ChiSox59

I don’t think it’s all that hard to imagine Vaughn improving immensely in 22. He was asked to do a ton in 21 with an enormous jump in competition and having not played at all in 20. AV is going to be an excellent mlb hitter.

Are we selling high though? If selling high is the plan, let him rake this year and then trade him. He's my primary LF for the next few seasons though. No problem mixing him in at DH and 1B here and there, but he was plenty capable in LF and I want Eloy out of the field as much as possible so he can actually do the one thing he can be elite at....hit.

They're never getting rid of interleague play. Play each team in the other league 2 games home and away (60 games). Play each team in your division 8 times; 4 home and 4 away (32 games) Play other teams in each league 7 times; 4 game series and 3 games series rotating H/A annually. (70 games) As close to a balanced schedule as you can get. I wouldn't be opposed. Will never happen though. Way more 2 game series, way more flying around the country.

So you're playing Engel everyday in LF and DHing Eloy? IF not, who is the DH? Sheets? Why makes you not a huge Vaughn guy, out of curiosity?

Expanded playoffs AND shortened regular season? Woof. Those are probably the two things I want to change the least

I assume that means 28th ranked prospect in this years international class?

Sitting at home for week seems like a disadvantage.

If we end up with 7 playoff teams per league, I am going to be pretty bummed. How do you even structure playoffs with 7 teams?

That’s fair. They’ve earned the skepticism. Just think they’ve turned a corner. Madrigal was an awful move with shades of the past; hopefully they stop right there. I guess we’ll see in a couple short months. I won’t lose my mind if the Sox sign Castellanos, but I certainly wouldn’t love the move and I’d be more than a bit confused as to what they’re trying to accomplish.

And yet Most would take the Sox situation over all those you mentioned except LAD. Sox have former top 25 prospects littered all over the roster including several former top overall prospects in the game. Would it be nice to have a great farm too? Yeah, but I’ll take the young roster of guys who have already hit and still hold considerable upside over prospects anyway. Sox are going to be good for awhile. I’m not too worried about the farm at the moment.

The Sox haven’t been in a position quite like they are heading into 2022 in either of our lifetimes. Obviously the Sox have historically been a team that isn’t averse to signing DHs. That’s no secret. But I just don’t see them them adding another DH to this mix, especially when the near perfect fit in Conforto is out there. Maybe I give them too much credit. But Hahn has built a very nice team. I don’t think he’s going to finish it off by jamming a square peg in a round hole. That all being said, and as I said a couple months ago in this very thread - Nick C can rake and would be fun to watch in a Sox uni. It’s just a putrid fit tho - I don’t see it happening.

Sox aren’t this dumb.

Ehhh, I would. We have above average regulars to superstars at 7/9 positions and really good rotation and bullpen. Add Conforto and it’s the best team in the AL, perhaps by a bit.

I don't think anyone paying attention was expecting anything that dramatic from the Sox this offseason. We have a loaded team pretty from top to bottom and we're at the highest opening day payroll in club history and approaching the (current) luxury tax line without additional signings. There really isn't room for the dramatic. I hoped and expected them to sign Conforto. Still do. But not sure I call that dramatic. As much as I love the fit - much like I loved the Yaz fit - he's not a super star by any means. Now, if the 2022 season gets shortened, or (god forbid) doesn't happen - now that is happening at the worst time, because the Sox might have the best overall roster in the AL.

There is basically no scenario short of acquiring a top 5 3B in the league that will make moving Moncada to 2B anything but message board fodder. He's a great defensive 3B. He was not a great defensive 2B. Why are we downgrading 2 positions? Continues to make zero sense everytime someone suggests this. As the roster sits today, the best 2B options are Leury and Romy. Even if the Sox go cheap at 2B, they're certain to at least add a veteran utility player that can platoon with Leury. Depending on who we get for RF, Leury also isn't likely to just lose his OF glove either.

TBF, you wouldn't trade any younger player for any older player, so your position on this is kind of obvious. Ehhh. We have a roster absolutely loaded with young super stars and future all stars. Hard to do both that, and have a good farm. Most of the Sox elite prospects have all either hit, or at least not flopped, and they're all at the big league level.

Hard pass on Vaughn + Montgomery + “2 or 3 other pieces” for Marte.

The sentiment is shared.

When is Colas expected to be official?

Yep. Just like he was told Scherzer would be a Sox!

Mmmk.

Considering it was fairly well reported that Crochet was available in the Kimbrel deal (Cubs chose Madrigal instead), I think he’s very much available for the right return. I am with you on Vaughn - hope the Sox are too!

We've got at least a month before Opening Day is in jeopardy IMO. A shortened spring training by a couple weeks isn't going to impact OD.

Sheets is useful to have around because we need lefty bats, but we don't need another DH and he sucks at 1B and in the OF. I'd keep him in AAA for insurance because he will certainly be needed at at tines. If we can get something more useful than that - I would have no issue whatsoever trading Sheets while he has some semblance of value - but I have a hard time seeing that come to fruition.

And the luxury tax line is certainly going to increase at least a little.