I didn't follow the draft the year Madrigal was selected so I didn't really have an opinion. What I had read about him made me think a lot like Dominikk85 right up until February or so if this year. But once I saw him play my opinion completely changed.
That said, I hope he develops enough pop. I don't care much about the HR totals though. It's really about being able to drive the ball into the gap and hit them off the wall, etc. I want to see hard line shots around the diamond and I don't really want him hitting the ball that much in the air. He'll be an easy out that way. I think Merrifield is really pie-in-the-sky ATM but I would love it if that happened.
I think the Sox should have him on the trade block. I'm really wondering about how long before the Pads are willing to eat a bunch of money to make Manny Machado go away. That will happen and my guess is that the rumors start this offseason.
Madrgial's not the worse guy to have. He should outperform his salary for his first 4 years in the league and that leaves flexibility elsewhere, but if there is a long-term solution in RF or an ace SP available, he's absolutely in the trade offer for me. And even if it's like a 4-5 year solution type with some bad money on the end of it, but in the form of a real difference maker like a Machado, I would make that deal also. The Sox really don't need to save a lot of money during the period of time where Nick Madrigal is most likely to ourperform his salary.