45 minutes ago, hi8is said:

This baffles me. No idea why Pittsburgh would be willing to do this… I suppose they are figuring that they can get someone with equal or better talent now that is closer to contributing?

Who from our farm matches the bill and would make sense for us?

McDougal+ is probably who they would target.

Or Sandlin.

Edited June 20Jun 20 by caulfield12

4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

McDougal+ is probably who they would target.

Or Sandlin.

In what world is McDougal+ the cost of the 34th pick.

42 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

In what world is McDougal+ the cost of the 34th pick.

Who in God's name would the Pirates possibly want that could help their big league team this season that the White Sox are actually willing to trade?

Grant Taylor isn't going anywhere.

Seems a lot of people are highly overrating two months of Gonzalez overachieving at Charlotte, especially after Keith Law's comments.

And the Pirates already have Nick Gonzalez at second and Griffin at SS anyway.

Sandlin fwiw was basically valued at $12.5 million since pretty much everyone already knew Hicks was unlikely to help the Sox.

Edited June 20Jun 20 by caulfield12

5 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Who in God's name would the Pirates possibly want that could help their big league team this season that the White Sox are actually willing to trade?

Grant Taylor isn't going anywhere.

Seems a lot of people are highly overrating two months of Gonzalez overachieving at Charlotte, especially after Keith Law's comments.

And the Pirates already have Nick Gonzalez at second and Griffin at SS anyway.

Sandlin fwiw was basically valued at $12.5 million since pretty much everyone already knew Hicks was unlikely to help the Sox.

I have no idea who they’d want or if we match up at all. Regardless, I’m not trading McDougal, who entered the season as a top 100 prospect at BA, plus other stuff for the 34th pick. I’m also not trading Jacob Gonzalez, who Kiley McDaniel has 2nd overall in our system after Bonemer (if you exclude Schultz & Braden) for the pick either. I’d love to get a comp pick, but trading away one of our top prospects who are major league ready is not the way to do it.

9 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

McDougal+ is probably who they would target.

Or Sandlin.

The Pirates need bullpen help. I bet they would want Newcomb or Hudson, or obviously Taylor. Sox don’t have arms to spare, so seems like a weird match.

2 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

The Pirates need bullpen help. I bet they would want Newcomb or Hudson, or obviously Taylor. Sox don’t have arms to spare, so seems like a weird match.

Would have to be a three teamer with some club that wants prospects. I don’t see how we can from the major league roster right now.

33 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

The Pirates need bullpen help. I bet they would want Newcomb or Hudson, or obviously Taylor. Sox don’t have arms to spare, so seems like a weird match.

Newcomb isn’t exactly super cheap to the Pirates for a role player and Hudson still doesn’t have a long enough track record of mlb success at this point…

4 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I have no idea who they’d want or if we match up at all. Regardless, I’m not trading McDougal, who entered the season as a top 100 prospect at BA, plus other stuff for the 34th pick. I’m also not trading Jacob Gonzalez, who Kiley McDaniel has 2nd overall in our system after Bonemer (if you exclude Schultz & Braden) for the pick either. I’d love to get a comp pick, but trading away one of our top prospects who are major league ready is not the way to do it.

if they only see him internally as a high reliever risk with the attendant injury concerns that go with elite velocity…then they would have to at least consider it.

He’s the only really intriguing guy other than Bonemer/Carlson.

If they still view him as a starter, you don’t trade him at diminished value.

Only Gonzalez, if other teams actually buy into his hitting changes remaining effective at the big league level would work then.

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

if they only see him internally as a high reliever risk with the attendant injury concerns that go with elite velocity…then they would have to at least consider it.

He’s the only really intriguing guy other than Bonemer/Carlson.

If they still view him as a starter, you don’t trade him at diminished value.

Only Gonzalez, if other teams actually buy into his hitting changes remaining effective at the big league level would work then.

We aren’t trading any major league ready pitching for anything but major league pitching that is better suited to help us win now. I’d love another draft pick, but we already have a massive pool and can get a fuckton of talent regardless.

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

if they only see him internally as a high reliever risk with the attendant injury concerns that go with elite velocity…then they would have to at least consider it.

He’s the only really intriguing guy other than Bonemer/Carlson.

If they still view him as a starter, you don’t trade him at diminished value.

Only Gonzalez, if other teams actually buy into his hitting changes remaining effective at the big league level would work then.

No one is trading Carlson or Bonemer for the 34th pick in the draft AND the Pirates think they are contenders. They are not looking for prospects.

9 hours ago, Timmy U said:

No one is trading Carlson or Bonemer for the 34th pick in the draft AND the Pirates think they are contenders. They are not looking for prospects.

Which is why the trade won't happen.

16 hours ago, Timmy U said:

The Pirates need bullpen help. I bet they would want Newcomb or Hudson, or obviously Taylor. Sox don’t have arms to spare, so seems like a weird match.

What have comp level picks fetched historically? I feel like the expectations regarding this topic are way off.

My guy (Nawrocki). Though admittedly I want him as a pitcher.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by DirtySox

Probably not going to happen, but Spangler is my dream get at 41. Would cost a hefty chunk though.

Nice listen here with Burke Granger and the FutureSox folks. Burke also has Lackey as his number 1 prospect.

Apple Podcasts

FutureSox Podcast - Draft Analysis with Burke Granger

Podcast Episode · FutureSox Podcast · June 23 · 1h 7m

On 6/19/2026 at 10:13 PM, hi8is said:

This baffles me. No idea why Pittsburgh would be willing to do this… I suppose they are figuring that they can get someone with equal or better talent now that is closer to contributing?

Who from our farm matches the bill and would make sense for us?

Probably $$.  But a few years ago, Seattle traded theirs to the Sox for a late inning reliever. 

1 hour ago, GreenSox said:

Probably $$

Doubtful. From what I’ve been able to gather the going rate seems to be a young major league contributor. Heavy ask.

17 minutes ago, hi8is said:

Doubtful. From what I’ve been able to gather the going rate seems to be a young major league contributor. Heavy ask.

Indeed as they want to receive essentially  what a comp pick might  deliver, what, 25% of the time?

3 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Indeed as they want to receive essentially  what a comp pick might  deliver, what, 25% of the time?

Yea - exactly… heavy ask.

On 6/20/2026 at 9:17 PM, caulfield12 said:

Which is why the trade won't happen.

Also, Landon Thome is not worth that amount of resources

2 hours ago, fathom said:

Also, Landon Thome is not worth that amount of resources

Is he hype or is he really a top 30 draft prospect?!  

Awesome article at BA today where they make the case for each of Cholowksy, Emerson, and Lackey as the number 1 overall pick. I will post only the portions on what each player could be like as a big leaguer and how it could go wrong. There is plenty more analysis within that is worth the read if you are a subscriber.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-draft-2026-making-cases-for-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson-vahn-lackey-to-go-no-1-overall/

What Cholowsky Could Be Like As A Big Leaguer

Cholowsky is a potential franchise player with perennial all-star upside. He has a chance to hit .265 or better with 30 home runs per season in his peak years, all while providing elite level shortstop defense and competing for gold glove awards.

Comparisons to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki make plenty of sense. He is similar to both players physically, and has comparable paths to value as an impact hitter with slick shortstop defense, but is unlikely to be a significant factor when it comes to stealing bases.

How It Could Go Wrong

Cholowsky’s wood bat track record in college is relatively nonexistent, and in the few games he has played with a pro bat, he’s struggled. He hit .218/.338/.327 in 17 games with Orleans in the Cape Cod League in 2024. With Team USA in 2025, he struggled at the plate alongside the rest of the team, getting just one hit (a home run) in five games against Japan. If teams miss on his hit tool, this will be something that is pointed back to in hindsight. Some scouts critique how Cholowsky’s swing works and specifically don’t love how close he gets to an arm bar. He’s never pulled the ball in the air to an extreme degree, either, which could be another risk factor for some teams.

The tool Cholowsky lacks most is speed. There’s a chance he grows into more of a fringy runner than the average projection we have on his run tool now. How that impacts his defensive game is probably more of a concern for teams worried about it than any lack of stolen base volume—which has a more modest impact on his overall value.

One final nitpick Cholowsky faces is the fact that he didn’t make more of a leap from his 2025 Player of the Year season to his 2026 draft year. Seeing steady progression from prospects gives teams comfort, and simply meeting the baseline he had already set for himself a year ago could make some teams wonder how much more he has in the tank.

What Emerson Could Be Like As A Big Leaguer

Emerson could be a perennial all-star player who hits .280 or better with 30-plus home runs per season in his peak years while providing rock-solid shortstop defense or plus fielding value at another infield position. He also looks like the sort of player who will add value on the bases and be an efficient basestealer.

Current MLB rookies Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt are both reasonable comps for what a successful pro career could look like for Emerson—an elite lefthanded-hitting middle infielder who might not have the most prodigious power but excels in the batter’s box with great plate discipline, contact and plenty of doubles pop.

How It Could Go Wrong

Emerson’s value is heavily built upon his hit tool, and the hit tool is notoriously the most difficult to evaluate and project. Just a few years ago, scouts were calling Termarr Johnson the most advanced high school hitter they had seen in multiple decades. He’s not lived up to that reputation in his pro career, and his prospect stock has fallen dramatically because of it.

Emerson is well-rounded, yes, but he doesn’t have the dynamic secondary toolset that players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Konnor Griffin boasted at the same stage. Emerson is a better prospect than Johnson at the same stage because he does more beyond the hit tool, but his power and defensive upside aren’t the same as Cholowsky and Lackey.

Overall, Emerson has less to fall back on than either of his college rivals competing for the No. 1 pick if he’s not the hitter teams expect him to be.

What Lackey Could Be Like As A Big Leaguer

If Lackey develops as hoped, he could be one of the best catchers in the major leagues. His profile has some similarities to Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. Like Rutschman, Lackey is athletic for the position and is lauded for his defense and ability to work with pitchers.

And like Rutschman, Lackey has much more offensive upside than the average first-round college catching prospect. That’s a best-case scenario, but Lackey’s defensive ability should allow him to be an MLB regular, or at worst, a valuable backup catcher even if his bat does not develop as expected.

How It Could Go Wrong

Like a number of the top college hitters in this class, Lackey doesn’t have an extensive record of hitting with wood bats, mainly because he’s had so few games with wood. He hit under .200 in 19 games in the Sunbelt League the summer before his freshman year, and he hit under .200 in 41 games in the Northwoods League in 2024. He also had a very brief stint in the Cape Cod League last summer in which he hit .200.

While Cholowsky and Emerson have lengthy histories being among the best hitters in their draft classes, Lackey has come from being a modest high school prospect and a good-glove, poor-hitting backup as a college freshman to becoming a star as a junior. That could be a sign of a still-developing positive trend line, but if his power surge in 2026 is a blip, his offensive impact could be less than currently anticipated.

Lackey’s defensive reputation is much longer lived, but the transition from college to pro as a catcher is a challenging one. That said, even if every single tool for Lackey dips a grade below expectations in the majors, he’s still likely to have a long MLB career, as finding good catching is hard.

Edited June 26Jun 26 by DirtySox

27 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Awesome article at BA today where they make the case for each of Cholowksy, Emerson, and Lackey as the number 1 overall pick. I will post only the portions on what each player could be like as a big leaguer and how it could go wrong.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-draft-2026-making-cases-for-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson-vahn-lackey-to-go-no-1-overall/

Thank you for sharing.

It's Roch for me.

I'm actually at the point where I'm totally fine with all 3 options. Have a slight preference for Lackey just because he seems to have the most upside/tools, but he seems like a distant third based off all the recent intel with the Sox. I have Emerson a bit ahead of Roch as well, but I get the proximity and window argument for Cholowsky.

I want upside all day. But that's easy to say when I don't have the consequences of messing up a 1.1 pick.

Edited June 26Jun 26 by DirtySox