SCCWS

He hasn't been in a while.................

If you go back a year ago, there were all the Machado/Harper rumors and Nightengale was often quoted. He like many was way off. Remember Manny wanted the East coast? there will be all kind of Cole rumors this year like last. Hopefully the Sox target who they want while the pack chases Cole.

After losing Harper and their success this postseason, , I got to think the Nats will pay and Rendon and he will stay. I think any team will have to pay too much to lure him away. Now if he doesn't like DC, or wants brighter lights , then that is a different story.

I find it interesting that in 2012 White Sox attendance was 1.965 Mil and the team value was $700 Mil and in 2019 attendance was 1.646 Mil and team value was 1.6 Bil. So for ownership attendance is pretty irrelevant. If you had a vested interest in the White Sox you pretty much doubled your investment in 6 years.

Remember Bradley's defense is why Betts still plays RF. Fenway with all it's weird angles is a very difficult CF. So if he was added then the Sox can decide whether to start Roberts in CF or play him in RF to start and let Bradley favor Eloy's side while Roberts gets adjusted.

I like Porcello. He does provide inning relief but he had a rough year. His walk/SO rate is still good but I saw him get pounded a few times this season. I think the 2nd SP( 4/5) needs to be a lefty unless the other one ( 1/2/3)turns out to be LH.

With Rodon certainly questionable, I assume the Sox have to add a quality lefty starter as one of the two FA they need.

RR hopes he will improve the team's approach to bunting.....................................

He did a good job in his 1 year in Charlotte and already knows some of the young players in the organization. The move makes sense.

Boras will not block the White Sox if they make the best offer. He certainly doesn't want to lose a client because he has negative feeling about an organization. But he probably won't do us any favors either. Unfortunately, we need him more than he needs us.

He may but based on what? The Cubs don't use him there. Also what would you be willing to give the Cubs in return? I assume they will require a quality MLB player back. I don't think we have a suitable player we could give them. If we sign Grandal, maybe McCann. Cease?. Eloy had comparable numbers but I think he has a much higher ceiling and is 4 years younger.

I think another negative is Boras likes to hold his FA till very late in the off- season. JDM signed w Boston very late in 2018. Boston held out and eventually got him but I am not sure Hahn has the flexiibilty to hold out and then try and find an option if they lose him. Same w Stras. Hahn may have to blow them off w deals early in the process.

He is a starter for the Cubs. What starter of ours are you giving up in exchange for him so he can DH?

No thanks. He is a left-handed older version of Eloy. Both will hit 35 homers knock in 80+ runs and are below average LF.

I think any of that 4 could be a 2. But as we saw w Gio, they also could be an ace as well. Both Keuchel and Bumgarner have some really good years on their resume although is was 3-4 years ago.

The Sox really don't have an established #1 starter yet. Certainly Gio was this year but he needs to duplicate it again. Kopech may turn out to be but it might take a few years. It would be great to get a # 1 or 2 starter even if we pass on Cole. Then add a 4 or 5 with the other add. So I also hope for one of the 2-7 and then a second arm.

In the Boston media, I don't think there is a clear reason why Betts wants to be a free agent. He seems very animated in games and seems to be very much a part of the team. He is from Tennessee so no mention of a West Coast desire. Obviously in Boston he gets a ton of media attention and plays before big crowd. Never see anything negative about him in the press. Maybe there was some issue w Dombrowski but time will tell. So I assume he just wants the attention of being "the free agent" and getting a big day day. So I am not sure getting him as a rental gives a team the inside track as it appears he has that in Boston and has turned down supposed big bucks several times.

Agree as does MLB Trade Rumors. They project Betts to make $28Mil in arbitration so he will cost a lot both ways. Teams also aren’t going to clear out their farm systems for just one year of Betts, though Boston can reasonably assume to top what the Diamondbacks received from the Cardinals for Goldschmidt last December. Betts is over five years younger than Goldschmidt and a more valuable defensive player, so the Red Sox will definitely aim for more than the already-impressive package the D’Backs received — a controllable young starter (Luke Weaver), a controllable young everyday catcher (Carson Kelly), a Competitive Balance Round B pick in the 2019 draft, and another prospect in infielder Andy Young, currently ranked by MLB.com as the 23rd-best Diamondbacks minor leaguer.

I am not sure we as fans can really tell how good a manager is. It seems many organizations do not give the manager control over his assistants. Many FO also use the analytics to dictate player usage and in-game defenses. 20 years ago managers actually managed the team and the games . Now many are following the decisions made by the FO nerds and their main job is to keep the players content.

Why would Boston trade a top 5 player in the game for what you perceive as a bat-only player and some prospects. They will keep Betts and make a run at another title with the hope hr resigns. If they are convinced he won't resign they will want MLB talent for him. My guess, if they trade him, it will be for another MLB ready player who has a contract a team wants to unload or one they can't resign.

I think Gardner is a good choice and would come cheap but I think he will stay in NY to finish his career.

Agree. Tampa is huge into shifting which actually started w Maddon although front office driven.

Rick, you are such a potty pooper.

Unfortunately, Tampa's success w using analytics to offset spending on star players will certainly interest FO pencil-pushers. Both are really nerdy types.

I think most of us posters feel RR will not be the leader when we are ready to go after a playoff spot. I would rather see us go the route of Minny and Boston and get a younger coach. Maybe Vizquel is already warming up in the bullpen. I threw out Joey Cora as another possibliity. I would like to see somebody w some expereince ( not a Ross type) but Boone is doing pretty good albeit he has a lot of talent to work with .