Tony

If I'm understanding this correctly, a team that seemingly doesn't want to take on much payroll this offseason is exploring the opportunity to trade major young assets for a player who plays the same position as Grandal, a 34 year old washed FA signing costing the Sox 18 million dollars in 2023. And he bats right handed. Awesome.

Some very smart team that isn't the White Sox are going to bring both of these guys in and their organization will be much better for it.

I've also always thought about how you handle that with family/friends. In a case like this, I would guess you really run the risk of creating weird situations with people that are hitting you up for things, expect something from you because of all this new wealth. I would very much want to help those around me, but at the same time, those awkward situations would suck with people asking for handouts. I've always thought I'd sit down and determine how much I would give someone, be generous but explain that "This is it. I'm giving you $500,000 but this is it."

That's embarrassing The Athletic pays him to write these words.

I think you absolutely go to a high-end firm, meet with some people and figure out a plan, where things are held, how to set certain things up. I wouldn't know exactly what to do either. It's easy to just say "invest" but obviously it's more complicated than that.

This article is fairly dated (2016) but I think there is some relevant information regarding an increased workload to Crochet: https://www.redlegnation.com/2016/07/13/the-limits-of-innings-limits/

Not going to tell anyone how to spend their hundreds of millions, lol...but the idea of "not" having generational wealth by taking the lump sum is pretty funny.

I think if you take the lump sum you end up with like 600 mil? That should probably take care of a few generations lol

To be clear, this isn't about just what he "said" but also what he "did"

Oops!

Not saying I want them to do this because it just runs back the same s%*# as last year… But is it possible this opens the door up more for an Abreu return and Vaughn takes RF?

So what shitty 33 year old bullpen arm do they spend these "savings" on?

For sure possible, but not even sure that convo needed to be had, think that writing was sort of on the wall. The guy has played his entire career on the West Coast. He's also made over $70,000,000 in his career counting the buyout he just got from the Sox. He was in line for 13 mil and took 5 million to get bought out, so even if he signs back with the Dodgers or D'Backs for like 6 million, he's costing himself 2 or 3 million and in the grand scheme, I can understand wanting to play where you want at age 35. BUT...there is a reason he declined an extra 8 million guaranteed dollars, and my guess is it's not just playing time, especially given he received nearly 500 PA's in 2022 and put up a 0.6 WAR..there isn't going to be a ton of OF starting jobs up for grabs for a 35 year old Pollock.

Kind of my first thought, honestly. He's going to be 35 in December so it's not like he's in line for a huge payday...he wanted to get out for a reason, other than money.

Correct, it has never been and will never be the correct option given the structure of this team and the contracts. They went all in on the core of Moncada-Eloy-Robert-Anderson. They built around that core with Grandal-Lynn-Abreu-Giolito-Hendricks and needed guys like Cease-Kopech-Crochet to turn into studs. That's who you were going to battle with, you're pot committed. Obviously, it has not worked. They didn't invest in keeping guys healthy, and they certainly didn't invest in a minor league system that could produce ML-talent to replace players. So this is what you are left with. You sink or swim with this core.

Seriously, imagine if he was throwing to Hill and Waddle yesterday. Even yesterday after the awful non-PI call, on 4th down, he literally threw one square in the hands of ASB, and he couldn’t haul it in. You give Fields some talent….I think we see the real deal.

While that AWFUL non-PI called killed that final drive, big picture it was once again the best thing that could have happened to them. Fields look great, defense look bad, lose a squeaker. Keep putting up points, keep collecting L's. If Fields is really the guy, Poles has a ton to work with moving forward.

To summarize, a QB that "sucks" in Fields put up 32 points against a defense that just added Bradley Chubb and is supposed to be a playoff contender, and needed an incredibly generous non-PI call in the final stretch to at the very least not send the game to OT. But this Dolphins fan watched a GREAT game! Checks out. ?

People can't ever seem to separate what someone might think the Sox WILL do, and what they think the Sox SHOULD do...two very different things. They have a hole at 2B, the new manager and hitting coach are coming from the Royals, and Merrifield has traditionally killed the Sox. The Sox have had an illustrious history of grabbing players past their prime that gave them fits 4 years ago. I don't think it's a stretch. I didn't say I would endorse it.

I think they make a trade for Merrifield in Toronto

I made a joke earlier in the thread about what Rick said before the process started, and while that still holds true, in terms of Grifol himself, I really have no idea but he seemingly has said the right things in podcasts and such. Everything went wrong in 2022. If everything goes right in 2023, it's a playoff team that doesn't stack up with the best of the best, but crazy things can happen in the playoffs. As 98% of the board agrees on, the manager isn't going to solve what's wrong with the White Sox. That starts at the top, and no dramatic changes are going to happen with this organization until new leadership is in place.

I think acquiring Claypool was for the Bears to be sure of that. Which I agree with.

Pretty sure that dude stinks, but it's a body. The biggest thing this season was figuring out if Fields is "the guy" or not. Last two weeks have done a lot of inspire some confidence but I still stand by the idea that they've given him so little to work with, it's really hard to judge. Adding Claypool for the 2nd half should really help. They have him for next year too, if it's a disaster you let him walk (which would make it a terrible trade for Poles) but he should show enough to sign him for the next 4-5 years, which isn't a bad investment to make in a 24 year old WR

Don't love that it's the Bears pick and not the Ravens.