Chicago White Sox

Equating “don’t do doing drugs” to executing massive modernization changes to a highly complex billion dollar sports org is one of the largest leaps I have seen in my 25+ years on this site. Not much else for me to say here.

I mean, we know a ton of changes they have actually made. I agree we don’t the level of impact they will have, but even getting within the stratosphere of the rest of the league is a massive first step and there is plenty of reason to believe Getz has or is on track to doing that. Ultimately, it’s ok to acknowledge Getz has made legit structural improvements to the org without saying he’s fixed everything.

They want to build up Taylor’s innings in a multi-inning capacity and eventually turn him into a SP down the road. I’m skeptical it will work out just as I was with Crochet and I was wrong there. Regardless, Leasure was the likely closer before this move. And generally agree with your views on bullpen investment, but disagree on one key component. One of the advantages rebuilding teams have is the ability to give players extended runways. That could be for a young, unproven player or could be using a player at a new, more valuable spot or role. You and I have debated this topic before, as I am big fan of adding post hype prospects who haven’t been given extended opportunities. Pereira is an example of a guy I like going out and adding vs. say someone like Kelenic who has vast failures to believe can suddenly turn the ship around. I have been a huge proponent of taking advantage of our s%*# OF situation and letting Baldwin learn on the fly out there (and ideally play a lot CF). And finally, there is intrinsic value to pitching well in high leverage situations vs. low and medium ones (fWAR accounts for this for a reason). Proven closers routinely return some of the best value come the trade deadline. Even if your team isn’t trying to win, that closer should be utilized on a guy who has stuff and if successful can turn into a trade chip.

JustGottaBelieve is not even remotely objective when it comes to Robert

I’d have to take a look for specific examples, but usually the big name relievers get scooped by the teams trying to compete. Regardless, we know that legit closers command value at the deadline. If Dominguez be successful in that role, he will have real trade value come July.

Pass on Bader! Not against Giolito though if they can afford him.

I don’t really agree. If you believe in his arm and give him more high leverage opportunities than previously provided, then it’s reasonable to expect his value to go up if pitches as you project him to. Yes, relievers are volatile and there is no guarantee this works out, but closers are always over-valued as the deadline and this is a smart gamble a rebuilding club should take.

Leasure was pretty damn good over the 2H of the season. Him and Taylor are your two setup guys.

This is something I have criticized Getz for the past two years. The closer spot in a rebuild season should be utilized by a vet with good stuff who hasn’t had a shot at closing up until then. We lost out on some real flip value the past two deadlines by being so cheap in how we filled our bullpen.

I could then do another two year deal for a SP. The only challenge there is this just ate up half the Robert’s savings and the guys left who would command two years would require more than a $10M AAV. I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see on where the budget lands. Maybe the Robert trade wasn’t a Jerry mandated salary and Getz not being comfortable committing 20% of his payroll into the player.

I actually love this move with him serving as closer. Real chance to return some actual value come July.

They will add another OF in some capacity. No way to do they go into camp with just this group. Doubt it will be anything over $5M and might be as a NRI with above league minimum contract if they make the team, but they will add a vet to be part of the spring training mix.

Almost certainly Kannapolis or I’d be very concerned

Why? Who did we pass on?

Pretty sweet we have three top 100 prospects that could join the staff this year and another one in Thorpe who should be ready at some point.

I have no idea why you think he profiles as 1B.

I have no faith yet, but he’s also very to the OF and had to learn on the fly. If you look at his advanced metrics, his defense in the corners was bad as he wasn’t getting good reads on the ball. His range was perfectly fine and he had actually had an average OOA in CF in a SSS. I’m more optimistic than confidence than it makes sense.

Yeah, easily the worst OF on paper. That being said, I still really like Baldwin and think he can be a nice player out there with more reps. I think Acuna has a very high ceiling defensively and room for improvement with the bat. If he can find a way to get more loft (which is already working on) and more routinely swing fast I think he could surpass 10 HR’s and that would make him a startable CF (by no means do I think that’s probable, but definitely in realm of possible). I also really like Pereira and think he will be the guy who surprises with more runway. Not a huge Kelenic fan and just feel he’s too much of a head case to radically improve his game at this point.

Not sure why that gives Hahn a free pass for never having replacement level talent in AAA. He could have gone out and traded for a Tristan Peters or simply signed better AAAA types to minor league deals.

It’s admittedly weird to hate someone you have never have met, but my distaste for him is truly immense. Like I hate the dude with a passion for destroying two of my three favorite sports teams. He pretty much lacks any of the qualities I look for in an owner and we have been stuck with himself forever. And he’s so fucking stubborn and refuses to relinquish control because it’s somehow fun overseeing hilariously bad organizations. The only saving grace is that Ishbia is going be very different with a modern perspective on things and that sweet, sweet private equity money.

If you look at the above, I’m expecting two veteran additions via free agency. I’d assume the SP one to be far more impactful than the OF one. I also see a strong likelihood we end up moving Lee and either Sosa or Mead. For now, I have Sosa for that reserve IF spot, but I do feel like Chris is out there trying to sell him to other clubs. Should be a decent amount of activity for us ahead of Spring Training.

Time to bump this thread. Here are my new projections for the OD roster: Lineup: 1B: Murakami (L) 2B: Meidroth (R) SS: C. Montgomery (L) 3B: Vargas (R) LF: Baldwin (S) CF: Acuña (R) RF: <Veteran> (L) DH: Benintendi (L) CA: Teel (L) Bench: BC: Quero (S) IF: Sosa (R) OF: Pereira (R) OF: Kelenic (L) Rotation: <Veteran> (R) Shane Smith (R) Davis Martin (R) Anthony Kay (L) Sean Burke (R) Bullpen: CL: Leasure (R) SU: Taylor (R) SU: Vasil (R) MR: Newcomb (L) MR: Gilbert (L) MR: Gonzalez (R) MR: Alberto (R) LR: Paez (R) DFA or Returned: BC: Lee (R) IF: Mead (R) IF: Ramos (R) OF: Hill (R) RP: Hudson (L)

I like all these moves (outside of Acuna) in isolation. But we now have a ton of guys with no options, so these type of moves create some challenges from a roster construction perspective.

Mid-season list he must have jumped to #69 in 2023. Baseball America’s player page doesn’t list a 2024 ranking for him.

FWIW, Kelenic somehow hit worse than Acuna did in AAA if that’s possible and doesn’t offer the defensive & base-running value that the latter does. I still think he should have to prove that any swing changes him and Fuller make this offseason actually work in AAA before he gets a major league shot.