ChiSox59

I reall don't think it is realistic to expect the Sox to sign more than 1 SP on a multi-year deal. We'll likely get one of Wheeler/Ryu/Madbum/Kuechel, and then a guy on a 1 year deal. Which is fine - we don't need two long term SP with Gio, Cease, Kopech, Lopez, Rodon, and even Dunning. We need 1 long term SP, plus someone to eat some early innings while Kopech gains his footing, and as injury insurance for later in the season.

Sure, but you still need to find somebody to play RF.

His career wRC+ is 112 though. And the Sox would have the worst OF defense in the league if he plays RF regularly. If Castellanos comes at 3/$45 or less, is signed along with Grandal, Wheeler/Ryu, and another OF that can play RF regularly putting him at DH, I could get behind it. But overpaying Castellanos with the expectation of him being our RF or DH for several seasons isn’t going to end well.

I would trade Lopez for Benintendi in a second. Benintendi May be a tad overrated, but he’s a well above average player that is solid at everything. He would be a fantastic fit in RF for the Sox. But the Red Sox aren’t going to trade him for Lopez.

I literally said multiple times in this thread that Mazara wouldn’t be in my top 5 RF choices. But he’s also not the worst option out there. I’d much rather roll the dice on Mazara for 1 year and $4.5M than sign Puig to a long term deal, as an example. Unfortunately the FA market doesn’t provide an great fits for RF. The Sox are going to have to get creative. If the go trade route, there are plenty of options I’d prefer before Mazara, but he’s definitely an upgrade on what we have, and he shouldn’t cost much. Depending how the rest of the team shakes out, there are worse scenarios.

There are other options. The Sox nontendered the guy less than a year ago. They aren’t going to bring him back.

I really don’t think the Sox are going to be interested in Puig. I also don’t think they’re going to sign two SP that require multi year deals.

Sure...but let’s be honest, your optimism knows no bounds. I am probably on the more optimistic side of most regular posters here, but am at least able to look at things objectively. You’re just a company yes man. Not that that is a bad thing..we all have our different ways of being a fan, but it’s also the truth. ??‍♂️ There is no realistic scenario in which the White Sox are sporting a 2020 payroll in excess $160M.

You’d prefer to run Palka and Engel out there everyday, eh?

I have quite a bit of faith. But I also try to be relatively realistic. They aren’t going to blow their wad all in one offseason. Sorry.

Maybe by 2022...definitely isn’t happening this offseason. $135M....maybe.

I get that. But if Abreu takes the QO, he could be the guy that walks after 2020 and Carp can DH. Plus Carpenter can play 3B and 2B, so its not like his only position is 1B. Those positions are obviously taken too, but point is, he has quite a bit more flexibility. Again, not in love with the fit, just an idea that I was thinking about.

Mainly just spitballing here, but if Abreu takes the QO as most expect, I wonder if Matt Carpenter might be an option for 1B, moving Abreu to DH where he belongs. Carpenter is owned $39M over the next two years, so not cheap, and that would obviously complicate any deal. But the Sox may be be able to get something appealing with him as I am sure Cards would love to dump the salary. Would be a defensive upgrade at 1B over Abreu. Bats left handed. Elite OBP skills (career .372 OBP). Just one season removed from 5.0 fWAR season. Was terrible last season (for him), but still put him .334 OBP (better than Abreu's .330). Not campaigning for the move, and he is likely too expensive to make it work, but I haven't seen his name mentioned here at all, and he could potentially be a fit.

Problem is, the FA market doesn't really provide any RF options that are good fits either.

Vaughn - sure. Not really sure how the Sox can trade Madrigal at this point. He is a perfect fit for their needs, is MLB ready, is dirt cheap for 3 seasons, and there is a gaping hole at his position. It makes no sense to trade him.

It all really depends how the rest of the roster shakes out on if Mazara makes any sense or not. Sox could do worse than Mazara on a 1 year ~$4.5M deal if the price to acquire him was minimal. If he sucks, you non-tender him after 2020. There is still a lot of upside there, and its not like you're taking on a big commitment. I prefer him to say - Kole Calhoun. But Mazara definitely isn't in my top 5 choices for RF acquisitions. Its a shame he isn't a better defender.

No.

I think the Sox will go over $130M. Maybe not in 2020, but they will go over. Its not like the organization has never eclipsed $130M in the past.

Then we just need a 2B for the next 7 seasons. This doesn't really solve anything, just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

While a somewhat interesting thought, this would destroy the Sox financial flexibility. Its also a video game trade that doesn't seem possible in actuality.

I mean, ya I’ll be disappointed. But life goes on.

I don’t get an I agree from you very often! Special day!

But why? It’s not realistic. Sox have zero legitimate options in RF and DH to play everyday. They have to add at least those two. But would I be happy with say - Cole then say Nova, Encarnacion and Dickerson all one 1 year deals? Ya, sure. It’d be bizarre, but I could get behind it I guess.

Add Amiyama to that, and id be sold. Really need an option so that Castellanos/Abreu can both DH regularly in that scenario. Drop Grandal tho, and I pretty much hate it.

Right, I mean if he’s in addition to Grandal and Wheeler and Sox can sign a glove first OF that isn’t a black hole on offense, signed me up for Castellanos all day long. I just don’t see that as it even remotely close to a realistic situation. This all also assumes that Jose Abreu is around.