ChiSox59

And will likely sign something like 5/$150M. Wise choice, if you ask me.

But you'd rather go through a protracted rebuild lasting at least 3-4 seasons when there is still a nucleus of a talented team intact, in a poor division? Also, the only guys on the Sox worth a damn at the moment are Cease, TA, Robert, AV and Kopech. All are controlled beyond 2023. Trading the rest (Lynn, Giolito, Moncada, Eloy, Hendriks, Bummer, Graveman, Lopez) are going to make the 2023 team much worse, while not measurably impacting the future. It doesn't make any sense.

He is 100% correct. And good for him for saying it.

I would like to finish in front of the Twins. I personally DGAF about the 14 basis point increase in the lottery. So let's go 3-3 or better to finish, please.

We both know there is 0% chance they go that direction.

He was awful. No argument there. He also has a career OPS, including this season, of .762. It’s unlikely he forgot how to hit at age 27. He’s also an elite defender. Not a perfect player and definitely not what we hoped he would be, but he’s still very useful and has the ability to bounce back to his career norms making himself a well above average player.

You also cannot continue to play two 1B in the OF. So something has to give...

Also at about 15-20% of the cost. He won't have an options which is unfortunate, so he may not survive the offseason on the 40 man. But yes, Engel should be non-tendered.

Interesting.

Why in the world would they not bring in their closer in a close situation?

I doubt he's done here.

Best at bat I've seen in months from the Sox there from Payton. And he gets rewarded with the error, and guess what..he ends at 2B on an infield popup because he hustled. Dude needs to play every day rest of the way.

Its not going to drop to $170M. What happens if the entire Sox team suddenly all pass away this offseason? Then what!?! Is $170M going to be this off-season's version of your argument last offseason that the luxury tax won't increase above $210M that you stated everyday all last offseason as if it was fact?

You’re not getting a lot for him. Sox are far better off betting on Lucas - who has already bet on himself - than trading him. I for the life of me cannot wrap my head the trade Lucas crowd. It makes less than no sense.

There is a 0% chance the Sox strip this down and rebuild. It’s not worth discussing.

He’s the one guy I’m interested in keeping. Can the rest of the staff. Please.

Lol Hahn didn’t negotiate Pollocks option. Haseley isn’t even remotely close to as good as Pollock. He had a similar OPS to Pollocks this season while facing AAA pitchers in a hitter haven. And who are these other options, GreenSox? I’d love to hear. Cuz there aren’t any.

That's a bridge too far, IMO.

I believe this will be the first Sox game in Minneapolis I have not attended since 2020 covid season. I may change my mind as the game approaches (tix are awfully cheap!), but no interest atm.

LOL, you'd rather play 31 YO career minor leaguer Mark Payton, pay 32 year old Adam Engel $5M, watch Gavin Sheets try to play OF defense, or play Adam Haseley than pay AJ Pollock $8M? Regardless, its a player option, not a team option. But the Sox are so much better off keeping Pollock on the roster than playing any of those options or non-Oscar Colas options in the minors.

Yeah, I go back and forth on it. Pollock is a solid major league OF on a team with only 1 other at this moment, and he (Robert) is proving unable to stay healthy. Pollock had a s%*# season, but he could easily bounce back next year. I don't see him being any worse against RHP, to be honest. If used to fill in until Colas is ready, and then used as the 4th OF thereafter getting a couple starts a week and filling in for injuries, he could be well worth the net $8M. Now of course, saving $8M on 2023 payroll (really $13M because the buyout is due in 2022) gives the Sox some much needed breathing room under $200M. It probably gives them the ability to sign Nimmo and a solid 5th SP and be around $190M. But will that $ actually get reinvested? We're also looking at Sheets playing the OF for 4-6 weeks until Colas arrives in that scenario. I honestly don't hate the thought of Pollock coming back. In the scheme of things, this isn't a big deal IMO.

I think its awful, but its better than TLR. I'd rather just go with Jirschele and get a seasoned bench coach. Ultimately though, ABT. Anyone But Tony.

While paying Pollock $13M isn’t ideal, a they owe him $5M regardless. A net cost of $7M to have a solid OF on the roster that doesn’t have to play everyday ideally isn’t the worst thing in the world. Pollock is going to come in handy when Robert and whatever OF we sign get hurt. It’s not ideal, but of all the issues, a net $7M to Pollock isn’t the worst one. While unlikely, I have always gotten the feeling that Pollock just didn’t fit in on this roster. He is a wealthy man; he may be willing to take a small pay cut, and that is all it would be, to choose his team for next year.

Bochy is just more of the same. Let's get a guy who isn't retirement age, has some fire and an understanding of today's game. It just really shouldn't be that hard.

Oh, its definitely Naylor in the background.