ChiSox59

With Banuelos in the pen that means Santana is breaking with the club, they’re only going with 4 SP, or they’ll stack Covey/Banuelos as an opener for the 5th spot to start.

I genuinely hope that is Palka.

I’m sure Ricky will let McCann have his shot at the 3 hole first, ya.

Does he have a pick attaches to him even if he signs in say June? Does it not fall off until after the 2019 season?

Leury has looked good in ST. He'll eventually break, but I wouldn't be opposed to running him out there 5 days a week in the early going.

Pretty much nailed it.

The Sox have very few IF in the upper minors. Mendick is really it. I doubt Laz Rivera starts in AAA.

They could just let Palka hack away at LHP as well. Pretty much have to platoon Alonso though so he doesn't hit his vesting option. RHP: Jay CF, Moncada 3B, Eloy LF, Abreu DH, Alonso 1B, Castillo C, Palka LF, Anderson SS, Sanchez 2B LHP: Jay RF, Sanchez 2B, Eloy LF, Abreu 1B, Castillo C, Anderson SS, Moncada 2B, Palka/Rondon DH, Engel CF

I think his natural position is actually 3B. That is where I beleive he played the majority of the time in Cuba. I do believe he said last season his preferred position is 2B, but he has said recently he is totally good with playing 3B.

Rondon is a natural SS that was regarded as great defender as a prospect. Leury has also been hitting the ball super well in ST, so unless the Sox are trading him, I doubt they just let him go.

True. Can't imagine Castellanos would be THAT expensive either. He's a pretty terrible OF so basically can be put into 1B/Dh category. 4/$60M seems reasonable.

I think they start with 12 pitchers with all the off days and inevitable rainouts early in the season. Abreu, Sanchez, Anderson, Moncada, Eloy, Engel, Palka. Jay, Rondon, Leury and McCann.

Rondon kind of has to make the roster at this point though. Why put him through waivers for Escobar? They need a backup infielder and Leury can't be the only guy. Unless Mendick magically makes the roster.

Yah man, heart crushing end to the season. Just lost their swagger a few weeks ago and couldn't get it back. Pretty sure we hear about Markus getting wrist surgery in the next few days...he just wasn't right, but that certainly wasn't why we lost yesterday. Oh well, I have baseball to look forward to for the next couple weeks until I quickly realize we're looking at another 90+ loss season.

I am just spitballing dude. Someone said there is no where to spend the money. There are obviously still guys to spend money on.

Marquette

With the Goldy news (anyone hear he agreed to an extension yesterday?), that means Abreu is the best option, unless you want to consider Castellanos a 1B, and position he hasn't played an inning of in his career. Bet Sox either extend Jose, or resign him next offseason. Abreu + Castellanos + Grandal + Cole would be a very nice offseason. Lineup by June 2020: Madrigal 2B, Moncada 3B, Abreu 1B, Eloy LF, Castellanos DH, Grandal C, Adolfo RF, Robert CF, Anderson SS Cole, Rodon, Cease, Kopech, Lopez

Yes, 4 other people mentioned that. I missed it.

I did miss it, thanks. Was focusing on CBB yesterday until my team ripped my heart out, burned it and pissed on the ashes.

Yah, I am hoping when final terms come out we get three options instead of 2. You're also kind of ignoring salary inflation in your analysis. If Eloy is as good as we hope he is, its a pretty legitimate chance that his final arb year would be over $25M when we'll be paying him $14M. The year prior we'll be paying him less than $10M, when he'd likely be making around $15M. Not HUUUUUUGGGEE savings, but they're legitimate savings. And we get him for an extra year with $10-15M of surplus value in there if he's really good.

Thats......a significant difference from 7/$245.

Grandal, Castellanos, Boegarts, Goldschmidt and Cole are all FA next year and make varying degrees of sense as guys we could we spent money on.

Speaking of Sale, is Victor Diaz still in the sox system?

IF its for Charlotte, sure. If they plan for him to make the team over Rondon, I don't know what to say.

I voted yes and he deserved it. I think he rakes this season and makes the Sox have to make a decision. But ultimately I think the Sox keep him down until May 2020, and I am fine with that.