Chicago White Sox

Burnes, Gray, Musgrove, or Gonzalez.

Why? The payroll should jump up quite a bit after this season. Jerry is worried COVID could result in a small operating loss and that’s simply not acceptable in Reinsdorf’s world.

I think the reality for us is twofold. We need to add another starter, but also have limited trade chips to add an impactful one. IMO, you explore the markets for all controllable starters and see if anyone is willing to bite for pieces like Madrigal, Heuer, & Stiever. If not, hold your prospects and simply add a guy like Richards or Quintana. You then see how things are going and reevaluate at the trade deadline. We have a ton of prospects who could greatly improve their stock with solid 2021’s and I’d be hesitant to sell low on those guys. For example, I think Kelley could probably be the headliner for Musgrove right now, but six months from now he could potentially be used towards a more impactful starter or for one with more control. We don’t need to go “all-in” right now, but we do need to add enough depth to weather the storm. If our last two moves are Richards (or Quintana) and La Stella, I can live with it if it means we still have all our prospect currency for future reinforcements.

Who are we trading for Castillo that needs to be replaced right away? Trust me, I want Bauer and think Reinsdorf is a cheap fuck, but a ~$140M budget are the parameters we likely have to work with this year and Bauer ain’t fitting into that.

Because budgets exist

And even if all three hit, which would defy all odds, you’d still have Luis Castillo for three years vs. a broken James Shields. Still not comparable.

Is that a rumor?

I have mad respect for you patc, but this an absolutely ridiculous post. He who must not be named is on a HoF trajectory and Luis Castillo is actually awesome. I’m not even saying I’d be for the trade, but comparing that to what might go down as one of the worst trades in baseball history is hyperbole at its finest.

If this is your argument, then you could say it about anyone. Nothing about Quintana screams “good reliever”.

I saw your tweet today on it but my god was that SoxMachine Sporcle today a horrible reminder of how shitty Reinsdorf has been as owner.

I’m not a huge fan of the Eaton deal, but he wasn’t waiting around to spring training as he already had solid offers on the table. And no way in hell are you getting Joc for $6M when Schwarber got $10M.

While I’d expect them in that range for a starter, I’m a little confused as to why they’d have a have a hard cap unless all they have left is $8M or they are already committed to a bat like La Stella.

Who do you propose?

I’m sure he’s ready physically, but I think they’ll send him down to Charlotte to start the year in order to let him ramp up slowly, shake some rust off, and buy back a year of control. He should be part of the mix down the stretch and that’s part of the reason a guy like Richards makes sense.

I’d be more open to a deal with Quintana if a second year isn’t fully guaranteed, but I do worry he’s a guy whose stuff is so marginal now that he comes here and gives us innings but simply isn’t effective.

I think this is somewhat misleading. Richards had a partial tear in his UCL back in 2016 and avoided TJS, which I think was a poor decision and simply delayed the inevitable. I’m willing to gamble that he’s finally healthy with TJS now behind him and last year he was able to pitch a full workload (limited season I know). I’m not expecting 200 innings out of the guy, but if I can get a 100 quality innings from him for ~$8M I’ll happily take that. IMO, having Lopez and Stiever to a lesser degree allow us to gamble on a guy with a higher ceiling but more health risk.

I get the argument, but I think he gets something like 2/$20M and I don’t want to commit $10M to Quintana for the 2022 season. I’d rather gamble on Richards’ upside and then pivot to Lopez for innings if Kopech isn’t ready yet.

I have more faith in Richards maintaining health now that he’s had TJS because it seems like the Angels mishandled his past elbow problems and simply delayed the inevitable. I also feel that Richards has some untapped potential with the right pitching coach as weird as that is to say for a 32 year old pitcher, but physically there is a lot to like with his arsenal even if it has some flaws.

Musgrove is who I want, but it all comes down to price. If someone is willing to offer a top 100 prospect, the only way we’re in the ballpark is by offering Jared Kelley. Are we willing to sell him now when his value could escalate fairly quickly with even one full ball season? If they’re willing to take something centered around Thompson, one of Adolfo/Rutherford/Sheets, and then one of our young rookie ball / low A guys (say Beard), then I’m 100% for it. Just not sure that’s going to get a deal done unfortunately.

Tanaka is going to get a lot more than $8M per on a multi-year deal, so not exactly a perfect substitute for Richards in the area I’m expecting us to operate in financially.

Who you thinking?

I think you have to give him the benefit of the doubt that now his elbow issues have been addressed that perhaps he can stay heathy to a certain extent. At $8M or so you’re not going to get a sure thing starter with any sort of ceiling. It’s no doubt a roll of the dice, but that’s the range we’re likely playing in and short of a trade I’m not sure which free agent I’d prefer. I’d go after Paxton if Reinsdorf was willing to “splurge”, but I think he gets more than Kluber did and that might cost us a bat like La Stella. I can see the argument for Quintana, but I’d imagine he’s looking for a two year deal and that’s not a commitment I’m willing to make. Would you rather have Chris Archer or Adam Wainwright over Richards? Look, Jerry should just nut up and sign Bauer, but that ain’t happening after the Hendriks signing, so now we must decide whether to trade for someone impactful or sign a guy with question marks in free agency.

Would 100% agree then.

So do I, but the Sox seem committed to build him up as a future starter out of the bullpen this year.

Witch Crochet & Lopez likely to be relievers next year, there really isn’t room for a guy like Yates.