Bob Sacamano

Sign Cole, sign Grandal, sign Kole (Calhoun) if his option is declined, sign Edwin (option will definitely be declined), sign Betances and 2 other relievers. Lineup mid-April (assuming they keep 13 pitchers and not an extra bench player with the expanded rosters): 1. Robert CF 2. Anderson SS 3. Moncada 3B 4. Encarnacion DH/1B 5. Jimenez LF 6. Calhoun RF 7. Grandal C/1B/DH 8. Collins 1B/DH/C 9. Madrigal 2B Bench: McCann C Goins IF Engel OF or some other cheap signing Garcia IF/OF Sidenote: anyone else miss the days when bullpens only had like 6 guys and AL benches had 5 players? Kinda miss the late game strategy of pinch-hitting for certain guys in certain spots and more pinch running.

Fuck it. Play Collins at 1B and sign Edwin to DH. Totally forgot he has an option that won't get picked up for next year.

That means nothing. He'll test out free agency now that he won't have a draft pick attached to him this year. He can do better than the option of 1 year/$16mill.

I love Moncada in the 3-spot as well. Team needs a left-handed middle of the order bat so I'm perfectly fine sticking him there. I know he makes a great a number 2-hitter, but we're talking one spot down and behind guys who *should* be high OBP guys.

Can't get everywhere ASAP on a bus.

Yep. And then Madrigal acts as a second lead off hitter in front of Robert when the order turns over.

Skole isn't even on the base.

Yep. If only there was someone else we could call up to catch a few more games here and there to let McCann rest and DH a bit the rest of the year.

There is guaranteed to be at least a 4-man bench next year. Having a guy who can play infield, a guy who can play outfield, and a guy who can play all over isn't the worst. Especially when guys like Eloy and Yoan are proving to be fragile and probably good for at least one or two IL stints a year.

I get that but when the guy is basically begging to come back, you let him know he's DH'ing a bulk of the time to give someone younger a shot at 1B.

Like I said, I'm good with him coming back cheap for one year to DH since the options are very meh in free agency. Help Robert out with the transition to the MLB, spell Collins at 1B here and there. Rosters expand to 26 (capped at 13 pitchers) so the team will be more versatile anyway than the past like 5 years where they have only had 3 bench spots and 13 pitchers.

Um, they still have the human element in the minors as well where I'm sure it is just as bad if not worse.

I love his ability to draw walks and hit for some pop.

After looking at the free agents for next year, I will gladly take Abreu back on a one year deal. Mostly DH and fill in at 1B for Collins.

You sign him to a minor league deal so he's not on the 40-man and see if maybe you have a lefty reliever at Charlotte next year.

Yeah I'm easily scooping up Gohara.

Charlotte needs these types of players too.

He didn't get word of the trade at that point. I happened to be watching the game live at a bar and he was still in the game in RF 15 minutes after the trade was announced.

It might be his only offer, or best offer (to play 1B). He did sign as a 2B this year.

I would assume for an MLB opportunity. Edit: also unclogs the infield depth in Triple-A I guess. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/08/white-sox-release-alcides-escobar.html

Yeah the options aren't great. But one angle I can think of if you decide to go with someone else is it is easier to just cut bait if someone in the organization happens to break out in the upper minors. Like say Thames as an example: lefty, no emotional ties to the fan base or anyone in the system, they can cut him if another option breaks out.

They don't need to platoon. Just sort of switch between 1B and DH. And Collins can catch once or twice a week.

Just look at a list of free agent corner outfield/1B/DH guys that will be available this offseason and sign one to a cheap one year deal to split time at 1B with Collins. Preferably a lefty. Then if Vaughn tears his way through the minors, you call him up towards the end of next year if you need him.

A lot of people are coming to that realization now during this horrid stretch. People give Ron shit because he's been saying this for like 4 years now. It reminds me of my dad and uncle who have always said Abreu sucks, even though it hasn't always been true.

Right. It's going to be pretty cheap. I'm thinking like 1 year/$8 mill tops.