ChiSox59

Balta is always smarter than the white sox. This is Soxtalk 101.

Orrrrrr they think he's highly likely to accept because his arm isn't healthy, even if there isn't structural damage. No one knows his medicals better than the Sox. This is one I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on. Rodon wasn't good in the 2nd half and didn't pitch over 5 innings after his first start following the ASG. That version of him is a terrible gamble for $18.3M.

Ray - you have to consider the fact that no one is more in tune with Carlos arm and shoulder than the Sox. If he's simply not going to be able to give you a full season's workload, or heck, even 75% of what he gave you in 21, its not worth $18.3M. I have zero issue with the Sox reallocating those funds. That $18M could be as much at 75% of what we have to spend. Extending the QO to Rodon was a big risk. Things would need to go swimmingly to end up in the green on that one.

That is generally what happens when you see pay raises across the board, some of the team leaving via FA and no FA have signed yet. Literally most competitive clubs are in the exact same situation as we sit a week after the WS ended. 1st half Rodon is a huge loss. 2nd half Rodon isn't. We all know which half we're more likely to get moving forward.

I am not upset by it. Chances Rodon turns in a similar campaign to 2021 in 22 are very low. Chances he throws above 100 innings is very low. Not risking $18.3M on that.

Yeah, I mean 15 to 1 odds are not how you make good gambles. Only way this all makes sense if they’re positive they have a trade partner garnering something cheap and useful, or the budget as we all know it will be smashed and they’re fine paying Kimbrel $16M and solving all other club needs. I guess we’ll see.

If the Sox trade Kimbrel for a bag of balls or a “broken bat” how is that the right call? They’re effectively risking $15M to save $1M. I’m a gambling man, and those are bad odds.

Fair. My comment was off the cuff. I don’t think Kimbrel is a terrible pitcher, but I think the Sox can allocate his $ in a much better fashion. If we’re just dumping him for another bad contract, picking up thr option was a dumb call. If jR is willing to spend $200M on this team - good, great, grand.

His sample Sox of actually being good since his Cubs tenure started is much smaller than being just a guy.

Why not just save the $15M and spend it on Conforto if you're trading for another bad contract? Don't invest good money after bad - you know that as well as anyone. Trading Kimbrel for salary relief and something cheap and interesting in a far better route, IMO.

If anyone finds a link to this video, please post.

Oh no. I also am very bullish AV. But not as an everyday RF with Eloy in LF. Cmon now.

Surprised by Jimmy and to a lesser extent Fry. Marshall and Goodwin were givens. I really like Jimmy. Bummed a tad about that one.

The sox are only picking up Kimbrel's option if they know there are multiple teams interested, or they're OK paying him $16M to be in the bullpen. They aren't relying on the fucking Rays to acquire him and if they don't all their plans are fucked. Teams don't operate this way.

We knew it was coming, but relieved to see it. With the 2B market, Cesar isn't that far down the list even though I hate his guts. Can probably get him for quite a bit less than $6M tho.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be that surprised. He sure fits the bill of a guy the Sox have traditionally liked. But I hope they’re smarter than that - he’s an awful fit. That all said, if they signed him I’d certainly love the guy and get behind the team. But I know it’s not an optimal move by any stretch.

Yeah. I think he was simply admitting it didn’t work.

It’s been stated in multiple occasions that TLR, Hahn and Kw had a consensus weeks before deadline that Kimbrel was the guy they wanted.

He seemed largely uninterested. That’s what bugged me the most. Don’t hate many guys that play for the Sox, but he joined that elite company.

Its not strange at all. The Sox have one of the best rosters in the game, and will for some time.

Hahn never did have an end of season presser, did he?

Not really sure why Pirates would do that. I like Vaughn a lot, but he only has 1 year more control than Reynolds. Would think Pirates would prefer multiple prospects (that we don't have) as opposed to a Vaughn for Reynolds straight up deal. Even knowing the Pirates probably don't do that deal, I'd still not love it. I admit it helps solve problems, but fuckina I think AV is going to be an elite bat and he is plenty serviceable in LF.

Schwarber does nothing to make this team more athletic and versatile.

I don't want Cesar as much as the next guy, but there really aren't many better fits on the FA market once you get past the elite guys the Sox won't be signing. I like Conforto plus trade route for 2B personally. But point is, Conforto is the guy you need that solves lots of problems. With him in hand, 2B becomes less critical offensively. Just get a reliable defender that isn't a black hole in the 9 spot.

Conforto remains the no-brainer. With him you can live with a Cesar type at 2B.