ChiSox59

Lucas gonna be nails this season.

This.

Right. But there is nothing that can be done about it at this point. Leury and Diekman were both awful acquisitions; I would not argue otherwise. But in total they're getting paid $10M in 2023, or a tad over 5% of the Sox current payroll. In terms of bad $, the Sox situation isn't that awful. I am not defending the moves, but if you're going to point fingers, point your finger at JR for not allowing his FO to spend over what amounts to relatively minor bad contracts. Those deals should not be stopping the Sox from finishing off the roster with a 4th OF and 2B, but here we are.... In any event, it sounds like Duvall wasn't going to sign here regardless of the $ as he was looking for starting role the Sox didn't have to offer.

Well, its true. You can keep complaining about sunk costs if you wish, but they're irrelevant at this juncture.

Well, unless you know of way of un-signing a guaranteed contract, Leury's contract irrelevant as it pertains to Duvall. It was an awful deal; everyone agrees. But Leury's $5.5M isn't coming back, so it had no bearing whatsoever on Duvall. I would have loved to sign Duvall, but if he wanted a starter role, there wasn't one here for him. Not sure an extra millon or two would have made much of a difference for a 34 year old that is looking to extend his career as long as possible before taking a part time role. Can't say I blame him.

Nah, I doubt he's an option. He'll get like 2/$20M at least. He also hasn't played the infield in a couple seasons; probably isn't anything more than an emergency option there.

The reality of the situation is quite simply that the Sox need Luis Robert to play 140+ games and be an elite talent. If he misses significant time again in 23, the Sox aren't going anywhere.

Yes, that is most likely the case.

I think they just ran out of gas. They had been playing pretty good ball since Tony had left the team. But they knew they needed to sweep that series, and after losing the first one in heartbreaking fashion, I think all the air in the balloon was simply gone. Sox went on to lose 8 in a row stretching the lead from 3.5 GB to 11, and making the race looks much more lopsided than it really was.

With Beinintendi on board, Sox need a RH OF much more than a LH OF. If they're going to go LH OF, he needs to also be able to play 2B.

I think they believe that Sheets can cover RF for 30-40 games. I hate it, but its obvious that's the strategy. There is really nowhere else to play him unless the really put Eloy in RF.

Yep, disapointing. Appears Marisnick is the guy.

Hahn settled on Kenyan Middleton.

We're back.....for now.

I missed that move. Like his arm.

Yup. I am expecting a very big season from Lucas, tbh.

I’d much rather they spend that money on another OF than a third catcher that is not a good catcher.

Lucas doesn’t have much of leg to stand on this year. He should go out there and pitch extremely well and earn a monster payday on his next contract.

Nice post. Sox are going to be really good if Robert, Eloy and TA each play 130+ games. Add in even just modest bouncebacks from Moncada and Yaz, and even better. Lot of ifs though.

Man, Sox were like a week away from squeezing another year out of Reylo, eh? That said, considering how awful he was in the minors after his demotion, its a borderline miracle he's turned into what he has out of the pen.

Not sure I totally agree, but I understand the sentiment. No one wants to improve in the OF more than I, but I don't think Gavin will kill you out there occasionally against the RHP with him replaced in the later in innings. But like I said, I get it. I'd certainly prefer they sign Duvall and put Gavin in AAA.

As it sits right now, Jake Marisnick. And that's alright.

Not exciting, but its reality. He'll be fine against RHP for a few weeks.

Sheets is very likely our starting RF for the first 3-5 weeks of the season. I don't see the Sox adding a catcher on an MLB deal unless they can turn Seby into something very useful on the trade market.

Alfaro is a legitimately awful catcher. Let's stop with the legitimately awful catchers.