ChiSox59

Who do you suggest play RF for the WHite sox in 2021? Interested to hear. And Conforto won't be that expensive. $15-18M AAV over a few years is a small price to pay to fill an enormous gap in the offense. I too wish Conforto was a great fielder - he isn't - but he's not a defensive hole. He'd be a major defensive improvement over our other options in RF not named Adam Engel.

Free agency doesn't exist in the middle of the season. IF the Sox go into the season with Sheets and he's the .750 OPS guy he always was prior to 2021, you have both a giant hole in the offensive and a god awful defensive OF. So now you're subtracting further pieces to fix a mistake when there is literally a perfect fit on the FA market.

Well they've already made an incredibly dumb short-sighted move by trading for Kimbrel. So it wouldn't exactly be surprising to see the Sox make another dumb short-sighted move, whether that is Kimbrel or another move like trading Vaughn. I fully expect the Sox to exercise Kimbrel's option and trade him for something mildly useful, which is is better than letting him walk for $1M assuming, they don't also have to eat money in the process. But not sure the Sox deserve benefit of the doubt on this one, and that is coming from a generally a pretty positive fan when it comes to Hahn's moves.

Huh?

Merkin confirmed Boob's report that Sox will pick up Kimbrel's option. Didn't opine on trading him, but I think its safe to assume that is plan. Seemed noteworthy enough to bump this thread as many felt Sox will/should buy him out, and obviously, Boob isn't the most trustworthy reporter around.

I have grown to dislike Merkin's reporting - he always seems to just give the worst case scenarios so if things don't turn out better than that, he has tried to quell the hopes of Sox fans. Obviously Boob already reported that Kimbrel's option will be picked up, but Merkin confirms as such here. I think that is noteworthy for the many people that feel the Sox should reject the option. Boob's takes are usually only about 50% right anyhow.

That I could see.

Roster spot is probably too valuable at this point.

So he’s getting non tendered.

Lol. Lineup balance is incredibility important. The Sox lineup balance fucking sucks right now, and was on full display in the playoffs. All things being equal, of course I'd prefer a great right handed hitter over a left handed hitter that can't hit righties or lefties. But generally speaking, most good left handed hitters hit righties very well. This lineup DESPERATELY needs that from RF and 2B additions this offseason.

Not sure if referring to me, but they're basically just guys. I am not counting on either of them for anything - if they pop - great. But Sox shouldn't be sitting out on trying to find a longer-term fit for RF for those 2. Completely agreed there.

Running out an OF that includes 2 of Eloy, Sheets and/or Vaughn on a regular basis is insanity. And if you're not going to spend the $ on Conforto, you're just not spending the money period. The Sox aren't signing Seager/Semien, so we're talking about minor/stopgap type moves at that point. Conforto is the guy if FA is the route. edit: if Sox decide to go cheap, I expect Vaughn in RF most of the time and Sheets primary DH. Sheets is really nothing more than emergency OF. However, as I said above, running out an OF with Eloy/Vaughn in it everyday is so dumb. One is fine. 2 is big time no no.

Conforto is also a guy, that if he bounces back to previous career norms, and Cespedes/Colas explode such that they need a spot in the OF everyday, you have the extreme luxury of deciding which super valuable piece to trade.

First half was terrible. Struggled with injuries. Conforto was looking at an $100M deal 12 months ago. Whoever signs him is going to get something between an amazing bargain or at worst, a player earning his keep if he can stay healthy. Obviously, as with any player, injuries are a concern. IF, and its probably an big IF, the Sox can get Conforto on a 3-4 year deal around $15-17M AAV, its going to be a very nice piece and a good price. Even in a down year, he was well above average at getting on base. Lifetime wRC+ of 124. He's by far the best realistic fit on the FA market.

That would be an awesome trade for the Sox. Such so, I don’t see how the Dodgers would be on board. Isn’t Lux going to play 2B for them next year? Seager gone and Turner back to SS. They are also losing Taylor. Don’t see this as remotely realistic, but I’d be ecstatic.

Well it’s essentially an even swap money wise with Kimbrel. So if we exercise Kimbrel option and only have $10M to work with after that, we’re just hitting repeat on 2021.

Yep. Madrigal was a great fit in this lineup. Stupid fucking trade. But he's not a world beater and he's a Cub now. Time to move on. ITs a trade the Sox can recover from if they stop making stupid fucking trades. Trading Eloy or Andrew Vaughn at this moment would qualify as stupid fucking trades.

I am not saying you actually make Grandal the DH most of the time. It makes no sense. But subtracting him from the roster makes less sense when he quite literally excels and everything the Sox lineup Sox lineup is terrible at. We need more guys who get on base, work counts, hit for power and bat from the left side, not less. Also - I have said it before and I will say it again, Sheets was a nice story in 21 and hopefully is a useful bat for the Sox moving forward. But I am not making decisions to sharpie him into the lineup. Eloy should be primary DH and Vaughn should be in LF. They should sign a RF (cough...Conforto...cough) that does the aforementioned things this lineup needs. Sheets can work his way into the lineup on good matchups, injury fill ins, etc. I am far from convinced he is suddenly a 30 homer guy in the big leagues. He is also a DH only guy on a team with a fair share of guys that should DH occasionally, so while its great he does some things this team needs, he's not a guy I am building around.

Sox are better off moving Grandal to DH most of the time and signing another regular catcher than trading him. He quite literally excels offensively at nearly everything this Sox lineup needs. Trading him is robbing Peter to pay Paul. That said, the Sox aren't trading Grandal.

Gotta focus on all negatives angles possible. No team is set up to withstand multiple injuries to key players early in the season with built-in league average players. Its not possible.

How about Gregorious for Kimbrel? Massively improves our IF defense. Didi hasn't played much 2B, but I am sure he'd be quite good at it. Obviously he's a better defensive SS than TA, but they're not moving TA. Dollars are close to even. Both FAs after 22. Opens up a spot for Bryson Stott who had a very nice season in the minors. Gets the Phillies pen help they desperately need. Maybe the Sox need to throw in a kicker or some $, but its worth considering. Most of the guys on the FA market bat right handed, and a guy like Seager isn't happening. I'd prefer Didi to Eduardo Escobar because the defense is so much better. Sox pretty much have to find a way to both improve lineup balance and defense, and Didi would do both of those.

Same.

It said 4-6 weeks to refund, and its been 1 week. Sooooo, I would expect waiting another 4-5 weeks.

You're probably right, but if he had any value whatsoever, he would have been used in July.