ChiSox59

I don't really support the way the money was spent this offseason. But I don't think think the team "barely" improved. This bullpen goes from one of the best in the game to very average if not worse if you remove Kimbrel, Graveman and Kelly. And that was $32M of the $46M spent. Every contending team signs guys like Harrison and Leury and frankly I am unconcerned about them. The lack of an impact move fucking sucks. You know I wanted Conforto every bit as much as you did. The offseason was a terrible failure as it sits today. But most outsiders just didn't think this team had much more to do, and the grades reflect that. Just answering the question that was posed. And yes, I would agree that "offseason grades" are meaningless in every sense of the word.

Sheets quite literally IS the DH as things stand. He'll DH 90%+ of the time against RHP. Only days he wouldn't are days Grandal needs to DH and a righty happens to be on the mound. Maybe they stick him in RF those days and give AV a breather. Trading Sheets right now without an immediate plan to acquire a left handed hitting RF and rotate Eloy/AV between LF and DH is simply something they cannot do right now. Again, moving Sheets for Manaea is great and dandy if you're prepared to signed Conforto. But that will also require dumping Kimbrel. Seems like a lot of moving parts to save for the last 8 days of ST.....

I would have no problem with it if it also meant Kimbrel is dumped and Conforto is signed. I’m not cool with Jake Burger being our everyday DH.

Realistically don’t see Twins allowing Sox to get Manaea. Twins can beat any offer fairly easily and need him more than Sox. Unless Sox wanna use the Sheets bullet here and Oakland likes him (seems like a guy they would like), I just don’t see it. And Sheets is our DH right now so…….yeah.

Wrong again. Filler piece came back to twins. Not visa versa.

It was a year and half of Berrios. And Berrios is a much better pitcher than Manaea.

Fair enough. I am not offering much for 1 year of a decent pitcher. Clearly no one else is either. This gives them an interesting low minors arm and a guy they can play everyday right away and quite likely might lead their team in homers and RBI.

Their choice of Kelley/Thompson/Dalquist + Adolfo.

Anyone who wants(ed) to turn AV into a weakside platoon hitter so that Gavin Sheets can get at bats is coocoo. That being said, since the Sox cheaped out and didn't sign a real RF, they both get can everyday at bats. AV should be in the lineup nearly everyday. Sheets will DH against RHP. Engel can play RF against LHP and AV DH (or play LF and Eloy DH). Based on the current roster, AV will only be sitting in favor of Leury in RF really. Which I am sure TLR will do more than we'd all like. The only positive I can really glean from the Sox not signing Conforto is the fact that TLR can't really get in the way of himself very easily with respect to sitting Vaughn more than he should.

I don’t hate it merely because that wait from calling it quits at 430-5pm to 710pm is painful AF.

Didn't want to start its own thread, but it merits discussion at this point. WTF is the plan with Kopech? He hasn't pitched in a spring training game and Opening Day is now 9 days away. His first turn through the rotation is 2 weeks away. At this point, it seems highly unlikely that he'll be making that start. Is he going to start the season in the pen? On the IL? Obviously the Sox cannot let Kopech just go out and pitch unimpeded from April on as he'll need to be shut down by August. So I think some slow play and rest through the season is coming, and is warranted. We need his arm in October. But the fact he hasn't even started ramping up (in games) makes me think we won't be seeing Kopech in the rotation until at least May.

OD lineup (with lefty on the mound): Garcia SS, Robert CF, Abreu 1B, Jimenez LF, Grandal C, Moncada 3B, Engel RF, Harrison 2B, Adolfo DH Bench- Haseley, Sheets, Mendick, Ciuffo Starters- Giolito, Lynn, Cease, Keuchel, Kopech* Bullpen - Hendriks, Kimbrel, Bummer, Graveman, Crochet, Lopez, Valasquez, Burr, Crick, Ruiz Suspended- Anderson (3 games; then Haseley optioned) IL- Kelly, Vaughn Other moves - DFA Zavala to make room for Ciuffo. Yermin to 60 day IL to make room for Crick. *honestly not sure what the early season plan for Kopech is at this point. Wouldn't be shocked to see him in the pen to start the year, or even the IL. He hasn't pitched in spring yet and I seriously doubt they're just going to let him take his turn in the rotation first time thru without some innings first*

I think most outsiders see a team that has the highest payroll in team history and in the top 25% of the league. They also see a roster that heading into the offseason was easily top 5 in the game. They see a team with the best pen in the game, and a top 5 rotation and lineup. They see an opening in RF, but a former top prospect in the game that the Sox have penciled in, as well as a couple other interesting guys in Sheets and Engel to fill the gap, with another former top prospect just added to the mix. They see a 2B opening that needed to be filled with a vet, and it was. We all just had higher hopes. And rightfully so. But I am not surprised outside publications aren't as harsh on the Sox offseason as we all are. The Sox are still really, really good and are a better team than last year IF the key players stay healthy.

He’s out of options so he’s either the backup or gone in a few days. I think Cuiffo takes his 40 man spot and is the backup. Collins to AAA for everyday at bats.

I voted D. Only thing avoiding the F is the lack of a horrible trade moving a young fixture of this core (such as AV or crochet) in a trade for a short term fix or selling low on someone like Eloy.

I believe so yes.

I think you’ll get that wish.

Huh? He literarily said "Speaking of Kimbrel...."

Who was doing that talking? That trade was fucking terrible the day it was consummated.

That too. I just think there is basically no chance that spot isn't needed. He's hurt for at least 6 weeks + rehab. Just throw him on the 60 day and figure it out later.

Ok, so 2/30 teams at best. Point remains.

For a guy they almost certainly have no plans for on the MLB roster, why not just make the roster space and figure it out in 60 days? He'll be in AAA anyway.

Interesting. Still a spot for someone with Yermin likely headed to 60 day IL.

Only a year older than Rutherford as well.

I'd be pretty shocked if this was anything more than a depth move. They're clearly rolling with AV in RF and Eloy in LF, which has already proven to be (not that it needed any proof) a risky proposition several times. This just looks like a depth move to me. Not even sure he's going to break camp with the Sox. Certainly am not penciling him in as the strong side platoon with Engel in RF.