ChiSox59

Right!?!? What a bunch of IDIOTS!

Likely because a healthy Nimmo is also a fantastic fit for RF. Unfortunately the Mets, Nimmo is never healthy. Nimmo has a lifetime slash of .266/.393/.445 across 1700 PA. Dude is very good when he plays. So that is the fascination.

So you've already mentioned Scherzer. Do you think its possible we see the Sox sign legitmately above average big leaguers in RF and 2B as well as signing a high end SP like Scherzer? Going to cost Jerry close to $200M to do that, and it won't get cheaper for the next 3-4 years.

Conforto won't get half of the guaranteed $ Springer got.

TBF, any of Duvall, Pederson or Rosario would be a been sizable upgrade in RF to the situation we ran out there in RF this season. But none of them are world beaters either. Braves have caught lightning in a bottle here.

Dylan Cease is coming off a season with 3.91 ERA/3.41 FIP, 226 Ks in 165 IP good for 4.4 fWAR (which ranked 4th in the AL). You may not like Cease for some reason, but your reasoning is whack. Walks? His K to BB ratio was 3.32. Can't get batters out consistently? GMAFB - what else do you want? Dude was rock solid in 21 and his trajectory is pointing up. Kopech has the ability to be one of the very best SP in the game. Will he be next season? Probably not. But he's a SP and its time to use him as such.

Yeah, I mean I've talked about Kopech's situation at length. I think he is going to be max'd out around 140-160 innings. So I agree. I just don't think you're going to find many guys of note who are going to sign deals to be the 6th starter on a 1 year deal. And i don't think guys who fit in towards the top of the rotation fit into the budget. So you're realisitically talking about guys like Quintana, Jon Gray, Rich Hill, etc. Wouldn't be surprised to see Sox bring someone like that in if Rodon turns down QO. Would be very surprised to see them bring in someone who fits in the top or middle of rotation unless one of the returning SPs (not counting Rodon) somehow end up elsewhere which seems very unlikely to me.

Mmmmk. Of course you can find a taker for Kuechel if you pro-rate his dead in half and add in Burger. That doesn't exactly solve our budgetary issues though. But I am talking with the guy who wants to run out the worst OF defense in the game next season (and sees no issues with it) to save $ in RF, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

The chances Kuechel gets traded are pretty slim. And if he's on roster, Sox are surely going to pitch him and hope he is decent enough to trade mid season or just be a serviceable 5. Hope he gets traded, but I am definitely not counting on it. Rodon is coin flip. Chances neither of them are on the Sox next year is slim. If we bring in a SP, its a veteran flier on a cheap 1 year deal. THere is no space in rotation or budget for a SP.

I did. It was concerning. I also think we'll have 60% of our rotation next year receive votes for Cy Young in 2021, and two potentially in the top 5. The rotation is set for next season. Giolito, Cease, Lynn and Kopech are all in. Rodon may take QO making the situation more crowded. We're paying Keuchel $18M next season - they're going to try to see if he can eat some innings. There isn't room to bring in another SP of note, either in the rotation or the budget. All the SP shit the bed in a 4 game sample. Agreed. They were also probably the best in the AL in a 162 game sample. Important to note. Of course I'd like to bring in an elite TOR starter and push everyone down a notch, make Cease or Kopech our 4/5 and launch Keuchel into the sun. But I live in reality.

Starting pitcher? Why do we need a SP? We have 5. 6 if Rodon takes QO. I have zero idea how any person can say that RF shouldn't be a priority, and your lack of concern for OF defense is....concerning.

I think there are 2 avenues on SP: 1) Rodon takes QO - rotation is Giolito, Lynn, Rodon, Cease, Kopech. Keuchel probably makes some starts to control Kopech's innings. 2) Rodon rejects QO - same rotation but slide Keuchel up. Sign veteran SP to cheap 1 year deal as competition for Dallas and insurance for Kopech. A few options - Quintana, Archer, Jon Gray, Rich Hill. I don't expect Sox to spend much here. Pen definitely needs at least 2 guys. Also, ideally, sign a good defensive backup catcher and send Collins out for....I don't know...maybe a live arm.

Ahhh, yes. Let's let another year of the window disappear with a giant hole in RF. Sorry man, its just a terrible plan. I am not suggesting we get rid of Gavin, but handign him the job, whether that is DH or RF, is a terrible idea.

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.