ChiSox59

I can't wait to see the Twins dump off some of their high end prospect capital to add to their horseshit bullpen they refused to spend money on. Either that, or just get swept by the Yankees in the 1st round of the playoffs because outside of Rogers, they have a AAA-level pen.

Are you going to the game tonight?

Colome would be lucky to return one player in the realm of the third best prospect in that deal, Dane Dunning. Trading a very good OF on a cost controlled 5 year deal ($38M over 5 years) with 2 teams options on the 2 latter and most expensive years, is completely different than a trading a solid career set-up man paid appropriately and controlled for 1.5 seasons. I would definitely trade Colome if the they Sox can get a something interesting enough for him. You definitely don't trade him for a Cordell, Mederios, Tilson type return. At that point just hold him for next season.

I mean, we get you're a negative guy, but the Sox have clearly changed their tune on a number of things in recent history. 1. They did a legit rebuild that no one thought they'd ever do. 2. They spent $50M an a teenager, and paid a $25M tax in doing so. 3. Just last week they drafted 8 high schoolers, something they haven't done in a very long time (if ever?). 4. Within the past 6 months, they have offered both Machado and Harper mega-deals that would have smashed their previous largest contract by almost $200 million. Its safe to say they were in the top 3-4 most aggressive teams bidding for their services. The Sox have clearly changed the way their operate in recent year,s and anyone that thinks otherwise hasn't been paying attention, or just doesn't care to view the operations of the White Sox in an anything other than a negative lens. I completely agree that Cole is going to receive top offers. The Sox may well not win the bidding. But I imagine they'll be in the mix, and as I said yesterday, they're fucking idiots if they're unwilling to pay him $150-170M over 5-6 years. They can't force the guy to sign the dotted line, but I suspect they'll be competitive. There is a clear delineation between last offseason and this coming offseason. We all knew that Machado and/or Harper would jumpstart the rebuild. We all wanted them. But we also knew that this team was not ready for prime time. Next offseason is different, in many way, and the Sox can make the argument 2020 is the beginning of their actual window. I suspect the trend of things changing to continue this offseason. Including all arb eligible players, the Sox payroll will be in $45-50M range next season before adding any free agents. They clearly are not going to operate in that area, and could easily add $60-70M+ to the payroll. Machado would have been awesome. I wanted him more than anything. But not even being a fanboy, its so easy to see how that is going to be a bullet dodged. That contract could have crippled the Sox flexibility, and as of now, they are one of the most contractually nimble organizations in baseball. Open your eyes and try to be objective instead of continuing to scream into the void.

I am not going to repeat posts I've made in this very thread within the past 48 hours, but the Sox could sign Cole, Wood, Grandal, Gennett and Abreu this offseason for less money than Machado got. I would take those 5 guys over Machado every single day.

Yep, I said could. It’s fair to be skeptical. But it’s also okay to realize the Sox aren’t going to suddenly sport payrolls south of 100 million regularly moving forward.

Just cut bait, Sox. It’s mid June. It’s a sunk cost.

It was crushing. But there is a legitimate chance the Sox could put themselves in a much better position without Machado than they’d be in with him if the money is spent. And that is coming from someone that wanted Machado as much as anyone.

Yah I said nothing about Rendon personally. I don’t see that happening and I wouldn’t mess with Moncada anymore. I don’t really think Rendon is really even worth discussing. My dream offseason is Cole, Grandal, Wood and Gennett. Could totally live with just the first three! Just think Gennet would be a nice guy we could potentially shift to RF when Madrigal arrives and bounce him around the diamond.

Ahhh, got it. Thought he was insinuating one of the Sox top 4 picks may be dealing with an injury. NEVERMIND!

Why do you say that?

I will take the career 770 PA over his 43 PA this season. Alonso fucking blows against LHP.

I don't really mind with a lefty on the mound. Welington should be DHing though. There is legit no reason for Alonso to be in the lineup versus a LHP over Castillo. Castillo has one decent talent, and that is hitting LHP.

Because he is not good.

I could see him starting in the bigs, but not due to trying to avoid a grievance or anything. The dude is recovering from a major elbow operation! He has minimal major leauge innings! He'll be on a pitch count to start, and an innings count next year! The MLBPA would have absolutely zero case. The Padres just sent Chris Paddock back to the minors FFS. He's been dicing all season long!

You can add Cole and Wood and still give Lopez a shot to start next season. Cole, Gio, Cease, Wood, Lopez. It just means the Sox take it easy with Kopech, let him regain his footing in AAA, and manage his innings a bit in the early going. Bring him back up when we get a year of service back in late May / early June. That is what I would do and is my preferred route, but I am sure the Sox will just let Kopech take his lumps in the big leagues and be forced to shut him down in August due to an innings limit.

Other molds have been broken in recent years, and I hope that trend continues. The Sox have no chance to be anything more than just an interestingish team if they don't add some significant pieces from outside the org. The pitching depth has been decimated by injury. Adding a legit TOR SP needs to be the top priority this offseason, IMO. I expect to be disappointed, but am hopeful they buck the fuck up and pay the man his money.

Not realistic at all. But the Sox are fucking idiots if they're unwilling to pay Cole $150M+. This rotation badly needs an anchor. Cole would be that guy. Shifting Gio, Kopech and Cease down a notch is imperative if they actually want to build a sustained winner over this 2020-2025 window. The Sox could add $80M in payroll next season and still be under league average. Its time to act like they're actually trying. I agree with you that it probably won't happen, but since they saved $250M trying to be cute (just cheap, really) with Machado, its time they actually spend some money and starting filling in the gaps.

Cole AND Wood would be ideal. Allows Sox to take it slow with Kopech as well.

Please, lord jesus, tell me he is just a placeholder.

Any other Sox prospects in bottom of top 100?

Yikes. Lambert will be nearly 26 years old when he returns from TJS (if thats where he is headed). That is no bueno for a guy that hasn't eclipsed AA.

Well Vaughn should be up by end of 2020, so that takes 1B. Sox have pretty much said they're going to resign or extend Abreu (hopefully no more than 2 seasons). Has a couple week cold stretch changed that? Doubt it. Plus you have Collins who is going to DH most of the day against RHP. Going to be tough to get Ozuna (or Eloy) many DH at bats. I think the idea of Ozuna being a good fit for this team disappeared last week when the Sox drafted Vaughn.

An OF with Eloy and Ozuna in it is the stuff of nightmares. Only way Ozuna makes any sense on the longer term deal he would require is if the Sox are positive Eloy can stick in LF and/or they are ready to move on from Abreu.

Who is this stopgap RF though? There are not many options. Markakis would be nice, but ATL has a $6M option. Doubt they don't pick that up. Kole Calhoun? Gross. Avi Garcia? Been down that road. There are very few options after Ozuna, Castellanos, and Puig, who are not stop gaps, obviously. A lefty stick would also be preferred.