ChiSox59

Not worth starting a new thread, but AJ Reed DFA'd today. Probably don't need him, but former top 20 prospect that would cost very little no nothing to acquire. Would just be another guy to get in the way of Collins ABs, so again, probably not a fit, but felt it was worth mentioning.

I would be very surprised if the Sox called up Collins to sit on the bench, and then trade him. Would be a very bizarre way to handle that situation. And I don't give two fucks about the Cubs, but Schwarber has produced 1.8, 3.2 and and is on pace for 1.6 fWAR this season. That is not worthless.

Yah, I think its mostly a function of our two natural DH selections both being horrid against LHP. But its sad when Rondon is the best you can muster. I'd rather see Mercedes take a few hacks against LHP as the DH than Rondon.

I don't really mind Rondon. His bat has been poor this season, but he's a pretty good defender all over the infield. I certainly won't lose any sleep if the Sox move on from him, and he definitely shouldn't be DHing, but I don't hate him as the last man of the bench right now, especially with Timmy out.

We've faced alot of LHP recently, so some of it makes sense. But the fact he hasn't DH'd in a handful of games against RHP is very puzzling, indeed.

I can't believe I am saying this, but I can't wait until Welington is back so he can DH against LHP, and Collins can do what he should be doing and DH against all RHP.

LOL

It doesn't compute to me how Robert spending a month of 2020 in the minors "punts" the entire season. If the Sox punt 2020, its because they didn't sign a legitimate front end SP, a backend SP and RF on the FA market. It won't be because they didn't rush Robert to the big leagues.

That'd be pretty awesome, but a 5-1 week is a lot to ask. 3/4 from the Tigers and splitting with the Cubbie would make me very happy.

The biggest issue I have with your stance - though to be clear, I totally see where you're coming from - is your complete unwillingness to even consider the ramifications of service time. Controlling service time is a very big part of the game as currently constructed, and to just ignore it because you don't see it as a valid avenue of extracting value for an organization, is frankly kind of silly. I have not read the cba word for word, but based on how prevalent suppressing service time has been across the league over the past several seasons, it seems to be that it must not be directly against the cba. There is no clear definition of when a player is ready for the big leagues. That is a purely subjective measure. The White Sox could point to a laundry list of things they want to see Robert improve on before his promotion to the big leagues - his ability to take a walk and cutting down on strikeouts are two easy ones - but being able to stay on the field for more than a couple months stint is definitely another. Let's not forget that 2018 was basically a lost season for Luis, and the first couple months of the 2019 season is the first time he's shown an ability to both stay on the field, and perform at a high level, in his professional career. I too am very excited for Robert. If they called him up tomorrow, I'd be excited, though I would think the move would be shortsighted. I think he is definitely good enough to be at least a replacement level player right now, which frankly is as good as we have in CF (with Leury at SS currently) or in RF. But I really don't think needs at the major league level in a below .500 season should dictate how quickly we move such a prized asset to the organization. You may not like Hahn, but he has said as such so many times. I am also not of the belief that 200 or whatever at bats in the majors in 2019 is going to measurably change what Robert produces during his White Sox tenure. I do think it could have some benefit to his initial 2020 performance, but I don't see it making much of a long term difference. I see 2020 as a slight improvement on 2019 for the Sox. I am hopeful the Sox go balls to the walls in FA this offseason to build a team that can truly compete with the Indians and Twins for the division - but I also think it is fair to be skeptical that will happen, until well....it does. Based on that belief, I think giving Robert - and likely Madrigal - May-September 2020 to get their feet wet is totally fine. Without adding $75-80M to the 2020 payroll, it was never going to be better than a .500ish team anyway. It's a good discussion to have. I personally see both sides of it, but for me, I am okay waiting until next May. I have bought into the rebuild, and these things take time. I don't want to see the process rushed at the latter stages due to impatience. I have seen several people say they don't really care about the 2026 season. But I do. For me, it boils down to something as simple as this team is going nowhere in 2019 - so I'd much rather have a guy that could be an elite player for a potentially full season in 2026 than for half a season in 2019. But I also think there is plenty for Robert to learn in the minor leagues. He is a 21 year old kid after all. He doesn't have a long history of sustained minor league success. He's struggled to stay healthy. He isn't rotting away playing in AA another month, and then perhaps getting the nod up to AAA for the last 45 days or so of the season. I personally am not of the belief that he has nothing left to learn in the minors. Then there is the Eloy situation. The Sox have clearly shown how they plan to handle elite offensive prospects during the rebuild process, so to expect them to do a complete 180 with Robert mere months later seems like a significant stretch. Again, you may not have liked it - but you can't just ignore it. One thing I do know is that It'll be a fun day on the Southside when Robert makes his debut, and we all have that to look forward to. The future remains bright, and Robert is a big part of that.

The current cba runs through 2021, so it’s most certainly not an issue for Robert.

I am a chedddddaaaa guy, myself.

Correct. In the unlikely event of someone claiming Alonso, then the Sox would then be off the hook for the remainder of this year's salary and the $1M buyout. I suppose if someone really wants him they could trade for him and Sox eat the majority of it $ owed to him. Also unlikely.

Wouldn't that be nice. But there is no chance. Sox will wait the 10 days, then release him. Someone will probably pick him up for the pro-rated minimum, though.

This is incorrect.

Passed away this morning in Texas. No news yet on why or how. Just awful. Only 27 years old. RIP, and prayers with his family and friends.

I am not making that determination based on his 20 plate appearances with the Red Sox in 16.

I think it was fairly obvious that the Red Sox were too aggressive with Moncada.

If Robert was called up today and remained in the big leagues, he would accrue over 6.0 years of service time in 2025, and would be a free agent in 2026. He would play the majority of the 2025 season at age 27, turning 28 in August. His first year under his free agent contract (if not extended before then) would be played at age 28, turning 29 in August. And I don't know what to tell you about the service time thing. Basically all teams do it. The Twins demoted Byron fucking Buxton last year with over 1,000 major league plate appearances in order to get an extra year of control. Until the rules are changed with the next CBA, teams will continue to take advantage of the rules. You don't have to "be good with it", but it is what it is.

Seriously, though. And Eloy had 3x the minor league at bats. The Sox have clearly shown how they plan to handle their elite offensive talents. I don't know why anybody expects anything different here. I could see them becoming more aggressive when they're actually competing for divisions and happen to find themselves with an elite positional talent, but not right now.

The goal should be to put the organization in the best possible position to win as many world series as possible from 2021 on, IMO.

Improving his BB% and K% would certainly be an easy one. He is striking out 24.25% of the time and walking just 5.39% of the time in A+ and AA this season. How do you think that is going to look against MLB pitching? Obviously he is always going to K alot, and will never be a guy who takes 100 walks, but its not like there is nowhere for Robert to show signs of improvement.

I personally don't think Robert getting a couple hundred (likely over-matched) plate appearances in 2019 is going to make any difference on his 22-24 performances.

Lol - these dudes are dead!!!! Jake Burger toe his fucking Achilles. Get a grip, dude.

This is a fairly ignorant take for a number of reasons.