Chicago White Sox

At some point soon, the Sox will have money to spend. The main challenge will be signing stars and impact SP under Jerry. Even mercenary SP will likely be too rich for Jerry’s blood from a risk standpoint. As such, frontline pitching more or less needs to be developed (or traded for a la Lynn). I have no problem getting back a pitching prospect with a TOR ceiling for Cease, but would hate for a package of multiple mid-rotation types. Let’s swing for the fences in terms of ceiling with a Cease trade and use our money to add good (not great) players.

I’m seeing more like $50M at OTC and Spotrac…how did you get to those numbers?

At some point they will have to reveal their cards and both Getz & Boras will smell the blood in the water. Even if the Yankees don’t want to pay up for Cease, having them as a desperate boogeyman helps with SD & TEX.

The longer the Yankees remain quiet on Cole, the more I’m convinced they are trying to wrap up a deal for some sort of SP. However, that could just as easily be for Snell though, just impossible to say without knowing how adverse Steinbrenner is adverse to paying more tax.

This feels like it won’t be a productive day if my Soxtalk refreshing so far is any indication.

Why does any of this matter?

Same here…not going to keep poking the bear and risk upsetting the baseball gods until a deal is actually final.

I’d wager that most baseball front office types would place more value on Hall than Leiter right now. I’d put Porter and Hall on somewhat equal footing even if the latter has significant reliever risk. Leiter is tough because he has talent but you’re gambling on your org being able to fix him. I’d take the 34th pick in the draft and corresponding bonus allotment at this point over Jack. And as I said in a different post, I’d take definitely Ortiz over Duran. At some point we need to value plate discipline and smart swing decisions and nothing suggests Duran will ever fit that billing. It’s a disappointing package and only hope would be Bannister being “all in” on Porter & Leiter.

34th pick…which is significantly more valuable than the 64th pick. I’d also definitely Ortiz over a guy with a 7th percentile chase rate and poor K & BB rates over the course of his minor league career.

That Lynn trade is looking fantastic!

Yankees or Padres for me

Interesting nugget from DVS’ latest article: I find that hard to believe, but if true, Sox using the Yankees to help drive up the price for the Rangers & Padres?

Balta doesn’t like fake insiders like Ronsenthal

@Balta1701 - Where you at?

I also think that’s a big part of it. I haven’t seen any actual spring training games since they aren’t televised, but the velocity being there and likely the slider looking sharper helps alleviate any concerns about 2024 being a redux of 2023. And the chance of landing a possible cost controlled ace this late into spring training is super fucking valuable. Maybe the baseball gods are finally go to reward us with a mega package after years of torture.

Sure seems that way. Just got to hope that all the rumors of a high price still hold true and this is the market coming to us vs. Getz actually caving.

Yeah, this would be much more ideal

Duran being a key piece of a Cease trade makes no sense to me. The versatility is nice, but a RH hitter with zero discipline is the last thing we need to kick off our rebuild. Porter is a nice SP prospect but not good enough to be the other big piece if paired with Duran. I’m ok with Leiter as a secondary piece assuming Bannister is pushing for him, but again, not overly exciting when combined with the top two pieces. Very meh package to me.

And this one as well:

Worthwhile quote from Rosenthal‘s article for context:

Also, apparently we are engaged in talks with Michael Lorenzen as a potential Cease replacement, so it sounds like s%*# has turned up a notch. I do not like that Rangers package at all though.

Rosenthal is saying that’s what we are looking for. Sounds like Getz may be lowering his demands some too and that the Padres are also in the mix alongside the Rangers & Yankees.

Yankees fans are delusional on what Cease would cost. One dude on Pinstripe Alley said he wouldn’t give up any of their top 10 prospects, but would consider anyone else in the farm. May need to go recruit some friendly New Yorkers to get some real discussion going here.

This game on TV?

Oh good…now it’s time for a Jones, Arias, & Hampton return to end this once and for all.