Lillian

I'd love to spend Jerry Reinsdorf's money, but I can't imagine him taking on that contract. Moreover, I really wonder if the Phillies are ready to tear it down and start a rebuild. Their fans might revolt.

I have no objection to your suggestion. If you can suggest a LH power bat, to play a corner outfield position, who could be acquired, without giving up too much, it should be considered. Whom would you recommend?

No, I'm not suggesting that he represents a key offensive component, but with guys like Vaughn and Lamb getting playing time in the outfield, he would be a valuable late inning defensive replacement, as well as a pinch runner.

I can't disagree about Eaton. However, if they can acquire Escobar, they should be able to fill the outfield with a combination of Engel, Goodwin, Vaughn, Garcia and Lamb. They'll also have Hamilton back, before too long. With Eloy's bat added, sometime around the beginning of August, the lineup would be ok, without needing to add another outfielder.

Thanks for the link. Interesting that the White Sox were not mentioned. Why would the Marlins have an interest in a rental? They're in last place and aren't going to be in contention, this year.

If Hahn acquires Escobar, he won't be "spot starting, off of the bench". He, and his 15 home runs, will be in the lineup, daily. Without Eloy and Robert, this team is severely challenged, in the power department. Moncada has not provided the power, that most everyone anticipated. I think most expected him to hit 25 to 30 homers. There are too many guys in the lineup who just don't profile as run producers. Mendick is fine, and if everyone else were healthy and producing, he would be a more than adequate temporary replacement for Madrigal. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Escobar would provide a much needed boost to this "power outage". The various parts and pieces of the lineup are fungible. Normally, second base is not where one looks for power and run production. However, with our weak hitting current outfield, and an opening at the keystone spot, Escobar could be a big addition and he's a switch hitter. As has been pointed out, by several posters, including myself. he shouldn't cost that much, being a rental. I almost wish that he were making more money, which would help motivate the DBacks to unload his contract. The remainder of his $7.5 million is not much of an issue. Nevertheless, I don't think that it will take top prospects, to acquire him.

I would have preferred that they had one more LH bat, to face Glasnow's nasty slider. Lamb at 3RD and Leury at 2B, instead of Mendick would have been my call, but then, I'm not in the HOF.

He leads the Southern League in homers, with 10 in just 100 at bats. He's also 8 for 9 in stolen bases. Where did this guy come from? He wasn't a collegiate star at Miami and has not been a ranked prospect, but he is putting up some very impressive stats, for a middle infielder. Birmingham is a tough place, in which to hit, which makes it even more impressive.

Time to bump this thread. The young man is finally healthy and hitting for big power. My guess is that he beats out Yoelkis Cespedes, for the future spot in RF.

Escobar will be a free agent and is therefore strictly a rental.

Exactly. I wish more fans would remember that.

I agree, and if Elijah could be become half the player that Jr. is, it would be a great signing. However, I would still find it interesting to know when Sr. made that statement. After all, if he thought that Elijah had more talent, before he himself realized that Jr. was to become a phenom, the statement would be far less impressive.

When did Tatis Sr. state that? I assume that it was before Jr. became a super star.

Maybe Engel will take Goodwin's place, as soon as the RH pitcher exits and Hinch goes to his bullpen. LH hitters are batting .303 off Ureña. Good day to give Goodwin a start. It is odd that La Russa prefers Lamb in LF and Leury at 3RD. You would think that it would be the reverse. Oh well, I'm sure that Mr. HOF manager has a reason.

If Pilkington and Bilous would be enough, would you make that trade? I think I would, in a heartbeat.

I'm onboard for that plan. Two LH power bats always sound good to me. LOL. Moreover, what it would take to acquire both of them, would probably surprise many. Rentals don't cost what they used to. Arizona would save what's left of Kole's $8 million for this year, plus that $2 million dollar buy out. They also would save what's left of Escobar's $7.5 million. The Diamondbacks aren't going anywhere this year so whatever money they can save and whomever they can get back, in trades, is probably appealing to them. Would Stiever and Luis Gonzalez be enough? They are the Sox' number 4 and number 10 MLB Pipeline prospects, respectively. Both of those prospect rankings sound better than the actual value of the players. I don't consider either one of them as important pieces, going forward. That's just my assessment, as a fan.

Yes, the DH is not hitting for enough power, as are several other guys. However, those are not the guys who are injured. The Sox need to add someone and the most obvious acquisition is a second baseman, to replace Madrigal. As I previously suggested, Escobar would fill the need at second, as well as adding thunder to the lineup, from both sides of the plate. If you can find a LH power bat, to play RF that's fine. However, then you have to sit Eaton. I'm ok with replacing Eaton in RF, but the more plausible solution is someone like Escobar at second. I suspect that Lamb is going to get more playing time in RF, especially if Eaton continues to be hobbled and to struggle at the plate.

Again, I agree with this assessment. Mendick is a serviceable bench player. However, after having lost 3 starters and with World Series aspirations, replacement level production is probably not good enough. There are better options available on the trade market and I'm confident that Hahn will bring is a player who will be better than replacement level. The Sox are winning a lot of close games and luck seems to be favouring them. But luck can suddenly change. The dramatic drop in home run production is eventually going to take a toll. With warm weather approaching, the ball will be flying out of Guaranteed Rate Park, and although this current roster should begin to hit more long balls, there are a lot of teams that appear to have more power. Without Eloy and Robert, this is a chance to add some power. Replacing Madrigal with guys like Leury and Mendick is not the way to go "all in" on a shot at a title. It would be a real shame to waste the best rotation the Sox have had, since 2005, by not acquiring the pieces needed to maintain their terrific start.

I don't know how this ended up as a new thread. My intention was to merely post it in the thread on potential trade targets to replace Madrigal. At any rate, I still would prefer Escobar, as I would guess that the cost would be too high for Frazier.

NBC Sports Chicago just put up a podcast. They cited a rumor from Jim Bowden, which has Adam Frazier as a target.

I agree, as this is exactly what I've been suggesting. All this talk about getting someone with more years of control, make little sense to me. Madrigal will be back next year, at the latest, and he is our second baseman, going forward. Despite all of the negative comments about a rental, that seems to be precisely what the Sox need. Moreover, a rental should be much less costly.

Going forward, after everyone is healthy, the only hole in this team's roster of position players is RF. Therefore, a rental makes the most sense to me. Given the Diamondbacks' position and the existing relationship with La Russa, my guess is that Escobar would be a realistic acquisition. He's in the final year of a 3 year contract, and is owed the balance of his $7.5 million dollar 2021 salary. It probably would not take any top prospects to acquire him. He could provide power from both sides of the plate, as well as solid defense at 2ND base. That's my hunch.

Both Peralta and Marte would fit, and now that Madrigal may be out for a while, Escobar is also an interesting potential target, from the D Backs. Any of them would help from the left side.

That rule is so stupid and poorly conceived that it will almost certainly have to be repealed. It is going to lead to havoc on the base paths. Even slower runners will be able to steal bases, once the pitcher is no longer permitted to throw to 1ST base.

Oh yes, I see the Teal. I didn't notice the color, until I took a better look.