tray

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.

If I could I would..

Uh, no.

Moncada may not take kindly to putting on an outfield glove and learning a new position. Moreover, that might be a move that Moncada and his agent believe could diminish his value as a player in future negotiations.

Some of the 1919 White Sox players were offered bribes by gamblers to "throw" the Series. In contrast, the alleged Houston scheme may have involved individuals other than the players..perhaps even those that were within the Houston organization. Any cheating is unacceptable, but I have to say, the covert use of technology to fool fans brings cheating to another level. I think that MLB should take steps to prevent electronic surveillance and communications to pitchers and catchers during at bats, in whatever form. On a somewhat unrelated issue, I am in favor of transitioning to some form of electronic strike zone to take the home plate umpire out of every ball and strike call. It seems crazy to me that we have replay review of selected calls on the field but home plate umpires are calling balls and strikes on pitches that are arguably one inch inside or outside the strike zone. IMO, it seems humanly impossible for a home plate umpire to gauge whether a sinker dives down prior to crossing the plate or not.

Shoeless Joe Jackson was banned for life from baseball for doing nothing wrong. I think he hit .375 in the WS with 12 hits and good defense. They called the 1919 team the Black Sox but other teams were cheating with regularity back then. So maybe similar to the cheating that was rampant back then, teams are now stealing signs with the aid of cameras or taking other steps to cheat. Winning has become a be all and end all in our society, but that is another story.. Anyway, anticipating the speed and/or location of a pitch (by improper means) changes the game in an insidious way that is insulting to fans of the game on many levels. While MLB addresses this issue, smart pitchers and catchers should become even more aware of this possibility and take further steps to thwart the cheaters.

My money is on Boras.

wanna bet ?

Given that, I would consider trading with Boston for Benintendi and Eovaldi and try to get Boston to eat a year of EO's remaining contract. Let the Cubs have Castellanos for $100 Million.

which means that acquiring a relatively young decent LH hitting RF than can play good D would be golden