ChiSox59

MN is definitely worse. I believe MN either has the highest or 2nd highest tax rate in the baseball. But as someone else mentioned, at this point, the Twins have pretty much just as much financial flexibility as the Sox do.

Seems about right. Maybe a tad heavy on the McCann DH starts, but this should be a decent blueprint for the time share. Also think Sox will get Eloy in the DH rotation occasionally.

Say what?

You're in luck. Not a single one of them remain in the org.

What an you really going to get for McCann though? Nothing that moves the needle. And I honestly feel like McCann maximizes Grandal's impact on this particular roster. Grandal has also struggled late in seasons, likely due to fatigue. I absolutely love the Grandal/McCann tandem.

Really hope 5/$100M is the max for Wheeler. Felt good about it being $100M earlier in the offseason, but it is just so hard to know - that Corbin deal scares me a bit. Obviously would still be happy as a fan with a 5/$110M or $6/$125M deal, but man that is a lot of money to bet on a good not great pitcher. At some point, it just makes sense to spend the extra $10M AAV and actually get one of the best pitchers in the game.

Leury hits LHP well enough that he could be the LHP platoon guy for a guy like Joc or Peralta.

I mean, two of his last three seasons he’s produced just 2.4 and 3.1 fWAR seasons. That is pretty much neutral value at $30M AAV. I wouldn’t be shocked if he has another 5+ WAR season or two, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he didn’t. So much of his value is derived from his plus defense, and while I don’t expect that to change overnight, he’s unlikely to be a plus defender on the back half of that deal. Machado is going to need to have a few very nice seasons in the front half of that deal, because the back half may be ugly. I also just feel - and to be clear I was willing to take the risk a year ago - that MM is a guy that may not age great. He came into the league super young, he has somewhat questionable makeup and is now one of the richest baseball players ever. I just don’t really think Machados strongest seasons are ahead of him, and I don’t really blame the Sox for not wanting to push beyond $250M with plenty of fair incentives should MM still be a quality player 8 years down the line. ultimately, I think it will Be a bullet dodged despite how hard I took the news when he signed in SD.

I wanted MM as much as anybody here, but I really can’t complain with the way things have tuned out. Moncada has turned into a star at 3B (sure, could have happened at 2B too). Give me Grandal + Wheeler + big time RF in 2021 FA and I think I’d prefer that allocation of funds as opposed to $300M to just MM. I don’t expect it to be too long before that Machado contract is an albatross.

Find a relatively cheap to acquire but solid one year stop gap for 2020 and go for the gold next year in FA. Plenty of great options headlines by Mookie, Springer, Joc and Brantley in 21 FA class. If Adolfo blows up in meantime, great. Frankly not expecting much from the Rutherford, Gonzalez and Basabe trio at this point, and Walker is still at least 2 years away. I do think Micker can still be that guy if he can stay healthy.

They’re the same people that b**** and moan about Tatis. And then when Madrigal or Cease become stars in Boston and Mookie signs somewhere after one year in Chicago, they’ll have a new negative bandwagon to jump on. The whole premise of trading for Mookie Betts is ridiculously dumb and short sighted.

Thanks for explaining. My take is that trading Cease, Madrigal or any significant piece for 1 year of Mookie Betts is fucking stupid. The Sox would still be a longshot to win the division. Its not worth it, and any package we can create that doesn't include a significant piece isn't going to get accept.

No shit. But the Sox have the same chance to sign Mookie a year from now regardless of what team he plays for in 2020. Something you've absolutely refused to acknowledge.

That just isn't a plausible scenario. It is fantasy land.

Probably not the best way to phase it because obviously he doesn't take a ton of walks, but if he can translate his hit tool to the big leagues, he is still going to have a well above average OBP. The consistent bat to ball contact is something the Sox really need and have lacked for years. Plenty of guys in this lineup that are going to K.

Madrigal is literally the guy this org has lacked for decades. He is a perfect fit for this team - plus defense, plus baserunning, plus bat, plus OBP, doesn't strike out. And he's dirt cheap for like 5 seasons! We cannot trade this kid for a 1 year rental! Betts is not signing an extension!

He wants to trade Cease for him. Has said it many times. Its crazy.

Sure, assuming you're not counting Kopech or really any difference makers on MLB roster. I'd really prefer not to trade Adolfo at the moment, thought I am admittedly probably higher on him than most, but his potential excites me - he could still be a star in this game). While I definitely would consider a deal that was headlined by Dunning or Walker, I'd also prefer to retain those guys if the return is a 1 year player. Just really don't think it makes a ton of sense. No way at team closer to contention won't be willing to pay up handsomely.

There is definitely a package where I would say "fuck it" and would trade for Mookie. I just cannot imagine it would it is something that another teams wouldn't easily beat. Therefore it just seems like such a pipedream. Steiver is probably the "sexiest" name I'd be willing to give up considering where the Sox are in this process and Mookie's contact status.

JDM isn't a fit on this roster anymore. Trading Lopez alone for him would be crazy, let along adding Collins and "a good youngster", whatever that means. JDM has neutral value at best. I admit plugging JDM into DH for 2020 sounds intriguing/fun, but things get real sticky in 21 and 22. It just wouldn't be a very smart move for overall roster construction.

I think Kole Calhoun is the safest bet FA. With Grandal now in hand, I just really hope we do better offensively than Calhoun without totaling punting defense. Honestly just think we need to hope that RF gets filled via trade. Plenty of plausible options - both 1 year stop gaps and longer term options. Have to imagine that is how Hahn plans to solve RF.

Huh? JD has 3 years remaining, with an opt out next year. Yes I want to leave room for Vaughn. No I don’t want to trade for JDM. It makes no sense. No idea what you’re suggesting with Lopez, Collins and “a good youngster”. Hopefully not a trade return for JDM because that would be awful.

Then we have a hole at 2B for the next 7 seasons. Dumb dumb dumb.

Possible but wildly unlikely. Would be such a dumb trade without an extension built in, which is never going to happen.

They aren’t, don’t worry.