GreenSox

If there was a record that could have been found by a background check, then it's reasonable to conclude that the Sox absolutely did not do a sufficient background check (or one at all). And given that there was an open investigation, it's likely that there was a record that could have been found. Time to bump up the old thread, if it hasn't been bumped.

The most important thing, of course, is taking the time to get him completely healthy. I agree and hope they try to develop him as a starter. And I certainly hope that depressing Lopez' market value (or reducing it in any way) isn't a factor in how Lopez and/or Crochet is used. That would be inane.

Did today's signees sop up the "plenty of money" referenced atop the thread?; or are they the original signees and there is plenty of money after they signed.

If this happens, I guess it means that Grandal is an absolute no-go, at least at catcher.

The Sox' long game, such as it is, has produced the core of every playoff team the Sox have had in the modern era including, hopefully, this one in 2023. The short game, which they absolutely have pursued (usually through inane trades) has produced zilch (other than a few individual players), and has ruined cores that were in the process of being built. Right now, as long as one of these young guys can handle 2B defensively, we're fine. Again, I didn't see the Astros freaking out about having to play Jeremy Pena (who was not a blue-chip prospect). Heck, they had 2 "holes" on their team. We've got some good pitching prospects coming up, drafted a slew of college pitching last year...we also have several MI prospects. Sounds like a budding core to me. Heck we may be like the Stros in a couple of years (and that's how they won it - pitching). The Sox amateur scouting and development over the years is worthy of critique; but it has been far more successful than the pro scouting and FO tradesmanship, which has largely been an abomination.

The only hole I see is at 4th outfielder (I think it's really important to give Robert and Beni some rest, have a good bench bat, and also some Colas backup). Now they may not be good enough at other positions to win the division, but that's nothing they can fix at this point. I have no problem with the 2 players they signed; makes a lot more sense than what they did last year (which, of course, may have been TLR influenced). I never said that I wanted to rebuild. I don't want to rebuild. I also don't believe in windows and I don't see the team falling off the cliff after this year. Ideal long-game/short game is keeping the team good today, while making moves for the future. Long game: if the team is out of it in July, move some 1/2 year players they are going to lose anyway; if the reports that they were shopping Hendriks were true, that was also good long game/short game. Yes, to me, this FO long-game moves have been largely good, and its short game moves have been largely bad. Its best moves have been moves that helped both long and short (Quentin, Eaton). I'm sorry, but that's the way I see it. I also think ripping out the farm system just to get someone else's young 2B or, even worse, some average veteran, for a 1 or 2 win upgrade is really bad short-game.

Does the FO have the chops for the short and long game? The long-game worked for 2020 and 2021 and 2000 and 1993. The short-game has never worked - ever in 50 years - as best I can remember. And the last time they played the short game (beyond a single trade here or there) , they did it with such incompetence that it caused the need to rebuild. Re the Sox prospects, we don't have a lot of them; but over the past 10 years, they have drafted and/or developed more players than the farm rankings suggested that they would. I suspect a lot of our top 10 are better than advertised. Anyway, use FA for the short-game.

Completely agree. Trading away young talent is not something that the White Sox do well anyway.

Yes it is expensive. And higher for us because of opportunity cost as we have fewer good prospects than most teams. Pay that price for a position where we have good young prospects? We've picked up young and compelling pre-arb players before without paying that price (Quentin, Eaton). We've also paid that sort of price for players who were less than exemplary (Frazier, Samardzija).

1.9 and 2.6 fwar. Better be sure he's going to be an elite player? We have 3 or so well-regarded prospects as well.

Andrus hasn't played so much as an inning at any position other than SS.

Best wishes in your recovery, Liam. Get well soon!

Not sound defensively. Average player. Wouldn't surprise me if they'd trade him for young pitching - that's what good teams do.

I believe that Keppinger quit first.

Based on his production, he wouldn't be here at all. Dumping a player with 2 years left on his deal: I'll believe it when I see it.

As long as Sosa et al can handle the position defensively, we're better off than we would be with yet another average veteran. We have middle IF prospects. Leury is the vet - we're stuck. We do need another OF though.

Jeremy Pena for the Astros; they didn't sign some veteran insurance policy.

Not with Leury there. 2 backup infielders (one who for sure can't hit) isn't an efficient plan either. Unless Leury is the 4th OF.....then there will be other issues.

Yes he was. But I figure the gain from trading him (salary relief) won't do much for the team and I don't care about JR's wallet; but if we keep him, we could get lucky and if he sucks again, he can be DFAd anytime.

He's what Leury should be. As for Joe Kelly, I'd rather keep him. Decent chance he's good this year.

Sosa, Romy, Rodriguez. Leury. Burger. And if those guys can't cover it, there will be a Harrison or similar available. The risk of not having 1.5 WAR surety is not much of a risk. Plus, if one or more is really good defensively, that will provide some surety.

Development and ultimate success of Mena and Vera (or perhaps some other pitchers) will go a long way to firming this up.

It's the only prescription there is when a team doesn't want to invest in elite free agents. Mediocre vets and short-term rentals won't cut it.

Even the Astros weren't a "should win 100 games" team last year. They needed a rookie SS a 2nd year CF (who had barely ever been in their top 20 listings), a young pitcher who had been in the pen the prior year and a return of big-time Verlander. And to me, the Sox hope is a similar prescription. A young RF, a young 2B, some injection of youth into the pitching, especially as the season goes on, etc.

Even if you want to rebuild (which I don't), after a season of poor production and injuries, these players need to have their values built back up for proper trade value,. As it is, the Sox might have one of the best starting rotations in the league, especially if Giolito rebounds. The players are still in their prime and they aren't that many players away anyway. They have a chance. Either way, you have to roll with it this season.