Timmy U

One year of Pedro is not my definition of luck.

I predict a breakout in that Santos will do what he did last year for a team that the national media knows exists.

I know he's a pain in the butt, however Ozzie >>>>>>>> Pedro.

I would love to see someone start ranking on process rather than actual prospects. I like the Sox top 5 in some order -- Montgomery, Schultz, Quero, Ramos, Nastrini -- but the ceiling and probability both drop off a cliff after that. I'd start to feel more comfortable if Mike Shirley is given a free hand to grab high-ceiling high school guys in the early rounds (I'm hopeful) and the Sox change their LatAm strategy to start pulling in the younger, higher-priced teens. Right now, the improvements in their system seem like a mirage based on one great late first-rounder and trades. I'd just like to see the Sox develop an actual pipeline where every year they're adding multiple future major leaguers instead of 2nd rounders who end up as org players and international signing like Yolbert Sanchez.

Love Fegan. Finally became a Patreon over there to support him. Gonna be a bad team, but at least we'll know all about it.

Here’s my hope for this trade: Bannister came in and looked at the Sox pitching inventory and Getz got rid of two guys he didn’t like that much. If their veal on Mena is that he’s gonna be a 2 or a 3, this is a terrible trade. But if they think he’s a 5/up and down guy, then I can see why they did it. At this time, I want to trust them.

I never took Baltimore seriously and this is further proof. If you gave me Baltimore's Top 15 prospects and said, "Name the 2 you don't want," it would have been Ortiz and Hall for me. Elias is clearly getting rid of players who would never have played for the O's. The fact that the Brewers are going to use Ortiz as a glove-first 3b tells me this is all about a small market team looking to get pre-arb years. The Sox should have a higher standard than that.

Thanks for this. Good framework. I am hopeful that Oppor and LaCombe pitch full season ball at some point in 2024. Given their experience level, I could imagine them each starting in extended to manage innings. If Keener starts at Kanny, I'd be shocked if he stays long. His slider is going to devastate A ball hitters. In some ways, you won't know what you have with him until AA. Last year, the Sox effectively managed innings load by having 6/7 starters at the lower levels with a lot of guys getting 4+ inning as bulk guys in relief. I bet we see more of that. I also think Aldrin Batista will be a fast riser. Not sure about the ceiling, but he was too good for A ball hitters from what I saw.

I could see that. Sosa looked considerably better in September last year, but if they continue to not walk at the rate they showed last year, hard to see either competing at the mlb level. Look at the pitching staff though. Drohan faces long odds making the team, then I can imagine any of Banks, Foster, Lambert, Deivi Garcia, Peralta, Scholtens, Speas, or Toussaint failing to make the team and getting the DFA. Lotta people who are far from untouchable on this roster.

Well, sure, but maybe he’s done. If he doesn’t earn a spot, release him. They have other guys, especially in the pitching staff where, if they don’t look good, you release them. I think Gavin Sheets has moved firmly on the bubble for the 40 man. If they determine that DeLoach and Fletcher are better, dump Sheets. The point of a roster churn is to Marie Kondo the whole thing. If a player does not bring you joy, discard him. That way, you end up with the best version of your 40 man.

One thing I like about these two trades, when taken together, is that Getz is trying to create competition in Spring Training and into the early part of the year. They have such little talent and such poor depth that setting up some roster churn and giving opportunities to players like Fletcher, DeLoach, and Shewmake might yield one cromulent regular somewhere on the field.

I don't think they're gonna need the $1 mil to up who they can get at 5. More likely they'll use some of that money to get a better player at 69. The top of this draft simply is not good enough to throw money at anyone. Maybe someone will emerge, but right now the top 5 guys in 2023 would all be clear 1-1 in this draft.

Wow. I knew he was bad, but that is a level of suck I had not reckoned with. OTOH, how mad would you be if your pitcher walked a guy like that?

That's why I said year 0 and another poster said year -1. They are in the process of tearing stuff down (waiting for contracts to end). I can even begin to imagine when their next competitive team will be. Montgomery looks like an mlb regular. I have hope for Nastrini as a rotation member, then a lot of guys like Eder and Cannon that they can plug in and hopefully hit on 1 or 2. Both Ramos and Quero have mlb regular upside, but are by no means sure things. After that it gets hard to imagine who the next wave really is. I guess I'm saying, enjoy the churros?

Probably, although looking at the bottom of that line up and considering Fedde and Soroka are 2-3 in your rotation, this thing could go South in a hurry.

This team truly could lose 110 games. We are just entering year zero of this rebuild. I support the new South Loop stadium just to get a target date on when they will try not to suck.

True, but his ‘roids were 1st rounders. Top notch quality.

WTF? Have you even watched Montgomery play? a) There's a pretty good shot he stays at short early in his career, and he'd be a plus 3b. b) Ryan Sweeney, had no power Olerud and Grace had very little power. Montgomery has plus power that he is just growing into now. I hope to God you're being sarcastic.

The only way this team avoids 100 losses is if Moncada and Eloy bounce back and Vaughn takes a step forward. Kinda betting on an inside straight, but so be it. So, I'm happy Moncada feels good. Remember, he was healthy and looked good in the stupid WBC before hurting his back on a long plane ride? I'll believe it when I see it, but I welcome even the slimmest sliver of hope for the 2024 Sox cuz this thing could get ugly in a hurry.

Balanced. Schedule.

What are you hearing about Gonzalez? He looked terrible and all the metrics support that eye test. My hope is that we did not see the real Jacob Gonzalez. Maybe he was exhausted ala Montgomery at Project Birmingham? Or halfway through a significant swing change? Or he altered his approach, which he will then junk? I want to have some hope for the guy because my looks last year were not encouraging.

I actually wouldn't be shocked if, after all the dust settles, Nastrini + Leasure > Quero + Bush. I love me some Quero, but it's not a super high ceiling and Bush has been pretty bad. Nastrini and Leasure will debut this year and Nastrini probably has the highest ceiling of the 4. I get that the deal also contained Kelly, but that is a very good return for a guy leading the league in HR allowed.

Good for Danny. I take it as a positive sign that someone Getz hired was wanted by another organization.

The dealer website has a bunch of people named “Guest.” My educated guess is he’s got an inherited ownership stake in the business but is not involved in the day-to-day operations. He certainly is not listed among their staff. https://www.southoak.com/about-us/staff/

No one.