ChiSox59

Yeah, seems like a great way to conduct business. The numbers clearly show Clev got tired late in the season. Makes sense coming off TJS. Had he continued his trajectory before September and playoffs a 1/$12M deal would have been a pipe dream.

Hard for 1B not to be very high on that list. My Sox history isn’t as long as yours, but I am 32 and the Sox have had a legit 1B my entire life.

There are a ton of reasons to not offer Jose the money Houston gave him.

Thanks for clarifying. Was thinking he was arb eligible at $10M projection. Point still remains.

Man, Brantley just isn’t a fit defensively. The bat is a perfect fit but the Sox need a real OF. Hope he’s like option 7 on the big board.

More like $20M. Kepler is guaranteed $9.5M and Wong is at $10M in his final year of control. Trading Reylo would be tough. I’d rather keep Reylo, sign a LH OF and just roll the dice on the kids at 2B. Can always find an expiring contract middle infielder for little return come July.

Nice, glad to have official clarity there.

Yep. As I said, Sox created this mess. No counter for me. But once the mess was created, Jose no longer fit. It is what it is.

I don't really think Colas is someone they'd try to extend before playing in the bigs. A bit of different animal than Eloy and Robert. But yeah, I mean you pretty much have to roster Cespedes in that scenario as the 40 man currently sits. Sheets plays LF or RF (depending on who is signed to play the other corner), and Leury and Cespedes are there to fill in late in the game, or against LHP. Its only a couple weeks. Not ideal, but is what it is. At the very least, hopefully Hahn at least is able to acquire a guy or two for the back of the 40 man to give us more options than Cespedes. Also still have Eloy on the roster, and while I’d burn his OF glove, I think he’ll at least play out there some.

I hope Heyman's redonkulous 3/$75M comes to fruition.

I don't think there is much of any chance we see Colas on Opening Day. Sox already made their decision on that, and the decision makers are all back.

Ehh. I think they were honest with him. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see Jose simply was not a fit for this roster moving forward.

Happy for Jose. He may very well get a ring. Would have preferred an NL team, tbh. But Sox made their bed, now they have to sleep in it.

Like I said, I'd prefer they sign 2 OFs. A good one - ideally, Nimmo, but that ship has likely sailed. So one of Conforto/Gallo/Bellinger/Benintendi is the next tier. Then grab one of Naquin, or Profar, or even Kiermaier as the 4th OF, and someone to fill in until Colas proves he's ready. But I think we at least have to face the realistic possibility that just 1 one OF is added, in which case Sheets is going to have to play some OF until Colas arrives.

I hear ya, but comping a 1/$12M to a 5-6 year deal at $17-20M is sorta....not relevant at all.

Its already far better than it was last year just removing AV from the OF and moving him to 1B. Plenty of work left to be done to improve the defense, but the Sox defense simply isn't going to be a strength any time soon. Got to hope Robert can get back to being a top tier defender though; he simply was not good out there in 21/22, and he has the talent to be one of the best.

The "I'd rather pay $12M for Clevinger than $17M for Bassitt" bit completely ignores the other 4-5 years a $17M for Bassitt. That's why they prefer it.

I really don't feel like Harrison and Pollock buyouts should be counted for 2023. Its already been paid. The season doesn't start for over 4 months. Colas won't be on the team until May, but I guess Sheets can play LF/RF for a month until he arrives. Not ideal; certainly would prefer the Sox bring in 2 OFs so we're not basically forced to have Cespedes be our 4th OF.

Yeah, I think that makes sense. Hoping for that because I like the deal a bit less at $12M as opposed to $8M. Still think its a solid add, but definitely not the bargain it felt like at $8M. Sox also going to need some SP for 2024 with Lynn, Gio and now Clevinger all only controlled thru 23, and not much of any upper minors SP depth.

Bowden now saying guarantee is $12M. So perhaps there is a club option?

I think expecting to turn Gio into a player that can meaningfully contribute to the 2023 roster is optimistic. Gio should have some surplus value, but no one is handing you a young controllable MLB bat with upside for 1 year of Giolito slightly at maybe 75% of market value. Think like the Sox acquiring Lynn for Dunning. That's the type of deal we'd be looking at talent-wise, best case scenario (someone controllable perhaps, but with limited upside or other warts). I don't think that makes the Sox any better for 2023. Not to mention, it actually increases payroll slightly, and makes the rotation worse with less upside.

We going to get a full coaching staff release this week?

Because Cueto pulled a rabbit out of his hat and hadn't been that good in a half decade. And he's 37 next season.

That seems terribly subjective. I think there is a very good chance that 32 year old Clevinger can be as good as 36 year old Cueto. Their xFIPs were only 0.38 different in 2022. Clevinger has better stuff. I love Cueto. He was awesome for the Sox and super fun to watch. But he was highly unlikely to duplicate that success. He hadn't been that productive (or healthy) since 2016. The Sox got lucky with Johnny.

I think this is it for MLB pitching, honestly. There is legitimately no more room. The rotation is full and the pen is full. I would love to see Hahn sign several SPs to milb deals though to improve the upper minors pitching depth. I don't have any names off hand, but the Sox have to be a pretty attractive landing spot for guys that wants to have a path to another chance in the bigs, and be a part of a team that has a good chance to compete.