Lillian

With the news that Eloy will be starting a rehab assignment this weekend, just get Escobar, if healthy, and wait it out until the trade deadline. They may need to keep their "powder dry" for an unforeseen injury to a pitcher.

Leury would be fine, as someone to fill the hole at 2B. However, he cannot fill the void left by Grandal, which is a LH run producer. This injury decimated roster is currently only fielding one bonafide big time power and RBI producer. That glaring deficiency is likely to become more apparent, over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Just to interject another point about Leury; He now has as many RBI's as Moncada, in fewer at bats. He has actually played very well. Nevertheless, you all know that I believe that the Sox need one impactful, middle of the order LH bat. The RH hitting T. Story is not the answer and would be too expensive. I still think it will be Escobar.

Those of us who have been clamouring for a LH power bat, should now be insisting upon it. There is no way that this team can continue to score runs without some LH thunder. With Grandal out, there is now only one potential LH run producer and he is not hitting for power, this year. Moncada should not be counted upon to be a power threat in the lineup. He may come around to be what we have hoped, but the Sox can't depend upon it. It's hard to believe that Hahn is not franticly trying to acquire someone to deliver some middle of the order run production, from the left side. Gallo, Escobar, or any other such run producer has to now be a major priority. I love Sheets and Burger but the former is not experienced enough to carry such a weighty responsibility and the latter is yet another RH hitter. I still don't think that they need to be thinking about anything more than a rental, but they have got to do something, and soon. At this point, the only guy in the organization that I would give any chance of being that LH power hitter, is Lamb, and that is too much of a long shot. He should be back soon, but is not a guy that most would feel confident in his ability to bat in the middle of the order. I'd love some of the RH hitters, such as Bryant, but the Sox would still need a LH bat. The month following the All Star break could be brutal, while the Sox await the return of Eloy and Robert. There is little doubt in my mind that acquiring such a hitter is a top priority for the front office. It will be interesting to see what Hahn can do.

The Sox obviously thought that he had potential. He was the second round pick in 2017, at #49. His junior year at Wake Forest, he hit 21 homers, in 63 games, with an OPS of 1.053. The problem has been that he was exclusively a first baseman, which is a position that is blocked by our MVP. Over the off season, he worked with his father, Larry Sheets to learn how to play RF. He also lost some weight, to improve his speed.

And we should remember that when Madrigal comes back next year, Frazier would have no place to play. The Sox certainly need to do more with that RF vacancy than put Adam Frazier there. You all know how much I covet a LH power bat. Frazier would not satisfy that desire. The guy has 4 home runs. He's not the answer, now or next year, let alone for Andrew Vaughn. This is a ridiculous trade proposal.

I would guess that he meant LH power. Hence; "We need more power and more LH power". Of course, I agree. The anticipated return of Eloy & Robert adds power, but not more LH power. If the Sox have to face some of the dominant RH pitchers in the Post Season, without more LH power bats, that deficiency would likely be a glaring weakness. I'd like to remind everyone that Yoan Moncada has 5 home runs, in half a season, hitting in the middle of the order.

As I wrote in another thread, it will only cost the Sox $1.3 Million to put Beckham on the roster. Seems like a no brainer. He is really on fire at Charlotte and he has the Major League experience. He is the most logical replacement for Madrigal, and they don't have to give up any prospects. If Sheets can supply a little LH balance to the lineup, he is the prospect who should be playing, at least until they get Eloy and Robert back.

Very impressive for a LH hitter to get on top of a high fast ball. The kid has earned some more playing time. Maybe the Sox should just wait until the trade deadline, unless some team makes a compelling offer. Between Burger, Sheets and Beckham, they should be able to fill the holes, until Eloy and Robert return. Vaughn's improvement versus RHP is also very encouraging. Incidentally, Beckham hit his 11TH tonight and was 2 for 4.

World Series Lineup vs. RHP: SS Anderson 3B Moncada 1B Abreu RF Gallo DH Eloy CF Robert C Grandal 2B Beckham (He would only receive $1.3 million, if he is added to the MLB roster) LF Eaton or Engel, which ever one is healthy and producing

What is Gallo likely to receive, in arbitration, next season?

Precisely. If the goal were merely to win the division, the Sox don't need to do anything. However, if they have serious aspirations to go for a title, Gallo would help tremendously, both this year and next. Moreover, with Gallo in RF next year, the Sox would not need to add any position players, next year, leaving more money to resign either Carlos or Lance.

Teams have not been receiving the haul of prospects, that they did at one time, in return for players who are soon to be free agents. We might be surprised as to what Texas would accept for 1 1/2 years of Gallo.

If Texas would make that trade of Burger and Fry for Gallo, I think the Sox would make it. With Gallo's LH bat in RF, you wouldn't need to do much to fill this year's hole at 2ND base. You could bring up Beckham, or use Mendick. The lineup would look a lot better with Gallo in it. Next year, you leave Gallo in RF and perhaps by 2023, someone emerges out of the system to take his place.

If they were to acquire Escobar today, would you put him and second and still call up Burger to fill in at third? That would be interesting.

I agree that getting on base is very important. However, having an OBP of .400 doesn't make a guy one of the 10 to 15 best players in baseball.

So, excluding their contracts, would you really rate Moncada as better than Bellinger, Yelich, or Arenado? I wouldn't, and it isn't even close.

I had understood that Heyman said Burger, or Collins, not "and" Collins. At any rate, that's too much to give up for a half season of Escobar.

That is Barry Bonds like. Quite remarkable.

I have no idea what physical issues he might have, which could explain why he is playing below expectations. I was simply asserting that this version of Moncada is hardly one of the 10 to 15 best players in the Majors. He's 42ND in batting average, 106TH in SLG% and tied for 193RD in Home runs. He is 52ND in OPS. He does have a great OBP. I'll give him that.

Moncada is hitting .275 with a .393 SLG%. He's on pace to hit about 30 2B, no triples and 11 homers, while driving in about 75 runs. He has attempted just 3 stolen bases and been caught once. He's a good fielding third baseman and takes his share of walks. I don't know how most people here feel about him, but he has certainly not performed like most expected, or up to his potential. Let's hope he starts to do that, and soon. He's hitting more like a prototypical second baseman, than a guy at the hot corner. He's one of the big reasons this team is not hitting the long ball.

Although I'm not suggesting that the Sox trade Moncada, I really doubt that he is one of the 10 to 15 best players in the Majors. Not unless one considers OBP the most important stat. Maybe if he were playing like the guy we saw in 2019, but not based upon what he's done since the beginning of last year.

You would have to ask someone with the proper medical background. However he had surgery, so I would assume if he has been cleared to play, that he's not any more vulnerable to a hamstring injury, than anyone else.

The goal should be to acquire the pieces needed for this year. The prospect cost would be too high to fill the RF hole, longer term. Free agency would be the better route. Calhoun is about ready to start a rehab assignment and he would be better than anyone currently on the roster, to fill the RF hole. I have no confidence in Adam Eaton staying healthy and he doesn't provide enough power, for this injury riddled and power challenged roster. From MLB.com OF Kole Calhoun (left hamstring surgery) Expected return: Early July Calhoun continues to take batting practice and is doing some light running out of the batter’s box. He could start a rehab assignment soon. (Last updated: June 26)

A.V. will eventually learn to lay off those sliders, far and away, but he is not there, yet.