TheFutureIsNear

Is there any SP that sets apart as a worthy signing if we miss out on Cole/Stras/Wheeler/Bum/Ryu? Do people feel comfortable paying an Odorizzi/Keuchel type? Or do we give up at that point lol? I guess if we sign 2 of Pineda/Wacha/Wood/Porcello but add offense I wouldn’t be too disappointed, but I don’t want to see us overspending on the 2nd tier of this free agent SP class out of desperation.

Just the idea of the same 2 guys who ran the team into the point of a complete rebuild as the only option getting the reigns of that very same rebuild? I mean, yikes...it doesn’t even pass the common sense test. And the sad part is that I can see Hahn getting himself fired eventually. But the real puppet master KW? Have a scary feeling we may be stuck with him as long as JR is alive

I think Harris and Smith are out of price range/don’t make total sense. I’d be looking to simply stabilize the bullpen, it’s too volatile of a position for the Sox to spend big $ on the pen at the moment in my opinion. I’d wait until we are legit WS contenders. Basically make it so that the pen isn’t killing you. Both mlbtraderumors and fangraphs have Hudson at 2/12...all I can go by

Wheeler- 20M Castellanos- 16M Encarnacion- 10M Hudson- 6M Add a 2-3 arms on minor league deals, maybe try to finagle a cheap backup defensive C depending on what they really feel about Collins’ defensive abilities. Brings the final 26 man roster to around $128M total payroll. Wheeler and Castellanos are good pieces to add to the core while EE keeps a spot warm for Vaughn. Not going to win a World Series or anything close in 2020, but could compete for the division and be 1 step closer to adding 1 or 2 final pieces to finish off the roster in the following off season...depending on development of course

Hey I hear ya...I’m not trying to take away your ability to dream lol. Not even trying to criticize your moves. Just pointing out that after arb, Abreu (we all know he’s not going anywhere), and filling the roster to 26 you have to start your off season at around $70M. Adding $100M is definitely a dream, I’ll be happy if they get to $60.

You’re assumed roster should be around $72ish I believe...that’s including Abreu at the QO. So you’re at around $175M final payroll. Good luck with that...

Can we at least try to avoid going full Jace Fry on Bummer?? Or does this board HAVE to severely overrate every Sox player that has some success? It’s not like his peripherals were phenomenal and his FIP certainly doesn’t match up....I have a hard time believing any team is giving Bummer an evaluation of 10’s of millions right now

I’m not going to pretend I’ve watched much of Castellanos playing D, but he did drastically improve in most, if not all, metrics in RF from year 1 to year 2. Granted he was still poor in RF this past year, but is it not possible a guy his age continues to improve in his 3rd year at a new position? We don’t need him to be a good OF’er per say, he just can’t hurt the team in the field. DRS- 2018: -19, 2019: -9 UZR- 2018: -12.9, 2019: -5.2 Even just getting those 2 #’s to 0 and he’s probably a 3.5 WAR player.

Lindblom is pretty interesting to me. He was a fairly legit prospect at 1 point and has had some short term success in the big leagues at 1 point. The model to transition back over to the states has had some success too

While I’m with you on McCann, my concern is that Grandal won’t be a viable C in 3 years. The idea of paying a 33/34 year old Grandal 16-18M to be a 1B/DH for 2 years isn’t exactly appealing. All for EE as a DH too. He’s too good of a hitter to be upset about having. Especially on a 1 year deal for $12M max.

I think I’m starting to narrow in on Wheeler as the must have for me. That would at least give me hope for the future of having a potentially very good staff to compete in the playoffs. Patching RF and DH while waiting to see what Robert, Madrigal, Collins, and Vaughn add to the lineup in the near future is a spin that at least makes some sense...even if I don’t really want to see it go that way. Wheeler, Encarnacion, Calhoun, Lindblom, Hector Rondon (or pick your favorite mid priced RP) ....that’s an extremely realistic off season I could live with.

Yes my opinion...just like it’s your opinion. Only difference is I’m not a giant douche that talks on the internet like I have inside information like you are trying to do.

I get it, but you’re still way over simplifying the situation. The majority of players with multiple similar offers aren’t just going to blankly tell their agent “don’t care what city, just the highest $ amount”...they have families, preferences, etc...But again, I’m talking about a few mil difference over a large multi year deal. If the Sox are offering someone $100M and the next closest offer is $85M of course it will be a no brainer decision. But if it’s $100M vs $95M i don’t seem how an abundance of factors wouldn’t come into play. I also don’t think every player would be anti-Sox/Chicago for what it’s worth...

Can we just admit that no one actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to players and their personal preference? Saying that all players are robots that take the highest penny they are offered is just as dumb as saying no one wants to play for the Sox. There are a lot of factors and not all players have the same priorities.

I think this is a lot of hyperbole. Also depends on who you think “shouldn’t” be traded...which for me would be a short list. Are we going to trade for a great player with years of control left? Nope. But a solid starter player shouldn’t be that hard to pull off

Wheeler, Grandal, Calhoun...starting to think that’s the most realistic best case scenario as major signings. Add low cost bull pen arm or 2 and some minor league signings at SP and RH power bench bat. Payroll around 130ish and I think a chance to win 85 games or so

That’s why I’d be more than happy to let Jose test the market without the QO. If I’m the Sox I politely tell that RBI leader to find another team that is willing to guarantee him more than $30M. If he does we’ll match any reasonable offers, if not 2/28 is still on the table...I find it pretty hard to think of a team that will willing to give Jose that kind of contract, but I could be wrong as well.

The odds of Jose just taking and being happy with the $18M QO next year are WAY higher than someone signing Jose to a multi year deal with a QO attached. I don’t think a reasonable common sense middle ground should be that hard to find with Jose given his very public desire to stay...I’d say 2/28 is more than fair

Little game...you get 15 points to spend for the major signings of the off season, take your pick Cole(12), Strasburg(12), Wheeler(5), Bum(5), Ryu(5), Ordorizzi(3) , Keuchel(3), Pineda(2), Hamels(2), Roark(2) Rendon(12), JDM(5) or Grandal(5) Ozuna(4), Castellanos(4), Moustakas(3), Encarnacion (3), Puig(2), Dickerson(2), Gardner(2) Will Smith(4), Will Harris(2), Daniel Hudson(2), Betances(2)

Yes, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin had nothing to do with the Nats winning the World Series and were cheap signings. Good thing they didn’t “overspend”

Free Agency IS overspending. If you think they are going to build a serious contender with mostly home grown talent you’re delusional. The Sox will need to add significant impact players from outside the organization or they wont be able to compete. Same with payroll, if they aren’t willing to get at least close to $150M eventually (doesn’t have to be all this year necessarily) we all might as well give up.

Are you in Jerry’s will or something? The team has a pathetically low payroll already and you’re worried about overspending? Why? Overspending in free agency is a deal with the devil you pretty much have to make. Will it backfire sometimes? Of course. But do we have a shot in hell of putting a WS roster on the field without making at least a couple big splash signings? Extremely unlikely

Hopefully the Sox told him to test the market before handing out a dumb multi year offer...most likely not though

Never said we shouldn’t sign wheeler...was more a comment toward the article you posted suggesting that Wheeler could break out into the next Cole. Just pointing out that Wheeler is already a few months older and Cole really showed his elite ability back in 2015. Wheeler has been very good, but hasn’t shown that truly elite ability yet and is already 29, doubt it’s happening but crazier things have happened. But I agree that he’s a really good #3 that you hope gives you #2 production more often than not and that he’d be a great signing for us.

A little odd to think that Wheeler is going to develop into Cole when he’s already older...