Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 06:53 PM) Dunning struggling, wind is blowing out I bet the innings are catching up to him. He's approaching 100 on the year which has to be a huge increase for him.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 11:58 AM) Carson Kelly, Tyler O'Neill and a couple lottery tickets for Avi and Swarzak- how far off is that? I'd take Kelly straight up for both Avi & Swarzak.

I agree with the OP, hopefully this is the last minor league start for Lopez.

QUOTE (Anderdale @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 08:02 AM) Maybe I'm spoiled from watching him in college. I'm use to him having more walks than k's. The low average doesn't bother me. The strike outs concern me. Especially all the 3-2 counts that end in swinging strikes. And how can anyone knock his defensive strides? In one off-season he made a couple small adjustments and look where he's at now. Deep down I do believe he can do the same offensively. Exactly, I think this offseason they'll have him work on his swing and try to fix the hitch.

Tito Polo catch from the WBC: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/73955164/v123...-sprinting-grab

I blame the front office for not educating their manager on why bunting is typically statistically stupid.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 03:02 AM) I previously posted this on /r/whitesox. This is the magical Christmas land line up where everyone lives up to the hype. Not likely I know but I enjoy being able to dream on this farms potential. '19-'20 Batting Order CF Luis Robert 2B Yoan Moncada# LF Eloy Jimenez 1B Gavin Sheets* 3B Jake Burger C Zack Collins* DH Jose Abreu RF Blake Rutherford* SS Tim Anderson I doubt Abreu goes anywhere; He wants to mentor the youth movement and is a great ambassador for the team. When his arbitration is up I think the sox lock him up for 3 more years with an option. Additionally 1B & DH have had their value become depressed recently, I also doubt Hahn would get a return to warrant trading him. '19-'20 Rotation SP Michael Kopech SP Carlos Rodon* SP Lucas Giolito SP Jordan Guerrero* SP Alec Hansen This system is deep in pitching and its almost getting to the point where you can put their names in a hat and not feel bad with what you pull out; Lopez, Dunning, Cease, Fulmer, Adams, Stephens & Clarkin, and that isn't including the '17 draft class. I've been blown away with how quickly Hahn was able to navigate the talent acquisition phase. The system is a great blend of high ceiling and moderate floor, specifically Collins, Burger, Sheets, Gonzalez, Skoug, Fisher, Call & Mendick and the dearth of pitching talent. There are some solid major league growth assets in Rodon & Anderson even with down years and some of the younger players might develop into 2-2.5WAR regulars: Yolmer Sanchez, Leury Garcia, Adam Engel & Matt Davidson, that was something that was desperately missed with the recent roster constructions with Sale, Q & Eaton, stars & scrubs with out a sufficent amount of average major league players and depth. There are some interesting players near mlb ready in Delmonico, Liriano, Willy Garcia & the recently acquired Polo that might stick and turn into something as well. Finally they still have one asset they can sell high and likely cash in for another top 100 prospect in Avi. They will be at the front of the line for wavier claims; like Alen Hansen. They will likely have a top 5 pick in '18 & '19 and complement that with the rule V and major league roster space to stash them. It would be wonderful if they hit the lotto and land the next Odubel Herrera or Joakim Soria. Lastly they will have a plenty of money for the upcoming stacked free agent classes that can supplement this roster going into their window, their adjusted payroll for 2019 is 5.6 million before any arbitration or free agent signings. Great write-up! The only thing I disagree on is Lopez not being in the rotation.

QUOTE (Scoots @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 04:32 AM) So, short-term thinking, what does the rotation realistically look like for 2018? You'd have to think Giolito is going to get his shot at his first full major league stint, regardless how bad he is at AAA this season. Lopez is probably there. Rodon obviously. Who else? I dont think Dunning will be up at the start of the season. Shields and Holland will be gone, (thank goodness), so who mans the other 2 spots? Another couple rentals?? Or are we trying our luck with Holmberg again? Right now I'd assume it would be: 1) Rodon 2) Shields 3) Lopez 4) Vet depth signing 5) Giolito/Fulmer/Danish My guess is Shields is DFAed as soon as a spot is needed for a younger guy.

I don't think Alex Call is ever going to get a hit again. Also, the Sox really got to figure out their OF logjam at some point. I have no idea how they're going to make things work when Robert is in the states. There are like seven guys that should be at High A next year.

I wonder how Blair is a framer, because Giolito isn't get anything called close tonight. And he just gave up a triple. 4 runs on the night so far, ugly start for Giolito.

Call & Skoug got bumped up to Kannapolis, in the lineup tonight at LF & C respectively.

You sure Dunning is starting tonight? Milb shows Kubat.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?s...ilb&org=145

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 03:20 PM) I don't know how much of this I buy. All prospects are risky, and the so-called "safest" and most MLB-ready ones aren't available in trades anyway. Plus, several of the safe options have struggled themselves this year (Bregman, Swanson, Meadows). So there is no surefire way to combat that. The one point I will concede is that through all this trading and drafting, the Sox have obtained mostly bat-first guys with questionable defense, which is a little worrisome and does narrow their avenues to success a little. But overall, I think RH did well and didn't leave anything better on the table. I think their philosophy is it's easier to coach up defense than it is to teach someone how to make more consistent and/or harder contact.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 11:52 AM) I'd be fine with Sox signing a defensive catcher who frames well. I think that would be good and helpful. 100% agree with this. Otherwise, I see us loading up on a couple reclamation relievers and a starter too.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 11:03 AM) Oh come on now. That is just hyperbole. He'd be midrange in our top 30. Guy is young but has a lot of tools. He is a better piece than Ian Clarkin. I ranked Basbabe #22 in our system yesterday and I would take him over Hernandez. He'd probably be in the mid to low 20's at best. And I don't think he's a better piece than Clarkin.

Does anyone know if Rutherford & Polo are going to be active tonight?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 10:53 AM) I'm just looking at MLBPipeline, but he's a decent prospect...he's only 19, but projects to be a possible CF with a better than average arm. Considering they got him and 3 other warm bodies, seems like a pretty nice return to me, given what we just got back. Fangraphs & Baseball America both had him in the teens. Honestly, he's probably a Clarkin level prospect at best. Overall the returns for relievers haven't been that great so far this deadline IMO.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 10:34 AM) Per Heyman, Brayan Hernandez is the top guy going for Phelps. Don't really know much about these guys, but Hernandez seems like a pretty weak headliner if true.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 10:01 AM) Yeah, and I'm still worried. Seems 1-3 SP's are pretty hard to find. Finding TOR starters I agree with, but Clarkin doesn't help there anyways.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 09:21 AM) Not from an fWAR perspective...Leury was worth more than Robertson, for example. Well I think using fWAR is a stupid way to value relievers against other players. WAR is partially volume driven and ignores context, so relievers are unfairly punished. Just look at what teams are paying for high leverage relievers and tell me with a straight face that you honestly think they're worth less than 5th starters.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 08:57 AM) A solid 5th starter is worth more than a stud reliever for sure. It would be interesting to debate whether it is worth more than a good one and a stud one (assuming Kahnle stays a stud) Gotta disagree here. A stud reliever is worth way more than a 5th starter.

We're going to have big problems if we can't find five starters between the following 12 guys: Giolito Lopez Fulmer Kopech Adams Guerrero Stephens Hansen Dunning Flores Clarkin Cease And we may only need four starters depending on if they view Rodon as a long-term piece.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 08:50 AM) I understand. That doesn't mean the deal will be a big win if Clarkin turns into a 5th starter and Rutherford busts. I'm with you on this. This deal is really Rutherford or bust. Clarkin can mitigate some of the loss or improve the gain, but he alone isn't going to turn the deal into a win.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 08:38 AM) The Yanks are going to be "forced" to shed salary to get under luxury tax threshold so I doubt this was an unlikely scenario. Are you sure about this? They have at least $65M in salary coming off the books next year between A-Rod, Sabathia, & Holiday. Even with Robertson's $13M salary, it seems like they should have plenty of space below the luxury tax. And this assumes that Tanaka doesn't opt-out either.