I would agree that 2026 is likely not good for him, though.

I would agree, but the Sox aren't going to eat $30+ million. I also don't think he's tradable in any scenario except where the Sox take on a worse player/more risk. Unfortunately I think he's the DH/LF for 2026.

Yeah, those are guys who are still very young and have a good shot to be quality players though. I don't mind that. Guys like Benintendi and Blake Rutherford were poor choices due to not being very good.

The Sox just got hung up on him after missing out in the draft and never let that go. Like they've done with so many other players. Hopefully that's coming to an end.

God damn what a terrible signing that was. -0.2 fWAR in his three years with the Sox, and at BEST that ends up at like 1.5 at the end of his deal. The warning signs were there too after having his second best offensive season (121 wRC+), but with zero power, and only managing 2 fWAR.

Devers or Olson sounds just fine to me

Get ready boys, because I read the tea leaves again and discovered "Tucker too"

Yeah, but they continue to be unable to get off the field. No punts forced all game.

Me neither. That is a damn good team.

Murakami saw that Bears game and knows he has to be on the other pope-blessed team

The Packers absolutely controlled that game until late in the 4th and they completely crumbled. I would've preferred a blowout but I'm not upset with watching them choke harder than I've seen any team choke in a while

Hey, Green Bay, how does it feel to lose a game on a deep bomb? Bad, doesn't it?

I'd be happy with either

And you guys thought I was joking with finding "Murakami is coming" in Venable's quote

Clearly, we should all 100% believe this Twitter rando.

Murakami is coming is right there. Could it be any clearer?

Wouldn’t have minded taking a shot on him.

I would also prefer to keep local governments out of it, because the fans and taxpayers end up getting screwed no matter what happens. The way I understand this situation, though, is the Bears are funding the stadium. They want infrastructure help from the state (who owns that infra), and the state said its not a priority in 2026. Yeah, the Bears don't HAVE to move, but honestly they should. Soldier Field sucks to get to, the field sucks, it's tiny, and it's outdoors when most modern stadiums are domes. The city already blew their chance to keep the team in the city. The state should be trying to work with them on this but instead we get petty nonsense back and forth endlessly.

Bring in a front office guy from Tampa and immediately trade for someone on the margins of their roster, eh?

I don't miss most of his performances, but I do miss Joe Kelly because of this kind of stuff.