roto

Yes, the Padres and Astros have the prospect currency and the Mets, Yankees, and Nats have the money to compete with a WS offer. The Angles and Red Sox have bloated payrolls and themselves should be trying to unload some salary. Just because other teams can put together interesting offers is no reason for the Sox not to be in on Castillo. Given Moustakas' body type and the future payroll space he takes up, taking on that contract is not a "small price to pay".

Relax Steve. We're just trying to build a kick ass rotation by taking advantage of a cash hungry, small market team. I didn't include Vaughn in my offer. I think Madrigal and Thompson (or Kelly) is fair for Castillo and they get Zavala and Sheets for us to take all of the Moustakas contract. We shouldn't feel like we need to offer full value for Castillo because taking on the Moustakas contract is a big deal for a club like Cincy.

You are absolutely right. 3 years should be plenty of time to replace Kelly for the next wave of starters. You start with my initial offer and close on yours. We get our #2 and they get a future ace (?), an OBP machine to replace Mous. plus a bunch of salary relief.

That would be a killer staff and I'd think it would push us to the top of the 2021 rankings but I was trying to save Kelly for the "next wave". Kopech, Kelly, Dalquist, Mena, and whoever's left of the above starters.

I wouldn't offer Cease or Kopech and wanted to keep Stiever but since Madrigal wouldn't be enough and they are tearing down for the future, maybe they'd take one of Thompson or Dalquist instead of Lopez. Or throw in Burger or Sheets? So, Madrigal, Thompson, Zavala, and Sheets for Castillo and Moustakas. Just trying to accommidate their sell off and positioning to compete in 2023 while allowing them to save face with their fanbase.

I think Castillo is arb controlled for the next 3 years. Do your magic Mr. Hahn.

I've read numerous claims that the Reds would trade Castillo but only if an expensive second player was included. What does the board think of acquiring Castillo plus Moustakas for Madrigal, Lopez, and a throw in like Zavala. Put Moose at second in place of Madrigal or move him back to 3rd and move Moncada to RF and sign Wong for 2nd? What say you Reds fans?

The Sox didn't non-tender him so he's arb eligible right?

I had both Kopech and Crochet in the AAA rotation to begin the year along with Stiever, Vargus, and Lopez. They both need to pitch some innings and gain command in a less pressure packed environment. I would keep them there, as starters, until they showed me they are ready for the majors and then plug them in to your 4/5 rotation positions. The Sox should go out and fill their current rotation and bullpen holes with free agent signings or maybe a trade for MLB pitchers and let these two learn their craft before being rushed to the show. That's how I would extend my competitive window out past Keuchel and Lynn. i

Agree on the relieving part, not the James Paxton part. His flexor strain and back surgery are quite a lethal combination in my opinion but i get your drift. Maybe the $1m bonuses are for starts and/or saves.☺️

For discussion sake I'm gonna assume that the Sox can't or won't sign Bauer for their rotation. I'll also assume that they can't put a reasonable deal together for a trade of prospects for a good starter with multiple years of control. Both of these assumptions could very well be valid impediments to shore up the starting staff. We've all written off Rodon as a member of this team because he's always hurt and has been around long enough to be in line for a high ($4.5m) arbitration award. How about some kind of offer that protects each side. The Sox need starters, preferably left handed to balance their staff. He once had TOR stuff and it might still be better than the non-Bauer FA group of Tanaka, Odorizzi, Quintana, etc. The Sox should know his health better than all others and I'm assuming he's 100% good now. From his (and his agents) standpoint, he's about to be non-tendered into a huge and growing pool of unemployed players. He's gone on record as saying that he is not interested in a bullpen position so it's starter or bust, which also might dampen interest in him. What do you all think of offering something along the lines of a base MLB contract of $3m with 3 $1m bonuses at say 10 starts, 20 starts and 30 starts? Rodon gets to remain a starter and rebuild some earning power while at the same time reaching his arb number if he can stay healthy and effective. The Sox get to potentially fill out their rotation with a younger, equally effective starter without paying $12 to $14m or trading from a thin farm inventory. If he shows up to camp out of shape or hurt again you cut him and go to war with Kopech and Cease in those last 2 spots. Also you now have the payroll space to go hard after Springer. Whatch you think?

I saw this mentioned before, but what about moving Robert to RF and put Engle in CF as your 2021 starting outfield? The downside is you have an all righthanded outfield but at least your weakest hitter is at a premium defensive spot. That would free up money to go big on at least one but maybe 2 starting pitchers.

Anyone else having trouble with ESPN blackout?

I agree with the above. Hahn and the Sox have been so quiet it's almost a dead giveaway that he already has a trade in place but he's allowing his trade partner to make another move before the trade comes out. Watch for Boston (or Texas) to make a move on their roster and then the trade announcement a day or two later. Or here's a crazy theory. Maybe Hahn missing on Wheeler was the last straw and he's being let go and no one (Kenny) is picking up the slack. It might explain why the sox are not rumored to be in on anybody left.

I'm not a huge Moustakas fan but if he's truely marked down to a bargain price I don't understand the hesitance in buying. I'll give all of the skeptics the argument that he's not a guy that's going to carry you to the next WS title but neither is Yolmer. You have one other 3B in your top 30 and he's several years away if he doesn't flame out like Michealewski. He's a left handed power bat where you have only Delmonico on the current active roster. Hahn's not an idiot, he knows a price that Boras will accept rather than look like he failed his client. He also knows the "value" of a 45 pick and of what he can do with the bonus money. If those two numbers favor the Sox then I'm confident he'll jump on it. If Moose is truly a bargain I wouldn't worry about finding a spot for a better 3B because someone will always take a bargain off your hands. I'd be more worried about feeling the pressure (once you've missed Machado of going into your window without an experienced LH power hitter to protect your RH run producers and then making another Dunn/LaRoche mistake. He's an American League, LH power hitter with passable defensive capabilities that "the current market" is going to hand you on a silver platter. Take it and then work on the upgrade without the pressure.

I voted for Leury but if I'm RR I start most games with an outfield of Delmonico-Leury-Avi from left to right and if I have a lead late in the game I pull Delmonico, switch Luery to left and put Engel in center. So there's my 4 outfielders and I look hard for a trade of Avi this summer.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 08:55 PM) I'd be shocked if Smith is cut. Sox have zero options in the minors in case of an injury at catcher. As mediocre as he is, Smith is pretty safe. Look up Alfredo Gonzalez's stat line and tell me you think he's a better overall option than smith. Good point. Maybe if there's a glut of FA catchers they could sneak him through or how about signing an upgrade?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 09:53 AM) Why? If he takes a month to get right after missing so much time recently, what is the big loss? We lose more games with a bad bullpen? Still not seeing the downside here. I guess my assumption is that if he is indeed healthy but can't get major league hitters out anymore due to the cumulative effect of the two injuries then there is no "getting right" and best to just move on. I don't subscribe to the goal of losing as many games as possible on purpose. I think that'll take care of itself without Nate Jones embarassing himself. Since the money's already spent, we could let him try to regain his velocity at Charlotte or see if he'd be usefull as a minor league pitching coach.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 12, 2018 -> 08:24 AM) Indications at Soxfest were that Jones is ready to go. If healthy and effective I keep him and drop one of the RH middle guys. If healthy and ineffective I waive him.

I'm going to assume that Jones starts the year on the DL and I too think the Sox carry 13 pitchers (8 relievers) in order to protect their young starters. CL- Soria RH SU- Minaya LH SU- Avilan Middle- Cedeno, Infante, Rondon, Farquar, and Gomez They'll need to open 3 spots on the 40 man by pushing Rodon to the 60 day and releasing K. Smith and whichever of Cordell,Tilson, or Palka doensn't make the OD roster. My thoughts are that the Sox will attempt to save as many young pitchers with options at AAA while they try to turn some of the above retreads into tradeable assets. With the plethora of free agents still unsigned I'm guessing that most of their 40 man releases will clear waivers and go to Charlotte.

It's clearly none of my business and we don't have any of the details but given what we know I can't imagine any of us making this choice when so close to the majors and with some pretty good stats the past 2 years. Even Roster Resource had him as a possible rotation guy in AAA this year. Maybe the Sox told him he'll never make it out of AAA or he saw the competition and decided he couldn't compete-who knows except him and his family. I know I would have continued at least until Jr. was 2 or 3 and more interactive. Good Luck Matt and don't look back.

I'd replace Fulmer with Holmberg in order to add another lefty plus I think Fulmer may need a little more seasoning. My pen would be (assuming no new signings) Jones, Petricka, Infante, Minaya, Goldberg, Bummer, and Purke.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:27 PM) I think the rotation plays out as: Rodon Shields Giolito Lopez Fulmer Bullpen will look something like: Jake McGee (3 year deal) Jones Infante Minaya Bummer Danish Goldberg Kopech will be up by May and will move either Shields or Fulmer to the bullpen.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 10:56 AM) My 2018 opening day 25 man: C: Narvaez / Smith 1B: Abreu 2B: Moncada SS: Anderson 3B: Davidson / Delmonico LF: Leury CF: Engel RF: Avisail DH: Delmonico / Davidson BN: Tilson BN: Yolmer BN: Saladino 1. Rodon 2. Lopez 3. Shields 4. Giolito 5. Fulmer Pen: Jones, Petricka, Goldberg, Beck, Bummer, Holmberg and Minaya First guys up: Cordell, Gillaspie, Peter and Liriano for bats. Clark, Danish and Brennan for pen. Stephens, Guerrero and Cooper for rotation. May as well give what we got a shot. I don't really see the point in bringing in vets, except maybe guys on minor league deals that can start in Charlotte and come up if needed. I left Giolito and Fulmer at AAA and used Holmberg and Covey as placeholders. I chose Davidson for 3rd and Delmonico as DH. My pen matches yours but I kept Hanson and Saladino instead of Sanchez.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 06:52 AM) Last day of non waiver deals, do you think any of these guys go? I think Gonzo goes. He can help someone down the stretch. Anyone think one of our middle infielders goes now or this Winter? We've got SS and 2B covered pretty well and I don't know where you'd find enough at bats for Yolmer, Salad, and Hanson.