tray

There are personal decisions by players and their agents that factor into these trades. Pederson was born and raised California so maybe he wouldn't like playing in Chicago and commuting across the country to where his family is from. Or he does it for a year, doesn't like it here, and decides to go the FA route.

Dodgers could use a starting catcher (better than Will Smith or Austin Barnes) and most definitely a decent back-up catcher, or both. My guess is that they would want McCann and if they can't get him, then Collins plus Fulmer for one year of Joc. I am a big fan of Benintendi and Castellanos so personally, I would rather see the Sox exhaust those options before dealing with the Dodgers for Pederson . I am just not sold on Pederson as a one year rental. I don't think Joc would want to stay here in ChiTown unless the Sox overwhelm him with a multi-year deal, and I really doubt they would.

Even though McCann is only signed for one year, he is probably our most valuable trading chip, that is, out of the players on our 26 man roster that Hahn might consider trading.

Yea right.

IThe Red Sox won by loading up the payroll but that is not a strategy that I think makes sense for the WS and I doubt JR would replicate that. Great that the BoSox won with Sale and Eovaldi but they are now screwed for a while. Look at the contracts they signed to get there: https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/boston-red-sox-salaries-and-contracts.shtml

OK balls to the wall for one year. Sounds like a plan!

Regarding a possible signing of Wheeler or any other pitcher for huge money, just look at what the RedSox/Dombo did by signing Price, Sale and Eovaldi. Now they are in a no-win situation stuck with huge contracts for under-performing pitchers with questionable durability. Zack Wheeler reminds me of Eovaldi ...a ticking time bomb set to explode into another TJ surgery at any time. Maybe consider spending money on a RF like Castellanos and sign some lower tier pitchers to mitigate the risk.

Please no Passan.

I think McCann's trade value will be determined in part by supply and demand. McCann is an under 30 yr.old major league catcher that can hit for average, decent power, play decent defense, and was selected to the All Star team last season. My glass is more than half fill on McCann's trade value. I am hoping for the gaddamn moon.

You are right, Benintendi's 20 HR power is 2017 diminished to 13 HR last season so that may be a concern. I like his bat otherwise and his defense, even though he does not have the prototypical RF arm. I don't think the BoSox would require that the WSox eat any salary if they traded a player like McCann (or McCann plus Yolmer) for him. Not sure Bennintendi is worth that, but he is under team control until 2023, which I know the Sox brass would like. Assuming he improves his power numbers a little bit, he could be a solution for RF or LF for several years.

My hope for RF in 2020 would be, in this order: 1. Castellanos. It's only money, so sign him. Throw in Leury for defense in late innings when the Sox have a lead. 2. Benintendi via trade. 3. Tsutsugoh to platoon (against RHP) with Leury (against LHP)

McCann becomes a FA is 2021. I think his trade value is maximized right now. He in probably our biggest (expendable) trading chip.

McCann serves a purpose on this roster, the trade you could get in return for him would be less than his worth to us in my opinion. He had his best year in 2019 and was an All-Star. So why not sell high given the fact that he will not be the primary starting catcher on our club and he is essentially displacing Collins as the back-up? He is a prime trade target for teams looking to get a relatively low cost (assuming he can be signed to a short term deal) answer at the catching position.

McCann 2019 stats - 273 BA, 18 HR and 26 Doubles 3.8 WAR - $2.5 Million dollars James was a Right-Center field hitting doubles machine, had numerous clutch game winning hits. He was arguably a key factor in Giolito's pitch selection and improvement. So the benefit from the addition of Grandal, while unquestionable, is only relative to what Grandal will probably accomplish in 2020. It should be an improvement, but not a day and night improvement over what McCann accomplished in 2019 (and certainly not for the money he was paid). So we have a better catcher now with Grandal. However, given McCann's abilities and value, why sit him on the bench for so many games while Grandal catches? Is his value to the team as a player or as a trade chip maximized by having him as a back-up catcher and part-time DH....all the while relegating Collins as third option or back to the minors. ? If your answer is no, then perhaps McCann should be placed on the trading block at the winter meetings. Get something for him in trade and let Collins or Mercedes fill the back up role for 40 games.

look at RayRun said: I enjoy hearing other views - as long as they're not "Anthony Benetendi would be the best hitter on the White Sox." Who are you quoting ?

BoSox could also use a back-up at second base and we have a Gold Glover available. I guess you can tell, I want Benintendi as our RF on Opening Day when I will be in the RF stands.

I said "partial"

Collins is available in the trade market, especially as partial compensation for a pitcher or RFer (like Benintendi) For example: the Red Sox are reportedly looking for a back-up catcher. Christian Vazquez enjoyed a major breakout season at the plate for the Boston Red Sox in 2019. That’s fantastic because it was their biggest position of weakness in 2018. However, Boston still has a pretty serious problem. They have no backup.

Collins combined batting stats in 4 years at A, AA and AAA per baseball reference: 1,218 ABs 431 SOs .244 BA .385 OBP Nice fellow, but he is big and slow behind the plate and not a very good hitter.

If the Sox don't get Castellanos or Benintendi I would definitely like to see them make an effort to get Tsutsugo. Frankly, I would mot be that upset if the Sox get some decent pitchers in the off-season and let Leury start the season in RF. He's not that bad.

ron, he's not trying to moderate, just being a nice guy. As far as Tsutsugo, I think he could be a platoon RF with Castellanos.

Leury does no wait for walks but he had a decent OPS and BA last season. Also, he has a gun for an arm in RF and speed on the bases. If the Sox don't get Castellanos, Benintendi or another RF, I would not be that unhappy with Leury in RF to start the season, especially if financial resources are spent on Grandal and pitching.

Sign Grandal to platoon at catcher with McCann. Look for a catcher in the first and second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Trade Collins

This is why I like trying to get Benintendi with Eovaldi , especially if Chaim Chaim Chaim is a fool and will eat 1/2 of his remaining salary. My second choice would be Castellanos with the hope he improves defensively. Castellanos has that winning mentality and braggadocio that does not show up in war stats. There is value to hitting a home run and demoralizing the opposition with a little bravado...you know, like TA's bat toss. Castellanos has a bit of that in his game.

Ray: W Sox don't have to do everything the hard way. Let's just hope they find a RF before they start shuffling the deck chairs.