ChiSox59

Yah, but the Sox appear as possibilities for a ton of guys.

Lol, what bet are you even trying to make? That Banuelos will be a reliever?

I’d be all over a bunch of the projections they have on there for the mid tier guys.

We can agree to disagree. I’d prefer to 2/3rds of our outfield not be named Engel, Garcia and/or Delmonico. Too many good players in 2020 is a good problem. The Sox can easily afford a $15M AAV contract for a guy like Pollock.

I personally was not referring to just this instance. Its constant negativity in every way shape and form.

Yah because never before has a super naturally talented pitcher failed to master major league pitching before the age of 25.

Let's have some fun and sign them both!

At this point, it is far too early to write off Giolito.

Well, Pollock is the top CF on the market, a position that is a glaring black hole for the Sox, so that's why he was mentioned. Pollock would be a giant upgrade for the Sox. He can fill the hole in CF for a season or two, or then slide over to a corner if need be when the kids arive. When healthy (which to be candid, hasn't been that often over the past 3 years), Pollock has been very good. He's certainly not as big of a splash as Machado or Harper, but IMO, he'd be a great fit depending on how expensive he gets.

He's awful. Very difficult to follow. The ultimate fear monger.

What do you know you would win? That the Sox think of Banuelos as a bullpen piece and not a depth rotation piece? Isn't that fairly ambiguous and have a lot to do with how the season goes? Seems like a terrible bet. Obviously I hope the Sox set their sights higher than using Banuelos as a starter in the bigs, but I also think he's at best 4th in line as LH reliever, so don't see a fit there really unless one of Fry, Frare or Bummer gets hut.

I don't make bets with frauds.

I am thinking a depth rotation piece. The Sox are pretty loaded with young MLB lefthanded relievers in Fry, Bummer and Frare, so I'd be surprised if they're looking at Banuelos as a bullpen piece.

Yah, I am not going to fret over a 2nd round pick if the Sox sign Harper or Pollock.

Can we get the list of things you aren’t skeptical about with regards to the White Sox? I imagine it’s a short list so would help clear up a lot of things for us.

Yah, because no other organizations ever see back end top 10 picks fizzle out. I would be surprised.

I clearly said "a full season of Rodon" is a step in the right direction. Big difference. I don't really care to continue this discussion with you. Everything White Sox related will always be awful and everybody will always suck in your mind. Its tiring.

KW always gets his guy.

I think thats a totally fair opinion to have. I've never suggested the Sox trade legitimate prospects to get better next season (other than prospect for prospect trades). I don't want the Sox signing meh veterans to long term deals that will hamstring them later either. But I also think the young guys on this team need to start to experience what it is like to win a little bit. I don't think trotting basically the same roster as last year out there is going to be much of a benefit. And, for the record, I didn't assume every player on the roster takes a step forward. I mentioned Giolito, Timmy, and Moncada, and Lopez. That is 16% of the roster. Not the whole roster. I think each of those SHOULD be expected to take a step forward next season - it'd be hard for Giolito and Moncada not to.

Stop before you dig the hole deeper, brah.

Not throwing James Shields out there every 5th day is a step in the right direction. Improving on an offensive black hole in 3B and CF is a step in the right direction. A full season of Rodon and step forward from Giolito and Lopez is step in the right direction. I project improvement from Moncada and Timmy. The bullpen is young and inexperienced, but the Sox have an organization loaded with high potential back end of the bullpen arms. I think the bullpen will be much better, and will improve as the season wears on. So no, adding Eloy doesn't fix everything. But I also don't expect the rest of the team to look the same. If they trot out basically the same team as last year like you seemingly want, and no one improves, yah, they're going to suck again. Like I said earlier - I am setting my sights a tad higher and hoping the Sox share those sights. I'd prefer not to get behind the "Sox are the worst organization ever and there is nothing they will ever do to improve this team" narrative you often push.

The White Sox don't need to be the Red Sox in order to play winning baseball.

I like Avi. I've always rooted for him. Seems like a great guy, and love that he plays hard everyday. But he's a career .740 OPS corner outfielder that is below average defensively that has struggled to stay healthy, can't take a walk and is only controlled for 1 more season. I am not going to mad if the Sox tender Avi, but I don't see much of any upside in doing so. Best case scenario is he somehow replicates his 2017 season and the Sox trade him for a middling prospect. Not very exciting.

I did answer the question. I think there is a path that allows for a competitive team if things go right. That path does not include a 37 year old James Shields who has absolutely zero upside. Do I think there is a realistic way to turn this rotation into well above average playoff caliber rotation heading into next season? No. But I do think its possible to at least create a rotation that if the young guys take a step forward, it has a chance to produce a team capable of playing winning baseball.

I think a rotation of Rodon, Lopez, Giolito, Gray (Jon or Sonny, preferably prefer Jon) and Ryu looks hell of a lot of better anything with Shields in it. IMO, any resigning of Shields is going to indicate to me that the Sox are not going to attempt to field a team that has a shot of being competitive. Which may be the direction they go, I am just setting my sights a bit higher for now.