SoxBlanco

I think the Sox know more about his health and/or work ethic than any other team, and Hahn just wanted to move on. Even if there was only a 5% chance of Rodon taking the QO, he didn’t want to take that risk. I think Hahn has a plan for the starting rotation, and on the off chance Rodon takes the QO, that plan gets blown up.

Yeah, the fact that Kimbrel will only be a 1 year deal is why I think somebody will take him.

Padres? Red Sox? (Im honestly asking, as I don’t know their closer situations well enough)

If I needed a closer, then yes.

If they can’t get a good return for Kimbrel, then they will basically “decline his option” by shipping him out for a non-prospect. What’s the risk? Is there really a chance that nobody will take him for free? (By free, I mean giving up no real prospects and just taking on the contract)

At worst, you just unload him for a nobody prospect, right? Then it would have just been like you didn’t pick up the option.

You are ridiculous right now. Go have a few more beers and get some sleep.

Mystery solved: @Chicago White Sox is KatyPerrysBootyHole.

I’m taking a cruise out of Miami a week from tomorrow. Sounds like we have a similar trip planned, but I’m one week behind you. Enjoy!

Spring break in Miami? Or taking a cruise out of Miami?

I agree 100% that we better make some moves (and I think we will). But I’m not so sure our team on paper right now is worse than our on team on paper going into last year. On paper, Kopech looks so much better than Rodon did for the last rotation spot. Cease looks better going into this year, but Keuchel looked better going into last year. And I like Vaughn on paper going into this year much better than I liked him going into last year (and I was even higher on him than most).

You definitely have me intrigued by this guy. Thanks for the info.

Excellent. Boras is trying to get the Sox to increase their offer.

It's hopefully our playoff rotation in 7 months (not necessarily in that order): A: Lynn B: Bassitt C Giolito

Somewhat funny story about Shields' second year with the Sox: Before the season, I was claiming that Shields wasn't as bad as his 2017 made him seem. I made a friendly wager with a buddy of mine (for a case of beer) that he would have an ERA under 4.55 in 2018. I still don't know why I picked 4.55, but my buddy gladly took the bet. It came down to the very last inning of his last start and I needed him to complete the inning with no runs. Inning starts with a walk and a single, so it's first and third with nobody out. Next guy lines out to third. Guy after that flies out shallow to right (no tag). Then Lindor comes up and Shields goes to a full count. The entire stupid bet came down to 1 pitch, and he struck Lindor out to finish the inning. 4.53 ERA, and the beer tasted great. I know, I know...cool story, bro.

People like to judge results rather than the judging the decision at the time it was made. If Lynn had sucked last year, and Dunning had a great year, people would be here saying, "The trade didn't make sense at the time, regardless of results. You don't trade 6 years of a promising, young prospect for 1 year of a pitcher who is aging and could fall off a cliff at any time." Now, I understand the hate for the Shields trade obviously, but my point remains about how people tend to judge trades. If Kimbrel was lights out and we won the World Series, nobody would be complaining about that trade. We took a gamble, and it turned out to be awful.

There isn't enough here for this to be a "Who would you rather have?" game, but does anyone want to guess who the three pitchers are here?

Comparison of three pitchers over the past two seasons: Pitcher A: 41 GS, 241 IP, 3.62 FIP Pitcher B: 38 GS, 220 IP, 3.41 FIP Pitcher C: 43 GS, 251 IP, 3.62 FIP

I like Bassitt for around 3 or 4 WAR. I think he is getting better and better each year. Your point about pitching in Oakland is definitely valid, though. The problem with Rodon is that he is such an unknown in my eyes. I could see him also putting up a 3/4 WAR season, but I could just as easily see him get injured and put up close to nothing. Gun to my head, I'm taking Bassitt to have the better season (without much hesitation).

I actually have no problem with signing Rodon. I just prefer Bassitt based on how I think they will perform. If we signed Rodon, I would try to trade Keuchel for salary relief.

The projections are fine to look at, but what do you actually believe will happen? Do you think Rodon or Bassitt will have a higher WAR next year?

If you take everything else out of the equation (cost, trading prospects, etc.), I would rather have Bassitt on the team than Rodon.

This is how I feel. I am fine "losing the trade" if it makes us better this year. Obviously, there's different degrees of losing a trade, so you can't be stupid, but I think another starting pitcher that will pitch one of the first three games of a playoff series is a must.

What about the Lynn trade? Are you happy we made that trade?

By “outta here”, do you mean off the message boards or off to Nashville? ?