Chicago White Sox

I mostly agree here, but trading someone like Micker Adolfo for a backup catcher seems nuts to me. I would explore moving him for the reasons you state, but would much rather use him as a sweetener in a more impactful move, whether that be now or at the trade deadline.

Well of course it doesn’t measure actual ERA itself, but it’s output is an ERA equivalent and can most definitely be compared to ERA (in fact that’s the point!). I literally have no idea what people are actually arguing here...lol.

Our farm system will likely be bottom five by the end of the year without some massive breakout performances, so I’m hesitant moving any pieces unless it’s for a potential difference maker. If it’s part of a larger deal then maybe, but I’d still rather avoid it if at all possible.

Because that is probably an AAV / Luxury Tax based estimate, which is not the same thing as a cash-based payroll.

https://library.fangraphs.com/pitching/fip/

Trading for a backup catcher, short of just absorbing a contract, would be really stupid. If you don’t believe in Collins, just sign a damn free agent. Let’s not get overly cute here trying to find the perfect fit.

I didn’t say that, but FIP basically measures ERA so of course it can be compared to it. A guy with a 4.00 ERA & 3.50 FIP would have an ERA a half run worse than his FIP. I feel like I’m missing something painfully obvious here, because this is just basic math.

I’m guessing your post didn’t finish, but Bush & Sosa seem all but a certainty for High A given the backlog of prospects in need of full season reps. With Curbelo now 23, it’s pretty much boom or bust time for him, so High A seem pretty likely. Regarding Abbott, are you guessing he goes to High A because he’s further along than Mendoza (I’m guessing not) or simply because he’s more expandable? Both are roughly the same age, so that shouldn’t be much of a consideration. I’d think Mendoza is the better regarded prospect, but that’s mostly based on their stat lines.

I don’t follow.

The $109M does take into account arbitration salaries. The only things I’m excluding are signing bonuses from previous years (non cash) and $2M in dead money for Herrera & Konerko.

So if we’re sitting at $109M and you believe the following, we’d have between $26M & $31M to work with. Assume Hendriks takes $13M of that to be conservative and that leaves about $13M to $18M for another SP and positional depth. If you take the higher end, you can probably add a decent SP & a guy like La Stella and not have to trade to fill holes. But if you’re on the lower end and/or want a veteran backup catcher, things will quickly become tight. It’s really going to be a shame if we start trading our limited assets for C tier guys that we should be able to sign for just money.

Thanks raBBit. Any specific names you’re hearing on the trade front?

Nunez is gone if you’re referring to Amado. I think Mieses & Comas to A+ is incredibly aggressive, but at the same time if the goal is to get all these guys playing time then some will have to be stretched to your point. I’d also expect Delgado, Weaver, Curbelo, & Abbott to see full season action somewhere.

@raBBit - Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but you seem to be implying that the Sox might make another big trade? If so, what position would they be targeting? The only thing I can think of is a SP like Musgrove. Every other hole could be filled with cheap, semi-interesting options.

We’re giving Giolito $28M in the first year of an extension?

Agreed. If Grandal goes down for an extended period of time, we’d probably be in big trouble regardless of who the backup is. I think people were spoiled last year with McCann in that role and that’s nowhere near a realistic expectation of what a backup catcher should be, especially one behind a guy who should play all the time in Grandal.

Fully agree. We need to continue to find spots to insert youth and given the strength of our roster there aren’t really a ton of spots available to play young players. I totally get if Grandal went down it would be a bit terrifying handing an everyday role to Collins, but the reality is we brought in Yasmani to start 120 to 130 games beyond the plate. You can still bring in a veteran backstop to park at AAA, but I’d really like to see what Collins looks like if given 30 to 40 starts behind the plate next year. If it’s not going well, a backup catcher will be easy to come by at the deadline.

So are you saying they should give Collins a shot? Because the poster you are quoting is arguing something much different.

It may be risky, but they have to decide if he’s an asset worth investing in. If they don’t give him a look now, it’s but over for him with the Sox.

I really think they want to give Collins a shot. It’s really now or never time for him.

Got to love the tools and advanced approach at the plate at such a young age, but it’s so hard to really to know much at this point given he still hasn’t made his stateside debut. I personally hope they push him to Kannapolis next year, but that would be aggressive and I’m guessing it’s going to be a packed OF.

If we don’t draft a QB in the 1st, we should be prioritizing O-Line above all else. Definitely need WR help though, but should be able to get a nice talent in the 2nd and possibly 3rd if need be.

He’ll 100% be statewide, whether they send him to full-season ball is another story.

No doubt the game has changed and I bet there were a lot more sinker-ballers back then. But how does it look when you only include closers? Looking at the Fangraphs leaderboard, there were several closers with big K/9’s such as Gagne, Nathan, Dotel, & Lidge. These guys still existed back then, even if not as commonplace. My point still remains that Koch was never as dominate as Hendriks currently is and multiple metrics would agree with that.

Billy Koch’s best K/9 was 9.18 whereas Hendriks has been around 13.14 the last two seasons. There is nothing comparable about the two other than they both have been closers.