TheFutureIsNear

While this was definitely an organizational f*** up, and there’s no real excuse for it…But do people really think it’s Rick Hahn’s job to do background checks on players? This is a billion + dollar MLB franchise that employs a lot of people, I highly doubt the GM is the one to check into a players background. I know it’s easy to pile on Hahn because of the horrible job he’s done the past 3 years or so, but seems like he’s become the scapegoat for just about everything.

Just what the Sox need…a guy that can’t manage a .300 OBP. Other than name Mondesi isn’t any better than guys that got NRI deals

What prospects? Obviously that’s a self inflicted issue, but still a huge 1 none the less. The inability to develop talent has for sure been a bigger hinderance to this franchise than spending $

Did the team ever have a leader? As much praise as Jose got the clubhouse seemed to be in constant turmoil over the past 2-3 years. And the play on the field reflected it, almost 0 accountability.

Not that I think he’s a good player or that he will even contribute to the big league roster…but people should look at Hansel Alberto’s #’s and then compare them to Andrus. Madrigal and whatever other mediocre/bad 2B option people are bringing up too. Alberto is the most likely the 2B if all other options fail. Hell, I’m not sure if Burger attempting to play 2B is a worse option than Andrus/Madrigal.

While all of that sounds well and good…it is a bit disingenuous to not acknowledge the high risk factor of turning a 24 year old into a starter from essentially scratch. He had all of 12 starts across 3 years in college and 0 as a professional. Fact is that he IS a reliever that can MAYBE start. Can he be affective sitting at 94-96 rather than blowing people away at 99-100? Can his changeup develop into a reliable and consistent 3rd pitch? Not saying he can’t do those things, but it for sure is a risk that is going to take a year and a half + to find out.

The obsession with former players is really weird. Forget a guy with legit potential like Sosa…I’m not even sure there’s any guarantee Madrigal would be more productive than Hansel Alberto next year. IF (he doesn’t) Hahn wanted to give up assets for a 2B he could do a lot better than Madrigal

Strengthening and stretching his arm out is 1 thing…but he would also have to develop a consistent 3rd pitch at the same time. He’s been pretty much a 2 pitch pitcher since college. Not saying it would be an impossible task, but just saying that I don’t think endurance is his only hurdle.

I understand it’s Fegan saying it and I’m also not claiming to be an expert…but I find it hard to believe both Kopech and Clevinger won’t be expected to be a full go for this season. Obviously whether it actually happens once the season starts it’s a different story. But Clevinger is almost a full 2 years removed from TJ and threw 115 innings last year. Why would he be on a limit of any kind? And an early October 2022 meniscus surgery is going to interrupt Kopech’s ability to pitch in 2023? If so there’s a much bigger problem, I don’t see how meniscus surgery could be that big of a deal. Don’t get me wrong tho, our SP depth is alarming regardless and Hahn should 100% be doing something about it.

So Jazz possibly became available…did the Sox suddenly gain something to trade? It would make 0 sense to empty out what little assets we have in the minors for a 2B that doesn’t make us a WS contender.

Pretty good twitter thread from Jordan Lazowski from Soxon35th breaking this down

He’s 30 now so doubt there’s any potential left, but Chad Kuhl is a name I wouldn’t hate being brought in on a minor league deal. Was once 1/2 decent and I always liked his stuff…although I see his FB has already dropped a couple MPH so maybe there’s a reason he’s been bad. Joe Ross is another. Had his 2nd TJ in may of last year so who knows what you would get, but if he can pitch in AAA by June/July it might not be the worst gamble.

Honestly don’t know how it works with announcers, but do both guys have a contract? Is it normal for a team to announce that their broadcasters are coming back? Seems like it would be implied unless theres a bigger issue (like Stone retiring) that we aren’t aware of?

Not saying I agree with it, but I think people are kidding themselves thinking the 4th OF’er hasn’t already been signed. It’s going to most likely be Marisnick like it or not. Clearly Marisnick, Hamilton and Reyes were signed to battle it out for the 4th OF’er spot…maybe Haseley gets a shot too.

Hopes of Duvall are gone https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/red-sox-to-sign-adam-duvall.html

IF this rumor were to be true (big if)…does that mean they know something contrary to Grandal’s back improving that we’ve been seeing? Because Seby is out of options correct? Can’t see any possibility of carrying 3 catchers

It is a minor league deal according to mlbtraderumors https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/white-sox-sign-hanser-alberto-infielder.html Could be worse as a bench piece, will be interesting to see how the overlap of him and Luery work.

Yes, if a legit 4th OFer is brought in it would work. But if it goes the way it’s looking and it’s Marisnick/Reyes/Hamilton I don’t think it would. At least in my opinion. All too soft of hitters. I know our options aren’t plentiful or great, but I’d still want a better pinch hitter on the bench. In a scenario where we need a pinch hitter I wouldn’t feel good about any of those guys needing to drive the ball.

The problem with giving Odor, or any other 2B option left, a major league deal is that it seems almost impossible to have 3 of Luery, Odor(or whoever) and 1 of Sosa/Romy on the roster at once. Unfortunately we are stuck with Luery’s bad contract as a backup IF so giving Odor a major league deal almost promises him the starting job. Can’t have a bench of Luery, Romy, Marisnick, and Sebby. No idea what his market is, but if Odor could be had on a NRI deal I’d be all for it.

Yeah I’d love to see how those #’s make sense. Can’t be factoring in all revenue streams. There’s 0% chance teams like the Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers aren’t making $ somehow. I don’t care how rich these owners are, there’s no way they are willingly losing 10’s of millions every year. Then again, maybe it’s just a business strategy to report losses for tax purposes? I’m not smart enough/too broke to fully understand how that works tho

Boy that’s not a lot at all. I don’t think Soto is great or a closer on a legit WS contender, but figured he’d bring back 1 legit prospect.

I’m not 100% against Andrus in general. But I am 100% against giving him a 2 year deal that all but guarantees him the starting 2B job without competition. I actually think the biggest knock against signing Andrus doesn’t even have to do with him…it’s Leury. In a perfect world Andrus would be a good bench piece that gets a crack at the starting 2B job in spring training. Unfortunately Luery and his bad contract already occupy the backup INF spots and I don’t see a world where you can keep Andrus and Luery without 1 starting pretty much everyday. Personally I just don’t see Andrus as a good enough everyday player to take away the ability for Sosa/Romy to compete for the job. Especially when we are talking $6M vs league minimum

2 years 12 mil for Andrus is an awful deal no matter where he plays. He had a hot month or so but his larger sample size going back to 2018 is right on par with Leury. No idea why people are so terrified that we can’t get .240 BA with a .700 OPS production out of Romy/Sosa. Continuously blocking young players with mediocre (at best) production isn’t the direction this team should be going.

They have to be put on the 40 man roster 1st correct? Don’t get me wrong, we still have some fat to trim imo, but with the 40 man roster currently at 39 how many of Reyes, Hamilton, and Marisnick are going to stick after Spring training? My guess is at most 2 with Marisnick and Hamilton probably battling for 1 spot.

I’m getting the feeling that the odds of us signing a legit 4th OF’er are dwindling. Throw a bunch of warm bodies at the problem and see if anything sticks seems to be the plan.