Chicago White Sox

Ben Rice. LH 1B/DH type (has played some catcher, but would pass on that) in the Yankees org who has put up big offensive numbers in the minors, but hasn’t yet proven himself in the majors. Turns 26 next year and Yankees seem like they will add a more proven 1B this offseason which could make Rice available. He’s the type of guy I’d love to roll the dice on. I actually wanted him as a secondary piece in a Cease deal last offseason.

I’d want someone with a higher ceiling than Arroyo to headline a Crochet deal.

I don’t think so. Honestly, I think Warren swinging his dick around during the Eberflus press conference is because he is thinking bolder for the hire. They obviously could still botch this because they’re the Bears, but I don’t think they just roll with the internal guy.

For reference, here is how Steamer 600 projects that lineup for next year: 1B: Vaughn (1.6 fWAR | 110 wRC+) 2B: Sosa (1.7 fWAR | 95 wRC+) SS: Baldwin# (2.0 fWAR | 92 wRC+) 3B: Vargas (1.9 fWAR | 105 wRC+) LF: Benintendi (1.5 fWAR | 105 wRC+) CF: Robert (2.4 fWAR | 104 wRC+) RF: Fletcher (0.1 fWAR | 82 wRC+) DH: Rice* (1.8 fWAR | 115 wRC+) CA: Quero# (2.3 fWAR | 97 wRC+) Outside of RF, all these guys project to be slightly below average to average regulars. Overall it’s a bad lineup and not all these guys are going to hit those projections, but if we can end up with two of Sosa, Baldwin, Vargas, & Fletcher (or DeLoach) becoming second division starters moving forward that’s a better outcome than hoping we can flip some scrap heap signings for useful prospects at the deadline.

As mentioned above, I do not want us to sign a bunch of DeJong types this offseason. We have a ton of fringe major leaguers that should be battling for spots and allow them to swing or swim until better prospects are ready. As such, this is the lineup that I’d like to see on Opening Day. Right now, I’m assuming none of the prospects received are major league ready. 1B: Vaughn 2B: Sosa (eventual shift to reserve infielder role) SS: Baldwin# (shift to 2B once Montgomery is ready) 3B: Vargas (potentially Ramos as some point) LF: Benintendi* CF: Robert RF: Fletcher*, DeLoach*, or Colas* DH: Rice*, Rule 5 pick, or other trade CA: Lee (Quero# up by May 1st) As highlighted above, Montgomery eventually gets called up and takes over SS until he proves he can’t handle the position. That forces Baldwin to 2B unless Sosa is absolutely killing it. If not, Lenyn moves to a backup role and can serve as the weak-side of a 2B platoon (he was one of our better hitters against LHP last year). Quero will come up before May 1st and is only starting the season in AAA for service time manipulation. Ramos is a wild card and could factor into a lot of spots. Unfortunately with Vargas, it seems like we need to give him an extended look somewhere and 3B appears to be the spot they have in mind. If so, I’d give Ramos a bit more seasoning in AAA and have him start playing some OF to improve his utility. I wouldn’t be against him filling in at multiple spots (3B, 2B, LF, etc.) next year once ready. By keeping Robert & Benintendi, you only have one OF spot to for the three AAAA OF types. Unless Crochet returns a major league ready OF, I think you let Fletcher and DeLoach battle for the spot (with Colas a long-shot third option). I am incredibly low on all these options, but at least Fletcher’s defense provides a path to a solid 4th OF with any meaningful improvement with the bat. He’d be the guy I’d plan on getting the role, but I’d make him earn it. Slater should be used as the weak side of a RF platoon regardless. Also, it’s abundantly clear that we need to get one legit OF prospect in a Crochet trade and ideally one that’s not too far off because Robert & Benintendi could be gone by August.

For me, here are my offseason goals: Trade Crochet for the best pair of positional prospects including one with legit star potential (Red Sox & Phillies are my two favorite trade partners) Explore a Robert trade leading up to Opening Day, but only consider it if you can get a legit top 100 / 50 FV positional prospect in return Hold onto Benintendi unless someone will absorb 80% or more of his salary and certainly do not force him into a Crochet deal Sign a free agent reliever to a one year deal who can slot into the closer role and be a potential flip candidate at the deadline (Jordan Romano is my favorite target right now depending on his health status) Acquire a young, LH bat that can slot into the DH spot and potentially be a long-term piece (Ben Rice is my top target for this spot, but also willing to utilize the Rule 5 draft to grab a lottery ticket like Bob Seymour) Take a pitcher with the 1.01 pick in the Rule 5 draft (Magdaleno, Castellano, etc.) and seriously consider drafting a second player at 2.01 (potentially a positional player like Franklin or Seymour) Continue adding guys to minor league deals, but avoid major league deals on placeholder types, especially for the lineup and rotation

Alright, figured it was time for us to have an offseason plan thread. I know it’s different since we aren’t trying to compete and won’t be overly active in free agency, but we know the Crochet trade is coming at some point and there will be other moves made. As such, even if you want to throw out some ideas of certain things what you want to see happen and not a full blown plan I think that’s totally fine.

I don’t see how the Reds have what we’re looking for.

The Top 10 is pitching heavy as expected, with numerous guys in the majors or very close to being ready. I think it’s paramount that we avoid adding a mid tier veteran SP this offseason so we don’t end up blocking these kids. It’s possible or even likely five of these kids make starts for the Sox this year and that’s in addition to Cannon, Martin, Burke and possibly Nastrini or Eder. Ramos & Wolkow are fairly noticeable omissions from the list. I think that speaks volume to the jumps Bush & Adams made last year and the high floor they offer. Anyways, Ramos was a fringe Top 100 guy heading into last season, but his stock certainly took a hit due to his slow start to the year. Not totally surprising to him fall out of the Top 10. I am a little surprised that Wolkow didn’t make the cut though. I get he’s about as the highest variance prospect as they come, but the ceiling is absolutely massive if he reaches it. I bet he cracks the Top 10 at other publications.

Here is their best tool list: Best Hitter for Average: Brooks Baldwin Best Power Hitter: George Wolkow Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Colson Montgomery Fastest Baserunner: Rikuu Nishida Best Athlete: Colson Montgomery Best Fastball: Noah Schultz Best Curveball: Eric Adler Best Slider: Noah Schultz Best Changeup: Adisyn Coffey Best Control: Mason Adams Best Defensive Catcher: Edgar Quero Best Defensive Infielder: William Bergolla Jr. Best Infield Arm: Arxy Hernandez Best Defensive Outfielder: Jacob Burke Best Outfield Arm: George Wolkow

Here is the list that just released this morning: Noah Schultz, LHP Colson Montgomery, SS Hagen Smith, LHP Edgar Quero, CA Drew Thorpe, RHP Jairo Iriarte, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Caleb Bonemer, SS Ky Bush, LHP Mason Adams, RHP

Steamer 600 projects Mayo at 1.7 fWAR vs. 1.9 for O’Hearn, so theoretically it’s all very close. That being said, the Orioles love having too much depth so it’s not completely out of the world they would keep both. And it’s still very early and it’s possible they move one of this off-season. If fact, I wouldn’t be that surprised if they are trying to use Mayo in a package to acquire a TOR starter.

Him becoming a 3 win player doesn’t mean he will be one as rookie.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with DeLoach challenging Fletcher for the RF job and Seymour for the DH role. Bring in multiple options into camp and see who Venable, Fuller, and the front office ultimately like. Hell, maybe even Colas rises from the ashes and forces his way into the mix.

Moncada overcame those issues though and put up some really nice seasons. His eventual downfall had nothing to do with initial struggles.

The adjustment going from AAA to the majors is massive. I don’t think he has anything left to learn in the minors from a hitting perspective, but it’s clear he will need to continue to develop in the majors. How long that takes remains to be seen. But zero reason not to pick up O’hearn’s option given he’s worth more that and can be traded if needed.

I think he could be there at 2.1 though. Just hard for teams to carry a limited player like him, which would help our chances of him slipping. But yeah, hems the type of guy you roll the dice on at DH over say Zach DeLoach.

You’re on the money. And I’m not trying to hate on the Ward idea, but just trying to illustrate how inflated PCL numbers are. IMO, I’d rather with a pitcher with the 1.1 and then snag someone like Bob Seymour at 2.1 who is a far more limited player but one with huge power and who could possibly be a strong side platoon option at 1B / DH

You are really anchoring off a dude’s first 46 plate appearances.

Yeah, would be interesting to see.

And don’t get me wrong, I can understand not wanting a 1B as the centerpiece of a Crochet trade, but acting like a 3 win 1B is somehow not valuable is what I’m really arguing against. Over the past three years, there have been 70 to 80 positional players each season who achieved 3+ wins. That’s less than three players per team in an average year. I get we all want a potential star as the centerpiece for Crochet and we should certainly push for that, but I think there is considerable value in getting a legit stud middle of the bat that can anchor a lineup for six years that doesn’t fully get reflected in WAR.

Pick your fighter! Figures below 2024 PCL stats for both players. Player A: 19.9% BB % | 17.3% K % | .276 ISO | 1.006 OPS | 151 wRC+ Player B: 7.9% BB % | 27.1% K % | .285 ISO | .860 OPS | 103 wRC+

Mayo is going to draw a lot more walks than Burger and I think he’ll eventually be a 40 HR hitter. I think he’s going to be a legit impact bat when it’s all said and done. Being a 1B obviously caps his value, but I think he’ll end up being a 3+ win player year-in, year-out.

Thanks for sharing this. That being said, I’m not overly concerned about his long-term potential at 1B as most of his errors at 3B have been of the throwing nature.