GreenSox

Sunk cost. I'm confident that the Sox have more than 13 pitchers on the 40-man and probably a bunch not on the 40-man who can pitch to a positive fwar. Just because he's old doesn't mean that he's an effective pitcher; just because someone's young and non-hyped, doesn't mean that they suck (as Rick Hahn should have learned a decade ago).

Oh, I'm sure he will be on the roster. I was just hoping for an upgrade from a 36 year old with a negative fwar each of the last 2 seasons.

Pitching: Cease, Lynn, Kopech, Giolito Graveman, Kelly, Bummer, Lopez, Banks, Martin, Lambert, Foster, Ruiz One of Martin, Lambert, Banks as 5th starter. A young guy who pops up in the spring could displace a Ruiz or the like.

I'd rather have Sheets in RF on occasion Sheets and Colas seem like givens. Can't have an entire bench that can't hit. At least Sheets can play OF. The rest is kind of murky. I'd put Sosa in the mix for backup infielder if he has a good spring; he should get a good amount of playing time.

Zavala also played well last season, as did a few other older minor leaguers.

Anyway, hopefully Elvis plays 2B as well as he plays SS.

I figured that Perez has a chance to make the team if Grandal can't catch. Will he be in Spring Training?

I read that he became good friends with Eric Hosmer while on the Padres...

JR spends enough money to put the Sox in a position to make the playoffs and, if things go right, make the WS each year. Money isn't how he's shortchanging the org. and its fans.

Sure there is - he's blocking young players. What's the upside? He's never played an inning of 2B in 14 major league seasons. His peak OPS since 2016 is .707. What does "good in the clubhouse" even mean? That he isn't a jerk? Okay, that's good.

Unnecessary and could clog up the minors.

Last season, the Sox had 3 non-hyped long-term minor leaguers, a couple of whom were teetering on "org" status, pitch very well in the in the pen: Davis Martin, Jimmy Lambert, and Tanner Banks. I would think that Banks might be in the running for starter #5.

That's okay, Rick. You'll improve that due diligence thing next time. Yes you will. Yes you will.

The Sox should be competitive this year. If they're not, it's likely that it's because players like TA aren't having good years, so the return would be minimal anyway. Next year is iffy, as they lose 2 starting pitchers; but I'm assuming they'll try to replace them and won't throw in the towel (could easily re-up Lynn, if appropriate). And he'll likely be valuable to the Sox 2024 anyway: Montgomery could play alongside him for a year; or he could play OF for a year. Can always use a good, athletic player. And looking at Hahn's history with selling, if the player has high value via production and years of control, he worked to move them for real return. If not, it was largely salary dumping, or giveaways for AAAA players. TA on a 1 year rent likely doesn't provide a haul. So I'd say they won't move him; or at least I hope they don't.

There were several of similar value to choose from, including, dare I suggest, some veterans. And Bilous had been mostly a starter.

Nothing wrong with that if you use them correctly. If they can hit, they can become athletic outfielders if needed; and should have premium trade value.

Where is your story posted? Right after the World Series, they let John Rooney, one of the best radio pbp guys in the business, go without a peep. So it would surprise me if they do the same with JB.

83.5 is about right. I'll take the over though. Don't know why - probably just wishing.

Nice! "Ramos is also a solid average defender at third base who can also play a decent second base." Just in case the need arises...

The GM's first signee as a GM earns a -1.7 fWar in year 1 (of 3), and has to be released in year 2 before playing an inning. With a month of trading for a player deemed a "premier starter", the GM has to explain that he believes that the issues are "fixable" and not an "unprecedented evaporation of talent."

There are a lot of unknowns, obviously. The Sox' chance, such as it is, resides with Cease, Giolito, Lynn and Kopech. Those 3 could comprise a front-line, that is one of the top 2 or 3 in MLB. Then perhaps add Tanner Banks for #5: he provides some product differentiation and the Sox have a couple of lefties in the pen already. Position wise, just roll with what they have. If one of the young guys can play solid D at 2nd, we'll be fine there. Hope that Moncada, Anderson, Robert and Eloy provide real production.

Because Lopez can't hit and will just clog things up. We already have a veteran infielder who can't hit: Leury Garcia Trade him for a position where we don't have immediate minor league depth: 4th OF or 5th starter

I think he cleared waivers. But he would have been an interesting guy to pick up;

He would never trade Montgomery or Colas or even Ramos; those guys are on top 100 lists or in the "just missed" range. Hahn knows they are good because there is affirmation that they are good. I'm not sure that Hahn is thinking this far ahead, but Montgomery and Ramos are potential "window extenders" who could also free up a lot of salary to bring in that "premium talent." It's the next tier that is the concern; ones that have a skillset with a nice ceiling if properly developed, that the other teams know better than Hahn. To trade those guys for a low ceiling player is just daft.

And Hahn's FO has signed assorted crackpots over the years, who revealed their absurdities very quickly once they joined the team. It's hard to believe that they received full background checks. LaRoche, Lawrie, Keppinger, e.g.