25 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Just thinking through this, but if the 1.01 gets $9.5M we’d save $1.8M. The 5% overage would add another $900k. Right there, you are looking at an extra $2.7M to play with before punting a single top 10 pick. By punting two late top 10 picks, you should be able to pick up another $500k. That’s $3.2M total.

Our 2nd through 4th round picks are worth a combined $4.2M. With the savings mentioned above, you are looking at ~$7.5M for those three picks. In simple terms, you could offer someone $3.5M (27th slot value), $2.5M (41st slot value), & $1.5M (62nd slot value). If it’s Thome in the 2nd, I’m not sure he would even require that much, allowing dollars to be repurposed to other picks.

Point is, it feels like we should be able to take BPA at 1.01 and still grab three high ceiling prep players in rounds 2 through 4. To me, that should 100% be the playbook for this draft.

Having potentially even more with Lackey at a discount is another thing that makes me sway toward him.

Getting arguably the BPA and saving the most money to load up on other rounds.

5 hours ago, fathom said:

Cause the Angels would never pick the close to the majors NCAA guy too high? :)

Which teams make sense though?

Maybe the Royals with Caglianone.

Guardians at #1 to use savings elsewhere?

Cardinals were always focused on Wetherholt.

Edited Wednesday at 06:32 AM2 days by caulfield12

“We had teams all the way to about No. 20 that told us if Konner made it to them, they were going to take him and we already knew what dollar amount that they were willing to go above their slot,” Kevin says. “So, we weren’t stressed about it a whole lot. We did have to convince Konnor that turning down the fourth, fifth or sixth pick in the draft was not a bad thing. It just came down to fit and where we felt he could thrive. We kind of slow played it and held out a little bit until Pittsburgh came along.”

The Griffins waited through eight picks. Kevin says two of the eight teams called with offers “to go like $2 million under slot.” Kevin told them, “Don’t pick him. He’ll go to LSU if you do.”

Four of the first eight teams signed players for less than slot money: the Guardians at No. 1 (Travis Bazzana), the Reds at No. 2 (Chase Burns), the Athletics at No. 4 (Nick Kurtz) and the Angels at No. 8 (Christian Moore).

www.si.com

2020 # 1 Garrett Crochet trade 2 players currently on the 26-man roster with 1 more to be added.

2021 #1 Colson Montgomery, #3 Sean Burke

2022 #1 Noah Schultz

2023 #1 Jacob Gonzalez, #2 Grant Taylor

2024 # 1 Hagen Smith until shoulder impingement was coming up, #5 Sam Antonacci

9 players on the 26-man roster.

15 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I think he was speculating on what the front office might think given floor and proximity to the majors. The big takeaway is Shirley and his crew like Emerson the most. Callis also said he personally would take Emerson over Roch. Sounds like Lackey is a clear third for him, although he acknowledged Vahn forced himself into the discussion with his play this year.

Someone will have to explain to me what could have possibly changed about Emerson this year. Summer/Fall ball last year was the last time he would have played some actual competition. Since then, he's been playing a bunch of kids who won't play another inning of baseball in their life.

Unless you thought Emerson was the best prospect coming into this season, I have no idea how anyone could have him jumping Lackey or even Roch. With the way Lackey has performed, it would be madness to put Emerson ahead of him.

Lackey had the best production. He has the best tools. Emerson isn't even that toolsy for a potential 1-1 high school pick. #NOTMYPICK

Edited Wednesday at 12:55 PM2 days by Look at Ray Ray Run

15 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Someone will have to explain to me what could have possibly changed about Emerson this year. Summer/Fall ball last year was the last time he would have played some actual competition. Since then, he's been playing a bunch of kids who won't play another inning of baseball in their life.

Unless you thought Emerson was the best prospect coming into this season, I have no idea how anyone could have him jumping Lackey or even Roch. With the way Lackey has performed, it would be madness to put Emerson ahead of him.

Lackey had the best production. He has the best tools. Emerson isn't even that toolsy for a potential 1-1 high school pick. #NOTMYPICK

Emerson has been the #1 HS player in the 2026 class since he was 14. He has a very long track record of always hitting everywhere at all times. He may have a 70 hit tool. Plus, he’s gonna stay on the dirt, probably at ss. His tools aren’t super loud, but there’s nothing under 50 on his card. The hit tool is the most important tool and he has it. It would not be a stretch for him to go in any of the top 3 spots imho.

1 minute ago, Timmy U said:

Emerson has been the #1 HS player in the 2026 class since he was 14. He has a very long track record of always hitting everywhere at all times. He may have a 70 hit tool. Plus, he’s gonna stay on the dirt, probably at ss. His tools aren’t super loud, but there’s nothing under 50 on his card. The hit tool is the most important tool and he has it. It would not be a stretch for him to go in any of the top 3 spots imho.

Nothing you said disputes what I said. Emerson spent the season playing in a small conference against a bunch of kids who won't even play D3 baseball. He chose to transfer into that school, and I understand why, but I have no idea how anyone could discern anything from this past season... meaning the only way you could view Emerson as #1 is if you viewed him that way entering the season.

Why is the hit tool the most important tool? I don't agree with that at well. I'm also incredibly skeptical of placing a 70 hit tool on a high school kid.

Emerson lacks top line speed or power projections. I'd rather have Roch than Emerson, because at least Roch has flashed power. I'd clearly rather have Lackey who has louder tools, louder projections, and BETTER production.

Edited Wednesday at 01:14 PM2 days by Look at Ray Ray Run

9 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Emerson lacks top line speed or power projections.

3 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

Not sure what this is supposed to mean, but Emerson still doesn't have top line speed or power projections... Maybe Mya does though. Guys the Andrew Benetendi of Shortstops.

22 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Not sure what this is supposed to mean, but Emerson still doesn't have top line speed or power projections... Maybe Mya does though. Guys the Andrew Benetendi of Shortstops.

Okay. I understand that’s your scouting report. The industry does not agree. The kid is prized for a reason. Someone is gonna pop him in the first 3 picks and give him close to ten mil. But you know better. Must be nice.

As far as the hit tool not being the most tool: Elijah Green and Drew Jones would like a word.

10 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

Okay. I understand that’s your scouting report. The industry does not agree. The kid is prized for a reason. Someone is gonna pop him in the first 3 picks and give him close to ten mil. But you know better. Must be nice.

As far as the hit tool not being the most tool: Elijah Green and Drew Jones would like a word.

I know better than what? The industry also says he doesnt have plus power or speed. I am going off of what they are saying given that Im not traveling to scout high school baseball players.

I asked one question. How could Emerson jump Roch or Lackey following a high school season against nothing competition. You took that as some attack on Emerson.

3 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I know better than what? The industry also says he doesnt have plus power or speed. I am going off of what they are saying given that Im not traveling to scout high school baseball players.

I asked one question. How could Emerson jump Roch or Lackey following a high school season against nothing competition. You took that as some attack on Emerson.

I did. If you are not saying that somehow Emerson is in a lower tier than those other two guys, then I apologize. I think it’s a three horse race and Emerson is firmly in the mix.

As to how he could jump those guys: he doesn’t have to jump Lackey. Coming into the year, Roch and Emerson were a clear 1a 1b. If Roch’s year gave you pause or Emerson’s continued physical development tracked for you, he easily slides to 1-1.

8 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I know better than what? The industry also says he doesnt have plus power or speed. I am going off of what they are saying given that Im not traveling to scout high school baseball players.

I asked one question. How could Emerson jump Roch or Lackey following a high school season against nothing competition. You took that as some attack on Emerson.

Come on, Ray Ray! Get out there and scout those high school players! I need to know whether to be excited or disappointed if we draft Emerson.

1 hour ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Nothing you said disputes what I said. Emerson spent the season playing in a small conference against a bunch of kids who won't even play D3 baseball. He chose to transfer into that school, and I understand why, but I have no idea how anyone could discern anything from this past season... meaning the only way you could view Emerson as #1 is if you viewed him that way entering the season.

Why is the hit tool the most important tool? I don't agree with that at well. I'm also incredibly skeptical of placing a 70 hit tool on a high school kid.

Emerson lacks top line speed or power projections. I'd rather have Roch than Emerson, because at least Roch has flashed power. I'd clearly rather have Lackey who has louder tools, louder projections, and BETTER production.

Going into the season, Emerson was always #2 behind Roch.
Right now I rank them 1. Roch 2. Emerson 3. Lackey

Edited Wednesday at 02:55 PM2 days by Squirmin' for Yermin

3 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I know better than what? The industry also says he doesnt have plus power or speed. I am going off of what they are saying given that Im not traveling to scout high school baseball players.

I asked one question. How could Emerson jump Roch or Lackey following a high school season against nothing competition. You took that as some attack on Emerson.

To be fair, Emerson was ahead of Lackey coming into the season, so he didn’t really need to “jump him”. And the debate on Emerson vs. Roch has always come down to floor vs. ceiling. Scouts generally consider Emerson to have the higher ceiling and to be a better prospect than Roch was at the same age. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a better prospect, but explains why scouts may like him more than Roch. You also keep screaming about Lackey having the best “production”, but how did he stack against Roch a year ago and against Emerson when he was still in HS?

On 6/12/2026 at 7:04 AM, wegner said:

I rarely find him entertaining, mostly annoying. Kinda like Tom Dreeson.

Ouch.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/17/comedian-tom-dreesen-dies/

Tom seemed like a good dude though, off stage. RIP.

Edited Wednesday at 09:35 PM1 day by Chick Mercedes

46 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Ouch.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/17/comedian-tom-dreesen-dies/

It looks like I win the award for bad timing.

10 minutes ago, wegner said:

It looks like I win the award for bad timing.

“What are you doing WEGNER!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?”

9 hours ago, Chick Mercedes said:

Two things 13 XBH's seems very light in a high school season.

The Vahn Lackey love is hilarious to me. We love critiquing Roch's season, yet Lackey has had one good college year and has not hit well with wood at all in any of the summer leagues he has played in.

It has to be Roch or Emerson, I would be pissed if they took a one year wonder in Lackey. I don't care about draft savings. Take the better player.

347

.421

.500

.921

Not bad for Lackey's 2025.

Still ascending vs. plateaued/mixed out???

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Not bad for Lackey's 2025.

Still ascending vs. plateaued/mixed out???

Thinking that Roch Cholowsky is maxed out is fucking insane considering what the Sox have done with some hitters of late.

4 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Thinking that Roch Cholowsky is maxed out is fucking insane considering what the Sox have done with some hitters of late.

All the scouts keep saying Swanson/Brandon Crawford numbers ... around 15-20 homers per season.

Since when are catchers on the same developmental timelines and finished products at age 20 as SS's when they always take a couple of years longer?

Why are posters acting like Lackey sat on the bench all last season when he had a 900+ ops?

Citing Vargas, Peters, Montgomery's, Jacob Gonzalez (jury still out), Bonemer (big challenge now in AA)...does that mean they now have a magic formula to fix Wolkow and Zavala, too? The test of any organization is at least occasionally getting results out of non million dollar bonus guys from the amateur draft and especially international.

To say they've fixed hitting is the equivalent of saying they've equally screwed up pitching...the truth is not as bleak for pitching nor as rosy or optimistic for hitting prospects as it may seem today.